The Citizen, 2006-10-19, Page 12For committed
representation
in
Wawanosh
Ward
RE-ELECT DOUG LAYTON
REEVE FOR NORTH HURON
November 13
Once again I am asking for your support for Reeve. I believe
North Huron is a good place to live, work and play. I have
always believed in the betterment of North Huron and will
work to the best of my ability as your Reeve.
Seoccz€4, Doa9 ..eaegtut
PAGE 12. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2006.
Landfill neighbours seek compensation
By Bonnie Gropp
Citizen editor
Some East Wawanosh ratepayers,
living near the Wingham landfill
approached North Huron council
Monday night about compensation
for their devalued property.
Jim Taylor said that the suggestion
the local landfill could potentially
become a county site is a "cloud
hanging over our head."
When council suggested that the
county is the one to consider
compensation, Taylor said that he
was told the township would be the
one to look after it. "You're just
throwing the ball back and forth," he
said.
Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell
said that the township hadn't
committed to letting the county use
the site. Nothing could even be
considered until the environmental
As the flu season approaches,
people are hearing words like
pandemic and avian influenza. What
do these words mean? And why are
they important?
Influenza, or the flu, is a common
infection of the breathing tract
caused by a_ virus. It spreads easily
from person to person through
coughing and sneezing.
Groups of people often become
sick with flu in the fall and winter.
Flu pandemics happen when a new
kind of flu virus appears and spreads
quickly around the world. This can
happen any time of year.
People have no protection against
the new virus, so it will likely cause
more illness and more deaths than
the seasonal flu.
An effective vaccine would not be
immediately available to help during
this time.
There's another kind of flu, too.
Avian influenza is a group of viruses
that cause sickness and death in
birds. Sometimes these viruses
infect people.
The bird flu strain seen since 2004
assessment, initiated by the county,
was done. This would only begin
after the terms of reference have been
agreed upon, approved by the
Ministry of the Environment, and
could take three to five years to
complete.
"It's my understanding that the
county is still exploring
compensation options," said Snell.
"Yes, but in the meantime this has
lowered property value, so who
compensates?" asked Taylor. "When
you are looking for a landfill, the first
thing discussed should be
compensation."
Snell said that this issue is in the
very early stages and eventually the
topic of compensation would be
looked at. "At this point council
hasn't talked about it."
"We can't have this running on for
years and years, because I may not
have years and years," said Taylor.
could cause a pandemic if it
becomes easy to spread from person
to person. This is not happening
now, but we need to prepare, just in
case.
"Surely we can come up with
compensation here. We don't have to
go to the courts to do this."
One of the frustrations for the
landowners, said Taylor is that they
had always believed the site would be
closed in the 1980s. "When they
decided to enlarge it and it went to
the (Ontario Municipal Board) we
didn't oppose it because we believed
it was going to be closed. In
retrospect, we should have objected,
but we were being good neighbours."
The. Ministry of the Environment
has given several expansion
approvals to the site.
The growth, said Taylor's wife,
Doris, has created an eyesore. "It's in
plain view now."
"And now we're talking about
taking the county waste. This is a
-clould over our property values until
you say yes or no," said Taylor.
Councillor Archie MacGowan,
Your family can take precautions
for a flu pandemic, or any serious
emergency. To learn how, come to a
free health unit information session,
Family Emergency Preparedness, on
however said. again that it's too early
for this kind of negotiation. "We
don't even have the terms of
reference."
The question of how much it had
affected property value went
unanswered, as an assessment_ would
be required. This would be an
expense that the ratepayers didn't
:feel they should have to pay. Taylor
estimated, however, that the landfill
has lowered the value of his property
by hundreds of thousands.
"And we're not even the worst,"
said Doris. "There are some who
would have to give their land away.
This problem is on land owned by the
township. Don't pass the buck onto
the county."
MacGowan said that this was not
the case, but that more information
was needed before any action could
be taken.
Doris Taylor said she had written
asking for information and had not
received an answer. Snell took
responsibility saying that there was
nothing new to tell them.
"That's just a slap. We've been
ignored one more time," she
answered.
Snell explained that there had not
been any information since the last
committee meeting. "We have
nothing new to tell you. I guess that's
part of the problem."
"In fhe meantime," said Taylor,
"this has lowered my biggest asset so
I can't borrow against it. This needs
to be resolved."
Reeve Doug Layton said that after
the election he would be asking
council for a chainlink fence around
the property and for money for a
chipper. It was also suggested that a
tree planting program, and berms
would be a benefit.
"I mentioned a year and a half ago
that we are not interested in .Baking
anyone's garbage," said Layton. "The
only thing we would agree to is an -
environmental assessment which is
actually for your protection. If it's
positive, it's up to the council of the
day what happens and 10 years down
the road, I can't predict what a
council will do."
"We are not here to fight," said
Layton, "but for the time being our
hands are tied somewhat."
Snell offered to contact the county
to discuss the matter.
Hog dog
Blyth firefighter Dean Wilson serves up a hot dog to a Karl Boven at the department's open
house on Saturday. The event was held as part of Fire Safety Week. (Vicky Bremner photo)
What people need to know
about the flu and pandemics