Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-07-06, Page 3• Tourist info centre stays open The doors of one of the busiest tourist information centres in Bruce and Grey will stay open, thanks to a cash infusion from taxpayers. The Grey -Bruce Tourist Associ- ation (GBTA) information centre at Springmount near Owen Sound was preparing to shut its doors because of lack of funding. That closure would have come as the peak summer tourist season is hitting full stride. It was averted when Bruce County agreed to give an extra $8,000 grant to that operation at its meeting June 27. Earlier, Grey County and Owen Sound pledged $8,000 each, condi- tional on Bruce County following suit. GBTA president Gary Levine said the county and city grants that finance the information centre have fallen from $91,000 in 1990 to $38,750 in 1994. It costs $60-65,000 annually to operate the Springmount Centre. Levine said without emergency funding from the counties and city the GBTA would have had to face "hard deci- sions" including deficit financing or permanent closure of the centre and sale of its assets. "They had us over a barrel," said Bruce County finance Chair Paul Eagleson after he proposed making the grant. "It's kind of damned if you do and damned if you don't." Eagleson's motion was condi- tional on the information centre staying open until at least Thanks- giving. Levine said even with the one-time grant, the centre may have to close for part of the winter or shoulder season. Ironically, county council learned Monday that the area will host the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs annual convention in Febru- ary. As many as 6,000 snowmobilers are expected to attend that event. Bruce county's tourism department plans to use the conven- tion to promote the county's Bruce and Saugeen River trails, cross y • country skiing and rail -trail projects. "Tourism is alive and well," Levine assured council. He said none of the GBTA's marketing efforts have lost money, traffic at the information centre was up 11% last year and phone inquiries were up 38%. "This year could top that,' he predicted. Bruce Council, which has tourist advisory committees in three areas of the county and its • own tourism co-ordinator, told Levine that the $8,000 grant is a one-time only donation, and that in 1995 the grant' will drop back to $15,000. s Library headquarters narrowly :approved by county council Plans for a $750,000 Bruce County Library headquarters in Port Elgin took. a last minute stumble but were narrowly approved at the end of Bruce County Council's June meeting. The b$llaw allowing construction of the building was up for final read- ing following an in -camera session when Amabel Reeve Bill Ferris objected. "In light of the closed session, we should reconsider," Ferris said. "Are we going to build a building we don't need?" Ferris didn't say what was dis- cussed in 'the closed session, but Port Elgin Reeve Ann MacKay's response indicated the topic was the county's problems establishing a pay equityplan. "Pay ' equity shouldn't have anything to do with whether we run a library. We have known pay equity was coming," MacKay said. When the vote on the library project was called, a . number of councillors looked hesitant about their decision. Warden Milt McIver called the motion twice, then declared it carried on his tie -breaking vote. That move was challenged by Southampton reeve Elgin Shular. Shular claimed Ministry of Munici- pal Affairs advise that there is no such thing as a tie vote. McIver won council support when he used the county's procedural 'bylaw as , the authority to rule against Shular's challenge. Later, McIver said the library head- quarters has become an "emotional" issue. Infrastructure funding is expected to pay two-thirds of the cost of the building, pending prov- incial and federal approval. McIver predicted 'the projecthas now cleared its last hurdle from council and will get underway this summer. Meanwhile, library director, Marzio Appolloni, who was excluded from the. in -camera session, suggested that some coun- cillors are not happy about the cost of pay equity legislation that has been imposed by the province, and might be "confusing" theissues of , the library headquarters and pay equity for library staff. Lucknow Sentinel, Wednesday, July 6, 1994 - Page 3 Welfare cases down There were two good economic indicators noted in reports presented to Bruce county council's June 27 session. Planning director Malcolm McIntosh said the rate of decline in planning applications has slowed down. The number of applications dropped from 692 in 1989 to 533 in 1991, then plunged to 376 in 1992. Since then, the decline has been much smaller. Meanwhile, a substantial drop in welfare cases in Bruce means the welfare budget •has gone from a deficit last year to a small surplus in the first five months of 1994. Social services commissioner Dick Verrips told county council that a gradual upswing in the econ- omy is responsible for the turn -around. It is a little bit more optimistic than my reports have been," Verrips said of his update on welfare and social service figures. Verrips also said a new program to report and investigate allegations of welfare abuse has resulted in six fraud and 58 over payment investigations since mid-March. Looking ahead, 1'6 -rips said an overhaul or replacement .of homes for the aged in Walkerton and Wiarton could be the next big pro- ject on the books for Bruce county. He wants council to begin dis- cussing proposals that he can take to the Ministry of Health for fund- ing. "We've 'done a lot of work in our old buildings and we're quite proud of what we've done," Verrips said, "What we need now is a very strong commitment from county council that we will renovate or rebuild our homes." Verrips wants the county to set financial goals and deadlines for that project so he can negotiate with the province. Several .years ago, the county set .up reserve funds for renovation or replacement of the county homes, but Verrips said those funds aren't growing fast enough. Combined Summer Service Schedule Lucknow & South Kinloss Presbyterian ('hurc•hcs & Lucknow ()mull JOINT SERVICES - beginning July 1'0, 1994 July 10 - 10:00 a.m. South Kinloss Presbyterian -July 17 - 10:00 a.m. South Kinloss Presbyterian July 24 - 10:00 a.m. Lucknow Presbyterian July' 31 - '10:00 a.m, Lucknow Presbyterian, "Kirkin O' Tartan Service" August 7 - 10:00 a.m. - Lucknow United . August 14 - 10:00 a.m. - Lut-know 1lnited August 21 7 10:00 a.m. - Lr.rcktvow United August 28 - 10:00 a.m. - Luc•know t1ni'ted FOR PASTORAL CARE July Rev. Peggy Kinsman August - Rev. Wm'. Bresnahar •September 4t1•• Churches back to rt t,;ular Service l_ _L L11_1 1 1 1 1 1 .1..1 11 .1 1 1.1 1 1 1 1 1 Beginning July 4th 1994. Knechtel Knows... • Knechtel Knows you've got a budget. =. And we know our job is to help you meet it. You've shown your enthusiasm over the last wave of Locked In Prices, = so now' we're bringing you more : of the items you really want. And remember, you have FOUR FULL WEEKS to take advantage of these Locked . In Prices! (Until July 31st.) Look For Our Special Locked In Prices Insert In This Week's Flyer. LUCKNOW VILLAGE MARKET WINGHAM FOOD . MARKETS LUCKNOW WINGHAM 11111111111111111111111111111111111111111111111114111111111111