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Home My WebLink AboutTimes Advocate, 1991-01-09, Page 3TWTFTEWFWLS 1 Letter to Editc,r Tinter -Advocate, January 9, 1991 Page 3 0 Thanks'go out to fundraisers Dear Sir. • The Council of The Village of Grand Bend wishes to thank those who have worked many hours over the last three months to raise funds to purchase the former drug store on Eighty-one Crescent, Grand Bend. Grid Bend Council met Wednesday, December 26, 1990 to evaluate fundraising to date, to determine whether sufficient funds were in place to close the purchase of this building. As of December 26, 1990, our office provided in- formation "that the library fundrais- ing had raised $42,520 in cash; pledges in writing of $6,9,00.00 that could be redeemed within days of closing; $6300.00 of ver- bal pledges that we believed could be honoured within days of clos- ing; $5000.00 in 1991 and a fur- ther $5000.00 in 1992.both subject to a number of conditions includ- ing as one of those conditions that the renovations be completed (which we estimated to be a cost df up to $43,000.00); and 5850.00 in written pledges to be paid in mid to late 1991. Although the purchase price of the building and land was $180,000.00, legais, land transfer tax, engineers report, construction, renovations etc. raised the total project value to $240,000.00 ;plus fy raising expenses which to to amount to $2,657.22. Council adopted these numbers in our ap- plication to the Ministry of Cul- ture and Communications for a Cultural Facilities Improvement Program Grant in the amount of Sewage surcharge Continued form'front page apartment tenants in that area of town. Another man said he would pre- fer paying a higher hookup fee • when the sewers were ready, rather than paying out 5500 over three years in surcharges. After the chamber cleared, coun- • cil immediately began discussing the issue, with Shaw noting that the 26 ratepayers in the area would contribute only $I4,000 to the sew- er reset4tund over the, three years. Shawcargued it wU-:tr-"pittance" and that it could easilybe lifted. • "I don't think this- [surcharge) is morally a good idea," said Shaw. "I have real problems with that." "I certainly have problems with tenants having to pay; added coun- cillor Lossy Fuller. "1 didn't even realize there were any." Shaw called the surcharge dis- criminatory and agreed with an ear- lier suggestion that the hookup fee be increased in compensation when sewers were available, although he noted that if extra provincial funds became available, that too might be unnecessary. "Well find the Money elsewhere. have it taken out of council pay or something," said Shaw. Hoogenboom made the motion to remove the surcharge from those households, but councillor Ervin Sillery noted that while he could appreciate one homeowner's prefer- ence to pay an extra 5500 upon hookup, he said other ratepayers might actually be more content with p ying the negligible 513.20 per month. After council approved the mo- tion Shaw pronounced "Let it be known that you can fight city hall." 580,000.00 (1/3 of $240,000.00). To date we have no indication as to when we may expect word on whether or not the grant will be approved and the timing of pay- ment, should it be approved. The vendor was willing to hold a $100,000.00 mortgage over five years at 12 percent per annum. The vendor required prole!pl payments in the amount of $20,000.00 plus interest over the next five years. The purchase pnce of $180,000.00 less the mortgage of $100,000.00 required $80,000.00 to close the purchase of the building. Cash and pledges available for closing the purchase amounted to 555,720.14 which was 524,279.86 short of the required funding needed. ,This $24,279.86 I along with $32,100.00 ($20,000.00 nci- pal and 512,111.00 interest on the mortgage in 1991), plus legals, land transfer tax, engineers report, con- struction, renovations and fundrais- ing expenses of up to an additional $62,657.22, the uncertainty of be- ing awarded the. CFIP grant in the amount of up to 580,000.00 applied for, the loss of tax revenue that the current owner is paying and other operational costs (which we have never had to pay before because of " the library being located in Grand Bend Public School) which include water, electricity (including heating and air conditioning) insurance, and other upkeep costs, made it clear to Council that we were look- ing at an approximate 20 percent municipal tax increase in 1991 just to fund this operation without con- sideration to any other department in the Village. Council decided more funds had to be raised or at the very least, the CHP grant was necessary. At our meeting on December 26, 1990, at which all members of Council were present, not one member objected to asking the owner of the building and his real estate agent to attend a meeting the following day and request an ex- tension till June 28, 1991 subject to the CFIP grant applied for being received. This request for an exten- sion was also agreed to and re- quested by Council on December 13, 1990 when it became clear that fundraising would be substantially short of projections. Reeve Bruce Woodley met with the owner on December 19, 1990 and it was agreed at.that meeting by both par- ties that the Library Committee would be requested to obtain all cash and pledges in writing into the Municipal Office by Friday, December 21, 1990, and evaluate the extension request by December 24, 1990, in order for the closing to take place should sufficient funds be in place by that time. On De- cember 27, 1990 at a meeting be- tween Council and the owner and his real estate agent, it was under- stood the extension request agreed to by Council be forwarded to both the vendor and purchaser's lawyers for their evaluation and recommen- dation to the new proposed terms. It was also agreed by both parties that an interim extension be grant- ed till Friday, January 4, 1991 till the lawyers responded to the new proposal. We are currently await- ing the outcome of these discus- sions. Grand fend Council is unified in its desire to have this location as the site of the proposed new Grand Bend library facility. We sincerely appreciate the hard work, dedicat- ed efforts and financial support of the library committee members and donors of financial, moral and other support and it is our hope that your continued support will make this dream a reality in 1991. Grand Bend Council SLE Wed., Jan. 9 'til Sat., Jan. 19, 1991 Don't Miss Out on these Fantastic Price Slashes! Be Part of the Fun by Participating in The Exeter & District Community If you enjoy musk); tellowship and fort being a part of a nevi community band could be Just what you're looking for. The band is being organized under the direction of Rob Robiiliard and the support of the Exeter Legion. 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M1 First Practice - Mon., Feb. 4 at 7:30 p.m. South Huron District High School - Room 94 For informatbn contact Ken Hermann 235-1392 or Bob Dinney 235-0173 Complsts thls application Mall form to Rob Robrlliard .52 Pryde Blvd Exeter Nom Si1 30 OFF ALL Hockey and Ringette Equipment Incl. sticks 25% OFF ALL Hockey, Ringette and Figure Skates 30% OFF ALL Curling Supplies • Brooms • Shoes • Clothing • r !Name 1 1 Address instrument L Phone No. 1 1 1 ❑ Experienced I ❑ Inexperienced) "The Emphasis will be on fun" 30% OFF ALL K -Way Wind & t Wear Womens Mens • Childrens Ali Turtlenecks plains and prints 4 0 25 OFF Ministry of Revenue TAX FACTS 25% Some Ontario Retail Sales Tax' (RST) Changes You Should Knrw About• • r --Recently, the Ministry of Revenue announced that the Province of Ontario will not charge Retail Saks Tax (RST) on the federal Goods and Services Tax (GST). . If you have paid RST on top of GST, you may retrive a refund from your retailer. rt The followini.changes became effective January 1, 1991: •' To offset same of the costs incurred by vendors as a result of lite GST, the Ontario government is increasing the ambunt of compen- sation to vendors for the 'collection and remittance of RST. • The RST audit and refund period has been increased from three to four years. • The refund of ST on goods taken out of Ontario by tourists and on ttansient accommodation will be amended. If you want to know more about these changes in the Retail Sales Tax Act, call your local RST office listed in the blue pages of your telephone book, or the Ministry -of Revenue's multilingual Telephone Information Centre, toll-free: u Metro Toronto 965.8470 All Other Areas 1-800--263-79(►5; Prench Language Enquiries �,1-800468-5821 Telephony Device for the Deaf 1-800-263.7776 Pour des renseigneme its en Mancini, composer le 1-8607668-5821. • FOOtweerr Top name brands. 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