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Times-Advocate, 1984-05-30, Page 44 Times-Advocati, May 30, 1984 1 - Imes Ames - Times Established 1873 Advocate Established 1881 Amalgamated 1924 dvocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex & North Lambton Since 1873 Published by 1.W. Eedy Publications Limited LORNE EEDY Publisher JIM BECKETT Advertising Manager BILI BATTEN ROSS HAUGH Editor Assistant Editor HARRY DEVRIES Composition Manager DICK JONGKIND Business Manager DROUGHTS Published Each Wednesday Morning at Exeter, Ontario Second Class Mail Registration Number 0386. SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada: $22.00 Per year; U.S.A. $60.00 C.W.N.A., O.C.N.A. CLASS 'A' and 'ABC' Needed some action The condition of one of the foot bridges in the area below the dam at MacNaughton park was raised at Ex- eter council's session last week, but members failed to take the positive action required to safeguard the park patrons, particularly youngsters, who could be in some danger by using the bridge, While Councillor Tom- Humphreys, a member of the Kinsmen Club, indicated his group was in- vestigating a replacement or repairs, the liability • GRASSHOPPERS • would appear to be the town's and not the Kinsmen should an accident occur. Being on town property, it is obviously up to coun- cil to ensure it does not lead to an unfortunate incident, and having acknowledged their awareness of it being a dangerous situation, members should have directed their own staff to take immediate steps to block access to the bridge, pending a permanent solution by the Kinsmen. Give proper credit While there is no question a doubt the validity of a program which could help handicapped and senior citizens remain in their homes, the assistance announc- ed by Treasurer Larry Grossman in that regard in his recent budget, is not one for which he should be given marks. Grossman has directed that property owners who undertake alterations, improvements or additions to their property for the purpose of providing residential accommodation to either disabled or senior citizens will be exempted from property taxation on the value of, those alterations. The hope is that this may enable handicapped peo- ple or seniors to remain comfortable in their own homes, rather than having to move to institutional care. While Grossman may take some credit for the idea, it is a venture that will apparently cost the pro- vincial coffers nothing. In fact, it is the municipalities in Ontario -which collect property tax and any exemp- tions from assessment are really coming out of their pockets. In addition, it may end being a saving for Grossman's coffens. If people can stay at home, they will not require care in institutions, many of which are provincially subsidized. So, let's set the record straight. It's a worthwhile program, but don't credit the Ontario government because in effect they are giving something which is not theirs to give. It is, as Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle pointed out, just another example of a senior level of government dic- tating to one at a lower level. That unfortunately taints the program to an extent, and while the principal represented in the assessment loss by the municipalities won't prompt any negative reaction, the principle involved does smack of trying to make some political mileage on the backs of other people. Grossman knows the municipalities won't kick up a fuss for such a worthwhile program, but he's clear- ly off the mark and the municipalities should be quick to remind him of that. Try marriage First it was no-fault insurance and now it is no- fault divorce, says the Huron Expositor. The changes in divorce law proposed by Justice Minister Mark MacGuigan should make it all simpler, quicker and cheaper to go through the legal divorce. Perhaps the answer lies in marriage preparation. The church should make it mandatory for all couples who wish to be married in the church to attend mar- riage preparation courses. The AnglicanChurch (and others) should consider following the Roman Catholic Engagement Encounter idea. These courseqjn themselves will not prevent mar- riage breakdown but they will at least prepare couples for the very different task of living together in com- parative harmony. Decision requires more consideration A decision on whether Stephen Township residents living n Waterloo St. will be allowed to hoo int() Exeter's sewer system woul ppear to require more thought than what has been given to the matter by the public works committee. - Although the committee recommended that the connections be permitted; council last week wisely held a final deci- sion in abeyance until the executive com- mittee reaches a decision on how much gallonage will he retained by the municipality for future development. Reeve Bill Mickle, who urged council to delay a decision, explained after the meeting that once a new subdivision is opened, the sewage gallonage required for the number of housing units in that development must be set aside and retain- ed for its use. Even though the develop- ment of that subdivision may take place over a considerable number of years, the gallons stays with it unless council acts to withdraw it and that would probably be allowed in exceptional cases only. Once all the gallonage has been alloted, regardless whether it is actually being pumped through the system or not, the town would again find itself in a "freeze" similar to the one which has only recent- ly been lifted by the ministry of housing in view of the sewer expansion program. That freeze was not a particularly devastating situation for the community as a whole as there were still vacant building lots available for those wanting to erect new homes. However, had a major industrial user arrived on the scene during that time, it would obviously have been most disheartening for the town to lose such a development due to the freeze. . • • . • • Itbecomesabundantly clear then, that 1 any decisions regarding the allotment of sewer capacity must be carefully con- sidered to ensure that the investment be- ing. made in the expansion program serves the town to the best advantage, not BATT'N AROUND with the editor only for the immediate future, but as far down the road as possible. Sharing that gallonage with neighbors may appear to be a wise economic ven- ture at the present, but it could .have ramifications in the future and should be given careful study and consideration before a final decision is made. It was suggested at last week's meeting that such a decision would represent a change in the town's policy in that regard, and regardless of how "unique" the Waterloo St. situation may be, it would appear that it does indeed represent a ma- jorchangein policy. The public works committee cited their recommendation to permit the connec- tions as a scheme whereby some of the cost of the Waterloo St. sewer line would be recouped. That prompted the expected question on whether the town would therefore consider extending the service to other neighboring township properties if the sewer lines were paid in total by the prospective customers. * • . • That, of course, is a very legitimate question, and while it was emphasized .1 that approving the Waterloo St. connec- tions should not be considered as a prece- dent, it is difficult not to consider it as such. The old adage notes that a rose by any other name is still a rose and in most instances, a precedent by any other name is still a precedent. Another major point to be considered is that the sewer connections would be made -oto properties over which the town would have no direct control as it pertains to ,their future development. While the present connections would serve orkly single family units, there is no guarani a that one or more of those pro- perties couldn't some day be turned over to multi -family use that would quickly take a huge bite out of the allotted gallonage of the sewer system. That would be to the detriment of local developers and land owners who have contributed to the sewer system costs. . . * • • • It should be abundantly clear to coun- cil that the matter requires careful con- sideration. It has some obvious merits, but at the same time some obvious pitfalls. If approved, the agreement should stipulate the number of housing units that can be serviced and that no other type of commercial or industrial use can be hookekd in without approval of Exeter. council. Council should also be clear in their own minds whether this change in town policy is in the best interests of the municipali- ty at this time and the foreseeable future. Consideration must also be given to any situations which may arise in the future that could require any re -negotiation of an agreement with the township over the area that is being considered for service, such as maintenance or repairs or even future expansion of the lagoon. FROSTS Prosaic view of spring In the mind's eye of the poet, the painter, the com- poser, Spring is hot stuff. It is Oh to be in England now that April's there (Browning) . It is a bunch of gals in long nighties scattering petals as they dance in the gladsome glade (Boticelli). It is lambs gambolling to the notes of the shepherd's pipes (Beethoven) . Now, that may be all very true in Europe, where those birds operated, and where Spring is indeed a bewit- ching seductress that makes the senses reel. But I am not, to my regret a poet, the only painting to which I can point with pride is my storm win- dows, I can barely make a tune discernible on the kazoo, and most impor- tant of all, I am a Canadian. So I'm afraid I'll have to go along with Samuel Butler, who had a more prosaic view of Spring. Of course, Sam, though he was an Englishmman, had visited Canada, as witness those immortal lines "Oh God! Oh Mon- treal!" He stated flatly that Spring is "an over- praised season...more remarkable, as a general rule, for biting east winds than genial breezes." Spring, for the average resident of Ontario, is like heaven, something to be looked forward to with a certain hearty optimism, Sugar and Spice Dispensed By Smiley mingled with a slight doubt about its eventual appearance. Only about once in ten years does Spring actual- ly materialize in this coun- try. Then the natives go completely haywire. Forgetting the other nine cold, dreary springs, they whip off their long underwear, go for long walks in the woods, and fall deeply in love, though not necessarily in that order. Of course, they catch severe headcolds, get blisters and lost, and marry people. they nor- mally wouldn't be seen dead in a ditch with. It's also a time of pro- mise. Every Spring I pro- mise myself I'II put in a garden this year, and a few weeks later promise myself right after opening day of the trout season, and later still that I'll get the screens on. This goes on right through until fall, and even then I'm promis- ing to get the storm win- • .,> doves on. My mother told me I was a promising boy one time, and it went to my head. I've been pro- mising ever since. There's no denying, though, that spring is a time of resurgence of life. There's nothing to heart- warming as the sight of the annual spring crop of babies, out on display in the pram parade on the first sunny day. Their slim young mothers, who were girls just last fall, have a new beauty and dignity as they sail along three abreast, pushing honest taxpayers into the gutter. For our senior citizens, spring is the most wonder- ful gift of all. They have been dicing with death all winter, and as the sun warms their old bones, they know they have won another toss, and a welcome respite, before they have to pick up said bones and shake, rattle and roll them again. For the kids, there are drains to make. Boats to float, puddles to wade through, and lovely mud that squishes underfoot. Threats, orders and im- precations from their harassed mothers, trying to cope with the annual flood of muddy footprints and wet shirt-tails, have no more effect than rain on a duck. For the farmer, spring means another nine months .of breaking his back for peanuts. For the sailor, it means leaving the wild scramble of fami- ly life for the comparative calm of life on the deep. For the housewife, it is a time to attack the house like the Assyrian coming down on the fold. For young lovers, it is a time to act even sillier than usual. Whatever it means to us, and even if it doesn't arrive . until the 30th of June, to be immediately transplanted by a hot sum- mer, it's the only thing that makes it -worth whine to battle our way through the winter. The year spring fails to arrive at all, I want somebody to take me out quietly behind the barn and shoot me. What's fair for the gander Last week I mentioned about my Grandmother's encounter with a headless chicken down in the base- ment. Maybe that meeting had a bearing on her rela- tionships with fowl in later years, because she was surely no admirer of the feathered species. When she and Grandpa first got married they fawned at Albion Falls, jtist outside of Hamilton and she worked alongside of him just like a man. You had to in those days to survive. One day she was raking hay with the team using one of those old drop rakes. A big sweat fly stung one of the horses and he took off across the field. They hit a big bump and Grandma fell off the seat and down inside the rake. By the time they got stopped at the far side of the field, both of Grand- • set the legs himself and made her a pair of crutches. Within a couple of weeks k i3 } Stt Perspectives By Syd Fletcher ma's Legs were broken. Now in those days the closest doctor was seven or eight miles away by wagon. The bouncing ride there over the rough roads might have done more harm than good so Grand- pa, used to doctoring the animals on his own farm, she was up and around do- ing the chores again. And that was when she developed a strong distaste for birds, geese in particular. The old gander seemed to know that she was unable to chase him away when she was on crutches and would lie in wait for her behind the hedge. As she hobbled by he would jump out, hissing and try- ing to nip her with his strong beak. This went on for several wefts. Finally her legs were healed but she decided to go out once more with her crutches. Out came the gander to the attack. She dropped her crutches, grabbed the old goose by the neck and swung him around and around. Now a goose's nedc is about as tough as old shoe leather sot didn't hurt him but when she dropped him breathless herself, the old gander shook his head and staggered off. After that he never bothered her again. v