HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-01-18, Page 2Page 2
Times -Advocate, January 18, 1995
Regional
crap up
Salt mine
shipping
through ice
GODERICH - The Sifto Salt
Mine is shipping through the icy
Goderich harbour over the next
three weeks to replenish the in-
ventory levels at depots. This
late season shipping is very unu-
sual but is a result of the harsh
winter and a flood at the Retsof
Mine in New York last year.
The Goderich Signal Star re—
ported that spectators lined both
sides of the harbour last Sunday
afternoon to watch as a salt boat
made its way through the icy
water assisted by three tug
boats.
There has been less ice on the
water this year because of the
mild weather. The Star said
Mine Manager Al Hamilton
thinks "it'S probably a good time
to be trying this."
Youth
centre
proposed
SEAFORTH - A Youth Drop -
In Centre is proposed for Sea-
forth's young people. The
Women's Resource Centre is
hosting a meeting on January 16
at 7:30p.m. as an opportunity for
ideas to be exchanged between
planners and young people and
concerned adults. Where the
centre might be located will be
on the discussion agenda.
The Huron Expositor said that
the Resource Centre and the
Seaforth Co-operative Children's
Centre and are both involved
with the youth issue. They say
that the community perceives a
lack of programs for area youth.
Residents
work to
save Morris
Tract
CLINTON - The Clinton
News -Record reported that a
group of Huron County resi-
dents are working to save an
area forest from potential log-
ging.
The Moms Tract is approxi-
mately 140 acres of land west of
the Falls Reserve Conservation
Area near Benmiller. The tract
is a valued place to enjoy an im-
pressive mix of mature hard-
woods including red oak, a pre-
mium wood for logging.
The Record quotes a letter
Goderich resident John Graham
prepared for the Huron County
Planning Department. "We feel
that any intrusion on this small
pocket of Huron County unique-
ness could never be restored,"
said Graham.
Roaming
dogs kill
calves
MITCHELL - Roaming dogs
are blamed for the deaths and
mauling of several calves in Lo-
gan and Ellice townships. The
Mitchell Advocate reported that
Leon Baes of RR 5 Mitchell
have lost calves during the night
to roaming dogs including a Si-
berian huskey spotted by Baes.
Ray White of RR 2 Gadhill
have also lost four calves at a
neighbouring farm.
The dogs are not likely rabid
because the problem has oc-
cured over the past two months.
A rabid animal would not sur-
vive that long. The dogs are
also probably not stray, hungry
dogs because they do not eat the
calves and are used to people.
The Advocate said that the
townships will compensate
fanners who lose livestock as a
result of roaming dogs . Com-
pensation is provided up to a
maximum value of $1,000.
IN THE_NF.YV.S
Hay office issue heads to OMB
Glenn Hat'ter's latest appeal should be heard in February
ZURICH - Hay Township council is hoping to settle once
and for all the controversy over its plans for a new mu-
nicipal office in the next few weeks.
A hearing in October over an appeal to a minor variance
application led nowhere except to a more serious cast) be-
fore the Ontario Municipal Board.
Hay • had filed the variance with Zurich to allow, its
planned municipal office to sit as close to the road as sur-
rounding commercial buildings, despite its CF -1 zoning
(Community Facility.).
Glenn Hayter, representing a "Residents of Hay Associa-
tion" filed the appeal on the grounds the variance and plans
did not allow sufficient parking on the site, adequate traffic
visibility at the corner (daylight sight triangle), or sufficient
grounds for landscaping.
Hayter said at the meeting his arguments were based on
the concern that the township was not building an im-
pressive enough structure to serve as a focal point for the
municipality - and that it ought to be built outside the vil-
lage in the township. Then reeve Lionel Wilder countered
with the argument that council was building as large and ef-
ficient a structure within its budget.
Hayter did admit his appeal arguments would not apply if
the property were commercially zoned.
Hay was granted a zoning amendment bylaw by Zurich
council on December 14. Hayter filed an appeal on Jan-
uary 5, the last day of the 20 -day appeal period after the by-
law notices were distributed.
Hayter claims four objections to the zoning amendment:
that it is not in the public's interest, that it violates Zurich's
Secondary Plan, that it compromises good planning prin-
ciples, and it was processed without input from concerned
township citizens.
A date in February previously scheduled to hear the ap-
peal on the minor variance is hoped to be kept to hear the
zoning appeal, according to Hay clerk treasurer Janisse
Zimmerman.
"We're going to try to do that," said Zimmerman, adding
that the OMB seems to be in agreement.
"If you lose your place in the queue, you go back to the
beginning," she said.
Both Zurich and Hay councils have questioned Hayter's
claims of support for his position over the township office.
While Hayter says he represents a Residents of Hay As-
sociation, he has not disclosed how many people that com-
prises.
Zurich's acting -clerk Sharon Baker said she has not seen
any evidence of widespread opposition to Hay's new build-
ing plans.
The clock is ticking on Hay's plans for a new office. The
terms of the Canada/Ontario Infrastructure Grant program
require a certain amount of work be done by spring 1995.
Council members have expressed concern that further de-
lays could jeopardize that funding.
New image sought for `Bend's Main Street
Council wants to see Main Street take on new, less of a ghost town look
By Fred Groves
T -A staff
GRAND BEND - Councillor Bob
Mann is living up to one of his
campaign promises - enhance the
image of Grand Bend's Main Street.
He has recently took on the pro-
ject of giving the Main Street a shot
in the arm and wants to see it be-
come more of a 12 -month business
area rather than just a four -months
long tourist season.
At a recent council meeting, he
announced to the rest of council
that plans are on-going for what he
has dubbed the Grand Bend Main
Street Task Force.
"We have assembled a list of
some 22 people who might be able
to represent the constituency of the
residents, business people and the
Chamber of Commerce," said
Mann.
What this task force will do is not
yet determined. Mann does want to
see life breathed back into a busi-
ness area that, although attempts to
stay open all year, have difficulty
drawing customers in the winter.
"We have a very generalized
statement of what the Task Force is
about to do," he said.
During his campaign for the re-
cent municipal election, Mann stat-
ed that the village needs the crea-
tive concept of a first class tourist
attraction. He said it has been done
at Niagara -on -the -Lake, in Old
Town Philadelphia, in Yorkville
and Frankenmouth, Michigan.
All those places have a theme
whether it be the crisp white build-
ings of Niagara -on -the -Lake or the
German flavour of Frankenmouth.
Grand Bend's theme, as depicted
on a sign when you come up Main
Street, is sun, fun and sandy beach-
es. On the Main Street are more
than a dozen bars and restaurants,
arcades, a waterslide, french fry
stands and T-shirt shops.
Susan Roche, is the owner of
Finnegan's, one of the few Main
Street businesses that stay open all -
year long. While the restaurant -pub
did shut dawn for a few weeks ear-
lier this winter, they are now open
and like the other 12 -month busi-
nesses are looking for the up-
coming Winter Carnival to bring in
customers.
"If he (Mann) has a lot of power
and control over it, it will be a pos-
itive force for Grand Bend," said
Roche.
Mann feels the merchants and
council should enter into a co-
operative enterprise to enhance
Main Street and adopt a re-
development scheme to remake its
image.
Grand Bend's image seems to be
fun in the sun during the day and
enjoying the night life of the bars
after the sun goes down.
Roche feels that in order to
change the image, the type of busi-
nesses which are on the Main Street
may have to change.
"The Chamber's hands are tied.
We have so many transients, it
leaves an open area. You can come
in and be a carpet bagger," she said.
While transient businesses do pay
a business fee, the image which
they present doesn't seem to fit in
with the image Mann and council
want to see continue.
In the winter, most of the busi-
nesses are boarded up and Main
With boarded -up store fronts, and few businesses open
the off season, Grand Bend's Main Street winter slumber
something council aims to spice up with a better look.
in
is
Street almost takes on a ghost town
appearance. The plywood which
covers the buildings, to many
seems un attractive.
"The town has to increase its
standards for facades," said Roche.
"Obviously there is no legislature
that controls that."
And as far as the Task Force is
concerned, Mann hopes to have
things going by the end of the
month.
"We mope to be able to have a
committee that could be appointed
by the council and meet for the first
time by January 31. We are very
much in the organizational stages."
Zurich questions
labour policies
A bill for $7,000 in arena
overtime has them concerned
ZURICH - A $7,000 bill for overtime has led Zurich council to
question its labour policies at the village community centre and are-
na.
Arena manager Jim Ramer presented his claim to the recreation
board for over $7,000 owed to him for some 430 hours of overtime
he said he put in ar the arena in the past year.
Council discussed the request at length Thursday evening, calling
into question how such a large amount of overtime could be ac-
cumulated, particularly when the assistant was not working a full 44
hour week.
Councillor Brad Clausius, a former manager of the arena himself,
said that the winter season often requires extra working hours, hut
they can be compensated for in the quieter summer months.
"Every town in the province does it this way," said Clausiu ..
"Everybody's massed out in the winter, at any arena."
However, Clausius suggested that working hours be deliberately
scheduled to avoid overtime.
Councillor Nick Littlechild said he believed much of the extra
work was in the upkeep of the larger community centre hall. Clau-
sius did agree cleaning up after a larger function, • such as a re-
ception, can take two people five hours.
Council considered some options on how to deal with Ramer's
overtime claim, and agreed to address it with him at a later meeting.
One suggestion was to offer him some $1,700 and an additional two
weeks vacation.
Councillor Barb Jeffrey said perhaps one solution is to have time
sheets prepared by the arena staff, as in other village departments.
"Jim's doing a good job," acknowledged Clausius. "The arena's
clean, it's busy...the hall's in good shape."
Council asking for budget insights
But is anyone really interested in helping with Exeter's annual budget?
EXETER - Several of the town's newest councillors are
eager to cut their teeth on the mysterious budgeting pro-
cess, and a couple are even prepared to seek public opinion
on how and where the town should be spending its money.
"This is not a new idea," said councillor Tom Hughes,
who suggested notifying the public as to when the bud-
geting sessions would be taking place. "It is being used in
certain locations, particularly London."
Hughes said the budget process should welcome input,
especially from town employees who "may provide al-
ternatives for economic and efficient operation."
But Hughes said "we have to decide what's necessary and
what's nice" he said, asking for a balance of essential ser-
vices versus other projects and services. He did point out
he is not advocating "a slash and burn, but a
streamlining of operations."
Councillor Roy Triebner said he agreed
entirely, but he noted London is listening to
the public mostly after the budget has been
outlined. When Triebner asked how long
before a rough budget is available, clerk Liz
Bell said only two department's preliminary
reports are in so far.
"If we don't have something available, we could use last
year's budget as a guideline (for a public meeting]," said
Triebner.
Deputy -reeve Dave Urlin said he "kind of disagreed with
what councillor Hughes is saying". He said the present
"open door" policy allows anyone to know how the town
spends its money at any time. Adding scrutiny to the bud-
get process might only slow it down more, he said.
"1 don't know if we have to advertise to bring more prob-
lems in," said Urlin. "It would just bog it right awn, in my
mind."
Later in Monday's council meeting, the issue came for-
ward again, at which time Bell said planning a special pub-
lic meeting over the budget might be too late.
"It's maybe too late for the public to come in after the de-
partments have their budgets," said Bell, suggesting the
public might want to attend the individual committee meet-
ings.
The recreation board will be meeting this Thursday, for
instance, and the budget will be the main item on the agen-
da.
Triebner said he firmly believed in council setting guide-
lines first, for the departments to follow, rather than asking
for rough budgets to be trimmed later.
"If you believe in holding the line, you don't want some-
one putting together a budget with an increase," said Tri-
ebner.
Councillor Bob Spears said when a com-
pany sets out a budget, it first sets out the
goal - how many units it will produce, for
instance, so that costs can be compared to
output.
"I'm not sure how this relates to mu-
nicipal budgets," said Spears, but added
break -downs of specific items, like the number of man-
hours put into certain duties, like snow removal, or the op-
eration of arena, would be useful.
"Glen doesn't know how much snow is going to fall,"
pointed out Urlin, and added arena use varies greatly.
But Spears said if the hudget calls for 500 hours of equip-
ment maintenance, for instance, and only 400 hours is
needed, then that gives council an idea of how and where
the money is being spent.
"The trouble is our computer system doesn't keep track of
that," said Bell.
"I suggest this is where we start," said Spears, saying it
doesn't have to be unnecessarily complicated.
"We're going to
drown in a sea of
information and
end up knowing
nothing at all,"
Councillor Robert Drummond, however, disagreed.
"We're going to drown in a sea of information and end up
knowing nothing at all," complained Drummond. "I think
these ideas are just going to end up in more and more
work."
Drummond said his main complaint with budgets is that
they are set late. 1994's wasn't set until June. And even
though council asked for 1995 department budgets in De-
cember, only two are available a month and a half later.
"We can't keep going half a year without a budget," said
Drummond.
Triebner replied that "things don't necessarily have to he
complicated to make a change", and asked how much over-
time is being spent in town departments, for example?
"I don't think you can get it from the budget. 1 think
those are important things, in my mind," said Triebner.
"I think its important to allow the public to have some in-
put, I don't know what were afraid of," said Hughes, noting
that even written submissions to the committees could be
encouraged.
The one issue council didn't address was whether or not
the general puhlic has ever shown any interest in the
lengthy, and complicated municipal hudget process. One
common complaint from council over the years is how del-
egations often request special projects or services after the
budget has been approved, making it impossible to add
them for at least a year.
Triebner said he hoped that those who attend a public
hudget session would be ahlc to offer wide-ranging ideas
on town spending.
"I would hope people won't just talk ahout.the pothole on
their mad," said Triebner.
"If you open it to the puhlic, that's exactly what they'll
talk about," replied Bell.