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Times-Advocate, 1981-09-10, Page 1Area bean crop loss is extensive The recent wet weather may cause the loss of up to 50 percent of the early bean crop and 10 to 20 percent of later beans. • The associate ag rep for Huron County, Stan Pa- quette, who set these figures. stated that many bean plants have pods touching the ground - which have sprouted and become unmarketable. Paquette added that some hay which had been cut but not harvested has been lost and other crops such as silage corn, onions, rutabagas and potatoes have had delgyed harvests due to wet field conditions. 1 acry :IShapton, •sales manager of the Hensall District Co -Op, agreed that the very damp conditions were serious. He said there was con- siderable sprouting in a lot of the early beans which were ripe and discoloration will also cause losses or downgrading of beans. He estimated the possible losses on early beans at about 20 to 25 percent. Later beans, he added will survive the wet weather a lot better and though some may have grade losses due to dis- coloration, most are still harvestable. Shapton said it would be hard to know the full effect until the crop was harvested. Loss would be limited if the rains stopped right way and BEANS IN WATER FOR DAYS — Water in area white bean fields was the rule rather than the exception this week. T -A photo BP withdraws objection Plaza hearing is short An Ontario Municipal Board hearing into extended uses for the north end shop- ping centre came to a quick halt. Thursday, when BP Canada withdrewan objec- tion to the inclusion of a gas bar in the complex. BP Canada withdrew the objection at the commence- ment of the hearing being chaired by OMB represen- tative Dyer. There were no other objec- tions and the shopping cen- tre will now be granted all uses under Exeter's C5 andC6 designation as well as a financial institution, con- venience milk store, gas bar, Laundromat or cleaners and hairdresser/barber. - At a special meeting last week. Exeter council and the local planning board met to discuss issues raised by J. Sprackman of Hawleaf Developments Ltd. regar- ding the shopping centre. Discussion took place on the added use of a drug store. the division of stores and the enforcement of the existing development agree- ment. After a lengthy discussion on the part of council and the planning board it was agreed that the added use of a drug store would require an of- ficial plan and zoning bylaw amendment. No action was taken at the present time, as it had recently been turned down by the planning board's recommendation to council when bylaw 10, 1981 was passed. ' - On the matter of the divi- sion of stores, council felt that any request to divide stores was academic, now that zoning was in place and that if _Sprackman made written application to divide any particular store, it could be dealt with by council resolution. The town has requested that the storm drain ex- tension easement over Hawleaf property be A CANADIEN AUTOGRAPH – Huron Park youngster hod a field day in getting autographs last week at the Huron Hockey School. Above, Mario Tremblay of the Montreal Canadiens signs an autograph for Silly McGrath. T -A photo Differing opinions on industrial site Stratford lawyer Mike Mitchell has advised Exeter council that under no cir- cumstances should a building permit be issued for an industrial use on the site recently rezoned for Laidlaw Transport on Highway 83 at the eastern limits. Mitchell contends that the intention of the OMB in approving the rezoning from an MI to M2 designation was on a site specific basis for Laidlaw Transport. Councillor Jay Campbell said Tuesday night that he felt Mitchell was in error in that opinion and asked that some clarification be sought. Campbell said he felt the rezoning was approved and questioned the OMB authority to make it a site specific situation. Mayor Bruce Shaw said he felt that hearing the OMB discussion and reading the decision indicated that the property would revert to MI if it was not used by Laidlaw. "In that case, we lost," Campbell said of the OMB decision. Councillor Bill Mickle said he couldn't understand how the rezoning could apply only to Laidlaw Transport and said he thought the rezoning was a general application. "We haven't changed the zoning one iota," he said in reference to the opinion held by the Stratford lawyer. Shaw said he would con- tact Mitchell to get clarification on the matter and it was also indicated the town would get an opinion from county planner Gary Davidson. Mitchell has also advised solicitors for Laidlaw that they will be responsible for the costs incurred by the town in the OMB hearing as the application for a change in zoning signed by Laidlaw provides in it that it will be responsible for any costs. changed to coincide with the path it will follow along property owned by Landrush Inc. on Highway 83 East. The storm drain will be 25 feet from the highway in the Landrush portion, but the original easement with Hawleaf is for 70 feet from the highway. Council had given Hawleaf until September 2 to agree to Please turn to page 3 Not happy with reply A recent survey un- dertaken by Exeter council which showed the town paid more for fire pr itection costs to the PUC than most communities, has drawn what council members suggested this week was an unsatisfactory answer from the local PUC. The survey indicated Exeter's annual rental rate of $227 per hydrant (for a cost of $26,000 per year) was twice as high as most communities in the area. However, this week Mayor Bruce Shaw explained that local PUC manager Hugh Davis had advised that the comparison in costs would be more meaningful if it was based on what the town paid for fire protection in relation to total water revenue. It was indicated that under that system, Exeter's fire protection rate was 9.8 percent of total water revenue, while by com- parison it was 17 percent in Tillsonburg. Councillor Bill Mickle said using that system was a type of inverted thinking and the answer from the PUC was not rational. Mayor Shaw also noted that council had to consider the cost of supplying water in comparing costs, noting that Exeter had to pump water from wells 10 miles distant, while communities such as Clinton and Goderich had ample supply at their doorstep. In reference to the PUC explanation, Shaw said council could take it or leave it. "I'll leave it," Mickle replied, complaining that the Commission members were too rigid and had never shown any interest in negotiating matters with the town. "I find it very sad if you can't negotiate," he added, saying that at the present time it was similar to batting your head against a brick wall. "The PUC has our Worship (Shaw) pretty well tied up," he chided. "You know better than that," Shaw replied, saying that if council members were adamant about the situation they should take the next step. There was no action suggested by council members as the discussion ended. farmers had a two week dry Hensall agreed that quite a winds would dry out the spell he added. bit depends on this week's fields and crops. Grower Bob Down, RR 1, weather. Lew humidity and Though some of his early beans. with pods touching the ground have had splitting and sprouting problems, he had not yet pulled any of the plants. "Any beans that were pull- ed are pretty well .shot," Down said. The crop will be "fairly badly damaged unless the weather straightens around." Down said, adding that the bean crop was already hurt by dry con- ditions earlier in the season. Lloyd Whitesell, assistant manager of W.G. Thompson mills. Hensall branch, was more optimistic about the beans. Though he agreed it's "hard to tell until we can get out into the fields" he said "there's some beans out there yet". Though some bean plants have been blackened, only the lower pods have been sprouting. He said a sample brought in• had blackened pods and some lower sprouting. but the beans BEAN SPROUTS — These sprouting plants are typical of were as "white as pearls." many found in area white bean fields due to the recent heavy Some growers he added rains. T -A photo were talking about clipping the plants off level to bypass the sprouted pods. He said he thought the 50 percent loss was a high es- timate but added only time and the weather will tell. The rains will have a bad effect on yield and quality, said farmer Harry Dougall. RR 3. Exeter. Beans which were just get- ting ripe before the rains started will be hardest hit, with crops having up to 75 percent more rejected beans than usual. Ile said the 10 to 20 per- cent loss estimate for late beans could be low. but that would not be known for sure until the farmers can begin harvesting. Phil Durand.HR 1, Zurich said he was "quite sure we'll lose some beans" and added that he agreed with a 50 per- cent loss estimate on early beans The rains have really hurt Please turn to page 3 SPROUTING BEANS - The heavy rains of area white bean fields. Above, Middlesex damage in his rain soaked fields. Ames Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Ninth Year recent weeks have caused sprouting in many County farmer Rene VonBruaene check. the Staff photo voca & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, SEPTEMBER 10, 1981 Price per copy 40 Cents LOTS OF ACTION - /an Mason was back at the intersection of Main and Victoria street - Tuesday morning as a crossing guard to help school children across the street. T -A photo Riddell not seeking Liberal leadership Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack Riddell will not be among those contesting the Ontario Liberal party leadership, which will become vacant through the retirement of Dr. Stuart Smith. "No sir," Riddell said emphatically when reached at his Toronto office yesterday by the T -A to see if he was considering entering the race as Smith's suc- cessor. While noting that he had been approached by several people to consider contesting the leadership, the Dash- wood area farmer said he may have considered it if he was to years younger. "At 50 it would be quite a rat race," he said. Ile said he has some ap- preciation what The party leaders go through and he isn't interested in such a hectic life Ile also indicated he has Tickets available for Wintario show Admission tickets for the October I Wintario draw in Exeter are expected to go on sale Monday. After an executive meeting Wednesday af- ternoon, chairman Lossy Fuller said tickets would sell for $2 for adults and $1 for children under 12 years of age. A one hour program in- volving local talent will start at 7:30 p.m. At that time the doors will close and Global television technicians will check their equipment in readiness for the live Win- tario show at 9 p.m. The local talent will in- clude John A. Wurm and the Country Caravan, Nancy Van Bruaene, Jane Pollock, Julie Easterbrook, the Country Cowgirls and Whiskey Jack Music Company. Mrs. Fuller said the committee which is made up of members from the two sponsoring groups, the Exeter Lioness Club and the South Huron Rec Centre board hopes to sell at least 1,000 tickets for the show. Employees of Global Television and Bell Canada have been in Exeter in recent weeks checking out signals which are necessary to originate the program from here. Mrs. Fuller said she received two calls from Wintario officials Monday to keep the local committee up to date on plans. The host for the Wintario program will be Faye Dance. She will be assisted in the audience by Greg Beresford. not yet thrown his support behind any of the announced candidates to date, favoring to wait and see who throw their hats into the ring. Riddell predicted the leadership convention would probably be held at the same time as the party's annual meeting in March. Salary grid system under attack again The salary grid for Town of Exeter employees came under fire at Tuesday's regular session. with Coun- cillor Bill Mickle again leading the attack. "We've got a monstrosity and we'd better look at it." Mickle said at the end of the debate. which arose when the employee relations com- mittee made recommen- dations regarding the police secretary position. Mickle again charged that the system provided for in- flationary increases as well as merit increases and said he was "very fearful" of the system which provided for this piggy -backing situation. He wanted to know what criteria would be used to have an employee move from one step in the grid to another step and committee chairman Jay Campbell in- dicated there was no criteria. However. Mayor Bruce Shaw said it was really a reward for experience and was an annual increment and said that devising a method to move an employee from one level to another was probably an im- possible task. The Mayor contended that any evaluation of a person required that the person do- ing the evaluation had to know the job better than the person doing it and opined That no member of council was qualified to evaluate the work of any town employee. Councillor Gavlan Josephson noted that council had debated the grid system at a special meeting and he said he thought the matte rwas settled. "Now we're debating it again and we probably will be next year at this time." He remarked that moving an employee from one level on the grid to the next was in recognition of the competen- cy that comes with ex- perience. The employee relations committee recommended that the grid for the secretary to the police chief contain three levels. starting at $8.927 and moving to $9.- 374 in the second step and $9.893 in the third and final step Campbell acknowledged that the payment in the three levels would be in- creased by 10 percent on January 1 of next year when all town employees will receive a 10 percent pay hike through the terms of their two-vear pact with council. The committee also recommended they be authorized to prepare job descriptions for the crossing guard. cemetery superinten- dent and casual employees of the works department. Mickle moved anamend- ment to delete that recommendation from the report. but it was defeated with Mayor Bruce Shaw casting the deciding vote to break a 4-4 tie. The entire report and recommendations contained therein was then approved on a 5-3 vote. Other recommendations contained in it were that when a position is declared vacant. the employee relations committee will ex- amine the job description and salary grid before the job is advertised and also that when any town depart- ment has excess work, other departments will assist if possible. May widen bridge It won't be known until later this week if the Main St. bridge over the Ausable River will he widened during current maintenance to the structure. The ministry of transpor- tation and communication have been asked to consider widening the bridge by three feet on the west side by can- tilvcrrng the sidewalk over the side of mics the superintehridge.ndent Glen Kelly told council this week the ministry would ad- vise it that was possible for the proiect.which is to com- mence this week. The bridge. which is narrower than the highway. has been struck by vehicles on numerous occasions in the past. There are no present plans to put a sidewalk on the east side of the bridge. although local ratepayers are being asked to express their opinions on that matter by returning a questionnaire that was included with their tax notices Clerk Liz Bell said about one in five appear to be put- ting the questionnaire in the box at the town offices. but as yet the results have not been tabulated. • PLANNING WINTARIO VISIT The October 1 drawing for Wintario will be held at the South Rec Centre in Exeter. The visit is being sponsored jointly by the Exeter Lioness Club and the South Huron Rec Cent,,' hno',i The committee in chorge is shown above. Back. left, Don Gravett, Carol Merner, Morion Knowles and Inmce ("),,,,n,•11 From movor Bruce Show, chairman Lossy Fuller and Liz Stephens. T- A photo