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Huron Expositor, 2001-10-10, Page 5News Farmers seek manure flexibility in Bluewater By Nellie Evans Lakeshore Advance Editor As the Municipality of Bluewater prepared to toss out 50-60 per cent land ownership . for manure spreading in favor of zero Monday night, a handful of local farmers pleaded council to reduce the requirement by just half to provide flexibility on individual situations. "I read about this in the paper and it's important that it's flexible. Council should have given the minor variance in the first place. Going zero per cent is fine for dry manure," said John Vander Burgt, referring to Jamie Brand's minor variance application. "They can stockpile it but it doesn't work for liquid (manure). The key is proper land management." A farmer with no land to spread liquid manure may have no choice but dispose of it under the wrong conditions if his storage tank is full. Vander Burgt said if that farmer damaged his leased land, the lessor may break the lease agreement. "Sixty to 50 is too high but nothing is wrong (but not) with 20-25 per cent land ownership," he said. "Look at each farm situation." "Be careful this is not abused by large corporations," said Mervin Etb. "With the price of land, young fanners can't be in a position where they can't buy land. Twenty-five per cent land ownership is a logical number." A shoreline resident who admitted to being unfamiliar with nutrient management laws and also had no position on council's rejection of Jamie Brand's minor variance, asked council to consider actions taken by the province and Huron County on manure disposal. "A balance between the environment and agriculture is a success of the county," he said. Mayor Bill Dowson assured the speaker the Ontario Nutrient Management Act should answer the question of land ownership. The Act may receive approval by the spring of 2002. He added council should possibly be discussing two different types of manure: dry versus liquid. Bayfield Ward Coun. Joe Laudenbach suggested council not make any changes to its manure storage bylaw; grant Brand's minor variance and request that Brand submit an annual report to the municipality regarding where and how much manure is spread on a particular parcel 9f land. "Let's not focus on land ownership. I think the nutrient management plan will work," said Councillor -At -Large Diane Denomme. "We need flexibility," said Wayne Hamilton, a local farmer and director on both the Huron County and Ontario federations of agriculture. 'That's what you didn't do in Jamie's case. The nutrient management plan is key, land ownership is secondary but whatever you decide, include flexibility and I think Jamie needs an answer." "He'll have one tonight," said Mayor Dowson. Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp was skeptical Ontario's Nutrient Management Act will be "oh so good" and suggested it will need further adjustments after the public works with it. He also suggested council grant Brand his minor variance. Administrator Janisse Zimmerman reminded council that Brand needs to reapply for a minor variance at a cost of worse. $650 because they denied his previous application and he didn't appeal that decision to the Ontario Municipal Board "It's your call but maybe the legislation will make it so there's no need for a minor variance," Klopp suggested to Brand. "It doesn't make any sense because half an hour ago you allowed a trailer (to be used temporarily) without payment," said Brand. 'Tm not comfortable with reapplying when nothing is changed." "It does sound a little bit insane but what we passed is not a binding law. If there's a complaint, the trailer will be removed," responded Klopp. "You could have appealed the decision." A motion was posed to waive the municipality's portion of the fee ($325) should Brand decide to reapply for a minor variance. The motion lost, the manure storage bylaw wasn't changed and discussion turned to•domes covering manure storage tanks. Mervin Erb advised council the domes work very well and generate less smell than concrete covers that hold in manure smell and make it Closure decisions could be made in February From Page 1 considerably, but all followed a general format which had been set out by Bill Gerth, the Avon Maitland superintendent overseeing the CASC process. Chief among these similarities were descriptions of "commonalities" between all schools within the CASC area, as well as "key drivers" influencing any discussions of student accommodations. All committees also made recommendations, though none are binding on the board nor trustees, since the CASC reports were received only as information to be considered towards the Oct. 23 list. Differing most significantly from the board -suggested format was the South Study .Area report. It was split into three separate majority reports -- from each school cluster serving each of the study area's secondary schools, in St. Marys, Exeter and Mitchell -- a "minority report" from the school council of Hensall Public School, and an appended University of Guelph study entitled "Rural Schools and Educational Reform: Should we keep rural schools open?" The three other CASCs presented largely united -- though not totally united -- reports. Several recommendations from the municipally -appointed representatives -- as opposed to the school council -based representatives -- to the West Central committee were presented separately from the committee -wide recommendations. And, the Stratford Study Area presentation was marked by a minority report from members representing the city's two secondary schools. According to the reports, a considerable amount of dissent among the committees came over the issue of moving Grades 7 and 8 students into secondary school settings. Several such scenarios, among a long list of potential school closures and other.changes, were suggested in a board - 'commissioned report from a London-based consulting firm, which was provided as information to the CASCs. Board staff has also promoted the idea in the past, suggesting the new four-year high school program pushes specialized curriculum down to the Grades 7 and 8 levels, meaning those students need access to the type of specialized teachers and equipment which are largely currently available only in secondary schools. The West Central committee, supported by an endorsement from the Huron East municipal council and backed by the fact Seaforth Public School currently uses portable classrooms to accommodate all its students, recommended moving Grades 7 and 8 students into Seaforth District High School to avert its closure. But not all CASCs agreed. "We recommend that the AMDSB does not consolidate senior elementary students into secondary school facilities," states the North Study Area report, adding that "the emotional well-being of these students was given high importance and it was felt that their needs would be better served at the elementary schools." Similar opposition was expressed in the Mitchell -area submission, and was used as one reason why the Hensall Pubic School council felt it should issue a minority report aside from the Exeter -area submission, which came down in favour of such realignment. The notion of moving students to secondary schools to facilitate the closure of elementary schools was not rejected outright in either case, however. The Mitchell -area report stated, "we are intrigued by the model being used in some places of having Kindergarten children in the high schools," and suggested Grade , students could also be included in such a model. And, the Hensall report suggested moving some Kindergarten to Grade 6 students into a secondary school setting, while providing a regional "middle school" for Grades7and8. The St. Marys -area report, while not commenting directly on the issue, used a statement that "it is not in the best interest of students ... to close any school" to imply opposition to any solution involving moving Grades 7 and 8 students. In Stratford, a different Grade 7 and 8 realignment proposal led to the minority report from Stratford Central ItThe Huron Good Food Box is up and running. ANYONE CAN PARTICIPATE! Prepayments must be made in cash by Oct. 12th for Oct. 25 delivery A box is $12 and filled with fresh, top quality fruits and vegetables. For more information and to prepay call: Lettie Wilson — 482-9264 `Sally Van Doomik — 527-0914 Ann MacMillan — 262-2546 and Stratford Northwestern secondary schools. The majority Stratford report explained, "it appears the majority of parents are opposed to Grade 7 and 8 students being integrated into the current high schools," before suggesting the establishment of one Stratford -region school for Grades 7-9 students and another for those in Grades 10-12. The secondary school representatives, fearful such a change would diminish both the arts -related strengths already in evidence at Stratford Central and the technology focus at Northwestern, opposed the recommendation. Instead, they suggested placing Grades 7 and 8 students in the two high schools. On the issue of school closure, strong opposition to the notion was expressed in various reports and the South committee (in an over-all introduction presented prior to the separate regional submissions) stated all secondary schools should remain open. Only the St. Marys -area report, however, stood unequivocally against the closure of any school, suggesting instead that the board refer to the University of Guelph report on small schools. The West Central committee recommended that "high schools ... should not be closed unless there is no other solution to the funding problems of the board," thereby showing its distaste for the closure notion yet accepting it as a possibility. A similar sentiment was expressed in the South committee's over-all introduction, with the recommendation that "decisions regarding any school closures must be student focused." The North committee's report, meanwhile, openly supports initiating a process which could lead to school closure. "Consolidation plans should be established with urgency," the report states, and the second recommendation is to "consolidate secondary schools to attain benchmark size," referring to the provincial government's. formula for the minimum number of students required to operate a secondary school in the most cost-efficient manner. Following the Oct. 23 meeting, a final trustee vote on school closures could come as early as February, 2002. TNI HURON EXPOSITOR, October 10, 2001-5 SEAEORTH INSURANCE • BROKER LTD. 527-1610 • Home It • Commercial a,. •Auto • Farm • Out of Province Travel Insurance 41 Main St. 5. Seaforth prisma Leonhard:, Lynn Pletsch, Ken Cardno, Barb Wan and Joanne Williamson FALLAivyl,gwGvelj'�abBS,/ Tomatoes Still Available Weather Permitting. FALL BULBS, PUMPKINS & SQUASH! Nursery Stock, Perennials, Garden Mums & Hard Goods...up to 50% off! M• Bi;�er Walls to Win! . r 'r Huron Trails Contest '' ` 1 Wraps up October 28, 2001 <---;~ S Scooters, Frisbees � if Gift Baskets and Hiking Packs Adult and children's prizes • • Pick up a ballot and maps at your local library, Health Unit, the Falls Reserve or the Morrison Dam. • One balbt for every three different trails hiked. Get out and enjoy the fall colours/ For more info call: Huron County Health Unit 482-3416 or Maitland Valley Conservation Authority 335-3557 ' •ees You are invited to attend these area churches First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seale);Ih Rev. Vandermey Worship Sunday 11:15 am Sunday School during Worship St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St. Seaforth Rev. Michael Atkins Sunday Service at 9.30 am. Parish Office 482-7861 Catholic Church Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Parish, Blyth Sunday - 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth Father Lance Magdziak Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth Sunday Worship Hour 11 am Adventure Club for Kids & Youth Groups Wednesdays 7 p.m. Egmondville United Church Rev. Judith Springett Sunday School Gr. 2-8 - 10 a.m. Adults NurseryGr. 1 11 a.m Worship 11 a.m. NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCHES Rev. Sheila Macgregor 527-2635 or 527-1449 Sunday, October Cavan Worship & Sunday Northside: Sacrament Wed. Oct. 10th: NS Christian - CAVAN - Minister 54 Goderich St. W. 14th School: 9:30 a.m. of Baptism, 11 a.m. Education Mtg., 7:30 p.m. \,a Join us for Birthday Cake & Hot Apple Cider Saturday, October 13th lOamto4pm See the Deals on... Appliances • Electronics Snowblowers • Tractors HAPPY ??? P1PTMDAY roe OET.I4TH! 239 Huron Rd. GODERICH 524-5301