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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1994-10-5, Page 1SEIP'S vale -mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 October Dry Cleaning Special Coats $ 7.50 Serving Exeter and area since 1873 , -rte-•--_ _ SEIP'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 Mums 4.99 6" pot Fresh Carnations 2.99lunch re 'SUBSCRIBE!, If you aren't subscribing to The Times -Advocate, you're missing out. Use the coupon below and I subscribe today! I Name: `Address City 1 Prov 1 Postal Code SUBSCRIPTION RATES: Canada Within 40 miles - (65 km) addressed to non letter carner addresses $30.00 plus $2.10 G.S.T. 1 Outside 40 miles - (65 km) or any letter carrier address $60.00 + $4.20 G.S.T. Outside Canada -$99.00 ono see 4o cosine: USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 0000000❑ 1 00000000 Card No. I Expiry Date _ ❑ Visa ❑ Master Card ❑ Cheque enclosed Return to TIMES ADVOCATE L24 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6, min i gam mis me 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Cat's eye quandry If highway reflectors are so good, why aren't they standard issue? See page 5 Motorcycle magic Motocross -club keeps the sport alive See Crossroads Second front Beach still an issue The appeal to re -gain Gibbs' beach continues See page 11 A volleyball kick? New rules for a hands -only game See page 14 Cardiff honoured Former MP saluted for 13 years in office See page 27 Classifieds pages 18-22 Announcements pages 23-24 - Experts page 25 9-1-1 closer for Huron County Issues of costs and addresses have to be dealt with first By Fred Groves T -A staff GODERICH - it's a safe assumption to make that within the next two years a 91 1 emergency service will come to Huron County. Before then the county has some work to do. First, and foremost, is the decision whether or not to establish its own network to staff the phone lines or to have Bell Canada supply that ser- vice. Second, and probably most costly to the county, is the addressing sys- tem. Throughout the county, 911 requires that no streets in Huron share sante name. Thursday night, nearly 100 people came toGoderikh to listen to the mer- its and expenses of establishing 911, including the creation of an ad- dressing committee. "This is one of the first steps towards investigating 911. It means an ex- tensive program and it could take up to 24 months," said Huron County warden Allan Gibson. "911 is a municipal service requested by local officials. It's like garbage collection, it's necessary," said Mark Lade of Bell Canada, who along with Dan Ben -y made the presentations. Bell has had 911 in London since 1974 and the first Canadian system to have the service was Winnipeg, back in 1955. Prior to 1991, Lade said only larger municipalities could afford the service. Bell Canada uses a Public Emergency Reporting System (P.E.R.S.). When someone calls 911, their name, phone number and address come up on a screen. The system makes it easier for panicked callers who have trouble giving directions to the location of the emergency. "Calls get through a lot faster. We'II know the address and the majority will have additional information," said Lade. "You only have to dial three digits." The two main questions asked by those in attendance on Thursday were how will this be paid for and whether or not the entire county has to par- ticipate. Cost for the service breaks down as follows: each subscriber (which., means,everyZine going jnto_a byijding) ;)91 have to .pay. 32seats per month. Lade explained that when Bell Canada asked other counties how they, wanted to be billed, 97 percent said they wanted to have it on their pho,te bills. "After a number of calculations we came up with 32 cents a month per subscriber," said Lade. "It's regardless if you're a Tuckersmith subscriber or a Bell subscriber." The local independent phone companies like Tuckersmith and Hay are working in conjunction with Bell towards establishing 911. "We've had meetings with the telephone companies. Some of the issues have been worked out," said Huron administrator Lynn Murray. The 32 cents per subscriber is only a portion of the cost. it docs not in- clude staff who man the phones 24 hours a day seven days a week, an- swering equipment, printers or display screens. it would he economically feasible if all 26 municipalities in the county participated but Berry said that doesn't have to happen, although it is cheaper. "it's my understanding either we all sign on or there is no 911 service," asked Goderich Township's Dave Gower. Berry said no. this wasn't the case to which Gower immediately re- sponded, "that's a little different from what you told us the last timc." Police, fire departments l('Ilt.s look forward is and lu 9/ 1 See page three. Firefighters deserve some leeway, agrees town council In emergencies seconds count more than minor driving infractions, say some council members EXETER - Town council sug- gested that citizens be more con- siderate of volunteer firefighters rushing to fire calls, after reviewing a letter of apology from fire chief Gary Middleton. A copy of Middleton's letter to the editor, which appears in this is- sue, was sent to council. Middleton apologizes to the town's citizens for erratic driving on behalf of the fire- fighters, some of whom were re- ported to the OPP. The OPP last week met with Middleton to discuss a specific complaint about a firefighter driv- ing through a stop sign and sliding a car sideways through an inter- section on the way to the fire hall. Middleton, in his letter, agrees such maneuvers are "unwarranted". Council, however, appeared una- ware of the specific complaint. "Do [the citizens] have any in- dication of who they are or what they're driving for?" asked coun- cillor Ervin Sillcry. "i think we have to make sure these citizens understand these guys arc volunteers," agreed coun- cillor Dave Urlin. "1'm sure it will be dealt with at our next fire board meeting," said councillor Robert Drummond, and suggested council not discuss it fur- ther until more is known about the problem. Drummond said if it simply was the result of a fircfightcr "rolling through a stop sign" then it was a minor concern. "In some towns I have seen signs in car windows that say 'Fireman Responding'," said Sillcry. Drummond said he knew a couple of firefighters do have flash- ing lights they set up on their dash- boards for the trip to the fire hall. Middleton's letter acknowledges the first five to eight minutes delay in getting fire trucks on the scene of structural fires are critical in sav- ing the building. 7 Contribution to A $4,000 donation was made by the Huron Fish and Game Conservation Club to the ABCA Sunday, specifically for the maintenance and upkeep of the Bannockburn Conserva- tion Area. Tom Prout (left) general manager of the ABCA, accepted the donation from Steve Taylor, president of Huron Fish and Game. At right is ABCA director Matt Pearson. The club made a similar donation to the Bannockburn area last year. Hundreds of people attended the annual nature hike, taking advantage of the perfect autumn weather. Hay Telephone to go cooperative Elected directors, not Hay council, will oversee the independent telephone company By Adrian Harte T -A Editor ZURICH - The Hay Municipal Telephone Com- pany may be operating as a cooperative by this Jan- uary, says manager Bill Wagner. The company is sending out a notice to all its sub- scribers in the October killing. asking Them to sup- port a change of the company's structure to a co-op. "There's no other way. There's no choice," said Wagner, explaining that the current structure of the telephone system, with its board of directors as members of Hay Township council, is no longer recognized as legal under Canadian Radio and Tele- communications Commission regulations as of April 26. With the term of township council now coining to a close, this fall is the right time to change to a co- operative company, with an elected board of di- rectors. Wagner said the election of directors would re- quire them to be subscribers, Canadian citizens, and to have paid a nominal membership fee (likely only one dollar). New directors could come from any- where in the subscriber area, such as the parts of Bosanquet Township it serves, as opposed to being just from Hay Township. "It keeps the function of the tel -co as it was in- tended," said Wagner. "A locally -run company." At present, Hay Telephone is actually owned by its 5,0(X) subscribers, but Wagner said the official definition of subscriber has continually changed since its formation in 1908. The only other options open to Hay Telephone under CRTC regulations would be either to sell the entire company, or to issue public shares. Wagner said the co-operative plan is clearly preferable. He said as a co-op, there would be no funda- mental changes made to the company that a sub- scriber would notice, except perhaps the fact that co-ops are allowed to pay a percentage of yearly profits to subscribers as "patronage"— - much like farmers' co-operatives, such as the Hensall and Dis- trict Co -Op. "That's something new," said Wagner, hut he said he is not sure what such patronage payments would amount to, considering the continual need to up- grade equipment and technology to keep pace with the telecommunications industry. Wagner said if all goes to plan, the company could be a co-operative by January 1. At present, Hay Township council members arc paid honoraria and and per -meeting fees that total between $ 1,800 and $2,41() a year, depending on duties. Wagner said those fees would likely form the basis for stipends paid a new board of six elect- ed directors. Council assumes care for Old Town Hall The Exeter and District Heritage Foundation is no longer responsible for the building and portraits inside EXETER - Town council now has full re- sponsibility for the Old Town Hall. Acting on a request from the Exeter and District Heritage Foundation, council agreed to accept re- sponsibility for the 106 -year old building frpm the foundation, which had previously overseen its up- keep. Councillor Robert Drummond asked what the pre- vious arrangement had been for the building. "They look after it, we own the buildih still," re- plicd mayor Brucc Shaw, pointing out that the Her- itage Foundation is a committee of council. "Now they want Exctcr to resume that re- sponsibility. Why?" asked Drummond, to which there was no answer. The Heritage Association earlier this year, how, ever, had indicated their wish that the town re- locate its municipal offices to the building, now that its retail space was vacant. The Heritage Founda- tion also proposed dissolving the organization. Councillor Ben Hoogcnboom agreed that council should assume responsibility for the structure, and said he especially wants to make sure the collection of portraits by artist Harry Burke be properly cared for. The portraits depict many of Exeter's foundcts and citizens. •