Times Advocate, 1991-06-05, Page 2Page 2
Titres -Advocate, June 5, 1991
Boundary line issue buried in annexation debate
lage is responding to the demand
for a new public library, even
though two-thirds of the card hold-
ers live outside Grand Bend boun-
daries.
"I don't claim to have all the an-
swers, but I can say that if there is a
desire to work toward a solution,
there will be one," said Woodley.
"We are sure you would like to
see your tax dollars spent locally to
nurture the community you call
home," he concluded. •
Stephen Township reeve Tom
Tomes demanded all discussion of
extending the Grand Bend boundar-
ies into the township be immediate- i
ly halted, because the Boundary
Adjustment Committee is only al-
lowed to hear annexations propo-
sals that are minor in nature.
Tomes said the loss of 450 acres
of land from Stephen was definitely
not minor.
"Have they [the village) docu-
mented the need for this amount of
land? What studies have they
done?" demanded Tam,
pointing
out that previous Ladd annexed
from Stephen has still not been de-
veloped.
"Will the 450 acres sit idle and
remain vacant for years to come?"
Tomes also claimed the need for
the village to annex Orand Cove
Estates was to boost their tax base
at expense of Stephen.
Tomes asked if Grand Bend actu-
ally had the resources to service the
proposes annexation area. He also
questioned. whether or not even
present Grand Bend residents want-
ed to see their village grow that
much.
•
Tomes pointed out Huron County
offers a Large number of services to
senior citizens and asked if they
would continue to be available to
those who have come to depend on
them.
Tomes accused the village of
"jumping into it [annexation) with
their eyes closed".
The reeve offered his solution
and said Bosanquet should be amal-
gamated with Grand Bend to devel-
op lands further to the south.
Tomes read letters from Green
Forest Estates, and Grand Cove Es-
tates representatives both of which
opposed annexation to Grand
Bend.
"Our residents do not wish to be
part of the village annexation as
we have an excellent re-
with the Township of
Stephen in which we reside and are
very satisfied with the services pro-
vided," read' the letter from the
Grand Cove homeowners associa-
tion.
The public meeting was the first
Public argues for and
against village annexation..
of two scheduled to discuss the is-
sue of whether Grand Bend should
be allowed to annex Huron County
lands in Stephen Township. Chair-
man O'Neil said the next m eating
will -likely come after the board
present a preliminary report to the
public.
Reeve Woodley said Monday af-
ternoon that he felt a little disap-
pointed about the amount of criti-
cism of annexation heard at the
meeting:
"I came away somewhat disap- a similar sentiment holds in Grand
pointed." admitted Woodley. but Cove too -
added that negative views. usually 'There's a good number of silent
prevail at such public mammas and people who would like to [vote in
the attendance of less than,101) was Grand Bend)." said Woodley.
quite low. But Woodley did agree the main
"If that's the most of negative purpose of the mating was lost.
people I have to deal with, then Exact boundaries were not die -
that's not that bad; said Woodley. cussed bilk public.
He said that while the Oakwood 'Nobody mentioned lines be -
Park executive have opposed an- cause most people who were there
vexation, he knows many members were' •, . , • - • ;t'af fp *anion of any
do not feel that way. and considers kind," ; • - iid'1Woddley.
Refusing breath sample
earns man 14 days in jail
GRAND BEND - After the respective reeves of
Grand Bend and Stephen Township gave their posi-
tions on the boundary negotiations between the two
municipalities, committee chairman Larry O'Neil
opened the floor to the public to hear their comments
on where a new boundary between the communities
should go.
However, only a few of the men who stepped up to
the microphone spoke on that issue, with most offer-
ing opinions on whether the troubled lakeshore resort
should be allowed to expand at all.
John Skinner, president of Oakwood Park Associ-
ation, attacked the Grand Bend annexation as being
far too ambitious,
"Minor is one thing, tripling the size [of the village]
is another thing," said Skinner, who pointed out the
amount of land was significant when compared to the
present area of the village.
He then said the Oakwood Park Association's 120
members were "not in favour of being annexed into
the village of Grand Bend or whatever configuration
Grand Bend will end up as."
Laurie Mannell of Southcott Pines said he has at-
tended all public meetings on the annexation issue.
"I've yet to hear any positive reason for annexation
whatsoever," said Mannell. "There's absolutely no
Committee - Larry O'Neil, boundary committee
chairman, asked the public for their opinion on
how far Grand Bend could expand into Stephen
Township.
advantage to annexation or amalgamation."
Mannell said a larger municipality only opened the'
door to more costly government.
Don Pearson, of Bosanquet Township spoke in fa-
vour of reeve Woodley's proposal.
Pearson noted people are afraid of change, but said
he realized Grand Bend is "in an impossible situa-
tion" and noted it was being asked to provide the ser-
vices for the surrounding area without drawing on the
tax base of those who make the demands.
He pointed out that reeve Tomes' arguments of a
loss of tax base to the Township only proved that the
township took more from those residents than they
paid to service those areas. Pearson's point gained a
round of applause from the floor.
Don Southcott of Southcou Pines pointed out that
Grand Bend was,created in the 1940s out of parts of
both Stephen and Bosanquet Townships.
"Now it seems to me to be bursting its britches, and
those municipalities have a responsibility for where
that child is going," said Southcote
However, Southcott congratulated the committee
on their compromise proposal that eliminated South-
cott Pines, Oakwood, and Grand Cove from future
boundaries.
"I think your proposal is the best compromise that
can be developed at this time," said Southcott.
Bob Sharen, former Grand Bend reeve said not
enough information was available on annexation op-
tions.
"Everyone here is concerned about the lack of in-
formation," said Sharen, who said a report that
looked at the different scenarios was what was really
needed to help public opinion.
Dave Scatcherd, owner of Oakwood Inn said he
was, pleased with his relationship with Stephen Town-
ship, saying they had supported his resorts expansion
plans.
"I do not feel I would have thought that if I was in
the Grand Bend area," said Scatcherd.
John McDowell, Grand Bend councillor said many
people in the immediate area claim to be from Grand
Bend when asked, naturally they expect the village to
offer them a level of service it cannot yet afford.
"People say you should have an arena, you should
have this you should have that, but how can you do it
on a community of only 900 people?" asked McDow-
ell.
"If they have the input then maybe they can change
it: he said.
"You people came here I guess because it was
Grand Bend and I think together we can make a pret-
ty good viable urban community," he concluded.
Appeal means garbage costs soar
LUCAN - The cost of picking
up garbage in three local munici-
palities just 4ot higher.
Thursday in Toronto, an appeal
judge agreed the landfill in Bid-
dulph Township will remain
closed. Owners of the landfill,
C.H. Lewis, launched the appeal
after Judge Jeffrey Flinn ruled in
favour of Peter Nippa and his fam-
ily.
The Nippas' property borders the
farm which the landfill is located
on and Judge Flinn not only or-
dered the dump closed but award-
ed the Nippas $100,000.
Monday afternoon, Larry Lewis,
vice-president of C.H. Lewis met
with the Ministry of the Environ-
ment to see what actions could be
taken to re -opening the landfill.
"We don't know," said Lewis
simply.
He has the contract for garbage
pickup in Lucan, Parkhill and Bid-
dulph and will now have to send
the garbage to Kent County.
"Our alternative is Blenheim, it
started last week," said Lewis.
Lucan reeve Larry Hotson said the
village expects to pay $800 a week
in increased garbage collection
costs.
The Nippas went to Toronto on
Thursday and said their 18 -year
long battle may not be over yet. Pe-
ter Nippa said Lewis can appeal the
closure once again.
"The appeal judge said he would
not advise it. But legally they can't
forbid them from doing it.
Recently, neighbours of the Nip -
pas who have also been upset with
the way the landfill has been main-
tained, held a protest near the land-
fill and supported the Nippas.
"If we would have come back
(from Toronto) and . the dump'
would have been open They would
have gone nuts," said Nippa.
EXETER - Paul Weskett of RR3 Lucan was sentenced to 14 days in jail and had his
driving license suspended for two years after pleading guilty to refusing to provide a
breath sample to police.
Police testified in provincial court last Tuesday they stopped Weskett's van in Zurich
on January 12 after observing it speeding on snow-covered roads.
While the police noticed an alcohol odor about the driver and his red eyes, Weskett
refused to blow into the ALERT tester when asked by police.
Judge R.G.E. Hunter took into account Weskett's pnor record of 14 days in jail for a
BAC over 80 conviction in London in 1987 before passing sentence.
Fraud
Mary Totten of Staffa pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud of less than $1,000, but
the judge suspended sentence until June 11 to allow her to make restitution to two Exet-
er stores who received NSF cheques totalling $167.92.
BAC over 80
John Rooney, 27, of Exeter pleaded guilty to driving with a blood alcohol count of over 80 mg per litre
and was fined $1,000 or to face 50 days in jail, and his license was suspended for one year.
Police testified they saw Rooney's Car weaving on County Road 21 in Stephen Township on April 27.
After they stopped the vehicle, Rooney was unable to produce identification, but police noticed his slow,
deliberate actions and how he was unsteady on his feet.
The court heard breath samples registered BACs of 270 and 250.
BAC over 80
Matthew Postill of Exeter entered a guilty plea to a charge of having a BAC over the legal limit while
driving on March 20.
Police said they stopped Postill's vehicle on Main Street in Exeter after it strayed over the centre line and
was speeding over 70 km/h.
Breath samples of 170 mg per litre of blood were taken.
Postilt was fined $750 with three months to pay, and given a 12 -month license suspension.
BAC over 80
Heather Spero of Kingston pleaded guilty to driving in Stephen Township on May 18 while having a
blood alcohol count over 80 mg per litre.
Police followed Spero's Toyota through Dashwood where it did not slow for the 50 km/h zone and was
seen weaving in its lane. The court heard a case of beer was found in the back seat, but there were no open
boules found.
However, Spero failed the ALERT test and breathalyzer samples of 14- and 150 were taken.
Judge Hunter fined her $750 or face 35 days in jail, and her license was suspended for one year.
UIC fraud
Alfred Blanchard of RR2 Dashwood was fined $450 for collecting an overpayment on unemployment in-
surance.
Blanchard pleaded guilty to nine counts of claiming benefits when he was actually working for Robert
Hamather in 1988.
While those benefits totalled $2,960, UIC has since reclaimed that money from time when Blanchard was
eligible for benefits.
Blanchard was given six months to pay the fine.
Care and•control
Fred Sadler of RR4 Parkhill pleaded not guilty to havingcare and control over his vehicle while with a
blood alcohol count of over 80. _ . ;i r ► i.n ti t i) i
Police testimony said Sadler's vehicle was observed going very slowly or stopped along the shoulder of
Highway 83 on December 7. When the cruiser pulled alongside the officer heard the engine running and
transmission gearsrinding.
The officer testified that Sadler was in the driver's seat of the truck, but the accused told the court he had
only moved into that seat after David Jackson of London got into the passenger side and was trying to
move the frozen gearstick.
Jackson told the court he had got out of the driver's door to urinate before the cruiser arrived, and had got
back in the passenger door to continue his attempt to free the transmission.
However, Judge Hunter said he was convinced Sadler was actually the operator of the truck and had care
and control of it. After taking into consideration Sadler's previous record of one 1986 impaired driving
conviction, he sentenced him to 14 days in jail to be served on weekends and imposed a two year license
suspension.
Impaired driving
Nigel Arthur of Kippen pleaded not guilty to charged of impaired driving and driving with a blood alco-
hol count over 80.
Police testimony said that Arthur's car was first spotted near the Co -Op in Hensall at 1:35 a.m. on May
18, 1989 and then seen to drive over the fields of a neighbouring farm turning circles as it went.
Police followed the vehicle onto Highway 4 where it was seen to swerve onto the gravel shoulder.
After police stopped the vehicle, the driver admitted to having a couple of beer, and a coordination test
found him unable to accurately touch the tip of his nose.
He was brought to the OPP station for breathalyzer tests, the results of which were not presented to the
court.
In his defense, Arthur told the court his back was broken in an industrial accident a year ago, and he was
still taking painkillers for the injury. He admitted to having four or five drinks at most all evening and said
he had driven a friend home via a farm Janeway.
Judge Hunter said he didn't believe Arthur had had only five beers and fined him $750 with a one-year li-
cense suspension for the BAC'charge, but stayed the impaired driving charge.
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