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Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1977-12-22, Page 29• Hens'all council debates business -tax Through much of the debate at Hensall council's meeting last week, there was a recurring question of the reason for assessing a business tax. The debates ranged from snow removal and parking to use of the village dump, and 0 in each of those discussions there was a suggestion that some businesses weren't getting anything in return for their business tax. Monday's meeting started off with a discussion with Eric Campbell of Hensall Motors over a complaint aired by neighboring property owners that the firm parked vehicles near their property and on occasions blocked driveways-: Mid -way through the discussion, Councillor Horner Campbell suggested that the A firm paid as much business tax as business on main street and they should therefore have the same parking privileges. The council member then suggested that council should pay for snow removal around Hensall Motors because they pay for snow removal in the downtown area. However, Reeve Harold Knight said the snow was not removed from the downtown area for the benefit of the businessr `en, but rather for the convenience of motorists. "Just think how much it • wou-ld cost us," Reeve Knight 0 aid in reference to the uggestion that snow should e removed from all businesses in the village. "I don't care if it costs us a • fortune," councillor Cam- pbell replied. , "Now, now be reasonable," the Reeve Knight replied. The Reeve said council plans to look at the overall situation of snow removal and b M • also to consider a bylaw prohibiting the dumping of snow on village property. He said that discussion would probably take place at the next meeting, adding that it was a very complex matter. Councillor , Harry Klungel suggested that the discussion on snow removal should be held some time in July. "We could be more ob- jective then," commented Councillor Paul Neilands. Before leaving Monday's meeting, Eric Campbell said his firm would try and police their parking as best they could, although it was suggested that satisfying one neighbor would probably be an impossibility. Members of council tended to agree with that contention. The discussion about the dump arose when Bill Taylor or Traylor Industries asked council for a key to the site. He said he had been told previously that it would cost the firm from $75 to $100 to have a key and he'questioned what value they received for the $700 they .paid annually in business tax. Reeve Knight said that paying a business tax does not entitle people to industrital waste disposal. "Where does the business tax go?" asked Councillor Campbell. Clerk Betty Oke said it was just another form of taxation, while Councillor Bevan Bonthron suggested it was a means of draining off businesses to help residential taxpayers. "There's no adv to of paying a business tax," Councillor Campbell said. .- "There's no advantage in paying any tax," Councillor Paul Neilands quickly added. Mrs. Taylor said that people 'should get somehing in M," ane A pleasing aspect of the season is that it affords one the opportunity of wishing one's friends and customers a Merry. Christmas and a Healthy and Prosperous New Year. Bill Counter COUNTER CASH & CARRY Building Supplies PRINCESS ST WEST, CLINTON 482-9612 Happy14iskesfor diristmas Hoping you put together Your nicest Christmas ever! Add our thanks to your holid ietcorations.. J AND %I PHARMACY LIMITED 21 Victoria St., Clinton 482-9511 return for the extra tax levy. He said his firm had a pickup load of refuse each week and would like access to the dump at their con- venience, although they didn't think they should have to pay for that privilege. However, the Reeve said the fee paid by businesses which now have a key goes towards maintaining the dump and he opined that council would lose control of the facility if too many people ended up with keys. . He said council would review the situation, and advise Taylor of what fee they would have to pay for a key. In a reference to the dump later in the meeting, Coun- cillor Neilands reported that a juvenile had been ap- prehended attempting to break into the site. In view of the fact the youth had never been in trouble with the law before and had agreed to pay the $60 damage caused to the gate, no charges were laid. However, the councillor said that "if anyone else is caught, they will be charged and prosecuted to the full extent of the law". He suggested this action was necessary in view of the in- creased problem .being ex- perienced with people damaging the dump gate and locks. In other business, Monday, council: Learned from Herman Van Wieren that three building permits had been issued to a value of $26,000. Approval was given to Eileen Rannie to remove a small shed on her property, and repairs and alterations were approved for the Queensway Nursing Home and Cecil Kiipfer. Granted a Christmas bonus of 1100 to Gary Maxwell and $50 to clerk Betty Oke, the difference being the fact that Mrs. Oke had not worked a' full year for the village. Decided to meet with the PUC on December 29 to discuss the sewer surcharge on water bills. Some concern has been expressed over the fact that people who turn off their water and head south for the winter do not pay for sewer availability during that, time. Were advised that the bill for,B.M. Ross and Associates to represent them in the hearing over the Black Creek drain was $1,004,88. It was opined that Hay's bill for engineering and lawyer fees would be twice as high as that. Paid accounts amounting to $178,284.65. These included the final installment of the county and school board levies, as well as an interim payment to the arena con- tractors. The salaries for the firemen were ,also included, amounting to $4,960.70: for the past year. - Approved purchase of a new typewriter for the clerk's office at a cost of $836.55. Learned that effective December 31, Canadian National Railways (express division) will provide pickup and delivery services directly to the door of customers in the Hensall area and will discontinue the service of the present one hand representative facility. Ann Klomps of the Holmesville I 4-H club and Pat Proctor frqm the Clinton III club each received special certificates and pins at the 4-H Achievement Day in Clinton last Saturday for the completion of 12 homemaking units each. Their award is known as provincial honors. (News -Record photo) Progress on Hensall arena as good as possible Hensall Reeve Harold' Knight, told council last week that progress on the new community centre is as good as possible. He reported that • the building committee would soon have to make decisions on some items, such as the layout of the kitchen and whether they would have the contractor complete work on the conference room. Knight said that the con- tractor required a decision so materials could be ordered for the job. Completion of the con- fer once room is a $19,000 option in -the contract. No decision has yet been made on air conditioning for w the conference room as prices have not been received. Knight said the contractor was having difficulty coming up with a satisfactory "knock -out panel" for the refrigeration room. He said the panel has to be flimsy enough to fall out in an emergency, but must be sturdy enough to stay in place during a high wind. As far as can be ascer- tained, the Hensall facility is among the first to be required to install such a panel. The next on-site meeting is scheduled for January 12 and Knight said decisions about the kitchen and conference room should be made prior to that. No decision made on senior housing by Hensall council Hensall Reeve Harold Knight predicted last week that a suggestion to have all senior citizen apartments in Huron taken over by the county "will have a pretty rough ride through county council". Under the proposal, all municipalities in the county would share in the deficit of the geared -to -income units now .located in seven municipalities. ,Any senior citizens in Huron. would then become eligible for ac- commodation in any of the units where space_ is available. At the present time, Hensall has agreements with Exeter and Zurich whereby residents ca,n live in apart- ments in those two com- munities andthe village pays their share of anv deficit. Knight said he was con- cerned that the ownership of the units was, held by the municipality in which they were built, noting that the money for the construction of the apartments was provided by the . two senior levels of government. "We should have one too," he said. The Reeve said that a study Don McWhinney & Staff CLINTON CROWN LANES VICTORIA ST., CLINTON PLEASE NOTE: WE WILL BE CLOSED CHRISTMAS & NEW YEAR'S DAY untertaken in Hensall showed that there was no need for a complete apartment building, but there were about six citizens who could make use of the accommodation. Council members had no further comment on the subject, which is expected to be debated again by county council in the new year. CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1977—PAGE 7A , Hensall council files disarmament motion Hensall council rpembers filed a request last week to endorse a resolution from the town of Paris to have a world referendum on disarmament and world order. The group organizing the petition have suggested that nothing will probably ever come of their idea, but they want to draw to the attention of world leaders that few of them are listening to their citizens. Councillor Bevan Bonthron opined that some councils must not have very much work to do when they can spend their time on such items. "They mustn't have any snow problems, commented Councillor Harry Klungel. The only support for the idea came from Reeve Harold Knight, although he had a rather selfish motive, "I'd like to be the enumerator for such a vote," he said. Knight suggested he would start his enumeration of the world in Hawaii and work his way northward...slowly. Council also took no action on a request from the Township of Sandwich West for endorsation of a resolution that calls for an amendment to the Highway Traffic Act to allow that where the identity of the driver of vehicle illegally passing a school bus is not possible, the vehicle owner be fined upon proper identification of the vehicle by the school bus driver. Our mistake In a picture in last week's paper of the Legion men washing dishes, Dick McKay was mistakenly identified as the late Bill Edgar. The News -Record wishes to apologize for this mistake, and hope it didn't cause any inconvenience or em- barrassment to anyone. Paul Neilands suggested that changes in the Act should be left up to the provincial government. Bonthron said the change would suit him, pointing out that he leased his car and the firm from whom he leased it would then have to pay the fines. Anstett Jewellers LIMITED 11 ALBERT ST., CLINTON 482-3901 OPEN WEDNESDAYS For Your Convenience HOURS: Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.jriday nights 'till 9 p.m. \\\�� yi As 1977 draws to a close and we look forward to an exciting 1978 we wish to extend to everyone the compliments of this holiday season. May 1978 be a year of prosperity to you all. "Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year" RIEHL ADVERTISING LTD. CALENDARS - ADVERTISING SPECIALTIES - BUSINESS GIFTS CLINTON, ONTARIO • • 0 • • • • 0 • • ► • • • • ;€1a • 1Y•Y►IY•YIY•YifKeti• iYibYfY•�ifY• riVitrii1t 11'irreIY*YitilbiAb`Ylh'�IfY•YfY*Y�'•` fritil411tri�iY•YYwYiY•`tiiY•1'i(7`•cif%icirianrailIYifilit�ir%\ii i so n • • • • • I • • • • •4 • •,• •,• •,•,• • •Alt • • t IPA! • •, •►• • • ik • ► •