Loading...
Clinton News-Record, 1979-11-15, Page 1- - • One of the few 'World War I veterans left in the area, Ephraim Snell, laid the Province of Ontario wreath at the Clinton Cenotaph last Sunday during Remembrance Day - services. Ephraim was just one of the dozens of men, women and children who marched on the cold, 'windy day, and although there was excellent turnout at the parade, there was a poor showing a spectators. (News- Recordphoto) Pool gets go ahead, again by Shelley McPhee /,‘ four month halt is over and action is again being taken on a proposed swimming pool for Clinton. At "their meeting on Monday night Clinton, council passed a motion instructing the engineering firm of James F. Mac Laren to call tenders on the two possible plans for the proposed pool. This is the second time that tenders have been called. In August, council decided to delay the project and did not sign a contract with Kelly -Lynn.. Construction of Hyde Park. The firm's price to construct, a full sized pool and trainirtg- pool was $184,602 and with the inclusion.9f engineer's _ fees tha price of a- new pool would have been over $200,000. At an eye-opening meeting held in Clinton's town hall on July 24, at- tended by some 100 people, council agreed,to delay the project after they found that the general public was concerned about the cost of the new swimming facilities! At that time it was mentioned that similar pools had been constructed in both Mitchell and Wiarton for half the price of the cost given to build a pool in Clinton. According to Councillor Ron Mckay, also a member of the town's recreation committee, comparing the -proposed Clintonpool to the two others is like, "comparing apples and oranges." Councillor McKay explained that the design for the new Clinton pool is Moonlight madness strikes again "Moonlight Madness", the popular promotional program staged by Clinton merchants, hits agaitn this week; The majority of 'stores in the community will remain open until midnight this Friday, November 16. The merchants will be offering extra values during the hours from 6 p.m. to midnight as an added inducement to shoppers to stay downtown for the extra opening period. A full list of the stores involved in the promotion and their specials are contained in a special insert in this week's News -Record. first column similar ta the one in Mitchell, however the Mitchell pool was less expensive to build since they didn't need a filtration plant, had less problems with the water table than Clinton will have and used a poorer quality cement and paint than proposed for Clinton. In Wiarton, the pool is smaller and it is vinyl lined. Councillor McKay noted that the engineers have said that vinyl lining is not advised for this area. While council has agreed to re - tender for the pool, Councillor McKay anticipates that prices will be higher this time, "We haven't saved money, in fact it's cost us money." Back in March when council first took steps to have a new pool, they were looking at a cost estimate of $110,240 to built a new pool or $75,000 to repair the old one. The new pool estimate was given by Van Bussell Pools and the costs of repairing the exisiting pool was estimated by Rintoul Pools. Now, based on revised estimates of the engineers, council has agreed to prepare a construction bylaw for the pool payment. The bylaw will allow for the temporary borrowing of up to $225,000 to help pay for the pool.. • Council set .the figure at $225,000 only •as:d guideline, presuming that the coStwon't. be any higher (than this, and hoping it will be less. Only when applications frarn possible tenders are sent can accurate figures be established, but in the meantime council wanted. the bylaw passed so they will be prepared to accept the financial responsibility of the pool. "It doesn't matter how we pay for it at this point. We first have to get the thing going," Councillor Chester • Archibald said. "Payment of the pool is the big sticky problem," Councillor McKay said on Tuesday. He explained that.' before the pool receives full approval, the town must report tp Melanie McLaughlin, a consultant with'the ministry of culture and recreation, on how it will be paid for. There are three alternatives for payment. With a Wintario, a mat- ching donation from the town and a Community Centres grant each taking up 25 per cent of the total costs, the town is also required to pay one- quarter of the remaining costs. This can either be paid through further Well now that Remembrance Day has come and gone, and very few of those people who had last Monday off as a holiday showed up at the Cenotaph on 'Sunday, it's time to make a few comments, whichby the way many yeterans agreewith. Remembrance Day should be just that, a day to remember and give thanks that we're not ruled by a- bunch of Huns, not a day to go Christmas shopping in London. It should either be held on the Sunday closest to the lith, or if it's held on the Ilth, then 'everything should be shut down for a couple of hour's, say from 10 to noon. And if the service is held on Sunday, surely the churches can get together and let the service be held at 11 am,' as is the tradition, and quit worrying about the collection plates so nAuch. Surely all those 'gallons of tears shed over loved ones lying in a grave in some foreign country weren't for naught. We're lucky we've got the almighty buck to Wofstiip, and not the mark. Well, we haven't got anymore "startlihg" news this week on the bfeveti Truscott case, except to repott that some lady or man from Guelph who doesn't know all the facts, is circulating a petition asking Prime Minister Joe Whp to have another trial. Actually it Might not be abtid idea, then police' 'Oduld bring forward all th viden0e that they didn't use ii set first trial because they thought they had an open and shut ease. But then, how many copies of a boqk on Truscott's guilt do you think the mud rakers would be able to see? Not many. +++ The Main Street wit says this week that maybe we could live twice as long if we didn't spend the first half of our lives acquiring habits that shorten the other half. It seems that all good things must come to an end, and that apparently is what.is happening to the TGIF night every Friday at the Clinton Legion. Appears as if some one "squealed" on the Legion to the Liquor inspector, and the whole night has to be stopped right away. According to regulations, you're not allowed to • have raffles nor serve free food. Seems strange that on the o'ne hand the government encourages booze consumption with. their control, over the liquor stores, but balks at having a social drink in company one enjoys. 1 guess the government wants you to chuga- lug it .in some—dark, cold parking lot. +++ Our Attain Street wit wants a second swing this week: "It seems the 1VIafia are pretty upset lately," hq said 146fiday. "Why VI aSked. "It •Seth§ they're getiing too much cotilpetition troth the batiks in their loan sharking business," he replied, donations, debentures, or added to the tax bill. According to Clerk Cam Proctor he has received no indication that the town's Wintario application has been closed. The town is hoping that their file is still •open and that funds will still be made available to them. As well, the town is still holding onto close to $39,000 raise by the bingo committee, to be put towards the pool. For Clinton's part of the bill, which. will be at least $50,000, based on a $200,000 pool, Mayor Harold Lobb suggested, "The most reasonable way to pay is to put the cost on the tax bill for one year. That way we don't have to pay for it three times over." No firm decision will be made on the project until the the tenders are received, which Clerk Proctor thinks maybe at the end of December, $80, 000 "relocatable" Clinton by Wilma Oke An allocation of $80,000 has been granted to provide 'for capital im- provements at St. Joseph's School), Clinton; At ,a meting of the' Hur '64"-44 Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School board Monday night, the information was given that the ministry of education had approved the grant for the project which was included in the board's 1979 capital expenditure forecast. The plans forthe addition of a "relocatable" structure are now in the working drawing stage and call for a multi-purpose room, one stan- dard classroom and one special education classroom, in addition to a connecting Fink containing a new staff room and storage room. William Eckert, Director of Education, said the new special education class is to become a central facility for students from Clinton and the County of Huron with learning disabilities whose needs can best be met in a self-contained atmosphere. This new special education class 'will be open to meet the needs of those students in Huron County who have been diagnosed as exceptional and who would require, more than 50 percent of the day in a special setting with a specially trained teacher. By 'regulation, such students are assessed by a placement and review committee to determine needs and -to make program suggestions. He said the class will .be equipped with the appropriate learning materials to accommodate the special needs of the children in the class. Pending final approval of the plans by the ministry of education,. Mr. Eckert stated the contractor - Canadian Portable Structures of Burlington - is expected to' commence construction later this month, at the south end of the school. Mr. Eckert explained the present school has three classrooms and two portables. With completion of the addition, one portable will be removed. Declining ,enrolments - and provincial restraints imposed on capital building projects by the Tuckersmith voters want plebiscite 13y Wilma Oke Tuckersmith township council was asked- at a ratepayers meeting Monday night to consider a plebiscite in the township, whether people are for or against the proposed quarter of a million dollar addition tp Vanastra recreation centre, prior to any con- struction. The meeting, called by council to discuss the addition, was well at- tended. Following about three hours of talk for and against the addition, interrupted at times by shouting and applause, the plebiscite was proposed to end the weeks of debate. There were 44 votes for the plebiscite and 37 against it. Michael Connolly of Kippen, at the request by council, was chairman for the meeting. Reeve Ervin Sillery outlined the storm history of the recreation . centre .from when it was establishdd by council in 1974 until the present ti Me. Diane Durnin, manager of the centre, spoke of the plan to provide a program of aquatics and fitness for the mentally and physically han- dicapped and senior citizens. She explained the need to expand the centre to make way for additional areas including showers and dressing rooms that could be used by wheelchair patients. She stated too, that the patients came from across the whole county. Clerk Jack McLachlan gave the ministry of education have caused the Huron -Perth County separate school board to examine alternatives to permanent and costly buildings for ..eeducation al purposes. Mr. Eckert said the relocatable scbool, or a relocatable addition to a school, to meet needs which exist today may be moved in whole or in part as enrolment dwindles at that location, to meet a growing need at another school. Historically, schools were built in a permanent nature and as enrolments decline, classrooms are vacated .and eventually the school is closed with the remaining pupils being transferred to another school. In the board's five-year capital expenditure forecast approved • Monday night, the board has requested an allocation of funds from the ministry of $380,000 for relocatable structures. If and when the ministry gives its approval, the board will determine the locations for such additions in accordance with priorities which exist at that time. No commitment towards an im- provement to the facilities at any school can be given until the ministry has approved the board's request. Mr. Eckert pointed out the cost of the relocatable structure is of par- ticular interest. He said the facilities which may be provided in the board's forecast for $380,000 would cost in excess of $1 million if built in the conventional manner. Of equal im- Weather 1979 1978 Hi Lo HI Lo NOVEMBER 6 9 0 15 4 7 5.5-07 -1 8 5 1 9 -5 9 3 -5 13 -3 10 3 1 14 2.5 11 1 0 8 3 12 3 -7 5. -2 Rain 18.2 mm No Rain On Highway 8 Town okays supermarket . Plans are underway to build a *hew . . Two existing bylaws in town are going to be firmly enforced by the On Monday night Clinton council town. supermarket in Clinton. agreed to draw up a bylaw allowing Council has instructed the town's „ Mr. Snyder and Mr. Zinszer to build a solicitor to issue summons to two food store on the west limits of Clinton residents, who have not con - Clinton. The spot bylaw, if approved Con - by council, the neighboring residents formed to the zoning or property and the Ontario Mtlnicipal Board, will clean-up bylaws. allow the store td • built in a Zone 6 Fred Taylor, has not cenformed to area. the clean-up bylaw and -Harvey The spot bylaw pertains to that One Carter is contravening the zoning bylaw b 'misusing residential Ispecifie store, but does net amend the , Y • property. ' leritird lolling bylaw; whereby le4ing food stores in all Zone6 ares. itt tOWil. Both men were sent letters from the The council will discuss the bylaw town , wn in August, informing them that • when ' it is pithipred to the next they had 4 month to meet the con. meeting, .. )1 11 , ditiont of the bylaws. • • o financial outline of th' centre and spoke of the available grants for construction and operating costs. He said of the total cost of $283,056, grants would cover $220,235 of this, leaving $62,802 to be raised, and of this $31,401 had to be raised locally. Reeve Ervin Sillery, Deputy reeve Robert Bell and councillors Frank Falconer and Robert Fotheringham supported the addition. Councillor William Brown said he was "opposed unless it goes county wide". (Loud applause). Asked why he opposed it, he said taxes are high enough now. (More loud apPIause). Lloyd Eisler of Egmondville asked Reeve Sillery -if it was fair to the people of Vanastra only to be responsible for the recreation centre. He also asked if the reeve would be willing for the debenture debt of $119,000 and therew addition to be paid by all" the residents of the township. Reeve Sillery said as far as he was concerned, the whole township should be responsible, but his council had voted against taking over the debenture debt of $119,000 and he respected their decision. He said the township would be responsible for any operating deficits in the future, but he dM not anticipate there would be any. The reeve then remarked from whispering at the council table that some ,of council did not agree with this. He said council thought they had • • portance, he said, is the portability aspect which allows for meeting new needs caused by student population shifts •from one community to another, or within a communitv. 'Ls s. • only voted that the township pay off the $58,293 operating deficit but not future deficits. ' Reeve Sillery said he had raised about $300 in the Ontario Society for Crippled -Children Snowarama, organized by Whisper Billy Watson. He suggested some of that money could be used to help the handicapped adults using the Vanastra pool it the organizers were approached. A Vanastra resident asked if under the present tax structure as set up now if the Vanastra ratepayers would be responsible for the recreation costs. He was told they would be. (Under a township by-law passed about 1974, Vanastra was designated Turn to page 3 Lest We Forget p. 2 Beoting the Blahs P. 3 Looking back - P. 4 Race ramblings p. 6 Kippen WI ID 7 Anniversary celebrated p. 10 Arctic plant life p. '11 What is it? p. 13 New gym for school p. 14 The Londesboro Leader 'p-. 18 'Crazy Days p. 19 Mystery object revealed p. 19 Comrades remembered. . . p. 20 New assessment coming, some pay more, others less By Shelley McPhee Tax bills in Clinton for 1980 are apt to see changes; some \major, some minor, some taxes will be up and some will be down. These changes have come because all Cinton businesses, homes and industries will be assessed under the 1975 market value, following Clinton council's approval of a motion to proceed with re -assessment for taxation in 1980. Although it was not mandatory to accept the report, at their Monday night meeting council was in full agreement with the new figures and changes shown to them by Gerald Morgan from the assessment office in Goderich. It's been over 30 years since the last assessment report and according to Mayor Harold Lobb, "This will even things up." "More than 50 per cent of the people will 'be happy," Councillor Ron McKay offered.. • In each division - residential, commercial and industrial - there will be some increases and 'some decreases. In. the industrial sector Mr. Morgan stated, without offering 'any names or figures that, "There will be one party very happy, and one very ugly." • Councillor Rob Parr offered, "The question is, do we want an.e4uitable system and have more flack or do we keep the system we have now and not as much flack." Mr,. Morgan noted that new house will not be necessarily carrying the bulk of the new assessment, "In some municipalities it comes in pockets and some old homes are carrying more than their load, and some less." Mr. _Morgan pointed out that an individual can oppose his new assessment and special open houses will be held in Goderich to answer any questions. He noted that anyone can appeal their assessment at review or two other levels of court as well. • Len Goulding of tti$' Jaines. Street li ed away tfoth his smoke fill d house by Clinton constable Gary Welr while ft' :'etiiiiitektingtilshed knits in his kltchen on Tuesday attotooh, me,16001ding was treated tot smoke inhalation in Cllnton Hospltal, and the, house Only suffered ‘811- 't.StitOtte dentate from the. tire caused by en overheated 'pot ofl t ikteoatit photo)