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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1980-10-23, Page 16777' 74r" "r" Tr11,-,1,77F-Yrfr V7,7 BtAICE GIBE F'ereign ownership of farmland, , farm severance's! and the 'rehabilitation of gravel pits were some of the issues raised at the bi-annual Stanley ; Township rate- payers' meeting4 The 'meet - mg, 'held in the Varna Corninunity, Hall, attracted 55 ratepayers atid candidates in the township's first -elect- ion battle in a decade. Toni Consitt, a Varna area fanner and reeve for the past two terms, is being Chal- lenged by deputy -reeve, Paul Steckle, of RIP, ,ZuriCh. The bawnship also has a .contest for , deputy -reeve. Don Brodie, a councillor for eight years and Pon McGregor, A six‘year-veteram-Tare—botit running for deputy.-1,eeve, The°candidates foHil e three council seats are Clarence Rau, a four-year veteran of. couneil and new- comers Howar'd Armstrong, who farms on the Goshen Line; Bill Chipchase of Brucefield and Jack Cole- man, a Parr Line farmer. In his remarks to rate- payers, Tom Consitt explain- ed why he' voted against dropping deputy -reeves from county council. The reeve said he was opposed to redticing county council since Huron is basically 'an agricul- tural county, and now there will only be a four -vote difference between rural and urban representatives on council. He said he also feels the reduced council will mean more meetings for members and that admini- strators, rather than council members, will be making many of the decisions on the smaller expenses in the future. Tom Consitt also referred to Stanley Township's secondary plan which is now awaiting the Minister of 'Hottsing's.!, Opal. approval. Under the plan, the township allows seVeraneet to sUrPins buildings On.banafide farms, as long as .there has never ,been a severance on the farm before: The reeve said he thinks this policy should be mvievod in 1961, since farms along the lakeshore, where land was severed for • cottages'WOW now, be exempt from further seV,er-?' of surplus farm build- ings, • Paul Steal°, wli.40, painted out a ratepayers' meeting' hadn't attractedrsuch a)irge •turnout since the laseelection, 10 years ago, explained why he felt it his duty to vote against having dePuty- L—reeves-sit-pri-countY-conncil. He said other counties, including Middlesex* Bruce and LambtOn, have reduced the size of their councils and this is "working effectively." Mr. Steckle, who served as a member of the • Huron County Health Committee, told ratepayers the committ- ee was concerned because the colInty was receiving only 50 per cent funding for services from the provincial goyernment, rather than 75 per c,ent as other" areas received. He said he and other committee members met with Dennis Tirnbrell, provincial health manster, and last year funding was raised to 60 pr cent. He said. the minister assured the • committee over the next two _year perioch it will be raised to 75 per cent for Huron County. When asked to state his position on farm severances, Mr. Steckle said, "I am not in favour of severances in the farm area." He said under the present secondary plan, a farmer can't sever his farm buildings to use as a retire- ment home. However, the deputy -reeve said hecould. sell his farm to a, neighbour, die neighbourcould apply to. sever .the ,surplus ;buildings, and then sell these buildings' and a small amount of land. back to the original 'owner'. The deputy -reeve said, "We need to leave our land as it is now, intact," He added the place for farmers to retire is in toWn. Bill aiipchase, Candidate for council, as the only ether candidate to address the issue of severances. He said he was in favour of farm severances, ' but added people buying the •surplus building should understand they would be living in a farming community and should -be -prepared -to -put-up with 'farming practices. FOREIGN OWNERSHIP? In the question period following statements by the candidates, • Phil Durand asked council if the issue of foreign ownership of farm- land had been raised at county council. Tom Consitt said • there hadn't been tnuch said about the matter at a county le41, adding a recent article in a daily paper was the most information he'd read on the issue. Mr. Durand then asked candidates "are we going to depopulate our townships to the point where the towns fall apart?" He added other provinces already have legi- slation limiting foreign ownership _e_f land. Paul Steckle said he was also concerned about absent- ee foreign ' ownerShip. He said. for example, if 3.000 acres were sold to absentee owners, this would mean as many as 30 farm homes could be available for rent. "Is this the kind of ratepayers we want in Stanley Township?" he asked. \"Another audience member asked if the 10 Acres pur- chased on Hwy. " 1/21 in the township 'Was an asset to . ,Stailley,t. Tom Consitt said .once,the stockpile of sand on the Site was exhausted, the property would be re -sold. Ratepayers also asked about the purchase of A 117 acre farm in Goderich Town-, ship. The farm, which in- cludes only 30 acres of workable " land, was -pur- chased for its gravel pits. Township clerk Mel Graham explained the farm is being paid off over a five-year Period by council. He said it was purchased out of coun- cil's general fund and this - _ ;fund in turn' will sell graver ' from the pits to the town- ship's road, account. ° The township rents workable land , on the farm to a neighbour - Ing farmer, , PITS A10, QUARRIES Gorden Hill asked can- didates 'about the implica- tions of the Pits and Quarries Aec.4 'which now covers town- ship, gravel pits. Tom Cdnsitt said he understood gravel pits would not have to be licensed and permits would have to be obtained for wayside pits. , Mr, Hill asked, Is it desirable in ' this area' to rehabilitate (the pits)?" He added, "it seems to me there $40 000 insured are some worked -out pits in ' this area which are very unsightly and should 'We reclaimed." He mentioned pits in the Holmesville a And in Tuckersmith Town- ship in particular, At fhe end of the meeting) Clerk Graham reminded Stanley ratepayers they vote at an advance poll on November 1 at the clerk's office from 9 a.m. to 8 p,ni: He said the only polling station known at this time, would be station 11-3, in the Varna Comtitunity Hall. The poll is open from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Nov. 10. The meeting was chair- ed by former township reeve • Anson McKinley. of SDHS flit not - Robert Peckot Varna has been acclaimed as the Stanley Township -Varna rep- resentative on the Huron County board of education. The trustee, who has served on the board for the past six years, told Stanley ratepayers Monday night, that he is still very proud of the efficient way in which the board operates,, despite re- cent criticism expressed by former trustees. He told ratepayers &din; !log enrolment in the schools is still a major issue, and said costs will continue to rise as enrolment decreases. He said the problem is now catching.up with the board at the -secondary school level. Mr. Peck told ratepayers the board was faced with " three unexpected and costly expenditures in the past trustee estimates year. One was the fire at Seaforth District High School in July. Another was the brickwork at Goderich High School which had to be replaced. The third expendi- ture will be the removal of asbestos fibres in the duct- work and ceilings of several county schods, The asbestos fibre has been found to constitute a health hazard. The trustee was asked if Seaforth High School didn't carry sufficient insurance to cover costs of the fire. damage. The trustees said while the school was insured, and the board still doesn't know what it will cost them over and above this. Mr. Peck estimates it will be between $40-550,000. the fire resulted in .$150,000 damage to the school.. He said in past Henson to annex Geiger property BY ROSS HAUGH Hensall council Monday night gave approval to a request by Ira Geiger to havb his property annexed into the village. Due to a change to provincial assessment in 1976, Mr. Geiger's assessment was changed' from Hensell to Tuckersmith township. Mr. Geiger attending Monday's meeting sidd, "I have paid taxes for 78 years to Hensall and should never have been separated." In his request Mr. Geiger asked to be exempt from a sewer hookup as he has a new satisfactory septic tank system. Council in learning that there is not a sewer con- nection in front of this property agreed to the exemption. Mr. Geiger will be returned to the }tense!) hydro and water systems. As a Tuckersmith resident he has been paying a double water tate. A request will be made to Tuekersmith asking for their approval of the annexation. Similarily, council gave approval in principle to Bob Cook to enlarge a present • Remember/ It takes but a moment to place an Ex- positor Want Ad. Dial 527.0240, commercial lot by Sn- nexation of st•small parcel of land. Approval from' the Huron planning department will 'be neeqsaryA Piens and spedifittdans on the reconstruction of Oxford and Brock streets have been forwarded to the Ministry of Transportation and Communications for their approval. Council endorsed a con: cern from AMO regarding the possible discontinuance of the community services contribution program which assists Canadian municipalities with rveighbourheod improvement and water and sewer projetts in a 1978 corn- mitment to a long-term agreement with all provinces by the Federal Government A request from Bell Telephone for municipal consent for buried cables and pedestals along Lorne Avenue was granted. Village PUC and' works department to be nOtified 48 hours before digging starts A resolution, was passed requiring any services going underground be installed through roadways by boring rather than digging A ' bylaw was passed naining officers for the Hensall fire department. Theyare fire chief Gary Maxwell, deputy -chief Len Huffman. captains Jim Hyde and Bruce Moir and engineers Don Reid. Frank Now's the time to do your fall decorating. Discount on all wallpaper purchases Thurs., Fri. & Sat. Oct. 23, 24,25 Hildebrand Paint & Paper. Interior & Exterior Decorators 15 Main St., Seaforth 527-1880 1 4 -4 4, - -4 - 4 7% 4, - 4i4i•-•1 411L Varley and Peter Swaan. The Huron Board of Education has given council assuranee that bus tran- smtatiortfor. ptipdsfrompropissedv, a nnektition properties along Highway 4 be continued until sidewalks have been installed. Reeve Harold Knight said this takes care of the last objection to oispexation. Four building permits were approved. They were to Herman Livestock Sales, a new roof; Ken Pollock, chimney and Karen Richardson, house addition. Total value $9.000. Building inspector Her- man Van Wieren also reported making 14 in- spections. Cinmcillor Paul Neilands reported, That the Com- munity Centre auditorium was rented each Friday and Saturday night, for the months of November and .December. The next council meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m. A POSITNE NOTE... I would like to take this opportunity to thank the McDace Company of London, sub -con- tractor for Union Gas, who installed the natural gas line from Seaforth to Hansen, for their courteous service and workman- ship. This agaia4froves to me that through the co-operation of a contractor and property owner a lot can be accomplished. Thanks again Bert Branderhorst R.R.#1, I -Nasal! • Axial -Flow Combine USED COMBINES 4,44HOBT Worry Free (Interest Free Mar. 1 /81) SEAFORTHI 527.0120 FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED negotiations with the teachers' unions, "the arbil trators haven't, been on our side in regard_to the pupil - teacher ratio." 1 Toio.p.11: A% MO Fleisteel ,had '.everything from ihe–insidd twt• flexsteel is, the finest • "We furnish quality, style & content- ment . . . it's worth the drive" -- FREE4ELIVERYSERVCE Open Tues. to Thur. 9:36 -6 p.m:„ Pridays 0i10 a„sn. -.9 P.m., Sat. 930 e dlosed Monday8„ 111 Street.:Publin TeleptOrt 346-2256 GO G9ETTLER ot 11 Fine Furniture WEDDING INVITATIONS THE HURON EXPOSITOR . PHONE 527-0240 — SEAFORTH BEATING INFIATION'S 4,4c A TAIL ORDER.... AT McLAUGHLIN MOTORS WE'VE DONE IT WITH THESE VALUES! 1978 Cougar XR7 2 door hardtop brawn with brown vinyl roof, air conditioning, A.M.F.M. radio, LOW MILEAGE 25,000 MILES 1976 Pinto 2 door, brova‘,4„cyl. automatic, radio, defroster, a real gas saver, ONLY 40,000 MILES 1977 Ford Wagon Yellow with brown vinyl trim, 9 passenger, double power, radio, LOW MILEAGE 1977 Ford LTD Landau Red with silver vinyl roof, 4 door, air conditioning, A.M.F.M. radio, LOW MILEAGE 23,000 MILES 1975 Ford Torino s1i495. 00 4 door, bronze, 8 cyl, automatic. power brakes, power steering. 1976 Dodge Aspen 4 door, maroon, 6 cyl, automatic, double power, radio GOOD GAS SAVER 1976 Buick Skylark V-6 Automatic, power brakes, powei• steering. radio $1,395.00 (before reconditioning) ./ 1978 Ford Van \ 6 cyl. standard transmission, radio, heavy duty suspention 1970 Monte Carlo -$510.°° 2 door hardtop. green (before 'reconditioning) 1973 Hornet Rambler 6 cyl. automatic, A.M.F.M. 'stereo. air conditioning et All these units ,are one owner vehicles. We still have a few 1980 cars &trucks at very low prices. • "995.00 (before recond)tioning) cLaughlin 527.1140 CHEVROLET—OLDS LTD.. Seaforth HOURS MON—FRI. , Sales Office- 7:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Service Department 7:30 a.m,-S:30 p.m. Sat. 800 a.m.-4:30 p.m. - • Sei'vice 'Selection "Saving •Satisfaction'Leasing tAi'•••••..,%•..-,k.'1...,„04,- 4, <ha IN 1. 'ILT :T71, : 141 •