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Times Advocate, 1995-06-28, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, June 28,1995 Re anal wrap up One of three house fires leaves man dead WINGHAM - A rash of house fires in the Town of Mitchell has left one man dead. Three house fires in as many days in an un- heard of occurrence in the usual- ly quiet town. Last Wednesday morning, John MacDonald, 68, was killed when his home on 38 Huron Rd. was destroyed in a blaze, report- ed the Mitchell Advocate. The cause of the Huron Road fire was definitely electrical re- lated according to the results of an investigation by the Ontario Fire Marshal's office. The house suffered extensive damage. This was second of three fires which took place in three days. The first took place at 97 Herry St. on June 13 and was cau� ud by a campfire which got out of control. The third fire occurred at 202 Spence Cres., and resulted in heavy heat and smoke damage. The cause of the fire is undeter- mined. ndeter- mined. Quarry employee in serious condition after accident ST. MARYS - A St. Marys man remains in critical condi- tion at London's Victoria Hospi- tal after a quarry accident, re- ported the Journal Argus. Don Baily, 34, a 16 -year em- ployee of the St. Marys Cement Company on Thomas Street was injured when the 35 -tonne dump truck he was driving missed a turn and smashed into a rock berm last Tuesday. The ministry of labor and the OPP have found no cause for the accident as yet and there is no indication of any negligence or mechanical problems with the truck. OPP asked for sergeant to serve as acting fire chief SEAFORTH - The Seaforth Police Board has asked the On- tario Provincial Police for a ser- geant to serve as acting -chief, hopefully by the start of July, re- ported the Huron Expositor. Chief Hal Claus is recovering from recent heart surgery and a temporary replacement is need- ed for the upcoming short - staffing due to the holiday schedule. With Homecoming '95 in Au- gust, it is necessary to have pro- fessional staff available to han- dle any emergency situations. Without proper staffing, there would be no day shift on August 4, 5 and 6 during the event. Former clerk sues village BLYTH - It was announced at the June 19 meeting, the former Blyth Village Clerk -Treasurer Helen Grubb served legal papers to council late last Friday. A meeting has been requested by Grubb's lawyer Mike Mitch- ell with those parties involved. The date for this meeting has been set . for June 26 and all members of council, PUC and the present clerk will attend, re- ported the North Huron Citizen. l INTHFJJFWS Optimistic donation Exeter Optimist club members, far right, president Mark Heimrich, and Micheal Skochinski, treasurer, present Alyssa Darling and Jane Hefley a cheque for $1,200. The donation will go towards Exeter Public School Parents Association Com- puter Fund. Lucan auditors report reveals 1994 surplus LUCAN - The financial report for the year 1994 for the village of Lucan was presented to council on June 22 by Dan Daum of the audit- ing firm of Kime, Mills And Dun- lop. The report had been reeived ear- lier, but had not been reviwed by the auditor with council. It shows a surplus for the just concluded year of about $58,000 which is treated as revenue for 1995 and one of the reasons council was able to hold any mill rate increase for local pur- poses to zero percent. Reeve Tom McLaughlin agreed with Daum that the village tax ar- rears were fairly high at 10 percent, but the auditor added, "Some mu- nicipalities are as high as 20 per- cent. You are still in an okay posi- tion. The working capital at $105,000 is pretty reasonable." Daum continued, "In expendi- tures there was little difference be- tween budget and actual spend- ing.Your development charge reserve is up considerably because of many new building starts." McLaughlin concluded with, "We would like to have the audi- tor's report much earlier in the year." Daum returned with, "This year our municipal customers suf- fered because of our involvement in personal income tax returns. We hope to give you better service next year " Report on restructuring Reeve McLaughlin reported that the county of Middlesex is continu- ing with their plans on restructuring by amalgamation of a number of municipalities. The village of Lucan and town- ship of Biddulph have had consider- able discussion and received a fa- vorable consultant's report on the proposal of amalgamating the two area governing bodies. McLaughlin said the other possi- ble rural amalgamations are Dela- ware, Lobo and Caradoc; Mosa and Ekfrid; Ailsa Craig, Parkhill and the townships of McGillivray and East and West Williams. The Lucan reeve said some of the consultant reports will be reviewed in the very near futyre and added, "We have to do something this term to amalgamate and reduce the num- ber of municipalities or the govern- ment will do it for us." This last comment was confirmed by clerk Ron Reymer when he said, "At a recent ROMA convention, newly elected Ontario Premier said, "Only one-third of you will be here next term." Finances concern South Huron Hospital Brenda Burke TA Staff EXETER- "My role was, and still is, to keep this hospital open," said re- tiring board member Howard Datars at the annual South Huron Hospital Association mecting Monday. The past year marks South Huron Hospital's first operational deficit. In a written report administrator Donald Currell said the hospital is un- derfunded compared to other hospitals its size. The board is working with the Ministry of Health to improve the situation. Other financial issues concerning the board including emergency room coverage, OHA mail and the purchase of new equipment, were briefly dis- cussed in a separate public meeting that evening. Board members praised the Graham Scott Report on Rural Health Care, which agrees rural hospitals, and in particular emergency departments, are underfunded. "We're meeting internally to address the issues...but it's going to be a saga," said Currell. "I think we're going to try and find a solution that's provincial...Whatever it takes we're going to have to put energy into it or the problem won't be solved." Another financial concern was the possibility the OHA may send mail directly to board trustees rather than deliver it through hospital ad- ministrators it claims arc not passing on the information. "There's a great number of hospitals that think this is a great waste of money," said Currell. The board passed a motion to send OHA a letter in an effort to keep the hospital mail system the way it is. In other hospital money matters, the Finance/Property Committee an- nounced $70,000 mammogram equipment would not be included in its 1995/96 budget of approximately $255.000. The board will break for the summer and hold its next meeting late Sep- tember. Board of Qovimwn Chair Bev Skinner Might) presents a painting to Howard Deters (left) for 12 years of Board ser- vice at South Huron Hospital. • Name public committee to review sewer plant LUCAN - Lucan council has appointed a public committee to study the operation of the village's sewage system treatment plant. At the June 22 meeting of council, the even mem- bers of the committee were given the green light to dig into the history and all aspects of the complete operation and determine if any changes can be made to save money. the seven members are Steve Jones, Paul Dale, Fred Wilson, Perry Kaskinette, Paul Dykeman, George Mawdsley and Lynne Girling. In opening remarks, reeve Tom McLaughlin told the group, "The annual operating costs now at $230,000 are about $100,000 higher than we were told by the Ministry that they would be and we have been forced to charge a sewer surcharge of 180 per- cent of water bills. That's not acceptable." He continued, "I do believe we have reached the top in costs. I would like to lower it. It will be a chal- lenge to get it under control. We need a new set of eyes and that's what you can provide." McLaughlin and clerk Ron Reymer assured com- mittee members they would get complete access to all information and files. A tour of the plant will also be included. Councillor Rosemary Gahlinger-Beaune said, "We are all fed up and want to know what happened. Is there any recourse to government projects that are mishandled? They had three diffeent project manag- ers and they didn't know what was going on. I don't understand it. I am honored to have you people come forward and volunteer your services." The reeve added, "We are asking you to review operations and decide if costs can be reduced. We hope you can do this and still maintain the integrity of the plant. We are now committed to the Ontario Clean Water Agency out of Grand Bend for the plant's operation. Once they took over management we did get some improvements." McLaughlin said, "One of he problems has been extra water produced by infiltration, If we solve this situation things should be better at the plant." Flow records for the month of May confirmed McLaughlin's statement that infiltration was produc- ing extra water to be handled at the plant. The records reveal that 63 gallons of water were used per capita per day and 92 gallons per capita per day arrived at the sewage treatment plant. These figures were pro- vided by Gary Orchard of the Lake Huron Water Supply System. In conclusion , McLaughlin told the committee, "I hope you can do your work and have a report with recommendations ready for the second council meet- ing in September." After the meeting with council, committee mem- bers met by themselves and elected Paul Dale as chairman. Present seniors award Frank Goring, a long-time resident of the village of Lucan has received an award as Lucan's Senior of the Year. The award is provided by the provincial govern- ment and local councils make their nominations. In making the presentation, reeve Tom McLaughlin told Goring, "You ate a tremendous asset to our com- munity and I know you will continue as a friendly, helpful citizen." Over the years Goring has been the village building official, on the property standards committee, a fence viewer, faithful member of Lucan United Church and a volunteer with many organizations along with being generous with vegetables from his garden. Monitoring garbage dumping ZURICH - At their latest meeting on June 26, Hay council members discussed the problem of persons illegaly dumping garbage on road- sides. The matter had been deferred from the last regular meeting. The latest discussion centred on wheth- er erecting "No Dumping" signs with the fine amount on them would be a deterrent. The situation will be monitored and if it continues, there will be further consideration of the erec- tion of signs. The township will be renewing the lease for the township ball park for another 10 years as set forth in the present agreement and the clerk is instructed to notify the Zurich Agricultural Society of this deci- sion. Road superintendent Ross Fisher reported that the first round of grass cutting along township roads is almost completed. Paving of Concessions 2 and 14 is expected to be completed by the end of this week. Council is prepared to work with the Ministry of Transportation to co-ordinate the reconstruction of Highway 83 in Dashwood with the portion of the Dashwood -Hay Mu- nicipal Drain project affecting the highway be undertaken in 1996. In this regard, the drainage engi- neer is instructed to complete the re port for this drain with three phases Manager appointed CREDITON - Stephen council has supported a recommendation from the selection committee in ap- pointing Rob Funston as the new manager of the township arena at Huron Park. Funston, a resident of Huron Park has been assistant arena man- ager for a numbr of years. A total of 32 applications were received for the position to replace the retir- ing Frank Funston. Six of the final applicants were interviewed. Council has decided to defer a zoning amendment application from Gordon Kennedy until it is determined if the applicant under- stands the proposed amendment will result in the loss of the com- mercial zoning on the subject prop- erty. A grant of $5,000 to the South Huron Rec Centre in Exeter has been approved for the year 1995. The drainage petition for the "B" branch of the Victoria Street Munic- ipal Drain in Crediton has been ac- cepted and Bill Dietrich of W.E. Kelley and Associates wil be ap- pointed to prepare a report. The township will surrender the aggregate licence on the Carey property at part of Lot 4, Conces- sion 14 and will proceed with reha- bilitation of the pit to the satisfac- tion of the Ministry of Natural Resources. The township will pursue extend- ing a water line south on Road IA to serve Dashwood Industries as re- quested by the township of McGil- livray. Council will be donating $10 to the Hensall Fair Calf Club for each of the five Stephen township resi- dents who showed a calf at the Hen- sall fair. which would be the lower part, the highway part and village streets. The lower part report is to be completed by July of this year and reports for the other two phases to be finalized by the end of the year with co-ordination with the Minis- try of Transportation Highway 83 reconstruction project in Dashwood. The Huron Tourism Association has been given permission to sell their 1996 lottery calendars in the township. Cindy Denomme is authorized to take Part 1 of the AMCT course from St. Lawrence College. Local Tory candidates + Continued from front page tmer as a former teacher and as a parent. She taught English, History and Physical Education for 12 years from 1968 to 1980. Her two children are Scott, 20, and Sarah, 12. Witmer based her 1995 cam- paign on excellence in educa- tion, health care, lower taxes and lower government spend- ing. "I've always believed the number one priority is job 'rea- tion," said Witmer. Although Ecker and Witmer no longer reside in Huron County, perhaps the concerns of a rural community will remain in their hearts when they help to make decisions which will af- fect us alt. Fence cuts access to Food Bank sr Continued from front page of here because there is no other way in and out of the buildings." Romphf explained that his build- ing has existed since the 1930's and over the years it underwent many different phases of construction. As a result the back part of the building was constructed in such a way that it could only be accessed by using Kastlunger's property. According to Kastlunger, his law- yer drafted a letter to Romphf in November 1994 warning that his buildings are encroaching upon his property and complained about the unauthorized use of his property as a driveway and parking lot for the stores. Romphf said he couldn't recall ever getting such a letter and that Kastlunger's decision to erect the fence came suddenly. "They should have asked me," said Kastlunger claiming nobody sought his , permission to use his property before the buildings were built so close to it. "I bought this property to build something. I don't want to close them down but what can I do? What I'm doing here is perfectly le- gal," he said. However, Romphf said Kast- lunger has no immediate plans to build anything and he could easily postpone the fence construction to allow his tenants more time to re- locate. "If I gave them a longer notice they would still be here...people will still assume they can use [my] lane way, I have to make a stand," said Kastlunger. "I bought this land to develop it and that's what I'm go- ing to do," he said. Two small gates have been left open to allow the stores to move items in and out but Romphf said Kastlunger will seal them off by July 10. On Friday Kastlunger re- turned and told the tenants he was willing to keep the gate openings open until October. Les East who operates a small lawn maintenance business out of the end unit of Romphfs building said he understands Kastlunger's predicament; however, three weeks notice isn't long enough to find an- other shop. "This is no laughing matter, I 1 can't afford to shut down. I don't know what I'm going to do said East. Pastor Vernon Dean from the Pentecostal Church was also conc- erened. "I hope this can be worked out because we're doing a service for the community. Ther were a sur- prising number of families that re- ceived our help in June," said Dean. Elizabeth Davis who is managing Noah's Ark for the Pentecostal Church said she spoke to Kast- lunger and explained to him what their organization was all about and what kind of an impact it would have on the community if they had to close. Davis said Kastlunger seemed to understand her concerns and she feels he may be willing to negotiate. "I don't know what's going to happen, it would be a shame if we had to close down. We would like to stay here, the store and the food bank are needed in the com- munity," she said. A