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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-09-16, Page 1LISTENING CAREFULLY— Seaforth and area citizens listened, and spoke, with a great deal of concern at the meeting on a new arena for the town last week. In front are son Johns, Roy Swart and Charles Friend of irlibbert and Ina Scoing, of Seaforth. (Photo by White) Alterna iscus se ives Ontario champs • ‘r BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Seaforth midgets. went on it' 491•Uti rampage on the weekend and won this telaleS.firSt .. Wald, Ras eb alLAssociatien . championship. They reamed fonthil1,18-1 at 9ptimist Park in Seaforth Sunday to take th4 best-of-three OBA midget E final two genies to one. ' Earlier iirthe afternoon they (limed a 10-7' decision to the Fonthill teeth, which temporarily evened the playoff. Seaforth won Saturday's opener at Fonthill 26-5., Kevin Drager went the distance and was the winning pitcher in all three g; mes. He hurled a two-hitter in the clincher Drager, Steve Henderson../ Bedard and Jim Campbell provided hits of punch at ,,,„the plate in the deciding game, So did everybody else. Seaforth won an Ontario Senior champ- ionship in 1874, but that was before the OBA existed. READY AT BAT — Dave Murray of Seaforth's• midgets was ready to hit it in the second game of their baseball playoffs. Seaforth won the first game 26 5, lost the second game 10 - 7 and won the third game 18 - 1 to take this town's first OBA title. (Photo by Hook) Hospital board hOnors retirees co--Inside this week Golf• tourtiament) The Invitational Golf tourney was a winning success. The top golfer was from St. Marys. See photos and story on page 12. Agriciture Minister Eugene Whalen was on hand to open Hensel! Co-op's new fertilizer plant. The new blender makes' work, easier for the farmer. For photos and story see page 15. 49 New faces Kids going back to school will meet some new teachers. Meet them yourself on page 5. Concerned Patricia Rimmer voices home concern over the loss of teenager life in Seaforth and area. See Page 7 122nd Year Whole N0.5823 S16.00- a year in advance a single copy 40 cents Arena costs SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1961 — 28 PAGES . . • Seater* OpahritSat in„awed .01eXtee for a _ . . moment at W M*/ night's council meeting J after clerkine-Crocker ofetlined? What a new. $1.5million are a would do the average town i heMeowner's t x bill. ' "We can't fiord,it." said • Mayor John Sinnamon. HoWever, the acid-other councillors agreed to, .have the clerk go ahead with preliminary grant applications based on the $1.5 .million figure. "We can always come down,' clerk Crocker said, (the applications must be in by Sept. 30") "As long a's thiS is not mininterpreted by the public that you've made; the final decision." l Ire facts ace 'these: 1. Under most favoUrable conditions, witb all possible rants receive& anka fund raising goal of .S225.000 being met. an average taxpayer Would pay ((or short term interest) an additional $105 a year, above 1981 taxes strictly for the new arena. Any municipal ^tax jump. county, school board and swer sewer levies would be added to that. For the next seven years the tax bill for the arena (debenture costs) would be. an additional $45 a year. If a new firehall is built, the town's share of that, plus that new arena, would boost the avenge homeowners tax bill, jirsti'or the tWO new beildings, to an additional $177 for the first year, $105 for the n,ext two years and $45. for the next seven years. If local fund raising falls short by SI00.00fl and the town doesn't receiver an Ontario Neighbourhood Improvement Program grant (what the clerk called least favourable conditions), Seaforth would face a short term interest bill of $60,000 and debentures of S137.000. That means the average home- owner (with a $3000 assessment) would pay an additional $204 annually of the three years for the arena and an additional $138 a year for the next seven. 400 ine ttrettellpreject and the tax. bill for both, 'buildings will be an additional $276 (or the first year, $204 for tb 'next two. years and $138 for the next seven years. Clerk Crocker stressed that the figures aren't gospel and that the arteal arena cost ecoxutrledmefas1.1 somewhere' between the two • A homeowner with a house assessed at $3000 this year pays $318 in municipal taxes. before county, school and other levies. Taxes could nearly double if both building projects go ahead. Councillor Bob Dinsmore pointed out that the S1.5 Million figure. doesn't include the cost of land for a new arena. Council agreed to draw up proposals for contributions from area townships and meet with them Sept. 23. Draft grant epplications will also be reviewed then. Figures in the rec committee's report to council show that Seaforth residents account for 33.2 per cent of arena users in 80-81. McKillop is next with 25 per cent. followed by 20.1.persent of arena sports registrants who • .1ccitne from -outside the four township area. Then 13.5 per cent of arena users are Tuekerstnith residents:. while 5.8.. per cent come from Halbert and 2.4 per cent from Mullett. At Monday's meeting council also tossed around solutions to the lack of ice here this winter. Bob Beuttenmiller of Seaforth Minor . Hockey. which has been self-supporting for six years. asked for a 56,000 grant to help defray costs. including ice rentals at neighbouring arenas. Registrations will be down from 161 to about 100 because of travel involved and Mr. Beuttenmiller said that will mean a foss of $1500 in fees. Fund raising 'activities and tournaments will be eliminated because -of no local ice. making it "a very difficult year." Without a grant. registration fees would have to be S90 for travelling teams and $50 for house leagues, while if council can help. fees will be held to $60 and S40 respectively. Last year youngsters pale $45 and $25. Rec director Bryan Peter asked for a $2000 grant for Seaforth's ringette league and council promised, to consider both requests. 'Mr. Beutenmiller said minor hockey would ..need the .gesurt-iptlarrirary.-- Although' clerk Crocker rpcampcnctea dropping the idea of 'Sea(orth renting the Vanastra arena for the winter., Mayor Sinnamon broke a tie vote to pass a motion calling en• the rec director to talk to the arena's owner.' If he's willing to pay start up costs and have the building pass a structural study and be approved by the ministry of labour at his expense. council will consider renting the facility. Clerk Crocker had recommended against the rental because of unforeseen -costs, the fact that ice at Vanastra wouldn't be available until Nov., 1. (a month later than at area arenas where tentative rental arrangements have been made for individual sports) and `because of staff scheduling problems and mileage costs. If the owner doesn't agree to council's conditions, the rental of the Vanastra arena won't be-pursued. Council also received a letter from the Seaforth Curling Club executive, suggesting that a new rec complex contain a new curling rink. The club would turn its present property ever to „the town. Any decision pi . •that depends.on costs, council decided. • - , BY SUSAN WHITE If applause is the measurement, most of the 250 people who attended the. Wednesday night meeting hosted by council want a brand new areba. Some of them would like the new building to have additional facilities ... racquet ball courts and a cement floored hall that would allow roller• skating all year round. But the key to any solution to Seaforth's problem (the present arena is condemned and cannot be used after Oct. ,15) speaker after speaker said, will be raising the money, through taxes and a public campaign to pay for a new structure. Dave Whitney of MacLaren Engineers and Planners told the meeting that alternative one„ retaining the present foyer and hall, building a new ice surface (10 per cent larger) Warm weather, beans better BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Despite warm weather and, sunny skies white bean producers int he area had no picnic on the weekend. They were working. "They might have taken an hour off .for church but that's about it,'says John Heard. He's an assistant agricultural representative with the Clinton office of the Ontario Mi. -try of Agriculture and Food (9MAF). Wet weather earlier this month meant serious damage was done to the early white bean crop, half of which was lost. The dedluge also damaged 10 to 20 per cent of late white beans. But the situation didn't look quite a s bleak for the producers this Monday. after the good weather onthe weekend. Mr. Heard says north of Clinton. an area ,that didn't received as much rain as the rest of Huron County. the situation for late maturing beans seems to be improving. He describes yields and quality throughout the county as variable. with additional washrooms, dressing rooms and storage and putting a new roof and superstructure over the whole building will cost. an estimated 1900,000. The hall and front of arena faCilities would all be smaller than the ministry of culture and recreation recommends but recent renovations can be salvaged. $100,000 would be raised through taxes; S225.000 from fund raising and the rest from various grants.....,_ This alternative would mean removal of the roundhouse at the fairgrounds, an unusual building that's designated under the Ontario Heritage. Act. A second alternative, exactly like , the first but with the addition of a new separate community hall near the present arena would cost11.2 million, Mr. Whitney said. There appeared to be little interest in this scheme: An all-new arena, with a hall seating 600 and larger foyer, etc. would cost $1.5 million, Mr. Whitney estimated. Clerk Jim Crocker said if all possible grants 'are received $625,000 would have to be raised locally; $275,000 from fund raising and $350,000 from taxes. With either alternative the back of the arena• will be entirely new, with seating on one side, a larger ice pad etc. and for the $600,000 difference, the community will get a larger community hall• and kitchen. booth. .area and. lobby. "Is thaeworth $600,000? The community and council will have to decide," the clerk commented. He added there wilt be heavy interest charges since funds will harp to be paid to contractors before all grants are, received or fund raising completed. REC. COMPLEX A variety of speakers had ideas. Terry Johnston, An a letter to the. meeting, suggested a new recreation complex could go along way to meet the needs of -Young people and families. He advocated racquet ball courts, n 'fitness room, a small swimming pool and said income could offset costs. He also suggested selling family memberships. Ken' Cardno asked *millers if they'd looked at land costs for a new arena site or how to use tire existing ,site. Mayor John Sinnamon said land -.could perhaps be purchased adjacent to the present. arena, but . as for cost "we have no idea." Following a questiOn from Dave Reid about where arena revenue' goes, arena chairman dpeuty- reeve • Bill Bennett explained that last winter the building took° in about •$83.000 but $100,000 was spent. "We could balance the budget but minor hockey (and other sports for kids) pay $18 for ice time when the usual rate is $30 an hour.", • Mr. Bennett called Seaforth's the busiest arena in the area. Fixed costs, like insurance and maintenance would be lower on a new building "we could save about $10,000" and he added a new facility would have the potential for a balanced budget. . The community deserves new facilities "to go with the huge use this arena has" said Tom Devereaux of the town's Industrial Hockey League. Recreation, seems to be a problem, especially for young people and we need a hall for 600. "If it's not attractive, people won't dig-deep. I worry about the front deteriorating." Mr. Devereaux said he could see additional costs pushing the first alternative to .51 Million. 'For 41.5 million we get a better facility; people will work harder for it; it will_ . attract groups like broomball tournaments." "An -indoor -pool,. request. courts- -116, . but. more recreation in awettractiVe building is good." he said to boa claps. ANOTHER VIEW Another point of view came near the end of the meeting from Charlie Campbell. We're really talking about a new front to the arena. he said. Calling present dressing room facilities "second to none" he said "we're actually improving the hall and kitchen. for $600,000 more." Have we got a problem in the front end of the arena, he asked. "That's an awful lot of money for a little bigger hall and kitchen." • In 1974 the town thought the rest' of the arena was pkay • now it's condemned. There's no guarantee the (old) front wouldn't be condemned, the mayor replied. The entire — 'Please turn to page 3 . Members , of the board of Seaforth Community Hospital held .their annual dinner at the Seaforth Golf club on Wednesday evening. Contributions made by retiring members' I of the board and staff were recognized by the presentation of plaques to —Wayne Ellis. 5 years on the board and , to. Dorothy Hays. on the staff since 1962—Elsa Reinfelds who served bri the staff since--1952 until her retirement this year was not present to receive "her plaque. The presentations were made' by Audrey' McLlwain who heads the boards public relations committee. Mrs. McLlwain also Council briefs Huron County planner Roman Dzus tabled the Seaforth's new official plan at council Monday night and it was given first and second readings. A third reading may be given in October .after councillors have a chance to study the document. Mr. Dzus said the plan is designed to stimulate downtown and industrial develop- ment in Seaforth. Suggestions froth the public at a series of meetings have been incorporated,. he added. After the plan receives &alien and ministry of housing approval, the town planning board will go to work updating the zoning bylaw, the planner said. • SEAFORTH HIGH ST. The owner of a High St. bpsiness wil be asked to clean up the property following a, complaint at council Monday night. "Now Market St. looks so nice with paving and new sidewalks", councillor Hazel Hilde- brand said, "except for the Huron Canadian Fabricators property." Councillor Hildebrand said she thought the property was to have been cleaned up several months ago, The town now owns the building in ;question and the business leases it until the end of November. The - firm should be Moving to a new industrial park site soon, clerk Jim Crocker said. "Mgybe they could start moving stuff nowk"suggested councillor Dinsmore. Council agreed the firm will be mon. sible if there's any damage to new sidewalks when the heavy equipment is moved out. a recognition of his service as president or the presented Mr. Ellis with a silver tray in any questions regarding its activities." he said and added that the press attended all' board. A bouquet also-was presented. to Jane Mount Forest board meetings and , that he Rimmer the Wife of the board chairman. contributed a weekly column on hospital • Stan Middleton, administrator of the activities, to the local paper. Louise Marshall Hospital in Mount Forest. in Introduced by Gwen Scott the speaker' was a short address emphasized the importance thanked by Charlotte McKercher who pre- of public relations in the hospital program. sented him with a memento of his visit. Board president Gordon Rimmer was "The hospital has a resonsibility to inform the public of what it is doing and to answ, er chairman for the event. FOR YEARS OF SERVICE Ausirey-McLlwain, left, ciiiirperSon of the public relations committee, presents a plaque for five years of service to Wayne Ellis, who retired from the board of directors this year. Mr„ uis- • also received a silver tray for serving as chairman of the board. tiorothy Hayes received a plaque from Gord Rimmer, present chairman 'of the board. Mrs. Hayes retired this year after serving as a nurse at the hospital ,from 1962 to 1981. Absent from the photo was ,Elsa Reinfelde, wlio also retired this year from her nursing career which began in 1959, • (PhOtoby EMS)