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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1981-01-15, Page 6Page 6 Citizens News January 15, 1981 Arena deficit up, building value down The deficit of the Hensall Parks board increased last year while building permit values in the municipality declined, and both those topics raised some concern at Monday night's meeting of Hensall council. "We have to think of some way to raise more money," commented Councillor Min- nie Noakes in reference to the parks board deficit, which increased by. just over $5,000 last year to a total of $26,940. That was about $2,000 more than the budget had predicted, and both the receipts and expenditures were well below budget, but unfortunately the latter were more so. Revenue for the year, mainly from the community centre, was $43,286, down over $11,000 from 1979. The expenditures decreased by only $6,400 to $70,226. Wages make up half the latter total at $35,874. Th' biggest difference in both sides of the ledger was in capital projects. In 1979, the board spent $13,000 on capital projects and that was down to $1,114 last year, and of course, there was a reduction this year in the capital grants and donations received for capital costs. At their January meeting, the board approved an in- crease in auditorium and bar rental rates, but Councillor John Skea questioned whether this was an area in which to attempt to raise more funds. He said he was afraid that the new rates, up $25 for Saturday night rental to $175. would price the hall out of the market with other area facilties . The bar rental will be increased $25. Skea noted that groups were finding it more dif- ficult to make money at their fund raising dances and the new rates would make it more so. The fund raising dance sponsored on New Year's eve by the board netted a profit of $308,78, but a previous dance had ended up in the red and left the board with a total profit of only $3.66 from the two events. Mrs. Noakes was critical of the fact many Hensall residents had not supported the two fund raising activities. In reference to the new hall rates, both Reeve Paul Neilands and Councillor Dick Packham assured Skea that they were still lower than many other area facilities. In his year-end report, building official Herman VanWieren reported that the total value of building per- mits issued in 1980 had dropped about $42,000 from the previous year to a total of $158,600. That 1979 figure was a decline of almost $45,- 000 from the 1978 figure of $247.246. Neilands said the decline was a reflection of the high interest. rates which make it prohi bitive for manyresidents- to consider building pro- jects. "It's just the way the economy is right now," he said. "It certainly shows which way we are going," added Skea. At the end of his report, VanWieren asked council for an increase in his mileage rate. suggesting it go from 121/2e per km. to 201. After Clerk Betty Oke noted that council members are paid 201 per km. for their mileage. council approved the increase. In other business, council: Were advised by Keith R. Westlake, Zurich, that the Westlake Ambulance Ser- vice has been transferred to Michael O'Connor operating as O'Connor Ambulance Ser- vice from the same location. Agreed to increase the amount of their security bond on staff members and members of council from $10.000 to $50,000. The action stemmed from a suggestion by the provincial govern- ment which was a result of a situation in a south-western Ontario town where an employee made off with a considerable amount of public money. The cost of the increased policy was $211. Council had suggested going to $25,000, but Clerk BettyOke noted that wasn't much different than the $10,000 now carried in com- parison to the amount of money that has handled at the municipal office. Supported a resolution from North Burgess Township, which would prohibit non-resident lan- downers from running for of- fice in a municipality. Endorsed a resolution from Haidimand-.Norfolk calling on the provincial government to undertake an environmental assessment before approving the in- dustrial waste treatment facility planned for South Cayuga. While members agreed the wastes had to be deposited somewhere, they felt it could create problems for people in the South Cayuga area unless an en- vironmental assessment was undertaken to prove the use of the site. Agreed to give Orville Workman a broken cement hydro pole which had been damaged in the village.,. Learned that Tuckersmith has appointed Robert Bell to the Hensall Area Fire Board and that Hay's raWfwalfw- ;-z SMALL BUT EFFECTIVE —Michelle Steckle was out Hensall main street doing the businessmen a favor. on the JANUARY CLEARANCE SALE Check Our Prices Before You Buy Over 300 Appliances To Choose From No 7Wo Sales Tax on Washers, Dryers, Refrigerators, Ranges, Freezers ()'jr Own ServiCF' DRYSDALE Major Appliance Centre Ltd. 261 1/18 LOSLD MOND:. representative will be Lloyd Mousseau. Passed a bylaw to provide for the Richmond Street South drainage works and for borrowing on the credit of the municipality the sum of $149,270 for completing the project. A motion was also passed authorizi48 engineers B.M. Ross and Associates to call tenders for the project. The total cost for Hensall has been assessed at $108,341. Decided not to get in- volved in the perennial dis- pute between Willard Buchanan and Hensall Motors over their snow removal practices. Reeve Neilands said council had attempted to correct the situation last year, but ap- parently to no avail, and he was fed up with the feud and was giving up on the matter. Mrs. Noakes . said the problem has been going on for 20 years. FORMER REEVE HONORED — Harold Knight, left, who served 19 years on Hensall coun- cil, port as reeve, was given an inscribed pocket watch, Monday, by Reeve Paul Neilands. The two had a little trouble getting this watch out of the box. Knight reciprocated by giving council a gavel. Staff photo