HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1984-11-21, Page 1at great prices
Professional
installation can
be arranged
Town won't have two drug stores
One OW 0110 4001101 always
add up to two...at least when
it conies to counting the
number of drug stores which
will soon be located on Ex-
eter's Main St.
While a new drug store is
opening, there will still only
be one as Esmail Merani an-
nounced this week that he has
joined Big V Pharmacies Co.
Limited as a
shareholder/manager and
will be in charge of the chain's
new store now under con-
struction at the corner of
Sanders and Main.
Exeter Pharmacy Limited
will be -closed and the
building, which has been pur-
chased by Big V, will be
operated in the immediate
future as a warehouse and
then will likely be offered for
sale.
The merger with Big V and
Exeter Pharmacy will of-
ficially take place on January
12 and Merani and most of his
staff will walk to the street to
open their new headquarters
on February 4.
The new store has a floor
area of 8,900 square feet, com-
pared to the existing space of
4,700 at Exeter Pharmacy.
Merani will be joined by one
other full-time pharmacist on
the staff at Big V.
Big V Pharmacies Co. Ltd.
started when a group of Wind-
sor pharmacists formed a
buying group in 1962. It prat
ceeded to purchase a seven -
store pharmacy chain in the
Windsor area and over the
past 20 years has grown to in-
clude 72 stores throughout the
area of southwestern Ontario.
This rapid growth boosted
annual sales over the $100
million mark by the com-
pany's fiscal 1983 year-end.
Big V is completely
employee -Dialed; 300 of its
employees are shareholders
of the corporation. This
employee -ownership has been
expanded this year, from
pharmacists and key person-
nel to all employees with
10,000 hours (5 years full time
or equivalent employment).
Maintaining exemplary
employee relations has
always been a high priority of
Big V Pharmacies, says the
company. All staff members
receive a Crusader Newslet-
ter, every staff member is
asked to attend sales
meetings, and various social
functions are held, to which
all staff and their spouses are
invited.
BUDDIES AT WORK — Most area public schools are beginning a Buddy Program
whereby senior grades assists juniors in various subjects. Shown at J.A.D. McCurdy
word processor are Virginia Cable, Wendy McLeod, Tammy Hoist and Heather
T -A photo.
Davies.
Mickle outlines views
on subdivision in Hczv
It will be at .least two more
weeks before Hay finds out if
Exeter will offer a com-
promise over the latter's ob-
jection to a proposed agri-
industrial park adjacent to
Huron Tractor on the town's
northern boundary.
The subject hardly manag-
ed to get to the table at Mon-
day's session of Exeter coun-
cil and was quickly shelved
when Deputy -Reeve Lossy
Fuller urged that more time
be given to the debate before
a decision is reached.
She explained that a letter
from the town's planner, Jean
Monteith, had arrived too late
for councillors to digest the
contents and more time was
needed for its consideration.
Council met behind closed
doors to discuss the proposed
Establish regulations
for addition at Inn
On the recommendation of
Exeter's planning advisory
committee. the Exeter Inn
will be required to enter into
a basic site plan development
agreement with the town
before approval is received
for a major expansion
project
Dave Urlin of the Exeter
Inn attended the committee's
meeting on November 14 to
outline plans for the addition
of an entertainment lounge
which will replace the mobile
bedroom units due for
demolition.
When completed. the Inn
would have a total seating
capacity for 368 persons. Pre-
sent seating capacity is 144.
Urlin, who appeared with
builder Roger Dougall. in-
dicated some surprise over
the fact a delegation had
recently appeared at council
to complain about noise and
dust at the facility.
He said no one had ever ap-
proached him about their con-
cerns directly and noted that
had he been advised of any
problem. he would have im-
mediately rectified the
situation. •
The committee was advis-
ed that the Exeter inn has
taken action to have the park-
ing lot re -graded and oiled on
a continuing basis, and in the
future, parking curbs will be
installed to organize parking
better.
A question was raised
regarding the parking re-
quirements and committee
secretary Brian Johnston said
that 84 parking spaces would
be required. Sixty-five of
those are available on the pro-
perty and an additional 19
are located within 150 metres
as permitted by the zoning
bylaw. Urlin said he has ver-
bal permission for the use of
25 parking spaces at the
Bver's Retail store just
�h of the inn.
The need for a site plan
development agreement was
ratified by council this week
and calls for a planting strip
of trees or shrubs with a width
of 1.5 metres and maintained
at an ultimate height of 2.0
metres to be installed con-
tinuously and unpierced along
the easterly lot line. in addi-
tion. a sound barrier is to be
provided at the south end of
the new building along the
property to the south lot line.
Such barrier is to be compati-
ble to the area and be con-
structed so that pedestrians
can't access it and it will be
a minimum of 2.0 metres in
height.
The agreement would also
stipulate the need for 19 park-
ing spaces within 150 metres
of the Inn and the gravel
parking area is to be main-
tained in a dust -free condition
and drainage from it is not to
affect adjacent property
owners.
No opening will be permit-
ted on the east side of the new
3,200 square foot addition to
control sound.
subdivision prior to. their
Monday meeting. People sit-
ting in the foyer had some in-
dication that opposing views
were being presented as the
noise of the session
permeated through the walls.
While Ms. Monteith again
recommended that Exeter at-
tempt a compromise solution
with Hay, that plan of attack
was not wholeheartedly en-
dorsed in a lengthy written
appeal from Reeve Bill
Mickle that was included with
the agenda material.
"It is best to stand firm on
a basis of our concerns for
Exeter". he concluded in his
written statement. "We must
consider Exeter's future for
our decision will affect us for
many years."
He started off by noting that
past councils and commis-
sions of the town have made
sizeable commitments to
future growth through the
establishment of services.
"Was this done to create stag-
nant growth?"
He charged that there ap-
pears to be little concern from
the Huron County planning
department to Exeter's posi-
tion and said "why this should
be is a mystery to me".
Noting the town now has
43.5 acres of unused industrial
land and a total of 297.2 for in-
dustrial expansion, the Reeve
wondered what was wrong
with developing this land
first. "Why does the county
ignore this land?" he ques-
tioned. adding that the
township and county planning
department do not appear in-
tent on preserving good
agricultural land through
their subdivision proposal.
Please turn to page 2
Big V established, in 1983, a
Crusader College Training
Program for management
trainees, various other
specialized staff and general
staff training.
The company, has always
encouraged participation by
its employees in all aspects of
community service. The
pharmacies sponsor many
minor hockey, soccer and
various other sport teams in
their respective areas.
Because of the excellent
response of existing employee
shareholders to a share sale
in 1983, and a regent share
sale to both existing and new
shareholders, Big V has been
able to raise considerable
equity for further'expansion
in the comping year. This
along with the complete and
unrestricted backing of its
•
bankers, The Royal Bank of
Canada, has encouraged the
company to speed up its
growth rate somewhat to 8 or
10 Mores per year.
More so than tnost drug
chains, the foundation of Big
V's operations is the former
independent drug store. The
chain specializes in seeking
out Independent drug store
operations with good potential
and absorbs them without
jeopardizing local customer
loyalty patterns. The chain's
corporate strategy consists
simply of growing through ac-
quisition, taking advantage of
its name and . closing
marginal units. .
According to a written
history of the company, "the
philosophy of the Big V Phar-
macies Co. has been to com-
Please turn to page 2
Ames
Serving South Huron, North Middlesex
One Hundred and Twelfth Year
SELL COOKIES — The SHDHS student council fund-raising campaign for this year
is now underway and students will be asking Area residents to purchase cookies
to aid in their activities. The Cookie Monster was on hand at the school, Friday,
and is shown handing out supplies to Kendra Arthur and Sean Whiteford.
•& North Lambton Since 1873
EXETER, ONTARIO, November 21, 1984
Price Per Copy 50 Cents
Will appeal decision to OMB
Trucker loses parking battle
The debate over commer-
cial trucks parking in residen-
tial areas of Exeter took a
couple of new turns this week
and it will probably be resolv-
ed in part by the Ontario
Municipal Board.
Two weeks ago, Exeter
council members supported a
suggestion that existing and
proposed rules and regula-
tions be dropped in favor of a
permit system for truckers.
However, at their meeting
on November 14, the Exeter
planning advisory committee
moved ahead on a ruling on a
minor variance,that had been
requested by Bert and Elaine
Knip to allow them to park
their truck at their residence
at 22 Sherwood Crescent.
Yi was that request back in
September that had sparked
the entire debate.
On a split vote, the planning
adivsory committee decided
last week to deny the request,
citing the reasons that the ap-
plication does not maintain
the intent of the official plan
or zoning bylaw and the pro-
posed use would not he com-
patible with a residential
neighborhood.
A motion earlier by Ben
Hoogenboom and Harold Pat-
terson to approve the applica-
tion had been defeated. The
motion calling for the applica-
tion to be refused was then
submitted by Dorothy Chap-
man and Dave Werrett.
Randy Evans, solicitor for
the applicants, appeared at
Monday's council session with
FILL VACANCY
William St. resident Don
Winter was among the spec-
tators in the gallery at Exeter
council's session, Monday. In
two weeks he'll move into a
seat at the council table.
One of two applicants for
the position vacated by Bill
Rose, Winter was officially
appointed to fill the vacancy
following a recommendation
from the selection committee.
A former instructor at
RCAF Centralia, Winter has
operated a computer business
in Toronto and returned to
Exeter two years ago. He ex-
pects to open a business in
town in the near future.
"I look forward to seeing
you at the next meeting,"
Winter said in accepting
council's invitation to join
them
AUSABLE NOMADS ELECT -- The new executive of the Ausable River Nomods was
named Thursday night. Back, left, treasurers Mari and Graham Arthur, past
presidents John and Ola Batten and field directors Pat and Pete Kennett. Front,
vice-presidents Cliff and Bea Ersman, presidents Floyd and Shirley Cooper and
secretory Helen Webber. Missing was lee Webber. T -A photo
Knip to voice objection to the
decision by the planning ad-
visory commitllee.
He termed the action "pre- -
mature" in view of the fact
council members are review-
ing
the policy on trucks park-
ing in residential areas.
He told council that the
Knips' only choice was to ap-
peal the committee's decision
to the OMB and that would be
OPTIMISTS AID POOL -- At a recent meeting the
Kirkton Optimists donated $1,000 to the Kirkton-
Woodham swimming pool. Above, Gwen Coward ac-
cepts the cheque from Optimist president Keith Selves.
Residents asked
for museum input
Exeter council members
want more time -- as well as
some input • from local
residents -- before deciding
whether to spend a total of
*80,000 over the next five
years to rebuild the Huron
Pioneer Museum at Goderich.
In presenting the request
from county council for the
town's input into the decision,
Reeve Bill Mickle stressed
that the cost estimates were
not based on any architec-
tural plans and were very
much just estimates.
He also noted that Exeter
would have to pay about
12,681 per year as its share of
a $35,000 cost for a project co-
ordinator should the project
proceed.
it was explained that no
provincial or federal govern-
ment financing has been ap-
proved nor has there been any
indication of private support.
The county proposal is based
on the receipt of senior
government and private sup-
port of about 11 million.
Deputy -Reeve Lossy Fuller
also noted that should the pro-
ject not be approved, there
was the need to answer a
question of what should be
done with the artifacts.
Councillor Dorothy Chap-
man said she would like to see
Goderich taking a bigger
share of the costs as that
municipality benefits direct-
ly from the museum as a local
attraction.
A suggestion from Coun-
cillor Ben Hoogenboom was
to sell off some of the articles
on display, at least those
duplicated, and use the pro-
ceeds towards the project.
After learning that the
museum costs the county bet-
ween *80,000 and 1100,000 to
operate annually, Mayor
Bruce Shaw wondered aloud
about all municipalities pay-
ing their share to the building
cost with the county then tur-
ning the museum over to
Goderich to operate at that
town's cost.
Noting that Exeter's share
would represent three and a
half mills each year over the
five-year period, Mickle
recommended that the mat-
ter be tabled until the next
meeting to give members fur-
ther time to deliberate. It was
also emphasized that input
from local ratepayers would
be most welcome.
•
followed through.
Evans said that unfor-
tunately that would involve
considerable time and money
for both the town and his
clients and that could in fact
be virtually wasted if council
at some future time changes
the guidelines for truckers.
He also noted the fact
that the evidence presented to
the committee was over-
whelmingly in favor of Knip.
Mayor Bruce Shaw replied
that the only trucker over
whom complaints have been
received is Knip and he ask-
ed for the trucker's response
to that situation.
Evans responded first by
noting that only two com-
plaints had been presented to
the committee. One was of a
very general nature about all
trucks from Esmail Merani
and the other was from town
council. The latter did not
outline any specific problems
either.
"The overwhelming
evidence was that Mr. Knip is
a good neighbor, Evans
explained.
Knip said that he has not
received a complaint from
any of his neighbors and he
too was at a loss to know who
had filed or voiced any com-
plaints to council or commit-
tee members.
He told Shaw that he would
certainly talk to anyone who
had complaints about his
truck or his operation of it at
his residence.
"The main problem is the
committee," Evans added,
saying that was one of the
perplexing issues of the
matter.
When the two left the
meeting, council then con-
sidefed a letter from Laverne
and Marion McCarter, in
which they questioned the use
of permits. They said they
resented this proposal as it
would put them in the same
category as new truckers and
they would no longer enjoy
the protection of the "grand-
father's clause" which gives
them immunity to the zoning
bylaw which was passed after
they established in a residen-
tal area.
"We all realized it was not
the way to go," said Deputy -
Reeve Lossy Fuller in
reference to the permit
system which had been sug-
gested by Reeve Bill Mickle
and Mayor Shaw.
Clerk Liz Bell said the sug-
gestion had been checked out
with legal minds and the rep-
ly was that council could not
issue permits for something
that a current bylaw snakes
illegal.
Mayor Shaw said the cur-
rent bylaw prohibiting trucks
Please turn to page 2
Exeter girl gets
thrill of Iifetime
Barb Sharp, a student at
SHDHS is on her way to
Marineland in Niagara Falls
to fulfill her "Thrill of a
Lifetime".
A year and a half ago, Barb
Sharp wrote to the Canadian
produced television program
"Thrill of a Lifetime" hoping
to get the opportunity to work
with and see techniques used
in the training of sea animals.
Sharp never heard back
from the Toronto based pro-
gram until her letter was
found when producer
Stephanie Wallace recently
came across it in the files.
Needless to say, the Exeter
girl was very excited to hear
that the program was con-
sidering running her thrill. It
was a week later that Wallace
telephoned the Sharp
residence to confirm that
filming would start this
Thursday and run through
Friday.
The program will be pick-
ing up the tab for Sharp's
three-day stay in Niagara
Falls where she will be ac-
companied by her parents for
the trip.
Barb Sharp's thrill involves
work inside and out, and she
expected to be involved with
the upkeep and care of
dolphins, sea lions, and the
killer whales.
"I've always been in-
terested in sea animals,
especially dolphins, says the
grade 13 student.
Before leaving for
Marineland, Ms. Sharp was
unsure when the show would
actually air. The local girl is
very exicted about the trip
and her television premier.
"it hasn't hit me that this is
really happening," said
Sharp, "It probably won't un-
til they start filming."
A CO-OPERATIVE DISCUSSION —$hown after Friday's annual meeting of the Exeter and district Co-operative
are UCO president Bob Down, area co-ordinator Bill Deyell, Exeter Co-op president Jim Morlock and manager
Ed Rodenberg. T -A photo
Sales hit '6,679,978
Loos/ Co-op turns profit
After showing a small
deficit the year previous the
Exeter District Co -Operative
bounced back to enjoy a very
successful year in 1984.
The financial statement
was made known at Friday's
annual meeting at the South
Huron Rec Centre and show-
ed a profit on 1989 business of
*77,301. In 1983 the deficit
amounted to *5,706.
Total sales reached an alt -
time high for the local co-op
at $6,679,978 compared to
*5,646,380 for the previous
year.
The increase in sales came
from fertilizer, store sales,
lumber, grain marketing and
the addition of the new gas
bar which opened on Main
street north in July.
In his remarks manager. Ed
Rodenberg said, "We were
able to arrest the trend of
liability and we were able to
make considerable progress.
He continued, "Our more
than 18 percent increase in
sales combined with only a
small increase in expenses
has allowed us to show this
modest net income. We ap-
preciate the buying support
shown by the members which
allowed us to obtain this im-
provement in operations.
We have also focused con-
siderable attention on the
financial aspects of our
business. inventory control.
collection of accounts
receivable and cash manage-
ment will continue to be
prioroties during the coming
year."
About the new gas bar,
Rodenberg said, "We feel this
venture has considerable
potential and the early
response has been encourag-
ing. As well as generating in-
come, the gas bar gives us
greater exposure to residents
of the area which we hope will
result in more traffic to our
store and lumber facilities on
Brock street."
Rodenberg concluded,
"During the coming year we
will continue to focus on in-
creasing services to the
membership through our soil
testing program, equipment
upgrading and improvements
to the weaker areas of our
operations. Your input and
suggestions are always ap-
preciated by management."
President Jim Morlock told
the large number of members
in attendance, "There are two
groups responsible for our in-
crease in profit and sales.
Please turn to page 2