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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-03-29, Page 22 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, March 29, 1995 News and Views THE ONLY WAY TO GO - Four-year-old Cory Dawe, the son of Seaforth's Lynn Dawe, gets a little help from his mom as she pulls TIM CUMMING PHOTO him down the town's Main Street in a wagon. Mother and son were enjoying coot but sunny weather on Monday. Township debates unserviced proposal BY TIM CUMMING Expositor Editor Tuckersmith Township Council approved 'moderate' rate increases for the Vanastra Recreation Centre at its March 21 meeting. Recreation Director Diane Dumin said the increases were needed because of annual operating cost increases and the loss of grants. Many of the increases for pro- grams were only $1. For instance the cost of 10 weeks of fitness increases from $41.75 to $42.75. Tentative approval was given to the -recreation- centre budget. * * * Tuckersmith Township Council debated on March 21 whether it would consider any residential development in Vanastra with septic systems. Coun. Rob McLeod said there should only be on set of rules. "The entire hamlet is on ser- vices," he said. Coun. Bernie McLellan said he didn't want to see any barriers put in the way of development. "I think we should promote devel- opment," he said. "If it doesn't affect residents in the area and it isn't something that will come back to haunt us." He posed this question to council: "Are you willing to change to make things grow?" Deputy -Reeve Larry McGrath said he was worried that if a septic system broke and caused a hazard the municipality might have to pay the cost to hook the residence up. Reeve Bill Carnochan asked if anyone wanted the zoning bylaw amended and no one said they did. An informal vote suggested that most councilors would not support such a development. * * * Tuckersmith Township Council will seek supplementary funding for the purchase of a one -ton truck. Tuckersmith Township Count' discussed the proposed budget df the Clinton Fire Area' Board at the March 21 meeting. Deputy -Reeve Larry McGrath suggested a capital figure be set Manufacturer seeks land A local manufacturer has approached the town about purchasing the remaining 1.02 -acre parcel of land to the south at the end of Railway St., half the size of the lot occupied by the Sun -North Systems Ltd. plant across the street. In the report of the Finance and General Government Committee to the March meeting of Seaforth Council, Clerk/ Administrator Jim Crocker notes the manufacturer wants to begin May 1 to put up a building for a new product line he is planning and "has offered to pay $5,700 plus one half of the cost of the Reference Plan for the entire parcel (half of which is being purchased by another manufacturer), plus legal fees to a maximum of $600." Crocker's report continues "as a result of Bill 163, we are obligated to have the land appraised before we can sell it" and it has always been the town's "unwritten" policy to base its land sale prices on the economic input that the development will have on the Town, in either taxes or jobs. Because of Bill 163, which becomes law on April 15 and rnncerns conflict of interest, all municipalities soon have to list properties and develop bylaws for their disposal. It was moved by Coun. Bill Teall and seconded by Mayor Irwin Johnston that Seaforth authorize its administrator "to proceed with the sale of the property based on the foregoing discussion." * * * Administrator Crocker also reported to the March meeting of the Finance and General Government Committee that he will soon be advertising the Deputy - Clerk's maternity leave and is looking at one part-time summer person (student) to help with vacations, and a full-time person to fill the maternity leave position. * * * The Ontario Ministry of Transportation has informed Seaforth its subsidy allocation for 1995 totals $111,500; $66,200 for construction and $45,300 for maintenance. Dog catcher approaches town An area dog-catcher has offered his services to Seaforth. Bob Trick is now the dog-catcher for Clinton, Brussels and Blyth and recently approached Seaforth's Finance and General Government Committee about doing the same in town. Animal control is not a duty the Ontario Provincial Police will assume if Seaforth signs a contract with them later this year. Town Administrator Jim Crocker told the committee although dogs running at large in town hasn't been a serious problem, it is one that should be addressed. He recommended if Council is satisfied with Trick's references and qualifications it should consider a contract position beginning this spring. The committee has some questions and decided the dog- catcher should be invited to its next meeting to discuss the proposal further. * 'Tis spring, the annual season for tree trimming and removal for the Seaforth Public Works Department. Superintendent John Forrest reported to the March meeting of the Transportation and Environment Committee that 10 trees were earmarked to be cut down this season and a tong list of deadwood is to be removed from town trees, with assistance from the PUC. * ** Seaforth Council has a special budget review meeting scheduled for tonight (Wednesday) when it Council Briefs will review its draft budget and any wage changes, capital items and any operational changes. * * * Clerk/Administrator Jim Crocker reported to the March meeting of the Finance and General Government Committee Seaforth actually received about 98 per cent of the federal and provincial grants it bud¢eted for in 1994. *** Documents and paperwork from the A.Y.(Andrew) McLean collection pertaining to the town have been donated to Seaforth by his family. The town is using two 10 -week research positions, under a federal unemployment insurance job creation program, to organize and catalogue this collection for storage. They are Cheryl Tomlinson of Bayfield and Connie Seymour of Egmondville. The federal government hired them and pays their wages, all Seaforth picks up the tab for is supplies. A.Y. was a well-known and prominent Seaforth native and newspaperman, a Canadian delegate to the United Nations, a Member of Federal Parliament and the third generation of his clan to publish The Huron Expositor. Deputy -Clerk Cathy Garrick says for now the collection is in the second floor of the town hall, where the researchers are working on it. Where it will eventually be stored or end up is anybody's guess, although Garrick says "definitely not" at the Huron County Museum and hopefully somewhere in town. * ** Two carpenter/handymen have also been hired under the same federal UI program to renovate Seaforth's future OPP office, the former headquarters of the Seaforth Men's Euchre Club on Main Street. * ** Both the Seaforth Police Services Board and Council immediately and emphatically nixed a recent notion forwarded by Clinton through the Ontario Provincial Police that the force's local extended patrol zone include both towns, with officers logging at Clinton main office with only washroom facilities in Seaforth. Instead Seaforth officials have approved an OPP extended zone in "a not as high -incident rate area" closer to home, under the policing contract currently under negotiation. The extended zone for Seaforth would include both Egmondville and Harpurhey, extend to County Rd. 14 that goes through Dublin to the east, to County Rd. 17 that goes through Winthrop to the north, and to County Rd. 15 that goes through Kinbum to the west. which the Clinton board would have to operate under. Among the items questioned were $10,000 capital spending towards a meeting room and $4,255 for pagers for the firefighters. Reeve Bill Carnochan said the pagers were eating up a large por- tion of capital expenses. He sug- gested the board buy a few each year as part of operational spend- ing, not replacing a great number of the pagers all at once. There was also a budget item for a truck purchase of $10,000. Coun. Bernie McLellan said he had ng,..problem„ opposing salary increases in the budget. Youths raise money for centre It was mass confusion but local youths raised $350, not counting expenses, at Saturday afternoon's car wash to raise money for a Seaforth Youth Drop -In Centre. "Them were lots of cars and it kept them busy," says Monica Williams of the Drop -In Centre Board. She says the Saturday's profit is actually $442 because of pledges by local businesses that took up the challenge of John Hunt, owner of Godfather Pizza where the car wash was held, to match his $50 pledge. The next meeting of the Drop - In Centre Board is Monday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. at the Optimist Building. • BAD TIMING Your Timing Couldn't Be Better For A Spring Tune -Up Quality Care Tune Ups. 4 cylinder 6 cylinder 8 cylinder s59.95 $69.95 $7g.95 When you need service, you need it done right. That's why you'll find Quality Care at Hart Ford Mercury - factory trained mechanics, genuine Motorcraft parts and competitive prices. Quality Care: the best care for your car or truck. CaII for an appointment today! Special Ends April 13th. FORD MERCURY QUALRY CARE Where the Quality Continues 8 WESV. SEAFORTH 527-1010 Chick Days at Milton J. Dietz Ltd. Order April 11 May 9 Pickup May 12 June 9 Vaccinated.Chicks Goslings, Ducklings Turkey Poults 522-0608 Refreshments Care and feeding recommendations shavings, waterers, feeders, heat lamps and the best in Purina feeds Seaforth Agricultural Society's ME, GARDEN DE SHCW A. In Our Show Facility and Arena Complex Wedneday & Thursday April 5 & 6 4:59 p.m. - 9:59 p.m. * SEE WHAT'S NEW * DISPLAYS & DEMONSTRATIONS IN LIEU OF ADMISSION, DONATIONS TO THE HURON COUNTY FOOD BANK WOULD BE APPRECIATED. See Complete List of Exhibitors in an upcoming Paper Some Exhibitor Space Still Available Call 527-1321.