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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1979-06-14, Page 1• The choice of salads, meat and desserts was so great at the Holmesville Hain Supper last Thursday night, that Kevin Martin, 10, wasn't sure whether he liked his meal or his sister's Julle,8 better,The supper, held annually saw it's usual full house at the Holmesville United Church.(News-Record photo) 114th year _-No. 24 Thursday, June 14, 1979 35 cents Wea ther 1979 1977 Junes 6 7 8 9 10 11 MI 10 HI 1,0 18.5 12 15 8 24 7 24 5.5 28 13 20.5 13 28 19.5 12 7 28 20 18.5 3 31 14 26 4 15 10.5 28 15 Rain 12.3 mm Rain 35.3 mm Town hall not on quicksand, council learns by Shelley McPhee There's nothing wrong with the soil under the town hall in Clinton, despite past claims that the cracked building was sitting on quicksand. In truth the soil is so substantial, that a 10 storey building, with two tons per square foot could be set firmly on the ground. This is what Clinton Council learned on Monday night when Colin Aktinson, a representative from Dominion Soils, Owner abandons Va nas tra houses By Wilma Oke Tuckersmith Council received a letter Tuesday from Allan Guest of Kitchener on behalf of Brava Holdings Ltd of Kitchener, which owns 10 townhouses containing 58 units at Vanastra on which there are taxes in arrears amounting to $84,700. interest amounting to $21,660 and unpaid water bills of $14,000. Mr. Guest stated "Brava Holdings will no longer be responsible for any debts to the townhouses, therefore in 0. view of the overall situation, it is our company's decision to abandon the project immediately." At last week's council meeting Mr. Guest had asked counbil to rebate some of the unpaid taxes or to drop the in- terest and water charges, which council informed Mr. Guest was im- possible. A letter received from the ministry of labour regarding the Vanastra Curling rink informed council it cokld close the rink, stay open during repairs if monitored or stay open without repairs if it could be monitored. DeP.411Y... °Reey .; ell:suggested the .. president of the Curling' Club IVIery n' Falconer, be contacted and a meeting with council set up to ask the club if they can raise the one-third of the.cest of the renovations, estimated to be about $200,00& while government grants Will pay the remaining. two- , ...thirds, • • Councillor. Frank Falconer said he feels that council should finance the two-thirds until the funds from the government come in to reimburse council. A special meeting is to be arranged by council and the club. Council turned down a request from the Huron Federation of Agriculture to have the township clerk answer the Federation phone on apart -time basis when that office was closed. It is housed in an adjoining office to the clerk. Following receipt of ae letter from Seaforth Council last week saying it proposed to withdraw from the Seaforth Fire . Area Board and was prepared to have its own board and would sell fire protection to its four surrounding townships, the township officials held a meeting in Londesboro. They agreed to each write a letter to Seaforth council asking -for a meeting of . the .five councils involved - Tuckersmith, McKillop, Hullett and Hibbert. with-Seafo.r.th,. Council endorsed ,a resolution from the Town of Seaforth asking the On.tarh ,Attorney General to c.onduct'ai aggressive and thorough study of time- consuming courtroom procedures in the province and to analyse sentences being handed out for various crimes. (Seaforth stated "that there are un- necessary delays, in the courts and too lenient punishments and a lack of .restitution'to•victims-of cri`me; sf'ch' as Parents still fighting Before finishing the meetings for the summer, the Catholic Parent Teachers Association (CPTA) held one last meeting on June 6 to discuss the proposed addition at St. Joesph's Separate School in Clinton. During the discussion it was learned that the Huron -Perth Separate School Board held a special meeting on June 4 and voiced willingness to present a brief to the Ministry of Education on the CPTA's behalf. Members of the CPTA executive will be invited to accompany board members to Queen's Park, the group was told. The CPTA agreed that the fight for quality facilities to compliment and sustain the high quality education, which is being afforded at St. Joe's, has been a hard and vigorous job. The executive stressed that this fight must be won, and is urging the new executive to continue the battle for quality education with renewed vigor. Many parents will be contacted, to ask if they will stand for office in the CPTA. They are reminded that the strength of the CPTA will only serve to strengthen the power of the parents who demand just and lawful rights for their children. The executive noted their thanks to Truce Ten Hag for her generous hospitality in offering her home for meetings. The meeting was closed with a prayer by vice president, Carol Kerrigan. The Fitzgeralds, like nearly 800 other people. in town, enjoyed the Kinsmen barbecue and dance last Saturday night, but didn't budget for the extra $4 bucks it cost us to park on one of the town streets. It seems that there's no parking on the streets near the arena now, and the police, as was their duty, were enforcing the law. It seems like a questionable way to greet visitors to this town when there's very little parking space at the arena anyway, but then council never did go out of its way to welcome shoppers or. tourists. + + + As you may or may not have read elsewhere in this edition, yours truly, along with a bunch of other crazy lads from town are going to play donkey baseball next. Wed- nesday night at Londesboro against arr equally insane Lions Club from that fair hamlet. So, this may be my second last column. Or as one cynic scoffed the other day, "we wouldn't be able to tell the real donkeys from the two -legged ones." +-1-+ And if that isn't enough, I've also promised the nice people out at the Vanastra Rec Centre that I would go through their Fitness Test next Monday. The Fitness Van, spon- sored by the Ontario ministry of culture and recreation is returning for Monday and Tuesday of next week, following a succesful stint last fall. As of presstime, there are still plenty of openings left, and after my test we will publish a full report of it, providing of course I'm not in the coronary care unit of the Clinton Public Hospital. + + -I- Which Which reminds me of a fantastic new diet I discovered this week, called a garlic diet. Why, it's ^o good, I lost nine friends the first day. + ++ Does anyone know if a film was made of the Spring Fair parade? If so, we have had several enquiries, mostly from participants, asking if such a film or video tape could be shown on cable TV. Give us a call if you hear of anything. + + + Things look very good this week on the farm front, according to all reports. Nearly all the white bean seeding is done, the spraying is caught up, and most are at first cut hay. The weather, however, has ranged from tropic -al to arctic in the last week, with record high night- time lows being recorded. Record lows were noted on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Frost was also reported in several localities Wednesday morning, including the low-lying Fitzgerald garden, but no heavy damage resulted. + + + Congratulations to the citizens of Bayfield who have just formed a Horticultural Society with a membership of 100. If their mem- bership was 'only ladies, (it isn't) then they could have called them- selves the Grow -Grow girls! 1100.11111111111111011111111, vandalism). Council will review the condition of its sidewalks with a view to repairing its old sidewalks first and later perhaps construct new ones in new sub- divisions. Reeve Sillery said the old sidewalks must be repaired first. Road superintendent Allan Nicholson will ,be asked to check on the sidewalks and report on the priorities. The sidewalk question arose from a complaint on Brucefield sidewalks. Council ° will budget each year for some repair work or installation work. Council set a fee of $20 to be paid to the tile drainage loan inspector for each drain he inspects. The inspector (presently Deputy Reeve Robert Bell) receives $10 which council considers Turn to page 17 • gave a report on the soil testing done on the site of the town hall. According to Mr. Atkinson the soil, which ranges from sandy, silt, fine sand, clay silt to stiff brown clay is suitable to support the town hall. To council's amazement he noted that the structural problems with the town hall are not caused because of the soil type but mainly because there are no footings under the 90 -year-old building. "It has a poor foundation that is not adequate for today," he noted. Mr. Atkinson went on to say that the cracks in the front wall of the town hall have probably been caused by the same thing that has damaged other walls of older downtown structures. "It is something that is probably caused by the street. These buildings were constructed in the late 1800's in horse and cart days. Now there is heavy truck traffic driving by," he explained. The problem is not confined to the town hall. The poor footings have caused vibration and in turn have let buildings, like the town hall settle into the soil, thus causing evident cracks in the walls. "This happens quite frequently with older buildings," he reasoned. The situation can be remedied by tying the building together, then performing the tedious task of un- derpinning. Mr. Atkinson explained that in underpinning three feet wide sections are separately dug out and footings poured in. The water level, sitting at seven -and - a -half feet under may cause some minor problems in the underpinning. Mr. Atkinson assured that this could be resolved, either by continually pum- ping the water out while the footings were being set or by inserting the footings in place of pieces of wall which would be cut out of the basement. "It's not a difficult job," he stressed. "You just need a careful contractor." Although the problem may have been established, the solution may notcome as easily to the town. Nick Hill, consulting architect on the town hall restoration, admitted to council that there isn't much grant money available at the present time, either through, the government or Winta 'o. Only the Heritage Foun- dation as indicated that they might give so a financial support through a $54,000 grant. "We're acutely aware that Turn to page 3 • Council sets salaries by Shelley McPhee creasing her salary to $4 an hour. In trying to keep salaries more in line Members of the Public Works with the provincial average, Clinton department accepted a raise of 40 cents council set the wages of town em- an hour each bringing their salaries up ployees at their regular meeting on to between $12,000 and $14,000. Monday night. The increase in salaries While Clinton Councillors did not give ranges from six percent to 40 percent. themselves a raise last year, this year The chief of police received a 10.65 they approved a $10 raise. Council per cent raise, bringing his $19,880 members will now receive $55 for salary up to $22,000 this year. The four council and committee -of -the -whole first class constables received a six per meetings, both held monthly, and the cent raise making their salaries, mayor will receive $85. For commitee $18,958 this year, compared to $17,885 meetings, also held once a month, last year. councillors will receive $40 and the The town clerk's new salary is mayor will get $60. $21,500, a 16 per cent raise from last The increases for the employees, year's figure of $18,640. The deputy- other than those in Public Works clerk's salary of $10,230 was increased department, now puts them in the 40 per cent to $14,000. An office clerk range of salaries earned by the Clinton was given a 50 cent an hour raise, in- PUC. There were nearly as many people uptown on Tuesday to see a house moved through town as there are for many major events. They came to watch an army of house movers, utility workers, police, public works men, and tree cutters operate in a smooth co-ordinated fashion to move a house from 146 Ontario Street to a lot behind the North End Store on the Auburn Road. The move, which will cost nearly $15,000 including the cost to remove and replace dozens of wires, took nearly six hours, but went off without a hitch, and resulted in very little damage to the 33 by 55 foot home. The roof was cut off the house to reduce its height to 20 feet and replaced later. Here Cecil Machan, with hat, of Mount Forest directs the 60 -ton load down Albert Street, while hundreds of spectators watch. The owners of J and J Pharmacy are planning to build a large home on the now vacant Ontario Street lot. (News -Record photo) Holmesville to have hall, despite objections by Shelley McPhee Goderich Township residents are not heing consulted on whether there will be a hall or not, but are heing asked for suggestions on where it will be located and what it should contain. At a meeting in Holmesville last Wednesday night a crowd of 85 people learned that Goderich Township is going ' to have a hall. Gerry Ginn, chairman of the recreation committee stressed this point and noted that some structure would be built, even if it is only large enough for office.space. People are not overly concerned on Taxi service finally moves by Shelley McPhee The Clinton Taxi has made an at- tempt to fulfill the requirements of the zonng by-law in town by moving from their residential 'location on High Street to a spot in the Clinton Hotel. The move was completed by the May 31 deadline set by council to taxi owners Doug and June Howse. They had been instructed to move their business to a properly zoned area or their license would he revoked. Although the move has been made, a shortage of parking in the downtown area near the business' new location caused some discussion at the Clinton council meeting on Monday night. Mt. Ho'*se has two taxi vehicles that must he parked near his office, located in the basement of the Clinton 14otel, formerly u barber shop. Council suggested that since metered parking is limited in that area, that Mr. Howse attempt to find two parking spots in the hotel lot. "If he parks in front of stores, he may get complaints from businesses," Councillor, Rosemary Armstrong ex- plained. "And we'd have to put meters out of service," noted Mayor Harold Lobb. Clerk Cam Proctor suggested that perhaps parking spaces could be ob- tained, south of the hotel parking lot. "1 know it's a no -parking area but it's flagrantly disobeyed," he noted. Some discOssion they arose on how much Mr. Howse should pay for two parking spots. A figure of $25 per space for a year was set in 1961. Some council members felt that this amount should h' raiarrl ane to inftnfinn nver the 12 years. At that time, Clerk Proctor pointed out, regular parking permits were $2, they are now $15. Mayor Lobb suggested that Mr. Howse be given the parking spaces for $25 each this year, leaving any revisions until the beginning of next year. Councillor Chester Archibald added, "In view of the fact that we don't have any other public transportation in town, we should try to co-operate." Mayor Lobb agreed, "He did well to find a place downtown." Council passed a motion agreeing to provide two parking spaces to the Clinton Taxi at a fee of $25 each. Police Chief Lloyd Westlake wilhbe contacted te advise what• spaces could be bestt u ed for this purpose. • whether the building can be affordably constructed. The sudden decision to build a hall came over a year ago when over $192,000 was left to the township from the estate of the late Pearl Woon. It had been the wish of Mrs. Woon and her husband John that the money be used to build a township hall in the couple's memory. The money may pay for some, or all of the building, depending on its size. Last fall Mr. Ginn told residents that with Wintario grants and money from the Ontario ministry of culture and recreation a $325,000 structure could be built at no cost to the taxpayers. However, a freeze placed on Wintario funds and shortage of financial support available from the government may almost certainly affect the previous plans. Although the township will still apply for some provincial grants, it is possible that Goderich Township's 2,300 residents may have to help pay for the building through their property taxes. More importantly than the initial costs, some Goderich Township residents are concerned that main - Turn to page 3 • •