The Times Advocate, 2008-08-20, Page 1TIMES ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, August 20, 2008 $1.25 (includes GST)
HURON TRACTOR
EXETER
519-235-1115.E
www.hurontractor.com JOHN DEERE
WHAT'S
INSIDE
Trac 11 Online
Graphi Inc
A printing Company
�■ '■ ■
ORF)FRINC;
519.237.3838
www.trac k21. ca
Environmental
projects
ABCA tours media
through local farms
PAGE 10
Summer fun
Children at Relouw
Centre enjoy activities
PAGE 12
Tour over Europe
Local teen travels
to Europe for ringette
tournament
PAGE 20
INDEX
Editorial 4
Sports 20
Announcements 26
Classifieds 29
TIMES -ADVOCATE
424 MAIN ST.
Box 850
EXETER, ONTARIO
NOM I S6
TEL: 519-235-1331
FAX: 519-235-0766
WWW.SOUTHHURON.COM
Sliding in Exeter — On Aug. 14, St. Joseph sisters Sarah, left, and Madison
Volland were hanging out on the equipment atVictoria Park in Exeter.
(photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
Lake Huron water pipeline
expected to be online
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — The new $13.5
million Lake Huron to Exeter water
pipeline is expected to be operational
this week.
South Huron operations manager Don
Giberson reported at Monday night's
committee of the whole meeting that
there have been many delays in start-
ing up the new system due to computer
compatibility problems between the
new pipeline and the treatment plant in
Grand Bend, which has an old system.
He said South Huron has had many dis-
cussions with the Lake Huron water
board staff about getting the problems
worked out because South Huron still
has much work to do to start shutting
down the wells (which needs to be done
by Sept. 30) and to get the new system
up and running.
Giberson said he expects work to
improve the water pressure issues in
Dashwood will take place in the fall.
Answering a question from Coun.
Cathy Seip, Giberson said once the new
water pipeline is fully operational, it
will take about a week to get all the
well water out of the system, depending
on consumption.
Other council notes:
Water rate study
As previously reported, council has
directed its consultant to examine addi-
tional options regarding proposed new
water rates. Giberson said the consul-
tant's report isn't finished yet but will
be ready for council's first meeting in
September.
Regarding the new rates (which
haven't yet been adopted by council),
council approved a recommendation
from Giberson that the new rates will
go into effect Jan. 1, 2009.
Morrison Dam meeting
Council gave its blessing to Ausable
Bayfield Conservation Authority general
manger Tom Prout to schedule a public
meeting for the fall regarding the
municipality's proposal to have an envi-
ronmental assessment done on the pos-
sible decommissioning of the Exeter
See MEETING page 2
New LocalCellular Provider
Hay Communications
Blind Line, Zurich, ON
www.hay.net
519-236-4333 !-.-=
Former Saan
set to reopen
as Bargain Shop
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — The recently -closed Exeter Saan store is
set to reopen this fall as a Bargain Shop store.
Canadian -owned retail chain The Bargain Shop
recently entered into a purchase agreement with
PricewaterhouseCoopers to buy as many as 93 of the
former Saan locations in Ontario, Western Canada and
the Atlantic provinces. Company president and CEO
Michael Roellinghoff confirmed with the Times -
Advocate Monday the Exeter location is among those
to be bought by the Bargain Shop and he hopes the
store will open before Christmas.
While the deal is not yet finalized, Roellinghoff said
he is "very optimistic" it will go through. If it does, it
will bring to 270 the number of stores in The Bargain
Shop chain, making it one of the largest privately
owned general merchandise retailers in Canada. A
press release from the company states that it expects
the closure of the transaction to take place in stages
starting Thursday.
Roellinghoff said The Bargain Shop and Saan stores
both focused on small markets, but there was little
overlap between the two chains. He said Saan also had
good staffers and The Bargain Shop is in the process of
contacting former Saan employees to see if they'd like
to work at The Bargain Shop.
In a statement, Roellinghoff said, "The acquisition of
the former Saan locations is very positive, not just for
our company and the Canadian vendor community,
but also for the towns where Saan has played a very
important role over the years. Our goal is to reopen
those stores as The Bargain Shop locations as soon as
possible."
The Bargain Shop carries a variety of brand-name
products for the home as well as grocery items and
clothing.
County sends decision
back to Bluewater
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
VARNA — The Municipality of Bluewater has
had the decision on funding of upgrades to the
Blue Water Rest Home (BWRH) returned to it by
Huron County council, following a meeting of
county council last week.
On Aug. 5, Bluewater council voted to defer a
decision until Sept. 15 on the request of the
BWRH for a $333,434 grant from Bluewater.
The rest home is asking the county for $1.2
million.
In June, Huron County council voted to defer a
decision until after Bluewater council dealt with
their request.
But at last week's meeting, county council
voted to defer a decision until after Bluewater
dealt with the issue at its Sept. 15 meeting.
Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson said the deci-
sion by county council was expected and it is
time for Bluewater to stand up and be account-
able, adding that the county wants to see what
Bluewater is going to contribute.
Dowson said since the Aug. 5 meeting, there
hasn't been any consensus about a number that
Bluewater may provide to the rest home.
He added that the province has recognized the
importance of the project and that it will bring
numerous new services to the facility.
See COUNTY page 2