HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1981-09-16, Page 2uroll
ch Il
Since tsW, 4ervsng the Community first
12 Main St 527-0240
To tie Editor:
Published at $EAFORTH, ONTARIO every Wednesday the rate we now pay, on our $42.000 in preliminary figures. one councillor urged months ago, and immediately discarded.
McLean Bros. Pubt►shers Ltd Seaforth
debentures.
For a
iew arena
worth • his fellowsproposition".
p to "provide leadership on this Now might be a good time for our Mayor to 1
An r w Y McLean. Publisher a `� arena taxpayers arena ro itioa When we left council lead council back to where it found itself
d e assessment could be paying in new taxes chambers, Councillor Gcaothuis was warn-• when it got, the bad news early in duly.
Susan White. Editor ing it might be wise to look at the idea of
At council Monday. someone mentioned anyv►°here from $100 to S25O for the next
Mr . Johnston's "Five to eight million dollar three years and $AS to S150 for the seven repairing the present arena at a cast of David F. Leitch
ars after that. This would be for the •new $75,000 to $150,000. This suggestion was
Member Canadian Community Newspaper Assoc+auon pnrar+o Weekr y suggestion for a new arena, complete with years
aloneE Nevertheless, Mr. Crocker has described as "foolish and impractical" two a very concerned Seaforth taixpayet
Neiyspaper Assoc+,ae+on and Audit 9ureau or C+rcu►af+arn swimming pool and squash courts." Every- been instructed to prepare the ,papers asking
body taughed. But when Mr. Crocker
showed that council's own plain for 'a new for. Seaforth to be allowed to build a new
$Qbscf+pt4on rates , arena• As. Mr. Crud 0,Pointeld out, this is a
na costing, 31:6.0,000 rhighT, mean in.
Canada $t6 a year t►n aduaocel. , sal that earn 'be Chan, ed or dro d at
increased .iiebt and tare , lviaypr, S+innatinon14 g;d
PUxS1 lee 3sldda S 3 a year:ten 4dvancet gray, MmeL P 7ts"
°t4R pay' cottunitts Sea oith, to
uex Were'sbocked, �'"c"
' d his colica i
�valt'i
an &.... � ' } `ilei h�it3tt .tavrnslti counc Is , . .. .Sp ,m ciat ed one �atanctllor,Oh° city GodE elc.. n talk about. , �, htit+e •beend #f X 'cdt aWe• 'ust, can t affptr-d, tt said the Mayor• I r09.1on number 0696 � van ""fin 0tiai Support to tl►is vague, .
it Aistd art chis
was only after tit cliGrlt had . iib
s:
explained the, effect of the plan: under wbsit ia�ltst poorly con..sidere gtoposStii ►., ott�
j 0 (fir
P which scte'r out; l�Iay4 . which only one .
tie called '"most favourable conditions-`" councillor itms offered to investigate, and
- $1rAFtaiRTM, ONTARff3, EPTEM.HEA 16. 1981 These conditions•would mean reaching the about which therest.areeitheruneasyor say
$225,()(1(} target in public donations, and After reading the two previous is§ues o the ENDLESS ALTERNATIVES
getting 5373,000'from an outfit called ON1P, openly "we can't affotd it. Huron Expositor. it becomes apparent hat
f anew bunch Mr. Crocker wasn't familiar This .taxpayer is twice as uneasy as Po Can you in, all honesty still say there is
some in our adolescent society have
• with or optimistic about. council: The council knows full well taffies are nothing to do BUT drive around - nowhere to
s adopted a "noihin to do" attitude which
y
Can ��7 V grWhen Mr. Crocker wenton and described m rise sharply next year and the year after P g •go BVT to the hots. The list of alternatives is
that even if they don't spend a nickel on the Seemingly will become more prevalent endless, isn,t it? Several additional thoughts
what could happen under "least favourable arena On a $3,000 residential assessment, during,the winter ahead in the absence of our come to mind - wash the windows, teach
conditions" which- would mean ,coming up taxes will increase b $10Q in 1982 because local arena. Perhaps it is an appropriate time yourself to play amusical-instrument, clean
5100,0W._S.hort....on. donations and getting Y to share with the young readers some advice
"We want it all and we want it now, to quote councillor Patti ROSS thing from ONiP, the Mayor summed up o' the new fire hall and cost over -tuns o as expressed to the our Your bedroom, empty the garbage. Coach a
humourouslydescribing the mood of Sea>orth's public meeting on -the the general feeling when he said "these'(300%)onrepairsto thetown.hall.In1983we P Y young little kids hockey or ball team, Visit someone
must buy anew dim site and this will add people in his community. in response to the living alone, someone disabled or handicap
arena. figures scare me a whole lot". Y P age old questions of the young "'What can we ped. someone sick. A. resident in a nursing
But on the main question that arose out of $100 for that year. But this is pea its. In the g q ?„
He made the comment at this week's council meeting where the costs next three to 10 ears afe►rth°must face ' do 'where can we go. (from the Rim home would be thrilled�to see your smiling
to taxpayers of ' `all" ... a new $1.5 million arena.... were tabled. last week's "public input meeting"- Can we Y Conestoga College. Waterloo Centre)
ills t0 a for a new Structure, afford a new Arena costing a million and a some other very'large`outl'ays, an probably Said he judge. "Go home! Hang the face' A busy mother would enjoy an
The prospect of nearly doubling tax b pay borrow substantial amounts. Wha are they? \ occasions! hour over a cup of coffee with a
half? That was nearly all council had to say. -• storm, windows, paint'the woodwork. Rake fiend if you volunteered your babysitting
and a new firehall (tentatively planned for this spring flabbergasted There was. of course, a lot of talk on smaller, B=isr short itst the leaves. mow the lawn, shovel the snow,
council members.. � questions connected to the,_mairt -arena I. Water is leaking into the sower-systent � services. Probably you Can think of many
from "defective sewers probably in the -wash the car, learn to cook• scrub the, floors. more.
And those same figures will Iikely give pause to readers who see them question: "Could, -council` afford to give Repair the sink, build a boat, get a job. Help Wouldn't it be great to considelr that the
WOOD to minor hockey? They will have to north end somewhere." This is overloading P
In this week's paper. minister, nest or rabbi.. Help the poor.
the resent lagoons, sharply increasing the P world you live in as adults is s j►�uch better
Sure we want it all, but can we afford it? With interest rates of more pay double for ice rime this year and travel to P g Y ,. g Stud our lessons. And when ,you re one than the world your parents Yn4o+ and all
neighbouring arenas with a smaller regis town's "sewage pumping bill making a Y Y
"sewer study' What will it cost through and if you are not. too tired, read a because you are in it. A safer world because
than. 20 per cent, and a commercial base here in town that's eroding by trarion due to increased fees" Council would Y ' good book••,
the week as local businesses close, homeowners will bear a big burden if - think about it and likely come up with for the study, an" additional lagoon and B. everyone considers it a privilege, not a right
repairs to the defective sewers? $100,000 to "Your parents do not owe you entertain- to have been granted a driver's licence and
the arena complex many of us would like to see is built. something. "khat about the idea of rentifig P -me, Your or villa does not owe you sociable one because you have some
530(3;000 Ca'.5500;000? Who knowsf- . m
There are as yet a number of unknowns. if area municipalities agree to and running the Vanastra rink instead' o -f` 2 Anew lace station and public works recreational facilities. a world `floes not respect for alcohol. Perhaps it's too late for
debenture part of the new arena costs, or pledge sizeable donations (and buying ice -time in arenas all over Huron p° owe you a living'. You owe the world
County?" . Unfortunately, as Councillor shed will cost about $50,000 in the. near something. You owe it opr time and energy the adult generation but you can help make a
of coursethat Will reflect tjn their residents' tax bills) perhaps Seaforth pointed future, g Y new world.
Groothius out "no one (includingthe 3 Flood proofing Silver Creek (estimate and talents so that nb one will be at war or in To those (and we're sure it's a majority)
and area Can .swing a $1.5 'Million arena,. recreation director who had been told to P g ve or sick or lonely again."
If,a dynamite fund raising committee can be put together in a big hurry investigate the idea) knew what they were $27,000) is necessary, or maybe half our poverty who do not -identify sincerely
with the "nothing to do"
OOO in Council talk 8 ..In lain, simple words, row u quit
and solicit pledges that go a long way towards meeting the $225, talking about." Nevertheless, 4. building lots..
be built on. P P g p' trend and can sincerely say that this advice
of from new industry Plan" and enquiries g cry-baby, g your dream world geed not apply - Congratuiationsl You are to
4. The new Official and develop ba backbone; not a wishbone and
donations that's required, maybe we can swing a $1.5 million arena. ed about- it fox halfanhourbeforeinstructin suggest we need an P be commended and should not be offended by "
Mr. Peter to go back and ask the owner "industrial ark". This request is large, start acting like a man or a tally. You're it. And to those (we trust you will recognize
Council, sensibly, is hedging its bets. It will ap¢iy for grants based on Vanastra rink some very pointed questions. P supposed to be mature enough to ac t
the new arena that most of those who, bothered to come out and be Finally Councillor Paul Ross asked for Lang -term ,investment to buy land and m os ility your parents have Yourselves) who have allowed yourselves to
service it (5175,000 to 5500,000?), but it will some of the responsibility become needless victims of the "NothI119 to
counted want. Meanwhile Its not shutting the door on a cheaper small group.,to sit down with the clerk and, y do' mentality - you have no right to be
$900,000 alternative that would see a new superstructure but retain the 0 the auditors and make a thorough.study of bring in new jobs and new assessment. It carmed far years. The have nursed.
Mr. Cracker's fi ores" He thought it best could even pay. a profit, eventually. protected, helped, appealed, begged, error- offended and need to concentrate our efforts
' existing arena front and upstairs half and kitchen. One councillor brought g
g ed tolerated and denied themselves many
to make sure the figures were accurate and S. inflation in town costs has been takes care , on taking some positive, constructive steps to .
up, a cheaper alternative... repairing the old arena's back end. to find out what they meant before meeting of, up to now, by new assessment. But this things so that you could haveeverybenefit.' alter your attitude:' That is the purpose for
With casts to the taxpayers so high, no alternative can be dismissed to findth
councils next week. Eventual- year only one new building permit has been This they have done gladly, for you are which this letter was submitted. The future of
1 Mr. Ross was authorized to meet with the issued. Who will took after inflation for us in their
toerestct easurq!. And now, you have no,
them to bow to every whim and our society depends on your honesty and
out of hand. Y g � '" ood'ud ement• pont tet us down. We think
"We want a new arena, but can we afford one?" Is the most common clerk and the auditors, "along with any other 1982•? ust because..selfish,. o. -instead -.of t3--••- -.•-t3
�.
So.what...ts.Seaforth..-Council.doing?:..It-:is-,....fancy-3 eg ,foo much of you.
dominent fr_QMJhose-Who,ve.studied_the sub�ect._That.S.what,..ooultclllors,.........counciitors-conn-feel•-tilte -attending.way the asking for "public input" and "financial common sense dominates your personality sin
_„ ......... _........ - ride. support sincerely,
in co-operation with you, and other councils, have to de It is hard to s happy with -We Y Rita And Don Moylan
arena problem is being dealt with. This is a su rt from our neighbours ' for a new thinking and requests. ow -�tt and o R.R. 5
We don't envy them. proposition w1 ich could mean an increase in Vena about which it knows next to nothing "1n Heaven's name, gr p' g
the town dent of from five to fourteen rimes. and after two months of loose talk, was home.."
Seaforth
And this debt would pay interest at dou'lge� learned that , it is scared by even the
T1 7 • v 1 y
:,941
Read the daily newspaperany morning and IT'S ALL AROUND
you'll get the impressionthat we are a nation Yes, injustice is all around us if we're going
of individuals walking around with a pile of to go out and look for it. There is even
chips on each shoulder impatiently waiting injustice in people tryi�'bsr just. i recall
for somebody to knack one off. back in my college days when there was talk.
A generation grew up, fighting injustice in about some business owners who gave all the
the sixties, became preoccupied with it's own salaries and benefits to their employees that
problems in the seventies and in the.''eighties unions had won in other plants but did so
seems tospend most of its time feeling sorry because they didn't want to see,this workers
for itself. The problem is if you look for unionized. Somehow this was bad, though
injustice, no matter, how fortunate you_ are. . _. because these. weren't rights grabbed by the
you, ,likely to find it,. workers through struggle 'but were readily
Once when 1 was going through a given willingly by the owner and thus were
particularly difficult time as a child i was paternalism: the employer acting like a good,
given a piece of advice: "if you look around loving father. -•
you can always find someone who's got it There are two ways of looking at any given
worse than you and you can count your situation, like the half -full or half -empty glass
blessings." Unfortunately the opposite is of water, depending on your viewpoint. You
also true: no matter how fortunate you are can count the negative or the positive. Yes
you can always look around and see you can find the negative,'the injustice in
somebody you think is doing better than you almost any situ9tion. You get a raise, and
and beweil'the injustice of it all. instead of, thinking how much better off you
NOTFAIR? are you look at ,somebody else you feel
Take the air traffic controllers for instance. doesn't do his jab as well, who hasn't got your
The Canadian controllers are already making education. who isn't as dedicated yet earns
an average of about $40,000 a year. They're more than you. You go around making life
unhappy though because they feel they have miserable for yourself when you could be
every bit as much tension and stress in their celebrating. .
job as.liirfine pilots and -the -pilots make to ` • he problem ' with feeling sorry for .
1;80,000 a year. It"s just not fair. yourself, in seeking out'injustice. is that it's
The oil companies, already' making record so self -,destructive. There is no perfect
profits, complain and threaten and demand justice. What you think is just .someone else
that government stop interfering in their will think unjust. People therefore who go
business because they are not getting the around looking for unfairness will always find
world price for oil, even though the world it. They won't be any happier for it though.
price is artificially high because of govern- EXCITEMENT
ment action in other oil producing countries On the other hand there's a real joy and
riot through real costs of production. Poor excitement when people are able to put aside
little billionaires. their worries about whether they're getting
All provinces in Canada have managed to their due or not. If you've ever been involved
latch onto some injustice in the federal in a work situation or a volunteer group where,
system which they wave like a flag and people are dedicated to' something other than
demand action on. The maritimes are themselves you've had a rare chance to
forgotten. The west is being raped by the experience that joy, Take for instance the
east. The east is being killed by western oil shared joy that hundreds of thousands of
greed. Quebec has been treated like a colony. people felt last weekend when they ran a few
Such suffering. miles, in memory of Terry Fox and raised, a
The new constitution with its civil rights few -million for cancer research at the same
package is discussed. Civil rights activists time. They had nothing to gain personally.
say it doesn't- go nearly far enough in They could have looked at the injustice for the
protecting our rights X60 leaves us open to fact that a young man had died before his
being harrassed and controlled by police. The time. They could have stayed home and
police say it goes too far and leaves us open to, watched,a football game. instead but they
having criminals walk the streets because the gave without regard to themselves. They
laws are so flimsy the police can't do their job were amply rewarded.
properly.
More opinions on arena replacement
Jarvis avoids
BY SUP11ANIE LEVESQUE
Perth MP Bill Jarvis remains chairman of
the Conservative Party's .shadow cabinet.
Last week Opposition Leader Joe Clark
shuffled this shadow cabinet around.
< Mr. Jarvis says he was involved in the
process and is "supportive" of the changes
made. He says the MPs he,.had talked to
which were shuffled are pleased of the
change: He has not spoken to former House
Leader Walter Baker since parliament
recessed, but°feels he will be pleased by the
I would appreciate the opportunity to express my opinion
on the proposed replacement of the present Arena and
Community Hall. I attended the public meeting on Sept. 9
and came away disturbed and disappointed. i was disturbed
by the obvious "letter to Santa Claus" attitude of many of
those present, and also by the lack of any practical method
of presenting the financial facts of life to the meeting. It
seemed to me it would have been so simple to have some
large displays made up showing the costs of the various
options presented, as well 'as the effect of the various
grants, etc., on the direct cost to the local, taxpayer. I had
prepared data on the; annual cost, in debentures, for a
number of, different cost figures. But with the cost figures
just hanging in mid-air in our memories, I felt any further
presentation of numbers would°just add to the confusion.
it is, impossible to present all of the possible
combinations of costs, grants, donations, taxes and
debentures in a letter but 'I would like to try and present
what seems to me the most likely, In order to relate this
letter to the prevalent feeling expressed at the meeting I
will discuss the situation in which the town is going to
consider constructing a completely new and enlarged
Community Centre. and Arena, at an estimated cost of
51,500,000. This will not include any ancillary costs such as
the purchase of land, moving existing buildings. etc. I will
consider the effect which public donations will have on
Wintario grants and the final cost to the taxpayer in either
taxes or debentures. Some indeterminate figure will have to
be added to the estimated capital cost to account for the cost
of , short-term borrowings by the town during the
construction period. At present interest rates it seems
unlikely this could be less than *100.Q00, The Wintario
grant may take two forms. one is 2 Wintario dollars for each
1 dollar raised by.pubiic donations. the second form is I
Wintario dollar for each 2 dollars of municipal funds used.
SEPTEMBER 16,1881
We . are pleased to ,learn that our
townsmen: -S. Jackson of the firm of Jackson
Brothers and J. H. Evans Baker intend
erecting a creamery a little west of Hensall on
part of John McEwen's farm. It. is to be
conducted on the Fairlomb system which is
to take the cream only, from the patrons,
leaving the milk, which is so necessary to the
farmer is the raising of stock.
Thomas Townsend has rented his farm in
the second concession H.R.S. Tuekersmith to
his neighbour Robert McVety for five years at
Clark shuffle
change also.
Mr, Jarvis says the shuffle will provide new
challenges for those involved. During the
short-lived Clark government, Mr. `Jarvis
served as Minister for Federal -Provincial
Relations. He says he was glad he did not
have to be the critic for that ministry when the
Conservative-, went back into opposition.
Perth's MP says it is "terribly unfortunate'
Walter Baker has born the brunt of the blame
for the downfall of the Tory government.
$250 a year. Mr. Townsend intends disposing
of his stock and other property by auction on
Friday the 30th Inst. when J.P. Brine will
officiate.
Henry Craig. the boss cooper for Kidd's
salt works has purchased the large frame
building situated on Front street, in Dublin
and is now busily removing it down alongside
of the Liffey where it will be put in shape for a
grand skating and curling rink, an amuse-
ment that was rduch desired by our young
folks here.
I see some places can boast of Canadian
thistles but I am willing to wager the large
sum of $1,000.0011 that McKillop can beat any
township in two counties for thistles on the
N
i
This doesn't include the cost of intere st for short term
borrowing.
Capital Cost $1,50.000 S1,5001000 51.500,000
short term interest 100,000 100,000 100,000
minimum Total Cost $1,600,000 S1,600.000 51,600,000
Community Centre
grant 75,000 75,000 75,000
if Donations are 275,000 175,000 75;000
WINTARIO2for 1 is 550,000 350,000 150,000
WiNTARIO I for 2 is 200,000 300,000 400,000
Total donations
..and grant' 1.100,00 900,000 700,000
Total Municipal cost 500,000 700,000 900,000
As can be seen from the above, the minimum cost to
Seafoith is -not likely to be less than $500,000, over and
above possible donations and -grants. I have not taken into
account any possible contributions by senior government
under the Ontario Neighbourhood Improvement Program-,
consideration of the criteria for unlikely this project would
qualify for serious consideration. Likewise I have not
included any estimate of possible contributions by the
adjacent rural municipalities Whose residents use the arena
facilities. Such- participation would be most welcome if the
project went ahead. But inview of similar commitments by
these municipalities it' would seem unlikely their
contributions would have any serious impact on the funding
required from Seaforth ratepayers.
Finally we should consider just what annual costs would
be borne by local taxes. Given the present financial climate
any debentures issued would have to bear interest of atleast
13 per cent to be attractive as an investment, and could not
be for a term longer than 10 years. A 10 -year debenture,
with interest at 13 per cent, would have to be sold at a
discount of at least 10 per cent in order to attract buyers
lookingfor an effective rate of return in the 17 to 20 per cent
per annum range. If then, for simplicity, we asume
5500,Oi10'of debenture money is needed, a discount -of 10 per
cent on the selling price would mean at least S55S.555.55 in
debentures would have to be sold to raise $500-,000. In order
to retire 5555,555 in debentures over a 10 -year period, with
equal payments each year. -the annual cost to thg ratepayer
would be $102,382.98. At our present level of assessment,
averaging the residential and commercial assessment, this
would be an increase in the mill rate of 36-.5 mills. On an
assessment of $3,000 this would represent an increase of
$109.50 in taxes. This of course is the most optimistic view
and if donations fall short of the 527500 level the cost in
taxes would be porportionately higher. At the $175,000
level of donations the town would have to sell $777,777
worth of debentures to raise $700,000 this would cost just
over $1,43,00. in annual debenture payments. The $3,000
ratepayer $197.00 extra in'taxes per y ear for 10 years.
I realize this is a lengthy letter but only in this way can we
got perspective on what this proposal might ' cost. , .
Proposals for fess ambitious projects would cost less, but
the same type of annual cost analysis shows even the leadt
expensive wwtd .add considerable.. cost to our annual tat,
bili. I personally feet Mayor Sinnamon made the most
sensible suggestion when he' pointed out a fourth
alternative had not been when, at the meeting.
Namely that the town just accept the inevitable and close
down the Community Centre and Arena, and not replace it
until financial conditions made it more palatable.
Yours truly
Ernest M. Williams,
In -the years agryoneii.
roads ani in we tields. It is impossible for a
person to walk on the roadsides in any part of
the township. If they have a Council Board,
they must be wanting re-election or else they
would fine every pathmaster in the Town-
ship --Traveller.
SEPTEMBER16,
Some boys sowing what parents call wild
oats a,week ago last Monday night thought if
fun to'kiii -,dine geese and destroy a number
of pumpkins and a large quantity of milk
belonging to Barnet Bolton and about twenty
dollar's worth of preserves and milk dishes
belonging to John Duffs. They also threw out
his milk which was standing in the milk can.
These parties live on the 8th concession
within two miles of Winthrop.
SEPTEMBER21,1906
The Seaforth cider and jelly mill has started
work for the season.
The walls of the new store, which Messrs.
Balfour and Caldwell are erecting in Kippen
are now completed, It promises to be a very
handsome and imposing building.
Messrs, H. Town and James Beattie are in
Toronto this week attending the $ovi;eign
Grand Lodge of indepdent Order of
Oddfellows as delegates from- Fidelity
Lodge, Seaforth.
David Moore of Eginondville left on
I'hursday for Cleveland where he will spend a
couple of weeks visiting his sister-in-law.
Mrs. James McGuffie and other friends.
Mr. and Mrs. John Stephens and children
of Calumet. Michigan are visiting Mr.
Stephens' parents Mr. and Mrs. Thomas
Stephens at the Queen's hotel in Seaforth.
SEPTEMBER 18, 1931
Bessie Grieve of Seaforth who took a
summer course at the University of Toronto
has been successful in obtaining a Commer-
cial Specialist's Certificate.
Norman A. Baine, President of the Bar
Association of Los r,Angeles,, and his -wife
were visitors at the home of his sister Mrs.
Andrew Kirk in Tuckersmith this past week.
Mr;, Bailie is on his way to attend the
convention of the American Bar Association
at Atlantic City which is in session this week.
The new grain warehouse of Messrs.
Thompson and Co. of Blehheim on the west
side of the railway track in Hensall is nearing
completion and presents a very_ 'good
appearance.
Messrs. Bonthron and Drysdale of Hensall
have recently very nicely decorated their
furniture.wareroom and intend also decorat-
ing their large hardware department of their
block of stores. -
The new dwelling of Messrs. Spencer and
r
l
son on the west side of the railway track on
King Street in Hensall is showing up nicely'
and will rank when completed with our :neat
and up-to-date dwellings:
SEM'EMBER 12, 1956
After Sunday, September 30, all mail for
Seaforth will arrive by truck, according to
postal officials in London. The change in
delivery service was projected some weeks
ago when the post office department
suggested it would use truck service along
No. 8 Highway as a result of a warning it had
received from the C.N.R. that existing train
service would be reduced.
Egmondville Church is, planning special
services to mark the 121st anniversary, of the
church. The anniversary ocFasion is being
held Sunday, Sept. 30 and will be followed by
a fowl supper on Tuesday. October 2. 1
Delayed harvest operations contributed to
a lowered attendance at McKillop School Fair
Thursday, according to officials.
T/Sgt. an¢ Mrs. James G. Taman and
daughter Lydn of Omaha, Nebraska have
returned to their home after spending a week
with Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Close of Seaforth.
Hugh Gorwill of Scaforth enrolled at
Oniversity of Western Ontario, London this
week.