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The Times Advocate, 2004-04-07, Page 17Wednesday, April 7, 2004 Exeter Times–Advocate 17 Dan Shapton's rink has won the 2003-2004 Tuesday night mixed challenge. Lead Lindsey Rundle, Second Adam Thomson, Vice Erin Robinson and Skip Dan Shapton receive the plaque from Jim DeBlock and Joanne Maguire of Hayter's Turkey Farms Inc., sponsors of the league. (photo/Mary Simmons) Aiming for in-depth decisions By Stew Slater SPECIAL TO THE TIMES -ADVOCATE SEAFORTH — Meetings of the Avon Maitland District School Board will unfold in a slightly different mariner for the next three months under a pilot project approved by trustees at a meeting March 9. In keeping with the current practice, there will be two board meetings per month through April, May and June of 2004, on the second and fourth Tuesdays. But as a result of the approval of a recommendation from the board's policy committee, the first meeting will now be left open to more "free-flowing" discussion, while the second meeting will be reserved for the approval of recom- mendations and motions. Urgent matters, such as the approval of a tendering process, may still come up for a vote during the first meeting of the month. But it's expected much of the meeting will be spent in a format referred to as "Committee of the Whole -- Public Session," which is described in the policy committee's report as "using relaxed rules of order permitting a more free flowing discussion." Schenk suggested that will allow for more in-depth discus- sion of topics which don't require a trustee decision immediately. Board chairperson Meg Westley spoke in support of the change. She said trustees routinely receive a pre -meeting package — including staff's recommen- dations for action — on a Friday, and have only until Tuesday to gather the information they feel might be necessary to vote responsibly. Under the pilot project, she suggested, trustees might "be able to hash it out without the pressure of a decision." SH gives go ahead to truck tank repair business By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — Council gave its blessing Monday night to a Quebec -based busi- ness to buy property north of Grand Bend to use for propane or pressurized tank servicing on trucks. The property in question is the Warner Auto - Marine site north of Grand Bend on Hwy. 21. Owner Peter Warner had received an offer from Quebec -based Pro -par Ontario to buy the lot. Warner said Pro -par owner Bob Parsons need- ed an immediate answer from council whether or not the business could go ahead or he would take his offer off the table. After a 50 -minute dis- cussion, council decided Parsons' business con- forms with the existing highway commercial zon- ing. Warner's lawyer Philip Waldon explained all work on trucks will be done inside a building on the property and the exist- ing zoning bylaw allows such work to be done. Under the highway com- mercial zoning bylaw, allowances are made for automotive sales and ser- vice businesses, automo- tive rust proofing busi- nesses, auto wash stations and service stations. "This is a service indus- try," Waldon said, explain- ing there will be no manu- facturing or fabrication on the site. Instead, the propane and pressurized tanks used on trucks would be serviced or replaced, currently a ser- vice companies have to go to Quebec to get done. Waldon said the business will service two major county firms, Hensall Co- op and Sparling Propane, and will offer employment to the area. "We should feel very privileged to have this company come here," he said. While South Huron's official plan emphasizes growth in the area should be in the tourism sector, Waldon said year-long employment is needed. He said there is already major truck traffic in the area. "These are major people and they run a really good shop." Waldon admitted the possibility of residents on the west side of Hwy. 21 objecting to the business, but said there is good buffering with trees and bush to keep the work out of site. He added there is almost no development on the west side of IIwy. 21 at that point. He said anyone opposing the project "is standing on weak ground." Huron County planner Claire Dodds -Weir recom- mended council seek a legal opinion on the mat- ter before giving its bless- ing to the business. She said there was a potential conflict between the zon- ing bylaw and the official plan. She said there were initial concerns about the industrial nature of the business, but said those were clarified. She echoed Waldon's statements that the official plan empha- sizes tourism businesses in the area and there is the potential of complaints from area residents. She said she wasn't opposed to the business, but was recommending a legal opinion because there is room for interpre- tation of the zoning bylaw. Current property owner Warner said he had been led to understand if coun- cil didn't make a decision Monday night, Parsons wouldn't buy. "What's the opposite of fear?" Warner asked. "Faith." Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin pointed out services like painting occurred at the site when Warner used it for boats. Both Urlin and Coun. Pete Armstrong expressed disappointment the matter had even been brought to council. Urlin said he is con- cerned with the planning department if, after work- ing for two years on the municipality's official plan it needs to seek a legal opinion. Armstrong said he was "totally in favour" of the business going ahead and "just about livid this (issue) even came here." "I'm 100 per cent in favour of this and we shouldn't be wasting any- more time," Armstrong ROBERT BENNER is pleased to announce that after 25 years of service to the people of Lucan- Biddulph, he is taking a sabbatical from the practice of law effective June 30th, 2004. He is pleased to welcome the firm of JONES GIBBONS and REIS to Lucan who will succeed him in the practice at 280 MAIN ST., LUCAN COMMENCING APRIL 7th, 2004 Phone: 227-4441 Janet Gibbons and Joseph Reis have 45 years of combined experience in the practice of law in Middlesex County. Their main office is at 39 Front St. W. Strathroy (245-0110) and at either the Strathroy or Lucan location they can serve your legal needs. Joseph M. Reis Family Law Criminal Law Wills and Estates Janet M. Gibbons Real Estate Law (including Residential, Farm, Construction, Development, Litigation) said, adding the business shouldn't interfere with any residents on the west side of Hwy. 21. South Huron building and development manag- er Wayne Dale said the reason staff chose to bring the issue to council after much discussion was a conflict between two defi- nitions. "We have a zoning bylaw that goes back to the '70s and we have a new official plan," he explained. He said staff never said the business was a bad idea, it just wanted to protect the best interests of everyone in the area. He said staff decided a legal opinion was needed in case any- one challenged using the property for the proposed business. Coun. Ken Oke said the planning department did its job correctly — it looked at the issues involved and brought it to council for discussion. He said there's little differ- ence between the type of work the new business will do as opposed to what the former business did, and if the municipality waits until a tourism busi- ness buys the property, it will be vacant for 25 years. In the end, council decided the business com- plies with the current highway commercial and will not seek a legal opin- ion. The rear of the prop- erty is zoned agricultural and will not be used for the business. Council will later discuss the issue of placing the property under site plan control. I*1 Fisheries and Oceans Canada LEARN ABOUT RECOVERY STRATEGIES FOR "SPECIES AT RISK" in the Ausable River Monday, April 19th 7-9 p.m. at the Ailsa Craig Recreation Centre 155 Ada Annie Shipley St. 14 SPECIES AT RISK - 7 fishes, 4 mussels and 3 reptiles • Presentations • Get involved! • Question and answer session CONTACT ABCA AT 235-2610 FOR FURTHER INFORMATION David Plumb and Paul Manders of The Plumbline Wealth Management Team present... ...A great tax -planning idea; NCE Flow -Through (2004) Limited Partnership. 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This information was prepared by the Plumbline Wealth Management Team, a group of Investment Advisors with National Bank Financial. The particulars contained herein were obtained from sources that we believe reliable but are not guaranteed by us and may be incomplete. The opinions expressed are based on our analysis and interpretation of these particulars and are not to be construed as solicitation or offer to buy or sell the securities mentioned herein. The opinions expressed herein do not necessarily reflect those of National Bank Financial. The investment vehicles men- tioned in this article are not necessarily suitable to all types of investors. Please consult your investment advisor. All prices and rates are subject to change without notice. The investment advice given only applies to residents in all provinces except Quebec. Please consult your investment or fiscal advisor.