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Clinton News-Record, 1986-03-05, Page 11 Clinton News -Record IN ORPORATtFG-THE BLITH STANDARD -THE HAYFIELD, NO. 10 121 YEARS WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5,1986 50 CENTS LONG HILL ROAD Council assured By Alan Rivett BAYFIELD - For months now, the fun- ding situation for construction on the sink- ing Long Hill Road was as unsettled as the road' itself . Now it appears the funding for the long-standing project is finally coming together for village council. While attending the Good Roads Conven- tion in Toronto recently, Reeve David Johnston met with representatives of the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR), the Ministry of Transportation and Com- munications ( MTC), the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority (ABCA), the county engineer and members of MPP Jack Rid - dell's staff to discuss the funding plans for the project. In what he described as an "honest and frank discussion with the members," Reeve Johnston said he received assurances that funding would be available for the project in 1986. "They informed me there would be fun- ding made available for the Long Hill Road erosion control and re -stabilization project. The funding will be forthcoming this year. The dollars and cents should be known in a week or two," Reeve Johnston told council at their meeting on March 3. Reeve Johnston said the members of the MNR and MTC will meet on March 4 to discuss the individual grant allocations from their ministries. "We won't know the whole funding picture until the various ministries review the total costs involved in the project," he said. . The reeve's announcement caps a six month search by council for available government funding for the Long Hill Road project. In August of last year, a report released by the village's engineering firm of Golder and Associates of London found the road to be "marginally stable". The road has been limited to one -lane traffic since that time. The report recommends two methods of construction with rip -rap con- struction costing an estimated $200,000 while sheet -piling would cost an estimated $530,000. All the government representatives were genuinely sympathetic towards Bayfield's need for the funding, said the reeve, especially since the road is the only route to many private residences and is the sole roadway to the river which supplies the fire department with water. "There was no question at all in their minds as to the importance of the road to the village. If it closed, it would cut off the fire department's water supply which would leave us in very serious shape. The ministries were fully cognizant of that fact," said Reeve Johnston. Reeve Johnston said he told the represen- tatives it was imperative for them to,graet funding as quickly as possible in order for the work to be in progress by the end of September. "A week's delay is a week we can't afford." he said. As soon as the funding situation is resolv- ed by the ministries, the village will know what financial contribution it will have to make towards the re -stabilization project, said the reeve, adding the information will undin be made public as soon as the details are in place. In another move regarding the project, council voted to hire the law firm of Mit- chell, Hockin and Dawson from London to proceed with the expropriation of the pro- perty belonging to Dr. William Walker north of the Long Hill Road. Reeve Johnston emphasized the property will be expropriated only for the purposes of entering the land in order to do the re - stabilization, not for the sake of ownership. "The expropriation will allow the village to enter upoh the lands to do the work. After many, many meetings and many, many agreements an agreement may very well be forthcoming, but we will not be held up on the project over ownership," he said. The decision to go to expropriation was based on the . long-running stalemate between Mr. Walker and council as to the ownership of the parcel of land near the sinking road which is still before"the courts. In an interview last year, Reeve Johnston said it's' crucial for the village to know Dr.. Walker's plans for the end use of the land, whether he plans to build or keep the land as a green belt area, before construction plans can be drawn up: •' 4 However, the reeve said he is hopeful an agreement can still be reached regarding the land with Dr. Walker. If an agreement is made the expropriation can be withdrawn. "We feel ( expropriation) is the most economical way to enter the land and it's the least controversial for all parties concern- ed," said Reeve Johnston. Goderich Township sets 198E wages for employees GODERICH TWP: - Council here passed a bylaw to set the wage package for 1986 for all municipal employees at the council meeting on February 17. The township reeve will . be paid $65 per meeting with a $900 expense limit for the year. Councillors and the deputy reeve will receive $50 per meeting attended with a $500 expense limit for 1986. The clerk and the treasurer -tax collector will, each receive a yearly salary of $10,000 for the year plus expenses and a mileage allowance of 30 cents per mile. The deputy clerk and deputy treasurer will each receive salaries of $2,935 per year. The bylaw enforecement officer, tile - drain inspector, livestock evaluators and fence viewers will get a $7.50 per hour wage plus 30 cents per mile for mileage. The township hall custodian will be paid $8 per hour while the building ` inspector will receive $8 per hour with 30 cents per mile mileage expenses. The road superintendent will receive a yearly wage of $25,500 plus benefits. The two members of the road crew will be paid $10.20 per hour plus benefits. Both will also be allowed time off for all overtime worked which must be taken within a year's time. Members of the land fill, recreation, fire boards and hospital committees will receive $20 per meeting attended with the secretary of the recreation committee to be paid an additional $15 for each meeting. Authorized representatives will be paid $50 for each meeting attended plus 30 cents per mile. Elected and appointed officials for the township will be allowed to attend one con- vention of their choice with a spending limit of $350 for the year. All employees will receive three weeks holidays after 10 years of service. Appointments Council passed a bylaw to appoint people to certain committees in the township at their last meeting. The following is the list of appointments: Clerk - Robin E. Thompson ; deputy clerk - M.P. Thompson; treasurer -tax collector - H.B. Whitely; deputy treasurer - D.I.. Whitely; bylaw enforcement officer - Earl Mclllwain; tile -drain inspector - Earl Mclll- wain; chief building official - Robin E. Thompson; building inspector - Earl McEl- wain; livestock evaluators - T. Wain, M.J. Forbes; fence viewers - R.R. Stirling, D.S. Forbes, D. Wallis, Ted Johnston and William Townshend. Those appointed to certain positions and committees of council were: Maitland Valley Authority - Case Brand; Ausable Bayfield Authority - Grant Stirling; Clinton Fire Area - Laurie Cox; Bayfield Fire Area - Grant Stirling; Goderich-Colborne Fire Area - John Rodges; Goderich Hospital Board - Pat Osborn; weed inspector - Joe Gibson (County Weed Inspector); landfill committee - Grant Stirling and Laurie Cox; pound keepers - John Semple and M.J. Forbes; hall custodian - Ivan Colclough; Road superintendent - Joe Potter. The members of the recreation committee were also appointed by bylaw at the February 17 meeting. The members are, Councillor Carol Wammes, Councillor John Rodges, Wayne Tebbutt, Joy Levis, Elena Morgan, Gary Preszcator, Walter McIll- wain and Helen Van den Heuval. In other business, Barbara Betties presented a large file of school pictures which had been collected by . the sesqui- centennial school committee to council. The pictures, which comprise a collection from all the former township school, will be filed with the township records. The Goderich Legion Ladies were granted permission to hold a tag day at Zehrs in June. The opening of the Falls Reserve Road during the winter months was reviewed again. Reeve Stirling, Councillor Rodges and the road superintendent will meet with Barry and Gerald Walters to discuss the status of the road. Tile -drain loans were requested by R. Koostra for $8,200 on lots 37 and 38, conces- sion 10 and by Frank Hellerschmid for $20,040 on lot 32, concession 4. Council voted to approve the applications subject to the availability of funds. A building permit was requested by Allan MacDonald for a house on lot 103. The per- mit was issued by council. Tenders for the Holmesville street lights were opened but were filed until the next meeting for further clarification. Councillor upset �ver J986ABCA budget inforce Two hoar paring toe By Anne Narejko CLINTON - A new bylaw will be introduc- ed at council's next meeting which will allow only two hour parking in the municipal parking lot behind the library and town hall. Three members of the Business Improve- ment Area (BIA), attended council's March 3 meetingto discuss several items which had been brought to the previous council's attention late last year but were not acted upon. During the March 3 meeting, BIA Chairman Clarence Denomme, secretary Faye Fear, member Al Mathers and council discussed parking recommendations, the . care of trees and flower gardens, the possibility of a permanent Christmas tree in towe and sidewalk sales. Two Hour Parking The previous council had agreed to all only two hour parking in the munici al parking lot located at the rear of the libra and town hall, but to in force the time limit, a bylaw was needed but was not drawn up. Present council members concurred with the BIA and theformer council's decision because they felt employees from local businesses were taking up parking spaces which should be used by customers. "The lot fills up at 8:30 a.m. and is full all day long so business people must be using it," said councillor John Cochrane. Mr. Mathers suggested the parking meters which were removed from the main street be placed in the lot but councillor Bon- nie Jewitt stated she would, "Prefer to see the two hour limit posted'rather than meters put in." Councillor Cochrane raised the question of where the employees who use the lot would park if it was. decided to in force the two hour limit. "The parking lot was put back there to. free main street for parking, but if we turn them away, where do they go?. Further down Rattenbury Street?" Members of council were quick to point out that parking is available off Princess Street and would only require walking a short distance further. Councillor Gerrits also added, "The town is not in the 'bushiness of supplying parking for businesses." A bylaw will be brought to council's March 1 meeting which will state vehicles are only allowed to park in the lot behind the town ll and library for two hours with the ption of a few reserved spots for town employees. Any one with a complaint should talk to a member of council. Entrance -Exit. The second topic on the BIA agenda con- cerned the entrance and exit of the parking lot behind the town hall and library. They recommended cars be allowed to enter the lot from Ontario Street and enter and exit from Rattenbury Street. The reason for not allowing vehicles to ex- it to Ontario Street is that drivers can not see pedestrians until they are dangerously close. "The only problem I've heard with this is that the police use Ontario Street for an ex- it," said Mayor John Balfour. It was suggested that signs stating emergency vehicles could use it as an exit, blit Councillor Gerrits explained that could be dangerous. "The times the police would use it would be in an emergency .:and that's when so- meone would get hit;"'i',+ said. A bylaw will be prepared. Leave As, Is A suggestion by the town. policeNto allow a right hand turn only off Rattenbury Street on to Albert Street was turned down by council because they felt it wouldn't alleviate the problem. "If you go straight through, you have to wait for both lanes to be clear and if you turn left you have to wait for both lanes to be clear. It makes no sense at all," said Coun- cillor Cochrane. Mr. Denomme told council they were not pushing the idea and council decided to leave the situation as is. Gardening The BIA has left the matter of taking care of flower beds and tree trimming in the hands of council for the time being. The BIA was wondering if the town would hire an employee to maintain flower gardens, weeding and cleaning -up, trimm- ing trees and removing grass that grows between the sidewalk. "We find a lot of times it just gets out of Turn to page 2 • By Stephanie Levesque The Village of Bayfield won't be paying its levy to the Ausable-Bayfield Conserva- tion Authority if at least one councillor has his way. Coun. Lloyd Huffman said' the fact that an erosion control project on Long Hill Road in the village was not included in the 1986 budget, doesn't make sense. He says the severe erosion on the road should make it the number one priority of the Authority. ABCA general -manager Tom Prout said the province, through the ministry of natural resources, did not fund the project this year. He did say the Authority has not given up on possible funding and is still lobbying the ministry. Coun. Huffman said he was originally told the project was on for this year. He also questioned the fact that the province gave $60,000 for erosion control at a cemetery. "Somebody'd better get their priorities in order," said Coun. Huffman. Although the erosion control project in Bayfield was estimated to cost $120,000 to $130,000, Prout said a recent geotechnical study indicated the cost could go as high at $300,000. The Bayfield councillor -said that at the next meeting of the village council, he would recommend that the general levy to the Authority not be paid. "At least until the., Authority, gets its priorities straight," he said. Prout said the Bayfield erosion control project is ranked third locally, but has a .different ranking provincially. "We didn't get money for our top priori- ty project either," said Prout. The number one project is erosion control at. Lucan. Coun. Huffman said the Stanley Township and other fire departments use Long Hill Road as access to the lake from which to draw water. He added there are 10 residents, some year round, on the road. New backdrop for auditorium CLINTON - A backdrop for the auditorri.n stage at the town hall was discussed at coun- cil's March 3 meeting. The cost for in- stallation of the track at the rear and sides of the stage will cost $721.36. Doug Norman, of Norholme Decorating Centre, was present to explain the costs. He said the beige drapes, donated by Central Huron Secondary School, would be placed on a track. so they could be easily opened and closed. He also explained the drapes would hide the catwalk and the vent. Councillor Gord Gerrits suggested a per- manent equipment grant, may be available to help pay for the installation costs. Mr. Norman told council the $721.36 figure did not include any remaking charges which may be necessary. BRIDAL FASHIONS The Clinton Town Hall a wrtor gored "Clinton, The Weddin - Spee February 26. As well as the hour long show, tip displays for couples to browse at, Above, filled lst - t the merehant spon- Christine Elliott model clothing from Campbell's Men's Wear and win" bridal show en Marys Sewing Centre. At left, Steve Rowat and Elaine Dykstra several businesses set also show off fashionable wedding attire. (Anne Narejko photos) David Richardson and