Clear trash bags fail miserably in Lucknow
By Liz Dadson

Huron-Kinloss Council(continued)

Required for trash to be taken to the Mid-Huron Landfill site, the clear bag system is confusing and residents are having difficulty trying to figure it out, said public works manager Hugh Nichol.

Speaking to Huron-Kinloss council at the general committee meeting Monday night (April 6), Nichol said the landfill site board may say the system is working but that's because garbage is going everywhere but to the landfill site.

"We're going to have quite a few residents who won't buy into the program," he said.

The clear bags are rejected if there are certain items in them, such as recyclable material, said Nichol. On the first pick-up date, many bags were left at the curb with big red circles drawn on them to indicate the offensive items.

The Blue Box program, operated by Bruce Area Solid Waste Recycling (BASWR) out of Southampton, doesn't accept numerous items for recycling. "So, what we end up with is that some people in Lucknow have garbage they can't send anywhere," said councillor Anne Eadie. "I understand their frustration because their garbage is not taken away," said mayor Mitch Twolan.

"They (garbage collectors) should have tags to leave on the bags, saying what the problem is," said councillor Lillian Abbott.

The public works department will look into the program further.

(next column)

12/04/2009 10:53 PM

In other business ...

*Council has agreed to extend the sanitary sewer line beyond the township limits, to an empty lot on Bruce County Road 1 at the south end of Lucknow, for a developer to build a six-unit seniors' apartment. The developer is willing to pay all costs and will also pay double the price for services. Plus, there is sufficient sewage capacity to allow the project.

"This is an opportunity to get this type of housing in the area," said Abbott.
"I agree," said Eadie. "It's an exception because we need seniors' housing."

*The township has accepted the tender of Da-Lee Dust Control for the supply and application of 35% calcium chloride dust suppressant, at a price of $0.176 per litre, plus GST, which is the same price the township paid in 2006 and 2007. The municipality co-tendered with South Bruce, Howick, North Huron and Morris-Turnberry.

*Council has declared surplus the 1970 Allis-Chalmers tractor at the Huron Landfill Site.

*The township is replacing yield signs with stop signs to decrease the municipal liability. Everything west of Lake Range Drive has been changed. "We have one stop sign that was just put up and it's already been spray-painted," said Nichol.

*Council agreed to remove the lumber bridge in Waterworks Park, which was installed by the Lucknow Lions years ago. The township will also remove a fallen-down wood structure that was the outhouse, installed in the park by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, and backfill the hole with stone.