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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1980-05-14, Page 17COMPLETE CONCENTRATION — Three year old Teddy Baker of Grand Bend had to concentrate to keep his front wheel between the chalk lines on the pavement and form a figure eight. Watching his every move is Darragh Mehagan, also of Grand Bend. Teddy was the youngest child taking part in a bicycle rodeo sponsored by the Lioness Club and the Ontario Provincial' Police at Grand Bend Public School Saturday. There was one slight problem - for every six inches Teddy moved ohead, he rolled back four. Staff photo Pinery APP investigat rastv Grand Bend detachment opens RECEIVE LIFE MEMBERSHIPS — Clayt Mothers and Borden (Buster) Clark, both of Grand Bend, were awarded life memberships of a special dinner and dance at Grand Bend Legion Friday night. Staff photo illEr 9s naTiv.siw BY MARY ALDERSON On Burgerfest ... and kids 'Visions of Watergate' cleared J'InFlir13 An attempt to vicar up misunderstanding between council members and public utilities commissioners seemed to satisfy both groups. at a PUC meeting Monday night. "We all had visions of Watergate," councillor Keith Crawford said. Couneillors and Reeve Robert .Sharen met with the public Utilities Com- missioners in their building. at their regular meeting. Commissioners are Prosper Van Bruaene and Roy Johnson, Councillor Bill Baird serves on the PUC. Reeve Sharen. said that the problem developed when PUC employees were given a raiseprior to the raise being passed by motion at a meeting. The PUC met with council last fall and agreed that they would negotiate wages with their employees at the same time, Council members said that at that time they un- derstood that both groups would be given the same percentage increase. However, they learned later that PUC employees were given a greater increase than village empleyees. Sharen said that didn't really concern council—the "crux of the matter" was that councillor Bill Baird did not know about the raise. Commissioner Roy Johnson said that they had given out the raise while Baird was out of town. Prosper Van Bruaene ad- mitted that the raise ap- peared on the employees cheques :before, the motion had been passed. PVC line foreman Stan Lovie' said that .despite. a '14t of rumours, PUP .employees were not showing off their cheques, - Sharon said, that the matter was now "dead and buried," but he asked the commisioners • to negotiate next year's' wages. at the same time the village was doing It, Sharen said that if both groups settle wages at the same time, one can't be used against the other, • The PUC agreed that wages would be settledthis DeCember. Both groups will use the same method; Employees will ask in Writing for what they would like, the employers will discuss it first in private, then with the individual employee. In other lallainesa at the meeting, Lovie asked council members if they would start paying for maintenance on fire hydrants. Lovie said that in other municipalities the council pays for fire hydrants, but in Grand Bend it has always been up to the PUC. Lovie said that between. $75 and $125 is charged per hydrant per year for cleaning, repairing and setting up a reserve fund for future replacements, in other towns, Councillor Keith Crawford said that then they would' have to raise taxes, and the public would blame the council, Councillor, Harold Green asked if water rates would go down if council took over the hydrants, Re was told no, but they might not go up. Council members pointed out that it is the same tax- payer paying for it either way. Crawford later reminded them that some people do not use PUC water, and in that case do net pay for hydrants. Crawford then suggested that Lovie keep track of all Money spent on hydrants and then bill council as 'he does for street lights. Sharen said that he would like to know the cost of working on a hydrant before he agreed to that system. Lovie agreed to figure out how much time and money is spent on hydrants, and then discuss it with council again. Imes Advocate n h Page 1 A MAY 14, 1980 Price Per Copy 35 Cents usiness improveme-nt talks . 0 turn into attack on Burgerfest up to them to weigh the pros and cons to see if it would work in Grand Bend. Manore said that many of the businesses in Grand Bend only operate four months of the year, and it might be difficult to collect the extra taxes from them. Norman Lynn who is opening a Chinese restaurant in the old coffee house said that he was from Kitchener and that the BIA had worked there. He said that Grand Bend should be a year-round resort and that he would like to see the BIA established. "It's a step backward in modern society Park . Saturday. A :oar driven by James A. Millman of London was incollision with a car driven by John D. Fleming of Crediton. Con- stable R.M. Brown of the Pinery Park detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police investigated the accident. During•the week of May 4 to May 10 Pinery OPP laid 18 charges under the liquor licence act and ten charges under the highway traffic act. Two thefts were in- vestigated and one impaired driver was charged. They looked into 12 miscellaneous occurrences, • Sergeant Robert Martin has been posted to the Grand Bend detachment for the summer months. Sergeant Martin has been in the office working on preparations for the past week. He is no stranger to Grand Bend, having worked here previously. He has also been stationed at Woodstock, Sarnia, Petrolia, and London detachments, The detachment is opening up today. As well as the sergeant there are three corporals and 20 constables. Many of the officers will be living at the Fountainblue Motel this summer. Cathy Griffiths and Helena Crawford will be manning the office again this sum- mer. Four extra constables are also being added to the staff members hosted a social evening for their wives and families. Presented with life memberships were Clayt Mathers and Borden (Buster) Clark. Mathers was a charter member of the Grand Bend legion, joining it in 1949. Clark has been a legion member since 1946. Chapdelaine said that a life membership is the second highest award that a legion member could be given. The awards were presented by zone com- mander Harry Catton of Zone A-4, Corunna. Certificates of Merit were presented to Borden Clark, Glen Desjardine, Berton Green, Harry Hamilton, Erwin Holt, William (Cec) Lovie, Clarence MacLennan, Malcolm Moloy, Clayt Mathers, Leslie Taylor, and Earl Thompson. Pins hopouring 25 years were given to George Gallant, Art Haist, Don Hogarth, Clarke Kennedy, Ken McCrae, George (Sandy) Powell, Griff Thomas, Earl Thompson, and Ian Urquhart. Damage was estimated at $3000 in a 'two car crash inside Pinery Provincial Sergeant Robert Martin About 70 people came out Friday night to honour several members of the Grand Bend Legion. The group met for dinner at the Moulin Rouge restaurant, and then moved to the Legion Hall were awards were given followed by an evening of dancing. Legion. president Bob Chapdelaine said he was very pleased with the turn out. He said it has been several years since legion Firemen called to Pinery Park Grand Bend fire depart- ment was called out Saturday afternoon to a bush fire at Pinery Provincial Park. Pinery employees had the fire under control when the Grand Bend crew arrived. Less than half an acre was burned. About a month ago, a forest fire destroyed over 10 acres at Pinery Park. The previous Saturday, Grand Bend fire department were called to the home of Karen and Jeff Pinch in Sou thcott Pines. The firemen extinguished a fire in the clothes dryer. The dryer and Some clothing were lost in the fire, at Pinery detachment for the summer. This brings 'the total to 10 constables as well as Corporal Don Pettigrew. I am really bothered by the amount of harsh criticism I have heard levelled at Burgerfest this week. A meeting Thursday night designed to present the concept of a Business Improvement Area to Grand Bend merchants turned into an attack on Burgerfest, and in turn the Chamber of Commerce which sponsors the weekend. The main thrust of the criticism was at the beer tent—many people seemed to be of the opinion that the beer tent attracts the "wrong" kind of people to Grand Bend--"rabble" and "riff-raff". Granted, there have been problems at the beer tent in the past, but each year the chamber has taken steps to improve things. This year they are closing the beer tent over supper hour, so that no one will remain in it all day. Unfortunately, those criticizing Btwgerfest only remember the beer tent and the problems. They fail to remember that Burgerfest is a full weekend of activities, with something for everyone. Possibly, they weren't there to enjoy the fun in the bed race. It was a good time for both spettators and competitors. kids and adults took part--the decorated beds were excellent and some of the costumes hilarious, Much of the fun was talking to the racers afterwards, and rehashing the exciting moments. I'm looking forward to a good grudge match this summer between two old rivals. The losers last year told me they were going to build a 'bed over top of an Austin Mini in a sure-fire way to win. I can hardly wait to see the look on the judge's face. "There's no point in casting pearls before swine." That was the comment from Michael Owen when the possibilities of improving Grand Bend's Main Street were discussed at a meeting last Thursday night. The meeting, which was designed to show how a Business Improvement Area (BIA) works, developed into an attack on Burgerfest. Owen said that if any improvements were made to such things as public washrooms they would only be destroyed by vandals. "We have to get rid of the rabble first," Owen said, He said that the Wrong kind of people :a'r'e' attracted to Grand Bend. 'OWen, who purchased the Village Inn hotel last year, told the meeting that unless, the clientele is improved, there is no. point in fixing up the village. The village council called the meeting to discuss the possibilities of setting up a I've already heard rumours of a new entry out to win this year. A local hockey team is gearing up a super-bed. I just hope they're better bed-pushers than they are puck-passers, I guess the people who are down on Burgerfest didn't get out to the canoe race last summer. I don't think they'd call anyone involved in the canoe race "rabble" or "riff- raff". There was a large turnout of people from all walks of life, and all ages, I guess they must have missed the chain sawing contest, too. There was a good crowd of competitors and spectators despite the flying sawdust, and hot, dry weather, Those people criticizing Burgerfest must have forgotten about the children's play put on by Huron Country Playhouse that weekend. I don't think that people you'd call "riff- raff" would bother taking their children to see a classic fairy tale on stage. And the critics must not have taken part in the good clean fun to be had on the hay-rides, nor were they watching the yachting races that went on that weekend, Nor were they present to enjoy the music of the Forest Legion Pipe band on the beach. And I don't think they'd begrudge those pipers, who were dressed in heavy woollen kilts, a drink of cold beer on that very hot day. I guess the critics didn't bother to come down to the beer tent on Sunday af- ternoon (even though no beer was being served) to enjoy the beauty contest. There was a good looking group of contestants and the prize was awarded to a very at- tractive Michigan girl, BIA. Mark Emmerson of the provincial Ministry of Housing was present to answer questions. About 40 people attended the meeting. A film on the success of the BIA program in other towns was shown early in the evening. Several businessmen agreed with Owen, and said that Burgerfest, an annual weekend festival in June spon-Sored by the Chamber of Commerce, causes problems in the village. Dennis Snider, who works for Manore Marine called the Burgerfest "an animal show". He said that the Burgerfest "embarrasses" the village. Owen told Reeve Robert. Sharen that he would like to see the village fixed up, but asked how they could protect any improvements made. Sharen, told him to write to the attorney general and ask him to reconsider lowering the fines for noise and liquor offences. Sharen said that council is requesting that the fines which were recently reduced to $28 be restored to $103. Irene Kennedy of Huron Vista tourist home said that noise and parking are problems on her street. Sharen told her that a traffic study is being done this summer to improve parking and traffic flow. He added that if there were noise complaints she should call him. He explained that he was acting as a by-law en- forcement officer. Councillor Harold Green told the merchants that the village was "getting better every year," Green said that the police force of 24 kept things under control. He said that' a few years ago the police put on a "real tough' act" and cracked down on every infraction. Merchants complained because they said the police were driving tourists away, Green said. Last year the police tried a friendly approach, and people complained about that, too, Green said. "We don't have near the problems we had five years ago," he added. Owen then suggested that the village close down on May 24th weekend, because it was the worst weekend for "rabble". His suggestion met with no response. Councillor Keith Crawford told the businessmen that they have to have patience. Things are changing," Crawford said. Crawford reminded them that there will be an election in November. "We'd like to see more names in the hats" he said. The government representative explained that to set up a BIA, a group of businessmen have to get together and define the area they want to improve. Then all the businesses in that area would be given an additional taxation. If one- third of the businesses ob- jected to the extra taxation, the plan would have to be dropped. If a BIA is developed, it is under the control of village council. A board of managxment is formed, with at least one councillor on it, Owen said that he objected to the board of management being appointed because then the taxpayers had no say on how their money is spent. Sharen told him they had control in elections. Emmerson went on to explain that once a BIA is established by a by-laW, then they can apply for the government's Mainstreet • Revitalization program. Through that program money can be borrowed at low interest - rates for im- provements on village properties, Many of the businessmen said they could not support a BIA until they knew how much their taxes would be increased. John Manore asked Emmerson if they had ever done a study of how a BIA would work in a summer resort. if you don't do anything," Lynn said. Lynn said that he would like to see a committee formed to look further into the possibilities and perhaps set up some estimated budgets, so that taxpayers could see how much extra they might have to pay. Chairman for the meeting Dr. Robert Glaskin-Clay called for volunteers to form the ad hoc committee. Michael Owen, Dan Keith of RD's Hotel, Irwin Schot- teroff of the Pinedale Motel, and Mel Douglas of Bonnie Doone said they would meet again to study the idea. A SCREECHING HALT — Rubber burned as Kimmy Lewis, 4, of Grand Bend pulled up to a stop sign in the bicycle rodeo at Grand Bend Public School Saturday. Staff photo Park official says ready for rush "We're as ready as we can the worst month. "It's not be." That was the comment only the kids," Houck said. from Pinery Provincial Park Houck said that police and superintendent Bruce park employees will be Houck about preparations watching for drinkers at for the busy Victoria Day Ipperwash park. . "They're weekend. not going to be going through The quota for reservations cars, but they're not turning at Pinery is filled for the their back on it either," he weekend. Pinery only explained. reserve 250 of their sites - 150 in the Riverside area, 50 in Dunes and 50 in Burley. There will be 780 sites open for use this weekend. Area one in Dunes is closed for rehabilitation, but will be opened up on Junt 20, giving the park a total of 1044 sites for the summer. Houck said that there has been no alcohol ban imposed on Pinery Park. An alcohol ban has been imposed at Ipperwash Provincial Park, from May 7 to 31. Houck explained that problems usually develop in the early part of the season and that May has traditionally been Life memberships awarded Legion hosts social night proving everyone's welcome in Grand Bend. There was a lot of good, clean family fun to be had a Burgerfest last summer, I just hope the Chamber of Commerce doesn't get discouraged when not everyone seems to be behind them. I know that they've been striving to make it fun for local residents and for visitors. I know that they're really working to make it a family affair. And I, per- sonally, am looking forward to this year's Burgerfest. Speaking of kids, I think I did my part this week to bridge the generation gap. And I had great fun doing it. Area schools offered a full slate of activities in honour of Education Week. I hope you were able to attend some. On Wednesday I had the honour of' speaking to pupils at Grand Bend Public School on journalism. The kids were great listeners and came tip with some pretty good questions, The highlight of my talk was when I gave out a box of pink computer tape used in type setting, and told them they could keep it. I was also able to answer some of their questions on the newspaper business--like "Why doesn't your paper have coloured funnies?" Tuesday's speaker was Author Bill Corfield and on Thursday writer broad- caster Don Campbell spoke. Sarnia authors Norma West Linder and Hope Morritt came to the school Friday morring. Mrs. Linder was very popular became the children were familiar with her book Corey. It's the story of her family's dog. When the kids Emmerson replied that they hadn't. He told the merchants that he was not selling the idea of a BIA, he Was simply there to explain Please turn to page 2A bow it works. He said it was Houck added that they don't anticipate any problems at Pinery because of the ban at Ipperwash. Reservations have not in- dicated that Ipperwash campers are moving to Pinery. Houck added that things at the park will be different this summer because they Won't have the help of long time employee Mac Stewart. Stewart has left the park to take a position with the Ministry of Food and Agriculture as a fruit and vegetable inspector. "We'll miss him," Houck said.