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Times Advocate, 1994-8-17, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, August 17, 1994 Regional. wrap up Australian business takes over ST. MARYS - Richardson Foods, a locally -owned business operating for more than 40 years, has been sold to Burns Philip and Company Ltd., a mul- tinational food company whose stock is publicly traded on the Australian stock exchange. Richardson Foods president, Greg Thompson, and chief oper- ating officer, Mike Thompson, announced the sale to staff last Monday. Mike Thompson described the sale as a win-win situation. "les a good deal. It's good for the town, it's good for the employ- ees," he said. And an even bigger Richard- son Foods could be in the com- pany's future. "I think it's a very positive move for St. Marys - they're a big company, with lots of money, lots of products and there's lots of land around or fac- tory." Thompson said negotiations with the new owners have been in the works for about 18 months, but the owners managed to keep the deal quiet, to protect the staff, it was reported in the Journal Argus. Town wants deputy chief WINGHAM - The Town of Wi.igham will soom have more brass walking the beat. The hiring of a deputy police chief was approved late last month by the Police Services Board and the proposal was pre- sented to council two weeks ago. The board expects to an- nounce the new deputy chief by November 15. The position becomes availa- ble at the beginning of the New Year, it was reported in the Ad- vance Times. Mitchell considers user -pay pickup MITCHELL - Mitchell will investigate a user -pay landfill system to reduce the volume of recyclables going into the land- fill. At last a recent town council meeting, councillors approved a property committee report which recommended council consider the user -pay system. Councillor Ruth Ficbig said the plan is in its preliminary stages. Members of council have visited Listowel and Exeter which both charge fees for pick- ing up garbage, it was reported in the Mitchell Advocate. Reeve Harold Jordan said one of the councillors who visited neighbouring communities' landfill site describes them as neat and clean. However, Mitchells' is "an awful mess" because it still accepts all kinds of garbage. Woodlot study examined FOREST - On Monday, Lambton County officials ex- pected to hear public input on its plan to manage a 237 hectare woodlot known as the Lambton County Fest. The forest represents more than just a woodlot according to the recently released master plan, it was reported in the For- est Standard. It's a "relatively undisturbed piece of the endangered oak sa- vannah," it states in the repon,. And 11 species that are either rare or endangered can be found in the forest. Pan of the new management plan will be to restrict access to the land. tt I1V THE WFWS W$ijcounty strip Exeter's powers? Town council vows to fight the county's retaliation over planning fees EXETER - The town may soon lose its right to approve property severances, deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller warned council Monday evening. Fuller said county council is be preparing three bylaws to remove the "consent function", the right to grant sever- ances, from the three Huron municipalities not paying their planning fees. Exeter, Wingham, and Clinton have refused to pass bylaws allowing "user pay" planning fees to be charged directly to property owners. Several municipalities have objected to the high fees being charged - some $510 for a routine severance - but Exeter has also objected on the grounds a 1991 special agreement with the county allows the town to govern its own planning matters. Council agreed that the county's plan to withdraw the consent function was retaliation for fighting the user fee program. "If this bylaw is passed...the consent will be taken away .from us, even though the agreement is there," said Fuller, and said the county is interpreting the 1991 agreement dif- ferently than does the town. Councillor Bob Spears asked if a legal opinion had been sought on the agreement between the county and the town, but was told one had not been prepared. "We will not be railroaded into making decisions" in- sisted councillor Ben Hoogenboom, who said the 1991 agreement clearly covered all aspects of -planning. "You can't take items out of it piecemeal." Town administrator Rick Hundey noted that Exeters fight against the user fees was different than Wingham's or Clinton's because of the agreement, which was originally drafted to settle disputes between the town and county planning dating back to the mid-I980s. Hundey also noted the town's staff handles virtually all planning matters without the plan- ning department's help, other than comments on applications. "They aren't doing any of the work," said Hundey, but he pointed out most county coun- cillors are unaware of that, or of the agree- ment. - "To come back to Bob's point, have we got a legal opinion on that agreement, as to whether it's valid?" asked mayor Bruce .Shaw. Hundey said the town had not. "I don't see how they can force us to pay the bills...but on the other hand the legislation seems to give them the ability to take away the consent function," said Hundey. Reeve Bill Mickle suggested that if the county had the power to charge user fees, it would not have asked the mu- nicipalities to pass their own bylaws to charge the fees. "I thin unprofe should if we do they take "I think it very unprofessional that they should say that if we don't pay, they should take away," said Mickle, and of- fered that he thought the town had a very .strong case. "They're really trying to break our will by threatening to take our consent away," said Mickle. Clerk Liz Bell said she understands Tuck- ersmith Township has not paid the user fees, but does not have a consent function to take away. With the next county council meeting on September 1 Fuller said the town has to "move ,fast." Council agreed to the suggestions of coun- cillors Hoogenboom and Robert Drummond that a leg• inion on the 1991 agreement be sought, and I tern be sent to each county coun- cillor explaini g Exeter's position. "I remember the negotiations very well, and it all centred on give and take and compromise, and all sides agreed on the final draft...and now they want to change it," com- mented mayor Shaw. Mickle said the user -fee issues goes beyond consents, and the town has the right to do its own planning by legislation. He suggested the matter be taken up with the Minister of Municipal Affairs as well. k it very ssional that they say that n't pay, should away." Not in the park, says council A community vegetable garden will have to go elsewhere EXETER - A community vegetable garden may be in Exeter's future, but town council is clearly uncomfortable with situating it in Mac - Naughton Park. Council agreed to support in principle a report from Ryan Good, proposing that a com- munity garden be established to try out new and innovative pro- duce gardening techniques. Good had suggested that a portion of the park area behind the Exeter pool was ideal for the vegetable patch. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom said he would rather see the garden situated on Highway 83 where soil conditions were more favourable. Good, however, argued that growing condi- tions were only one factor in setting up a gar- den, and that visibility to the general public was a general concern. "Harvesting of a successful crop is only a minor goal of this project...the main thing is this is a community project," said Good. Deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller said she had spoken to residents in that area beside Mac- Naugton Park. "They are all for the ecology gar- den, but they do not think that is the proper location," said Fuller. "We're wasting our time if we don't find a location that is suit- able," argued Hoogenboom. Good agreed, and pointed out that as for costs to the town, all that is required is a piece of land. If the town doesn't support the com- munity vegetable garden, then he could set it up on private land. "Is that a problem?" asked Hoogenboom. "Of course it's a problem," replied Good. "The whole point is community inter- action...getting everybody involved." Councillor Bob Spears said he would like to see the garden tried, "even if it is for a year". "I don't see a lot of risk to the town for where you are proposing it." said Spears, and made a motion to adopt Good's plan. Reeve Bill Mickle said the garden would be an extension to the scenic garden under con- struction already. "1 think we would get more response to that ,., location than other locations being suggested," said Mickle, and said parking in that area was already taken care of. With only, three votes in favour, Spear's mo- tion was lost, but with council's support to the plan in principle, mayor Bruce Shaw sug- gested Good work with town staff to help find a better location "and one that is more agree- able to council." Works superintendent Glenn Kells men- tioned that the town owns some land west of the Old Scout Hall beside Marlborough Street. which may be suitable. Rebate queried Another businessman wants an explanation for council's tipping fee rebate decision EXETER - As predicted by some council members at their last meeting, not everyone is content with their decision to give a rebate to one grocery store on garbage tipping fees. - Council agreed earlier this month to give a $4,500 rebate to Dar- ling's Food Market, even though thc store was unable to comply with regulations requiring the separation of cardboard from garbage. Dave Holtzmann of Holtzmann's IGA attended council Monday evening, saying it was obvious why he was present. His store, which did comply with cardboard separation for recycling, did not receive a rebate. "I'm not here to gripe or complain," said Holtzmann. "1 just won- der if there's any clarification that 1 could have." Although mayor Bruce Shaw asked Holtzmann if he would like to discuss the issue with council, Holtzmann said that wasn't necessary. "All 1'd like...is something telling mc why it happened, in a little more detail," said Holtzmann. Shaw agreed he deserved an explanation and promised town staff would prepare a report for him. Council had been fearful that, once having approved Darling's re- bate, other businesses would he forthcoming with similar requests. Narcotics charge laid EXETER - The Exeter OPP have charged a London man with posses- sion of a narcotic after being stopped for speeding on Saturday. Police say they pulled the motor- ist over on the Main Street of Exeter and ended up seizing a small quanti- ty of hashish. Also Saturday, police responded to a complaint of a fight that broke out at New Orleans Pizza in Exeter. A number of youths were involved in the altercation, which resulted in a broken window at the restaurant from u youth being pushed into the glass. Police say the incident is stull under investigation. Early Friday morning, at 2:12 a.m. police responded to a call to Huron Motor Products in Exeter where three vehicles had smashed windows. It is believed the suspects were frightened off by an alarm on one of the cars. Nothing was stolen. Police also say charges are pend- ing against a Stephen Township landlord, accused of assaulting a fe- male tenant in a Thursday incident. CoHIslon Injures drivers EXETER - Two drivers were tak- en to hospital in Exeter after a colli- sion on Ushorne Township's boun- dary at Concession 2-3 on Friday, report the Exeter OPP. Treated for injuries were David Vencey of RR2 Kippen and Gregory Haggit of Huron Park. Also Friday, the OPP were called to an accident on Highway 84 east of Zurich in which a car made a loft turn in front of a pickup truck. The car's driver received minor injuries. Driving were Peter Robinson of Va- nastra and Ina Neeb of Zurich. On Thursday, vehicles driven by James Nevin of Parkhill and Ken- neth Hoover of Toronto collided on Highwlty.81 cast of Stephen Con- cession 22. Police report minor in- juries to the passengers in both vehi- cles. Sunday, Gerhard Metzger of Hen - sail was driving along Highway 84 west of Huron Road 31 when his ve- hicle struck a deer. His vehicle re- ceived minor damage, but Metzger escaped injury. Weeds need to be cut GRAND BEND - Councillor Ed Fluter will be approaching Archie Gibbs asking him to .cut the long weeds on Gibbs' Governors' Road property. At the recent Grand Bend council meeting, Fluter brought up the point and said the weeds are not at- tractive and wanted to know what the village could do to get them cut. "There are an excessive number of weeds, can we get thein cut down? That's a high profile arca," said Fluter. Gibbs owns a main portion of the beach and also owns a strip of land on the other side of the road. Neighbouring property owners have tried to cut the weeds. "They've (neighbours) been chased off the property by the own- er (Gibbs). I've brought in the weed inspector," said Grand Bend ad- ministrator Paul Turnbull. 'Cats eye' reflectors on trial on Hay Concession The plastic units will unfortunately have to be removed before winter's dark days set in EXETER - On a dark night, a row of bright dots stretching down the middle of the road can be a comfort to a driver. Recognizing this, Hay Town - Wil& Hay Township's Concession 2-3 safety .Ieco1'd be Improved with the addition of re- flective centreline markers? If so, perma- nent year-round units may be installed. ship has installed "cats eye" reflectors on Conces- sion 2-3 northwest of Exeter. The paved concession is generally agreed to be one of the more treacherous roadways in the arca, claiming more than its share of accidents. Its rep- utation may come equally from the driving habits of the motorists using the road to avoid Highway 4 to thc east, as from its deep roadside ditches and lack of wide shoulders. Although the road got a safety upgrade earlier this summer with white lines painted to mark the edges of the pavement, road superintendent Ross Fisher recommended to Hay Township council that re- flectors be installed on the road on an experimental basis. • Provided to the township for only a nominal fee for the test, the yellow plastic units with amber re- flective lenses were installed on the road's cen- treline to provide that row of glowing dots so ap- preciated by drivers familiar with similar reflectors in England or Florida. "Personally, I think they're a real boon for safety," said Fisher. Designed only as construction markers, thc raised reflector units will have to be removed from the road before winter sets in, lest they be ripped free by the first pass of the snowplow. Those still in good shape may get re -installed next season along with new ones. A permanent, but more expensive solution to pro- vide the reflectors' glow through the winter months will require flush -mounted units to be sunk into the roadway, at a cost of about $50 each. "The permanent ones show up even better," said Fisher, and said he thinks they would be of most benefit in the extended nighttime of winter. "They would show up really well," he said. Cats eye reflectors used in less harsh climates, such as the colour-coded ones found on British mo- torways, have efficient glass lenses raised up above the road's surface. Tires that ride over them not only give a warning noise to the driver at the lane's edge, but also press the units down into their spring- loaded sockets where rubber wipers clean the lenses off. Again, such units aren't adaptable to the Ca- nadian climate because of freezing conditions and the blades of snowplows. Still, Fisher said he hopes to hear some positive reaction from the public over the -reflectors. If the test project proves successful, year-round reflectors might be installed on other township roads as well. "We're just looking for public feedback," said Fisher, but guesses that if he is right, most motorists will want to sec the reflectors on local highways as welt.