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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Exeter Times-Advocate, 1973-01-25, Page 1Could be site of new post office. Council seeks present facility fice Exeter will get a new post office during this centennial year, That could lead to the town acquiring new municipal offices this year as well, Huron MP Robert McKinley advised the T-A Tuesday af- ternoon that the federal governs rnent would construct a new post office. It will be owned by the Crown, He said the department of public works is expected to call tenders on the new building around March 20, with the con- tract to be let by the end of April. Tentative completion date is October 30. No announcement has been made as to the location of the new facility, but it is expected to be at the corner of Sanders and Andrew St. The government has been negotiating with the owner of property on the north-west corner, Russ Wilhelm. The house was previouly used as part of Braemar Manor. Older residents the present site of the town hall. Since then, council has pur- chased a new fire ball and acquired land for a new works department building. Acquisition of the post office building would presumably leave the present town hall vacant. Foos municipal offices. Although he said he still hoped to see a new town hall at the present site at some later date, he felt such a structure could not be considered at this time. He told the T.-A this week that McKinley has been made aware of council's interest in the present structure and has promised to make those interests known to federal officials. McKinley said he has already recommended that the town be given first opportunity to acquire the present structure when it becomes available. There has been no indication what price may be attached to the present building, Only a year ago, council hired an architect to prepare tentative studies on a new town complex on acquiring the present post office for use as a municipal office. Most feel it would be adequate to house the clerk's office as well as the police department, It has also been mentioned that a second storey could be added to house a court room and council cham- bers. In his inaugural address, Mayor Delbridge said he felt council should seriously consider using the post office for will know it as the former home of W.G. SeWon, Mr. Wilhelm said Tuesday night the government is still negotiating with him for the property, McKinley said the new building will be 4,000 square feet, com- pared with the 2,000 square feet in the present Main St. facility, which was built in 1930. The Huron MP said he has been assured by department officials that they will contact Exeter council regarding plans for the structure. Council members have already •indicated they would prefer an architect to design a new building rather than having some of the standard designs often used by the department, Mayor Jack Deibridge said a new post office had been designed in Aylmer and he hoped Exeter would get something along the same line. Members of Exeter council have also expressed an interest in Truck hits wire, power is cutoff Residents of Centralia were temporarily without hydro early Friday night when low hanging hydro wires were hit by a tran- sport trailer. The truck was driven by Robert Sinclair, Toronto. Ontario Hydro linemen were called to restore service. Approval in principle to GB winter works One Hundred and First Year EXETER, ONTARIO, JANUARY 25, 1973 Price Per Copy 20 Cents Communication for a design and cost estimate for the turn-around, At a meeting two weeks earlier council approved expenditures of up to $2,000 for materials on the winter works projects. As the result of Monday's decision the steering committee of the Chamber of Commerce will make a progress report to council at each meeting to outline the program and present budgets. Cost to the village of materials — Please turn to page 3 Councillor's wife details Investigate two hit-run incidents Only three accidents were reported by the Exeter OPP this week, two of them being hit and run incidents at Huron Park. The first of those was reported Wednesday when a car owned by Jesse Reed, Centralia, sustained damage estimated at $100 while parked at Hall Lamp. On Saturday, a car operated by Elaine Riley, Huron Park, sustained the same amount of damage while parked near the Club Albatross. Constables Don Mason and Bob Whiteford are investigating. The other crash occurred Tuesday at 8;25 a,m, on County Road 21 at Huron Park. Drivers involved were Jean ?apple and Audrey O'Neill, both of Huron Park, Constable Frank Giffin listed total damage to their vehicles at $200. During the week the local detachment officers charged 13 persons under the Highway Traffic Act and issued warnings to another 18, There were three charges under the Criminal Code and two under the Liquor Control Act. concern of Stephen dump Driver fined $250, Mrs. McClure said there is heavy black smoke and burning almost daily at the dump, in- cluding last Sunday. She lives a little over a mile away, she said, and personally investigated, She found bicycle tires burning Sunday. She wanted assurance that conditions at the dump would improve, and wanted to know what means of enforcement of its regulations are available to council, as well as who would be liable in the case of violations. Councillor McClure said an- ticipated objections to the dump might be the burning of rubber and plastic. McClure said at present, about eight tons of garbage is handled at the site each day of which about 55 percent is industrial waste. The dump services nearby Huron Industrial Park. A representative of the waste management branch told the hearing the township will have to enact a bylaw because otherwise it will have no authority to regulate the dump. six-month suspension that all the money had been returned and apologies sent to the victims. Thomas was also fined $35 for consuming liquor while under the age of 18. The charge was laid in Exeter on October 21, Failing to produce driving and vechile licences and proof of insurance, resulted in fines for ,.four other persons. Gregory C. Sweet, London, was fined $50 for failing to provide proof of insurance for the vehicle he was driving in Exeter on December 1, while Kenneth J. McLean, Huron Park, was fined $20 for operating a car without a driver's licence on November 23. Jack Vangeel Jr., Exeter, was fined a total of $50 for operating a snowmobile on December 1 with an expired licence plate and having no proof of insurance. Lloyd K Mathers, RR 2 Ailsa Craig was also fined $20 for operating a snowmobile without a current licence plate. Other fines levied by Judge Hays and Justice of the Peace Douglas Wedlake were as follows: William Ratz, London, $30 for having liquor in a place other — Please turn to page 3 Exeter Fair meeting lauds ladies division READY FOR SPRING—The unusual warm and wet weather of this week brought out umbrellas and other springwear, Above, Vicky Cooper and Karen Wallace head for school Friday noon prepared for showers. T-A photo "A fall fair is one of the last simplest things we have left in this country." These were the words of Ken Reaney of Mitchell, a district director of the Ontario Agricultural Societies speaking Friday night at the annual meeting of the Exeter Agricultural Society. In very brief remarks, Reaney said the ladies division is a very important part of a fall fair. "Good displays boost the at- tendance and it's the people you get through the gate that counts," added the district director, President Bob Down also stressed the importance of the A London man was fined $250 and had his driver's licence suspended for six months after pleading guilty to impaired driving before Judge Glenn Hays in Exeter court, Tuesday. The court was told that it was the second time Richard J. Munn had been charged with such an offence and that he had several other convictions for speeding, He was charged following a single vehicle accident in Stephen on December 21 when his car went out of control and left the highway. A breathalizer test gave a reading of 150 mgs. Garr Rice Enterprises Ltd. of Exeter was fined $25 each on two charges of failing to file income tax returns at the proper time. The charge was laid by the RCMP, Garr Rice, spokesman for the firm, pleaded guilty and stated that the failure to send in income tax returns was for personal reasons. A Lucan youth, Richard Thomas, was put on probation for one year as sentence on a theft charge. He had previously pleaded guilty to stealing a total of $134,93 and the court learned Big Toe will open for only three days ladies division at the Exeter Fall Fair, He continued, "They seem to fill more of the arena with exhibits each year," In his financial report secretary-treasurer Garnet Hicks said attendance was down at the 1972 fair and listed ad- mission proceeds for the Saturday afternoon show at $1,862, down from the figure of $1,934, a year previous. Gross receipts for the 1972 fair were $20,404,74 as compared to $21,075.40 the previous year. Hicks said it was difficult to compare the last two years saying, "calves for the feeder club cost us more this year and some were not paid for at the end of the year leaving us with a book deficit of $369.28." The secretary added, "in all fairness to the board I think the feeder calf club operations should be kept separate," During the discussion of calf club activities, Jack Riddell felt there was a definite lack of buyers at the 1972 fair. He suggested letters be written to buyers drawing attention to the feeder calf club sale which is part of the fair. He continued, "I'd like to see more local buyers at the sale." In his report on the recent district meeting, president Bob Down said other fairs were down in attendance and income in 1972. "We seem to have company. Some other fairs are worse than ours," he added. The fair board realized $782 from supervising parking at the — Please turn to Page 3 Local business plans to close Exeter sign painter Don Webster announced this week he is closing his local business. Webster, who started the business 13 years ago from a small shop on Anne St., said he hoped to lease his present facilities which he built in April of 1966 on Victoria St. While the sign business will be terminating immediately, he and his wife will continue to operate the Paint Pot, which is included in the same building. Last year, Webster was featured in an article in the T-A, pointing out his ability to conduct the local business and design signs despite having lost his eyesight. An Ontario Environmental Board hearing reserved decision on an application from Stephen township for a licence to operate the municipality's waste disposal site at part of Lot 3,Concession 5. The hearing was held in Crediton Thursday afternoon, The only objection to the dump and this concerned management problems were expressed by Mrs. David McClure, wife of the councillor who made the presentation for the township. The dump has been in operation at the present site for about 10 years, but new govern- ment regulations require that approval of the ministry of en- vironment be secured. In presenting the township brief, councillor David McClure gave a complete rundown of the dump's 'operation including arguments why it should be closed in addition to reasons for receiving approval. In asking for approval, McClure said the township had recently hired a supervisor and the dump was now open six days a week. He suggested that all burning be stopped, present hours of operation be maintained, all garbage be compacted and covered daily and a sign be placed at the gate. McClure added some personal opinions which included meetings with industries in the township regarding waste disposal and creating a green belt of trees across the front of the property. After the township brief was presented, chairman Hugh Brown asked for comments from adjoining property owners and no opposition was expressed. Percy Noels, whose farm is located immediately west of the dump said he is not opposed as long as paper is not allowed to blow over his property, Owners of other immediate lands in the area in attendance were George and John Hepburn, Mrs. Gordon McDonald and Mrs. Gloria 1VIcStephen, In her remarks Mrs, McClure suggested council was not sincere in the dump operation saying, "they are either trying to make good appearances for this hearing or are unable to control the dump." At this point, Reeve Joseph Dietrich assured the board that all laws will be enforced and obeyed. He said a new lock had been placed on the gate and there was only one key. Discussion at the executive meeting of the Big Toe Monday night centered around plans to revitalize the coffee house, both financially and socially. "We've been letting the people Grand Bend council meeting with the president of the Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce approved most of the projects suggested for completion under the Winter Works program. Dick Manore, head of the C of C and also chairman of the steering committee appointed to handle the program which will provide up to $55 000 in federal grants for labour asked for clarification onthe projects which council would provide monies for materials. Manore said a large number of picnic tables had already been completed at a cost of $685. The other projects which were approved in principle by council are a cedar deck for boaters along the river with barbecue pits, installation of showers at the bath house, washroom facilities in the village's recreation area near the Legion hall, drainage of the same property, wash room facilities somewhere along the river and construction of a chain fence along the beach. Plans in the original proposal for tennis and shuffleboard courts and ball diamonds were ruled out, Possibilities will be explored by council in having the turn- around at the west end of Main street done in conjunction with the Ontario Ministry of Tran- sportation and Com- munications. Road foreman Vic Anysymiw told council chances were good of receiving a fifty percent provincial grant on the proposed change of the road in this location. The turn-around would allow vehicles to swing back at this location and proceed east again without going all the way to the pier to go in the opposite direc- tion., Later in the meeting. Coun- cillor Walter Cruteplin asked council for permission to ask the Ministry of Transportation and A CANNERS AND COUNCIL NEGOTIATE — Representatives of Exeter council and Canadian Canners met Monday in an initial meeting to negotiate cost sharing of the sanitary lagoon system. Shown from the left are Milan Sedlak and Trevor Stevens of Canadian Canners; Exeter ft councillor Tom McMillan; John Luyt, Ontario Ministry of the Environ- ment; Mayor Jack Delbridge, Steve Burns of B. M. Ross engineering firm and Allan t.adbrooke of the Ontario Ministry of the Environment. T-A photo. Negotiation is underway with Canners over lagoon Exeter council, officials from the ministry of the environment and Canadian Canners Ltd. deliberated for close to three hours Monday attempting to reach an agreement regarding the latter's involvement in the sanitary sewer system. Mayor Jack Deibridge told the T-A "it was a very good meeting". It was the initial discussion between the parties involVed. The Mayor said Canadian Canners officials have still not accepted the fact that an ad- ditional 44-acre lagoon will be required to handle the additional who come to the coffee house run the people who are supposed to be running it," said Deb Hillman. "And we have to do something about it." Toward this end, they decided to open the coffee house only three days per week; Friday nights, Saturday afternoon and evening and Sunday afternoon and evening. This will allow more of the executive members to be present each day, and will also make an organized program more feasible, In order to attract more local young people, and more adults to the coffee house, the executive decided to hold organized ac- tivities once a week, and then to leave the rest of the time for free activities. Some of the events suggested to more people were movies, arts and crafts, sing- alongs and jam sessions with guest musicians, guest speakers and theatre arts presentations. One week, for example, en- tertainment might be provided Friday night, and the following week, an arts and crafts display Saturday afternoon. It was also suggested that the coffeehouse sell "supportcards." In this way, holders of the cards could gain free edniission to these special events, and others could be asked to pay a small admission. Someone else said, however, that charging admission might defeat the purpose of the coffee house, and no final decision was reached on this question, In order to cover the cost of operations, the young people have planned several fund raising drives in the area. Rather than straight canvassing, it was decided to carry out projects which could involve end perhaps benefit the whole community, such As bake sales, collecting garbage or doing other odd jobs, and perhaps a car bash. The first of these fund-raising events will be held this Saturday, when the group is going to con- duct a bottle drive around Exeter starting at 10 st,M. DISCUSS FAIR ACTIVITIES — The annual meeting of the Exeter Agriculturol Society was held Eridey riieht. Shown above discussing plans for the 10'n Exeter poll !~air ore from the left, Ken Rectney of Mitchell, a district director; president Bob Down, ladies president, Mrs.'George Serecia and secretory Garnet Hicks. T.A seriously consider any valid alternative they could present to reduce the lagoon size. Canners officials said they would attempt to have their recommendations ready within two to three weeks in an effort to speed up negotiations and reach an agreement so the sanitary system work -Mild be started this year, At the meeting, council also presented a cost-sharing plan to Canners, No capital cost would be involved, With Canners paying ' for the sewer service over a 30• yearperiod on a yearly payment. —Please turn to Page 8 present 22-acre lagoon. At that time, the Ministry of- ficials pointed out that the lagoons would have to he capable of holding enough effluent so they would be discharged only twice per year, The present lagoon operates on a continual discharge basis, but studies conducted by the province indicated the Ausable River was not adequate to handle continual discharge. They said pollution above the accepted levels was being created In the river. Ministry personnel at the meeting told Canners they would effluent when the town's sewer system is completed, The industry spokesmen asked for time to study the matter fully and present an alternative for the consideration of ministry per- sonnel, The need for the additional 44 acres was also questioned by members of council when they were first broached by ministry officials last year. Members found it difficult to understand why the lagoon had to be tripled in size when the number of persons to be serviced was less than half the number already being served by the ••••••••.,-