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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-04-08, Page 2Page 2 Tines -Advocate: April 8, 1987 IIIgh road bids lenel to Exeter ratepayers won't know for ty tax bill will be for the current year. other parties in the past for delays in another two weeks what their proper- Noting that the town had blamed setting the local rates. Mayor Bruce SOUNDS WERE LIKE MUSIC — Grade eight students at Exeter Public School participated in a "Sounds Like Music seminar Wednesday. -Above, most of the class is shown grouped around accordionist Laurie Coolmon. T -A photo , Long -debate on Pryde drain ensues Exeter budget delay Shaw acknowledged on Monday that the current delay is Exeter's fault because the levies have already been established by Huron County council and the Huron board of education. "The gods are against us," he add- ed, telling council that the next budget deliberation will be held on April 21. One of the reasons for the delay, arose on Monday when tenders were received for several public works pro- jects. The bids were over the estimates and will necessitate the committee taking another look at their situation. - Awarding of the contracts for which bids were opened will be delayed as well. - Lavis Contracting submitted the lowest of four bids received. Their price -was $152,358.64 for reconstruc- tion of William from Church to Nelson, work on Church from Main to .William and the second coat of asphalt on portions of John, William and Nelson. Estimates for those projects had been $112,000. Minor sorts groups back idea, mut councillors less enthusiastic __Exeter- council's general --govern- ment committee recieved strong sup- port for a new funding idea at a recent meeting with representatives from local minor sports groups, but the idea was less enthusiastically receiv- ed- .by fellow council members -on Monday. Councillor Gaylan Josephson said the proposal was that all registrants for minor sports activities -would be charged the same fee by the respec- tive organizations and Exeter coun- cil would then subsidize local registrants directly by paying them ..back. a certain porion of that registration. -As an example. he said the minor ockey registration may be $175 and all •ers would pay that and Exeter would th •ve a grant of say $50 to players from 1 unicipality. That way• only players from Exeter would be subsidized by Exeter. Other types of subsidies assist all registrants regardless of where they live. He said this would remove the con- cern of the groups that registrants .from various municipalities would pay them various rates and the sug- gested solution was actually recom- mended by the sports groups represented at the meeting. - Reeve Bill Mickle said that 1987 subsidies had already been paid and that no decision was required from council for another eight months or so and -he suggested the matter be tabl- ed for further study. Ifowever, before that was voted on. Mayor Bruce Shaw said Mickle was under a misunderstanding in that fur- ther subsidies to minor sports groups may be required for the next skating season which starts in. the fall. 14fickle responded that it was a heavy sort of undertaking and need- ed more deliberation before giving it a blanket approval. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom agreed, saying that there was a need to look at the rec centre budget and he wanted to see what the total recreation bill was going to be. Josephson explained that the town had always subsidized minor sports groups in the past either directly as this year or through grants to the rec centre to reduce facility rates for minors as in previous years. He acknowledged that a formula would have to be worked out to deter- mine what participants in the various groups would receive and said such a decision could not be done over night. PRESENT GIFTS — Retired Usborne township road superintendent John Batten and his wife, Ola, were recipients of several gifts at a party staged in their honor at Kirkton, Friday. Councillor Pat Down, left, presents flowers to Mrs. Batten, while at the right are Deputy -Reeve Margaret Hern and Reeve Gerald Prout. The latter said that the Targe crowd indicated the esteem in which the retired superintendent was held by ratepayers. Here's what they'll Pad. A breakdown of the apportionment schedule for the more than $4.9 million Huron County general levy for 1987 shows that the county's 16 rural municipalities will ix required to come up with $3203.3:39 of that amount while the 10 urban municipalities will be responsible for the balance of $1,694.208. At its regular meeting. Tuesday. county mune iI ratified the apportion- ment schedule for its $4,897,547 general levy as recommended by the executive committee. Goderich. the county seat. is the municipality with the greatest appor- tionment - $612.487 - which represents slightly more than 12.5 percent of the overall levy. Stephen Tpwnship is the next largest contributor with $526,:339 or almost 10.75 percent of the general levy. The Village of Zurich will pay the least, $:14.626 or .7 percent, while Brussels is next lowest with $46,918 or almost .98 percent. The five towns will contribute a total of $1,388,454 tocounty coffers this year. The.town apportionments are: Goderich, $612,487; Exeter, $298.603.; Wingham. $190,221; Clinton, $155.056; Seaforth, $132,087. Apportionments for the county's five villages are: Ifensall, $96,776; Bayfield, $79,389; Blyth, $48,045: Brussels, $46,918; Zurich, $34,626. F r the townships, the appor- ti9ofinents are: Stephen. 5526.339: Goderich, $284,498; Hay, $254,966 Ashfield. $229,989; Tuckersmith. $218.137; Ilowick, $198,302; Usborne, 5195,951; Stanley, $192,229. Hulleti. $182,189: McKillop, $175,479; Col- borne, 5166,517; Grey, 5161,864; Mor- ris, 5133,850; Turnberry, $107,697; East Wawanosh, $93.,592: West Wawanosh, $81,740. Compared to those of last year. in- dividual municipal apportionment in- creases in 1987 range from a low of 1.49 percent for West Wawanosh to Hayfield's 16.36 percent. For West Wawanosh, that represents 51,201 more than 1986 and for Bayfield. $11,163 over fast year's contribution. Goderich ratepayers will pay $80,453 more than last year, those in Exeter will be contributing $31,127 more; Wingham. 522.803; Clinton. $31,127; and Sea forth, 510.731. Invite Newfound/ander The Iluron County Board of Health has offered a Newfoundland doctor the position of medical officer of health. county council learned at its regular meeting Tuesday in Goderich. The news was included in a report, presented to council by Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling. health board chairman. The board. at its March 18 meeting, made a decision to offer the position to Dr. Maarten Bokhout, effective Sept. 1, or sooner, should an earlier starting date be negotiated. Starting salary offered is 570,209 with regular employee benefits. Moving expenses toa maximum of 512,000 will also he paid by the board. according to terms of the offer. The search for a full-time medical officer of health has been underway since the resignation last June of Dr. Three contracts let Of three contracts awarded last week for the supply of gravel for Huron County roads, two went to a Listowel company and third to a Wingham firm. At its regular meeting, Tuesday.. Huron County Council approved road committee recommendations to award contracts to Donegan's Haulage Ltd. of Listowel for the supp- ly of shoulder gravel on County Roads 30 and 35 at a cost of $20,925; and on County Road 25 at a cost of 535,630. Joe Kerr Construction Ltd. of Wingham was awarded the third con- tract, for the supply of maintenance gravel on County Road 20 at a,cost of 516,200. In 'each case, the Listowel tender was the lowest of three offered, while the Wingham firm submitted the lowest tender of five companies. Ilarry CiesIar. Dr. ,lames McGregor of Wingham has been acting medical officer of health since that time. During presentation of his report. Stirling said at least five health units across Ontario are currently sear- ching for a medicpl officer of health with little success. Dr. McGregor, in his remarks to. council, described Dr. Bokhout as a "bright young man who would be an asset to the community". The acting MOH also recommended that the county hire the Newfoundland doctor. Warden Brian McBurney, Turn - berry Township reeve, answering reporters' questions outside the meeting, said the salary offer is at the top of Huron County's five-year grid because that is probably what it will take for Dr. Bokhout to come here since his present salary in New- foundland is very close to that figure. Should Dr. Bokhout accept the of- fer, his appointment will be based on a "mutually satisfactory" five-year renewable contract, the board of health report states. Mickle said he could see what the recommendation was aiming at, but suggested the town could be losing some control in that there would be demands from both sides (rec board and minor groups) for more funding and "it could cost considerable money over a period of time." "We need to know where the heck we're going on this," he added. Josephson said. $9,000 had been given to minor sports groups this year and suggested some of that had been spent foolishly. Councillor Dorothy Chapman, who expressed concern over the precedent being set, said she could support the motion if it was only asking to check out the feasibility of the proposal. With that change, the motion was adopted, with a report anticipated by the end of May. New book Tenders won't be opened for work on John St. W. until the next meeting and all projects will be in limbo, along with the proposed interceptor sewer on Pryde Boulevard. Don Pletch of Huron -Middlesex Engineering Ltd. said the second coat of asphalt on the three streets could be delayed a year if budget cuts had to be made. • After some deliberation at their afternoon session, council' decided to delay any decision until. the John St. W. tender comes in. To kick off the evening session. public works chairman Lossy-F ullcr was somewhat critical of the delay in the total town budget, suggesting her committee should be given ."X number of dollars" and they would takeitfrom there as to what public works projects could be undertaken. . She went on the explain there was some urgency in making a decision regarding the proposed interceptor sewer on Pryde as easements had to be surveyed and land would have to be rented from Gib Dow if the project was to proceed this year. She said Dow was planning to rent his farm land to another party and had to know the town's intentions mediately. The town would need about two, and a half acres for the drain€rge projeet-on--his-property "We made the decision to proceed ton the drain r and it should be done." Councillor Ben tfoogenboom argued. noting that the town would only be wasting the rental price of the land if the project had to be delayed. He presented a motion calling on council to hire.a firm to do the survey and to rent the land from Dow, but Reeve Bill Mickle was successful in his amendment to have the motion split into -two portions: The hiring of survey firm was quickly approved, but the rental of the land created a lengthy discussion with Councillor Dorothy Chapman saying. she couldn't see the town renting the land if it.wasn't needed. When Hoogenboom suggested the rental price may only be 875 per acre, Mrs. Chapman responded, "You're dreaming, Ben". - Hoogenboom then said the rental negotiation should take place but the final agreement would be conditionial on the town undertaking the drain this year. Ile said that decision would be known in two weeks. The original motion was somehow eliminated and Councillor Gaylan Josephson presented one that the town enter negotiations over the ren- tal but make no commitment until the budget is set. Hoogenboom described that as a "Mickey Mouse motion that's worse than mine". however. it was carried. The delay over setting the budget aroselaterwhen-Mrs. Chapman -said she was really bothered by the fact the budget "goes on and on and on and.." She said she couldn't see any reason why the town budget could not be set by -February 15, saying the delay results in council being "jammed in- to decisions every year". is available The Ausable Bayfield Conservation Foundation recently produced a book entitled "The River and the Rocks" which was published with the assistance of Mrs. Jean Davies Wright, the author. Directors of the Authority were presented with a copy of the book at a recent meeting and it was announc- • ed that the retail cost for the publica- tion has been set at $8.50. - At the recent executive meeting, the directors named Gordon Johnson, Fred Lewis, Tom Prout and Wayne Tingle to meet with auditors Pannell Kerr MacGillivray to discuss the pro- blems encountered in 1986. . The results of those discussions are to be brought back to the.personnel and finance advisory committee. A possible idea for the Authority's annual summer meeting would be a tour along the Lake Huron shoreline, especially when so many are concern- ed about high water levels and shoreline erosion. A tentative date of June 26 has been set. The executive approved sending five directors and/or staff on the May 31 to June 4 tour of Pennsylvania State and 10 directors and/or staff on the biennial tour of the Lake Erie shoreline to be held in September. In other business, the executive: Accepted with regret the resigna- tion of water quality technician Tracey Ryan and wished her well in future endeavours. Were advised by the ministry of natural resources that funding has not been made available in 1987-88 for the proposed acquisition of some Hay swamp land. Approved giving 10 season's passes for the Rock Glen conservation area to Ducks Unlimited for use as prizes at their fund raising banquet. Object to hydro line MEET THE CO-OP MANAGER -- Exeter District Co-operative held an Open House Saturday to meet new general manager Murray In- sley. At the left he is welcomed by Elmore McBride and board chair- man Wayne Rowe. - T -A photo Hair Heights Easter Perin Special Reg. 35.00 Now 3000 From Apr. 10 - 24th Hours: Tues., Wed., Fri. 9 - 5 Thurs. 9 - 9, Sat. 9 - 12 Phone Marj Hutchison 235-1104 For the height of quality in family hair care. i SPRING 15 ATV TUNE-UP TIME 400 ATV - Tune up s 45, From 4995 Chains Eighteen property owners in southwestern Ontario and one municipality, Ekfrid Township, have .submitted appeals to the provincial cabinet contesting a decision giving Ontario Hydro the right to build a new Major transmission line through die region. However, none of the major parties is opposing the decision. Deadline for -.appeals was March 30. Only one of the appeals came frons the Bruce -to -London portion of the route: that being front Delaware Township farmer Hugh Gubbels who owns two farms already crossed by transmission lines. Neither Ontario Hydro nor the 1,200 -member Foodland Hydro Com- mittee entered appeals. Ata meeting Ilk Exeter earlier last .month, the members of the latter agreed to draft an appeal, but decided that it would only be registered with the cabinet if Hydro appealed the joint board ap- proval of the line. it is expected the cabinet will hand down a decision on the appeals by the end of June. Until then. 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