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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1975-02-13, Page 14-1A0,,,:dadatalia&6iaailahawititaaaliilg=4W Pleatg of school 7301 There was no lack of school "spirit" at Central Huron Secondary School this week as they celebrated their Winter Carnival with a host of activities in- cluding snow sculpturing. Shown here with their entry are grade 13 students, ' Steve Garland, left, Lynn Flowers, Alex Westerhout, Ron Keys, and lying on the ground, Brenda Taylor. (News -Record photo) FEBRUARY 4 26 5 31 6 30 7 28. 8 22 9 15 10 14' 12. 3. 13 3 17 8 19 6 21 8 22 •6 26 5 Snow 10" iinton uncil em lo ees receive pay hike Inflation has hit the pocketbooks of members of Clinton council, and they decided last Monday night to increase their pay. The mayor .will now get $40 for each special, regular, or full committee of the whole meeting, and' $25 for each sub committee meeting. Under the old by- law passed in 1971, the mayor received $35 for regular and $20 for sub- committee meetings. A councillor's pay was increased to $30 per regular council meeting from $20, and $20 per sub -committee meeting, an increase of $5 from the old rate. In addition, the public works foreman gets an additional $150 per year for car allowance.. On the average, a member of Clinton. council attends about 25 regular or full meetings, and about 15 sub -committee Clinton to receive historical plaque A historic plaque commemorating the formation of the Town of Clinton will be erected and dedicated this summer, council learned Monday night. Council received a letter from 'the Ontario Heritage Foundation telling the _town that the Province would erect the cast metal plaque in town, and requested the town to send them the.wording of the' script to be placed on it. In other business connected 'with the Centennial celebrations, Muriel Trott'of the Historical Committee of the Cen- tennial. Committee was present and expressed concern that pictures of the Town's fathers were sold at a recent auction sale of the late Jabez Rands. Mr. Rands had salvaged the pictures from the second floor of the old Town Hall but had died before they could be - used: The pictures were then accidently Sold at his estate auction last October. T.r.ol44aid thalk,Mrs.,Poris the Historical chairman, was trying to buy the pictures back at consider le expetise. Mrs. Trott said she was "very, very upset," that the only pictures of Clinton's former mayors and reeves had been lost. Mrs. Trott said that several pictures were now in Sarnia, and councillor Don Hall' said he was down that way and would see about getting them back. In another unusual move, council cancelled the contract of Elmer Frey, at his request, to pick up the town's gar- bage. Mr. Frey's tender of $13,500 per year for the three year contract was the lowest of eight submitted and was ac- cepted at the January meeting. Mr. Frey, however, said he couldn't carry out the contract because he wouldn't be collecting all the garbage in town. Council then had to go to the third lowest bidders, Joseph Steep and Randy Glew, to have the contract accepted. The cost is now $15,000 per year. Council granted the severence ap- plication of Mr. and Mrs. Charles Nelson of Victoria Street in Clinton, but noted that one of the lots was too small and should the house on it burn down, it couldn't be replaced. Council was also given the report on policing in Huron, and wondered if several Opportunities For Youth Projects couldn't be carried out in town this summer because it was Centennial year. Accounts totaling $24,021.30 were ordered paid, of which $10,000 was to the London architectural firm of Tillmann and Lamb for the survey last year of the town hall. Council also learned that only eight per cent of 1974 taxes is still owing, with the bulk of it owed by two persons. Unless taxes are paid, council can order the land sold in a tax sale. Building permits passed included: Stu Farquar, alterations, $900; Leslie Turner, addition, $3,000; and I.G.A. Supermarket, $3,700. Bayfieid reeve upset over ODC loan to Blue Anchor By Jim Fitzgerald Well, tomorrow is Valentine Day, that time of the year when you express your —true (?) feelings for those closest to you. We'd like to send one to the Clinton cotincil affel• last Monday's meeting: "Roses are red, Violets are blue, You got *-44ryottrtseaLoyzhaw..,!,batikkis top " • M, We had a feller down from the city the - other day and after an observing day in - Clinton, he asked, "Why are there so many more gossips in a small town than in a city." To which we replied; "It's more fun watching the game when you know the players." + And speaking of knowing the players, many of you should know the volunteers at the Clinton Centennial meeting this coming WednesdaY FebruarY 19 at 8 p.m. at the Town Hall. Centennial plans Ate starting to shape up nicely. +++ On the same night at the same time but at the ag. office, the public is invited to attend the meeting of the Clinton .Environmental Improvement Program. Two short films will be shown. +++ We'd like to apologize for shaming the good name of Clinton the other night at the Old. Timers game here in Town. Contrary to rumors going around, the Flying Farmers are not trying to sign me! +++ Dr. Ken Woods now has available In several outlets in town, forms for the giant Centennial parade being held Aug., 2nd. Now is the time to start thinking about that float. Bayfield R eeve!Ed Oddie if sow was not happy on Monday when he was informed that Blue Anchor Investments Ltd. had been given a $30,000 Ontario Develop- ment Corporation Loan to add an ad- ditional 18 _boat berths to their marina on the river flats on the north shore of the Bayfield River. Reeve Oddleifson said that Blue Anchor still doesn't have positive proof that they even own the land, and he said that expropriation procedures by the Village are still alive. "I can't understand why the Provincial government on one hand is meetings per year. Council also increased their pay while a-ttending conventions for the town. From now on they will get' $25 per day while at the convention, up from $20; they will receive 15 cents per mile to go there, up from the old rate of 10 cents per mile; and they will receive $12 per day for theals, up from $8. As well, their registration fees will also be paid. Council also approved pay raises for town employees at its meeting Monday. The new salaries are: clerk, $13,800, up $3,300; deputy clerk, $7,485, up $1,500; policehief, $15,000, up $3,000; two first class' constables, $13,500, up $3,000; second class constable, 042,500, up $3,000, one probationary constable, $10,000, an increase of $1,700, and one $9,500, an increase of $1,200; public works foreman, $8,840, up $1,248; two public works employees, $8,320, up $1,248. As well, there will be overtime pay for constables and public works employees and a $150 per year clothing allowance for public works employees and $4 per day standby time during the weekends during the winter. Although the police salaries were set, no other details of the agreement bet- ween the town and the Clinton Police Association were available because the agreement has not been signed by both saying one thing, and on the other hand— saying another thing," Reeve Oddleifson said in reference to the disputed land title. He said the Village has no intention of giving up their fight for the flats. The announcement of the loan was made by Huron MPP Jack Riddell last Friday/ and the loan carries an interest rate of 81/2 per cent. Earlier in January, Dry Dock Marinas Ltd. on the other side of the River received a $160,000 loan from ODC to construct a 95 boat berth and marina facilities at Bayfield. parties. In other business, council was in- formed in a letter' from Willis Cooper of England that there will be no money available from him for a senior citizens centre in town. Mr. Willis four years ago had offered up to half his Canadian assets as a memorial to his parents. He'said in the letter that his Canadian assets, once worth $75,000, were now almost useless, because of inflation, and he would have trouble giving the money to the town because of estate duties due back in England. Mr. Cooper said in another letter to the mayor that he would not be attending the Town's Centennial celebrations this year. Council also renewed for one year the taxi licence of Harvey Ashton on three cars. The licence expires at the end of March. Requests for grants from the Huron Plowman's Association and the Goderich and District Association for the Mentally Retarded will be set aside for consideration at the budget meeting -- later. Council tabled a resolution from the Town of Markham that called on the Provincial government to move the civic election ahead to the first Monday in October because of inclement weather in December, and also to move the end of the fiscal year ahead to October 31st. Arson suspected in fire The Ontario Fire Marshal's office hi'iS been called in to investigate a blaze that early last Thursday morning caused between $75,000 and $100000 damage to a barn in Goderich Township owned by Huron Pines Construction Ltd. of Clinton. The fire, which was discovered about 5 a.m. two miles west of Clinton on High- way 8, levelled a large,barn and lean-to, destroying two bulldozers, two snowmobiles, a trencher, electrical wire, and a quantity of building materials. Also lost in the blaze were two pet horses, a sow and her litter and a quantity of hay and straw. The Clinton Fire Brigade responded to the call, but the barn was completely . enveloped in flames when they got there. They saved a nearby shed, and prevented flames from reaching a nearby farmhouse rented by the Gordon Bradley Family. Bud Kuehl of Clinton, president of Huron Pines, said that the loss was partially coVered by insurance. Says health minister No Huron hospitals to close Ontario Health Minister Frank Miller said in Clinton last Friday night that no hospitals in Huron County, including Clinton's would be closed as a result of the controversial Mustard report on iliPalth - Mr. Miller spoke to about 50 persons at Clinton Public school as part of an all day tour of the County, which stops at Exeter, Wingham, Goderich and Clin- ton. He said that the Mustard report was prepared to stimulate discussion, and it was never the government's intention to implement it. He said that there had to be some changes in health care because of soaring costs. N'ow health care costs Ingham site to get Plowing Match The farm of James Armstrong of Wingham has been selected by the Ontario Plowmen's Association for the site of the 1978 International Plowing Match and Farm Machinery Demon- • stration to be held in Huron County. This was announced Wednesday morning by Howard Datars, Dashwood, Chairman of the Huron County Local Committee, I.P.M. The Executive of the Ontario Plowmen's Association made the 'selection of the Wingham site after touring the four sites suggested by the local Huron County site committee. Other sites visited by the group were in Usborne, Stephen and McKillop townships. The O.P.A. Executive indicated that the Armstrong farm in Morris Town- ship, immediately east of the town of Wingham on Highway 86, was most adaptable to the requirements for staging the large International Plowing Match. Plans are for the Tented City on the Armstrong farm with plowing and demonstrations on the Armstrong and 'adjacent neighbouring farms. The Ontario ;Plowmen's Association Convention will be held at the Royal York Hotel, 'Toronto on February 17th and 18th. They would welcome anyone The Ontario Housing Corporation will assessment on land in town that is used be asked to conduct a survey in Clinton lar_farmland because the town provides into the need of an additional senior no services to the land. The by-law is citizens' housing unit, council decide Monday night. Presently the town has an 18 unit building on James Street, and a new 20 unit building is about to go up on King Street, but Mayor Don Symons said he felt there was need for another unit, which costs the town only 71/2 per cent of any operating deficit. In other business, Irene Okahasi was present and asked why the public washrooms in the Town Hall couldn't be open more during business hours. She said that many persons have come into her store on Rattenbury Street to use her washrooms because the Town Hall's aren't always open. Council agreed to . look into the :natter. Council was informed by the ministry ot transporation ancL.,coMMUIVCa ion that they are allowing grants to the town of $34,000 for new road construction, and $28,000 for maintenante. Clinton must spend a similar amount to get the grants. The ministry also told council they are embarking on a campaign to have Ohtario drivers use their seatbelts more often. A by-law was passed reducing the passed every year. During discussion of the public works department, Councillor Ernie Brown said that the recently completed dead tree removal cost the town nothing because it was done by a Winter Works crew. "The town boys, the PUC boys and those winter works fellas did a won- derful job," Mr. Brown said. Tuckerstnith reeve heads Authority Elgin Thompson, Reeve of Tuoker- smith Township, was elected Friday to his third consecutive term as chairman of the Ausable-Bayald— Conservation Authority. Mr. Thompson defeated vice- chairman Fred Heaman, the provincial representative on the authority in the balloting. Mr. Heaman then declined to COOSOlting With mister • stand for re-election as vice-chairman. In a raae.for Mr. Heaman's post,..goY,— Ontario's ministry of health, Frank Miller, left, discusses several points with Dr. Ray Flowers and Joe Murphy of Clinton after the minister met informally with about 50. interested to join the Huron delegation during the Host County Presentations on Tuesday morning, February 18th. A bus will be leaving from Habkirk Coach Lines, Seaforth, for the Con- vention early Tuesday morning. For further information about travel arrangements contact Bill Leeming, Seaforth, 527-0818. about $3 billion a year in Ontario, and Mr. Miller said if the costs weren't checked, they could escalate to near $11 billion by 1984. The government' presently recovers about $560 million yearly, -or about 23 percent, through OHIP payments. Mr. Miller said that hospitals wouldn't be closed, but we would be "changing what you do in the hospitals." He said that any changes would be very slow. "We have no special reason for the visit," Mr. Miller told the audience, "it's a weekly kind of exercise to see and sense the problems in various parts of the province." During his one -day trip to Huron, Mr. Miller said he had discussed all kinds of topics, ranging from the Mustard report, through to abortion and health plans. "There is no common thread to the questions during the Huron tour," Mr. Miller said. Mr. Miller said he wasn't afraid to discuss the Mustard Report, that among other things, recommended that there be only one hospital to every 15,000 persons, and because Huron had only a population of 52,000 it would stand to lose two of the five hospitals. Blit Mr. Miller said , the Mustard Report was a long way from becoming , government policy. "There is no good political reasons for adopting the report, Westcott of Usborne Township beat Ivan (conti(ued on page 12) • it is not our thinking," Mr. Miller. The affair was billed as an informal affair, with the minister spending about an hour in Clinton answering questions from the floor. He admitted that the amauntspent on preventive medicine was "Pitifully small; but with limited funds, you do the things you have to, not the things you want to do," Mr. Miller said. "The only solution is to make people healthier or make them feel healthier," he said. "There seems to bean unlimited demand for health services." Mr. Miller would like to increase the OHIP premiums between 10 and 20 percent "to show people that health costs are rising," but he can't receive agreement from cabinet. He said that Ontario's ratio of one doctor to every 586 people is a good ratio, but there are too many doctors in some areas of the province, and not enough in other areas, causing some to go without proper medical care. He said too that there were too many doctors in some medical fields, and not enough in others. The doctors and hopsitals can't be blamed for the increasing health costs, they are just trying to fulfill the demands of their patients. "In the past we were underserviced, and now we're overserviced," he said. persons in Clinton Public Miller was on a day -long Wingham, Goderich, and A School last Friday night: Mr. -- tour. that took him to Exeter, finally Clinton. (News -Record