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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-01-30, Page 3Grand Bend 2000 told village has no money for study By Fred Groves GRAND BEND - The old say- ing, 'you can't stand in the way of progress', isn't always true. Several concerned residents in the resort community of Grand Bend have formed a committee in an effort to look at some very seri- ous problems. They included the main beach and in particular the loss of park- ing (now operated by beach owner Archie Gibbs), congestion on the Ausable River, recreation, traffic flow along Highway 21, and Main Street. Some of those problems have existed since thousands of Ontario tourists first began flocking to the sandy beaches and blue waters of Lake Huron. However, it appears as though the committee, which has named itself Grand Bend 2000, is going to be stopped in its effort to better its community. The reason, plain and simple is a lack of money. Brian Hall, chairman of Grand Bend 2000 has approached the vil- lage council twice and both times he has left discouraged. Grand Bend 2000 has told council that in order to successfully do a study to determine how the problems can be rectified, it could cost the vil- lage as much as $25,000. That price tag is 50 percent of the cost of the study. The other half could be funded by the Minis- try of Tourism and Recreation. Hall has been told the village, which is working on its current budget, cannot afford the $25,000. Grand Bend 2000 had asked the village not only for the funding but to become a sanctioned com- mittee of council. Both requests have been denied. "Without those two things in place, we can't go to the ministry and ask for their time and effort," said Hall told council at their last meeting. The group, which consists of rep- resentatives from council, the busi- ness community aid Pinery Park, was formed following a presenta- tion made to the harbour committee by Lori Waldbrook of the ministry who gave the details of the Com- munity Waterfront Program. Hall said the program, and its ide- as, required a wider focus then what the harbour committee could give, so they . created -Grand Ben¢ 2000.. Reeve Bruce Woodley said coun- cil will send a letter to all those who were on the committee thank- ing them for the work they had done. "I think they'll (committee mem- bers) be disappointed," said Hall of Lucan OPP investigate two break-ins council's decision. "Unless we had the financial support of council, there's no use beating it to death." He said the committee will still pursue its goal to have a study done. "I'm not going to say we're giving up but we do have to put it on the backburner; said Hall. There have been other studies of Grand Bend's problems and they were used as references for Grand Bend 2000's Terms of Reference. Councillor John McDowell has suggested that these studies, includ- ing 'Economic Development Op- portunities in the Village of Grand Bend' and "Grand Bend Harbour Development Study' be looked at more seriously. Councillor Dennis Snider, how- ever, felt the latter of the two had little value to the village. "The study looked good," said Snider of the way in was presented. "It was just basically facts on paper. It had little, if any, substance to it. The thing was kind of sum- marized in three pages. I think it was a waste of money," said Snid- er. In December; Grand Bend 2000 presented a, Terms of Reference to council, outlining what seemed to be the primary problems surround- ing the village. Hall said there should be co- operation between merchants on the highway and on Main Street. , "As time goes on, we want to make sure what happens in one area is co-ordinated to benefit both." Anyone who lives in and around Grand Bend, is familiar with the problems pointed out in the terms of reference and that they resurface every "AAllwe're doing is trying to make do and deal with the issues little by little as each year goes by," said Hall. "Hopeful!y we're trying to ad- dress problems they're (council) facing today, but they can't solve them without stepping back and taking a little longer term look at things." Grand Bend is also working on negotiations, which means is quite possible they could be amalgamated by the Township of Bosanquet. "In our opinion that doesn't affect it. Most of the issues are centered in Grand Bend," said Hall. The village cannot afford to help fund the study, due to their very tight financial situation. The cost to actually do the numerous projects suggested by Grand Bend 2000 would be ten -fold. "Don't start down that road until you're really committed," said Hall. How marry? - Although the resort village of Grand Bend has got a year round population of 700, It swells to thousands during the summer months. Brian Hall, and a group called Grand Bend 2000 ore seeking help from council to do a study which outlines the many problems of the resort community.. 4 FEB 4 - FEB 10 Monday to Sunday PRESENTS "TKA GRAND BEND rand Featuring r "PETER MENNIE" to entertain the entire family with dazzling magic tricks!! On SUNDAY, FEB. 10 (during lunch & dinner) FEB. 4 - FEB. 10 �� Monday to Sunday PP DAILY DOOR PRIZES ALL WEEK *NEW MENU ITEMS - _-------- TO CHOOSE FROM -t 1 I 1" GRAND PRIZE FOR TWO TO BE ORAWN ON FEB. lOtl ON FEB. 10th FOR FURTHER DETAILS CALL US AT 238-8330 LUCAN - This past week was relatively quiet in terms of crimi- nal occurrences for the Lucan area, say the OPP detachment. There were 36 investigations han- dled but most were minor in na- ture. On Saturday afternoon, a resi- dence in Ilderton was entered when the owners went out for afew hours. A TV, VCR and jew- ellery were stolen. The suspects are not kown however, police be- lieve two persons vv sre involved. Early Sunday [Mining, officers responded to a break and enter in progress at a variety store in Lon- don Township. Police arrived and learned the suspects were driving a white van. The van and three men were apprehended a short time later in the City of London and 60 cartons of cigarettes were recovered. Three men are now in custody on charges of possession of stolen property. OPEN ALL YEAR SUN TO THURS 11 A.M. -10 P.M. FRI & SAT 11 A.M. - 12 A.M. 1 * NOW LICENSED UNDER THE L.L.B.O. * School broken into, suspects caught by OPP EXETER - A young offender and an adult have been charged by Exeter OPP in relation to the break, enter, theft and damage at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel School over the night of January 23. Police say the culprits broke into the school by forcing open a door and stole several plastic milk cranes containing approximately 150 half pints of chocolate milk. A fire ex- tinguisher was also stolen. Because the vehicle used during the crime smashed into the school's gate, police were able to match pieces of the car's vill found on the gate to the suspects vehicle. No estimate on the damage to the school has yet been made, but po� lice say stolen, property totalled only about $108. Both names of the suspects are being withheld by police, but both will appear in court at a later date. 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