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Zurich Citizens News, 1974-05-02, Page 1NO. 18 - FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, MAY 2, 1974 AREA LIONS ELECT OFFICIALS - ]vlembers of Lions Clubs from across western Ontario held their regional rally in Zurich last Wednesday night, ar which time two zone chairmen and one deputy trict governor hto ere right are zone chairman d, of Clinton;n on; deputy governGrant Chisloln, of lcknow, andzone chairman WhtneyCrawford, of Tiverton. No rush for regional government Ontario Minister of Agricult- ure William Stewart told a group of people in Zurich last Thursday night that regional government would not be forc- ed upon rural areas unless they ask for it. "Hon. John White, minister of intergovernmental affairs and treasurer of the prov- ince, has stated his position that it is up to the counties and local municipalities to decide how they wish to restructure their own county government," Mr. Stewart explained. "Mr White has said that we are prepared to work along with the people who want to restructure their government, but we are nor going to shove it down their throat." The agriculture minister was speaking to the annual rural - urban meeting of the Zurich and District Chamber of Corn- merce, and referred to 1-luron as one of the most productive agricultural counties in the prov- ince. "Take the white bean crop, " Mr, Stewart said, "42 percent of the province's total product- ion is grown right here in Huron. Last year the crop brought in $20 million for local farmers, and I understand that County council name committee members (by Shirley J. Keller) In a brief session of l luron County Council Thursday, April 25, approval was given by the Executive Committee for three members of Huron County Council to be members on the Historical Building Com- mittee. This committee, comprised mainly of persons interested in the preservation of the former Huron County Jail and finding some use for it, has its first meeting this week. The county's representatives on that committee will be the Warden, this year Bill Elston; the chairman of the executive committee, this year Doug McNeil; and the chairman of the property committee, this year Harold Wild. Reeve Wild told council the Huron County Branch of the Architectural Conservancy is actually the former Save the Jail Society. He said in his opinion, the group has "honest intentions." "The least we can do is to give them a chance to see what they can come up with," said Reeve Wild. There was considerable dis- cussion throughout the day con- cerning the Executive Commit- tee's choice of representatives on the committee --particularly because none of the three was committed to thejail project, However, it was decided the "continuity" of the Historical Building Committee should come from the non -elected people on it and that the Warder and the two committee chair- men were the best choices of council. In other business, council learned that a new librarian has been appointed and will assume his new duties August 12. W. Partridge will replace Miss Ethel Dewar as county librarian when she retires this summer. His salary will be $13, 500 until the end of 1974 when it will be increased to $14,500. a further 10 percent increase in the county's white bean acreage can he expected this year." Mr. Stewart told rhe gather- ing that he was pleased with the federal government's recent announcement to pay suhsidies ro group one producers on all tnill< over and above an excess of six percent over fluid sales. Previously, he explained, the level was 115 percent of dairy requirements rather than fluid sales. "This, he said, "will encourage fluid mill< producers to increase their output thereby making more mill< available for industrial purposes. In defending higher prices being demanded by farmers, Mr. Stewart explained that most wages' have increased almost 100 percent over the last 10 to 12.years, but at the same time the consumer price index rose by only 35.7 per- cent. "It is time we get our prior- ities placed in their proper perspective, " Mr. Stewart went ro say. "For too long Canadian and American con suiners, at the expense of producers, have used what was left over after the payments on the second car, the colour tel- evision, the cottage, the winter holidays, or the new boat, to purchase food. Food purchases may include convenience foods with built-in maid services, expensive packaging, instant, dehydrated, oven ready foods, canned or packaged products where the food may cost less than the container." Mr. Stewart also pointed out that with higher prices for fert- ilizer and twine this year, the cost of the product from the farmer -producer will have to increase accordingly. "Fertiliz- er prices and supplies are the subject of great concern and controversey," be added. The higher grain and corn prices have generated increased dem- and in Canada and the United States. 150 PER COPY New regulations for septic tanks (by Shirley J. Keller) Dr. Frank Mills, Huron's Medical Officer of 1[ealth, took time out Thursday morning to outline the new regulations with regard to septic tank instal- lation here. Private sewage disposal syst- ems, regulated through the Environment Protection Act of 19;1, were taken out of the lands of the Ministry of health and placed under the authority of the Ministry. of the Environ- ment effective April 15, 197.1. According to Dr. Mills, this date may have been somewhat premature in relation to Envir- onment's readiness to assume responsibility. "There is an awful lot of con- fusion, " said 1)r. Mills, "hut we're trying to sort through it." Until April 2.9, ratepayers in I luron who sought a septic tank installation perp it, found themselves "in limbo" since I luron's officials could not issue permits and the London office was not prepared to do so cit I ler . Now, however, the. 11ealtlt ['nit in 1 turon does have a lim- ited supply of forms --and the local 1\-1011 I,as been given te.ntporary authority to sign permits for residents. 1)r. Mills said an agreement between Environment and the local Health unit has been signed hy Huron officials and ratified hy the Environment, Ile said some counties have chosen not to sign the agree - stent with Environment, but he said he believed I luron did well to sign the agreement and retain the local inspections. "The I [ealtlt Unit staff will make every effort to snake this transition smoothly, so the public does not suffer, " promise( the MOH. There are 10 steps to be foll- owed from the time permit application is made until the system is approved for use. "As long as the applicant is a good reader, he should have no problem, said lir. Mills who praised the application forms Huron teach FS back t : school and their intent. Septic tank permits --necess- ary to install, repair or change in any fashion-- will cost $15. Lot approval in certain instances will cost $10. Penalties for violation call for fines of up to $1, 000. "The aim is to make it as thorough as possible," said Dr. Mills who estimated it would take about one month for bis department to "fumble our way" through this new system. He alsc promised an assessment of costs to the 1lealth Unit for this new service, after three months. Reeve Ed oddleifson, Bayfield asked how long this temporary authority would last for 1)r. Mills to act as local director for Environment. I)r. Mills replied that as long as permits are issued by the Health Unit according to the guidelines set down by Environment, the present system could "stay indefinately." But Environment does reserve the right to snake changes at any time, 1)r. 'Mills added. 1 lie 1\1(11 also suggested that an office of the Environment should he set up in the county. headquarters for Lambton and l luron is Sarnia. The next closest office is Owen Sound. Reeve Everett Mcllwain, Godericli Township,. said that if the county asks for an office its Huron, "don't let's co inplain about the increase of civil serv- ants in the province." Dr. Mills said in his views, a I luron office would entail splitting the present staff in Sarnia between the two offices. 0 While I luron County's 12,500 students took a holiday Tues- day their 600 teachers went back to school. it was professional develop- ment day at Central Secondary School, in Clinton sponsored by the llama County Board of Education. The day -long session involv- ed 26 discussion groups on topics ranging from conversion to the metric system to book selection and censorship. Among 32 resource persons on hand was Ontario's deputy min- ister of education Geroeg Wald - rum who spoke on the ministry's philosophy of education. E.C. Hill, chairman of the county board of education, led a discussion group on the values of technical education in the school system. ery n A daring robbery which incl- uded a hreak-in early last Wed- nesday morning resulted in the loss of a station wagon, merch- andise and some cash, at the St. Joseph BP service station, corner of highways 84 and 21. The business is owned and oper- ated by Mr. and Mrs. Jim Hogg Apparently rhe thieves had stolen a car in Bayfield or God- ericlt, and proceeded south on highway 21, developing engine trouble near St. Joseph. At the service station they smashed the window in the front door to gain entrance to the building, taking a considerable amount of merchandise and cash. The keys to the Hogg station wagon were in the cash box, and so the thieves promptly took off with the newly acquir- ed vehicle, abandoning the car which had developed engine trouble. Several area residents reported they saw the llogg vehicle travelling north on high- way 21 just around six in the morning. At press time there has still been no report of the Hogg station wagon being recovered. OPP officers of the Exeter det- achment are investigating.