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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1976-05-06, Page 1.My✓yrs-fA•.•�at1++�rvu�m.+w.....evrnM�Y�RvrWvkiwf y iWkP�vv'.'W'.�Y�NM*N'9NriN't1. , ,NM.RtlN nce says no, hos, The decision whether the 62 -bed Clinton Public Hospital will remain open is now up to the Supreme Court of Ontario, as acting health minister Dr. Rett Stephenson told the Clinton hospital board the government hasn't changed its mind on closing the hospital by June 1st. in a letter Monday to Art Aiken, Chairman of the Hospital Board, Dr. Stephenson said the government will not change its wind on an April 12th decision to chose the Clinton Hospital as an active treatment hospital. . Representatives from the Clinton community had another hearing with fir. Stephenson on April 16 and she said she would have a decision in a couple of Ys - Rut since then the Ontario Supreme eourt has ruled that a letter ordering the Durham hospital closed.was not proper and would require an order in eouncii. The same letter was received in Clinton. The Clinton hospital board has since gone to court on another point of law and the case was heard before three Justices of the Supreme court on Tuesday. Clinton's lawyer, Aubrey Golden of Toronto, was arguing that the govern- ment can't close a privately run and financed institution such as the Clinton hospital, but no decision was available as of press time. Doug Coventry, administrator of the hospital, said they are still admitting patients beyond the May 1st deadline, and none of the 110 employees have yet been given termination notices. Jo Anne Shell, left, last year's At Home Queen, crowns Susan Tyndall as the 1976 Queen of Central Huron Secondary School's At Home dance held last Friday night. Susan's escort, Perry Jutzl looks on. The theme of this year's dance was Disneyland and the gym was very well decorated for evening. (photo by Jack Hunt) Because the "delisting" of a boo; requires both provincial and fe! approval, Federal health minister Lalonde said last week he would tla desist Clinton or any of the other thr; hospitals until the court had made at, decision. The federal government pays 50 percent of the province's health care costs. Meanwhile last Friday night ands,,., Saturday, the Citizens Action aunt- mittee, hada large group of local people picketing the teem nrotesting. the t uri °stng. The group included a large ;ober of citizens from Blyth, Lon, tb+oxo. Vanastra, including May'or Don Symons and Reeve Harold Lob'h. Citizens' Action Committee'treasurer Roy Wheeler said the group has alma $2i000 worth of donations left in the bank, and he said every donations is, detailed in an account book that Is open for public inspection. The committee may have to seek more money► if legal costs continue to mount. Hullett taxes drop 10�Jo Whfle most municipalities in Huron County face increases in their municip tax rates this year, some as high as 30 percent, the ratepayers of Hullett Township got a real break from their cpuncil last Monday night at their May Meeting. 'Not only willmunicipal taxes not in- crease in Hullett this year, but they will tak a substantial drop. Working with a large surplus of $47,000 from last year's budget, Hullett council was able to cut taxes, despite increased education levies. For an average Hullett taxpayer with a $3,000 assessment, a saving of $30 will be realized this year, or a drop to $221 from the 3251 of last year. The levies set by council with 1975's in brackets are as follows; county, 13.6 (24.5) ; elementary, 25 (21.5); secon- dary. 23.4 (17); separate, 33.4 (25.18) ; township 23.5 (24.5) ; Auburn 16.4 (15); and Londesboro street lights, 44 (4.5) Council also decided to have the taxes paid in two installments, one by June 15, and the other by December 15 with a penalty of one percent per month on all un aid taxes. ullett total budget this year was set, at $254,619, down born last year's $277,714. In other business, council accepted the applications of -Dave Middleton and John Wammes for tile drain loans, but warned them they might not get the money as the province has cut back the program to all townships. The tender of Pollard brothers to supply 35 percent chloride at $82.50 per ton was accepted and severance was granted to Hugh Millar on Lot 31 and 34 Hagyards Survey. Building permits were issued to John Beers. implement shed; Mrs. Violet Cohen, sun porch; W. Cunningham, machine shed; John Riley, tool shed; T. Tiesma, drive shed; Keith Allen, house; J. DeJong. house; and William Rodger, addition to house and sow barn. Clinton seeks Vanastra There were antlquess galore at Bruceileld, United Church's Antique display and social held at the church last Friday night as part of their Centennial celebrations. Bob Broadfoot, left, was dressed in a 161st Huron Battailon uniform from the First War, while Edwin Johns of Clinton is dressed In a suit from about 1900. (News -Record photo) Town takes first step in Clinton town council last Monday night decided to go ahead and made the first step towards annexing Vanastra and • parts of Stanley and Tuckersmith Township. The annexation move had been suggested by Reeve Harold Lobb last month as the town was in desperate need of new industrial land. After thinking about the move, council appointed a committee to meet with the Huron County, ..development office, the county planning office and the two townships involved. Council took the move after reading a lengthy report prepared by John Duddy of the Clinton branch of Hoist Real Estate. Mr. Duddy, who included statistics and maps with his letter, said that Vanastra should be annexed by Clinton, but it needs a promotional job, as "too Council overturns rec. decision that would end races Clinton town council last Monday night overturned a decision made by the Clinton recreation committee last Thursday, night to increase the rent of the park by the Clinton Kinsmen by nearly 10 times. By Jim Fitzgerald Next week is police week in Ontario, and for the first time ever. the Clinton Police office will be able to ac- commodate more than three persons at a time. This year. the local boys in blue will be welcoming people in their brand new office in the former fire hall in Clinton, and a special official opening will be held next Saturday. May 15 at 3 p.m., with a host of big wigs set to be there. Drop over and see where your tax dollars are well spent. + + + Don't forget, too, that next Tuesday evening the Clinton Centennial band will be putting on what promises to be an excellent concert. They have gone to a let of trouble and effort to line up the Show, so don't let them down. Let's see everyone out. ++ A new cartoon strip makes its debut This we* in the News -Record. Instead of ie , traditional news release, this year welVianpower office has a young Exeter hlgb school student, John Latham, dra'w'ing their plea to hire students. This urtner looks to be a real tough one for tudents looking for jobs, so if you can 1p, contact the Goderich Manpower lice. ++ April, according to the weather office end as if we didn't know) was a, two - ed month, giving us both extremes of calendar. Fro summer heat to er snow and,cOid in less than four isn't a record, however, but there is e consolation, summer officially es on June 21st. +++ a corning Sunday is the one day of year we fathers all dread, as the boss household is treated to breakfast among other things, by dad and Since our little one stili can't heromown diapers, 111 be on my e' kitchen.elp! The rec committee had accepted .a report from their park committee, which among other recommendations, would increase the Kinsmerfs rent of the facilities from $1,500 a summer to nearly $16,000. Town council, who by law have a final say in such ma'tterrs, decided that the town would renew the Kinsmen's lease of the park for $2,000 for the 13 Sundays the Kinsmen use the park and arena during July; August and September. Council decided that the $2,600 rental agreement would cover the $1,589 in- surance policy plus $400 for using the town's grader on the track. Last year the Kinsmen paid $1,500. The rec committee had said they wanted two percent of any handle at the betting windows of the horse races, which last year was nearly $800,000 for the whole summer. bringing in nearly $16,000 for the rec committee. Deputy Reeve Frank Cook, the town's representative on the rec committee and also the racing secretary for the Kin- smen, was indignant at the rec com- m'ittee's move. "It (the $16,000) rent will put the Kinsmen right out of the horse races", Mr. Cook said. "They lost money on the operation last year because of com- petition from Flamboro (racetrack near Hamilton) and now this year they also • have competition from the Dresden Raceway". ."The Kinsmen have put between 875.000 and $100,000 in that park since they have been organized. Why just last year they put $10,000 in the Ausabie- Bayfield Park (on the edge of town)", Mr. Cook said. Although the Kinsmen pay to have the park cleaned up, the rec committee said the park wasn't as clean as they thought itshouldbe. Bill Crawford, chairman of the parks committee, said "all we're trying to do is recommend rates. 1f we're going to supply services to people, they should know the costs." Don Kay of the rec board said he didn't think the taxpayer pays any money towards running the races, but if the Kinsmen's rent was upped then it would be that much less money to get from the taxpayer. Although the full rec committee en- dorsed the rate change as recommended by the parks board, they said they would discuss any of the changes which in- clude: + A $10 fee charge per game for any team juvenile age or over to use the ball diamonds. Employees given pay boost but council freezes own Although Clinton's town employees enjoy an eight to 1,0 percent raise in wages this year, Clinton town council Monday night decided to freeze their own wages at least year's levels. Salaries set for this year, and retroactive to January 1st, are as follows, clerk -treasurer, $16,575; office Clerk, $8,190; police chief, $17,687; three, first-class constables, 815,918 each; one, third-class constable, $11,791; public works foreman, $10,616; three pubiic works employees at $10,000 each, plus $150 each clothing allowance per year. The employees will also get a new insurance package which includes group life, disability and extended health care. Council stressed there was no cost of living clause in the deal: Council even froze their convention allowances at last year's levels, although they raised the mileage charge by 5c a mile, . Included in the salary bylaw was 'a motion to hire Marie Jefferson as a new office clerk. Mrs. Jefferson was picked from among 11 applicants. In other business, council decided to advertise for tenders for a new furnace for the library after they learned the old one is on its last legs. Reeve Harold Lobb informed council that the Merton Centennial committee will be bringing a steam powered ex- cursion train to Clinton on July lith, and Clinton area residents are invited to ride the train and picnic with the visitors. , Building permits issued. included B brash H acerb a sunde y �► y , ck, $300, Claude Neon, sign for (Bondi's Pizza Restaurant in former Eaton's office), 8700; William Gordon, storage shed, 8422, and Fern Dale, combined d porch, 81,500. + A charge of $10 per day to reserve the picnic area. + Ang increase of $50 a day to $150 to rent the arena floor. + A daily charge of $400 to use the total park facilities, including grand- stand, with the parks committee responsible for cleaning. The rec committee also receives $400 grant each from the Fair board and the turf club for the two horse barns. Reeve Harold Lobb said the Fair board has an agreement with ther-town that doesn't expire until 1987, so the 5400 per day charge wouldn't apply to the Spring Fair. Faced with a deficit of over $8,000 from last year's budget, and looking at escalating costs again this year, the rec committee thought the park facilities should be paying for themselves rather than burdening the taxpayer. The real solution, Mayor Don Symons suggested, was for put recreation on an area basis, like fire protection, to spread the costs out, to which Reeve Lobb said the county was studying the, matter presently. often people take a negative rather than positive approach to problems". Mr. Duddy pointed to the fantastic progress made at the former Armed Forces base since 1972, when there were 216 vacant homes. Now be said, Vanastra boasts of nearly 100 per cent occupancy, with the houses doubling and tripling their value- in four years, although the turnover rate is still high. "While there are a number of viable industries =employing some 300 people•, - there is still a large square footage of industrial space that should be put to use as soon as possible to avoid any more deterioration of the buildings." He said Clinton should maximize opportunities to attract several medium- , sized, light industries that would benefit both Clinton and Vanastra with added business and jobs. He said Vanastra had plenty of space, considerably cheaper than anywhere else, had easy access to highway and rail transportation, and had fully serviced industrial lots and an active social life. "I think it would be a terrific un- dertaking," said Deputy -Reeve Frank Cook. "It would benefit both Clinton and Vanastra but I would like to see it take in a larger proportion on the west side of Highway 4." Originally, the proposal would see Clinton annex a triangle in Tuckersmith Township, bounded on the west by High- way 4, on the south and east by the annexation Vanastra Road, and an the north by Highway 8. The area would include the Bayfield River Valley, Huronview, Vanastra and several farms. "It's the only alternative we have," Councillor Burt Lobb' said -We, can't afford to spend $100,000 no- . to go out and buy and service such a •ndustria 1 t land when we already have !and at Vanastra." "It will give us a better bargaining ,-position and -more say for the people out there." he said. "Do we really need a ne% pool (in Clinton) when they have a beautiful covered pool out there," Mr. Cook asked, "It would avoid duplication of ser- vices," Councillor Jim Hunter said. "But I think we need a lot more facts and figures first." Councillor Helen Tench added. Council then appointed a committee of Councillors Hunter, and Burt Lobb, Deputy -Reeve Cook, and Planning board chairman Guss Boussey to start the ball rolling. In other business, council refused a parking permit to Sol Gerofsky of Lee's Department Store because they felt businessmen should park behind their stores. Council also decided to hire Cathy Murphy for another summer at a rate of $120 per week, with the ministry of treasury paying the first $100 as part of a student summer work program. High school badminton pa i.r finish second al all -Ontario By Lori Deller The Mixed Doubles Badminton team from CHSS consisting of Nancy MacDonald and Robin McAdam almost reached the ultimate in high school athletic competition last 'day. Nancy and Robin travel ed to Toronto to Seneca College after achieving first at WOSSA for the second time. At Toronto they defeated teams from Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa etc. to place second in the All Ontario competition. Out. of 32 teams they were defeated oal"Y�; by the winners, a brother -sister team who have been three -time winners from Sudbury. All the games were well played The closest game Wts the game in which they met with the winners of the con- solation side. By winning this game they placed second. • A comment of Nancy's about the game was, "Robin performed exceptmnaily well in clutch situations and definitely this control made the differencjbetween winning and losing." Congratations to Nancy and Robin from the entire student body. A emsrirable lrniteks ne was celebrated by the Hydro crew of the Cilhiort area larlday night In Whet has become an annual ell air,. thele safety liatiquit*.The Anton area was " : presented rlvlth ��n a�iwasirda atcco��lde�arfarachlevin i mill lett ar n e MOO*periodilk:years ` � with** rad` able St. Dire ccldenL Le to Agit a Walter Palmerof +Clinton, Fred Green of the safe 't office in Lon- don; Don Estznarr of Clinton, Avery Spencer of the London orifice, Harvey Atchison of Clinton, John MacFarlane of Goderlcb, Al Pertt � la of London, and Grant Bainbridge, regional managcr of London tNews'Rec 6d pia ta)