HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-05-28, Page 44 News Record • Wednesday, May 28, 2014
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editorial
Raise a cup to the
orginal Tim Hortons
It is a name that is synonymous with our fair
country.
Two words every Canadian, no matter age, gen-
der, sexual orientation or background can identify.
Some people can literally not function without it
in the morning.
Some people need it before they go to bed.
Some people need one cup a day, some people
need seven.
I could go on and on, but I'm sure you have fig-
ured out what I am getting at.
TIM HORTONS.
During the past Victoria Day weekend, "Tims" or
"Timmies" as some call it, celebrated a birthday.
50 years.
Half a century of the well-known Timmies Run.
Half a century of making a stop during a long
road trip.
Half a century of rolling your eyes when you walk
in and see a huge line up.
As the years go on, it's likely that people will for-
get the man the coffee is named after.
Tim Horton, a NHL Hall of Famer and four -time
Stanley Cup winner, opened the first time restau-
rant in Hamilton in 1964.
There are now over 3,000 locations across Can-
ada, as well as Tim Hortons in the U.S., the U.K. and
Ireland.
For some time there was one in Afghanistan that
served Canadian troops.
Not surprisingly, there is a local group, Tims for
the Troops, that has the main goal of shipping one
case of the coffee to every Canadian soldier sta-
tioned overseas.
I wonder if Tim had any idea the impact his small
coffee shop in Hamilton would have on this
country.
Sadly, Tim didn't get the chance to see most of
that impact as he died in a car accident in 1974.
Even sadder, I fear as time goes on, the younger
generations will not even realize there was a "real
Tim Horton".
So next time you get your Tim's fix„ whether it's
black, double double or the legendary 4 X 4, raise
your cup to the man who made it all possible.
- Dave Flaherty
Reader questions the viability
of the REACH Centre
To the Editor;
Once again, I would like to inform
Central Huron taxpayers of the disap-
pointing financials at REACH in 2013.
I have a copy of the REACH Decem-
ber 2013 financial statements and it
reports another loss of $315,926.
The total income generated for 2013
was $262,298 - subtract the $12,000
given to REACH from Central Huron
taxpayers for management fees, which
equals $250,298 actual income. The
total wages for 2013 was $309,103.
Once again, REACH was short $58,805
from paying their own wages, not to
mention paying their lease or
expenses. REACH 2013 statements
also show a bank loan and payables of
$72,404.
When the existing council signed
the current REACH lease in 2013, they
chopped their lease payment in half -
from $100,000 per year to $50,000 per
year. Councillor Westerhout (also a
REACH board member) keeps telling
me REACH is doing much better. Their
statements show a loss of $367,368 in
2012 and $315,926 in 2013. The only
reason I can see they are doing better
is because council chopped their
lease in half.
From information written by the
REACH's board chair and general
manager, they say that they have had a
"fairly successful year". With a loss of
$315,926 and more in previous years, I
wouldn't consider this a success. In
fact, in the private sector, losses like
this year after year would probably
result in closing the doors and filing
bankruptcy.
All of current council agreed at the
last election all -candidates meeting
that REACH needs fixing. If they con-
sider cutting their lease payments in
half a fix, I beg to differ. It only masks
the problem and hides the real facts.
REACH doesn't generate enough
income to pay their own wages.
I was told by the general manager
that they rent a facility in 2013 for
$600/day. In the original business
plan, it was to rent for $1500/day.
Information I obtained off their web-
site in July 2013 states the main arena
rents for $1500/hour + HST. That
would four hours only and consider-
ing lots of events are there eight to 10
hours. I would say we are not charging
near enough for this facility. Most
horse events are also using the out-
door arenas - free I guess.
The people using this facility need
to start paying a realistic rental fee
so the taxpayers of Central Huron
aren't paying for them. I am pleased
to see that it appears there are more
activities going on at REACH but if
they are not paying sufficient rental
fees to cover the wages of the
employees, it would be better to
have it sit empty.
In the Central Huron 2013 state-
ments, they also show a loss in
REACH account of $267,069.32
If you consider the fact that if the
raceway had not given the $75,000
donation, it would have been
$342,069 provided by Central Huron
taxpayers.
Central Huron gave REACH
$239,993 as a donation and also paid
$144,433 principle on the building
loans, a total of $651,414 or $1785/day
by Central Huron taxpayers.
In the beginning, I had faith that
this council would honestly do some-
thing sensible to fix this mess and the
drain on Central Huron taxpayers not
to cut REACH's lease payments in half
so it doesn't look so bad.
I see now where we are also paying
for a REACH trail to Hullett Conserva-
tion Area and we are expensing this to
parks department - $2385.
The current council decided to
install solar panels on the roof of
REACH. In my opinion the purpose
was to help pay for a previous bad
decision. Two wrongs don't make a
right.
Last year, Mayor Ginn told us the
solar panels would be paid for in
three -and -a -half years and then they
would make the REACH loan pay-
ments. Now I am told it will be at least
four -and -a -half years.
All I can say is thank you for con-
tributing to my increasing hydro rates!
Carol Dutot
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