Times-Advocate, 1987-10-14, Page 11DRAIN REPORT — Bruce Holdsworth (centre) tells Hay township property owners about the W.J.
Holdsworth and Associates consulting engineers report on the proposed repair of the West Branch of
the Black Creek municipal drain. Thursday's meeting drew 12 concerned residents to hear about the
$140,460 project.
Dram costs to decrease
At Thursdays regular meeting of
Zurich village council, reeve Bob
Fisher reported that cost of construc-
tion of the Zurich municipal drain
would be reduced.
Fisher said lineal foot costs of con-
struction will be down from $7 to $5
which should decrease the total costs
of completing the drain by a total of
$10,000.
The reeve also commented on the
proposal by the county of Huron to
reduce the road rebates to urban
municipalities from 45 to 25 percent.
He said, "It will be a definite Toad
on our taxpayer. It would mean we
would get $3,316 less each year in
rebates."
Fisher continued, "I have sug-
gested to the reeves of Stephen and
Tuckersinith townships that they
should put Huron Park and Vanastra
on the urban road system."
• Brief discussion was held on the
proposal by the Ausable Bayfield Con-
servation Authority to reduce the
• number of municipal representatives.
The Zurich reeve said he thought it
would work , if there was only one
shared representative by two
municipalities that they serve on an
alternating system.
Minutes of the Zurich recreation.
parksand community centre board
revealed that the South Huron Task
Force is holding a meeting on
Wednesday, October 14 at the
Seaforth and District Community
Centre. A tour of the facility will
precede the 7:30 p.m. meeting.
The recreation committee has
given permission to the Zurich men's
rec league to construct washrooms
upstairs at the community centre
with full costs to be paid by them.
Arena manager Brad Clausius was
given permission to apply for liquor
licences for Christmas parties to be
held at the Community Centre on
November 21 and December 12.
mea
Lions tops in efficiency
At their meeting on September 23
there were 19 members present and
one guest. An invitation was receiv-
ed from the Exeter Lions Club
members to attend their 50th An-
niversary celebration on November 6.
Zone 37 West will hold their first
Zone meeting at the Dominion Tavern
on October 7.
Lion Kevin McKinnon reported
they will be canvassing for the
C.N.I.B. before their regular meeting
at 7:00 on Wednesday October 28.
Tail twister was Lion Steve Arm-
strong who collected fines for $3.49.
Carl Finkbeiner won the lucky draw
worth $9.50. It was moved and second-
ed by various Lions to deliver the
phone books again in November and
to donate $150.00 to George Tieman of
Dashwood to help defray costs of his
wheel chair.
It is interesting to know that in the
1986-87 efficiency contest, the Zurich'
Club was first in Zone 37 West, second
in Region 37 and ninth out of 45 clubs
with 1786 points. And in the Visitation
Contest they were also first in Zone,
second in Region and seventh out of
37 clubs with 270 points.
Their next meeting is on Wednes-
day October 14 with Deputy District
Governor Lion Larry Sales from
Woodstock as guest speaker. All Lions
are encouraged to come out and bring
a prospective new member as Oc-
tober is membership month.
Ladies' Auxiliary
Last Tuesday October 6 the ladies
Auxiliary met at the Rest Home and
entertained the Residents to a
musical program, with the meeting
afterwards in the auditorium.
Carmel Sweeney read the minutes
of the last meeting as she is taking
over the duties as Secretary from
Helene Ducharme. -
President Mary -Lou Erb reported
that Mr. Risi has ordered two more
recliner chairs for the home and the
auxiliary will pay for them.
Anne Flaxbard sent out six birth-
day, two sympathy and an anniver-
sary card last month while Cecila
Farwell brought flowers to three new
residents. Our help is required to
i serve coffee, muffins and lunch to
.about 30 people on October 22 as
Mary -Ellen Gingerich is having a
"Work Shop" Seminar for the Region
No. 3 area.
Plans were made for the annual up-
coming"Fall Bazaar" that will be
held at the Home on Saturday
November 7 from 2-4 in the afternoon.
(So mark your calendars and plan to
attend.) A very interesting and infor-
mative report was given by Verda
Baechler on the recent convention she
attended in Toronto along with Mr.
and Mrs. Risi and Mr. and Mrs. Doug
Shephard.
The next Auxiliary meeting is on
Tuesday November 3 at 7:00.
Bingo
Just another reminder not to forget
about the "Bingo" being held on Sun-
day October 18 to raise money for
Bro. Bob Mittleholtz in India at the
Zurich Community Centre beginning
at 7:00 p.m. which is being sponsored
by St. Boniface C.W.L. (Ladies are
asked to please bring cookies for a
snack afterwards.
Big Brothers
Tony and Marlene Bedard, Zurich,
Zelda Inthout, Paul Wydell and Mr.
and Mrs. Jim Chapman of Exeter all
recently attended the Big Brothers of
Ontario Convention held in Toronto.
Women's Institute
Joan Smith, Ina Neeb, Ethel Gabel
and Eileen Consitt attended the 36th
Women's Institute rally in
Londesboro last Monday. At night
they enjoyed a roast beef dinner in
Clinton celebrating Agri -food Week
sponsored by Huron County Junior
Farmers. The theme was "Buy the
Food Your Neighbour Grows".
Personals
Mr. and Mrs. George Harvey and
her mother Mrs. Margaret Masse
from Michigan, spent last week at
their cottage near St. Joseph's.
Mr. and Mrs. Chuck Erb, Mr. and
Mrs. Paul Steckle and Mr. and Mrs.
Jack Riddell all enjoyed spending a
few days this past week at Jim's cot-
tage on Manitoulin Island.
Earl and Malinda Gingerich left on
Tuesday for Florida, where they will
spend the winter months at their other
home. after being in Zurich for the
whole summer.
Beth Sweeney and Sean Whiteford
spent Saturday in Kitchener -Waterloo
with her Alger, Carrie and Dan
THANKSGIVIN DECORATIONS — Dionne Thiel (front) and Ann
Floxbard decorate the altar of St. Peter's Lutheran Church for the
Thanksgiving Sunday service.
Eybergen and his brother Rob and all
attended the Oktoberfest festivities.
On Sunday the Eybergen family.
celebrated Thanksgiving dinner
together at their parents cottage in
Grand Bend.
Dave and Suzanne Bell of
Tecumseh (Windsor) spent the holi-
day weekend with het'parents, An-
drew and Alida Rau.
The family of Gord and Jeanne Hay
had their Thanksgiving turkey dinner
on Tuesday. .
The family of Tony and Adeline
Denomme got together for
Thanksgiving dinner on both Sunday
and Monday at their parents home as
there were enough for two groups.
The Saturday youth bowling teams
(Y.B.C.) have started again for the
season with about 40 kids getting
together at the Town and Country
lanes.
Marcel and Christine Venlinde and
father Mr. Julien Verlinde of Exeter,
returned home last Tuesday after a
lovely month in Europe, where they
visited with relatives in Belgium and
went to various places.
Congratulations to Fred and
Michelle Bern (nee Regier) who were
married on Saturday October 10 at
Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Church, with
dinner and reception held in Exeter.
The bride is the daughter of Joe and
Rose Regier.
A delicious dinner and nice retire-
ment party were held in honour of
Mrs. Jean Gingerich at the Dominion
Tavern last Tuesday evening October
6, attended by her co-workers of the
Bluewater Rest Home.
May we offer our sympathy to the
family of the late John Minderlein
who passed away suddenly on Thurs-
day, especially to his wife Connie.
Melissa Beer and children, Kristin
and Haron of Ottawa along with a
friend, Christine spent the Thanksgiv-
ing holiday weekend visiting with her
parents Mr. and Mrs. Mozart Gelinas
Sr. and relatives in the area, and her
mother-in-law, Mrs. Lillian Beer in
Hensel].
Mrs. Madeline Gelinas from the
Maple Woods Apt. is spending a few
days in Sarnia with her daughters and
families this week.
Congratulations to Joe and Connie
Risi who celebrated their 25th wed-
ding anniversary on October 13.
Phil and Vonnie Overholt and
Dwayne enjoyed Thanksgiving at the
home of their daughter, Sandra and
Joey Overholt and family; while at
the same time celebrated Melanie's
birthday on October 11.
The family of Mozart and Marie
Gelinas Sr. enjoyed a delicious turkey
Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday with
several children and grandchildren
attending.. gimpieJ 00I//e/t-
On Tuesday evening, the Ladies
Auxiliary held their monthly meeting.
The program consisted of readings by
Ann Flaxbard and Annie Finkbeiner,
solos by Tracy Martin accompanied
by her mother, Pearl Ann Martin,
Ladies Double Trio and piano and
organ duets by Pearl Ann and Grace
Martin.
Residents, out visiting during the
week were: Mrs. Ruth Taylor, Mr.
Stephen Molnar, Mrs. Helen Bedard.
Mr. Loftus Denomme, Mr. Fred
Teeter, Mrs. Elizabeth Gingerich,
Mrs. Ann Willert, Mrs. Mary Gerber,
, Mrs. Hazel Stebbins, Mrs. Eileen Ge-
meinhardt, Mrs. Marcella Dietrich.
Mrs. Rose Laub, Mrs. Genevieve
Ducharme, Mr. Aaron Gingerich.
Mrs. Matilda Bassow, Mrs. Matilda
Tetreau, Mrs. Marie Oesch, Mrs.
Frances Dunn, Mrs. Mattie Jantzi,
Mrs. Oriole Westlake and Mrs. Ruby
Iloggarth.
Bingo was played on Friday even-
ing followed by refreshments.
The Zurich Mennonite choir
brought the message of Thanksgiving
in song on Sunday morning.
The Sunday evening chapel service
was conducted by Rev. Stephen Ades
of St. Peter's Lutheran Church,
Zurich.
$140,460
Times -Advocate, October 14, 1987
Report draws
Despite heavy criticism from con-
cerned residents, Hay Council has
adopted the West Branch Black Creek
drain repair report prepared by W.J.
Bartlett and Associates.
Reeve Lionel Wilder told those pre-
sent it was the council's duty to adopt
the report regardless of whether
council agreed with its recommenda-
tions or not Any changes to the
$140,460 proposed cleaning and im-
provement of the drain will be
discussed at the Court of -Revision
meeting set for Monday, November 2.
The purpose of Thursday's special
meeting was to read the report and
hear concerns and questions from the
12 property owners who attended the
meeting. However, council noted
most of the councillors themselves
own property along the drainage area
and consequently have personal in-
terests in the outcome of the proposal.
Bruce Holdsworth from W.J.
Bartlett and Associates, the con-
sulting engineers for the report,
detailed what his company recom-
mended to solve the problems with
the West Black Creek drainage and
why their proposed solution is so
expensive.
Holdsworth told the audience
records of the drain exist back to 1891
and major cleanings were undertaken
in 1917, 1930, 1963 and 1979. Smaller
cleanouts have taken place in interim
years.
The main difficulty in keeping the
9,700 -metre drain clear is caused by
the soil type in the area, and the fact
previous cleanings have piled soil up
on the banks, creating the illusion the
drain is two metres deep south of
highyvay 84. In reality, the drain bot-
tom is at a higher elevation than the
surreunding land.
"Ground level is actually lower, a
thousand feet back, than the drain,"
Holdsworth explained, and added that
many of the smaller drains entering
Black Creek were under water most
of the summer.
Holdsworth continued to illustrate
the drain's problems with reference
to the culverts under concession roads
6-7 and 8-9 and highway 84. He noted
these were too shallow to allow com-
plete water flow from the north.
These should be replaced with
appropriate -diameter piping at the
correct depth, according to the
report.
"In my opinion, it is going to give
you a longer time between
cleanouts," hoped Holdsworth after
. explaining how the entire water flow
would be improved by the recom-
mended changes.
New technologies are now available
to improve the drain and grade cross-
ings for cattle and machinery, such
as a flexible concrete matting tied
with stainless cable, bedded on a
special polypropylene fabric allowing
water penetration, but holding back
eroding sand and dirt. Holdsworth
mentioned government subsidies that
will pay for 80 percent of such erosion
control measures at grade crossings,
but some of those present were con-
cerned these would not work anyway.
"It seems like a lot of money for
something that's not going to stay
About people you know
Several families in town got
together once again to celebrate
Thanksgiving with the traditional
turkey dinner and all the trimmings.
The Masse family got together at
the home of Don and Elaine
Beauchamp.
Earl and Anne Flaxbard invited
their children from Kitchener, Lon-
don and Ingersoll on Monday.
Mr. and Mrs. Enos Martin and Mr.
and Mrs. Earl Gingerich were recent
dinner guests with Mrs. Seleda
Steckle.
Congratulations to Cindy O'Brien
and Glenn Spearing who were mar-
ried on Saturday, September 26 at the
United Church in Zurich. The bride is
the daughter of Doug and Betty -Ann
O'Brien of Zurich.
The family of Ivan and Marj
Meidinger celebrated their
Thanksgiving together with dinner on
Sunday, October 4 at their parents'
The family of Nelson and Mabel
Riley celebrated their Thanksgiving
dinner with all their children and
spouses attending and grandchildren
(19 in all) including Mabel's mother
Mrs. Mary Gerber who is a resident
of the Bluewater Rest Home. Family
members came from Seaforth,
Woodstock and Tavistock.
It's nice to see that Abbey and
Wilma Erb have recently moved in-
to. their newly -renovated home on
Walnut St. in the former home of
Aylmer Oesch:
Custom Cider
.Pressing
CaII for an appointment
565-2122
Also:
Fresh
Apple Cider
'Call To Order"
Large quantity discounts!
Huron Ridge
Acres
R.R.2 Zurich
criticism
open," complained Claire Regier,
"Something should be done about this
erosion in this swamp."
He noted much of the silt in the
drain is blown from nearby farmland.
In his opinion, the land should be
returned to grassland to prevent the
erosion.
Jack Coleman, Stanley councillor,
wondered who would have the
authority to dictate what could and
could not be grown on his land, but he,
too, thought the proposal was by no
means a permanent solution to the
drain's problems. He suggested
minor cleanings of the drain at
regular intervals as a better alter-
native to major projects aimed at
keeping it clear for long periods of
time.
Holdsworth agreed any drain must
be maintained, but insisted that the
drain must first be returned to its
useful status by deepening it, improv -
Page ,9
ing the culverts and grade crossings,
and regrading the surrounding land
to eliminate the crumbling of its
banks.
Wilder believed this to be the first
step in the right direction and added
that an improved system should re-
quire less maintenance.
"If you take the obstruction out of
the highway, it will buy you more
time."
In response to concerns about the
high price tag placed on this project,
Wilder hoped that the final cost might
be less than projected because the
past two drain projects funded by the
township have both been completed
for less than originally estimated.
Included in the $140,460 total is
$36,000 set aside to pay damages to
crops harmed during the cleanout.
Holdsworth said the work would likely.
be carried out in_ summertime, and
damages would be unavoidable.
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