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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1978-01-11, Page 1NEW B OF E CHAIRMAN R. J. Elliott of Blyth, eicpied ;chairman" of ..the Huron 'County Board Of Education for 1978 at a 'recent meeting of .the board. Alex Corrigan was elected vice-chairman. (News-Record Photo) First in 78 Blizzard closes ..area roads The first storm of 1978 came raging into the area Sunday night and by Tuesday afternoon there was little sign of a letup. Two days of high winds coupled with_ continued snowfall blocked all area roads, closed schools throughout the count y, stranded motorists, and forced the cancellation of dozens of activities. A spokesman• for the Ministry of Transportation ,and Communications in. Clinton reported Tuesday that all area, highways were closed and that there was little chance they would be opened unless weather improve drastically. Most plows were pulled off the road late Monday and blowing snow continued to hamper cleanup efforts Tuesday. The Ministry, spokesman said two large graders equipped with vee plows Were sent out Tuesday morning to attempt to clear highway 4 between Clinton andLondesboro. They were unable to reach Londesboro .in more than three hours of bucking heavy drifts. "There's not much we can do until the storm quits" the spokesman said. County and township spokes- men reported similar difficulties in keeping roads cleared. No plows were operating Tuesday. af ternoon in Morris and Grey Townships because, of poor visibilitry. "Everything is blocked" a Morris Township spokesman` said. Plows were taken off the road there late Monday af .ternoon, and will remain off the roads until conditions improve, spokesmen 'say. All area schools were also closed Tuesday, and there was little chance they would be re-opened 1Wednesday. Many Brussels and area businesses were also closed Tuesday as the storm made even walking treacherous and left streets largely deserted. Some let up in the intense cold and strong winds was expected Wednesday. ,Brussels Post BRUSSELS 107th Year - Issue No. 2 ONTARIO WEDNESDAY JANUARY 11, 1978 Council sets for Brussels A lengthy discussion concerning the salaries of village employees took up much of Brussels Council's first regular meeting. for the New Year on Monday. Council finally decided that clerk Bill King's salary ,should be $13,000.00 a year. Assistant clerk-treasurer Ruth Sauve will receive $4.00 per hour for 35 hours a week, Each will receive an additional $300,00 on completion of the Clerk- Treasurer's course they are taking in London. Archie Willis, a village employee ,. who is on probationary employment till the first of July is to get $4.00 an hour plus time and a half overtime. McGillvary and Co. of Listowel were appointed town auditors' again this year. The firms, of Crawford, Mill and Davies and Goodall and Campbell were appointed solicitors for. the municipality. Gerald Gibson of Brussels was appointed to the Winghart and District Hospital Board. Kenny jr a village enriployee, will haVe a 40 hour week and paid time and a half, He was also to be paid time and a half for 27 hours he worked in 1977. Reeve Cal Krauter- suggested another representative should be appointed to the Maitland Conservation Authority Board and coUndil named Bruce McCall salaries employees of Brussels. David Hastings, Fire Chief, will receive $225.00 per annum and Gerald Exel, Building Inspector, 30% of building permiis and $25.00 per O.H.R.R. loan and $5.00 a permit. Council also decided to ask for four representatives from Grey and four representatives from Morris Township to be appointed to the recreation committee. Don Blenkhorn, the Dog Catcher is to receive $10.00 a pick-up and $1.50 per dog tag. Ken Webster of Brussels was appointed as the Industrial Commissioner for one year. In their first by-law of the N ew Year, Council decided on holidays and sick leave for village employees. Employees will have 9 paid holidays, two weeks paid vacation after one year, three weeks paid vacation after five years and four weeks paid vacation after fifteen years. Employees Will have sick leave one day a month and agreed there should be a pension plan for all regular employees, In other business Connell decided to forWard a letter to J.M.McDonald from 'Transport Canada concerning the construction of dwellings on lots 14, 15 and 16 hi a proposed sub-division in the south-east corner of the village. The Huron County Board of Education faces a tough year in 1978, both politically and administratively, according to 1977 Board chairman _ Herb Turkheim. Mr. Turkeim told the board in his final address as chairman before turning the gavel over,to 1978 chairman John Elliott that restricted funding, by the provincial government and declining enrollment would force the Board to take a long hard look at education costs in Huron County in the coming years. Mr. Turkheim said a reduction in grants from the province would cause financial hardship for the board and that declining enrollment would add to the prbblem. He•pointed out that the province is threatening to cut back grants and although no official figuxes have been given, it appears the cut will be from 4-6 percent. He added that costs have risen by that much at least in !the past year and that grants are based on a student per capita -basis, Declining enrollinent would mean Huron is eligible for fewer grants than last year even without cuts _in provincial spending. "We as a Board' are going to have • to take a close look at education costs and use a great deal of forsight when we make financial decisions" he warned the trustees. Mr. Turkheim said • that education costa in Huron have risen dramatically in the past five years and that the Board has asked Huron municipalities to carry those costs. He said that the Boards . requisition to municipalities has risen 100 percent since 1973 adding that the Board is still not in great financial shape. The past chairman said that the trustees would have to be .economic in their future decisions- but would also have to remain politicians. He, said that declining enrollment ray make it appear that closing schools will save the board the money it needs; but suggested that closing would not be the answer. He added that the board Oweg every ratepayer in the county the right to an education system for their children. He sighted the Vanastra Public School as an example of the political responsibilities the Board has, He said that opening the school in Vanastra last year ' was a "foolish move but a political one". He said that trustees really "had no choice" but to open the school because of the reaction from taxpayers in Vanastra at the time the decision was made. He said that ,Clinton Public School could not handle students from Vanastra and the Board was considering busing students to other schools as an alternative. In a public meeting the trustees met with "500 ratepayers ready to throw bricks at them if they made the wrong decision" he claims. Mr. Turkheim said that if the hoard started looking at schools in the County with the idea to close some, one of the first to be considered would be Hensall Public School, a school in his constituency. He added that. Hensall would only be closed over 'his dead body . "I would only ,hope that trustees put themselves in the position of the Board member in whose area a school is being This community like most others, is locked in with a wild winter storm by snow drifts, cold, high wind , blowing snow and nil visibility. Personally on this Tuesday morning I am a prisoner in my home. I might have waded through waist high drifts tut no way could I buck that wind and stay on my feet. The only one here who enjoys it is the dog. He is constantly in and Out frolicking in*the. Snow with great glee. ****** Some students may be enjoying the unexpected holiday for schools are closed as are many busineSs places. All activities have been cancelled. No relief is in sight until sometime tomorrow, This makes the publishing of The Post a difficult task. With the county road impassible and all material for` the Post having to go from trussels to Seaford' Tuesday morning, what can We closed", he said; "A trustee from Wingham should make his decision considering how he would feel if the schoolwerein his locality". Mr. TUrkheim said if the board was to solve its problems it would have to ,concentrate on communications and' would have to work as a: unit.. He said that in the past' a. few trustees have carried' the work load for others and that that situation would have to Change. He didn't feel communications was the problem it was cracked up to be but did conceive that the Board would have to work together to improve lines of communication with teachers, parents, ratepayers and municipal politicians. The past chairman told the board that a one year term as Board chairman should be considered poinjting out that a second year in the chair is very trying. He said that the second term of office is very trying and that the effectiveness of the individual is effected by the work load. 'no. Thanks to the telephone. most of it can be passed on that way. We will do our best. ****** What is there to talk about except the storm? It is the elderly and shut-ins who suffer most when these conditions prevail. Many of them are dependent on others for the very necessities of life. These must be delivered to their door by merchants, neighbours,,or kind friends who have a snowmobile at their disposal. With things as they are \ everyone is having problems getting ,around. * * * * Let the senior cititens beware of trying to dig themselves free of this confining snow. There is a great risk of heart failure if we overtax ourselves. Wait until you can get someone else to free your car, and shovel your walk. Do not take the thanee of collapsing it you try to do it yourself, /11.111.11111.1.1.1141Nom' ESTA1B81.712SH, ED Huron school costs climb despite attendance drop. Short Shots by Evelyn Kennedy