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The Huron Expositor, 1984-05-02, Page 1• %�dnFai•'; TOS Serving the communities and areas of Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton 50c a copy SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDIIIE^ DAY, MAY 2, 1984 — 22 PAGES High winds damage broiler ba.rn. roof When Steve Taylor saw the roof of his broiler barn rise about six feet, Monday afternoon, he thought it would settle back on the barn walls. But a split second later, the roof was lying on the ground next to the barn. "It looked like a crane picked it up and set it in the field," said Mr. Taylor. The 210 by 40 foot roof was destroyed when strong, 100 kilometre an hour winds pummel- led southwestern Ontario on Monday. The broiler barn owned by Myrtle Taylor and her son Steve, south of Brucefield, received damage estimated at $50,000 to $80,000. The barn which holds 35,000 broilers, has been empty for three weeks and was scheduled to be filled with new birds on May 24. Since the storm. the date has been moved to June 14, said Mr. Taylor. "We were just making dinner and were keeping an eye on the hydro pole near the barn. Its hard to believe the wind alone could have taken the roof off, We figure it must have been a tornado," he said. The damage was fully insured, but Mr. Taylor doesn't know if any of the roofing material can be salvaged, He's just thankful there weren't chickens in the seven-year-old barn. "We would still be picking them up," he said. During the storm, small utility sheds in Egmondville were ripped from their founda- tions and several trees in the area were blown over by the winds. No other serious damage was reported in the Seaforth area. Huron delegates chosen Liberal leadership candidate' Eugene Whelan will get the nod on the first ballot from some of the Huron -Bruce Liberal Riding Association delegates, but after that the delegates are uncommitted. The area riding association elected five delegates to attend the June 14 to 17 leadership convention in Ottawa. Elections were held at the Seaforth Public School on Apr. 2b. Muriel Murphy of Goderich, Heather Redick of Zurich, Bruce McDonald of Mildmay, Mac ingles of Teeswater and Paul Steckle of RR2. Zurich were elected as delegates from among 10 nominees. The remaining five nominees become alternates. They are: Trudy Holmes of Wingham; Beecher Menzies of Clinton, Kirsten Armstrong of Teeswater, Howard Aitken of Goderich and Geneveive Madden of Goderich. Mr. Steckle was the only nominee who told the 119 Liberal members who voted for the delegates how he would vote, He said his first vote would go to the agriculture minister "because I care enough about him". Mr. McDonald later said he would also vote for Mr. Whelan on the first ballot, but was not prepared to say how he would vote on consecutive ballots. The president of the Huron -Bruce Liberal Riding Association, Jack Horan of RR4, Walton, who automatically goes to the June convention, said he intends to vote for Mr. Whelan "all the way". Huron -Bruce Liberal candidate Graeme SEEHURON/ON PAGE THREE 'STRONG WINDS tore the root off' broiler barn near Brucefleld on Monday, Stave Taylor, co-owner of the farm, surirey ?the damaged 210 foot Ipng roof which was strewn throughout a newly seeded barley fled; (Wasaink ph9to) Proposed landfill site may be dumped The proposed landfill site on the John H. McLlwain Construction Ltd. property may be dumped if landfill committee representatives of McKlllog,_Tuckersmith d,S,eafortb-eery, find a more suitable tate.- The McElwain property, north of Seaforth and in McKillop township, was one of 30 possible sites investigated, and was chosen as the most ideal location for a landfill site. But further hydrology testing in March revealed unforeseen problems with the property. The 33 acres chosen for landfilling is located in the north-east middle section of the 100 acre property. Perimeter soil tests of the site showed a suitable clay soil which is required to prevent possible water contam- ination. When the preliminary report was presented to the Ministry of Environment last fall, the Ministry requested that soil be tested CM two knolls in the middle of the site. The tests came up with sand and gravel deposits •- soils that could lead to contamination of the uper aquifer. 'We made the assumption it was a satisfactory site," said Burns Ross of the Goderich engineering firm of B.M. Ross and Associates. 'The Ministry suggested two test wells be drilled in the centre. They came up with sand and gravel and that's the stumbling block." The original site was to have been used for 25 years. When the only suitable landfill 0 location on the McLlwain property was the north-east section of the original site, the life of the site was cutback to 15 years. But the.peVe•stanza/ On hiid adi eral'drive- t,ac'ks, tliemaiti one Being only &'1S"gefii•'1ife expectancy -- the landfill site could not be paid for in that period of time. "Though the site life has been cut back to 15 years, it's still worth considering;" said Mr. Ross. Before a new landfill site can be used, approval must fust be received from the ministry of the environment. "1 don't know if the (smaller) site will be approved," said Blagy Navakovic, a representative with the ministry. "As far as i m aware, there's no threat to the water supppply." ON-SITE MESl'WG Members of the local landfill committee, three representatives of the ministry and Tony Crutcher of Conestoga Rovers, the hydrology firm which did the testing, met for an on-site meeting on Friday to discuss the feasibility of opening a new landfill site on the property. Four acres isn't much of a landfill site (the original was about seven acres) and it only has a life of 15 years. We would have to landfill on top of the ground," said Mr. Crutcher. If the site is chosen. landfilling would be layered -- layer of garbage, covered with dirt -- until it reached a height of about 2.5 feet. Municipalities are looking ful a new landfill site The town of Seaforth and townships of McKillop and Tuckersmith are looking for a new landfill site. This decision arose at an on-site meeting at the proposed landfill site in McKillop township when it was learned that after a year of soil and engineering studies. the property isn't the best suited for a landfill site. Chairman of the landfill committee, representing the three municipalities. Bill Siemon estimates it could take up to a year to find another site. But time is running out for the present landfill site in Seaforth. Though it's scheduled to close in June, the committee will be approaching the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) to receive an extension on the closing date. The closing date of the present site is secondary to the major concern of finding another suitable landfill site which will meet M.O.E. criteria. The main policy in locating a new site is that a poorer class land -• class four and higher -- is preferable to locating on prime agricultural land. The search for another site began two years ago and at that time, the local representatives on the landfill committee and engineers from B.M. Ross and Associates of Goderich looked at possible locations within a 10 kilometre radius of Seaforth. "We came up with 19 possible sites, but the M.O.E. suggested we go further afield. By expanding to a 15 kin radius, we found 30 sites," said Burns Ross, engineer. Since the imperviousness of the soil is the criteria in choosing a site, the McElwain property was found to he the hest suited. Further soil tests completed in March show this site, which was thought to have been ideal, is now not as desirable. DEWED CLASS " W e have to make the presumption that if we look for another site, it will have to be on a better class of land. And it could take ---INsmE Another concern was the smaller site water monitoring to consider off-site impact "If there is strong opposition, you will have would be closer to the Art Henderson home. to see if the smaller area is ,really minable."' difficulty of getting through the wfiple .it stood a chance; We'd acccntance process. said . Navakovi,n. rh byy about 200 metres. The arlg$i�na! site was If we didn't �abon�s.4QO "alio F4� �t+,p Jt�tase• T.5 h�"saysQmoiv_.3�oli. itteans the lan�f sife would hiive<tti .bye, ' the site /because i -disproven now," said Mr. Brown. • The design life (15 years). isn't uncommon Walt may be more desirable to get a landfill site with a longer life, said Willard Paige of the Ministry. 'Things can change down the road. such as reducing waste. A tot of things can happen in 15 years." CLOSE TO WIRE But the smaller landfill site would be harder to operate and the same monitoring costs would be involved said Mr, Crutcher. "The site is close to the wire now." Opposition to the smaller site and nearness to the adjoining property could affect the final approval of the site, said Mr. Brown. "There's also a good chance of having to install a leachate collection system and if you go to that, you'd want a good sized site." screened," said Mr. Crutcher. ' The site could also be expanded1' but expansion would mean sealing part of the site with day to avoid leachate. Sealing is an expensive undertaking, but it's a thought. it would be a hefty, price to pay on d per -capita basis," he said. "it would cost about S200,000 to line with clay, but that would be 15 years in the future." Engineer Burns Ross said the first thing the landfill committee should look at. is if the site is worth persuing and of the close proximity to the Henderson house. "it's a 9uestion of sending good money after bad,he said. The complexity of the site concerned Dan Brown of the Ministry. "The site would have to be addressed with further work and ground oegr tllia4R 'to, re'bnti o iiia aei bald– the prt� landfill site, Gerry Vanden Henget said he was csncerned last November when he read the preliminary repoirt. '1We (neighbours) felt there were not enough test holes drilled in the centre of the site. It was evident there were two soil types on the property and we felt there should be more tests to see where the clay and gravel soils met on the site." That was one of the recommendations the surrounding neighbours made to the Minis- try of the Environment. And for the past year, ever since the neighbours realized the McLlwain property was the landfill site location chosen by the committee and engineers. "neighbours have been watching sed LANDFILL/ON PAGE THREE Parents offer $10,000 for French A group of Goderich and area parents wanting a French immersion class for their children this September have offered at least $10,000 to the Huron -Perth Separate School Board. At the Apr. 24 meeting of the board, Martin Van Den Berg of RR.4 Goderich and a member of the Committee for Learning Opportunities, suggested three alternatives to implement French Iratnersion classes. No up to a year to find an acceptable site, " said Mr. Ross. "Choosing a landfill site is not an easy process," said Murray Elston. MPP for Huron -Bruce. "If the smaller site is chosen, the municipalities probably won't have time to pay for it if it's closed after 15 years." "We were confined to choosing a site on. class five and six land, but we've ruled out such land because it virtually leaves only aggregate areas," said Mr. Ross. We have to go to a higher class of land." A representative of the M.O.E., Willard Paige said Ministry guidelines conflict with those of the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. "But if you come u empty, then it's reasonable to look at a hi er class of land." "it would appear at to meet the requirements of the M.O.E..they may require soils that fall into better classes," said Don Dunn, director of Ontario Foodland Preservation. "Our policy recog- nizes that better farmland may have to be used -- heavier clay soils are more, preferable for a landfill site. "We're faced with a dilemma because of the nature of landfill sites -- they are the reverse of Utopia. it would be ideal to use class seven rock, but that's usually the worst choice." said Mr. Dunn. SHOW NEED One of the neighbours opposing the McElwain site, Gerry Vanden Henget agrees prime farmland may have to be used for landfilling. "if the engineers can show the need, have done good tests and found no suitable sites on poorer class land, then the site rttay have to be in class one. two or three farmland. "Farmland is going for evetything else. so why. not a landfill site. i have learned a lot in the past year. When another site is found, , I'd like to know what is so much different SEE SITE/ON PAGE THREE SLIPPERY FiSH—Six-year-old Bill Schenck had a tight grip on his still wiggling fish while he waited for It to be measured at the Seaforth Sportsmen's Club fishing derby at Lion's Park on Saturday. His second fish of the day measured 10 Inches. (Hundertmark photo) action was taken by the board. The first alternative suggested looking for additional grant money for two or three students from the public school system, reducing costs by cutting out new furniture and either reducing French immersion teachers by one or hiring a recently graduated teacher instead of a more experienced teacher at a higher cost. These measures would reduce costs in the second- ary year from S61,945 to 518.163. Including the parents' offer of S10.000. the cost would be reduced to 58,163. The second alternative was to allow enrolment in a French immersion class by public school children. "If only 20 students could enroll to fill any existing classroom vacancies, that would represent some 52,461 per pupil revenue from government grants. said Mr. Van Den Berg. The third alternative was to offer French immersion this fall for grade one students only. Mr. Van Den Berg said not all possible alternatives have been considered. He added that there is still sufficient time to set up a program for this fall. Superintendent of business and finance, Jack Lane said the offer flora the parents would have the effect of reducing grants from the province. He suggested donations in the form of supplies such as furniture, books and computers would be better. There was some concern for Mr. Van Den Berg's second alternative of allowing non- Catholics into the system. Acting director of education John McCauley said non-Catholics are already in the Huron -Perth Separate School syttem, but are usually accepted because the parents wish the children to receive a Catholic education. Potential public school students aren't allowed in just because they're interested in a science program, said Mr. McCauley using that as an example. Nor would they be pertnitted for the only reason that French Immersion is offered. "The only reason we'd do it (add French Immersion) would be to upgrade our system. We wouldn't do it jest to gain students," said board chairman Ron Murray. Mr. Murray informed Mr. Van Den Berg that the board will be holding ppblic meetings on the future of French programs during ay. M"We are looking through the system." said Mr. Murray noting that if the need is there, French Immersion could be introduced in the future if it doesn't have a negative impact on the rest of the systerti. Seaforth Legion Auxiliary host zone convention/ B8 "Wetlands aren't wastelands"/ Bl St. James kids jump rope for heart/ BS Saddle Club hosts poker rally/ A6 -INDEX Births /A9 Brussels / 82 Classified /Al2, 13, 14 Community Calendar /A3 Dublin /A5 Entertainment /B8 Family /48 Farm 186 Hensel! /414 Kids /04,5 Obituaries /A9 People /49 Sports /A6, 7 Walton /B3