Times Advocate, 1997-04-23, Page 2Page 2
Times -Advocate, April 23, 1997
IN T
Murder trial
to begin
April 28
GODERICH - The second-
degree murder trail of Steve
Murray begi1ts in' Goderich on
April 28, nearly two years after
the disappearance of his daugh-
ter, reports the Goderich-Signal
Star.
Murray, a Goderich man, was
charged on Sept. 15 1995, in
connection with the disappear-
ance of his 16 -year-old daugh-
ter, Mistie Murray, who has not
been seen since May 31, 1995.
According to the Signal -Start
the trial is expected to last three
weeks.
Seaforth
hospital
announces
no layoffs.
SEAI'QRTH - No layoffs are
anticipated in the 1997-98 op-
erating plan for the Seaforth
Community Hospital, reports the
Huron Expositor.
The plan, approved at a recent
board meeting. reflects a "bal-
anced financial position and
dues not call for the elimination
of any existing clinical services
or staff layoffs at this time," ab -
cording to the Expositor.
As a result of an intensive
budgeting process, the hospital
was able to absorb the 6.4 per
'dent '($285,785) reduction in
Ministry of Health funding. Al-
though the funding cut was ini-
tially expected to be 7.1 per
cent, the ministry reduced this
amount after further analysis.
MNR up and
running in
Clinton
CLINTON - After 25 years in
Wingham, the local office of the.
Ministry of Natural Resources
(MNR) has moved to Clinton
where it shares space with the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture,
Food and Rural Affairs (OMA -
FRA), reports the Clinton News -
Record.
As of March 19. the MNR of-
fice is up and running. according
to Ron Bennett, area supervisor
for Huron and Perth Counties.
The move came as a result of
MNR staff cutbacks and a gov-
ernment initiative to reduce the
number of properties it leases.
The Clinton office. which serves
both Huron and Perth. wilt be
more centrally located. The is
expected to reduced operating
costs for gasoline, vehicles and
telephone calls.
Perth wants
towns
included in
county
structure
Council reviews
concept drawings
ST. MARYS - Perth County
Council voted unanimously on
April 10 in favor of restructuring
the county into four member
municipalities. replacing the ex-
isting 14, reports the St. Marys
Journal -Argus.
In addition to approving "in
principle" the appendices to be
included in the submission of
the Perth proposal to the Minis-
try of Municipal Affairs, a sec-
ond vote approved a special
meeting with members of Perth
County Council, St. Marys and
Stratford.
The meeting is an appempt to
try and persuade St. Marys .and
Stratford to • join the county
structure.
Plans for the Village property at Riv-
er
iver Road and Alberta Street include
rejuvenation of the old river bed
GRAND BEND - Lambton County Planner Dave Posliff presented
council with a concept drawing for the redevelopment of the Village's
property at River Road and Alberta Street.
The Village will be working with a group from the University of West-
ern Ontario in London who is interested in increasing the flow of water in
the old river bed and reducing stagnation. Their concept includes con-
structing a pump house on the property to feed a waterfall that would re-
juvenate the river bed.
Plans uncle -.onsideration for the property include a picnic area and pa-
vilion the • .xtend on to the existing river ped. This area could also
be use .ler when the bed becomes an outdoor skating rink. The
worn , the slope would he maintained as a green space and puffer
for adjacent condominiums.
Although some councillors are concerned about the number of parking
spaces for vehicles including boat trailers. council decided a site visit
would help them visualize the concept drawing. ' -
"All I can see is parking," said Councillor Barbara Wheeldon. "Where is
the green space?"
Council wag reminded the property was purchased with the intent of pro-
tecting the natural environment. •
Posliff encouraged council to give the planning department feedback in
order to provide'a detailed concept drawing for a May puhlic meeting.
"If parking is not so much a priority. we need to know that." he said.
Administrator Paul Turnbull explained the coning will he important
when council' reaches that stage in the development. If iris too restrictive.
it might prevent future development for amenities such as washrooms.
Council
agrees to
share tree
removal cost
EXETER - Florence Gettner and
Shirley Mommersteeg appeared be-
-fore Council Monday night seeking
assistance in the cost of removing a
tree and stump in 1995. According
to the delegation. the tree was part-
ly on town property. After some •
. discussion, council agreed to pay
one third of the costs.
After the'motion was passed.
Reeve Bill Mickle said. "I think the
whole council is caught. This item
was not on the agenda. We're rail-
roaded: You (Mayor Ben Hoogen-
boom) have brought this before us.
and we're caught cold. I don't think
it's your prerogative to place it be-
fore council in this way. I don't ob-
ject to the outcome: in fact I sup-
port it. but I resent the process!"
Hoogenboom replied. "I think
Glenn [Works Supenntendent
Glenn Kellsl invited her to come."
, Kel)s did not agree and Hoogen-
boom ended the discussion by say-
ing, "The motion has been carried.
On to the next,item of business."
F_ WS_
Helping out
Lucan administrator, Ron Reymer, right, reeve Rob Bradey'and councillor Martin Chittenden
help a resident unload unwanted paint cans during the village's Household Hazardous
Waste Day behind the Public Works Building on Sunday. Councillor Harry Wraith and Public
Works Superintendent Doug Johnston were also among the volunteers collecting hazardous
waste for environmentally safe disposal.
Seatbelt initative
runs until May 2
HURON/LAMBTON COUNTY - A provincial seat kelt initiative
will he taking place from April 19 to May 2 in an effort to prevent
needless injury and save lives. •
The Ontario Provincial Police will he taking action against drivers
• who choose to ignore the law that has been in place since 1979.
making it Illegal not to wear seat belts.
A tine of $105 plus demerit points will he issued for not wearing
your seat belt.
"So save yourself some money and save us the unpleasant task of
issuing you a ticket for the seat belt offences." said Sergeant Don
McInnes of the Seaforth OPP Detachment.
In Lambton County. a special emphasis on infant and toddler safe-
ty seats will he included in the Spring Campaign. Car seats and sur-
veys have shown that 85 per cent of car seats are not installed_ or
used properly.
Motor -vehicle crashes are the number'one cause of death forchil-
, , dren aged one -TO -Tour
The most common mistake people make involves the tether strap
• and anchor holt at the top of the•car seat. The strap must be attached
to a bolt orhook in the vehicle. This bolt can be found on the rear
window shelf. on the floor or the ceiling. If the adult, parent or care-
giver does not restrain the child properly. they are also subject to a
fine of $105 plus demerit points. '
A new free pamphlet entitled Love Me Buckle Me is available at
local OPP detachments in Forest. Petrolia and Sarnia or at the Lamb -
ton' Health Unit in Point Edward.
Report contains incorrect figures
ur Continued from front page
"I'd like to know who paid Grand
Bend 515.720 for their fire ser-
vices." enquired a participant.
"I took those figures from what I
was given," responded Tunnock.
adding the savings are obvious.
As well. the number of govern-
ment and transportation severance
packages was debated. Describing
transportation as "a big ticket
item," Tunnock replied completion
of an operational review and roads
maintenance study would add a
"side benefit." to `the report.
Under restructunng, the six ex-
isting public works operations
would be consolidated into one de-
partment: Three of the yards would
be kept open. with the Stanley yard
as administrative headquarters.
Staff would be reduced from )4
full-time and five part-time to 12
full-time with part-timers hired as
needed.
When discussing transportation
costs. Zurich • Councillor Marg
Holmes pointed out Zurich assess-
ment figures are incorrectly ac-
counted for.
Concerning environmental ser-
vices, Zurich Councillor Brad Clau-
sius, questioned where the merging
of Zurich and Hensall PUCs factor
into the equation.,
"We already have two Class 2
operators in our system," he point-
ed out when the hiring of a utility
foreman was suggested .in the re -
P•
Concerning waste management.
the report phrase. "This service
would be fully cost recoverable on
a user pay system," was challenged.
Regarding recreation sc. vices un-
der an amalgamated municipality. a
recreation director would et: aI' Jed
to existing staff.
"There is no other anticipated
change to the staff complement nor
to the facilities to be utilized in de-
livering recreational programs and
activities," states the report.
Love questioned whether or not
the six -municipality area contains
a surplus of arenas for its popula-
tion. Drawing from his experience
as a planner. Tunnock admitted.
"This is a very serious issue."
Citing a change in recreation
trends due to aging baby -boomers.
he pointed out recreation. which
survives largely on volunteerism. is
least supported by user fees.
Apprehension was expressed
about how the committee is to
present the incomplete draft report
to the public at upcoming meetings
scheduled in Varna, Brucetield.
Baytield and Zurich.
Tunnock stressed although the re-
port contains "excellent in-
formation" and "a lot of hard work"
based on public input. it has its
downfalls. and is merely an in-
dicator. For example, he pointed
out. assets and liabilities are not in-
cluded in its figures.
"The public (is) likely -to .ay.
'We don't have the full picture.""
he pointed out.
One man in the audience was
concerned members of the public
would take the report's figures "as
the gospel truth." •
"There is more to this picture
than dollars and cents," explained
Tunnock. "What is the message
you want to give to the puhlic' ..i
don't think we should be going into
these figures in much detail."
Some disagreed.
"if you simply go to them and
take a broad overview, you're going
to get ripped apart." replied one
meeting member.
When further concern was ex-
pressed about how to approach the
public, esl'e.ially on the issue of
maintaining current service levels,
Tunnock replied, "You're going to
have to test the waters...You're
struggling as much as the public
is...I don't think you should give the
impression it's a done deal...There's
not even a proposal on the table."
Tunnock. who will be• present at
the puhlic meetings. stressed the re-
port will not he presented as his
own but instead as the result of
work completed by the municipal
reform committee.
Municipal members expressed
further concern about whether or
not a new future government would
continue its efforts on amalgama-
tion.
"That's democracy." replied Tun -
nock. advising the group its next
step involves setting a' transition.
committee in place to work out re-
port details before completing a
proposal under ministry guidelines.
Love suggested leaving amal-
gamation details to the next govern-
ment in line.
"1 think we've got to see the rest
of these costs from downloading
before we -move one inch further."
he said. adding puhlic meetings
should not be held until fall.
Tunnock replied the new mu-
nicipality would be thrust Into "ut-
ter chaos" if some amalgamation
details were not worked out ahead
of time.
Some councils. he added. feel if
they don't restructure by Jan.I.
1998. they will be forced into amal-
gamation.
"It's surprising how much mis-
information is out there," he said.
ac',hne he hopes the group isn't
dri• ahead with restructuring
due to fear of being forced into it.
"I do, in the end, think it's not my
responsibility to sell amalgama-
tion," said Tunnock. "The sense of
where things are going lies with
you people...You're obviously go-
ing to have to move into a transi-
tional mode...l humbly suggest you
be consistent across the board."
Report revisions, including cor-
rected figures, will be presented at
upcoming public meetings. The
first will take place on April 23 at
Varna's Stanley Township Com-
plex beginning at 7 p.m.
TOWN OF EXETER
LARGE GARAGE PICKUP
TIMETABLE FOR 1997
AT THE CURB NO SOONER THAN 48 HOURS
BEFORE SCHEDULED PICKUP .
Pickups - West of Main Street - 1st Thursday of month
below
East of Main Street - 2nd Thursday of month below
May 1997
• Large household items (excluding appliances, demolition
debris, normal garbage, or recycles) in a separate pile from
brush or garden waste.
• Spring garden and yard waste. MUST 'BE IN OPEN
BAGS OR BOXES, NOT LOOSE ON THE GROUND
• Tree limbs and branches in a separate pile.
IMMEDIATELY AFTER THANKSGIVING UNTiL
FiRST SNOW FALL
• Weekly vacuum of leaves piled at curb.
NOVEMBER 1997
• Pickup tree limbs, branches, and garden waste only.
For other garbage and landfill site information please call
the automated 'garbage hotline' at the Municipal Office
235-0310 then immediately press 50 on your touchtone
telephone.
For those with a rotary telephone dial 235-0310 and staff
will be able to answer your questions.
f
CIVIC CORNER
ON
The T.A. has graciously agreed to permit the
Council a small column In which.we may
discuss community issues.
Our first issue is not one which we would -
have preferred as our inaugural article. The
subject is garbage - or more specifically.
our waste management program. WE have
issues relating to. finances (what's ncwl and
to civic pude.
By way of Introduction. did you know that:
t 1 t The Town's waste management program has succeeded in reducing the
amount of waste to the Landfill Site tmm almost 20.0(8) cubic metres per year
to about 7.500 cubic metres per year.
(2) in 1990. the first stage of our landfill site was nearing capacity and was
about to be closed. By introducing the waste reduction. program. we
extended the life span of Stage I such that the site was never closed and we
are now nearing approval for Stage 1i. By avoiding closure. the Town saved
in excess of 5400.000.00. the amount exporting waste would have cost.
(3) The community, as a whole. deserves the credit for this success. By
recycling. composting, re -using. diverting and generally co-operating in the
program. we have saved huge tax dollars short and long term.
So. what's wrong'' Two things.
(1) First, since the tirst years of the waste reduction program. our revenues in
bag tags and tipping fees have dropped. This is not attributable to further
waste reduction. Al the same time. government/environmental
requirements have caused the landfill site operating costs to rise
enormously in Stage iI.
(2) Second. ourTown has become messy looking. Some- residents are putting
out debris for large garbage pick-up weeks before that service. Others are
putting out leaves for pick up in the spring even though we have only ever
collected leaves in the autumn.
As we analyte these two points, we conclude that:
(1) Some people are using Targe garbage collection and open dump days as
means to get around the bag tag system. Moreover, the tipping tees have
suffered by opening the dump to free disposal periodically.
(2) Unfortunately, the Town cannot afford the revenue loss associated with free
landfill days. And. the circumvention of the bag tag system by some of the
residents is grossly unfair to the majority.
(3) That people put out non -collectable refuse or that they put out materials at
the wrong time of the year or the wrong week is. we feel, the municipality's
fault. We have to communicate our policies and services more effectively.
Please look for our ad in the T.A. watch for our upcoming flyer and call if you
have any questions. Finally, and most important. please continue to participate
in the waste management program. It has saved and will continue to save the
Town hundreds of thousands of dollars into the future. The secret of small
Towns is that they can work together to accomplish so much. Working
' together, the Council feels we can fix these problems.
d