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The Citizen, 1991-01-16, Page 21THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 1991. PAGE 21. Blyth council briefs Homeowners must find solutions to own drain problems Problems with private drains will have to be looked after by the property owners involved in future, Blyth council decided at its Jan. 9 meeting. Councillors, after wrestling for several months with the issue of how to handle drain problems on private land agreed that from now on it will be up to the property owner with the problem to get a plumber or contractor to find out what the problem is. The property owner and contractor will be re­ quired to get permission from the village if the exploration takes them onto the street allowance. If the exploration should establish that the problem is a village responsibility the council will look at its liability in the case. Councillor Steven Sparling said that if there's any inkling the village could be responsible for the problem “we should get involved and worry about the responsibility later. Otherwise we shouldn’t get involved." Reeve Albert Wasson said that by having village works depart­ ment employees help find pro­ blems with private drains the village was really running competi­ tion to private contractors. It was suggested that the village should keep a list of reputable firms doing plumbing and contract­ ing work so that if a homeowner has a problem and calls the village office for help, a list of profession­ als can be provided. Council dealt with problems from three different landowners at the meeting, recommending that each find a private solution to his problem. ***** The village learned that it must charge GST on sewage charges but the end result shouldn’t mean much of an increase to home­ owners. Council passed a by-law reducing the sewage rate and with the GST added, Clerk-Treasurer Helen Grubb said, the new cost will “be only pennies different" than the old rate. ***** Councillors expressed less than enthusiasm over the work of the Goderich and District Chamber of Commerce last year but decided to pay the 1991 membership anyway. Councillor Sparling said he was disappointed that the Chamber really didn't do a lot last year but this might be typical of the pro­ blems of trying to start up an organization, he said. Councillors decided that it was worth investing another $60 to give the organiza­ tion another chance this year.***** Mrs. Grubb reported that less than five per cent of taxes levied last year are still owing as of year end, a figure she said was remark­ able. Councillor Dave Lee said it was nice that taxpayers “are showing enough pride in our village that we have so little taxes owed.” He pointed to some other communities where there has been a tax revolt with people holding back their taxes.***** If Fire Chief Paul Josling and OPP officer Const. Mike Alexander have no objections, councillors indicated they would agree with a proposal from the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association that Gypsy Lane be made a one way street at its south end during the annual Thresher Reunion in Sep- Bd. of Ed. wants teacher salary study Huron County Board of Educa­ tion’s (HCBE) executive committee reported at the January meeting that at the time of ratification for the elementary teacher’s contract, a request was made to enlist the support of Ontario Public School Board’s Association (OPSBA) to achieve some negotiation goals. In a letter to OPSBA, three issues were raised: teacher com­ pensation, regional differences, and negotiation legislation. The Board^informed OPSBA that they are concerned with escalating edu­ cation costs and noted that approxi­ mately 80 per cent of its expendi­ tures are spent on payroll costs. Board members, they said, feel that teachers “have achieved a higher economic reward compared to other members of society”, but tember. The Threshers want the change to make traffic movement less congested.***** Approval has yet to be given permission to go ahead with reno­ vation to Memorial Hall’s north wing to house the new Blydi Library Branch. Mrs. Grubb ex­ plained the application had been sent to the Ministry of Recreation and Tourism in December but she was later told the application wasn’t complete because the vill- added they were unable to measure this. They requested OPSBA to petition the provincial government to study and report on this percep­ tion to see if it is accurate. They felt this would be a concrete first step in containing upwardly spiraling costs. In their report the trustees mentioned the regional differences that are not considered in salary settlements. They said that it was their belief that conditions in Toronto set the precedent for the entire province. They again reques­ ted OPSBA to study this or commission others to study it and provide the boards with data to identify the regional cost of living differences. Concerning the third issue, the board said that “bargaining legis- age had provided quotes from one contractor instead of three as required by the Ministry. Mrs. Grubb expressed her anger to the Ministry official saying she felt it was dishonest for her to be asked for two more quotes when the council had already settled on a contractor for the job. Several councillors nodded in agreement with her complaint. She said she had managed to get the two extra quotes and had sent them in to the ministry. lation impedes speedy negotia­ tion”. They asked OPSBA “to use the influence you have with the provincial government to promote a change in legislation which would have teacher bargaining come un­ der the Ontario Labour Relations Act.” In a Decima ppll conducted in early 1989, 75 per cent of those surveyed felt that the most impor­ tant aspect of international ama­ teur sport competition was not winning medals, but that Cana­ dians participated in the event.***** According to Coaching Associa­ tion of Canada statistics, 67 per cent of athletes who leave sport do so because of the over emphasis on winning. Business and Professional Directory Lyle & Darryl Youngblut Plumbing and Heating BLYTH - 523-9585 Henry F. Exel Construction RESIDENTIAL, AGRICULTURAL. COMMERCIAL Brussels 887-6561 Financial Services •Consumer Loans •Mortgages 126 Main St . West Listowel, Ont. N4W3H2 291-3800 Mon. to Fri. 8:30- 5:00 p.m. orbyappointment Serving Blyth, Clinton, Bayfield, Seaforth, Goderich, and area. HomeBright— CLEANING SERVICE CHERYL KENNEDY We provide cleaning supplies and vacuums Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly maid service Fully bondedand insured [519] 233-7930 DS J CONSTRUCTION •General Carpentry •Roofing •New Buildings & Renovations DOUG MACHAN 887-9345X JIM MCDONALD 887-9607 D.MARSHALL^ DECORATING PAINT»PAPER*DRYWALL AIRLESSSPRAYING SWIRLS TEXTURE CEILINGS Phone:523-9220 Box336, Blyth if-' DISC JOCKEY SERVICES MUSIC FOR ALL OCCASIONS •Country »Rock • Polkas ’Waltzes BRUCE VINCENT 523-4465 INSTANT FAX AS F.A.S.T. AS PHONE Send your paperwork by FAX instantly! eg. statements, con­ tracts, auction ads, favorite recipes, obituaries, mess­ ages... The Citizen has a FAX machine in our office that lets you contact any other FAX machine in the world instantly. 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