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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-03-16, Page 14PAGE 14. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 16, 1988. Future capital needs worry councillors Continued from page 1 Pioneer Thresher Reunion that makes use of the arena. Councillor Bill Manning of Blyth acknowledg­ ed there was likely some spinoff from the thousands of people who come to Blyth, some for several days, but pointed out that Blyth works department crew works for nearly a week helping set up the event. Councillor Howson pointed out that the entire rental fee from the Threshers Association goes to the community centre board but that Blyth picks up the costs of such things as the hydro used for campers. Reeve Fraser said that if Blyth wasn’t prepared to budget on lcreasing its share of the costs, vforris was prepared to sign the agreement. Hullett's Councillor Bob Szusz asked Reeve Fraser what would happen if Morris signed the greement supporting the arena at i cost of $4,000 as the budget shows this year but next year the budget increased and Morris’ 18 per cent share jumped to $6,500. Would Morris still be in the agreement or would it be another case like the Brussels, Morris and Grey agreement, he asked, referr­ ing to accusations by Brussels Councillors in last week’s Citizen that Morris had renegged on its agreement to pay $4,000 to the BMGarenain 1987. Ared-faced Reeve Fraser said you can’t always believe what you read in the paper (see additional story on page 2). Ron Gross, Hullett Councillor said the 1988 budget for the community centre was just a caretaker budget and there needs to be more budgeted in 1989 for maintenance compared to the $ 12,000 in the 1988 budget. The cost to municipalities was bound to increase, he said. But Morris Councillor Howie Morton dis­ agreed, saying that if rental fees were a little more equitable there might be more money raised to offset higher maintenance costs. Frank Szusz, chairman of the Community Centre Board pointed out that maintenance costs had been higher last year than normal and that new arena manager Dave Cook had said he could live with the $12,000 budget for maintenance. Councillor Howson said that Mr. Cook had been trying to get different community groups to help pay for some special mainten­ ance problems in the building such as the replacement of dressing room floors. “If we can get that happening it certainly will help,” he said. Melanie McLaughlin, represen­ tative of the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation said that some things such as replacing those floors might be eligible for grants under the province’s Capital Con­ servation program. She suggested the community centre board stay in close contact with her to find out if grants for various projects are available. After concern was expressed by some representatives about future capital needs such as the replace­ ment of the condenser and the compressor on the ice-making plant Ms. McLaughlin said that capital costs were not part of the agreementbeingconsidered. It was important to sign the agree­ ment for support of operational costs, she said, but it was also important that a five-year forecast of capital costs should be under- taken. The arena had aging equipment, she said (the compres­ sor and condenser are 22 years old) and even the building is 10 years old and other centres have had major problems with 10 year old buildings. Capital expenses, how­ ever, were part of a separate negotiation, she said. Councillor Gross said that he was concerned about the replac- ment of the condenser, pointing out that a grant for up to one-third of the replacement cost had been approved but had to be used this year or lost. He felt the councils present should be setting aside one-third of the replacement costs between them and anotherone- third should be raised through donations and the job should be done this year before the grant was lost. Councillor Howson said that a reserve fund for major repairs was now in place with the Blyth Broomball League holding a 50-50 draw to raise money and also making a donation. It wasn’t a huge amount of money yet, he said, but there was a start. Councillor Szusz said it would be nice if a group would take on the project of replacing the condenser as the Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary had taken on the project of raising money to install the lift. After an hour and a half of discussion the meeting broke up so that East Wawanosh and Hullett councils could consider their posi- McKillop lets gravel contract Walton Compiled b\ Mrs. Betts McCall. Phone 887-6677 UCW studies Easter The Easter Horizon was the themefcr the March meeting of Walton unit of the U.C.W. held in the Duff’s Church basement Wed­ nesday evening. The worship service was opened by Edith Wey. The scripture was read by Annie Reid. Edith read the Easter Horizon followed by prayer. Hymns were sung with Doreen Hackwell as pianist. Offering was received and dedicated. About The “topic” on the Easter story was given by Leona McDonald, reading “Listen to the Easter Chimes.’’ Business was led by Marie McGavin assisted by Au­ drey Hackwell. Coming events were announced. Names were drawn for eight people to take fruit loaves to the Easter Thankoffering April 10. Easter Lilies are to be purchased for Easter. Marie closed with a poem, “Safe for today”, followed by a half hour fellowship when lunch was served by Berva Watson, Maxine Marks, and Elva Bolger. A total bid of $85,700 from Donegan’s Haulage Ltd. of Lis- towel was the lowest of four tenders submitted to crush, haul, spread and stockpile gravel for McKillop Township in 1988, and was the one that was accepted by council at its March 1 meeting. Broken down, the contract pro­ vides for Donegan’s to crush, haul and spread 28,000 Imperial tons of gravel at a unit price of $2.90, and to crush and stockpile 3,000 cubic yards at $1.50 per unit. The other tenders submitted were from Geo. Radford Construction Ltd. of Blyth for $91,300; Machan Construction Ltd. of Monkton for $96,430; and from Jennison Construction Ltd. of Grand Bend for $97,720. At the same meeting, council gave its consent to two land severances of 100 acres each, with the land to be used for agricultural purposes; the first being Lot 8, Concession 5, owned by James F. Maloney, and the second being Lot 33, Concession 3, owned by Cor and Catherine DeCorte. Council also approved a tile drainage loan application in the amount of $13,500 for Gerald and Anne Ryan, for work on the north parts of Lot 28 and 29, Concession 13. Engineer William Dietrich at­ tended the meeting to explain the options for crossings for the Reid, Buchanan, Smillie, McCallum- Winthrop and Winthrop-South municipal drains, and will be contacting the ratepayers concern­ ed on the same matter. Engineer William Kelley was also in atten­ dance to present council with a progress report on his firm’s contract for renovations to the McKillop Twp. garage, and to discuss the allowances and addi­ tions requested on the plan. In response to a letter from the Walton Women’s Institute regard- ing the recycling of garbage, council noted that it will be attending a meeting with Grey Twp. council later this month to discuss the implementation of such a program. PALMER SEEDS people Several people from this com­ munity attended the pig-tail, rib and sauerkraut dinner at the Brussels Legion Saturday evening. Allan and Alice Searle have arrived home from a holiday in Florida. Mr. and Mrs. Bob Humphries, London spent the weekend at the home of his mother, Mary Hum­ phries. Winter is back with us this week so the children home for the winter break will have more time for their winter sports. Walton Wl plans meeting The Walton Women’s Institute Marchmeeting on Canadian In­ dustries will be held in the hall this ■ Wednesday evening. The noon luncheon at noon will feature Irish Stew. Come early as it begins at 11:30. Thursday evening will be another euchre party. tion as to whether to support the agreement. On reconvening Hul­ lett Reeve Tom Cunningham said his council had some reservations about the tight budget for the arena this year and worry about the need to budget more money to mainten­ ance but it would support the joint agreement. Ernie Snell, reeve of East Wawanosh, said he would find it hardtoexplaintoBelgrave area residents that they should support the Blyth arena costs through their taxes when they had used so much volunteer labour to complete re­ novations to the Belgrave arena in 1986 but his council would also support the agreement. Councillor Howson thanked everyone for attending saying the arena board was aware it had a responsibility to the municipal councils to run the complex well. He said the board was very aware it had a sparce budget for 1988 but that hopefully if more local groups become involved the needed pro­ jects can be undertaken without having to depend more on tax money. KING BRAND SEEDS I am pleased to announce that we are now handling the many varieties of soybeans and small grains of King Agro. 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