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Times Advocate, 1994-11-23, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, November 23,1994 Regional gra u No trustee cuts in Bruce County/ WINGHAM - A proposal to cut the Bruce County Board of Education by as many as three members didn't get much sup- port from trustees at their No- vember 1 meeting. The province is urging school boards to amalgamate or reduce size as one way of cutting increasing eduation costs. But Bruce County trustees say they are already covering enough areas of responsiblity and can't take on more without changing the nature of their jobs, it was re- ported in the Wingham Advance - Times. "I'm still not convinced we should be downsizing," said vice -chair Don Stobo. He was echoing comments made by many other trustees that eliminating trustees from small boards would not save the province much money in the long run. Ipperwash talks remain stalled FOREST,- Stalled progress on the return of Camp Ipperwash to native groups has Kettle and Stony Point chief Tom Bressette increasingly frustrated. "Everybody is looking for this thing to be resolved," he told the Forest Standard in a recent inter- view. It was 18 months ago that an occupation of the Camp Ipper- wash lands began by -the Ket- tle and Stony Point Nations in protest of a long standing land claim dispute. And it's been nine months since the federal government officailly announced it would be returning the land to the Kettle and Stony Point First Nations. Council blasts DHC selection process SEAFORTH - Seaforth coun- cillors say they are furious with the way thc Huron -Perth District Health Council selected Mitch- ell, Dublin and Stratford as top picks for the council's new offic- es. "1 don't think there was any- thing honest or aboveboard about the process," councillor Bill Teall told Seaforth council two weeks ago after hearing Mitchell was selected as pre- ferred site for the DHC. Seaforth's submission indicat- ed the town already has two buildings that would be suitable for DHC offices in addition to being centrally located, it was reported in the Huron Exposi- tor. SWAN memorial request denied GODERICH - A request to lower town flags to half-mast to commemorate the 14 women killed at the University of Mon- treal's school of engineering in 1989 was denied by Goderich Town Council recently. Councillor Rick Magie said lowering the flag to half-mast is "federal protocol" when the na- tion is mourning a murder. The request was made by the Stop Women Abuse Now com- mittee, it was reported in the Goderich Signal -Star. IN THF NFW.S Renovations to streamline hospital The aim is to give staff more room to work and make everything more efficient By Fred Groves T -A staff EXETER - Streamlining - that's what's going on at Exeter's South Huron Hospital. Beginning December 13, several employees will have new offices. It's all part of a $300,000 cosmetic renovation project which ad- ministrator Don Currell hopes to have completed by June. The renovations will riot only make the hospital more efficient, but it will also free -up some much needed space in the emergency room which has been used for out- patient clinics. "We're making our emergency room more workable. Our clinics have always been in the emergency room. As it gets busy, we have no room," said Currell who noted that as many as 15,000 patients go through the emergency room each year. For the past three years, the hos- pital has been looking at changing the emergency room, but the Min- istry of Health would not approve the original project which was es- timated at about $1.5 million. This time, Currell doesn't know if the ministry will disapprove of the renovations. He said they have al- ready been in and are aware of some of the work being done. "I'd like the public to know (about the renovations) but I don't want to be stopped halfway through the project." Currell said the out-patient clin- ics will be located in what is now the administration area. Ad- ministration and health records arc being re -located to the vacant ob- stetrics wing. "It is not major construction. We are not moving any walls," said Currell. Probably the most expensive part of the renovation will bg the $16,000 which has been spent on three beams to support the floor un- derneath where some of the 57 tons of hospital records will be kept. Those who work in the hospital's health records department are cramped and sometimes have to make up to 60 trips a day to get to the records storage which now, is in several spots in the building Currell pointed out that while the total project is about $300,000, about half of that will be for a new phone system, shelving, carpet, paint and wallpaper. The money is in the budget. "We're doing all the work our- selves (if we can). If we can't we'll got to local contractors." Doctors hired: The issue in- volving doctors in the province and rural hospitals is still unsettled. However, it appears as though South Huron has a temporary solu- tion. While the local doctors are bill- ing the hospital a fee to staff the hospital, which Currell did not know the current amount to date, the local doctors are not staffing the emergency room all week long. "It's changing all the time," said Currell of the amount being paid to local doctors. "We are getting more people in. I don't know what the end figure would he." Doctors who come to Exeter and staff the emergency room on the weekends, are also filling in the odd shift during the week. Currell said the hospital has a re- cruiting committee set up and "It has attracted some people. Our ef- forts have paid off." He also said that, through the recruiting, the committee is looking to bring an- other doctor to Exeter. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Health and the Ontario Hospital Association continue to look for a solution. "The Minister of Health has ap- proached a fact finder and all the reports should be done by February 1995," said Currell. 24-hour police patrols could cost over $100,000 Full coverage could cost the town a hefty premium on its contract with the OPP EXETER - Will town council be looking at putting police officers on the beat in Exeter 24 hours a day? The issue of 24-hour policing came up at Monday's council ses- sion because councillor Robert Drummond said he was following up one resident's concerns at the all -candidate's meeting. Drummond asked how council would go about changing current patrols to offer 24-hour coverage. Mayor Bruce Shaw said council could initiate the procedure by ask- ing the police services board to re- evaluate its contract with the OPP, which replaced the town police force last November. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom said he contacted the OPP himself to ask what it would cost to fill in the three-hour gap in the early hours of the morning on the nights when Exeter has only officers on call, not on patrol. "We would be looking at an addi- tional $95,000 for starters," said Hoogenboom, and admitted the full cost would likely go over $100,000. When the town signed a contract with the OPP, it was to virtually du- plicate the patrols and shifts of thc previous town police force. The town police also had a gap in early morning patrols most nights. "We're no different that what we were before?" asked reeve Bill Mickle. Shaw agreed there had been no change. Grand Bend airport has a future as a drag racing strip An agreement has been reacnea to allow the races there for -another three years at least GRAND BEND - An agreement has been reached to allow parts of the Grand Bend airport to be used as a drag racing strip for the next three years. Stephen Township council entered into an agreement last Wednes- day with Doug Jennision of Grand Bend to allow the further use of the airport as a drag strip. Council agreed that Jennison had satisfied the concerns of neighbours, including airport users. Stephen Township administrator Larry Brown said the agreement will allow Jennison time enough to test the viability of having a drag strip near Grand Bend. To make the drag strip permanent, an Of- ficial Plan amendment would be needed: a costly and lengthy pro- cess. "They can test market 1 guess...see what works," said Brown. Jennison organized several drag racing weekends at the airport last summer, and is considering motorcycle races on ice for the next Grand Bend Winter Carnival. Road repairs under way in Hensall HENSALL - Drivers passing through Hensall ear- lier this week, probably noticed traffic was a bit slower as repair work began on the road surface by the railway tracks on the main street. Works superintendent John Baker told council last week that the repairs should, for the time being, alleviate the bumpy road conditions when crossing the tracks. It is expected that in the spring repairs will be done to the track itself which is the primary cause of the poor road condition. Construction crews are expect to be finished the work by the end of the week. CHRISTMAS WISHES COME TRUE • In ay tad cryfie/d hayfield c, '' 7r Tom, Air. _ � :. u1 = r� :6,71/f is ld A VILLAGE FOR ALL SEASONS bs stl `t1 (;‘' st) ti 8 11..r..rrrr..r✓.r..rr.T..r✓.rsfr..r..rr✓✓✓✓..r, r..rr.�.,r..rr.�.r. rrrr.�.r. rrr..r✓..f.T.r.�.rr✓.rr..rr✓_'� LEARN TO FINISIJ W000 LIKE A PROFESSIONAL Join a Minwax Professional as they teach you how to "bring out the best in wood" with Minwax interior wood finishing THIS IS NOTA MERE DEMONSTRATION: this is a fact -filled seminar on "Find Wood Finishing" especially for the do-it-yourselfer Exeter Co-o Saturday, December 3rd 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. During these free clinics, the Minwax* Consultants will advise your personally about your own wood -finishing projects! To receive the best advice, PLEASE BRING IN A SMALL PIECE OF YOUR PROJECT (eg. a drawer, a door, etc.) Minwax All products 15% Off Saturday Only Enjoy the parade then stop in to have all your qUestions answered Exeter Store Only 235-2081