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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1981-11-04, Page 1• Could get unexpected grant of $170,000 Discover A discovery by the federal government that it ran the risk of failing to meet Ila part of the Canada -U.S. water quality agreement will apparently prove beneficial to Exeter ratepayers. Last year, Ottawa cancell- ed the community services contribution program, and thereby cut off expected financial help in building sewers, sewage treatment plants and pumping stations. When it was learned that the move could risk the water quality agreement, Ottawa did a turn -around and last week announced A PIPE SMOKING HOBO — Dressed as a pipe smoking hobo and looking through the strings of bobbing apples at Thursday's Hallowe'en party at Stephen Central School was Janice Schade. T -A photo Dorothy Chapman wins council seat Dorothy Chapman, named as the 1980 "Citizen of the Year" along with retiring mayor Derry Boyle, this week became a member of Exeter council. In a secret ballot among council members, 'she won the position over Ben Hoogenboom, the only other person to apply for the posi- tion left vacant by the resignation of Jay Campbell. Ironically, the man with whom she shared the citizen of the year title last year commenced his long and il- Motorcyclist struck by hit and run A Huron Park motor- cyclist sustained minor in- juries when his machine was struck from behind by an un- known vehicle which left the scene of the collision on Fri- day. Thong Chansamone was travelling along concession 2-3 of Stephen Township north of the Crediton Road when he was knocked from his motorcycle by the hit and run vehicle. Damage to the machine was listed at $700. It was one of four collisions investiagted by the Exeter OPP this week. Also on Friday, a vehicle driven by Trang Phuong, Dublin, went out of control on Coun- ty Road 11 in Usborne Township north of Highway 83 and slid into the ditch. The driver suffered minor injuries and damage was set at $300. On Saturday, a vehicle driven by Frank Moore, RR 2 Zurich, left concession 12- 13 of Hay Township and struck a fence post. There were no injuries and damage was estimated at $1,000. A load of grain was dumped in a ditch on conces- sion 2-3 of Stephen Township on Sunday. The vehicle driven by Robert Thiel, RR 1 - Dashwood, went over the edge of the road and the load of grain in the vehi- cle caused it to shift and the truck rack collapsed, spill- ing the grain. Damage to the vehicle was listed at $1,100. lustrious career in municipal politics by filling a council vacancy. In ordering the ballots from Monday's election to be destroyed, Mayor Bruce Shaw refused to divulge the score between the two can- didates. The new council member is the wife of EPS principal Jim Chapman and she federal grants totalling S66 million for sewer -related projects, including a grant of $170,000 for the planned $1.1 million expansion of the Ex- eter sewage treatment plant. That move had an im- mediate reaction in Exeter, although terms of the grants have not yet been detailed in other than news reports. benefits Exeter onday night, Exeter council decided to defer a bylaw that would have resulted in the local sewer surcharge rates being doubl- ed at the end of next January in view of the news. The sanitary sewer com- mittee had a recommenda- tion from their October 28 meeting to put the new rates into effect on January 31, but Stephen joins fight over sewer rate DOROTHY CHAPMAN currently sits on the plan- ning board. Last year, Mrs. Chapman was given the town honor in recognition of her communi- ty involvement in the Exeter United Church, Big Brothers, South Huron Hospital Auxiliary and the Scouting movement. "Although we have been here only eight tyears, Ex- eter is my home, " she com- mented in accepting the citizen award last November. Councillor Lossy Fuller, who chaired the ad hoc com- mittee named to seek a replacement for Campbell moved that a letter of appreciation be sent to HPoogenboom, a former council member, for his in- terest in serving the com- munity and it was endorsed by council. The requirement for a vote of council is contained in the Municipal Act. Stephen township council is planning a meeting later in November with Grand Bend council and officials of Grand Cove Estates to dis- cuss the sewer rates for the seniors development. Grand Coves and Stephen met Tuesday and rejected a proposal from Grand Bend which called for a charge of $76.50 times two persons per household for capital cost, operations, repairs and maintenance of the sewer system. ft,p.: The joint"meeting agreed to paying for operating and repair costs and maintenance but rejected the capital cost request. Council learned from the Huron Board of Education and the Huron -Perth Separate School Board that beginning in January of 1982, four payments of school tax levies will be required. The Stephen arena board is being instructed to con- vert the arena boilers from oil to gas and proceed with the calling of tenders. The contract for construc- tion of the Turnbull municipal drain was let to Hanna and Hamilton for Will supply class aides Teachers' aides will be hired by the Huron -Perth Separate School Board, a decision made after con- siderable discussion at its October 26 meeting. ,.Dicector..of education William Eckert said there may be one or two areas where teachers' aides are required. The classes will be looked at on an individual basis with consideration for the number and needs of the students. Vice-chairman Vincent Young expressed concern for using a "blanket" policy to hire aides. While agreeing with the. need for aides, he asked if each hiring could be brought to board meetings. • Eckert said he didn't want background information such as actual children re- quiring additional assistance. Judgement should rest with administra- tion, Eckert said, as they have been in the classrooms and are aware of needs. It was agreed Eckert would inform trusteesof hirings. Presently there are two half-time and one quarter -time aides at three self-contained special educa- tion classes. Two are in Stratford and one is in Clin- ton. School office secretary rates increased by 15 per- cent effective September 1. Trustees approved the following increases with old rates in brackets: starting $5.35 ($4.65). one year $5.62 ($4.90), two or more years 85.90 ($5.13). In other business, trustees were told two officials from the Ministry of Education who were advised to speak at a meeting to explain the english curriculum review, are unable to attend until January or February of next year. $12,044.50, the lowest of five - bids received. Deputy -Reeve Alvin Epp presented a motion that will defer that bylaw until of- ficial notification is received regarding the $170,000 grant. Had the bylaw been pass- ed, the sewer surcharge would haveone from 852.50 annually to $105 for residen- tial customers and would have doubled to 114 percent of the water bill for those commercial and industrial accounts on meters. The extra por tion had been ear -marked for the future expansion of • the sanitary system. "We want to see what in - pact the grant will have," commented Epp in having the increase deferred. Councillor Bill Mickle said that press reports indicate the only criteria attached to the federal grant is that the project be started prior to the end of 1982 and that it be completed within three years. He said there was every indication it would be a direct grant and would in no way prejudice the percen- tage that could be expected from the provincial govern- ment for the sewer project. A spokesperson for En- vironment Canada said that when the old program was cancelled by the government "there was suddenly a realization that in order to fulfill our obligations to provide our share under the Great Lakes clean water Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Ninth Year <47 agreement (with the U.S.) we had to come up with more money". Under the grant system announced last week, only projects that are designed to improve the quality of Great Lakes water will be includ- ed. In Parliament, Environ- ment Minister John Roberts said final arrangements for financing the projects are being made with Ontario and he might consider making the grants available to municipalities during con- struction rather than waiting until the projects are com- pleted. This would save the municipalities the expense of borrowing money for con- struction. APPLE BOBBERS — Jim Adamson watches aslennifer Fick bobs for apples at a Hallowe'en party Thursday morning at Park nursery school. T -A photo the Huron dvocate & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, NOVEMBER 4, 1981 Price Per Copy 40 cents 4 SET SAFETY RECORD — The woodworking program of ARC Industries in Dashwood hos set a safety record of 204 days as of November 2. The previous high was 190 days. Above, production supervisor Larry Skinner watches as Morgan Dalton and Phil Regier cut pieces for a shipping crate. T -A photo Switch to quarterly bill will cost Hay '9,700 It would cost Hay township an estimated $9,700 in interest charges to collect taxes twice a year, and pay the Huron County board of education allotment four times per year. Clerk Joan Ducharme told the township council about theadded costs of the board of education's action at the council's November meeting. Monday. As the alternative, she Fact finder issues negotiation report Anne Barrett, the fact finder appointed by the Education Relations Com- mission to the negotiations between the trustees and secondary school teachers of the Huron County Board of Education submitted her report to the Commission on October 27, 1981. As required under Section 26(1) of the School Boards and Teachers Collective Negotiations Act, Revised Statutes of Ontario, 1980, the teachers and trustees will then have a further 15 days to continue negotiations on the basis of this report. There is a provision for an additional five days under Section 126(3 t of the Act if both trustees and teachers agree and if the Commission gives its approval. If at the end of this time the parties have not made or renewed an agreement then the Education Relations Commission will make the fact finder's report public. POPPY BUTZ — Members of the R.E. Pooley Exeter branch of the Royal Canadian legion are involved in the annual Poppy Blitz this week. Shown above making a sole to Suzanne Mothers and Billy Joe Rowcliffe is branch post president Murray Greene. T -A photo said it would only cost the township about $400 for an extra computer billing to collect the taxes four times per year. Some of the bills could have ;wo pay stubs and cover two payments with a single mailing. The board of education has informed area municipalities that in order to save on interest borrow- ing costs. it will collect its allocation four tunes per year. Deputy Reeve Lionel Wilder said the tax billing should remain as it is. He felt it would hurt those who would have to borrow money to pay their taxes in four in- stallments. Reeve Lloyd Mousseau ad- vised council to look at the problem carefully. Most of Hay's assessment comes from farm properties he added and they were unhap- py when the township moved to the twice yearly payments. from an annual payment. The plan would also hurt farmers having income from only one crop a year Wilder added Councillor Dick Rau said it was not right for those who could afford to pay their taxes to have to subsidize those who couldn't. What's the difference he asked if a person can't af- ford to pay his taxes' The person would pay interest either to the township for arrears. or the banks if he borrows to pay the taxes. "I don't find that fair to the public." he said of rais- ing the mill rates to pay for the $9,700 additional costs. Tony Bedard suggested the item he put on a ballot at the next election to let the people of Hay decide. Mousseau reminded coun- cil the issue did not have to be decided right away. Ducharme said she would recalculate the costs of the interest payments and in - Please turn to page 3 Hensall man awaits sentence for breakin • A H sail man who appear in Exeter court, Tuesday, was described as a "one-man tornado" by police after he inflicted damage estimated at $53,656 at Acme Neon Signs Ltd. in Exeter. Gregory Allan Bugler pleaded guilty to the charge of break, enter and theft, but the theft was incidental in comparison to the damage. Change amounting to about $30 and a part off a chain saw were stolen in the September 30 breakin, but several machines were turn- ed over, wires cut, filing cabinets and desks strewn about. The damage figure was es- timated by the firm's in- surance company. Judge W.G. Cochrane ordered a pre -sentence report on Bugler and his sentence will be handed down on November 24. The accused was released out of custody. A 17 -year-old Huron Park youth. William Thomas Mof- fatt. was given a suspended sentence and placed on probation for six months when he appeared •for sentencing Tuesday on charges of possession of stolen property and wilful damage. Moffatt had been jointly charged with Martin Vincent McVeeney, Ailsa Craig, for the possession of a late model Cadillac which had been stolen in Ailsa Craig and was later found aban- doned with damage of about $5.000. McVeeney was given 30 days in jail on his charge. The wilful damage charge arose from the June incident in which Moffatt damaged a bed at the Exeter OPP of- fice The court was told that Moffatt had just spent eight Okay party for staffers Employees of the Town of Exeter will again have their tickets provided for the an- nual Christmas party at the South Huron rec centre, despite a suggestion from some members of the staff that they would prefer other arrangements. Council agreed. Monday. to provide a ticket for each employee and his her spouse at a cost of $10 each for the party on December 5. which includes a meal with wine and a dance to follow. t'p to 60 people are in- volved. Works superintendent Glenn Kells advised council that some employees had suggested they stage their own party this year in con- junction with the fire depart- ment. However. Councillor l,ossy Fuller noted that the party at the rec centre was sponsored by the board as a fund-raising event and the town should co-operate by continuing the practice of purchasing tickets to the party for the employees and their spouses. ('ouncillor Morley Hall voted in opposition to the motion. but gave no reason for his action. days in jail for failing to pay fines ordered by the court in previous charges. A conditional discharge, with probation of six,,, months, was given to Donald Arnold Taylor, '16, RR 1 Brucefield, who appeared for sentencing on a charge of wilful damage arising from an incident in which he drove his vehicle across the lawn at Hensall Public School. causing damage of $45. When he appeared in court two weeks ago, the accused reported that he had made restitution for the damage and Judge Cochrane delayed his sentence until a letter to that effect was placed before the court. A 16 -year-old Exeter driver, Douglas A. Armstrong, was fined $220 and had his licence suspend- ed for three months after pleading guilty to a charge of driving with an alcohol level over the legal limit on October 11. His vehicle had been stopped because it was being driven without any headlights and a breathalizer test showed a reading of 120 mgs. Armstrong was given an absolute discharge on a se- cond charge of mischief, laid after he broke a window at the police office while taking the breathalizer test. Restitution for the $65 damage had been made, the court was told. Judge Cochrane gave the absolute discharge to the student because of his age, lack of means and the fact that he had no previous record. Quits.post, leaves plea Exeter crossing guard Janice Mason tendered her resignation to council this week. It had been hinted at the last meeting that the resignation would be forthcoming as her husband, Done has been transferred to the OPP detachment at Ridgetown. Her resignation becomes effective on December 5. In her letter, Mrs. Mason said she hoped council would still give consideration to her request that overhead, lighted crosswalk signs be erected at the Victoria and Main St. crossing for local school children. "I feel that the volume of traffic on Highway 4 warrants more notice of the crosswalk," she stated. Her suggestion was passed along to the works com- mittee for consideration. SEIZE MARIJUANA -- Exeter OPP and town police mode on early morning raid on the Stephen farm of Henry Eisenschink, Thursday, and seized 16 pounds of marijuana. OPP Cpl. Dove Woodward displays some of the plants found in the raid. Police `harvest' marijuana crop A 52 -year-old Stephen Township market farmer has been charged with possession of marijuana for the purpose of trafficking. Henry Eisenschink, RR 1 Exeter. was charged, Thurs- day. following an early mor- ning raid on his farm on con- cession 4 south of Highway 83 by a joint force of Exeter OPP and Exeter town police The two forces had been investigating the situation for some time. The police raid netted about 16 pounds of mari• juana valued at $6.500 Eisenschink was released pending a court appearance in Exeter on November 10