HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1992-04-08, Page 1Mixed
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Exeter
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Serving South Huron
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Inside
Bricklayer dies
Scaffold collapses
at CCAT
page 3
New look
LCBO unveils
, new store
page 5
Puppeteers
Hensall students
in workshop
Resignation
Hawks coach
calls it
quits
page 17
R
Special section
Home and Garden
show
this weekend
Inside
No increases
for Grand
Bend fire-
fighters
GRAND BEND - The Grand
Bend Fire Board has set forth a
1992 budget of S57,980, one which
does not allow any provisions for a
pay increase for the volunteer fire-
frgitters..:
The budget does, however, allow
for the hiring of one new firefight-
er, and is taking into account the
plans to purchase a new pumper
truck to replace the aging equip-
ment the department has been using
for over 20 years.
Six year old
struck by car
ElCi1TBR - The Exeter OPP in-
vestigated an accident which oc-
curred on Huron County Road 21
just outside of Huron Park at about
5:15 pm. Monday evening which
sent a six year old pedestrian to hos-
pital with a broken arm and facial
lacerations.
April Wood of Huron Park was
struck while crossing the road by a
vehicle operated by Ellen Knight of
Huron Park. The girl was taken to
South Huron Hospital in Exeter and
later transferred W Chlldren's Hos-
pital of Western Ontario in London.
No charges will be laid, say po-
lice.
Generals
Exeter Generals' captains Mark Lynn (left), Fred Godboli and Jason McBride raise the
cup high for the traditional victory lap after defeating Clinton 7-4 in the fifth game of
their OMHA final series. For team coverage see page 14-15.
B.I.A. focusing on shopping locally
EXETER - The April Fools story in last week's
T.A. regarding a controversial study finding Exeter
"just plain boring" conflicts with what is really hap-
pening according to B.I.A. promotions chairman
John Wuerth.
Exeter retailers, like most others across the country
are busy fighting the recession... but we're better off
than many other communities according to Wuerth.
"Travellers I talk to say Exeter is doing mom than
holding its own," he said.
The B.I.A. is expected to make an announcement
soon regarding promotional plans for next year
which are reported to strongly support shopping lo-
cally -and shopping Canadian.
Wuerth said one of the fust things the B.I.A. is do-
ing is collecting positive comments from people who
enjoy their Exeter shopping experience. "They're go-
ing to be a big part of our advertising campaign this
year," Wuerth said.
Exeter's white squirrel mascot will be on the streets
this Thursday, Friday and Saturday recording com-
ments and handing out Exeter Bucks which can be
spent in any business.
In the past, B.I.A. funds have been used to increase
Christmas lighting and the upgrading and mainte-
nance of common areas downtownas well funding
the annual Christmas parade
As-mucn as 3.8 percent ,-; °
Real tax hikegoing to hurt,
warns Exeter reeve Mickle
EXETER --Exeter time- B11I
Mickle pointed out at Monday eve-
ning's council meeting that while
Huron County claims a budget with
a tax -increase of "only" 6.3 percent,
Exeter residents will be seeing a
much larger increase.
Mickle said county council were
pleased with the percentage in-
crease, but noted both he and Exet-
er deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller voted
against it.
"There seemed to be a lack of
commitment to bring it down fur-
ther," said Mickle.
Exeter, he said, will see another
$95,000 taken from its taxpayers to
fill county coffers, a result of
county -wide reassessment that fa-
vours rural areas, a drop in the road
rebate to 40 percent from 45, and
the overall 6.3 percent budget in-
crease.
"It's a sizable amount, it's some-
thing that's going to hurt its." said
Mickle, pointing out "bat if the
Board of Education comes up with
an expected six percent budget in-
crease, he calculates Exeter taxpay-
ers will be poorer a total of
$374,000 - an 18.3 percent increase
over last year.
If town council could offset that
increase with a zero -increase bud-
get of its own then taxpayers might
see property tax bills go up "only"
11.4 percent.
The end result, said Mickle is that
the town budget will represent only
34 percent of the overall property
tax collected in town.
Mayor Brucc Shaw agreed and
noted when he started on council,
the town's share of the tax bill was
over 50 percent, demonstrating
how the upper government tiers are
demanding more taxes.
Mickle said that is only possible
because the county and the educa-
tion board are further removed
from the taxpayer in terms of direct
accountability.
"They have the biggest appetite
for more money," he said.
Councillor Robert Drummond
said he heard of one municipality,
upset with their board of education
increase, passing a motion to make
the board collect its own taxes.
"Just a point of note, that is ille-
gal," explained Shaw. "So is not
paying the levy - although we've
done that too...as a matter of
protest."
Reeve prepared for
policlng alternatives
EXETER - Reeve Bill Mickle had some harsh words to say about the
town's police budget Monday evening, his main concern dealing with the
fact that it is now out of the hands of council to decide. Mickle even sug-
gested that if the budget is not satisfactory, some changes in Exeter's po-
lice force may be in the works.
Mickle reminded mayor Bruce Shaw, now council's only representative
on the new Police Services Board, that council had asked the board to put
together a 1992 budget no more expenSivc than last year's.
1 would assume your mandate is to come in with a zero increase bud-
get," Mickle said to Shaw. '
If a zero -increase budget was not forthcoming, Mickle said council
should be prepared to reconsider what kind of policing this town should
have and said he was prepared to bring forward some options to council.
"I am aware of the (call for) a zero increase, and that is the position I
take at the meetings," commented Shaw.
Councillor Dave Urlin asked about London's precarkaisiscreby their
board Pi -i;OW3131114-10k-W. Int the p41_ cf_ 4&c _ a T. -
dollars t tum 9t.
"Where boards of control exist, there is a different set of ground rules,"
said Shaw, pointing out the board of control is able to reject even council's
budget. Controllers are elected members, separate from council, noted
Shaw.
However, indications are that Exeter's Police Services Board will have a
hard time finding a way to reconcile financial demands with council's.
Their first budget proposal showed a $100,000 increase. It has been
pared down said clerk Liz Bell, but noted wages of the chief and secretary
still haven't been settled.
Honoraria for the board members have been set at $1,350 for the year,
down from the $1,500 proposed, said Shaw.
"All I can say is I'm glad we went with a three member board rather than
a five member," observed councilor Ben Hoogenboom.
Shaw pointed out that pressures an the police board includes the fact
that Huron County police communications equipment is in need of re-
placement and the question of who pays for court security has yet to be re-
solved. Currently the Town of Goderich police picks up the tab, but has
proposed sharing it with other police forces.
"I'll consider sharing it, once all the townships begin paying for their po-
licing," Shaw told council of his position on the matter.
Crash kills two
WHALEN CORNERS - Cold
temperatures and an early spring
snowstorm were listed as prob-
able causes of a plane crash Tues-
day night which claimed the lives
of two Brampton men.
Mario Aubrey, 34, and Randy
Masters, 27, were killed during the
crash while flying—tome from
Windsor were Masters owned a car
rental agency.
Emergency crews, which includ-
ed local volunteer firefighters, were
called out during the supper hour
Tuesday, when the six -seater Piper
PA23 disappeared from London
Airport radar. Air traffic control at
the airport contacted OPP shortly
after 7 p.m., announcing the plane
was last detected by radar southeast
of Elginfield, and that the plane
had indicated problems due to ice
buildup on the wings and was at-
tempting,k►.iattd at Centralia.
Crews flee- toured northeastern
Middlesex County hampered by
darkness, cold temperatures and
snow. It wasn't until about 2 a.m.
Wednesday morning that the
plane's wreckage was found by
searchers in an all -terrain vehicle in
Please turn to page 3
Time to preserve railway
station, says councillor
EXETER - Now that the rail-
way between Centralia and
Goderich is in the hands of a pri-
vate company, town councillor
Ben Hoogenboom believes Exet-
er should begin to air its con-
cerns over the future fate of the
old railway station.
Council had brought up the
possibility of seeking the preser-
vation and possible restoration
of the old station, now used for
storage, but had decided to await
the outcome of the sale of the
property to a Texas short -line
railway operator.
RailTex took over the rail
lines on Friday, naming them
the Goderich and Exeter Rail-
way (GEXR).
"It would be a shame to go by
there and find it torn down,"
said Hoogenboom at Monday's
council meeting.
Hoogenboom made a motion
to contact GEXR to inquire
about their intentions regarding
the old station west of the Co -
Op with a hope it can be pre-
served.
Miracle Qhild9uts ribbon
Second annual.
Sick Kids walkadton
sees 325 out raising
money for Children's
Hospital
EXETER - Support for the Sick Kids Walkathon his not
waned in the year since the event was first brought to Exeter.
Sunday afternoon, 325 people registered to walk the nine
kilometre trek to Morrison Dam.
"Money wise, I haven't a clue," said Audrey Skinner, who
organized the walkathon in memory of her daughter who lost
her battle with liver failure in the Children Hospital in Lon-
don in 1990.
Skinnersaid she expects it will take about three wdeks to
collect all the sponsored donations and to total them up before
an announcement can be made.
As for the *alk itself, Mother Nature cooperated half way,
providing the sunny skies, but tempered with a chilly breeze.
"A cold day, but a lot of fun," said Skinner.
The walk was officially kicked off by Melissa Rossoni, the
1992 Children's Network Telethon Miracle Child. Rossoni
has been winning her battle with leukemia.
nt+ury, but sonny was the way most paOlalpents In
>5tefdsy's•Slck.1Jds wit/kathgn ds
:.About 325 people hatted uR.to r� y,4
._ Chlids n's Hospital of Weston, Ontario. ponds
::.raised have yet to be .totted.