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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-01-07, Page 160Q PER COPY When he was chairman of council's. property committee about 10 years ako, current • Exeter mayor, Bruce Shaw, had a budget of zero for maintenance of the town hall and was of the opinion the building should be demolished. At a New Year's day levee,mark- ing the 100th anniversary of the building, Shaw appeared to still be in a destructive mood 'as he started a fire in the facility. However, the fire was welcomed by members the;Exeter and Distrlet- Heritage Foundation as the item be- ing burned was documentation for a loan given to the Foundation by coun- cil when the town hall restoration pro- ject was undertaken. The $20,000 interest free loan was to be paid back at the rate of $2,000 over 10 years, but at their final session of 1988, council agreed to wipe out the final two years of that loan. The move came as a complete sur- prise to members of the Foundation, but prompted charter president Doug Gould to quip that he was sorry that the gathering hadn't been held eight years ago so the entire debt could have been burned up by Shaw. Gould and current president Bob Heywood were called to the stage to assist in the burning of the doctmtent. (Heywood described it as a pleasant surprise and explained that the Foun- dation members have been very con- scientious in their spending and the relief from their debt will permit thein to undertake further im- provements "for the betterment of the town hall". The group recently added enough dishes and ample seating for 100 peo- ple to hold special events at the hall and he said that washrooms were be- ing planned for the upper level to make it more functional for family gatherings and small parties. "It makes a nice place for mor- tgage ortgage burnings too," he added with a . smile. Both he and . Gould expressed pleasure at the large turnout for the levee. He also said a number of special events will be held throughout the year to mark the 100th anniversary. Included will be an old-time display of fashions and a strawberry supper. Shaw, in his remarks, explained that members of council had been skeptical of plans to renovate the town hall and termed the accomplish- ment in that regard as "tremendous". He commended the past and cur- rent members of the Foundation for their efforts and rioted that the town hall is now -a logo that appears on molt pieces of literature and in other ways advertising Exeter. In announcing the writing off of the loan, he explained that a 100th birth- day . should be marked by a gift of something. • Newly -arrived Trivitt Memorial minister, the Rev. Walter B. Vipper- man, gave the invocation. He said it was an honor in view of his recent ar- rival in the community, but added that it had some appropriateness in that the cornerstone of the Anglican church was laid in the Same year as the one at the town hall. Gerry, Wayne and Linda Smith welcomed visitors with some old-time -tunes and the Usborne Players Guild provided more of the same at the end of the session. Councillor Peter Snell and Founda- tion member Joanne Bowen staged a skit in which Snell represented a member of the 1886 council which ap- proved the building of the hall at a total price of about $8,000. "It looks as good as the day it open- ed in 1887," he said, after learning from Mrs. Bowen about the struggle to save the buildiug, which had deteriorated to the extent that "even the bats won't stay in the belfry". The skit reviewed manyinteresting aspects of Exeter's history and the twel finished in 100 years Main St.". Old news display also of those who 60Q PER COPY DO SOMETHING Mayor Bruce Shaw almost • couldn't finish on New Year's day when he se ment at a levee at the town hall. Heritage Fou Heywood, right, enjoys the Mayor's dilemma, man Doug Gould appears to be watching intent! ment is totally destroyed. The burning wiped`. Foundation owed to the town forthe hall res PRESENT SKIT - Councillor Peter .Snell, representing a councillor from 1886.87, and Heritage Foundation member Joanne Bowen, presented a skit depicting the history of the town hall at a levee to kick off the 100th birthday celebrations for the facility on New Year's day. - shows computer use Exeter is definitely part of the elec- tronic age, PUC manager Davis found out last month. He also found out that a majority of area businesses come to a halt when hydro power is lost. The Exeter Utility had 30 minutes warning from Ontario Hydro one day in December that the elec- tricity would be off for half an hour while a burned -out switch at Kirkton was serviced. Everyone on the PUC's emergency list was phoned. as well as anyone else who Davis could think of. Two PUC employees spent the 30 minutes on the phone. Unfortunately. some who now rely on computers were missed. "You wouldn't believe the number of computers in town", Davis told the regular December meeting of the PUC. A number of names have since been added to the emergency list. Uncollectable bills totalling $1,11.2 were written off to close the books on 1986. (This amount is down from last year's $1,798.) - - An -SH -Year -en shortage in custOmer accounts was a so w ttcn pff. Davis said the girls in the office "handled over $2,000,000 during the in the vicinity of $100,000. He sug- gested some money could be diverted from the north end water main pro- ject, which could be dont a block at a time instead of all at once. There is also a surplus in the capital account. A letter is being sent to town coun- cil, asking that body to apply im- mediately to the ministry of the en vironment to see if a grant is available to fund partof the project. Davis said he thought the Commis- sion could handle $50,000 without rais- ing water rates, but the matter ‘% !Id need a second look if no grant none+ was available. He would lily t,, nee 'the chlorination project ;• r►tion before summer. Davis reported: • • '' ••r hydra lir. on Main St. south of tl.. 1n edge, had been smashed off by a hit and run driver. Commissioners agreed to raise the rent of the apartment above the PUC building $25 to $275 monthly in 1987. Over $8,000 was spent on insulation and updating the wiring last year, and the bathroom is scheduled for renova- tion this year.. The London PUC has informed the --local�utilituthaLthe char a for pro - year". Davis received permission to go ahead with chlorination of the Moody and Hicks wells. He estimates that enlarging the pumphouse, purchasing the equipment and installing chlorinators and holding tanks in the homes of two customers who live ou the far side of the pumphouse will cost Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 • One Hundred and Fifteenth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, January 7, 1987 Price Pi Townships hike rec anti = but still qif eno registration extra $50 municipaliti; .assistance f Exeter council went behind closed tual cost. Usborne grants not be used doors on Monday to discuss_responsesfor capital costs, the Usborne's share from the three neighboring townships to be used for the ice surface only who were issued an ultimatum in since all other recreational facilities December regarding funding for the South Huron rec centre board and alternatives for re -organization .and management.of recreation facilities. . Mayor Bruce Shaw noted in open session that responses had been received from Stephen,=Usbocne and Hay and "they have moved positive- ly in the right direction." However. he added, "whether they've come far enough is a matter of question. That was apparently the question to be answered in the closed session. None of the three townships agreed to the funding formula presented by Exeter that had been. •based on percentages calculated by the rec centre staff and ministry personnel. Th t died for Exeter to pay 73 per - a ca cent of the -deficit .in the budget, Usborne 14 percent, Hay three per- cent and Stephen seven percent. Monday afternoon. Ilay council agreed to increase their annual fun- ding to $1,500with the stipulation that no user fees would be implemented. The township gave only $80) last year. Noting that. seven percent "would appear to be unjustified", Stephen Reeve, Tom Tomes reported his coun- cil would pay a grant of $5,000, again with the stipulation that no user fees he charged. Stephen have contributed $1,200 since the inception of the board. Tomes explained that recreation costs in Stephen were $43 per household and using 66 households as a figure that would use Exeter's facilities. their share would be $2,838. However. based on Exeter's per household cost of $66, the Stephen con- tribution for the 66 households would be $4.350. Ile. also explained than many Ex- eter► residents use Stephen facilities and he said close to 100 people from Exeter use the township arena and cessing bills has been increaseZifom' --that-doesltoli[rclude summer ice or the current .tt cents per bill to :38 cents them match the $50 figure for registrants from within their boundaries. Next year, theEMIIA will set a flat are available in the township, that the Exeter Agricultural Society continue to retain the facility at a reasonable cost of utility service, and finally, that the rec centreboard he responsible for the day-to-day operations of the +f.a,�cility without interference from in- alvidual council members. -• • Council also decided to delay a deci- sion regarding funding to the Exeter Minor Hockey Association until they can meet with other minor ice groups to determine their needs. - The executive committee presented a recommendation that a $50 grant for each participant from Exeter be paid to the.Minor Hockey Association. EMIIA representatives . Frank Kints and Tom McCann attended the meeting and tabled the names of all participants showing Exeter with 136 of the 204 registered players. That would mean a grant of $6.800 for the EMI I \. �I. Cann told council the minor hockt•group envisioned a deficit of about $10,000 and that they also ex- pected to receive a $50 per member grant from Usborne for the 28 players from that township.. Kints noted that with the $50 ice time fee the group had an ice time bill of almost $30,000 this season, com- pared ompared to about $20,000 for the previous season. Registration fees were hiked from $75 to $125 and McCann said registra- tion was down about 20 from last year, but it was difficult to ascertain what effect the fee hike had in that regard. The two said that a further $25 to $50 fee hike was envisioned for next season and McCann warned that "there's going to be a break -off point where people say it's too much". He said the EMHA would be ap- proaching other neighboring municipalities in an effort to haye hockey schools. - Usborne Township came closest to One injured r ed - The tender for gas for PUC vehicles the proposal, offering to pay a max- • • - was awarded to Exeter Co-op, thcc- imum of $11,500 for 1987 and $11.900 .' n Co 1 S 1 o n s lowest of the three submitted. Fo he in 1988 or 14 percent of the deficit, rine injury was reported in one of coming year, the price will not exce which ever is less. the two collisions investigated by the 37.9 cents per litre for regular and 4 9 There were eight stipulations plac-Exeter OPP this week. Both ac- cents for unleaded. or one -cent- ed on that offer: adult fees must cover cidents were on Friday. than the gas bar price, whichever is costs in all relevant programs. ice At 9:30 a.m., a vehicle driven by lower. • fess must be charged according to ac Gregory Stilson, Zurich, was south- �,: IIbound-on Highway 21 when the driver lost control on ice and skidded into the - west ditch where the vehicle struck a a.,. tree. • A passenger, Lawrence Ellis, St. - Marys, received minor injuries and was treated at South Huron Hos ital. Damage in the mishap was listed at yr? $7,000. • 4 At 4:20 p.m., a three -vehicle ttlli- sion occurred on Algonquin Drive in Huron Park. Vehicles operated by Dennis Denomme, Exeter, and Dale Dinney, Huron Park, were involved % • along with a parked car owned by 44 Anne Griffith, Ailsa Craig. Icy road conditions contributed to that collision as well. Damage was estimatedilt $3,650 to the three vehicles. The Opp continued their spot • j,� ', checks on area roads over the week `'tea t and a total of. 588 drivers were check - + edThat resulted in one charge of im- �' paired driving. The local detachment officers also laid 44 charges under the Highway A MORRISON DAM SLIDE — Ready to slide down a Morrison Dam hill are Lisa, Janice and Michelle Traffic Act during the weekend four McDonald. T -A photo under the Liquor Licence Act. HEAR YE! HEAR YE! - Andy DeBoer was the day and again New Year's day as he urged the levee to mark the town hall's 100 birthd heard os far south bs Biddulph township whe by Harry and Karen Knip who attended the • In view of some "adverse samples" primarily at the Moodie and Hicks .wells in -residents Usborne Township, the Exeter Public He said t Utilities Commission this week mov- council sho ed to add chlorination equipment for a meeting these wells. before the While the PUC approved the pro- Shaw re ' ject, estimated to cost between $11.5,000 problem as end-$itt);O0O-at--theirL December of up to 50 $ meeting. Commission member Bruce he said app Shaw faced some lough questioning had to be about the project when he attempted The issue to get council endorsement on Dorothy C Monday. council app Shaw explained that the counts of schedule a explain the The lette plained tha stall the ch monitorin: well as thi said the pi water fro brought 1 building so can he chi, due to the age of the wells or was Two cost stemming from farm chemicals or: between lh • fertilizers. dividual r. stalled at 1 Davis in "is quite would bl project..) He told sources o chlorinate there hay 1. the local Howev bacteria coliforms found in the un- treated wells did not constitute any crisis or threat to residents who drink the water. A letter tabled at the meeting from manager Ilugh Davis also noted that the chlorination was being requested by the ministry of the environment. Councillor Morley Hall questioned the source of the contamination and Shaw responded that it was possibly However, both Hall and ('ouncillor Gaylen ,Josephson noted that chlorination couldn't remove chemical residue and the latter ex- plained chlorine can only kill bacteria. ('ouncillor Tom Humphreys ques- tioned the possibility of having the water chlorinated al the main pum- phouse in Exeter. rather than at one of the two Usborne wells as the Com- mission plans. Saying he was finding himself get- ting concerned about the long-range cost if other water supplies had to be chlorinated, Reeve Bill Mickle wondered it was being done PRESENT SKIT - Counci from 1886-137, and Herit presented a skit depictin kick off the 100th birthda day. Power i shows c Exeter is definitely part of tronic age, PUC manage found out last month. He a out that a majority of area b come to a halt when hydro lost. The Exeter Utility minutes warning from Onta one day in December that tricity would be off for hal while a burned -out switch a was serviced. Everyone on the PUC's et list was phoned. as well a else who Davis could thin) PUC employees spent the 3 on the phone. Unfortunate who now rely on comput missed. "You wouldn't believe th of computers in town", Dav regular December meeth PUC. A number of names have added to the emergency li Uncollectable bills total! were written off to close thi 1986. (This amount is down year's $1,798.1 qtr -alt -year- .end sho customer accounts -was al off. Davis said he girls in "handled over $2,000,000 year". Davis received permis: ahead with chlorination of and Hicks wells. He estin enlarging the pumphouse, I the equipment and i chlorinators and holding ti homes of two customers �+ the far side of the pumphou summer sources it to meet to consumer Usborne, the Hicks A MORRISON DAM 1 McDonald.