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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-01-23, Page 1TA Classifieds They really Cay all 235-1331 GP Gainer-Kneale Insurance Call us for # Comprehensive HOMEOWsHERS 236-2420 $k Serving South Huron North Middlesex & Langton Since 1H73 Wednesday, January 23, 1991 Inside Parking lot • Municipal lot in the Bend page 2 Unique Citation lighting dominates market page 5 Mohawks Biggest game this season Second front 75 cents Beach case Grand Bend could be $200,.000 poorer GRAND BEND - On February 4, Grand Bend reeve Bruce Wood- ley will be in Toronto in an at- tempt to save his village some big bucks. That's the day a judge will de- cide whether or not Archie Gibbs, owner of the main beach in this re- sort community, will be awarded what he feels to be loss of income. "We could be looking at $200,000 in back revenue," said Wood' He doesn't expect the pro 'n. Lo help out if the village loses the case. Woodley and other representa- tives recently met with Gibbs and his lawyer in London in attempt to reach an agreement for the sum- mer of 1991. "We're basically offering the same agreement as, we did last year," said Woodley. "That we wanted the beach and bath house in exchange for the municipal por- tion of the taxes for that area." According to the reeve, Gibbs wants the county and educational taxes also paid for. Grand Bend paid all the taxes on the beach last summer, but. that seems to have been a mistake. "There was a misunderstanding between the lawyers," said Wood- ley. The village paid to what could amount to be $6,000 in taxes when they have offered only to pay the municipal portion which is about $1,055. "It hasn't been settled yet who will pay, the village or our lawyer," said Woodley of the $6,000. Gibbs has indicated he wants to set up a paid parking lot on the east side of Governor's Road. Woodley said the village had no objection to this as long as it was roped off at night. Winter Carnival Grand Bend is ready page 15 tak Recession doesn't slow building EXETER - The final figures are in, and it appears that despite a downturn in the nation's economy, the Town of Exeter managed to pull off another record year in the construction trade. The•tally of 1990's building per- mits, which is often considered a benchmark for a local economy, showed a total of $8.26 million, which edged out 1989's previous record by just over a quarter of a million dollars. Doubt had been expressed over whether or not Exeter could match its 1989 performance when the re- cession, the decline in mobile home sales, and public projects such as the 1989 start of the new Fire Hall were factored in. "The number of mobile homes has dramatically decreased during the year," said Moyer, but noted other sectors of the residential mar- ket had picked up in turn. The work that began on the Exan- darea Meadows Co-operative hous- ing project also gave an added shot in the arm to 1990's building totals. The recession, however, may have not yet made an impact on the building trade. The total of 271 permits issued in 1990 is remarka- bly similar to the 1989 total of 268 permits. Exeter a n d Huron settle differences $24,000 damage - An accident involving a truck plowing into three parked cars in front of the South Huron District Hospital on Huron St. W. at approximately 2:34 p.m, resulted in about $24,000 dam- age last Friday afternoon. Woman just escapes injury EXETER - An out of control van demolished one parked vehi- cle and damaged two others in an accident whichcaused approxi- mately $24,000 damage last Fri-c-- day. ri-.1day. Exeter police say Steven Harmer of Dufferin Street, Strat- ford, was operating a van east- bound along Huron street when the vehicle mounted the north curb and sideswiped a hydro pole. Harmer's vehicle then became airborne and lodged itself atop two parked cars and pushed them backwards into a third parked ve- hicle. No one was injured. Police say Highway Traffic Act offences are pending against the driver. The owner of the demolished vehicle (a 1987 Toyota Corrolla) Freda Wilson narrowly escaped serious injury. "I was early for an appointment and I was reading in the car," she said. "It's a good thing I got out when I did." An auto mechanic said the car was a total write-off except for -maybe one door, said Wilson.. "It was my baby," conceded Wilson, adding, "It could have been a lot worse." EXETER - It's over. The long- standing dispute between the Town of Exeter and Huron County's plan- ning dSpartment has been settled. Both parties agreed to drop all legal action and absorb the legal and court costs te date. Exeter had challenged the county's authority to charge the town for planning services council felt were not required. Council had even suggested the county planning department had acted contrary to the town's best interests in 1987 when the county favoured the es- tablishment of an agricultural in- dustrial park in Hay Township. The Supreme Court ruled against Exeter's protest of the planning costs, but the town filed an appeal that was still in effect last week. Nevertheless, in a process that began last fall, the county planning department worked out an agree- ment with Exeter staff and council to establish the jurisdiction of each planning staff and to make sure Ex- eter had access to county planning se•es when required. (The issue received little discus- slon at council's Monday evening meeting, but-tife agreement to drop the appeal and forego all costa was accepted as part of the executivg_ committee's report. Council scraps plans for emergency generator EXETER - While town council had been interested in getting Exet- er ready for a disaster by purchas- ing emergency electrical generating equipment, enough doubts about the system surfaced at council on Monday evening to scrap the idea altogether. Council had discussed the pur- chase of a 25 kilowatt trailered gen- erator at previous council meetings and had repeatedly requested more information on the item. The $8,370 generator was to have been subsidized under a provincial pro- gram to encourage the preparedness of communities in emergencies. Such a generator could power a • ,o •-'-. . large building such as the recrea- tion centre to run lighting, heating, and cooking equipment for a disas- ter relief effort. Some confusion arose at council whether or not the town owned equipment to run the generator, but it was later con - finned the sidewalk plow had an appropriate power take -off shaft. The recreation centre also owns a tractor. Councillor Dave Urlin said he wasn't in favour of purchasing an item that had little practical use, but councillor Ben Hoogenboom argued it was to be kept for emer- gencies, not for daily use. Please turn to page 2 'Bend merchants re -unite -for summer GRAND BEND - Village mer- chants in Grand Bend will once again be co-operating as one group this summer. The Grand Bend Chamber of Commerce announced they would not be hosting several annual sum- mer events for the summer of 1990. Several merchants, including Nick Carter decided to form their own group called Summerfest. Monday, Carter told council that Summerfest has disbanded be- cause the Chamber was going to organize the events. "The Chamber of Commerce has decided to sponsor the summer events which they did not last year," said Carter. "There's new blood in there and they're more active," he said. "I hate to see too many groups trying to achieve the same thing." Carter came to council as a repre- sentative of the chamber, and will be co-ordinating some of the sum- mer activities. "It's nice to be back in one group. It's unfortunate what happened last Strike possible at ARC Industries DASHWOOD - Although they've never had a strike before, the union representing nine employees of South Huron Community Living say the workers could be heading for the picket lines within the next few weeks. Talks broke down last Friday be- tween the Canadian Union of Pub- lic Employees local 2597 and Com- munity Living management. .A request has been made for a no - board report with the Ministry of Labour after no contract agreement could be found for the nine employ- ees who operate day programs at ARC industries and community in- volvement programs in Exeter for the mentally handicapped. CUPE had sought a 5.5 percent wage increase for the workers in a one-year contract, arguing that was the same increase allotted to Com- munity Living by the Ministry of Con munity and Social Services last fall. "The proposal we made was based on the amount of money we know they have got from the gov- ernment," said union representative fiord Allan. Community Living, however, countered by offering a two-year contract with four and three percent annual wage increases, citing in- creased costs of benefits, especially the employer health tax. "Everyone's biting the bullet on that one," insisted John Grey, Com- munity Living's executive director. He said that the publicly -funded organization tura hard limits on what it can spend. Their only sotrme of revenue is ministry grants, year," said Carter. Fireworks will be held on July 1 but it is uncertain whether or not a beach concert is planned. Carter said he suspected Labatt's, who sponsored the concerts, would be cancelling for economic reasons. Reeve Bruce Woodley said' the municipality's only sources of reve- nue from the beach during the sum- mer were the pop machines and the concerts. "We're concerned what revenue we'll get with these cutbacks," said Woodley. Carter is hoping for better com- munication between groups who use the'beach for summer activities. "Last year there was a couple of volleyball tournaments we didn't know about. It was embarrassing," said Carter. Also during the summer, the Chamber is planning to have a slo- pitch tournament." "It's a good tournament. A team we had here two years ago went on to win the regionals," said Carter. However, he felt the tournament could not be run unless the play- ground equipment near the ball dia- mond is moved. Carter was going to meet with the recreation committee about the playground equipment. "I think that's everyone's an- swer...you ask and the government will provide," said Grey. "The money's got to come from some- where, and that's the tax base." Grey said that Community Living has done well in the past to avoid operating on a deficit level and hopes to continue to do so. The union is arguing tbat they haven't been given enough proof of escalating costs that prevent a bet- ter wage package for employees. "I said 'how about opening the books and letting us have a look at it'," said Allan, who claimed such opportunities were denied him. Grey, however, insists its books are open to all. • "Our last audited statements are available to anyone," he said. The employees are currently earning between $18,455 and $23,592 a year, and Allan says 5.5 percent is not too much to ask. "We're not looking for parity with Toronto or anything like that," he said, adding that he had heard a rumour Community Living man- agement already received a 5.5 per- cent wage increase. Grey would neither confirm nor deny the rumour, insisting it had no bearing on the current dispute. "I'm not really prepared to com- ment on that," said Grey. "It's not part of the issue." Nevertheless, Grey said he was confident an agreement could be reached in the next few weeks with- out having.to resort to strike action. Allan said he wasn't so certain a contract will be obtained too easily, noting the employees' morale is Please turn to Aon 2 4 ✓ •c • s try Yp' 100 -foot long poster they wit be sending to the Persian Gulf to ex - ,tend the sumort of Exeter to Canadian troops. Legion leadership hairrfart Jkn Menylees (shown) came up with the idea and has so collected dozens of natures. Thera Is plenty of room for and the invitation s ouUo the communityto sign on at the egkxt. The poster artwork was des- by le* BrOtnell and expected to be sent away Monday, o fully to the HMCS )