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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1988-04-27, Page 5Huron County Council briefs THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1988. PAGE 5. Fed. of Ag„ Women Today lose out on grants Two groups who had presented county council with presentations asking for first time funding at council’s February meeting got negative answers at the April meeting of council, April 7 in Goderich. The Huron County Federation of Agriculture and Women Today, each of which had asked for grants in four figures, had their requests noted and filed” by the executive committee meaning no action will be taken on the requests. Clarence Rau, Reeve of Stanley protested the county’s decision on the Federation of Agriculture request saying the county should support the Federation. Towns benefit as well as farmers, he said. Despite his plea council voted to support the committee's decision to file the requests.***** County representatives to hospi- tal boards were approved by council after being recommended by the executive committee. Re­ presentatives on local boards will be: Fred Tilley, to the Seaforth Community Hospital Board; Les Tervit, to the Wingham and District Hospital Board and Wayne Lester to the Clinton Public Hospital Board.***** Huron County will celebrate its 150th birthday in 1991. The executive committee recommend­ ed that in 1989 a committee be appointed to plan for the celebra­ tions.***** The county has retained the Goderich law firm of Donnelly and Murphy as the county solicitors with a retainer of $4,913.40 for the year.***** Council concurred with a resolu­ tion from the regional council of Ottawa-Carleton urging the pro­ vincial government to hold to the status quo regarding Sunday shopping.***** Webster’s Clothing of Blyth beat out two other bids to provide clothing for the custodial staff at the county court house. The contract is to provide lOpairs of pants and 15 shirts for a total cost of $560.75.***** The cost for renting the county- owned properties of the registry office and the court house will go up for Ontario government agencies renting the facilities. Rents for the buildings will go up to $9.50 per square foot for the next five-year lease, up from $5 per square foot for the last five years. The county will be required to make minor improvements to both buildings under the new agreement. Jim Schneider of the custodial staff has been engaged by the county to install new ceilings in the Health Unit offices, the county Engineer’s offices and the Exami­ nation for Discovery room at the court house at $4.20 per square foot to include all labour and materials. Despite protests from the Huron County Planning and Develop- Study to look at tourism in Huron's future With an increasing number of tourists visiting Huron county every year the Huron County Planning and Development de­ partment has commissioned a new study to see how tourism can best be planned to benefit both perma­ nent residents and tourism. The study, to be undertaken by David Simmons, a visiting faculty member from Lincoln University College, New Zealand, is part of alonger term study concerning the potential for tourism development inthecounty. Mr. Simmons has been involved in tourism studies in New Zealand and while in Canada has been based at the University of Waterloo. The study will contri­ bute toward his doctoral research. The present project will focus on local residents’ attitudes and reactions to tourism. It is based on the belief that the aspirations of the local communities are central to a healthy tourist industry, and to the ‘welcoming feel’ of a destination area. For this reason a full spectrum of the views held by residents of the county is being sought. The study will involve interviews with a range of residents, and community and tourist industry leaders. The objective is to dis­ cover the major concerns, both positive and negative, surround­ ing tourism. Following the inter­ views, a survey of residents will be made to explore these issues in greater detail. Should residents receive a survey form, they are urged to respond, even if they believe that they have little to offer the study. The aim of the study is to hear the full range of opinion about tourists and visitors. Because a limited number of survey forms are sent out, plann­ ing officials says, it is important that those who receive them attempt to complete their surveys and return them. ‘‘In an important way those who are sent a survey ‘represent’ others in the County, who may hold similar views” says Mr. Simmons. Everyone’s views are therefore important to the study. ment Committee, word has been received from the National Trans­ portation Agency of Canada that the abandonment of the Ilderton to Centralia portion of CN Rail's Exeter subdivision has been ap­ proved. The line is part of the old ‘ ‘ Butter and Eggs’ ’ route that once came as far north as Wingham. The line north of Clinton has been abandoned since World War II. Exeter and Hensall will still get rail service through a connection to CN’s Goderich-Stratford line at Clinton. ***** The southern part of the county may also be hit by a proposal from the Ministry of Transport and Communications that Highway 83 be transferred to the county road system. County Engineer Dennis Merrall worried that loss of the provincial designation for the major link from the Exeter, Huron Park and Grand Bend areas to the Stratford and Kitchener- Waterloo areas would have a serious economic impact on the area. He also pointed out that if the county takes over the road it would need more equipment and would need to add a bay at its Zurich garage. He estimated an addition­ al $250,000 in capital costs and an additional annual maintenance cost of $160,000. In addition, since the sand dome at Zurich is now fully used a new dome might have to be built at a cost of $110,000. While the county has increased the amount of money for road maintenance, the provincial roads have been under funded, he said with the resurfacing and construc­ tion needs increasing from $27,739,000 in 1982 to $40,723,000 in 1987. The county would consider whether it can afford to take over the highway in the current condi­ tions, he said. Council felt they didn’t want to and voted to tell the MTC it feels the road should remain a provincial highway. ***** The construction date for the new Ball’s Bridge approaches. The tender of Hy-Test Ready Mix Ltd. of Clinton for concrete at $91.50 per cubic metre was accepted by council. DONATED BY BRUSSELS OPTIMISTS A bright new addition to Brussels’ main street is the illuminated “Community Events” sign, purchased by the Brussels Optimists Club and donated to the people of the village and surrounding area. Letters for the sign are kept at the municipal office, and are available free of charge to all community groups and non-profit organizations on a first come, first served basis. The village of Brussels contributes the electricity and upkeep of the sign. Posing under the first message are Optimist Greg Wilson, [left] Brussels clerk-treasurer Hugh Hanly, Optimists president Don Armstrong and Optimist Bruce Raymond. MVCA hosts "Sneak Peek' at Falls Reserve Sunday The Maitland Valley Conserva­ tion Authority invites you and your family to ‘ ‘Sneak a Peek at Spring” at the Falls Reserve Conservation Area on Sunday, May 1st at 2 p.m. Join us for a spring wildflower hike along the scenic trails at ‘‘the Falls”. Enjoy the unique blooms of trilliums, dog-tooth violets, marsh marigolds and many other wild­ flowers. (Waterproof footwear’is strongly recommended). A bird banding demonstration will also be featured. Come and watch as birds are carefully caught in mist nets and then identified and banded for migration research. There is tree day-use admission to Falls Reserve for this event. Falls Reserve Conservation Area is located at Beifmiller, along the Maitland River, near Goderich. For further information contact the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority at 335-3557. Goderich 1 -800-265-5503 Feature of the 10% Week ...for 2 yrs. 4 INVESTMENTS/ MIUMAMCI AQINCV iw HEALTH ONTHE HILL—1 A series of bi-weekly reviews of activities at SEAFORTH COMMUNITY HOSPITAL Diabetic Education Classes Held The hospital has been off ering a two day course for diabetics; the most recent having been April 5 and 6 when 11 people were in attendance. The courses, about two a year, are under the direction of a nurse and dietition. Self-care topics include eating and cooking the diabetic way, foot care, travelling, problem solving and days of illness. A summary of a recent study ‘‘Report on Diabetes in Ontario” emphasizes that approximately 540,000 individuals in Ontario are affected with Diabetes Mellitus and this number will increase in conjunction with the aging population. Those with diabetes are hospitalized 21/2 times more frequently than the general population (5 times more frequently for children with the disease). The emphasis on treatment must include education in self-care techniques, to maximize continued health and aid an independent life-style for the diabetic. Palliative Care-Totally Volunteer Registration closes May 2 for the program on May 25 and 26 when the Seaforth Palliative Care Volunteer present John Cassis minister and motivational speaker who will discuss ‘‘Developing Mental Toughness” and ‘‘How to Soar Like an Eagle”. Grace Dolmage at the hospital has further details. New addition will improve service Construction of the new addition to Seaforth Community Hospital which will be under way shortly, will do much to eliminate the concerns indicated in a recent audit commissioned by the Ontario Hospital Association on consumer satisfaction with emergency departments. The audit, carried out last year for OH A identifies public use and perceptions of emergency departments, and recommends solutions to problems detected. Focusing on theexperiencesof emergencydepartment patients from 16 hospitals in southwestern Ontario, including Seaforth, the audit identified that emergency departments are busiest between 9a.m. and 5p.m. Andalthough the degree of public satisfaction for this service is “extremely high”, waiting time is the principle public concern. Public perception over the appropriateness or role of a hospital emergency department was also revealed. Some respondents felt it was only for life threatening emergencies while others said an emergency department was an alternative source for care to that of a doctor’soft ice. Public perception was also unclear on patient treatment priorities. I n fact, one third of respondents believe that seriousness of condition is not a factor and that order of arrival is how the system works.