Loading...
Times Advocate, 1994-03-09, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, March 9,1994 JJ\J LALT—HENEWS Airport construction GODERICH - Paul Steckle, Member of Parliament for Hu- ron -Bruce, announced last week a joint federal -provincial invest- ment to improve Goderich Mu- nicipal Airport. The announce- ment was made on behalf of the Transport minster, Douglas Young. "New and improved facilities will encourage corporate and charter aircraft operators to use the airport for business and tour- ism activities," Steckle said. The $600,000 cost of the pro- ject will be shared equally by the federal and provincial gov- ernments with each contributing $300,000. The project includes the con- struction of the secondary run- way and the work will create 12 jobs for one year. Work is ex- pected to begin next year pend- ing federal and provincial envi- ronmental assessment reviews. Lucan drug raid LUCAN - A Lucan area horse breeder has been fined $2,000 and forced to forfeit $30,894 found by RCMP during a drug raid on his farm. Robert W. Arthur, 50, was ar- rested September 2, 1993, after police uncovered the cash and seized about a kilogram (2.2 pounds) of marijuana, along with just more than one kilo- gram of hashish after searching his RR 2 Lucan farm home. Police help call reviewed GODERICH - A Goderich town councillor has asked whether anything will be done about allegations that Goderich Police Chief Russell Phillips re- fused to assist a municipal po- lice constable who called for help during an arrest February 17. Councillor Rick was referring to an incident February 17 when Goderich Town constable Mark Johnston asked for help while making an arrest. Phillips toid Johnston to call the OPP. When the OPP contacted Phillips, he said his job was 'administration'. The incident will be reviewed at the next police services board meeting on March 16. JK in '95 ST. MARYS - It looks like junior kindergarten will be in place at St. .Marys Central School in September, 1995, while some other schools in thc county will wait until 1996. The board decided at its last meeting three weeks ago to phase in JK gradually over four years. The program will begin at Stratford Schools in September, and be phased in at schools throughout the county, conclud- ing in the 1997-98 school year, it was reported in the Journal Argus. Trustee Peter Black, is still un- happy about JK and suggested at the last meeting that the public oppose the program, "by not sending their children." Summer school revised? MITCHELL - Summer school for elementary students was eliminated last year but Perth County trustees will consider re- instating it. At a recent meeting of the Perth County Board of Educa- tion, trustees voted to reconsider the decision when the impact on the budget is determined. The program was not offered last summer after the Ministry of Ed- ucation and Training elimingted a grant to help fund the program, it was reported in the Mitchell Advocate. Some trustees were concerned about the additional cost burden on the budget. "We have to work smarter within the system. What else will we have to take away to put this back int" asked trustee Atje Tuyten. More than 60 battle with UIC Employees wish they never heard of provincial Wage Protection Act HENSALL - Wayne Hoffman, an employee of both the present and former General Manufactured Homes in Hensall, wishes he had never seen the $4,000 -plus cheque that arrived at his home in 1992. He used the money to help with a down payment on his house, and why not? It was money owed to him from when the former owners of General Homes went into receiv- ership in October 1990 - money owed him for termination pay and vacation pay. Thursday afternoon, Hoffman was making his case before an Un- employment Insurance Canada offi- cial to find out why the federal gov- ernment wants back more than $2,500 in benefits paid him in 1990. He and more than 60 other employees of the former General Homes had interviews scheduled with UIC staff. "If we owe it, fine, but why should we get pinched on the rest?" asked Hoffman, who said that if UIC takes back its money, he will end up worse off than if he had never received his back pay. He paid taxes on that money, and also lost some of his child tax cred- it, lost out on GST rebate and baby bonus cheques. "By the time you add all that up, we're in the hole," he said. Michael Meidinger is upset about how he has been treated by the fed- eral government since it began its efforts to reclaim a similar amount of UIC benefits from him. "I got four bills before I got an explanation," said Meidinger. "They just said 'pay up'." He said he was receiving notices about how UIC was going to a col- lection agency before he was even told why the money had to be re- paid. Hoffman said he had similar problems in getting straight an- swers about his case. "When 1 found I asked too many questions, they just said 'the com- puters shut down and• I can't help you'," said Hoffman. Meidinger says he can even see how UIC has arrived at its figures. He has documents from them indi- cating he received two different benefit amounts 'the same week, something he is certain never hap- pened. A co-worker, he said, is be- ing asked to repay $40 more than he ever received in benefits. "1 don't feel we should have to Wayne Hoffman (left), an employee of General Manufactured Housing, meets with a representative of Unemployment Insu- rance Canada about 1990 benefits they say he has to pay back. More than 60 employees of the company are in the same boat. pay for the government's screw - ups," said Meidinger. After his interview with UIC, Hoffman said he felt the interview- ing woman was sympathetic to his case, but said she was unable to help other than explain UIC's posi- tion. There is some question as to the legality of UIC's claim, since the money the workers received in 1992 came through the provincial Wage Protection Act, which wasn't pro- claimed until 1991, after the Gener- al Homes plant entered receivership and was restarted under new own- ers. In 1990, at the time the workers received their UIC benefits, they had no idea they would ever see that money. "Bob [Rae] really introduced a great bill here," said Meidinger. "We should give him a big pat on the back before we ship him out." Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle at- tended the interview session and ex- pressed his concern over the situa- tion faced by the workers. He has sent a letter to Human Resources Minister Lloyd Axworthy on behalf of the employees, acknowledging the Hensall situation is unique in that the provincial legislation came out after the benefits were paid. "Steckle, he's hoping he can help us," said Hoffman, who said he ap- preciated the support, but is still concerned he will eventually have to cough up some money he doesn't have. "If I'd known then what I do now, when I got that cheque, I'd have sent it right back," said Hoffman. South Huron municipalities meeting to discuss a more cooperative future EXETER - Much of Monday's town council meeting was preoccu- pied with the future. As mayor Bruce Shaw revealed late in the eve- ning, the future may be closer than we think. Shaw said discussions have been initiated with surrounding munici- palities in the South Huron area, discussions that might lead to same day joining them into one local government. Shaw said Exeter's old plan had been to annex the lands out to the first concessions east and west of town, but that would cost both townships dearly in assessment base. A meeting was held January 25 with the reeves of Ste- phen and Osborne to dicrucc something more coopera- tive. "I was surprised how well our neighbours were enthu- siastic about doing something of this nature." said Shaw. A second meeting held just last Wednesday included representatives of Hay Township and the villages of Hensall and Zu- rich. One immediate outcome will be having the staff of all six municipal- ities get together to see how they can share services and cut costs. "As a group, we were to take back to our councils the public nature Th opportu in the of this," said Shaw, and added that the meetings also have at their heart the recognition that provincial grants and transfer payment are going to become increasingly scarce in coming years. "We are very concerned about the nature ofr[5ub1Id funding in'the fu- ture." said Shaw. Only those "positively disposed" to the cooperative plan will attend the next meeting, which will be hosted by Usborne Township, said Shaw. The meeting won't be called until staff reports are ready. However, there is a larger purpose at the core of the meetings. Sharing services might also lead to distribu- tion of hard services like water and sewer lines outside of traditional municipal boundaries. "A boundary line doesn't necessarily mean that under- ground services stop there." Shaw, who noted above ground services transcend those boundaries already. Should the cooperative efforts pay off, the six municipalities may find no need to be separate governments in the future. "There is an opportunity for political amalgamation in the future." predicted Shaw. ere is an nity for political Ibamatinn future." Lucan's Duchess St. debate over, new culvert will go ahead agrees council LUCAN - After more than a year of discussion, debate, hassle and petitions, the controversial issue of Duchess street in Lucan has been settled. At last Tuesday's regular meet- ing, council decided to go with a culvert over the Whitfield drain and make Duchess a completely legal and through street. In recent months, water mains and sewer services have been made available in the Duchess recon- struction program and now curbs, gutters and pavement along with sidewalks on one side of the street will follow. Most residents of thc street were Correction: Last week's Crime Stoppers re- port stated that Stephen Central School was broken into on Febru- ary 12. Staff at the school have assured the Times -Advocate that the school has not been the target of a break-in since an alarm system was in- stalled. A check with Crime Stoppers confirmed there was some confu- sion between Stephen Central and Our Lady of Mount Carmel School, which is also in the Township. Mount Carmel was broken into on both January 8 and February 12, with ssveral items taken in each break-in. • Anyone with information about the thefts can contact Crime Stop- pers at 1-800-265-1777. in favour of keeping thc present pe- destrian hridge. They claimed the culvert would he more costly and would open up thc street for more traffic which would put children in the arca in danger. During the past summer a peti- tion containing more than 300 names against making Duchess a through street was presented to council. The petition had stated a culvert would cost in excess of $75,000. Council's argument was that the culvert price would he more like $45,000 and part of thc cost would be funded by the province of Onta- rio. Replacement of the walkover hridge would not qualify for subsi- dy. When councillor Bryan Smith asked whether subsidy for the cul- vert would be 50 or 80 percent, deputy reeve Harry Wraith inter- jected with, "I called the Ministry of Transportation today and learned the subsidy in fact would be 80 per- cent." For the third time a delegation of residents visited council in an at- tempt to change th it mind and said they would prefer a cul-de-sac and keep any traffic at the neighbour- hood level. Don Pletch of Huron -Middlesex engineering said the cost of servic- ing and maintaining a cul-de-sac would be S1000 a year more costly than a culvert. The original request from residents for a chip and tar surface was discounted by Pletch when he said, " Tar and chipping would be a step backward." On this subject, one resident who a year ago was satisfied with a tar and chip surface now wants as- phalt. In addition to getting reports from Pletch, council obtained a sec- ond opinion from Bill Boussey of Dillon consulting Engineers. He also suggested a culvert was the right way to go and a proper cul- de-sac would take up more land than was now available. Boussey said on current informa- tion he had, "Right now is the time to tender for the work. Market has a tot to do with it and 1 think prices arc better now than later in the year." Boussey also confirmed that a pedestrian bridge could not he subsidized." The Dillon engineer added, "In cul-de-sacs I have seen in London they have problems with snow he- ing piled up in the centre." When councillor Bryan Smith asked about what size a hridge must be, Boussey said, "A bridge is a hridge, is a bridge and must he approved by the province." Councillor Reg Crawford ques- tioned the safety of the current pe- destrian bridge saying the steel in the beams is almost 50 years old.When the subject of land for a cul-de-sac came up with two resi- dents volunteereing land, it was noted more land would be needed and it would be necessary for it to come from MaWdsley's property, he quickly said, "No way." Mawdsley added, " 1 have lived there for 16 years and with only lo- calized traffic, children have been able to play safely. We can't stop kids from playing and it will be dangerous for them with a through street." He continued with a suggestion that the speed limit on all Lucan streets should be reduced to 40 kil- ometres per hour citing Palmerston as having these reduced limits. It was suggested stop or yield signs could be erected at Maple and Duchess to decrease the possibility of speeding. Works superintendent Doug Johnston reported there were 14 culverts in the village. He added, "They arc all working well. This is best for all of the village and will be much easier for us to provide Netter services." When the delegation was leaving, McLaughlin told them, " 1 thank you for your interest. It's the most discussed and investigated project we have ever tried. It was put on our five-year projection plan in 1991. It's important to get this kind of scrutiny from ratepayers." On leaving, a member of the del- egation Claire Anderson said, "If you arc going to vote the way I think you are, it may not be thc most comfortable decision for us, but is probably the right one as far as the village is concerned." A recorded vote was taken with Brady ,abstaining and it was unani- mous lb proceed with the culvert option of the plans. A resolution was also passed asking englneetr Don Pletch of Huron -Middlesex Engineering to proceed immediate- ly with tender calls. Huron Park man arrested in connection with school break-ins EXETER - A Huron Park man and four young offenders have been charged in connection with a series of break and enters at schools in three counties. The Exeter OPP, who were work- ing on the case together with the Sebringville and Lucan OPP de- tachments, have seized about $2,000 in stolen property taken from schools in Huron, Middlesex and Perth Counties. There is still some $25,000 in property missing from the thefts, say police. The five accused persons were being held in custody by police un- til their bail hearings. Facing charges of possession of stolen property are Jim Wein, 19, of Huron Park, and four young of- fenders. The OPP say their investigation is continuing. OPP called to several cases of theft and vandalism EXETER - The OPP are investi- gating several complaints of theft and vandalism this past week. Last Wednesday, police were called to Northlander Industries in Exeter to investigate nine tires dam- aged. In the early morning hours of Sat- urday, a Hay Township man report- ed his snowmobile stolen. The ve- hicle was later found in Hensall. Overnight Saturday, an Exeter resident reported that his car had been vandalized by someone scratching it with a sharp object. On Sunday, police received a re- port of a black Norco Mountain Bike stolen from a residenc=e in Ex- eter. The frame size'of the bicycle is 21". If anyone has any information about the above crimes, contact the Exeter OPP at 235-1300, or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-265-1777. Police have also recovered a green women's leather coat, which was found in the area of 53 James St. in Exeter. Last Wednesday, officers of the Exeter detachment attended the Dresden -Exeter midget hockey game. The OPP report that al- though some fans were rowdy, the officers were able to keep the peace and no charges or arrests were made. Hay still won't pay for Shoreline Plan phase ZURICH - Hay Township is still taking a firm stand with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, and is refusing to pay for its share of the Shoreline Management Plan. Although the funds at stake arc small, only $384.68, Hay Township council at its February 24 meeting brushed off arguments from ABCA general manager Tom Prout and re- peated its position it will not con- tribute any more to the project. The Shoreline Management Plan. or SMP, received considerable op- position from lakeshore cottage owners who saw it as imposing limi- tations on the use of their properties. Some properties. in what the SMP designated as highly erodable areas, were labelled as unbuildable. Oth- ers would face restrictions on fur- ther development. Hay clerk -treasurer Janisse Zim- merman said that while the town- ship agreed to help fund phases one and two of the SMP, and later helped fund the phase three added later, it stated in late 1992 it would no longer support the plan. Prout told council that phase four was important because it allowed ABCA staff to review concerns raised by residents over the draft plan and revise it accordingly. However, council decided to re- fuse the $384.68 hill on the grounds that they had already advised they no longer supported the plan, that many township residents didn't sup- port the plan.