HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-04-13, Page 1SEIP'S
valu-mart
4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262
Watch for our
Garden Centre
Products arriving
daily!
Serving South Huron
r-- — -- — -i
S UB SCR
• If you aren't subscribing to The
1 Times -Advocate, you're missing out.'
Use the coupon below and
subscribe today!
1 Name:
1 Address
City
1 Prov
1
1
1
Postal Code
I ▪ SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada '
Within 40 miles - (65 km) addressed to
non letter carrier addresses
$30.00 plus $2.10 G.S.T.
• Outside 40 miles - (65 km) or any letter
carrier address $60.00 + $4.20 G.S.T. '
Outside Canada -$99.00 (.,dme 40 poap.i
1 IISE YOUR CREDIT CARD '
❑0000000
1 DUUUDU00 Card No. 1
I Expiry Date
❑ Visa ❑ Master Card
Li Cheque enclosed
Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE '
424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6 B.
— — — — saw
1
1
1
Inside
On the move
Bluewater Recycling
goes to Huron Park
page 2
Bantams
Win OMHA
final
Second front
Superhighway
High-tech Zink
comes to Exeter
page 17
Children's
/ Hospital
walkathon
Sunday
EXETER - The fourth annual
Skinner Walkathon is here already.
Organizers Audrey and Steve
Skinner say they can't believe this is
the fourth time they have called for
pledges to support the Children's
Hospital of Western Ontario. The
past three walkathons in Exeter have
raised a little over $63,000.
This Sunday, the walkers will be
out again, starting from the Exeter
Lions Youth Centre at 1 p.m. A
starting ceremony will include 1994
Miracle Child Jake Campbell, who
only 3 1/2 years old has already
been through 17 surgeries.
Free hot dogs and pop arc being
supplied by Holtzmann's IGA at the
Morrison Dam turnaround point for
the walk.
"We just have to keep our fingers
crossed and hope the weather warms
up," said Audrey Skinner.
If roads lead
to Exeter,
they should
say so, says
council
EXETER - It was mentioned at
the March 30 Strategic Planning ses-
sion, and council brought it up again
last Tuesday evening - why doesn't
Exeter appear on several highway
road signs.
Deputy -reeve Lossy Fuller point-
ed out that kilometre distances to
both Lucan and Clinton appear on
signs at Highway 22 and at Elgin -
field, but Exeter does not. Lucan
and Clinton have smaller popula-
tions than Exeter.
Fuller made a motion to make a
request to the Ministry of Tran-
tation that Exeter be included on
those signs.
Councillor Ben Hoogenboom said
the same request was made in 1973,
and council was told that the reason
Clinton appears on the signs is he -
cause of the intersection of Highway
8 with Highway 4.
Still, said Hoogenboom, he agreed
Exeter deserved to be included on
the highway markers.
IP
v
SEIP'S
valu-mart
4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262
Fine Quality
Porcelain China
This week: Tea Cup
79e.
North Middlesex & Lambton41Ria
Since 1873 Wednesday, April 13, 1994 (84C + GC G.S.T.) 90 cents
Huron
By Adrian Harte
T -A Editor
HURON PARK - A centre de-
scribed as a vital and essential part
of local recreation is slated to be
mothballed by the end of next
month.
Officials at the Ontario Develop-
ment Corporation (ODC) have con-
firmed when the Centralia College
of Agricultural Technology closes,
the building commonly known as
the Huron Park Recreation Centre
will close with it. Several groups
regularly renting and using the
building insist they
will fight to keep the
facility open.
Gerry Damm, su-
pervisor of operations
at the Huron Park
ODC office, said the
decision to close the
Recreation Centre
came from head of-
fice.
"I have been in-
formed by my To-
ronto office that we're closing it
down," confirmed Damm.
Because the Huron Park ODC of-
fice has neither the funds nor staff
to administer and maintain the
building, he said it will have to stay
closed until the college property
has a new tenant.
The ODC is talking with a few
parties about future possibilities for
the college, including a flight train-
ing school, an educational facility,
or anything that will use the build-
ings to their full capacity.
"We've got the airport, so why
can't [a flight school] be brought in.
Whether it's just a pipe dream, I
don't know," said Damm.
Park to lose Rec Centre
Centralia College took over the
Recreation Centre two years ago,
upgrading and renovating it some-
what, but Damm said the ODC is
not interested in manageing it once
more.
"It will remain a recreation cen-
tre. If the college [starts up] then
they will need a recreation centre,"
he said.
Although the ODC is not actively
pursuing any parties that might
want to run the centre on its own,
he said he is willing to listen.
"If there could be a way that was
acceptable to my su-
periors, then I would
be in favour of it," he
said.
Home to cadets:
Al Cottel, the com-
mander of the Huron
Park Cadet Corps
2923, when contacted
Monday afternoon
said the news of the
Recreation Centre
closing came as a sur -
"I
more thin
that's going t
be lost here...
would hate t
see it close.
prise.
"Nobody's contacted us from the
ODC, let's put it that way," he said,
and added the cadets still have
plans to celebrate their 20th an-
niversary at the hall on June 4.
Where those plans sit now, he isn't
sure.
The Huron Park Recreation Cen-
tre has been home to the corps
since 1974, houses its offices and.,
provides a large indoor parade
ground.
"I'm sure anywhere else we found
wouldn't be comparable to what's
there," said Cottel.
Great for volleyball: The Huron
Park centre is also home to the co -
•
Grant picture for
Exeter still not `rosy'
EXETER - While Ontario mu-
nicipalities were told last month
they could expect to see uncondi-
tional grants held at 1993 rates
this year, not everyone is con-
vinced more cutbacks aren't on
their way.
Exeter clerk -treasurer Liz Bell
told council last Tuesday evening
that Ministry of Transportation
grants may be down 30 percent
in 1994.
"I heard 20 [percent]," said
reeve Bill Mickle.
"It's not all roses yet," agreed
Bell.
Councillor Ben Hoogenboom
said it is tough for the town to
set budget goals until it knows
what those numbers are.
Mickle said since uncondi-
tional transfer payments made
up 84 percent of the province's
grant package, it will likely
have to be cutting from else-
where to achieve its spending
reduction goals. Conditional
grants, like the MTO's road sub-
sidies may be on the chopping
block, he said.
ed mixed volleyball league, which
draws 150 players from as far as
Btyfteld and Lucan. Kate Monk,
coijresident of the league, said the
bi$ hall is ideal for the league and
other volleyball tournaments.
That's going to leave a big hole
in ple community," said Monk, and
added a petition is being circulated
"to get some support" from Ste-
phen Township and MPP Paul
Klopp.
"We think it's an important facil-
it o keep open," she said.
e fairly competitive league has
e yed the use of the Huron Park
h for the past five years.
"The schools are so hard to
book," said Monk. "In terms of
next year, we don't know if we'll
have a facility."
Indoor soccer: George McEwan
has booked the Huron Park hall for
indoor soccer practices'in the win-
ter months, and says he isn't pre-
pared to see the building boarded
up.
"We're not going to resign our-
selves to that, yet," said McEwan.
"The effort has to come from us."
McEwan said it seems to him that
the Recreation Centre requires little
maintenance and should even turn a
profit for its operators. Making it a
public building might even create a
couple of part-time jobs to keep it
running, he suggested.
The rental rates of $15-20 per
hour charged by the college were
attractive to many groups looking
for a indoor courts or a dance hall,
he said, and made it a valuable fa-
cility.
"Nobody at the ODC seems to
care at all," McEwan observed.
Bowling will disappear: Al-
though few people realize that the
Huron Park Recreation Centre has
a small bowling alley, the lanes are
still there, requiring the time-
-Please see Huron, page three.
Hoine and Garden Show draws thousands
Erle Renning is amused by the working fountain on display at Lakewood Nursery's display
at the Exeter Optimists Home and Garden Show on the weekend. More coverage of the
show is on page 18.
What will $560.000 buy?
Exeter looking at renewing Old Town Hall
and Library with infrastructure grants
By Adrian Harte
T -A Editor
EXETER - Town council last Tuesday evening took the
first step towards renovating the Old Town Hall and Li-
brary into a cultural heart of the community.
Some councillors preferred to avoid the term "civic cen-
tre" for the project, saying a more modest makeover for the
buildings might be adequate.
Council members were invited to review their impres-
sions of the Strategic Planning meeting two weeks ago.
Most described the session as surprisingly well attended
and commented on how several of the focus groups saw the
need to address social as well as sports activities, and how
the Old Town Hall and Library might fit into that plan.
Two of the councillors, however, said their main impres-
sions from the meeting was how the town should continue
with plans to upgrade hard services to allow for future
growth.
"Now the question is 'Where do we go from here?'. That
question is key," observed mayor Bruce Shaw, pointing out
council has at its disposal some $560,000 in infrastructure
grant funds, and might think of allocating them with the
meeting's conclusions in mind,
Councillor Ervin Sillery asked how much the present
town office will cost when the federal government puts it
up for sale.
"Let's say it cost [only) $10,000, are we interested in it?"
asked Shaw.
Although some councillors said its purchase might be
considered at the right price, councillor Dave Urlin dis-
agreed.
"What are we going to do with it? We've got enough
pieces of property already," said Urlin.
Reeve Bill Mickle said "if we were listening to the pub-
lic" council should be focusing its efforts on the Old Town
Hall/Library corner.
"I think we've got a building there that's going to be va-
cated...we've got a library we can maintain in that area,"
said Mickle.
"If we didn't have the money would the project be nec-
essary?" asked councillor Robert Drummond,
who argued with several million dollars in
sewage system upgrades coming in the next
few years, some of that money should be used
to offset that cost.
"I don't think we need to spend to a half
million dollars on that corner for people to
congregate there," said Drummond, causing
an outburst of anger from the mayor.
"Dammit, weren't you listening to what
those people were saying that night?" shouted
Shaw. "There's no point in having that meet-
ing if it's a charade."
Drummond asked where the town would get
$200,000 to subsidize such a project with its third of the in-
frastructure grant.
Mickle interrupted by pointing out that the grant funds
must be applied for this year, and approvals for the water
and sewage systems are at least a year away.
"Are we going to let someone else use that money?"
asked Mickle, and added Exeter must take advantage of a
unique funding offer. "We have to move positively toward
that goal. We have to look at how we get the money, no
doubt about it."
"We were given no clear definition of what the people
wanted as a civic centre," said councillor Ben Hoo-
genboom, who argued that the costs of such a project
should have been addressed at the Strategic Plan meeting.
"Maybe the word civic centre is a misnomer. Let's talk
about upgrading the library, upgrading that corner," said
Mickle.
"If that's
the determination of a civic centre, I'm all for
it," agreed Hoogenboom. "Personally, I've al-
ways supported an initiative to build on the li-
brary, put an addition on the east side, make it
wheelchair accessible."
Hoogenboom suggested sketches or designs
be prepared to help council "sec something on
paper"
Councillor Bob Spears took the plunge and
put forward a resolution to considering mov-
ing the town offices to the Old Town Hall,
and to upgrade the town library.
Drummond wanted to table the motion, but
failed to get stlpport.
Mickle invited the mayor to join in the vote
on the project. The mayor usually abstains from all voting.
"You mean I'd have to get off the fence?" said Shaw.
"Yes," said Mickle.
Seven voted in favour of renovating the Main Street cor-
ner, with only Drummond opposed.
Hoogenboom said a committee should be formed to re-
view the project and its needs.
"I can't help but be worried about the costs," said Hoo-
genboom. "I hope the town will do its homework before
making such a large expenditure."
"Dammit,
weren't you
listening to,
what those
people were
saying that
tt