Times-Advocate, 1999-03-24, Page 2Exeter Times -Advocate
Wednesday, March 24, 1999
In the News
Bonnie Doone Manor owners
want to keep their parking lot
Grand Bend has instructed its architect to include the Bonnie Doone lot in. the beach enhancement project
By Kate Monk
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
GRAND BEND — Elia
Douglas, owner of Bon-
nie Doone Manor in
Grand Bend and her
lawyer Chris Little
peared before vill,
council Monday nigh,
state their case for the
parking lot in front of
the establishment.
Elia and Mel Douglas
maintain they own the
parking lot. The village
has instructed architect
Lloyd Graham to include
the lot in the design con-
cept for the beach en-
hancement project.
The Douglas's argue
they h�'.vc been good
corporate itizens and
business neighbours and
losing the parking lot
would put them out of
business.
Mayor Cam Ivey told
the delegation Little's
presence at the meeting
"put a damper" on coun-
cil's comments.
Optimists ask for 81
Crescent Park
The Grand Bend and
District Optimist Club
asked council to permit
the club to formally
adopt the 81 Crescent
Park. Council approved
the request in principal
'it wants t( enter into
agreement about the
donsibilities of the
. ub and the village.
The club wants to raise
enough money to com-
pletely upgrade the ex-
isting play centre, en-
hance other park
features such as seating
and picnic areas and
provide additional land-
scaping work where re-
quired. When the up-
grades are complete, the
club wants to erect a
quality sign at the park
entrance in the club's
name.
The club realizes it
may take three to five
years to build the new
play centre, depending
on its fund-raising and
hopes council will help
by allocating any avail-
able funds in the parks
and recreation budget to
be put towards up-
grading the park.
Beach tenders ac-
cepted
The proposal from
Jake's Place was ac-
cepted to operate the
beach house concession
in '99. Council accepted
the bid of $4,000 which
includes complete clean-
ing duties. The village
will supply the cleaning
supplies and paper prod-
ucts.
Paul Prendergast ten-
der of $1,500 was ac-
cepted to operate the
non -motorized water-
front rental. •
Jake's Place and Pren-
dergast operated the re-
spective facilities in '98
and council was pleased
with their performance.
Charity roster set
Council finally decided
which organizations . it
wants to benefit from the
Advance Funding Alloca-
tion.
The pot of cash comes
from the province which
gave municipalities the
privilege of rec-
ommending who should
receive the - one-time
grant.
The province eliminat-
ed roving Monte arlo
k�;-a
events when . our
large casinos. became
operational in Ontario.
The province allocated a
lump sum of money to
charities in each mu-
nicipality — Grand
Bend's share is $3,793.
Eleven groups applied
for the money but coun-
cil decided to opt for five
local charities who had
previously held Monte
Carlo licenses or a mu-
nicipal lottery licence.
The Grand Bend Win-
ter Carnival Inc. will re-
ceive half the money
and the Rotary Club of
Grand Bend, Optimist
Club of Grand Bend, Zu-
rich & Area Figure Skat-
ing Club and the Huron
Country Playhouse. Inc.
will split the other half
equally.
The province has the
final say on who gets the
cash.
Village passes vol-
leyball tournie bylaw
Council passed a by-
law to execute an agree -
Soccer club receiving funds for field lights
Continued from front page
multi -use facility used by schools, the Exeter Rodeo
and Canada Day events.
The lit pitch will have use restrictions put in place
through a committee made up of soccer club mem-
bers and recreation board members. McEwan added
there will be field improvements as well.
"We believe we are going to make this a first class
facility," McEwan said.
"We are simply asking for a boost to see this project
through."
The lights will be at the north and south ends of the
pitch and directly at the field and not at residential
areas.
A fence may be put up in the next couple years to
stop high school and elementary students and others
bicycling across the field.
Councillors agreed the project is a good idea.
McEwan made the important clarification the
Exeter Centennial Soccer Club represents all facets of
Exeter soccer, including children's teams and senior
"teams like the Exeter Centennials, Fury, Masters and
women's team.
McEwan said many people are under the false belief
the Exeter Centennial Soccer Club means simply the
Centennials. He said the misconception has led to
some hesitation by community groups focusing on
youth to donate funds towards the $45,000 project.
The issue is expected back at the next council meet-
ing on April 6.
Erosion project could cost $173,000
GRAND BEND — Pro-
tecting riverfront prop-
erty comes with a steep
price tag.
The Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority
estimates it will cost
$173,000 to construct a
55 metre sheet pile wall
in front of the Gower/
Rosie's properties on
the Ausable River in
Grand Bend.
But before it agrees
to any cost-sharing, vil-
lage council wants to
find out who owns the
property.
The existing gabion
basket wall, constructed
in 1969, is de-
teriorating. Lonnie Gow-
er wants to extend the
present southern most
building an additional 30
feet to the south. Village
stall have determined he
needs a minor variance
to allow him to build drat
close to the top of the
bank.
Before the ABCA
would allow the building
construction, it needs as-
surance from the prop-
erty owner and the vil-
lage• that the toe of the
bank would be repaired
to protect the bank.
Village administrator
Paul Turnbull told coun-
cil the ABCA would
agree to a building at the
top of the bank if there
was a binding agreement
from the property own-
ers and the village to
perform the necessary
work at the toe of the
slope withing the next
three years.
Gower is asking the
village to cover the en-
tire cost of the repair
work. Historically, the
province has covered
hall' the cost of similar
erosion control projects
in the village, the ABCA
has picked up per
cent of the tab and the
village and/or land-
owners have paid the re-
maining 45 per cent.
ABCA water and plan-
ning manager said there
is no immediate danger
to the 'river valley slope
or the existing buildings
at the top of the slope be-
cause of the amount of
gabion wall that remains
embedded in the bank
and the slope's con-
figuration above the
wall.
"However, within the
next one to three years,
we need to seriously,
plan for the repair or re-
placement of this ero-
sion protection," Scott
said in a letter to Turn-
bull.
Scott admits the
$173,000 figure is "very
preliminary" because
more study is needed to
determine the strength
and dimensions of the
'steel piling which would
be required.
ment for a Labatt Blue
Pro Beach Volleyball
Tournament July 1-4 on
the main beach. The
agreement is with Amo -
tion Productions Inc. and
Volleyball Canada.
The event will include
five volleyball courts,
minimum seating capac-
ity for 1,500 spectators,
retail tents for tour spon-
sors, an area licensed for
alcohol and several other
items associated with a
major beach volleyball
tournament.
Ontario SuperHost
designation renewed
Grand Bend's Ontario
SuperHost designation
has been renewed be-
cause staff have com-
pleted the SuperHost
training seminar.
The certificate the vil-
lage received states the
corporation "having
completed the SuperHost
training seminar I have
made a personal pledge
to ensure that each vis-
itor to our province, with
whom I come into con-
tact, will receive a warm
Ontario welcome, friend-
ly service and an in-
vitation to return."
The Lion King
096.toromockftoot' rood
•
The Lucan Figure Skating Club held its main event
on Sunday with their skating carnival. This year,
the theme was "The Lion King", which saw all 105
members take part. Above Melissa Gollan, who
played Pumbaa, gives Jenna Bumstead, playing
Timon, a lift. Below, Laura Robb practices her
portrayal of Rafiki.
•
•