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The Citizen, 1992-02-19, Page 1News I Feature B Sports Entertainment \ HIV cases increase in Huron over past six months See page11 Area firefighters burn over legislation .See page 22 Bulls set to harvest win from Grand Valley See page 13 Blyth Festival building project wins design award See page 23 Changes coming for Blyth’s water system Blyth village Public Utilities Commission agreed Monday night to accept recommendations from the Ministry of Environment for changes to its water system; changes that will make the system safer but may cost higher water rates in the long run. The PUC met in joint session with village council Monday night to hear John Earl, of the Ministry of Environment's (MOE) Owen Sound office, discuss a report on the sys­ tem that was issued last summer. It calls for short-term changes in the way the system is managed and the undertaking of an engineering study to look at the future needs of the water system. Most of the short-term recom­ mendations will cost the PUC little while the major expenses will come out of the recommendations of the village's consulting engineers, Maitland Engineering of Wingham Andy McBride and Arne Spivey of the firm had gone over the MOE report with the Blyth group before Mr. Earl's arrival so there were few surprises in what Mr. Earl asked for. Mr. McBride had warned that the ministry had been recommend­ ing changes for years and that if the village didn't show some readiness to co-operate, the next step might be for the ministry to order the work done and perhaps charge the village for operating a system that didn't meet regulations. He recom­ mended the village show a readi­ ness to undertake the less expensive recommendations now and the more expensive aspects on a long-term basis. That was exactly what Mr. Earl proposed. The short-term recommendations include: Provide chlorination facilities: There have been in the past spo­ radic tests that have had higher than allowed bacteria counts which quickly cleared up themselves. The village, however, has no facilities to treat such a problem. While Mr. Earl said there is no indication the water needs to be treated all the time, there should be facilities in place to treat water if necessary. The cost could be around $2000 to put a treatment unit on one of the wells, Mr. McBride had told coun­ cil earlier. Putting a meter on Well No. 1: There is already a water meter on the villages No. 2 well to measure how much water is being pumped but there has not been a meter on the No. 1 well. This would help give the village and the MOE accu­ rate records on the amount of water being used in the village. The cost, Mr. McBride had told council, would be about $500. Containment facility: The MOE is worried about a possible spill of diesel fuel from the villages stand­ by diesel motor, a spill that might contaminate Blyth Creek. Mr. Earl agreed a simple earth embankment around the storage tank would probably meet the needs at small cost. More testing of water: Current­ ly the village takes weekly tests for bacteriological contamination in four locations around town. A fifth test, in the village reservoir will be added. In addition, four times a year samples will be taken for test­ ing for various forms of chemical contamination. Annual reports: The village agreed to submit annual reports to the ministry on what changes have been made to the system. The reports let the ministry review what has been happening on a year by year basis and forecast future needs. Apply for a certificate of approval and permit to pump water: Currently the village is operating without either document which is required by the ministry. "I don't know what the PUC and council thinks but this seems a very reasonable approach by the min­ istry," Mr. McBride said. Blyth officials agreed, later passing a motion to undertake the changes. The more expensive part of the changes will be in the long term. The village agreed to commission a report from Maitland Engineering to look at long-term needs. Mr. Earl said he had no doubt that report would come back with recommen­ dations for augmenting pumping capacity and even storage capacity. He said he felt there is need for some sort of elevated storage in the south end of the village to increase water pressure. "The system is defi­ nitely dated," Mr. Earl said. "At some time in the next five years it's likely going to need changes." Farmers to march on Parliament Hill The population of Huron county will drop by several hundred Friday as Huron county farmers join thou­ sands of other farmers in a March on Parliament Hill to protest the possible elimination of supply managed marketing boards. Blaine Stephenson, fieldman for the Ontario Federation of Agricul­ ture, said Monday that five bus­ loads of farmers are expected to leave Clinton early Friday morning to join the march. As well, another busload will leave the Wingham area and two more are expected to leave from Lucknow. About 12 buses are expected to leave from Perth county and 11 are reported to be travelling from Bruce to Ottawa. Mr. Stephenson said Monday morning that calls were coming in so heavily that nearly a busload had been filled that morning alone. Parking for 500 buses has been arranged in Ottawa and many farm­ ers are also driving to take part in the protest. There was word that even some American farmers would be traveling north to join their Canadian brothers and 2500 farmers from the Atlantic provinces are likely on their way. Some farm­ ers are even flying in from Western Canada. In all, about 25,000 farmers are expected to attend the rally to show their support for supply-managed marketing boards. A tentative agreement under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade would see the border con­ trols used under supply manage­ ment, turned into a system of tariffs continued on page 11 Leverage Walking on snowshoes isn't as easy as it looks as students of Brussels Public School's Grade 6/7 class, discovered during their visit to the Wawanosh Nature Centre last Thursday. After Leslie Elliott took a tumble, Janice Jacklin had to make sure both her feet were planted firmly on the crowd before giving her classmate a helping hand. Enjoying the show are, in back, from left, Michelle Illman and Jennifer Coyne. OPP investigate break-ins Wingham OPP are investigating two break-ins, which occurred sometime during the evening of Feb. 13. According to Staff Sgt. McKee a call came in at 7 a.m. on Feb. 14, regarding a break-in at the Blyth Inn. Const. Chris Cossitt, the inves­ tigating officer reported the sus­ pects entered through the front door, but at this time it appears they left without taking anything. At 7:30 an employee of McGavins Farm Equipment in Walton, reported a break-in. Sgt. McKee said that the thieves gained entry through the back door, going through several offices, before absconding with $2,000 worth of tools and $65 in cash. Constable Mike Alexander is investigating the incident.