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The Citizen, 1998-06-24, Page 3Thank You We would like to thank everyone who donated prizes & helped to make our Penny Sale a success. Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary VILLAGE OF BLYTH 2ND INSTALMENT OF TAXES DUE The second instalment of taxes for the Village of Blyth is due on Friday, June 26, 1998. Payment may be made at the Blyth Branch of the CIBC or at the Municipal Office. Interest at 1 1/4% per month or any part thereof shall be charged after the due date. Please note that people who have acquired properties and have not received a tax bill should contact the Municipal Office. Failure to receive a tax bill does not relieve a taxpayer from responsibility for payment of taxes, nor from penalty for late payment. John Stewart, CMO Tax Collector Village of Blyth Cherries Raspberries U-Pick - We Pick Sweet Cherries June 25th - by the pound Raspberries - July 1 in pint or quart containers Pie Cherries - soon after by the pound Blythe Brooke Orchards 1 mile west of Blyth. on County Rd. #25 Phone for information 523-4383 Cherries Raspberries Cherries Raspberries Cherries Raspberries Habitat help Steven Van Amersfoort, along with other senior Blyth Public School students, took Friday morning off to help rehabilitate a section of Blyth Creek. CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL MATERNAL/CHILD PROGRAM "BABY AND I" NO FEE NO PRE-REGISTRATION PROGRAM DAYS - WEDNESDAYS 10 - 11:30 a.m. WHERE - Clinton Public Hospital Lounge (Entrance off John St ) PROGRAM TOPICS: (Newborns to 3 months) July 1/98 - Baby's Fine - How Are You? The Blues & Post Partum Depression July 8/98 - Infant Car Seat Safety July 15/98 - Infant CPR - Choking & Safety July 22/98 - "Baby Sense" Guest Speaker: Ruth Ann Houston, Speech Pathologist July 29/98 - Sibling Rivalry Watch for further dates in your "About Your Hospital" article Inquiries: Veronica Farquhar - 482-3440 Ext. 304 °ph About Your Hospital Love at first sight is easy to understand. It's when two people have been looking at each other for years that it becomes a miracle. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 24, 1998. PAGE 3. Council, ratepayers debate drain payment li By Janice Becker Citizen staff The controversy surrounding assessment for the Cummings Drain continued into the June 22 meeting of Blyth council as objec- tions to the payment method were brought forward. Resident George Reinink spoke to council on behalf of other ratepayers who were concerned that council had agreed to pay the assessment for all private property in the village. At the June 1 session, council passed a motion which would result in the village's general fund being used to cover approximately $150,000 worth of the municipal drain which borders Blyth and runs into East Wawanosh Twp. The difficulty arose because while urban drains are paid for this, the cost is shared by property own- ers whose land drains into a rural municipal drain. Though the Cummings Drain is a rural municipal drain, it also takes surface water from some Blyth properties. Councillor Rob Lawrie argued at the June I meeting that all Blyth residents should be treated the same and not have to pay for the Howson proj. concerns family After receiving a letter from John and Theresa Rinn regarding the Howson and Howson development off County Rd. 25, east of the vil- lage, Blyth council agreed, at the June 22 session, to set up a meeting for all concerned. The Rinns were concerned about noise and safety for their young family as they live next to the pro- posed development. They also questioned the available water pres- sure. As with the Huron Tractor pro- ject, Reeve Mason Bailey will facilitate a meeting with all involved parties, to iron out what he classified as minor concerns, as Bill Howson had already spoken to the family. The severance application for the truck facility has been approved, pending the drawing of a site plan agreement. That agreement will indicate all structures and objects on the prop- erty including trees, fencing or any other changes to the land. The legal document will then bind Howson and Howson to com- plete everything agreed to on the site plan. SWIMMING CLASS REGISTRATION will be taken JULY 7TH AND 8TH at the Blyth Municipal Office during normal office hours. Children must be 3 ft. 2" to chin height. REGISTRATION FEE $38.00 PER CHILD Swimming starts July 27th to August 7th from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Trahsportation to Vanastra Recreation Centre provided by the Blyth and Londesboro Lions Club removal of their surface water. However, in rebuttal, Reinink said all residents draining into a municipal drain should have to pay a portion. Reinink asked council to rescind the motion which approved pay- ment stating that there should be no payment of private property assess- ment from general funds and that all taxpayers should be treated equally. He also pointed out that the Drainage Act indicates a $50 cap on assessments to private property which can be paid by municipali- ties. It was expressed by Reinink that there was a conflict of interest by three members of council on this issue. Gerald Kerr questioned council on the appearance that there were two sets of rules. Lawrie replied that was not the case and that no one in Blyth had ever paid for drains. Reinink insisted on documented proof of past cases where Blyth property drained into municipal drains and were not assessed indi- vidually. Clerk-Treasurer John Stewart said this would be possible only after contacting the neighbouring townships for dates of drain improVements so that dates for billing records could be checked. While Councillor Murray Nes- bitt, who had not supported the payment motion, said he had heard from ratepayers who were not pleased with the decision, Council- lor Jeff Howson indicated he had heard only approvals. Reeve Mason Bailey said he sup- ported council in whatever their decision was, whether to continue with the current motion or rescind it. However, he questioned how the village came to be in such a posi- tion. The wash-out of the Cum- mings Drain, resulting in flooding on the Reinink property, occurred only after a berm was removed a few years ago. "It is costing us $150,000 because someone removed that berm," said Bailey. Stewart said there were three options for council. They could carry on with the resolution, rescind it and pass a new resolution or get a legal opinion on the drainage act and council's position. Reinink insisted on a motion to rescind the payment resolution and another motion which would show that the village would accept responsibility for any future munic- Mischief in Blyth Leaving his vehicle parked out front after attending a house party resulted in a damaged van for a Blyth man, June 14. Sometime after 4 a.m., persons cut the tire stems, smashed win- dows and rolled the 1980 GMC van on its side, report the OPP. The van was parked on Morris Street in Blyth. The investigation continues. ipal drains which affect the village. Due to the serious concerns and long- term implications, council agreed to reserve decision until the next session, allowing time for con- sideration. Blyth United Church 4:30 - 7:30 p.m.