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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1987-07-22, Page 1Serving South Huron, North Middlesex One Hundred and Fifteenth Year EXETER, ONTARIO, July 22, 1987 Price Per Copy 60 cants Mayors get quick session • J � to air county.differences Huron County politicians received assurances from Exeter Mayor Bruce Shaw that the county wills emain in- tact, but he also urged the county's executive committee to pay attention to urban concerns. Speaking to a special meeting of the county's executive committee and the mayors representing the five county towns in Goderich Wednesday, Shaw said he threatened secession from the county system in response to frustra- tions experienced by the urban municipalities. The meeting, called by Huron Coun- ty warden Brian McBurney, was designed to address concerns ex- pressed in the media by the five CLOWNING AROUND — These sisters were getting the most out of the Aliso Craig parade Saturday morning. On the left is Sheri Rowe with her sister, Jana -Lyn Rowe. The two young ladies were part of a float from the Hair Fashion Centre in Ailsa Craig. mayors covering such topics as plan- ning, unit, the development of Highway 8 and the creation of a coun- ty economic development office. "This meeting was brought on by articles in the paper and I hoped to bring people together and have an open and frank discussion," McBurney told the meeting. "I hope we can be open and honest. I don't want this to linger and hopefully we can put concerns to rest because we're all responsible to the same people." While the discussion on the respec- tive issues was honest, Shaw and Reeve Bill Mickle, Exeter's represerf- tative on county council, assured the executive committee they would not sit idly by if they felt their concerns were being ignored. "We get the impression as mayors and Exeter council that not a lot of at- tention is paid to recommendations from council," Shaw explained. "We have asked for a few things and while. we're not always looking for support, at least some interest. We're left with the impression that ideas and con- cerns are being dismissed." That attitude, Shaw reasoned, an- tagonized Exeter council and the five mayors who began meeting as a social and ad hoc committee to discuss matters of mutual concern. The Exeter mayor admitted that much of the animosity related back to the "damn planning problem", an issue that resulted in an Ontario Municipal Board hearing. That pro- blem dealt with a plan of subdivision for an agri-industrial park by Hay Township at the intersection of Highways 4 and 83 near Exeter. The plan of subdivision was prepared for approval by the county's planning department but failed to clear the OMB hearing after Exeter filed an objection. The plan did not conform to Ontario Foodland guidelines and has subsequently been redrafted. Shaw told the meeting Ex- eter will again object .to the development. It cost Exeter council $8,000 in con- -sultant and lawyer's fees to contest the plan to the OMB and Shaw argued before the committee that while the judge's decision vindicated Exeter's position, the town, in effect, paid both for its own- fees and that of Hay Please turn to page 2 SWfMttit Farmers e.Iebrit 50 years Over 3,000 people attended the giant birthday party hosted by the Hensall and District Co-op on July 15 to celebrate farmers working together for 50 years. In the half -century since the thriving enterprise received its charter, business has grown from an annual profit of $1.400 on $17,000 in' sales to a prediction for the 1987 fiscal year by manager Earl Wagner of a HENSALL DISTRICT CO OPERATIVE INC 1 DAVIDSON DRIVE SINCE 1937 COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE — Jane Davidson,widowof Malcom Davidson who served on the board of directors of the Hensall Co- zgerald standing in for MPP Jack Op, unveiled a plaque to be placed on the office wall. The main street Riddell, Hensall Reeve Jim Robinson at the co-op was named Davidson Drive. Manager Earl Wagner took and Wagner. part in the unveiling, during a ceremony celebrating the co-op's 50th Directors Bill De Jong and Glen anniversary. In the background is director Barry Taylor. Thiel unveiled plaques and .,. 4.crst'u^`<vvuAnl;s >'T^^.Na;.daW ",44 a4Aaffi:z;:><a4, . net profit of $1,000,000 on 05,000,000 in sales. UCOgeneral manager Bill Deyall termed the Hensall Co -Operative "one of the five best in Ontario". A commemorative plaque designating the Co-Op's main thoroughfare as Davidson Drive was unveiled by past director Malcolm Davidson's widow Jane. Former manager Archie Couper credited Davidson's influence for the foresight and ambition which made the Hensel! Co-Op's entry into the elevator business possible. Noting that the Co -Op has expanded to bran- ches in Zurich, Brucefield and Seaforth, Couper said "Malcolm would be very pleased with what you have done". Couper described Davidson as a man of talent, vision, action and com- passion who showed in the 13 years after he came to Canada with his bride "what one man can do for his community". A birthday cake complete with replicas of the Co -Op down to silos and a receiving pit was cut by platform guests MP Murray Cardiff, Jim Fit- • photographs of past directors, presidents, secretaries and general managers. - Glenda Wagner had set up a large historical display comprised of the hundreds of newspaper clippings and other memorabilia she has collected over the years. Platform guests for the welcoming ceremony included three former managers, 26 former directors and the 10 current members of the board of directors. Events included entertainment for adults and children by Richard Kne- chtel, tours of the facilities, 50th an- niversary hats and jackets for sale and a free draw. Ralph Stryker RR 4 Seaforth, won the gas barbecue, Wat Webster, Clin- ton, took home the fan, and the silver pork fork went to Doreen Dietrich, Zurich. The crowd consumed three roast pigs which dressed out at 170 pounds each, 1,400 pounds of beef, 600 pounds each of cole slaw, potato salad and baked beans, 2,500 cartons of white and chocolate milk, 2,500 ice cream cups, 40 huge slab cakes and gallons of coffee. The well -organized affair was a fit- ting cap to a successful and profitable 50 -year partnership among Huron County farmers. • they just keep losing battles 5D Realty and their spokesman, Joe Darling, continued their battle with Exeter council this week, but failed to win. Darling even lost on a bid to submit his name to sit on a special commit- tee named by council to give a general review to impost fees. More on the inside After saying he would be willing to sit on the committee, Mayor Bruce Shaw advised him that the task had been turned over to the executive committee. However, his major argument was over the taxes charged against pro- perty owned by Jim and Joy Darling * Perk master piers Is unveiled Centennial students Capture prize * Tllleoe for times Is discussed * Young cyclist iA shows skills * Girls nominated et Zurid%. 13A EXETER SIDEWALK SALES OUTLINIID because - it had been improperly assessed for 1986 taxes. For 1987, the assessment has been reduced by Court of Revision. In explaining that, the general government committee noted that the onus was on the owner to appeal assessment within the period stated on the assessment notice, and because that had not transpired, no change could be made after the deadline. However, Darling noted that the town had failed to charge his brother for an impost fee at the proper time and had billed it in arrears and felt it should be a two-way street. He also said an assessor had told him he would take half the blame. for the assessment problem that arose. • Councillor Ben Hoogenboom was the only one who sided with Darling, saying it appeared a little unfair that one party (the town) could successful- ly appeal an error of a year ago and the other (Darling) couldn't. "The deck is stacked against the citizen," Hoogenboom commented, but an amendment to allow half the difference was defeated with his be- ing the only vote. Reeve Bill Mickle said there was lots of time for assessment appeals and there were people available to answer questions. "I think we took the steps necessary," Darling responded, noting there was a great deal of paper work involved and it was a matter that slipped through and wasn't caught soon enough for the appeal period. Members of council argued they had no choice in the matter, although it could be carried on to the county assessment office. "It's time to start digging in somewhere," Darling said. - - Mayor Bruce Shaw concluded by saying it may not appear fair, but it is okay in law and the only way coun- cil can proceed. NONA rliiii#. fir//ow his own adrlee Usborne Reeve Gerald Prout may have failed to follow his own advice this week and ended up get- ting roasted for some comments. In last week's comments in reference to those made by Exeter Mayor Bruce Shaw, Prout said he should get to speak to him per- sonally "before he gets worse". However, that contact was not made and Shaw at council on Mon- day had some rebuttal of Prout's comments and criticised him for dragging In topics that were not in- cluded in the arguments against county council. "1 am getting worse," Shaw said as he denounced Prout for sug- gesting that he was attacking area municipalities or downgrading farmers. Shaw said his comment about establishing a moat was made on- • ly in jest and no one would take that seriously. "It doesn't make any sense," he said in reference to conunents by Stephen Reeve Tom Tomes and opined that only the words of Hay Reeve Lionel Wilder were "most reasonable and encouraging" calling on all the municipalities work with each other. Shaw was also displeased that the reeves suggested that his remarks were not in keeping with the attitude of Exeter council as a whole. `What I dob't speak for coun- cil' I will leave," be added and other members spoke ftp to say that they were proud of the man- ner in which be hes let the county know that Exeter wants more Sup- port and consideration on several ice. %:e.4 Jciil and stiff fines are given drivets A jail term and two stiff fines were handed out by Judge Gary Hunter in Exeter court, Tuesday. A 30 -day jail -sentence was given to Gregory A. Shepley, 1257 Huron St., London, while fines of $1,000 and $750 were given to a Zurich man and a London woman. Shepley pleaded guilty to driving while under suspensions on June 25 in Stephen township when it was found his licence had been suspended for one year in October for driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit. The court waw told that his girlfriend had been driving the vehi- cle, but he gave it a test drive for a couple of miles after she thought something was wrong with the steering. • Judge Carter ordered the accused to serve his jail term on an intermit - ten basis from 6:00 p.m. on Fridays until- 6:00 a.m. on Mondays. The $1,000 fine was handed out to Martin Paul Becker, 31 Goshen St., Zurich, along with a six-month driv- ing prohibition, after he pleaded guil- ty to failing to remain at the scene of an accident with a pedestrian on January 5 at 8:30 p.m. His northbound vehicle's side mir- ror knocked down a pedestrian walk- ing north on concession 12-13 in Hay. The victim asked for an ambulance and the accused panicked and Left the scene. The accused returned to the scene at, 10:07 p.m. and admitted to police that he was the driver. He visited the victim .the next day and apologized. Liquor was not involved. Becker was given 90 days in which i to pay the fine. Evelyn Stella Loucks, 64 Langarth St., London, was given the $750 fine or 30 days after pleading guilty to refus- ing to provide a breath sample on February 13 in Hay Township. ,790 Her vehicle was stopped after be- ing seen driven in an erratic manner and she was also given a two-year driving suspension. She had a previous conviction but the Crown did not press to have it a bearing on the sentence. She said she had been returning from a visit with her mother in Seaforth and was prying and her glasses steamed up, and she had not had much to drink. Two fines of $500 and driving suspensions were handed out to two others on Tuesday's docket, David George Lovie, RR 3 Hay, and Dennis G. Eisenschink, RR 1 Hay. Eisenschink pleaded guilty to driv- ing with a blood alcohol level over the legal limit on June 7. His vehicle was stopped on Highway 83 for being driven in an erratic manner. He fail- ed an Alert test and a breathalizer subsequently gave a reading of 130 mgs. He was given 90 days to pay. The $500 fine to Lovie was also for driving with a blood alcohol content over the legal limit. He was charged on November 6 after a policeman followed his vehicle on County Road 2 and told the court it was swaying in its lane and crossed the centre line three times in half a km. The accused staggered to the cruiser and a breathalizer test gave a reading of 190 mgs. He was given 90 days to pay. In the onlx. other case on the docket Tammy Belton, RR 1 Thedford, pleaded guilty to a charge of assault against a fellow SHDHS student on June 9. She was given a conditional discharge and placed on probation for six months. The two girls gave discre- pant testimony, but both reported they had been slightly injured in the skirmish which took place at the school around 2:00 p.m. FINAL PREPARATIONS Liz Watson (right) makes some final ad- justments on her son t3 -tecorations prior to the parade in Aliso Craig Saturdoy ofternv, randing with his back turned is Brock Wat- son. The thr wer., participating in the parade as port of the Beaver contingent Want two names put into registry At the sun. cstion of Andy DeBoer, couneil .ill investigate the cost and p1s:.ilnlit� Thving "White Wonder" and "Moine of the White Squirrel" become offical names for Exeter. DeBoer, who sat with Bill McLean to choose the name of the white squir- rel from a local contest. said it should be registered "before someone grabs it". "We should protect the names before that happens," he added. Council endorsed the idea and pass- ed it over to a committee. •