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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1986-09-17, Page 24 BEEF SLICERS — Bob Hodge and Richard Gedhill slice beef for Sun- day's barbecue at the Lucan Community Centre. Just get 'em up They're not certain what the new speed limit will be, but Exeter coun- cil this week approved erecting new signs to reduce speed in the area of the public school and community park. At their recent meeting, the police committee agreed to have 20 km. speed signs erected in the school and playground area, but Monday night committee chairman Dorothy Chap- man explained that a reduced speed was already approved in the local traffic bylaw. However, that speed was 15 m.p.h. and that translates into about 24 k.m.p. Reeve Bill Mickle suggested the speed should be posted at the latter figure so the bylaw would not have to be amended. But works superintendent Glen Kells advised that it would cost extra to have a special sign made up for the 24 k.m.p. and that 25 would be more standard and Less expensive. After some debate on which speed to post, council adopted a motion merely to "get the bloody signs up". -Perm Special tr 251f Starting today till October 17, "Open year round" Health, Beauty & Therapy Centre 23 Queen St. Grand Bend 238-5716 J Casual fashion flair by White Stag" Here's casual comfort and style that endures from White Stag'. The Button -Front Bomber Jacket and Belted Pullon Pant arc fashioned in 83ch Cotton! I7'4 Polyester Corduroy. Matched here with a Multi -Plaid Classic Shirt in 60% Cotton/ 40%k Polyester. Conte in and sec them now in new fresh Fall colours. CtuNn St. (Now Plaza) Grand Bond 438-3653 EtttCOMt (lE2IttC lEabies' t,r Il Il ear Main St. Lucan 227-4883 Student'sreport on computers draws praise, plan for decision Summer student employee Jamie Chaffe this week presented Exeter council with a 69 -page report to help them in their deliberation over the possible purchase of a computer system that could be used by -many of the town departments. He narrowed the choice of suitable systems down to two and estimated the total cost in the neighborhood of $45,000 to $55,000. While outlining many areas where a computer system would make the various departments more efficient, Chaffe warned that "never in the history of office automation have the costs of automation been recouped directly from gains in efficiency." He said office automation is strict- ly a convenience, adding that "Exeter does not need a computer system in the future in the same way it did not need typewriters in the past". The University of Western Ontario student outlined many time- consuming operations a computer could perform and said that could translate into saving or postponing the need for additional staff re- quirements in the near future. There were some direct savings outlined, such as the net annual amount of $970.43 for havng the town staff do the payroll on a computer as opposed to having the service provid- ed through its present bank. The time saving in producing tax certificates was listed at 117 hours per year as a computer can do the job in seconds that now takes staff from 15 to 20 minutes. Chaffe estimated the time saving for chief building official, Brian Johnston at four to 23 hours per week, but explained that the real saving in that department may stem from a decrease in the possibility of litigation through delayed or incorrect informa- tion being given`out and that could run into thousands of dollars. A module for the public works department to provide inventory con- trol, equipment maintenance managment and better estimates on major projects was cited as a cost factor that could pay for the entire system in one or two years even with a cumulative saving of only one per- cent of the department's budget. Providing site data for the fire department could result in savings in life and property, and while noting it is hard to qualify such things, Chaffe argued that access to a computer would necessarily be considered very significant. While finding it hard to justify soft- ware for booking and scheduling at the rec centre, Chaffe did explained that computerization in the form of an energy monitoring system that would control refrigeration units and utili- ty bills could be expected to save from $2,700 to $5,500 per year (five to ten percent) and thereby pay for itself in 5.5 to 11 years. However, the latter system would add another $25,000 to the overall cost. Chaffe reported that the cemetery superintendent would be saved a significant amount of time in sear- ching records and would get rid of the ambiguities surrounding perpetual care charges and plot sales. He said that because the superintendent is a salaried employee it was difficult to address the financial benefits of a computer for him, "but it would cer- tainly improve his job satisfaction." The area of economic development was another inwhichChaffe advised that the town would make efficient Two crashes investigated Two accidents were investigated by the Exeter police department this week, neither resulting in injuries. On Monday, vehicles driven by Charles Jeffery, Zurich,,and Wayne Jennings, London, collided at the in- tersection of Highways 4 and 83. Jef- fery was southbound and was in the process of making a left turn. while Jennings was northbound. Total damage was set at $2,000. A motorcyclist escaped unhurt on Tuesday after he collided with a car on Huron St. E. Jean Corriveau, Zurich, was eastbound and was mak- ing a left turn into a private drive when she collided with a westbound motorcycle operated by Tom Irvine, Woodham. Damage to the vehicles was listed at $1,000. During the week, the local depart- ment laid six charges under the Highway Traffic Act and issued four parking tags. Police Chief Larry Hardy announc- ed that on his recommendation, the policy committee has promoted Will Chisholm to the rank of third class constable. The appointment became effective on August 1. Rain Continued from front page back -water valves installed. He said the cost could run as high as $500 for existing houses, but is much less when the valves are installed at the time a house is being erected. King St. N. residents in Crediton were also victimized by flooded basements with the most damage be- ing -done to a beauty salon in the base- ment of Mark Laye. Several roads in flay, Stephen and tJshorne were closed as water spill- ed out of drains and the Ausahle to make them impassable. • Mex Scott of the Ausahle Hayfield Conservation Authority said the Ausahle spilled out quite widely in some areas and rose about 15 feet dur- ing the three-day period of the heavy rains which started on Wednesday. use of a computer. He backed that up by noting an economic profile done this summer would not have been possible without the rental of a com- puter to do the work. To keep the profile a valuable marketing tool, the computer report explained that it would have to be up- dated on a regular basis and this would be impossible to achieve on a professional level without a computer. "If such a document is important to the success of Exeter's development, and it is, Exeter can not be considered serious about economic development until it has the cost effective means to produce and maintain it." Chaffe added that the cost of the en- tire computer system could be recouped by increased tax revenue if the town was successful in attracting one major company. His final words on time _savings were: "A computer system could save the town's departments a lot of time and reduce the need for staff re- quirements in the future, if the system is used efficiently. While the computer will produce some reports and certificates automatically, its ef- ficiency is ultimately the responsibili- ty of those that use R. "If files are not maintained, fast retrieval capabilities are useless. If mail merging functions are not used to put out mass mailings the process of addressing each envelope in- dividually must be used and an im- portant area for time savings is Lost. In order for a system to be efficient it must be used intelligently. It will not make the departments more efficient by itself; it will make the people in the departments more efficient.". The lengthy report to council in- cluded a five-year implementation process with the cost for the first year being $35,000 to $43,000 due to the need for puchasing the hardware. In his conclusion, the SHDHS Okay policy on Ianeways Exeter council this week adopted a policy fpr paving lane entrances dur- ing street reconstruction. When streeta are constructed with curbs and gutters, the following alter- natives will be provided for homeowners: 1. All driveways will be paved to the sidewalk, 2. Asphalt will be laid for three metres or to the property line, whichever is shorter, or 3. Asphalt will be laid to the proper- ty line if the owner has paved the driveway to this line. Where there are no curbs, and if the driveway is paved farther than the property line prior to the letting of the tender for paving, then an asphalt connection to the paved part of the street will be laid. In all other cases, paving will be at the expense of the property owner. If a driveway is concrete or paving stone and it goes to the asphalt por- tion of the road of curb and the grade has to be changed, the town will replace the surface with asphalt on- ly. If the property owner wishes the concrete or paving stone replaced, it will be done at the owner's expense. graduate said he had reached the limit to which he could effectively negotiate price and options and it was now necessary for the town to commit themselves to the purchase of a com- puter system and prepare a formal request for proposal from each of the vendors recommended. He urged council to move quickly in the decision so that the town could benefit from the current funding under the BUILD program which pro- vides grants of up to 50 percent for some department use. Deadline for that program is next March. Council members appeared almost overwhelmed by the scope and calibre of Chaffe's report and he drew Loud praise from MaygQr Bruce Shaw, who said that saying he was impress- ed was an understatement. "It was excellent and well done," Shaw continued, and added that it was undoubtedly more candid than council would have received from any professional computer advisor. Dorothy Chapman asked if the speed by which the computer industry is changing should prompt council not to act too quickly. Chaffe said that was his reaction at one point, but explained that a com- puter is a tool and if it does what you want it is therefore unnecessary to change it just to keep up with other computer owners. Shaw asked the executive commit- tee to review the report and prepare a "speedy recommendation". The town has already established a reserve fund for a computer. Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once he grows up. P.b. Nor. Our faults irritate us most when we see them in others. -Pe..sYlr...a Dutch proverb KIRKTON ASTRONAUTS — Greg and Reg Young and their space dog Spike were in Saturday's Kirkton Fair parade as the Kirkton Astronauts. T -A photo THIRD ANNUAL Giant Pumpkin Contest Entries received till October 25. BRING YOUR PUMPKINS TO: Centralia Farmers HOME/BILL BUILDING CENTRE Supply Ltd. 228-6638 HAUGH TIRE AND MUFFLER SUPPLY LTD. 3 day celebration with super low prices on Michelin tires! September 18, 19, 20 MICHELIN XA4 The positively durable Positively all season radial P195 75-R14 $104P Brian Barnim Manager MICHELIN XH THE long -wearing radial P195 75-R14 Doug Mob, gales MICHELIN XCA All purpose Light Truck tire LT215 85-R16 51318 MICHELIN XCH4 All -season Light Truck tire LT235 75-R15 513369 Similar savings on all sizes of Michelin Tires In stock. All prices Include Installation. Balancing extra. Take advantage of our layaway Plan. HAUGH TIRE AND MUFFLER SUPPLY LTD. 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