Page 9 - June 15, 2017

Thursday, June 15, 2017 The Independent Page 9
Land purchase stalls gateway sign seven years
The Independent Staff
Lambton County staff had the perfect spot for a gateway sign for the community - it’s just the owner of the land didn’t want to sell it.
ment with the property owner in Warwick Township. The county has its eye on a hill on the westbound side of Highway 401 near Arkona Road.
landowners between $3,000 and $10,000 per acre depending on whether it was bush or agricul- tural land. The recently passed limits are between $6,000 and $20,000.
That was the word from
Jason Cole, general manager of infrastructure at the county after Brooke-Alvinston Mayor Don McGugan questioned why the sign wasn’t up yet.
“There have been property negotiation issues,” says Cole. “We can’t build it if we don’t have the land. If we lose this opportunity, we will have to look for another site.”
But St. Clair Township Mayor Steve Arnold says the county should simply move on and nd a different property.
A 23 year old is facing racing charges after OPP nabbed him in Plympton-Wyoming.
Lambton OPP were noti ed June 8 of a car travelling through Middlesex County at a high rate of speed. The
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“It was supposed to be up by July 1, 2017,” McGugan said recently at a county council meeting adding the county has been working on the project for seven years now.
Cole says part of the reason was the cash offered for the land. During the June 7 council meeting, the county approved a new policy which would allow staff to make more generous of- fers for road right of ways and projects, such as the gateway signs.
He says when the project was rst proposed, councillors sug- gested the land near an over- pass. At the time that wasn’t allowed. But Arnold says the Ministry of Transportation has given several municipalities the green light to use the land in their communities. “We need to have a discussion on what our preferred location is.”
Cole says the county hasn’t been able to negotiate an agree-
The county had been offering
PETROLIA LInE bLOCkED
OPP, Petrolia North Enniskillen Fire Department and the EMS were on the scene a er an accident at the corner of Petrolia Line and Oozlo sky Street Saturday. At least two and possibly three vehicles including two pickups were involved. O cials say the injuries were not serious.
Heather Wright Photo
A SOCIAL TIME AT WATFORD’S ART SOCIAL DAY
Art lled the streets of Wa ord Saturday during the East Lambton Arts Council’s Art Social. Bands played in Francis Mar n’s studio, while ar sts like Alythia Joris of London worked in the studio. There was also music outside. Here Paul McCaulsky demonstrates the pans outside the Wa ord Library.
Heather Wright Photos
Driver hits 160 km/h, stopped for racing
car was spotted going west near Mandaumin Road. Police clocked the car at 160 km per hour. The man was stopped, his car impounded for seven days and his driver’s license was seized.