The Lucknow Sentinel, 1985-12-11, Page 1BEST ALL ROUND COMMUNITY
NEWSPAPER iN CANADA.
(Circulation Class under 2200)
C.C.N.A. Better Newspaper Competition 1985
The first Sports Complex Lottery Draw was held Dec. 3 with Jim Farrish o ' ' uc ow
winning the $500 prize. Bank Manager Dorothy Britnell had the honor of choosing the
winners of the first week assisted by Al Hamilton and Recreation Director BW Hunter.
Other winners were Mike Dalton,: RR3 Goderlch; $300, and Harokkand Betty Ann Elphick,
,RR 3 Lucknow, and Brian and Peter Reavie, Lucknow; won the two S100 prizes.
James Friel photo]
Salary decisions delayed
By Stephanie Levesque
Yearly salary increases ranging from
four to nine per cent for Huron County's
nine department heads has been deferred
to the inew 1986 county council.
The county's executive committee.
brought in a recommendation at council's
Nov. 28 meeting to set the department
heads' salaries for the next three years.
County councillors argued against both
- the high percentage increases and the fact
they would be imposing ,these salary in-
creases on the incoming council. There was
some question whether the council could
approve these salaries because it involves
Money to be paid by another council.
Usually these require Ontario Municipal
Board approval.
However, ' Warden ''Paul ' Steckle, after
stepping down fromhe warden's chair to
enable him to participate in debate, said a
legal opinion had been sought. He said the
legal opinion stated it is okay for county
council to provide these salary increases.
"We don't have that lame duck period as
do local councils," said county administra-
tor Bill Hanly.
The warden said the salary •figures
reached will cover the next three years. In
'negotiations, the executive committee tried
:to adjust salaries to the average salaries of
the department heads' peers in surround-
ing counties. The warden added that the
department heads' salaries have fallen,in
comparison over the years.
Past warden Tom Cunningham said he
recognized the problem, having been 9n
the negotiating committee last year. These
committees are made tfp by the warden,
county administrator and the " various
committee chairmen.
However, he' doesn't think this council
should be imposing increases on the new
council.
"I don't want incoming reeves to say we
made a stupid mistake," said Hullett
Reeve Cunningham who will be returning
to council. He did say, however, that some
of the increases are merited.
Not everyone agreed,
"This is not fair to ratepayers -
farmers," said Hay Deputy Reeve Tony,
Bedard asking from where the money for
the increases would cotne, .
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Options taken on six lots
By James Friel
• The council of the village of Lucknowhas
taken out options to ,purchasesix propert-
ies in the search .for a suitable location for
the village's proposed sewage tr,eatment
plant.
Agreements have been signed and pay-
ments of $500 each have been- made to
Bruce Colwell, Evan Keith and Gordon
Brooks, all of Kinloss Township, and to
Robert' Martin, Don Ritchie and Barry
McDonagh, all landowners in Ashfield
Township. The payment is kept whether
the option is exercised or not. •
"They're just options, an offer to
purchase. It's an offer fora year to buy this
land or it goes back to the owner. In other
words, the owner can't. sell to anyone else
• for a .year," said Reeve Herb Clark.
The next step is in the engineer's hands.
All the parcels eland have been designat-
ed as suitable with the exception of the
Ritchie and McDonagh plots. They're too
far from the village for the' system but
council decided to keep options open with
those agreements.
"Now we wait for the engineers. The
Ministry ,of the Environment (MOE) have
done soil analyses from testholes already
drilled. I hopeto have results maybe before
Christmas," said Clark but admitted it was
optimistic to expect any word that quickly.
If the engineers feel one of the parcels of
- land is particularly suited for the plant, the
planners will then take over and details like ,
rights of way will be negotiated, if neces-
sary. . •
"Costs will also have to befigured out,"
added Clark. -The council .is currently pre-
paring a questionnaire designed to gauge
residents' interest in having all or a part of
the. town/ with sewers.
"I.'m only guessing but maybe tenders
Could be called sometime in '86,"\ said
Clark'.
County opens up meetings
By. Stephanie Levesque
With little comment, Huron County
Council will break a long-time tradition and
throws open its committee 'and• board
meetings to the public.
This decision was one of the last made by
the retiring 1983-85 council at a special
meeting on Nov. 28. '
"I think it's a good recommendation and
a long-time coming," said Exeter Deputy
Reeve Lossy Fuller.
Elsa Haydon of Goderich, a private
citizen who, regularly attends county
council sessions said its open board
meetings - library -and health - was thrilled
with the ` decision. An advocate of open
meetings, Mrs. Haydon said she felt like
celebrating after the decision was made.
Hay Reeve Lionel Wilderquestioned
whether the new policy would include.,
planning and development committee
meetings. He was told it would.
"Committee and board meetings shall.
be open and no person shall be excluded
except •-for improper conduct; states
county council's new policy.
There arenine exceptions to this policy
which involve die subjects, person-
'nel, litigation and property, the Municipal
Act' allows to be discussed in -camera or
behind closed doors. „
With this new 'policy, a closed session
will be made 'available at the end of each
meeting. County administrator Bill Hanly
expects, from past experience, that the
closes session will be little used.
McQuailauends conference
By James Friel
At the Second National Farm Wom-
en's Conference held last month in
Charlottetown, PEI, women from across
Canada met and adopted this conclu-
sion: "We, the women of the Second
National Farm Women's Conference
recognize that there is a critical' national
agricultural crisis in the nation. We
urge that action be taken to stop the
impact that this crisis is having on the
multitnde of farm women,our families,
the viability of,our farms and ultimately
the financial health of our country".
Although she wasn't able to vote,
Lucknow area resident Fran McQuail
was nevertheless swept up by the
excitement generated by the interaction
of farm women from across the country
trying - to develop a set of recommenda-
tions synthesized from• a multitude of
regional biases. -, ,
it wasn't as difficult as it may seem.
"The bottom line right now is money,"
said McQuail.
"It's ludicrous. No other business in
the country runs on negative return.
Farmers "have the right to expect a
reasonable return on their investment."
The conference numbered about 350
women:, more than half of whom were
unable to vote. Conference members
also, recommended action be taken to
alleviate the "critical national agricul-
tural 'crisis "
On farm' debt issues, the conference
advised an immediate debt moratorium
be established, farmer -creditor
arrangements legislation be re-enacted,
farm credit policies be changed t9 lower
interest rates 'and make more money
available, and also suggested the estab-
lishment of debt review boards of
farmers and financial experts.
The recommendation's also include
the establishment of fair prices for
commodities, action on farm women's
opposition to free trade, and education
for farm women and farmers, consum-
ers, and media, bankers, government
officials and others.
Another result of the meeting is the
plan to set up a networking system.
"We tried hard not to set up another
organization but we want to set up 'an
information and lobbying network.
There are very few areas in the country
without a farm women's organization."
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