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Times Advocate, 1992-07-22, Page 11 Summer Alstroemeria 995 bunch of 10 Cad, & Carry 11, COUNTRY f IOWf RS Exeter 1 Serving South Huron Inside S.T.A.M.P. Minors can usually buy tobacco page 2 Unity A chance to reach out to Quebecers page 2 Go karts Local girls explore technology page 5 Yankee Notions A hit at Blyth page 6 Hamess racing 25 years for Lucan - driver Second front Police respond to complaints of noisy dirt bike riders EXETER - The Exeter town po- lice report they have responded to several complaints about dirt bike riders using the river flats area near golf course. Residents have complained about the noise. Police say that no one appears to want to prevent the recreational use, but are cautioning the riders that the noise is offensive to most. Another dirt bike rider was stopped by the police bicycle patrol on Simcoe Street, again from con- cerns over noise. Police say the problem was settled to everyone's satisfaction. Police also report that a vehicle reported stolen by Ken Denomme of RR2 Hensall was found by the Sebringville OPP upside down in a ditch east of Exeter - Police also stopped an Exeter man on Saturday and charged him with impaired driving and driving with a blood alcohol count over 80mgs. Drivers, passengers escape serious injuries in two collisions EXETER - Two drivers have been charged after two serious traf- fic incidents on Saturday, say the Exeter OPP. The first accident occurred Satur- day morning on Highway 83 east of Dashwood. A Honda car driven by Michelle Schoenleber of Exeter went out of control while passing a van and a bicyclist. The car flipped over several times and ended up in the ditch. Police say it was fortu- nate no other vehicles were struck in the accident and that the driver and passengers only sustained mi- nor injuries. Schoenleber has been charged with improper passing. Later in the day, about 2:55 p.m. a pick-up truck driven by Gregory Armstrong of Stanley Township came from a side road southeast of Zurich and struck a car driven by Sylvia Smale of Zurich. There were three passengers in the truck and six in the car. Although both vehicles were demolished, report police, all occupants were wearing seatbelts and suffered no more than minor irfjuries. Armstrong was charged with fail- ing to yield the right of way. e ‘.":P/6 t North Middlesex & Lambton \IISince 1873 Wednesday. July 22, 1992 ,- It Geiserkneale Insurance Experience ce Value 235.2420 75 cents Raindiops keep falling... While the summer's wet weather has dampered many spirits. it didn't seem to bother Amanda Allen (left) or brother Tony. Armed with umbrellas Civilian Commission hears Exeter's case the two braved Friday's showers while strolling through Exeter. New .arguments added to police budget dispute By Adrian Harte T -A Editor EXE IER - Those who attended the Ontario Civilian Commission on Police Services hearing at the Exeter Legion last Wednesday heard six presentations before the three-member panel who will de- cide the battle between council and the police services board over the town police budget. Police services chairman Sharon Wurm spoke - on behalf of .the $572,710 budget submitted to council in May. Police chief Jack Harkness presented statistical infor- mation showing how Exeter's polic- ing costs compared favourably with other municipalities. Reeve Bill Mickle offered arguments on why town council should retain control over policing costs, and offered ex- amples of how escalating costs of police services have come to con- sume larger amounts of the town tax "pie'. There were three presentations made by members of the public. Former police committee chairman Dorothy Chapman spoke out in fa- vour of restraint on policing costs. Marylin Boeck praised the police department for their handling of .the case of the 1991 abduction of her son. And Gregory Brown from thc Children's Aid Society argued in fa- vour of improving preventative po- licing programs in Huron's commu- nities. Most of the arguments are famil- iar to those who have been follow - mg the battle between council and the new board to decide the budget of the town police force - either the $572,710 proposed by the board (14 percent increase over 1991) or the $510,395 (two percent in- crease) demanded by council. However, some new pieces of in- formation did surface at the meet mg; information which may shed some light on how the Civilian Commission will determine which side is right. .Wurm revealed that the nine percent salary increase slated for police chief Jack Harkness was based on his experience and what it would cost to rehire someone for the position. Liicaii ' new luxuiv Tho now water system In the village of Luoen Is now in full operation. Reeve Tom McLaugh- lin signed the water bylaw, Saturday morning and now residents may use as much water as they wish. Above, reeve McLaughlin and works superintendent Doug Johnston ,wash the reeve's car Monday morning es the ban on use of water for washing ears and **tering lawns end gardens, etc. has been lifted. • • •Police secretary Marlene Taylor was to receive a 19 percent pay in- crease based on her contract with the Police Association as a special constable. Special constable duties include supervision of prisoners when an officer is not in the build- ing. Legal costs incurred by council in their failed battle to prevent Tay- lor from joining the Police Associ- ation totalled some $3,106.93 and were included in the 1992 police budget. •The budget cuts used to arrive at the $510,395 proposed by council were purely arbitrary. revealed town clerk Liz Bell, who said they were made to arrive at the 102 per- cent budget as dictated by council. Police board chairman Wurm commented on the cuts in her pres- entation, saying "what this figure lacks, to be credible, is any docu- mentation to justify the downsiz- ing". •The original budget, as compiled by chief Jack Harkness before it was downsized by the police ser- vices board, was 5610,590 - which would have been a 22 percent in- crease over the 1991 budget. •The meeting also revealed the growing tensions between the po- lice department and council. Harkness first commented on how reeve Bill Mickle could attend a hearing he did not believe had any basis in law. Harkness quoted Mickle's comments at a council meeting on how the Expert Panel on Pohcing believe the Civilian Commission did not have any pow- er over municipal councils. Mickle later pointed out that Harkness had declined to attend a town department head meeting with council to discuss upcoming bud- gets. "The police chief did not attend on the grounds the meeting did not apply to the police budget," Micklc told the panel. "The Commission is, however, asked to advise the Police Chief that it is appropriate and will facili- tate the process to participate with the council and town staff in its budget deliberations," Micklc said later. Wurm also hinted at such ten- sions when she praised Harkness for being able to compile docu- ments on repairs to the cruiser. Continued on page 2 What happened to ministry grant? Zurich council asks ZURICH - The months of con- struction weather are fading fast, and Zurich is eager to pave John St. North. However, unless a grant comes through to do an inspection on the village's sewage system with high tech fibre optic cameras, the paving may have to wait. Village council is worried though that if the paving project is delayed then valuable Ministry of Transpor- tation funding will be lost. Conse- quently, council decided to send a letter to MPP Paul Klapp request- ing help in Ending out what hap- pened to the 80 percent Ministry of Environment grant to help with the $40000 sower moody. . According to acting village clerk Steve Armstrong, thc ministry soil considers the camera project a pri- ority. It has all been approved right up to the funding stage, but no funds are forthcoming. "The last guy 1 talked to wasn't even sure if the progratn still ex - Isis," said Armstrong. "We're in a bad spot." The camera project will inspect the village's sewer pipes to deter- mine if cracks or leaks are responsi- ble for the mysterious amount of extra water that has been making its way into Zurich sewers. Should re- pairs be needed on the John St. North sewer, it would be most prac- :'ca1 to have them done before thc rood is paved, but time is running out.