HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1971-05-06, Page 1TURN SOD — Despite wet weather conditions Saturday morning the official sod turning ceremony for
the Grand Bend Medical Centre was held. Chairman Bill Sturdevant handles the shovel at the left with
contractor George Kadelecik and construction chairman Harry Hamilton sharing duties at the right.
T-A photo
Ninety-sixth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, MAY 6, 1971
Price Per Copy 15 Cents
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Bill Gilfillan this week asked
a council to accept his resignation
or give him a leave of absence
from the planning board while
proceedings are underway to
rezone property he owns on
Wellington Street.
The planning board and council
have already approved rezoning
the south side of the block bet-
ween William and Carling to
commercial, which would permit
Gilfillan to erect another
warehouse beside the one he now
operates from the former "onion
shed."
He made the request on the
basis that some objectors may
feel there is a conflict of interest
regarding Wellington • St.,
although it was noted he has not
Plan board member resigns
to facilitate rezonin., debate
a
FLAMES GUT BUILDING The former Kirkton bake shop, now serving as a residence for John
Lapointe, was gutted by flames late Monday night. Cause of the blaze has not been determined and is
under investigation by Robert Kaufman of the Eire Marshal's office, Lapointe escaped from the building
but all his possessions were destroyed, T-A photo
Remember those old-time tent
revival meetings?
Well, if Exeter council mem-
bers have their way, that's what
they'll remain — a memory, at
least if one is planned for a
residential area.
Monday night a request came
from a property owner for per-
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
— Please turn to page 3
• 04
AID POLLUTION PROBLEM A Sunday school group from Cavell
spent Saturday morning in the Morrison Dam area picking up garbage,
Jarvis is shown with 25 bags of debris they were able to gather,
County to administer welfare
despite townships opposition JOINS POLICE Merle Idle,
son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Idle,
Exeter, recently completed the
recruit orientation course at the
OPP college in Toronto. Cadet
Idle has been posted to the Sault
Ste. Marie OPP detachment.
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 as
well as an expense account.
Effective July 1 this year,
councillors will receive $28.50 per
day for committee meetings, a
71/2 percent increase over their
present wage scale, of $25 per
day. Provisions were also made
for an annual review of com-
mittee pay.
Also effective July 1, the
warden's honorarium will be
hiked from $1200 to $2000. He will
also receive an expense account
for "legitimate public relations
expenses" paid out on behalf of
the county.
It was agreed, however, that
Little doubt
about feeling
entered any of the discussion
relating to the matter.
He also said his presence may
affect a proper decision and some
objectors may not come forward
because if he is a member of the
board they may feel they would
not be on an equal basis,
"In summary, my presence
could affect in some way the
proper democratic process, and
might lead some to believe it
helped in the rezoning of the area.
This I definitely do not wish to
happen, for either my fellow
members or myself."
Council discussed the matter at
some length and noted that a
leave of absence would
technically still make Gilfillan a
member of the board, so they
decided that in fairness to him,
they should accept the
resignation.
There was no move to name a
successor and it was hinted
council may leave the position
vacant and reappoint Gilfillan
after the rezoning has been dealt
with.
In the matter of the rezoning,
council received a written ob-
jection from C, V. Laughton, on
behalf of Mr. and Mrs. John
"Gibby" Gibson, who own the
property adjacent to the
warehouse.
Gibson is presently an im-
migration officer for the
Canadian government in
Pakistan.
Laughton's letter noted that at
the time of the original hearing
when the official plan was ap-
proved, residents on Wellington
St. were assured they would be
protected.
A letter was also received from
John Longworth, planning ad-
visor with the department of
municipal affairs who attended a
recent meeting of the planning
board.
He noted the future use of
Wellington St. frontage is a
particularly difficult one since it
necessitates reconciling a
demand for the immediate use of
the property with the long term
land use goal of the official plan,
which can only be realized by the
elimination of three non-
conforming uses.
The three nonconforming uses
are the Gilfillan warehouse, the
former hatchery owned by Eric
Carscadden and the bulk fuel
storage of Art Clarke.
Longworth contends that the
elimination of the three non-
conforming uses appears to be a
practical possibility due to the
relatively limited investment in
the three buildings in question
and their age and condition.
He said the best use for the land
Grand Bend council learned
Monday night that a pumping
station for the use of boaters for
sewage disposal will be available
this summer.
Another lottery
given approval
Area residents are having
plenty of opportunity to get rich
this year, although the odds
against them may be high.
Lotteries, now that they have
been legalized, are cropping up
from all corners and in the past
two months, Exeter council has
approved the sale of tickets on
three lotteries,
Monday night they gave per-
mission for the local Kinsmen to
sell tickets on a province-wide
lottery sponsored by Ontario
Kinsmen clubs.
The local club's share of the
proceeds will be used for local
service work.
would be for multiple dwelling
units and indicated he differed
with board members in their
contention the land should be
commercial because of industrial
traffic on the street,
"I am not convinced an
alternative route could not be
found through the industrial area
to the north," he commented,
In his letter, the planning ex-
pert also said he was concerned
that Exeter's official plan per-
mitted an intermixture of
housing types,
He said sooner or later the
planning board will experience a
major problem in this area,
Council discussed the rezoning
for only a short time before
turning it back to the planning
board.
Former Reeve Orval
Wassmann appeared before
council asking permission on
behalf of himself and Harold
Amy, owner of the Pier Booth to
locate the facilities on property
leased by Mr, Amy.
Wassmann said a large septic
tank would be installed and
arrangements had been made to
have it pumped whenever
necessary. After this year all
boaters will be required to have
holding tanks for sewage.
At the same time Wassmann
asked that road bumps be placed
on Huron Street to slow down the
speed of traffic. He said during
the summer months the street in
question resembles the
Indianapolis Speedway.
A reply was received from the
Chatham District of the Ontario
Provincial Police in reply to a
— Please turn to page 3
Seek photos
of graduates
Within the next month,
students from the district will be
completing courses at various
Schools of higher learning.
To record their successes, the
T-A would be pleased to publish
pictures of all graduates, as well
as recording the names of all
those who have completed their
year at universities, teachers'
colleges, nursing schools and
institutes of technology.
Most photographers who take
graduation pictures are happy to
supply glossy prints for
newspaper reproduction.
The size of these photos should
be approximately one and three-
quarter inches wide and three
inches deep.
Information included with the
picture should list the particular
training which the student has
completed, as well as any awards
won and what future employment.
he or she plans to follow.
Two injured
in collision
Two persons ,.sustained Minor
injuries in the five accidents
reported by the Exeter OPP
detachment this week.
Catherine Morrissey, Parkhill,
received minor injuries when the
car in which she was riding was
involved in a collision on the
Mount Carmel Road last Wed-
nesday, Driver of the car was
Madeleine Glavin, Parkhill,
The other vehicle was operated
by Barry Tomlinson, St. Marys.
Constable Bob Whiteford listed
damage at S1,100.
He set damage at the same
amount in another crash the
same day when a car driven by
Mrs. Myrtle Miller, St. Clair
Shores, Michigan, went off High-
way 83 and hit a hydro pole.
The lady sustained facial
lacerations in the crash.
Another accident was in-
vestigated the same day by
Constable Don Mason. It again
involved only one vehicle, that
being driven by Gordon Scott,
Crediton.
He struck a tree on the 5th and
6th concession of Stephen and
damage was listed at $400.
There was one accident,
Friday, involving vehicles
operated by Charles Browning,
Crediton, and Alma McAllister,
Centralia.
They collided at Huron Park
and Constable Whiteford
estimated total damage at $400.
The final crash' of the week
occurred Sunday on Brock St.,
Hensall, A car driven by John
Michael Pounder, London,
collided with a tree.
Constable Ed Wilcox in-
vestigated and set damage at
$500.
During the week, the detach-
ment officers charged eight
drivers under the Highway
Traffic Act and issued warnings
to another 15.
One charge was laid under the
Liquor Control Act and three
under the Criminal Code.
Enter Cottages
Constable Bob Whiteford is
investigating the break and enter
of six cottages at Maple Grove
subdivision on Lake Huron, north
of Grand Bend.
Curiosity was apparently the
motive as very little property
was stolen.
mission to rent vacant land to a
group wishing to erect a tent to
stage meetings during the
summer months.
Noting the parking problem
that would arise in the residential
area and the noise which may be
associated with such an event,
council decided to refuse the
permission, although they
weren't certain they had such
powers.
The situation hinges on
whether or not a tent can be
described as a structure.
Kirkton fire
investigated
Robert Kaufman of the Ontario
Fire Marshal's office has been
called into investigate a fire
which gutted the residence of
John Lapointe in Kirkton,
Monday night. •
The fire in the former Kirkton
bake shop broke out around 11:00
p.m. and the Exeter fire brigade
fought the stubborn blaze for over
three hours before they had it
under control.
The fire spread in several
directions in the upper storey,
and just as firemen got one spot
controlled, flames broke out in
another portion of the frame
structure.
Lapointe managed to escape
from the building without any
problem, but all his possessions
were destroyed.
Damage was estimated at
around $3,000 and the owner said
he had only enough insurance to
cover the mortgage on the
structure.
No other buildings in the
hamlet were threatened and
firemen had an ample water
supply frtirn the nearby stream,
The entire morning and a large
part of the afternoon at the April
session of Huron County Council
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 residents on the same
basis as far as welfare is con-
cerned.
First estimates are that the
plan will cost the county between
$30,000 and $40,000 per annum
depending on the size of the staff
engaged. Of this money, 50
percent would be refunded by the
province of Ontario making the
net cost to the ratepayers 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
Ginn,David Gower (2) Gordon
Hess, Harold Lobb, Robert
Lyons, D. R. MacGregor, J. L.
McCutcheon, Doug McNeil, Ed
Oddleifson, Charles Thomas and
Harold Wild.
Those opposed were George
Baillie, Allan Campbell, Bill
Elston, Lloyd Ferguson, John
Flannery, Hugh Flynn, Eugene
Frayne, Elmer Hayter, Lloyd
Hendrick, Joe Hoffman, Alec
McGregor, Everett Mcllwain,
Anson McKinley, Ken
McMichael, Roy Pattison, Girvin
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 reluctant to support a
program which was going to cost
them more money at the local
level.
"If McKillop 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
McKillop. "We can look after our
own welfare problems ef-
ficiently."
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 people," said Reeve
Carroll, "not only those 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
much 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."
Give permits for
two new houses
Two new house permits were
approved by Exeter council this
week.
They were for homes to be
erected by the Strathroy firm of
Zwart and Graansma and both
structures are planned for
Sherwood Crescent in the Dow
subdivision.
One will be on the north side of
the street and the other on the
south.
Last week the firm received a
permit for a new home on Pryde
Boulevard.
r Exeter council let it be known
where they stand on the matter of
regional government this week.
Without even hearing the
reasons behind a resolution from
St. Catharines, they concurred
with it. The resolution calls on the
Ontario government to withhold
a the implementation of regional
government.
St. Catharines has already
been placed in regional govern-
ment and officials have com-
plained about the situation on
numerous occasions.
There weren't even any pros or
cons discussed at the Exeter
meeting. They obviously had
their minds made up and readily
concurred with asking the
government to stop regionalism,
Council also concurred with a
resolution from Port Credit
asking for the right of appeal for
municipalities against federal
assessment on federal buildings.
At the present time the
municipalities have no right to
appeal any assessment on a
federal building which they feel
may be too low.
t County councillors
okay pay increase
the warden's victory party ,in
January will remain the in-
coming warden's own respon-
sibility.
"He is the victor, that night he
is the victim," quipped Clerk
John Berry,
Reeve Elgin Thompson of
Tuckersmith urged council not 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 con-
sidered a provilege to serve on
county council. The federal
government didn't set a good
example either."
Reeve Paul Carroll, Goderich,
said that while he considers it a
real privilege to represent
Goderich and work for the people
of Huron he does not believe he
should "pay an economic penalty
for this privilege."
On a recorded vote, 26
councillors voted for their raise
and only 11 were opposed.
Those in favor were Warden
Jack Alexander, George Baillie,
-John Baker, Allan Campbell,
Paul Carroll (2) Frank Cook,
Cecil Desjardine, Joe Dietrich,
Bill Elston, Lloyd Ferguson,
Eugene Frayne, Gerry Ginn,
David Gower, (2) Elmer Hayter,
Lloyd Hendrick, Gordon Hess,
Joe Hoffman, Harold Lobb, D. R.
MacGregor, Alec McGregor,
Everett Mcllwain, Ed Oddleif-
son, Roy Pattison, Girvin Reed,
Charles Thomas and Harold
Wild.
Those opposed were: Derry
Boyle, Wilmer Cuthill, John
Flannery, Hugh Flynn, Robert
Lyons, J. L. McCutcheon, Anson
McKinley, Ken McMichael, Doug
McNeil, Harold Robinson and
Elgin Thompson.
Reeve Derry Boyle, Exeter,
and Reeve Elgin Thompson then
entered a motion that county
councillors pay for their own
meals while attending county
council sessions. That motion
was also defeated.
In the matter of the warden's
salary, Gordon Hess, chairman
of the executive committee noted
— Please turn to page 3
*44,4
Presbyterian church in Exeter
The group led by Mrs. Wilfred
T-A photo
DECORATE FOR AT HOME — An underwater theme is being used
in Friday's annual At Home dance at South Huron District High
school. Shown putting the finishing touches on an enormous sea
horse are Betty Jean Miller and student council president Burton
Moon. T-A photo
Plan sewage disposal
for GB boat visitors
LICENCE TIME AGAIN — It's time again for purchase of bicycle
licences in the town of Exeter. Above, Constable Ardell McIntyre
helps Elaine Kestle and Heather Meikle in their plate installation.
Just a memory?