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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-12-01, Page 1r 1 '^u It Hu me the th e Hu P unters An impor$ant part of airy swim-a-thon is the lap counters, who ensure sponsors get what they paid for, and that was the rule last Saturday at the Vanastra Recreation Centre's bid to raise money for recreation equipment. Despite near blizzard conditions which scared many swimmers away, nearly $590 was raised by the 35 swimmers. Keith Hohner of ' Clinton raised the most, getting $261.15 in pledges. Here Michelle Long, left, and Paula Golding, right, check swimmers, while young Darlene Ryan looks on. (News - Record photo) hree seek Warden's seat was that time again on Friday at ron County Council and three mbers have declared their interest in warden's chair for 1978, the year of Int.grnational Plowing Match in ron. Gerry Ginn, the reeve of Goderich wnship was the first on his feet. Ginn, ently named Forester of the Year, nounced his intention much earlier s year to seek the warden's post cin 78. To +ec an thi 19 Ginn has had 22 years in municipal life nine years of the formed Goderich strict Collegiate Institute ,Board, four ;A the dyisory Vocational: Committee Central Huron Secondary School; four ars on Goderich Township Council as councillor; four as deputy -reeve; and hen 'he finishes this terrri of office, it ill be four as reeve, . Bob Lyons of West Wawanosh ownship declared ,himself a candidate. He has spent 11 years on county council, his year as chairman of the road committee. He is semi -retired, he told council, and will have plenty of time to devote to the warden's job if he is elected. Thethird candidate is Jack Tinney, reeve of Hay Township. He calls himself a "swamp boy" although more recently he likes to think of himself as "from the forest". He has spent 10 years on Di on of a w w It may come as a shock to you, and it certainly came as a shock to me, but it's December the 1st already, and Christmas and the end of another year are approaching all too fast. Where does all the time go. Now we have only 21 days until Christmas, and I still haven't thought of starting my Christmas shopping yet. + + + But at least the Kinsmen Club, and the hole town for that matter, received an early but appreciated Christmas present this week. The Kinsmen were notified by the engineers for the Ontario Racing Commission that the new grandstand has their stamp of approval, following repairs made last week. Only now, it's too cold to go over and sit on it to try it out. + ++ A couple of businessmen in town, dismayed that there hasn't been a Santa Clause parade in town for quite a few M years, have taken on themselves to have one next Saturday, December 10. Even old St. Nick has agreed to come. + + -I- The The recent controversy over children reading pornographic books has reminded our local joker that Scrooge was also influenced by a book. His bank book. + + + If last year's first annual Kinettes Christmas Mart is any indication, then the one set for this Saturday at Ontario Street United Church will be pan-, demonium supreme, and the police are being forwarned to have their riot gear ready. Naturally, only children will be allowed in to purchase goods, promising more action than a belly dancer with fleas. We. just received late word that municipal council, six on county council. The warden will be elected at the first January meeting of the 1978 county council. He will replace this year's warden, Doug McNeil, Colborne Township. Clinton, Ontario Chief tells council Merchants causing parking problem by Shelley McPhee The infamous Isaac Street parking prob.lem popped up again at Clinton Council meeting last Thursday evening with the information that 75 percent of the cars parked on the street belong to businessmen and their employees. Deputy Reeve Frank Cook gave council this information, following a three-day surveillance of (he_ street by Police Chief Lloyd Westlake. "We're not happy with the businessmen complaining like they did," Deputy Reeve Cook added. At a previous council meeting some merchants from Isaac Street appeared as a delegation to oppose a proposed change from angle to parallel parking on the street. This would have reduced the parking by five spaces, which the merchants felt would hurt their business. • Council made no decision on the parking problem, but will be leaving a solution up to the Ministry of Tran- sportation and Communications, who will study the situations when they come to Clinton to look at the -traffic flow problem at the main intersection of .he town. A motion was carried to call for ten- ders on a 1978 police cruiser. Deputy Reeve Cook reported that according to Chief Westlake, the present cruiser has over 50,000 miles on it. A delegation from the Clinton Nursery School appeared before council requesting a grant of $200 for additional toys and equipment. The money was given with little discussion or objection since the nursery school had a budget of $400 available for the year and they had previously only spent $200 of it: Council supported a resolution from Pembroke which stated that the RCMP are the finest police force in the world. Councillor Ron Mckay said in the discussion, "I don't think we should be passing judgment until the RCMP in- vestigations are complete." Mayor Harold Lobb then noted, "They're a wonderful police force. They have to protect our country." In another resolution from The Township of Sandwich West, Council agreed that changes should be made to the Highway Traffic 'Act stating that vehicle owners should be fined for illegally passing a school bus without the actual identity of the driver being established. Presently bus drivers need the license plate and the identity- of the driver before he can be fined. A three-year lease will be signed with the ministry of government services to 30 cents Thursday, December 1, 1977 112th Year -No. 48 rent out the council chambers in the Clinton Town Hall for $30 a day for court hearings for 12 days a year. Any further need of the room will cost an additional $30 a day. A short discussion was held on at, tending the Good Roads Convention which will be held from February 20-22. Councillor Ernie Brown noted, "I was there once and that was once too often." However, Reeve Royce Macaulay said, "We have to have some hospitable person down there," In other light hearted discuss1/2n, Councillor McKay informed council members, "I'd like to challenge Frank Cook to a showdown. I'll only wear one skate." The showdown is in reference to the minor hockey's Showdown night which will go from ,he novices to the oldtimers. No final date has been set for the event which will be similar to the NHL's Showdown but registration will he $3. "I am only kidding, but I think we should get involved," Coun. McKay informed council members and Deputy Reeve Cook. Building permits were issued to: Owen Delve, commercial building, $10,000; Burgess Department Store, apartment, $10,000; The Wedge, store front $600: Goldsworthy Motors, addition, $15,000. 1111 Bather 1977 1976 141 LO NOVEMBER 22 35 30 23 38 29 24 38 32 25 26 27 28 33 28 36 22 33 18 31 23 Snow 10" Rain .30 141 LO 31 24 30 27 29 24 37. 25 50 35 52 35 36 17 Snow 1" Rain 1.17" ltnton council approves county seniors housingplan by Shelley McPhee Last Thursday evening, Clinton Council gave their- approval to a proposed plan made by Huron County to establish a county -wide residency rule for senior citizens housing. Under this plan, the county would 'pick up the seven -and -one-half percent deficit in one year. This deficit in turn would be apportioned to each municipality, and in return, the municipalities would wave their senior citizens requirements for county -wide rule. Along with this, the new rule would allow seniors to rent accommodation anywhere within the county. Reeve Royce Macaulay commented, "There was great discussion in county council on this. Some senor citizen homes are vacant because there is nobody in that immediate area who wants to g� in. In other places senior citizens homes are full, and some may desire to take up residency in another municipality. The county wants to. give the senior citizens the opportunity to go where they want." Councillor Roy Wheeler noted, `AWe should give priorities to Clinton people. I don't want to see Clinton people left out while others come in and fill the vacancies." However, Deputy Reeve Frank Cook said, "Rural and 'urban areas must start working together. Where, does a person in Tuckersmith have to go? If we co- operate this way were going in the right direction. Mayor Harold Lobb explained to council that presently there are 39 ap- plications in Clinton still waiting for accommodation. "If the county takes over; who looks after the allocation of the units?" questioned Councillor Rosemary Armstrong. It was explained that the county already looks after this through housing representative John Lyndon and in the past. special permission has been gYanteci to give those a vacancy who live out of Clinton. • . In correspondence received from the Clinton Bus"iness Association, • �c.ouncil donated $50 to the Association's Christmas program. The Business Association, in another letter, also asked that a business representative he included in any fur- ther discussion on the property behind the Wesley -Willis Church. Previous discussions on the piece of land, which the' town owns, have in- volved its future use either as a parking lot or a senior citizens complex. Mayor Lobb explained to.council, "I'm sure we need parki,,ng, but that lot was bought for a senior citizen centre. Now it's unofficially used for parking and has,.. County undecided on severance County council didn't come to any conclusion Friday on the question of who should bear the additional costs for land severances - the taxpayers of Huron or the individuals applying for the severances. So the matter was tossed back in the laps of the Land Division Committee for decision. Members do have the authority to charge an ad- ministration fee on any approved severances, or, they can choose to con- tinue as at present. The problem ntshell is simple. The present charge for each application for severance is $50. As of October 31, 1977 the average cost per severance is $152, based on 206 severances received to date. Who should pay the additional $102? The Land Division Committee which is set up under provincial legislation, has certain authorities granted to it. Just recently the Land Division Committee in Peel attached fees in excess of $700 to one severance which was approved, and the decision was upheld in the court. According to county administrator Bill Hanly, the precedent has been set and it is now a question in Huron County of "how much should be subsidized by the public Bayfield Reeve Ed OddliefSon asked, • "Should the people of Huron pay the costs ,for an individual who is asking for a severance so he can make money?" Stanley Township Deputy -reeve Paul Steckle answered: "The people who are receiving the benefits should also pay the costs." But that feeling wasn't shared by everyone. Reeve Jack Tinney of Hay suggested much pressure could be brought on the Land Division Committee if the applicants were paying the entire cost of severance, Tinney.also wondered how high the costs for land severances might go. Stanley Township residents should\ Reese Bill Elston of Morris Township remember the public meeting to beheld thought the Land Division Committee next Tuesday night at Varna to consider should be striving to "bring costs down 16 the draft of their secondary plan. instead of getting people to pay more". Discussion gets underway at $ p.m. ' "I really am disappointed to see what's happening," said Elston. The Land Division Committee, it was learned, has been operating at a loss almost from its inception. Members of the current land division committee are Roy Westcott, Elmer Hayter, Girvin Reed, John Hazlitt and J L McCut- cheon. Stripers honored After 50 hours of service, the candy stripers from the Clinton Public Hospital received their caps in a ceremony held at the Wesley -Willis Church on Monday evening. The girls were, back row, left to right, Beverly Walker, Ruthann Pen - found, Mary Jane Scott, littlarianne Hellinga. Second row: Sylvia Forbes, Linda Raithby, Charlene Deiong, Bev Taylor. Third. row: Lori Saundercock, Debbie Fitzpatrick, Karen Erb, Shirleyanne Gilbert. Front row: Mitzi Roy, co-ordinator Barb Hicks, Ayse Unsal. (News -Record photo) been partially gravelled." Reeve Macaulay suggested that a letter be sent to the Business Association noting that the lot is presently being used for .parking and they will be notified of any changes, although none are planned for the immediate future. While discussing a leak in the library building tower, the topic of a location for the town's seniors recreation spot again came up for discussion. Reeve Macaulay noted that while he and Mayor Lobb were inspecting the leak they looked at the library basement and suggested that it may be a possible senior citizens room. "There is ample room and it would be quite a nice room with some renovations," Reeve Macaulay noted, for future consideration. Fred Thomas, along with two other men, will begin cutting down trees and limbs throughout the town. Councillor Ernie'Brown explained that the PUC are willing to pay for half of the cost of the cutting, but they are too busy presently to help. In the past the PUC has been involved in the clearance of these dangerous branches. Council passed a motion which will allow the town the authority to offer to purchase a piece of land for $10,000. The land, owned by Mr. and Mrs. J. Veldhuis, part lot 41, con. 1 Tuckersmith Township - will be used for a road allowance. `,Although no time is set, -,.for con- , struction, it was agreed to earlier that when the road is built a driveway area be made adjacent to the Veldhuis home with space made available for two cars. The drive will be built off Ransford Street and will be surfaced with gravel. The town will sign an agreement with Lucy Demers regarding an easement for a storm sewer on lot 31, on the south side of Princess Street. The severance of this lot was approved with this condition, In other business, council recom- mended the following applications. ,of severance to the committee of ad- justment: Harold White Homes, part of lot 66, south side of Gordon Street and part of lot 666 and 667; Mrs. Myrtle Glazier, part of lot 8, east side of Fredrick Street; John Stevely, part of corner lot 519, John North and Princess Streets. Storm causes 17 crashes The Goderich detachment of the OPP investigated 17 minor accidents over the past weekend. According to Constable Bill Wilson, the main reason for the many accidents was the snow. "People are not driving responsibly in the snow yet," he warned. In Clinton, Police Chief • Lloyd Westlake warned that during the winter months, parking overnight, from 1 a.m; to 7 a.m. on the sides of the streets is illegal. - These times have been set aside for snow removal and Chief Westlake noted, "This rule will be strictly enforced during the winter months." It is also illegal to push any snow onto the travelled portion of the road at any time. The Clinton Police investigated a two - car accident over the weekend which, resulted in $500 in damages. A car driven by Kathryn Barrett, 20, of 225' Mary Street received damages of $400 when it was in collision with a car driven by Samuel W. Gliddon, 68, of 153 Queen Street, Clinton. The Barrett vehicle was eastbound on Mary Street when the Gliddon vehicle proceeded out of a stop sign at Alma Street, causing both cars to meet. Damage to 'the Gliddon car was set at $100. Huron population jumps An interesting report tabled at Huron County Council Friday showed that the Town of Goderich and the Town of Seaforth recorded population losses from 1976 to 1977. Goderich's population was decreased by 12 but still remains the largest in any municipality in the county with 7,324. Seaforth lost a total of 21 residents making it the smallest town in on with 2,025 people. The total population in Huron,is up however to 56,032. That's an increase of 568 over 1976 and is an encouraging trend. The fastest growing town is Exeter with a population increase of 20 bringing the number of citizens there to 3,519. Wingham was a close second with a recorded growth of 19 bringing the total population there to 2,861. Clinton's growth was a respectable 14 with a total population now of 3,) 24. The Township of Tuckersmith had the largest growth of any municipality in Huron in the 1976 to 1977 period at 110. No doubt the development of Vanastra has had much to do with this growth but it is also interesting to see that Goderich Township grew by 101 during the same period with neighbouring Colborne Township growing by 84. Among the villages, Bayfield 'ex- perienced the greatest growth at 51. Blyth grew by 43 persons and Hensall grew by 29. Zurich a d Brussels both experienced modest decline - Zurich 6 and Brussels 15. In all, 17 municipalities of the 26 showed an increase .in population through , the 1976-1977 period. The remainder showed a decrease with the Township of How•ick recording, the greatest decline at 64. (Merl•�to'9tiose ground were Usborne 23; StarSleyr 48; and McKillop 27.