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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