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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-06-12, Page 1Don't Drink and Drive sc Geiser-Kneale Insurance Service Experience & Value Pse -2420 Serving South Huron North Middlesex & Lanibton Since 1873 Inside Torch Run Police boost Special Olympics page 2 Crafts New store in Crediton page 5 Knockout Kaak wins bout Second front Fair Results and photos pages 17 & 18 Police investigating advertising fraud EXETER - Exeter Police are cur- rently investigating several fraud incidents which involve the sale of advertising space for businesses in a telephone book cover. London and Stratford Police, as well as Sebringville O.P.P,. a e in- vestigating similar incidents. Any local businesses who have contracted for such advertisement with Advanced Design, Stratford, are requested to contact the Exeter Police Service. County wants liquor bottle deposit GODERICH - Huron County Council has made a resolution to ask the Ministry of the Environ- ment to consider putting a deposit on liquor bottles. "What's wrong with a deposit. Let's make them take these bottles back," said Hay Township's Lio- nel Wilder. He reported of an incident in which a $300 tractor tire had to be replaced because it ran over a liq- uor bottle. The county received a letter from the Ontario Multi -Material Recycling Inc. urging them to en- courage the ministry to have the bottles recycled. The OMMRI be- lieves well over 70 percent of liq- uor bottles can be recovered if re- cycled. "There is a lot of pressure going to the minister," said Hullett Town- ship's Tom Cunningham of MOE minister Ruth Grier. "She's determined to make the blue box program work," added Cunningham. He added that Grier wants to see the glass liquor bottles in the blue boxes for financial revenue rea- sons. But Wilder did not agree. "It makes too much sense (too have refundable bottles), that's why we're having problems." Wilder suggested county council- lors put some pressure on their member of parliament. New windows for Lucan hall LUCAN - Village council opened tenders Monday evening for the sprucing up of the Lucan Town Hall. Four contractors submitted tend- ers for the job of replacing most of the hall's aging wood windows with aluminum storm windows with screens. The lowest tender was submitted by Bill Sigsworth at $2,728.50, who was awarded the contract by council. tay0"6-6iiiitY411 y more involved in Stephen Twp. GODERICH - Stephen Town- ship continues to get assistance from Huron County in their at- tempt to keep Grand Bend from extending its boundaries. Thursday at county council, Ex- eter reeve Bill Mickle suggested the county get more involved with the issue. He said if Lambton County's Grand Bend does push into Ste- phen Township, it could take as much as two percent assessment away from Huron County. "We have to consider how do we adjust it if we lose this," said Mickle. "This is very important not only $11 million to Stephen Township but to Huron County." County Clerk -administrator Nigel Bellchamber said that representa- tives from the county have had dis- cussions not only with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs about the boundary adjustment, but with Lambton County as well. "We've made it quite clear to the ministry that we don't feel the ad- justments in the boundaries are mi- nor in nature," said Bellchamber. He said Huron County has docu- ments signed by the minister of Municipal Affairs stating all three municipalities, Stephen, Grand Bend and Bosanquet Township • •ti Wednesday, June 12, 1991 75 cents Town releases new salary grid EXETER - Town council has passed its first staff wage budget under the new provincial pay equi- ty legislation, and the good new is that it hasn't affected wages all th much. However, a grid systi aimed at rationalizing town staff wages did uncover a few inequities in salaries. "I felt we needed a grid," said town administrator Rick Hundey. "I felt some people were paid less than they might have been in other municipalities." Hundey said all town jobs were rated on a scoring system which also was used for the pay equity program to compare male and fe- male -oriented jobs. Then the wag- es for all positions were compared to those in 12 other Southwestern Ontario towns. The result is that, on average, town staff earning more than $30,000 a year got about a four per- cent increase, while thosebelow the $30,000 mark got about five percent. "Nobody was wildly out of kil- ter," said Hundey, noting that while Exeter staff earn perhaps slightly less than those in other municipali- ties, no large discrepancies were discovered. The administrator stressed that the human factor was also consid- ered. "You just can't do it carte blanche; you have to look at the people as well," said Hundey, who noted town council made the final adjustments to the grid. "We had to make a lot of adjust- ments...a lot of adjustments," said Mayor Bruce Shaw, who said that have to agree before any boundary adjustments are made. Stephen Township reeve Tom Tomes said the ministry seems to be telling Huron County one thing and Lambton County another. "I was talking with Grand Bend councillors and they seem sincere," said former Huron County warden Lionel Wilder. "They say they have a conflicting letter," said Wilder. He said he believes also, the min- istry is telling Grand Bend and Lambton County one thing and Hu- ron County and Stephen County an- other. Lucan ready to tender major servicing projects LUCAN - Monday evening, vil- lage council met with representa- tives from the two engineering firms who are handling Lucan's wa- ter and sewage system projects: The two projects, which will cost a total of about $11 million, are mostly funded through provincial grants. When completed they will dramatically increase the servicing capacity of the village and not only eliminate current water shortage problems, but pave the way for new residential and commercial devel- opment in Lucan. Don Pletch, from Huron Middles- ex Engineering, presented a status report to council Monday evening on the Lake Huron water pipeline project, saying that if Ministry of the Environment approval is grant- ed this week as expected, then tend- ers for construction of the new wa- ter tower, a booster station, and the pipeline itself could be called for as early as June 21. Reeve Larry Hotson warned council that if the ministry did not have grant funds available they would likely stall project approval, or at least those parts they could not fund at the time. Councillor Tom McLaughlin asked Pletch for assurance the pipe- line would actually handle a popu- lation of 6,000, as planned. "I don't want to see a population of 3,000 and we're out of water," said McLaughlin. Pletch told council the system could be expected to easily serve a village of 6,000, even with higher future household water use. McLaughlin then asked Pletch why the cost estimates for the pro- ject have increased about 5.5 per- cent above what was predicted. He said that a project cost of $4.64 mil- lion would mean that each house- hold must contribute, after grants $1,245 or $220 per year if deben- tured over 10 years. This would be above the $1,180 presented to vil- ldge residents at a public meeting over a year ago. "I'm hoping this is a high dollar value," said McLaughlin. Pletch agreed and said the con- tract costs may indeed be much lower than current working esti- mates, due to the present economy. Pletch said his company has been seeing tenders coming in at 30 per- cent below 1990 prices. Reeve Larry Hotson said exact costs are not be as important to the public as is letting them know when water would be available and when they would have to start pay- ing for it. `When?' is going to be the most important question," said Hotson. "Not 'how much'?" "I think it is oin to ' 'ho much?" replied McLaughlin, who insisted he did not want to see the costs inexplicably rise on the pro- jcct. "If we don't go to tender this year, it may all be out the window," said Hotson, who also said the pub- lic were more concerned about pro- ject delays. "Yesterday, I was told on the street that we won't get water for three years yet," said Hotson. "That may be true, but it sure doesn't look that way." Clerk Ed Mclanson noted that the majority of Lucan's population ap- pear willing to pay off their shares of the water and sewage projects in lump sum payments. "Very few of them are going to debenture it," said Mclanson. In fact, Mclanson said he has al- ready collected about $50,000 in up front payments. The engineer's schedule shows the new water system should be supplying Lucan with Lake Huron water by May 1992. Hisham Slim from M.M. Dillon consulting engineers was also at the meeting and told council tenders for construction of the sewage pumping station and the forcemain would be advertised this week. Slim also said he anticipated low Continued on page 2 while some staff received substan- tial increases of up to eight percent, others were found to be near the top range of their wage bracket and received minimal increases. Pay equity compensation, howev- er, totalled only about $2,000 over the entire salary budget, said Shaw, meaning that the male/female job alignment was already quite good. But Shaw said the best benefit of the new wage grid is that it clearly sets out starting salaries for all posi- tions and indexes four specific wage increases according to perfor- mance reviews of training and ex perience. A top "job rate" salary is listed as the maximum possible wage for each position. "Most people were pleased they could see an end - a goal," said Shaw. Council also heard eight appeals from staff members who were not satisfied with how their salary was arranged on the grid. Shaw said minor adjustments were made in five of the cases. While council has not released exact salaries for town employees, the grid is available to the public. The top position of administrative officer has a salary range of $52,500 to $60,000. The clerk - treasurer's position ranges from $42,300 to $48,200; the fire chief at $32,800-$38,000. Salaries for the recreation centre's facilities manag- er and director both appear on the grid at $26,600-33,600, while town labourers earn $20,000-26,200. Secretarial salaries range from $17,500-22,900. Part-time workers earn between $7.50 and $9.50 an hour. Canada Post says B1th•fled offIco. options still open GODERICH - The postal station in Brucefield recently closed, but there is a possibility if could be re- opening. Jim Craig, Officer of Communi- ty Affairs for the Huron Division of Canada Post said at present, there is no retail business in Brucefield which wants to take on the mail service. "If a retail business wants to take on the service, we'll be there with bells on," said Craig to the Huron County council on Thurs- day. Craig explained chanes occur when there is a change in a post- master whether it be through re- tirement or the postmaster goes to another outlet. "It's not a withdrawal of retail ser- vice within a community. This is not the purpose of the conversion program," said Craig. Jack Coleman of Stanley Town- ship, said in Brucefield once you take the post office out of a gener- al store, the store could close. According to Craig, the post- master in Brucefield retired four years ago and at that time there should have been a change. "That's when the conversion should have occurred. Canada Post put that outlet on review," ex- plained Craig. He said Richard Israel had a re- newable temporary contract but chose not to renew it. Israel howev- er, says it is Canada Post that chose not to renew his wife's contract. John Doherty the deputy -reeve of Goderich, a former postal employ- ' ee, suggested Israel was not of- fered enough money from Canada Post. Craig said the review of every postal stations began in 1987, six years after Canada Post became a crown corporation. "It touches a lot of people in rural Canada in such a way that it strikes a nerve." In 1988, Canada Post made mon- ey for thb first time since 1954. Craig said in 1979 it lost $590 mil- lion but last year made $140 mil- lion. Marie Hicknell of McKillop Township asked Craig why there has been a large increase in the cost for mailing weekly newspapers. The Department of Communica- tions subsidizes Canada Post's cost of handling the newspapers. "The subsidy was cut back by the Canadian government so they (newspapers) have to come up with the difference,' said Craig. He added newspapers are a pri- vate business and should not be get- ting the subsidy. "The private business will be out of business," stated Hicknell. Going on vacation? EXETER - The Exeter Police sug- gest the following tips may mini- mize the risk of a break-in to your home, during your absence. Whether you go away for the day or a week's vacation, use automatic timers that will turn lights on and off and give your home an occupied appearance. Leave a key with a trusted neigh- bour and a key to the burglar alarm system, if you have one. Notify close neighbours about how long you will be gone and the details of any persons who will be visiting your home during your ab- sence. Have a neighbour pick up any fly- ers or discontinue all deliveries Arrange to have your lawn mowed. If you have a second car - leave it in your driveway, or arrange to have a neighbour park a car in your driveway. Check all windows and doors to make certain they are locked. Lock your garage. Consid- er a house sitter. Provide your neighbour with the phone number of a close relative or friend in case of emergency. Leave your travelling schedule and phone number with a neigh- bour or relative so that you may be contacted if necessary. Check with your insurance agent with regard to home checks while your home is unoccupied. You may not be covered if your home has not been visited while you arc away on vacation. Register your home with the Ex- eter Police vacant home check reg- istry; however, REMEMBER your best protection is to have a neigh- bour checking on your property. Returning the favour while they arc away is the "neighbourly thing to do." "Enjoy yourself, knowing that you left your home as secure as you reasonably could make it?