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Clinton News-Record, 1971-05-06, Page 1Mary' Cantelon is presented With 'the Junior Religion and Life teribletn by Mrs. Hazel McCreath, Division Commissioner of Girl Guides. Mary is the first Ranger, Guide or Brownie in Clinton to have received this emblein. — photo by Jack Hunt, Work began in earnest this week on reconstruction of Albert Street through the main business section. Work had originally been scheduled for completion last fall but tieups resulted in only a small portion of the work being completed, But the way Levis Construction were going at it this week, it should now be completed in jig time, Contract awarded for $30,000 bridge 15 cents Clinton , tario , 106 Year - No. 18 Thursday,' May 6, 1971 Weather 1971 HI LO 1970 HI LO Apr. 27 52 27 77 46 28 51 41. 79 52 29 42 37 76 57 30 51 33 78 60 May 1 54 32 78 63 2 45 35 63 47 3 47 33 58 33 Rain ,78" Rain .27" county welfare system approved after debate 1 Column Believe it or not, despite the weather of the past couple of weeks that has made it seem more like November, Baseball season is about to begin, Schedules for Squirt and Pee Wee House League action are printed this week in the News-Record, A coach for the Clinton Pee Wee All-Stars is required this year and anyone interested is asked to call Bert Clifford. Also required are a coach and manager for the ladies' Intermediate softball team at Brucefield. Anyone who can help out is asked to call Marie McDonald or Vic Hargreaves. * * * Reprinted in this week's paper is the letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, first printed.here two weeks ago, calling for immediate action to find an alternative use for CFB Clinton. Clinton Post Master Dick Dixon reports the post office handled about 15 letters a day for a total of about 125-150 letters. When people don't even have to put out money for a stamp it would seem that if only that many sent in the letters we can't care much about what happens to the town. It you have not yet sent in your letter, clip it out and send it in at once, If you have already sent one in, clip it out and have another member of your family send it in. We need to make an impression on the government, and only a large volume of letters will do this. You have nothing to lose and a heck of a lot to gain. * * * If the quality of this week's newspaper seems below par, the reason could be that the staff was not working in the best environment this week. Most of the early part of the week saw the heavy construction people tearing up the street right outside our window, making so much racket we couldn't hear the typewriters going and barely hear the telephone. As of Wednesday morning they seemed to be after us even more, because as this is written it appears they are going to excavate the street and sidewalk right at our doorstep. One false move out the front door and we could be buried. But it will be worth all the present disruption, noise and dust to have the street finally completed and new sidewalks installed. Man killed in crash on highway 8 BY WILMA OKE One man was killed and three persons injured Saturday in a two-car collision on Highway 8, abbut one mile east`of Seaforth. Walter Haste, 65, of Mussels was pronounced dead at the scene, He was a passenger in a car driven by Alvin Oakley, 79, of RR 1, Seaforth. Mr. Oakley is in Seaforth Community Hospital with head, leg and other undetermined injuries. At last report he was in good condition, Another passenger in the Oakley car, Mrs. Janet Hall, 23, of RR 2, Seaforth, is in the same hospital with a broken leg and abrasions. She is in good condition. Driver of the second car, Brian C. McMiehael, 17, of 71 Railway St., Seaforth, is in hospital with head cuts and abrasions. He was treated in hospital and later released. Charges are pending but despite earlier reports, no inquest will be called. hayfield finances in good shape At the Outwit meeting on May 3, 1971 in hayfield Municipal Offices, Councillor McFadden informed council that the financial position of the village wee very good. Councillor Wgrher reported that the street sigh prOgfarri was proceeding on schedule. Additional signs will be needed to complete full signing. He reported that two of the new sighs had been vandalised and tossed into the bushes, The penalty for this act is shown elsewhere in the paper, It was decided, since the streets ere dry, that the half load signs could now be removed. Grading -and road repair are proceeding arid calcium will be applied before the end of the Month. The Conestoga tourism course will be held in the municipal building on June 5 and 6, 1971, with further details furnished from the college. The broken tiles on Victoria Street are to be replaced and the ditch back-filled. Reeve Oddleifson and clerk Gordon Graham were appointed as official delegates to MODA meetings and will attend the May 26 conference in Goderich. Councillor York was directed to investigate the availability of 800 to 1,000 old highway posts to be used to protect Clan Gregor Square and the grounds around the municipal building. Clerk Graham reported that the building boom is continuing, with additional permits being issued. Reeve Oddleifson told council that a "study of classical rural areas" is to be made ill Huron County by the government, commencing the end of June. Ptospective interviewets will be local young people of University age. 'Further partIculats tan be Obtained from Mr. Don Pullen, .Agricultural Representative in Clinton. Some consideration must be given to designating an additional ,ecirinnertial area Some/here in the Village, Commercial sites are at a preniiiirit and neriodie enteuiriee are being made by people wanting to 'start Small buelhese in'the village. The entire morning and a large part of the afternoon At the April session of Huron County Council last Thursday was. taken up with heated discussion concerning the pros and cons of a county welfare system, but by mid-afternoon council voted 20 to 19 in favor of the system which will take welfare matters out of the hands of the local municipalities and put all county residents on an equal basis as far as welfare is concerned, First estimates are that the plan will cost the county between $30,000 and $40,000 BY WILMA OltE Facca Construction Company Limited, R. R. 3, Maidstone, was awarded the contract to construct the Sproat bridge located at sideroad 5.6 on Concession 4, when Tuckersmith Council met in its regular session on Tuesday night. The Facca tender, lowest of six received, was $29,466. Engineer Kenneth, Dunn of B. M. Ross and Associates Limited, of Goderich, attended the meeting and said the new span would be completed by September 15. He said the estimated cost had been $35,800. Reeve Elgin Thompson and deputy-reeve, Alex McGregor, were re-appointed to represent Tuckersmith on the Tourist Council of the Midwestern Ontario Development Association. Pour building permits were issued to William Weber, Louis McNichol i John Miller Mid ROSS Forrest. Stewart Broadfoot, fire chief of Brucefield Fitt Brigade, attended the session to report the old ..943 army truck used for the water tanker was in need of being per annum depending on the sire of the staff engaged, Of this money, 50 percent would be refunded by the province Ontario making the net cost to the rater: ,yers of Huron County $15,000 to $20,000, The recorded vote showed that those in favor of county welfare were Warden Jack Alexander, John Baker, Derry Boyle, Paul Carroll (2) Frank Cook, Cecil Desjardine, Joe Dietrich, Gerry Gin, David Gower (2) Gordon Hess, Harold Lobb, Robert Lyons, D. R. MacGregor, J, L, l'acCutcheon, Doug McNeil, Ed Oddleifson, Charles Thomas and Harold Wild. replaced. Council named a committee to inspect a used truck chassis that Mr. Broadfoot believed might be purchased as replacement. Named as the committee were reeve Thompson and councillors Ervine Sillery end Cleave Coombs to represent Tecitersinith which shares equally with Stanley Township the cost of the Brucefield Fire Department. Tuckersmith's share would be $1,600 if purchase is made. Members of council attend the Huron County Municipal Officers Association Meeting in Loridesbaro on May 18, hosted by Hallett Township this year. Council endorsed the resolution of the City of St. Catharines that the Ohtario Government be asked that no more regional governments be set up in other areas until a critical examination has been made of those set up ih Niagara and other parts of Ontario -which have basic faults in structure. Accounts passed for payment Welled $16,743.46. These include $14,927.02 for roads; $848.69 for welfare; $634.48 for general government and $333.27 for Those opposed were George POW,. Allan Campbell, Bill Elston, Lloyd Ferguson, Bohn Flannery, Hugh Flynn, Eugene From, Elmer Hayter, Lloyd Hendrick, Joe Hoffman, Alec McGregor, Everett Mcllwain, Amor). McKinley, Ken McMichael, Roy Pattispn, °Irvin Reed, Harold Robinson and Elgin Thompson. Discussion showed that the greatest welfare problem is in the urban areas of the county where people come seeking jobs and other services. Many rural representatives who come from municipalities where the welfare problem is almost non-existent were miscellaneous which includes the Ausabie Conservation Authority levy and fire costs in the township and E.W. Installation costs of water to residents in Egmondville will be increased as of now to $200 from $125 while commercial users will be required to pay $300 instead of the previous $200 charge. Like the Chicago-Montreal hockey teams which went into overtime on Tuesday night, so did council members who debated the Tuckersmith water system problems until after 1;20 a.m. One of the chief concerns was providing water to isolated new homes in Egniontiville without increasing service charges to present users. County councillors raise salaries BY SHIRLEY J. laLLER MeMbers of Huron County Council voted themselves a raise in pay for committee Meetings during their April session and also granted the warden of the county $800 extra per annum and an expense account. Effective July 1 this year, uounciliors will receive $28.50 per day for committee meetings, a 71/2 percent increase over their present wage scale, $25 per day. provisions Wete also made for art annual review of committee pay. Also effective July 1, the warden's henorarium will be hiked from $1200 to $2000. He will also receive an expense account for "legitimate public relatione eepenses" paid out on behalf of the county. It was agreed, however, that the 'warden's victory party it January will remain the incoming warden's own responsibility, "He is the victor that day, that night he is the victim," quipped clerk John Berry, Reeve Elgin Thompson of Tuckersinith urged council hot to approve the raise for county councillors at this time. "This- is not a good time to go for a raise in pay," advised Thompson. "It 'should be considered a privilege to serve on county council. The federal government didn't set a good example and I don't think we'd be settitg a good example either," Reeve Paul Carroll, Goderich, said that (See Pdge gettn) reluctant to support a program which was going to east them more money at the local level. "If McMahan township had industry in it like some of the municipalities I don't think we'd kick about county welfare," stated Allan Campbell, reeve of 1VIcKelop," We can look after our own Welfare problems efficiently." Reeve Paul Carroll, Goderich, said he felt it would be a "regressive step" to turn down county welfare just because one's own municipality did not have a problem, "We are here to represent 50,000 Few questions on county budget Clerk-treasurer John Berry presented the county budget to members of Huron County Council meeting in Goderich last Thursday. There were few questions from council concerning it and the $3,909,050 budget was passed easily. There were some notes from Berry with the budget which explained some details. "Although the County levy will be very similar to 1970," stated Berry, "in some cases municipalities will pay more County levy, others will pay less, as a result of the' fact we have to use the equalizing factor in determining the apportionment of costs for each municipality. Again it should be pointed out that we are now using a percentage of costs rather than the mill rate system." "Another factor that does not show up directly in the budget," continued Berry, "is the fact there are rebates to the urban municipalities in connection with their highway levy. In other words, 45 percent of the highway levy for the urban municipalities is rebated to these municipalities each year. For 1971 this will amount to approximately $122,000." "There is also one reserve fund which does not appear this year in our budget," concluded Berry, "that is the Hospital Reserve, where we have $5,000 invested. This is the result of a previous planned program over the past years whereby we allocated funds to the Hospital Reserve made payable to hospitals for building programs, This fund is being kept in abeyance at the present time and could be commenced again if any of the hospitals in the County were to launch a building program." McKillop Council awards drain contract SY WILMA OltE McKillop Council, meeting in Winthrop on Monday, awarded the contract for the Hoegy drain to Gordon Clarke and Sons, RR 3, Mitchell. The Clarke tender, lowest of four received, was for $4,650 for the 28,936 foot open drain. Robert Nicholson Construction Company of RR 1, Sebringville was awarded the con tract for 38,598 foot MoCallan,Winthrop improvement drain for $5,550. This also was the lowest of four tenders and will be an open eltain. Council approved payment on general accounts totalling $7,877.67 end road accounts for $1,957.10. Payment of $175 was approved es McXillop's share it the recentlyieurchasecl Used truck chassis for the water tenket by the 13lyth District Fire Area Board. IVIcKillop's share is five percent of the total cast of $3,500. Members of couticil will attend the Huron County Municipal Officers Association meeting in toudesboro on May 1.8. Council endorsed the resolution of the City of St. 'Catharines that the Ontario Government be asked that no more regional governments be set up in other areas until a critical examination has been made of those set up in Niagara and other parts of Ontario which have basic faults in structure, Farm accident kills Auburn man Donald Oernin, 33, Of R. R. 3, Auburn, was killed Monday afternoon in an accident on his farm. Mr. Durnin was removing manure from a ham, rising a tractor trid front-end loader, when the machine apparently struck a corner support on the barn and part of the building collapsed ori Provintial polio from Goderich are investigating, along. With Dr. G. F. acting medical officer for Huron Comity. People," said Reeve Carroll, "not only tie* people in our municipality. We should be striving for a uniform social service equal to or surpassing the provincial standard for our people. "Let's try to keep cost down, as MO as possible," retorted Allan Campbell. "I'm not afraid to bet that in three years time we will be understaffed in the county welfare department and the costs could be $60,000 or $65,000. Our revenue on the farm is not very big. Gentlemen, let's keep the costs to the taxpayers down to a minimum." "I agree with the Reeve of Goderich," stated Derry Boyle, Exeter reeve. "We're here for the whole county, If we're not, we might as well stay at home and look after our own municipalities." The reeve from Grey, Charles Thomas, noted he was in favor of the county welfare plan in principle but he was not satisfied, he said, with the taxing system. "Paying on an assessment basis it is almost guaranteed we'd spend more than our share in Grey," stated Thomas. "I'd like to vote in favor of county welfare if it didn't put us at a disadvantage because of the taxing system. I would like to see it pro-rated on a population basis." Reeve Gordon Hess, who chairs the Executive Committee which brought in the recommendation for the county welfare system noted that many areas of taxation are unfair and it points up the need for tax reform. "But it is unfair to use tax inequities as a crutch to lean on when making a decision on county welfare," stated Hess. He added that he would be pleased to enter a motion at the session that council set up a conemittee to study tax reform in the county with an eye to inequities between urban and rural dwellers. Hess said the county welfare program for Huron had been discussed for three years. "I don't think anything has had a harder work over than this thing has had," said Hess. "And there is one thing I want to make very clear. The provincial welfare act is there whether we approve of it or not. We cannot change it," Norman Porter, the director of welfare for the Bruce County Welfare program said that people were well aware of their rights these days. He said television carries all kinds of programs advertising welfare and people are becoming very knowledgable concerning all facets of the program in Ontario. He said his department in Bruce has been achieving results in their bid to retrain and re-employ welfare recipients. Porter noted that sometimes welfare recipients are moved from one area of the county to another where there is suitable employment to be found. Figures showed, said Porter, that while welfare payments were on the increase in the first year, it now appears they are dropping. "In April this year," added Porter, "we will be issuing less welfare than we did last year for April." Porter made no comment on Reeve Bill Elston's statement that one Bruce County reeve had told him that welfare in Bruce is now more expensive, that people tend to stay on welfare longer now and that the only thing the county welfare program has done for him is to get people off his back. Although the Executive Committee did try to obtain information from each clerk and treasurer regarding the administrative costs for welfare in the various municipalities in Huron, from the information received it was almost impossible to give an accurate picture. Committee chairman Gordon Hess said the reports showed that welfare costs were anywhere from $10,000 in one municipality to nil in other municipalities. Following the successful vote for county welfare, Hess gained support for his motion to appoint a committee to make a study of needed tax reform in Huron, Reeve Allan Campbell asked how the committee would be selected but Hess informed him that method had not been laid down in his motion and would depend on the clecisiot of council, None was forthcoming at this session. CO MI (41 briefed an health Continuing a series of presentations to Huron County Council, Mrs. Shirley Steep, audiometer technician with the Huron County Health Unit, and br, prank Acting Medical Officer of Health, were on hand Thursday morning in Goderich to demonstrate hearing testing, which is done in the Child Health Clinics And in the elementary and secondary schools of the county. Reeve berry Boyle, Exeter, was the patient for the demonstration. The program has been ie. effect in Huron Since 1964 With two tests being done before any referrals are made by .the terse to the child's family doctor. "It is very extensive program," stated Dr. Mills "very popular with the people who are beginning now to ask for it," Present during the morning session were the Grade 7 and 8 students of McKillop Township who were allotted 10 minutes just before the noon break to ask any questions they might have. It is understood that the Huron County Board of Education Will be invited to send one senior elementary school class 'each month to county council, The question period for the students is to become regular feature. Council was informed that the new planning 'director for the county, Gary Davidson, would take office in the court house Monday, May 3. One of Mr. Davidson's first concerns Will be the official county plan whieh has been approved completely or it principle by many Huron muhicipalitiee. Public meetings with regard to the official plat) will be conducted soon, council diseovered, and the first meeting of the Land Division Committee is set for Tuesday, May 11.