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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1997-09-17, Page 5On the Street by Jim Beckett *Don't do .It for money The job description .for serving on municipal council requires at - lending many meetings on behalf of taxpayers. Successful candi- dates should have the ability to tackle almost any problem in- cluding the complex issues of amalgamation. Being a financial genius would also he a good asset. as it is expected they will be chal- lenged to find ways of „doing more with less. . But the money is great. In Exet- er the mayor gets $790(► per year and councillors can earn a whop- ping $4,049._ One third of this is deemed to be- expenses for in- come tax purposes. Council members also receive ti per diem of $70 for a whole day or $35 for a half day • or evening for attending meetings or events outside their regular -duties. • • Peter Armstrong and George Robertson arc the.first new candi- dates •to announce - they will be seeking a spot on Exeter Council. • •Tutors needed If you have time- to volunteer and would like to help an adult or child impmve reading, writing or math skills, . the Huron County:. Board of Education would like to know. ft's literacy/numeracy pro jest matches volunteer tutors throughout the County with learn ers in their communities. No ex- perience is required as training. support and . teaching materials are provided. To learn more about this opportunity cal Shelly Weselan or Barbara Kannegicsser at'1-519-482-7948. *Parking spaces valuable A fellow businessperson ex- pressed concern this week abot►t • . the staff and owners of Main street --stores. using_valuable_park-i ing spaces. The last information 1 read regarding, the value of a parking space in front of the aver -1 age store stated the space repro -1 sented at (east $75,000 in annual sales. This should reinforce the point that parking spaces are for customers. •Beware of gifts This sounds like a friend of a friend story. I overheard a wom- an telling about a robbery at one - of her neighbor's house. The bar- becue was taken.,:.and then re- turned the next day with two Blue Jay tickets inside and a note indicating remorse for taking it in the first place. Guess what? While her friends were enjoying the game in Toron- to, the thief or thieves came back and cleaned out most of their val- uables. •Property purchase Darling's Food and Meat Mar- ket has purchased the former McKerlie-Millen building located just to the north of the store. Look for it to come down in the very near future. • •Flag doesn't move • Lucan Deputy Reeve . Harry Wraith asked village staff at the last council meeting why the flag wasn't flying at half mast in memory of Princess Diana. The answer? Administrator Ron Reymer said the flag pole simply can't hang any flag at half mast. •Charity begins at home 1 Can't help but agree with the letter to the editor in this issue from the South Huron Hospital Auxiliary Executive. It is con- cerned about requests for • dona- tions by out of town organiza- tions for the same type of items the group has been selling in the annual spring and fall rummage sales. These events raise a lot of money for our local hospital after the auxiliary recycles one per- 1 son's unwanted•items into some- thing of value for someone else. It's a situation where everybody wins. Donating items to be sold elsewhere obviously will cut into the success of our heal sale. •My kind o1 contest If you've run out of sports to excel at, Murphy's Pub and Eat- ery could be offering the opportu- nity you've been waiting for. Monday, Sept. 29 is the date for Murphy's (soon to be famous) Wing Eating Contest. Right now, all across the T -A's vast coverage area, contestants are training for the big event. With the reputation Murphy's have for delicious wings, every- body will be a winner. I'm bet- ting on former sports reporter Chris Skalkos to win hands down u he's been practicing for years. iT'SYOlJRBUSll\JESS Times -Advocate, September 17, 1997 Page 5 Woodshop will become co-op owned by workers By changing to the co-op format, Dashwood Wood Products will be eligible for federal funding and the workers will have more decision-making powers • By Kate Monk T -A Reporter DASiiWOOD - Wide manyz�►r- gani,ations are finding it difficult to cope with provincial funding cuts. Dashwood Wood Product% (I)WI') is adjusting and coating out on lop. the business has fount) a• niche in the production of crates, palleties . and smaller stakes. Nearly two trac- tor trailer truckloads of "wood is used each month,. mostly pine and spruce with a little hardwotxl. Crate and palliate clients include Kongs- kilde, Holland Hitch. 1)un Linc and heal be,in mills while Union Gas and two surveying. companies pur- chase�llie stakes. The seven 1)1VI' v rrkcrsarc from Arkona. Port i'ranks. Varna, Huron Park and Clinton. A number (I' changes have taken place al the Dashwood site over the yc:trs. From 1975 until 1994, IMP. was the woodworking division of ARC Industries. "In the early ) O's we were really encouraged to get productive since Mere really wasn't employment. out there for our goys, we made this as real as possible." explained General Manager Harry Stuart., adding this also reduced the .taxpayers' dollars required to run the operation. Dashwood was more financially successful than similar wood- working . shops, selling nearly $80.000 worth of products com- pared to fess than $2.00O in other shops According to Stuart, in ,the laic 1980's and early .•OO's the focus changed Irvnu productivity to rights and options nus of the workers. "Our problem was when we were very pnnduclivc, we as an (Com- munity Living) . association were able to reduec the Ontario govern- ment subsidy." explained Stuart. When the focus .changed, which resulted in the shop becoming less profitable, the assficialion was nut able •to return to the higher level 'of grants. - "Our association has always been really good. ahead of all the oth- ers," said Stuart, adding the change resulted -in some unprecedented do-. cisions to deal .with the funding cuts. The decision was made to separ- ate the wolidshap from ARC In- tlustrics. • . In i)ccember 1994 the woodshop for ARC industries ceased to exist hut re -opened the next month as Dashwood Wood Products. Great crates. Manager Harry Stuart of Dashwood Wood Products poses with a stack of• crates produced at 'the - Dashwood site. Pallettes, crates and small stakes are con- structed for a .Variety of clients. Bluewater Recycling on website HURON PARK The Bluewater Recycling Association now has its own domain on the internet that can be accessed at hoop://www.bra.org. This unique and informative web- site provides a wide range of infor- mation on various waste. manage- ment issues. .The site has been established to provide residents in member mu- nicipalities, as well as the general public with information which will allow them to make sound waste management decisions. The site highlights many of the programs and services that arc available through the Association, including the Association's co -collection, tex- tile collection and household haz- ardous waste p'rograms.' Visitors to the site will also find detailed information on various as- pects of waste management in keeping with the 3R's philosophy (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle). "the topics covered include acceptable blue box material, with a discussion of why these materials are accepta- ble. composting, and various waste reduction initiatives. Overall, visi-1- tors will have access to up to date information all on one site through the Association's website at http:// www.bra.org. The Association can also be contacted by email at blue - box @compuscrve.com. "the idea was to get as •"stand alone" as possible. Doing that -al- lowed (ARC) Adult Resource Cen- tre and the association to go hack to traditional funding," said Stuart. During a two-year period of ad- . justmeni. the Ministry of Com- munity and Social Services paid the wages of two staff including Stuart who reported to a board of directors set up Fly Community 'Living. To survive without funding, a• SS(N),(Nl()• budget was required. Based • , on the progress mads to date. the ministry has extended the funding • . to pay the two staff wages "for the..fore- seeable future" and is also paying a con- sulting firm to work with DWP to develop a business plan that _will satisfy the Ontario government. 7hc plan will look al improving ef- ficicncics. in management and pro- ductivily. • - . Changes to date of also included a reduction' in the number of. work- ers.' *.'We've dropped now because a few found ii really wasn't for them. Now we have sev- en very able people," said Stuart. At the same time Iwo additirinal - full time staff people have been hired -as well as a part-time staff and a student every other day. The profits made from the work of these employees suhsidiie•the pro- ductivity of the other workers. According to Stuari, the board of directors and clients have been ex- ceptional and the revenue is in- creasing ($280,000 a lot. more in 1996). government " "It's democratic and the fellows make a lot more decisions." • to seven men "We're . happy with where we're going," said Stu • - art. -He has ap- proached a number of. service clubs for • financial support for new machinery that will im- prove productivity. - Anolher"hig change 1oi the busi- ness. will. occur on. April I, 1298 -when .it. becomes a :"co-op owned by workers. ' - -Stuart stressed the wood shop will'necd to make a complete break from Community Living. Using the co-op concept, the shop- becomes eligible for federal funding. • "When we become.a •. co: op. owned by workers -they cn share in the profit. We determine skill levels through a hunch -of criteria and pay according . to percentage of mini- mum work. With this. we can. pay profit-sharing- to the fellows." ex- plained Stuart. "It's a fiat more dem- ocratic and the fellows make.. a lot more decisions. They _are the. own: ers and they hire me - 16 run the place. f report to the guys. -it's a really neat concept." _ : ' . Stuart has a positive attitude and is concentrating on what • needs to be done in order for the shop to sur- vive. "We're excited. 1 think we're go- ing to get somewhere." Stuart has high praise for every- one involved in the operation. in- cluding the workers, staff, Com- munity Living and the.ministry. Stuart doesn't know if DWP will ever he totally -stand alone" in light of its mandate. but he hopes it will be as independent -as possible and "give the. workers some options so_ they :can have a lot 'more say in What's. happening in tlii;ir,hves.:' "We'll go as far as.we- can." con- cluded Stuart. Grand Bend marketing plan receives mixed reviews GRAND. BEND: - Although council accepted the Strategic Mar- keting Plan recently submitted by the Greater Grand Bend Economic. hevclopr'nent Officer, some mem- hers of council found areas of con= cern in the lengthy report. '1 found a good deal of the re- port (up. to. page 29).10 be disap- pointing," said • Councillor Bob Mann, :who added he thodght the role of council was not defined. Mann said he. found the raw re: sponse data in the report to be very .. useful and considers -the marketing plan to be "leap off point" for im- ' plcmcntation.• :'He'; given us the basic informa- tion to proceed,".said Mann.. Mayor Cam Ivey gave Economic De'.elopment Officer Kevin Walsh a copy .., the .report that outlined You are cordially invited to attend a: ' ' Canada Pension Plan Retirement Income (RRSP/RRIF) and Estate Planning Seminar Wed., October 15, 1997 .1.00 p.m. 7 3:00 p.m, ' Lions Youth Centre. John St. W., Exeter Presented'by: Nancy Cutbbertson . Canada Pension Plan Client Service Officer Mark McLlwain - Aci aunt Representative, MetLife - Kenneth L. Nesbitt, CFP, CLU, CH.F.C.; MetLife Brian Mercer - Senior Investment Advisor, Fortune Financial Topics of Discussion will include: • RRSP options at retirement (new age rules) . • maximizing retirement inoome • it • classic,RRSP mistakes • alternative tax Shelteredvehicles • minimizing estate costs. • If you register early, you can receive your own personal program review from Canada Pension Planovering your:. CPP *benefits, survivor:benefits, disability benefits, death benefits. income splitting with your spouse, and applying early for benefits (pros and cons). To ensure you receive your own personalized kit from CPP. you must confirm your attendance by October 3 by calling Denise at 235-1344 and be prepared to provide your Social Insurance Number and birth date. ' - Sponsored by: and MetLife FORTUNE FINANCIAL We named our company after the father. It is a rare occurrence to have a new. independent linanuial securities firm arrive' these days. liar• Bean Securities Ltd. is a brand new financial services flan, horn of one man's entrepreneurial spirit Gary Bean has been in the industry for more titan 25 years. tits roots are with a small, national company that later merged into One of the major, hank-ownej firms It was his extterienue with this small, full- service firm that led to the formation of Gary Itean Securities Ltd 4111aYSECIARITIUS tTt) Gary Bean Securities Ltd. is not affiliated with any bank. nor do we favour certain fund companies. We recomrnend investments for their potential and suitability. (Or each individual. We provide unbiased advise and unique, personalized service. Plus all the products and services offered by our larger competitors, backed by some of the finest research in the country. - Gary Bean Securities Ltd Ills name is on the companyYour trust is in good hands Niakt• y Inv(stinttits 1xcuer Head (sr ri,,- S11 ))S 4011 e, 1000 )ID1)11 110 Mw Sotto 111414. Onto 1001 IS1 c t with Baty Heart Securltles Ltd. 0 er 11, 704-4)0) w 1-M411.41111 701 • Ikt Stmt llaawt. Oaxa INN 107 London 51/0470470 of 1 NOM 0545 111 Mhasem had I.Mok Count I0( /N 3 1 1 1 4 i some of his concerns hut only stat- ed he had "some .prohlems" with the. section dealing with the Harbor. especially. the Harbor • vacancy rates.. • - He ,added the. terms of reference ►was to -make recommendations and not to outline a procedureim- plementationd. -. ' - - From a staffing perspective -Ad- ministrator Paul Turnbull said die way! in . which :Walsh worked throng tf—problems was as' valuable as the report itself. • • He added many.goodthings have occurred in the village, since the EDO - was, . developed including beach volleyball tournaments and the successful bid' with London to host the 2001 Summer Games. • Business Directory, AUCTIONEERS MQOSSUU 4, AUCTION S®YiCES Hensall Ont. 41! types of auctions Complete service. Will purchase partial or complete estates. • Brad Mousseau Auctioneer (519) 236-1558 **************1t•** +, Filson & Robson * FULLY LICENSED & # * BONDED, CALL OR FAX (519) 666-0833 * it * 3 Auctioneers for the . * * Price of 1 * * With modern equipment * itPickup and sell complete K * or partial estates it * Specializing In Farm, Real *Estate and General Sales It * 414tate<arut4tet*et*si*e<4tx e< KEVIN IIIIcARTER (519) 235-3963 Exeter, Ontario • Complete auction . . service . • Pickup and delivery ava'!able . - • Will purchase complete estates (or consignments), REPAIRS Sewing Machine Repairs to all makes . Free estimates 90 Day Warranty Experienced since 1952 Sew and Save Centre Ltd. 149 Downie St., Stratford Phone 271.9660