Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1996-11-20, Page 11191.4101.1f3irlrletrit \WI /Mil V/ . 7 . V . T-? s .-i •-1 . r.r/TV7/7117.rrilTirrrr"."97.70../ Grand Bend takes action on stalled amalgamation" Exeter may have pulled out, but Grand Bend is eager to move on with the process GRAND BEND - Grand Bend Council will hold a public meeting on amalgamation for those in the study area of Grand Bend, Bosanquet, Stephen Township, Exeter, Usborne Township and a small portion of Hay Township. Council will also prepare a brief for the Minister of Municipal Affairs so a request for a potential appoint- ment of a commission is in place for future use. SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 The Presidents Cbolce Christmas Insiders 'Report is Here/ Both of these moves come after Exeter Council pulled out of amalgamation talks on Nov. 7 at an emer- gency meeting, thus cancelling a public meeting orig- inally planned for today. "Grand Bend is prepared to carry through with the public meeting that was promised," said Councillor Bob Mann at a council meeting Monday night. "One way or another, the village...owes it to the rat - epayers," added Mayor 'Cath Ivey. Amalgamation consultants KPMG will be requested to attend the meeting to be held on Dec. 7 at 10 a.m. at the Grand Bend Legion. "This municipality has taken a god -awful kick- ing...We've been frustrated at every turn by people who have different agendas," said Mann, who wants both the Lambton County and KPMG reports re- viewed. "We i-t4nd here with the whole thing evap- orating in front of us...We're beyond a time where we can talk reasonably with our neighbors to the east and to the south...1 can't see why we can't get somebody in here to referee this thing." r 1)r ' i ti r 1 r SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 k.pIndependence Day - Reserve it now Hot Line 235-3535 r------11 SUBSCRIBE!". It you aren't subscribing to The I Times -Advocate, you're missing out. Use the coupon below and ' subscribe today! I Name: I Address City Prov I Postal Code ONIMIL1 1 year $35 • 2.45 OSe r $63 + 4.41 OST OUTSIDE ONTARIO I 1 year $83 + 4.41 GST.2 year 1119 + 8.33 GST OUTSIDE CANADA $99.00 (incl. $88.40 postage) ' USE YOUR CREDIT CARQ oa00000❑ I ❑0000LJ00 Card No. I Expiry Date ❑ Visa U Master Card ❑ Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE ■ 424 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 4S6 sow am — — mg mu I I I I I 1 I I i 1 I Inside 1 Physiotherapist ' locates in Exeter It's Your Business See page 5 Heritage Christmas Home Tour See page 13 Exeter Curling Club Crossroads See second front Letters to the Editor See page 24 Stephen Volunteer Fire Fighters battle a shed fire in Crediton on Thursday. The steel -clad walls of the structure made it diffi- cult for firefighters to reach the fire with their hoses. • CREDITON - Stephen Township Firefighters couldn't save a garage ' or diecars within it from burning after they responded to a fire in Crediton on Thursday. The garage owned by Bob Grey on Victoria Street West was en- gulfed in flames by the time fire -k-.' fighters arrived at the scene. The structure's construction posed a problem for firefighters who ripp- ped through a layer of styrofoam, wood sheets and 2x4 studs between steel -clad walls to expose the fire *Side. '' It was difficult to get at (the fire), which was well advanced," said Fire Chief Rob Pertschy. No one was in the garage which was used as a rental space, but two vehicles inside were destroyed. A ') + 7c G.s.T.) ONE DOLLAR house south of the building and downwind from the smoke was not damaged. Pertschy said a thick blanket of snow on the roof may have prevented serious damage. The cause of the fire is un- determined Bureau begins Christmas drive EXETER - "We have ap- proximately 300 children and their families in this area who will depend on this Christmas Bu- reau," said Conrad Sitter, who, along with Gil Roushorne, will manage the Huron County Christ- mas Bureau in Exeter this year. For at least 35 years, the county Children's Aid Society has worked with area churches to sup- ply children with gifts of food, clothing and toys. "While the need is always there, the challenge increases as government cuts continue to bite and hurt the most vulnerable in our communities," reads a No- vember Christmas Bureau news- letter. The Bureau also operates cen- tres in Seaforth, Clinton, Gode- rich and Wingham. In Exeter, Ca- ren Presbyterian Church will accept clothes, toys, non- perishable food and cash or cheque donations from Dec. 9 to 13. On November 24, Christmas Bureau donations will be col- lected as admission to Trivitt An- glican Church where the Exeter Community Band and Choir will give a 2 p.m. performance. As well, angel trees are erected in lo- cal banks, service clubs and stores. Each tree contains cards that suggest a child's'age and sex as a guide for needed donations to be dropped off at these locations. Last year the Christmas Bureau supplied 1234 Huron County chil- dren with donated gifts. Families in need of this service participate through the Children's Aid So- ciety. "As the parents personally choose the gifts for their children, every item is sincerely appreciat- ed and age-appropriate," states a recent Christmas Bureau appeal for support. For more information call The Children's Aid Society of Huron County at 1-800-265-5198 or 524-7354. Building permit values nearly double from last year The Town of Exeter has issued building permits valued at more than $4 million EXETER - Building permit values have nearly doubled from last year at this time and Chief Build- ing Official Dave Moyer is pleased with how Exeter is growing in comparison Ith other com- munities. "Relative to other communities, I feel good about what's been done," said Moyer. By the end of October this year, 13 single family dwellings had been built and two more will be under construction this month. There have also been several sig- nificant commercial and industrial building permits issued including John Norris' renovation to the former Gerard store on Main Street, the Nabisco Ltd. factory addition, an addition to the Exeter Curling Club, the con- struction of the new Exeter Christian Reform Church, the Dinney Funeral Home addition and the M & M Meat Shop renovation. Moyer also made note of M.V.R. Design's relocation to the Syfilco building, the Veri pepper processing and storage building and renovation done by Mark Jones Chiro- practor. Most recently, work is scheduled to begin this month on continuing renovations to Centre Mall in- cluding the development of a 16 unit hotel. This work is being done by Cross Country Enterprises owner Hugh McMaster. "Things are pretty steady," said Moyer. 'There's a good balance be- tween commercial, residential and industrial and almost a zero vacancy in commercial space." Moyer. credits Exeter's relative suc- cess to a willingness to accommodate large industry as well a number of smaller industries. He says Exeter is a clean town in good repair with a progressive attitude. By October 31, building permits valued at more than S4 million had been issued. This is compared with over $2 million at the same time last year. The peak months for development were May, with 21 permits issued, and September, with 23 issued. "I'm cautiously optimistic that next year will be as good," said Moyer. "There's a good balance between commercial, residential and industrial and almost a zero vacancy in commercial space." Discuss future of hospital EXETER - Reeve Bill Mickle raised the issue of hospital closings at council's regular meeting Mon- day night. " Either we're not understanding what's going on (I mean the cut of 20 per cent) or ... We should in- vite the hospital board here to a meeting to get some information: what approaches they've taken, what is their game plan. Mayor Ben Hoogenboom, in quoting the hospital administrator Don Currell, said there would be a public meeting on November 27 at Olde Town Hall at 7:30 p.m. " There is some activity, I believe, going on. Some areas will be af- fected greater than others to estab- lish an over-all reduction of 18 per cent," said Hoogenboom. Councillor Robert Drummond re- plied, "According to the letter from the Chair of the South Huron Hos- pital Board, Verla Russell, the board isn't as concerned as coun- cil. Are they hiding their heads in the sand?" "As far as I know, closing hospi- tals is not one of the options availa- ble to the committee studying the issue; there may be other resolu- tions," answered Hoogenboom." I want to know if the hospitals hatve any inilut into the basis of the options coming out. I think it is very important that we sit down with the hospital so that we're a team and we want to work to save the health services in this commu- nity. There doesn't seem to be any thrust to do something around here. In Clinton, it's the hospital that set the signs up - they're doing something! There is a desire to do something. We're the fastest grow- ing municipality in the county, and we have the highest percentage of seniors. We have to get together" said Mickle. Councillor Roy Triebner com- mented: "i think we're a little late. The board has looked at this, and they're not alarmed. Now is not the time to put a plan in place. We should wait until the options are presented. My understanding is that the closing of hospitals was not in the terms of reference." The discussion ended with a mo- tion to invite the hospital board to a meeting of council. Special dedications at .40.44 Jody Durand, 1996 Zurich Bean Festival Committee President presents Joan and Mark Stuart, left, with a plaque in memory of pilot Terry Stuart who passed away recently, for entertaining and thrilling audiences with his ariel acrobatics during the Bean Festival over the years. His son Mark continued the tradition last summer. Right, Doug McBeath accepts a plaque in memory of Gertie Fleischauer who passed away recently. Gertle was a long-term and extremely devoted volunteer for the Zurich Bean Festival. The special dedications were presented at a volunteer appreciation dinner held in Zurich on Sunday night. Durand said money raised from the Bean Festival will go towards purchasing a new computer for the Zurich Library and help fund the Zurich Minor Athletic Association.