The Lucknow Sentinel, 1986-06-18, Page 1ESTABLISHED IN 1873
"THE SEPOY TOWN" ON THE
HURON -BRUCE BOUNDARY
PUBLISHED IN LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 18,1986
20 PAGES 40c PER COPY
Lucknow doctors decide
to support OMA strike
Doctors in Lucknow will continue their
support of the strike called by the Ontario
Medical Association to protest the ban on
extra -billing. Dr. Michael Shubat told the
Sentinel Tuesday morning, patients who
require medical treatment are to call the
Lucknow Medical Centre or the Wingham
and District Hospital.
Dr. Shubat said patients will be treated
at the medical centre and the hospital for
the duration of the strike.
Doctors across the province began with-
drawing all but emergency services last
Thursday. Lucknow doctors, Mel Corrin,
Jim Shalom and Michael Shubat closed
their offices at the Medical Centre
Thursday and Friday in support of the
strike.
Meanwhile doctors at more than a dozen
community hospitals across Ontario closed
emergency departments yesterday to
everyone except patients with life-threat-
ening conditions. Doctors at other hospitals
are meeting to decide on similar tactics
protesting the legislation to ban extra -
billing by doctors.
While the majority of doctors in the
province are supporting the strike, Dr.
Shubat is skeptical that it will have any
effect in altering the government's stance
on extra -billing.
"The OMA has been putting pressure on
the government, but it seems like we're
fighting a losing battle. But if we can put
any pressure on the government, then we
should try anyways," he said.
Dr. Shubat said the strike is definitely an
inconvenience for the patients, but in the
long term the strike will have a positive
effect on the health care system in Ontario.
"It's unfortunate that the patients have
to be dragged into this, but, the patients
will suffer a lot more if the bill goes
through, because the government will be
eventually saying, 'this is how the health
care system should be run'. Although it's
an inconvenience now, personally I think
we'll be doing them a favor in the long
term," he said.
Hydro off in Lucknow
Tornados were sighted near Peterbor-
ough and Woodstock on Monday as a
severe weather system moved through
bringing thunderstorms, hail and high
winds. Hydro electric power was off in the
village of Lucknow for more than two hours
Monday afternoon and power outages were
reported in Gorrie and Clinton because
lines were' down.
Not too many people were walking the
streets of the village last Wednesday as
one of the heaviest downpours of the year
drenched this area.
According to Harold Greer of RR 1
Lucknow who collects weather information
for the government, 70 mm or nearly three
inches of rain fell in one hour last Wednes-
•Turn to page 11
Kathy Broad's grade 5 - 6 class organized a picnic for morning and afternoon kindergarten
classes at Lucknow Central Public School last week. One of the events planned was the water
balloon toss which braught some surprised reactions. [Photo by Man Rivettl
Two sites chosen for proposed sewage treatment facility
By Alan Rivett
Two possible sites have been chosen for
the proposed sewage disposal and treat-
ment plant for Lucknow, says a recent
report issued by the vil:age's engineering
firm.
In the latest summary report updating
the Lucknow sewage works project, B.M.
Ross and Associates engineering firm of
Goderich after investigating nine possible
sites have identified the Martin property,
located southwest of Lucknow on conces-
sion 12 of Ashfield Township, and the
Brooks property, located east of Lucknow
in Kinloss Township, as suitable sites for
the treatment plant and winter storage
lagoon.
Sand and gravel soils
In choosing the preferred properties for
the project, Steve Burns, an engineer with
B.M. Ross, said both properties possessed
sand and gravel soils, were both located
within a 4 km radius of Lucknow and both
properties "were large enough to accommo-
date both the treatment plant and the
lagoon.
"There aren't many locations in the area
with sand and gravel soils. If you had clay,
rock or fine soil, you couldn't locate a
sewage treatment facility there," said Mr.
Burns.
Rapid Infiltration
The summary report also found rapid
infiltration to be used as a method of
sewage disposal. Under this system,
treated sewage would be pumped into
infiltrating basins, or a shallow
lagoon, where it would be allowed to
percolate into the ground through the
granular soils. During the winter months
the sewage would be stored in the lagoon
and, in the summer months would be
infiltrated into the soil.
Mr. Burns said the rapid infiltration
system works on the same premise as a tile
bed in a septic system. The concept of
rapid infiltration sewage systems has been
Council wants commitment
to service the entire village
By Alan Rivett
Lucknow council is still hoping to have
the entire village come under a new
sewage system. However, if funds are not
available, a compromise can be reached
with the Ministry of the Environment.
According to Reeve Herb Clark, the
village will consent to only the core area of
the village for the proposed sewage system
project, if a firm commitment can be
reached with the Ministry of the Environ-
ment for the remainder of the village to be
done at a later date.
"People asked us to have the whole
village done. They wanted it done so that's
what we'll try to do. But, if they're going to
do the downtown core, and are not able to
do the rest, we want them to give us a
completion date when the rest can be
done," said Mr. Clark.
Meet with Minister
The village council have attempted to set
up a meeting with Ontario Environment
Minister Jim Bradley. However, council
has yet to have a reply from the minister.
Last month, council received a letter
from the Ministry of the Environment
stating the municipality will be allocated a
grant for $603,000 for sanitary sewers in
the core area of the village.
In preparation for their meeting with the
environment minister, council has compil-
•Turn to page 5
used extensively in the United States,
however, it's relatively new in Ontario.
Used in Markdale
"It's not something that has been used
frequently in Ontario. The most recent
example of a rapid infiltration sewage
system is in Markdale," said Mr. Burns.
One other sewage disposal method, the
spray irrigation onto agricultural lands,
was rejected in the report because of its
impact or potential impact on prime
farmland, and capital and operating costs
could exceed the costs of a rapid infiltration
system.
The need for the rapid infiltration
system as an alternative system of sewage
disposal became necessary as there were
"no sub -surface water outlets in the
vicinity of Lucknow" that could be used.
said Mr. Burns. Both the Ministry of the
Environment and the Ministry of Natural
Resources were opposed to having treated
sewage discharged into the Lucknow River.
"Both ministries have indicated that the
Lucknow River, if at all possible, should
remain in its present state and not be the
receiver of treated sewage. We couldn't
put it (treated sewage) in the river, so the
rapid infiltration system • was the best
alternative for Lucknow, as long as we have
a good site," said Mr. Burns.
•Turn to page 5