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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1980-11-05, Page 25:•.THr.BR.000.07'00Sr,:- NOVEMBER1; plc BY DEBOUE RAMEY What's happening with the Bluevale, hall, was the big question when ratepayers met with members of Turnberry Township. council and school board representatives at a meeting, on Wednesday night. ApprOximately 39 ratepayers attended the meeting which was held in the. Bluevale hall. One man asked the members of ;council whether council had bought' a site for the new hall to be built On. 4 1 didn't know we had been asked to buy one,” reified councillor Doug Fortune. He explained that if the hall stays, in' the township's name, then certain grants are available and that was the reason (negotiat- ing) wasdone through the Township. `:What do you think we should do, forget about the hall?" one man asked. "It's up to the people of Bluevale," Mr. Fortune replied. The, man commented that there had been a lot of people who had started off enthusiastically about the hall., but that they couldn't Stand the flack. Bev Brown read a comment out of the • VVingharn paper that was made by Doug Fortune, at a Turnberry council meeting, where he said, "Unless that organization can get together, it's going to fall, flat on its , face," "Was that organization the Hall Board or the Chamber 'of Commerce?" Bev Brown wanted to know. Mr.' Fortune said he wasn't referring to any organization as such. He said they had all sorts of ideas on the hall come to council, but really nothing concrete. "I think the people of the Bluevale community have to get in there and really know where they're going before they get their hall built," he said. 'We've never had any doubt about where we're going," said Bev Brown. She 'commented that there were three' groups looking after the hall and that some Hof the same people were on each of the groups- "It's becoming almost unwieldy. I would be interested in how you feel we can get this thing moving,' she said, She talked about the confusion that exists with having three groups, one holding the money, another group making the decision to purchase and the being deeded to the township, "I'm just concerned that under these circumstances," we'll never come to a fair price," she said. New Turnberry Township councillor John Cox wanted to know what the committee had done on a hall and how much it was going to cost, Bob Searson, president of the Chamber of commerce explained that they were just basically getting started and, that they were looking at property right now and trying to come up with a reasonable price. When something concrete comes up on that, a public meeting will be held," he said. He said that the size of the hall would be basically the same as Underwood hall without council chambers and would hold approximately 200 to 250 people. One man in the audience suggested that someone from each committee should also be on the hall board committee to help make decisions. Councillor Fortune was asked who should do the negotiating for the land for the hall to be built on and he suggested it might be better if the' hall board did the negotiating, since everything in council is public. One man wanted to know what the initial. Cost foil the project was if it went ahead, Or any idea of.what it would cost when it was finished. Mr. Searson told him they couldn't really quote any figures until they found out if they could. get property and what they were going to build would depend on the . property to start with. . Reeve Brian. McBurney said it might look like council wasn't enthused about the hall, He, said they were enthused, but they were just being cautious and explained that if the hall Should have a deficit, Turnberry would be responsible for it. He said they had gone to Morris. Township council to see if they would agree to share an operating deficit if the hall had one, but so far, Morris had not aggreed to it. ' Other things discussed at the ratepayers meeting included the new Pits and Quarries Act, the nature of contracts between teachers and the Board of litho cation and why some 'schools seem to have more field trips that others. atience Patience, a positive attitude, good corn inuiiiCation with all sectors,. of the community and an 'active education program:;: are the major' components necessary, to achieve a successful campaign. This was the, theme of an• informal talk, given''' by Charles Sauriol, at a meeting of the Maitland Conservation. Foundation, and memberi 3 Or the Maitland - Valley Conservation Authority Executive and staff, held last Tuesday evening at the Bed- ford Hotel in Goderich. The talk was just one stop on a' two day visit, he and assistant, Anna Martin, made to the area last week. Mr. Sauriol is the Project Director of the ,Nature Conservancy of Canada, a non-profit, fund w raising organization, working to insure the preservation of • our natural and cultural heritage. His work in the conservation field extends back over a period of 40 years, a period in which, he says, there has been a reversal in attitudes, and philosophies toward conservation; from skepticism and antagonism to confidence and col- laboration, He is no stranger to the local area and the work being done in the conserva- tion field, having assisted in fund raising projects con- tributing $52,000. for the purchase of several parcels of land now under the management of the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. As a relatively new • or- ganization, Mr. Sauriol' re- minded Foundation members that progress is often slow and that they should not be discouraged in their efforts. "The seed will come back", he said, Every- one is a client whether their donation be five dollars or $5,000. Each donation is' equally important in achieving our goal. Mr. Sauriol reinforced this point by commenting that good things often start small and that patience is our best ally. In establishing priorities for the upcoming year, mr. • Sauriol suggested' that. the members, andertakea programaimed at informing watershed residents - about the'FoundatiOri; who they are and what they are, working towards; .a group, of con- cerned watershed : residents dedicated to the conservation , `of our ,resources. This, he y.6 •61,4 said, "should:he number.: one on their list: A Matuaf.feeling of trust and-cOnfidence must be ':briiit up," he continued, and', this can only be done .through a concerted effort of co-operation. In closing; the speaker added 'thati: while much remains to do ilk the Maitland Valley areal a good beginning has been made by the Foundation', and he extended an open doer to any who may wish' to discuss specific problems 'or questions.' In a discussion' period which followed, Jack Graul, Chairman of the Maitland Conservation Foundation, pointed to an often held misconception about Authorities and Foundations - nainely, that they are government agencies and that theland they purchase is taken out of the hands of the public. In fact, the reverse is true These organizations are not government 'agenci* but gather : Organizations formed as. • a result of the citizens, arid the land ;parchased through their .effotts -is not being ;, taken .awaY, from the residents-, but ;rather being Put back or preserved and/or' developed according to the, public's wishes and in harmony with the natural and cultural resources of the area. In making these - comments, the speaker • commented that un- r. fortunately there will always be those few who will never .swayed. -.While it is true that the :Maitland,„ Valley Conservation Authority, as all other Authorities, receive some funding' in the form of grant's, from the Province, the amount of this grant is 'based on the amount of funds raised through the • iii the Maitland' Watershed would normally be raised through the general levy on any .donations which the. Foundation receives work to the advantage of all residents as they replace monies which Member -municipalities. Foundation. The benefits of "On the purchase of the Lake followed, discussion can help. business meeting which centered around their pre- sent Objective; raising;funds, of $24,000. to retire the d4t responsibility' and everyone In , -the • Foundation's Wawanosh property, a .200. While, the Conservation ,acre pareel of, land comprised Authority 's • :.outdoors education programs, are, in of a mature hardwood: bush, part, aimed at correcting the .'wetland forest and a 60 acre fallacy, 'ocetd effort r tbeereo .trust a_tst be man-made lake in West am9re Wavvanosh Twp. c all. o e ages as well as :local or- ganizations and businesses. Conseryation is everyone's MAITLAND VALLEY Insurance Agency Ltd. Auto '- Fire - Casualty - Life BRUSSELS MONKTON 887-6863 Murray Siddall 347-2241 It may surprise you to learn that many of today's foster children are in their teens—a time of life when foster parents could provide the direction they need. For more information about becoming a foster parent, contact: Family & Ch ildren's • Services of Huron County Goderich 524-7356 887-6063 H & N DAIRY SYSTEMS LTD. Soles, Service & Installation of pipelines & milking parlours R.R.4 WALTON Classified. Ads pay dividends-