HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1990-07-18, Page 1Walton P.O.
closed Aug. 4
Walton’s current post office will
close August 4 and, depending
what the next few weeks bring, will
be replaced either by a Retail
Postal Outlet (RPO) or by commun
ity mail boxes.
Three officials from Canada
Post’s London office met with local
residents July 10 to explain what
the future holds for mail service
once post master Marjorie Hum
phries retires. The officials, Gary
Bowler. Pat O’Grady and Jim Craig
assured residents that the most
likely outcome is that a RPO will be
set up in some other business in the
village. In that case, they said,
residents of the village will notice
little difference in the service. The
RPO. privately operated, will have
lock box service just like the
current post office and sorting of
in-town mail will still take place
there.
Residents of the rural routes,
however, will now have their mail
sorted in Seaforth and the rural
route drivers will have to travel to
Seaforth and come back again each
day. Some drivers were worried
about what this would mean when
the weather is stormy in winter.
Mr. Bowler said as far as cus
tomers of rural routes were con
cerned there might even be some
gain because mail is dropped off at
Seaforth earlier than it is at
Walton.
In the event no local business can
be found to house the RPO (offi
cials said there has been one
written application and Canada
Post officials are negotiating with
other businesses), a community
mail box system would be set up in
the village. People would be able to
receive their mail in a lock box and
could drop mail in a letter slot but
for anything that required payment
or pick-up, such as parcels and
C.O.D., they would have to travel
to Winthrop. “We’re fully confi
dent that you will be receiving lock
box service in a Retail Postal Outlet
the day after the closure,’’ Mr.
Bowler said.
Not everyone attending the
meeting was prepared to accept the
words of the officials at face value
but the format of the meeting, with
no definite starting time and the
group broken into three round-
table discussions with one or the
other of the officials, left little room
for organized protest.
Several people asked why the
change was made and were told
that with the retirement of Mrs.
Humphries, Canada Post took a
“natural opportunity’’ to change to
the RPO. When one questioner
said the new setup, similar to a
franchise, couldn’t make enough
money for the operator of the RPO
Mr. Craig said that in some cases
the financial return may not be as
high in an RPO as with the old post
office, but businesses looked at it
as an important opportunity to get
people into their premises.
Bonnie Cole Arnal and Oz Cole
Arnal disputed the assertion of the
officials that Mrs. Humphries had
decided to retire early. “Rumour
says she was told she could have
her job but would have to commute
to another post office if she didn’t
choose to retire,’’ Bonnie Cole
Arnal said. “I’m very angry that I
come here and hear that it is Mrs.
Continued on page 2
Serving Brussels, Blyth, Auburn, Belgrave, Ethel,
Londesborough, Walton and surrounding townships.
VOL. 6 NO. 29 WEDNESDAY, JULY 18, 1990.50 CENTS
Just duckie!
Jacob Hetsler knows how to pick a winner. He shows off some of this $1,000 in winnings for capturing
first place in the rubber duck race sponsored by the Brussels Lions Club at Brussels FunFest. Of
course he may have had an advantage. Who should have more experience with rubber duckies than a
youngster his age. He’s the son of Joanne Schuller and Jamie Hetsler of Brussels.
E, Wawanosh
complex
unveiled
to ratepayers
Despite rumblings of discontent
from the 50 East Wawanosh town
ship ratepayers who attended an
information meeting July 10 at the
township garage, it appears likely
the township council will proceed
with building a new office in
Belgrave.
The council had called the meet
ing to unveil plans for a 1728
square foot office including a 400
square foot council chambers,
security vault and offices for staff.
The new offices would be part of
apian to put a new addition on the
Belgrave arena. The Belgrave
Kinsmen Club has plans to put a
3200 square foot addition on the
front of the arena which would
include new dressing rooms and a
public hall. Cost of the Kinsmen’s
part of the project is estimated at
$240,000. The municipal office
complex is estimated to cost
$138,000.
No vote was taken as to the
audience’s feelings about the pro
ject although it was mentioned
several times. Some people object
ed to a vote because they felt there
wasn’t a fair representation of
township taxpayers present. Oth
ers dismissed the vote saying the
council had obviously made up its
mind already.
The township has agreed to buy
a house that must be removed to
accommodate the expansion at a
total cost of $80,000. The township
will pick up $60,000 of the cost with
the additional $20,000 to come from
the Kinsmen. The township, how
ever, has also pledged a donation
of $20,000 to the Kinsmen contin
gent on Morris township making a
similar donation.
Township officials emphasized
that although the two facilities will
adjoin, they will operate totally
separate, with separate heating
and electrical facilities. Once the
Kinsmen project is completed it
will be turned over to the arena
board for running.
Fred Meier Sr., township coun
cillor explained the township had
been experiencing space problems
for some time and looking at
possibilities such as building adja
cent to the township garage west of
Belgrave. This could mean pro
blems for neighbouring farmers
however, putting additional restric
tions on their farming operations.
The township felt it should practise
what it preaches and locate urban
Continued on page 2