Clinton News-Record, 1980-02-28, Page 1Arc it
sad
By Shelley McPhee
Hill and, Borgal, the GQderichar-
chitectural firm working on the
restoration'plaris for the Clinton tom!,
hall say they Will not, have to come»
piete a. new . specifications .study
before tenders for the first phase ,of
the renovation can be carried out,
At their meeting on „February' 19
-cote cil understood 'that Hill and
Borgal" would have to complete anew_
study andplan, at a cost of between
$500 and $1,000, detailing the wo tto
be One in the first phase, •
Councillor Chester Archbald told
council that they had been discussing
the recently passed motion to open
tenders on the project with Clerk Cam
`Proctor and said, ``The clerk said he
couldn't figure out ,what the first
- - - sew.as, 11Clerk Proctor- said he
asked the architects about it,and t1ey
said than they didn't know and that
another study would have to be done
for $500.'t
"I'm fled up with th's whole thing,"
Councillor Archibald told council.
"It's been drained, drained, drained
by the architects."
Clerk Proctor added, "Where does
..w. the first phase start and finish? It
doesn't. I •was told -they (Hill and
Borgal) would have to go through the
specifications and take information
out and it could cost $500 and up to
$1,000."
Some council members were op, -
posed to the additional fee and
questionned the need of an extra
study..They had understood that from
an complete architectural and
engineering study, prepared by Hill
and Borgai on the building, that the
first phase would include -un-
derpinningthe footings and tying. the
walls back to the ,building to prevent
further shifting and movement. The
engineers estimated that this phase of
r there were enoughsausages, pancakes and
ko feed the hundreds of people who attended the
,` Cubs and Scouts Pancake Lunch: on ` Sunday:
Mary Freeman was only one of the busy cooks and
servers who dished out the lunch, which celebrated
Guide and Scout week. (News -Record photo)
th year --No-, 9
Thursday, February 28, 1980
35 cent.
interest crippling farmers
BY ALICE GIBB
interest rates are getting a
:hold on many farm businesses
king it increasingly difficult for
'armers to enter agriculture,
zg to Jim McIntosh, a member
executive of ' the Huron
ion of Agriculture.
lcIntosh presented a brief on
Lscreated by the current high
rates to Liberal Jack Riddell
Middlesex) and Murray Gaunt
Brute) pnd-.:.newly-elect `d M,:P
Cardiff at the 'federation's
nembers of parliament dinner
n on Saturday.
[cIntosh told dinner guests the
in interest rates from 10 to 15
has "added six cents to the cost
39 cents per pound of beef at
it level and 27 cents per bushel
o cite only three examples."
d established farm operations
'stand the high interest rates
naer neriod than the younger
farmer just starting out.
He said many Canadian provinces
offer either a farm -loan program or an
interest subsidy on specified . existing
lean programs to qualifying farmers
but added, "Ontario may be the only
province which does not offer any in-
centive to young farmers borrowing
the large sums of money necessary to
get established in agriculture."
Mr. McIntosh 'told the members of
parliament that the province of Quebec'
for example offers term loans to far-
mers at an interest rate of only eight
percent per . annum. The federation
director : said the province of Ontario
should either consider reintroducing
the Junior Farmer Loan Program or
else establishing a program in which
the interest rate to qualifying farmers
"is reduced to a manageable level".
Mr. McIntosh said a $100,000 loan,
amortized over 20 years, with a 15
percent interest rate ends up costing
the farmer $381,455." -
"For the survival of agriculture, the
government of Canada should do
everything within its power to reduce
the Bank OT Canada interest rate. For
Ontario agriculture to be truly com-
petitive in the future, the province of
Ontario should operate a loan program
with a preferred interest tate or offer
an interest rate subsidy -to existing loan
Turn to page 3 •
uckersmith has $71,500 surplus
Tuckersmith . ended 1979 with a
$71,500 surplus, township auditor
Mike Meyer of Diegel, Malcom and
Hagey told council last week and he
added the township is in good shape
financially. He noted that ex-
penditures were within $5,000 or one
per cent of budget "enviable for that
ell, all you single gals, ac-
ting to tradition, you have only
days left this month in which to
Pose to your favorite beau, as
ruary 29 is fast coming upon us.
nd too, tomorrow,. the 29th, is
final day for all passenger car
ers to get their new 'license
cern. Ac ording to Phyllis
er, manager of the local
!au, several thousand of you
find yourself standing out in
;old in a long line-up.
+ + +
lthough Canada's ,Kenneth
lor, the ambassador to Iran,
le us all very proud to be
adians with his brave rescue of
e Americans earlier this 'year,
rosy feeling all but . disap-
.ed, at least for this agent, at
just completed Winter
npics.
though we live in a 3 million
ire mile country that has
er up to 10 months of the year,
ame home with only two paltry
als, a silver and a bronze.
Cat's embarassing enough, but
Id insult to injury, the U.S. who
know crossing checking
a curved stick a few years
defeated the mighty Russians
won the gold in the game of,
ey, which we invented.
nbarassing is right. But to add
t to injury, the little country of
itenstein, which would ' fit
y into Goderich Township, and
mposed of a mere 35,000 souls,
four medals, including a
le of golds.
d then our bobsled team, who
supposed to compete in the
on Sunday, the last day, had
ipute among themselves- on
her they should go out par -
the night before, and didn't
the final. Some showing!
're increasingly becoming the
ring stock of the sporting
and it's time we got over out'
`ed, lazy derriers and got in
!. •
The Main Street wit has a shrewd
observation for all 'parents of
young', children, including yours
truly: "The government has
several million fingerprints. So has
every home with two or more
kids."
• + ++
The first Saturday" of another
month is upon us again, and that
means the Londesboro Lions will
be out, weather permitting, this
Saturday morning, March 1,
collecting newspapers. Please try
and have your bundled newspapers
out at the curb by 9 am.
+ +. +
It's a strange coincidence in-
deed, but ft was exactly 100 years
ago this week, on February 26,1880,
the town council -made a decision to
build a new town hall after months
of haggling. And now 10 decades --'
later, town council is still trying to
decide, after 25 years of debate,
whether to fix up.the grand old gal,
or tear her down and put up one of
those cement boxes that will stand
as,an tribute the age of silliness.
It seems the.referendum th`ken in
town a few years ago, •+witch gave
overwhelming support to restoring
the historic building, will be
ignored.
+++
The newly formed Optimist Club
of .,Clinton is • already hard a work
helping the town, and in the next
couple of weeks, will be doing a
survey, through the mails, of
services available in town. So if
you get a letter from the club, fill it
out and return it promptly.
+++ •
We had a couple of reports in our
office here that groundhogs have
been spotted froliking about in .
Hullett Township, but their
predictions of warmer weather
seem a little misguided, as very
cold blustery weather has set in.
+ + +
The Wit also says this week, that
with all our wonderful computers
working, there are still some things
that just don't add up.
amountof money" .but cautioned that
tax arrears are steadily climbing ...
"a fair sum of money tied up there."
It cost $1,229,341 to run the township
last year and most departments came
in close to budget. Transportation
services cost $301,943 versus $273,000
budgeted, mainly because a tractor
and loader were purchased.
Recreation and culture,including
tTie Vanastra Rec Centre, cost
$149,000 last year, up from the$118,800
that was budgeted for and from
$105,000 last year.
Close to budget Were environmental
services at $138,000 and social ser-
vices (mainly the day care centre) at
$54,000. Under budget were planning
and development at $53,000, general
government at $53,400 and protection
at $23,000.
Revenue for the township was up
about $73,000 because of various
grants and totalled $1,300.000.
Income from the Vanastra Centre is
now part of general township
revenue, Mr. Meyer explained and a
motion of council in November paid
the centre's remaining deficit of
$58,294 from general reserve funds.
The township has 482,898 in taxes
receivable. up from $401,916 in 1978.
Clerk Jack McLachlan said the figure
includes the township's latest tax
billing and that two properties alone
owe $200,000 of the amount in three
years' back taxes. Actual tax arrears
he estimated at $78,000 in 1979, about
t,hesamein1978.
The township's debenture debt is
about $450,000 for Tuckersmith
Telephone System funds, Mr. Meyer
said, plus a $100,000 loan` to TTS that
the township hopes to debenture if
interest rates fall.
Reeve Ervin Sillery commented
-that even though the phone system
has . customers in other areas,
Tuckersm ith is responsible for it.
The auditors suggested the town-
ship use the $71,500 general reserve
surplus to increase its reserve for
working capital, which was reduced
last year from $159,427 to $87,575,by
the Vanastra Centre deficit payment
and Ontario Home Renewal Plan
(OHRP) payments. It was also
suggested that OHRP funds be kept
separate from general • township
funds.
Counc"ii adopted the financial
statement and reappointed the firm ,
as 1980.auditors.
umbers are returned
Clinton's Mohawk Cresent residents
will nb-longer haveto'guess what their
house-rrurbers are.
The number switch ended when
Clinton Council passed a motion at
their February 19 meeting adopting a
numbering system on Mohawk
Cresent that will co -inside with the
numbers presently on the houses.
The decision ended an eight year
squabble over the numbering system
and according to the residents'
spokesman Bob Allen, "Will satisy 100
per cent of the affected ratepayers."
Mr. Allen explained to council that
when hooses were build along
Mohawks Cresent, a new subdivison in
the north corner of town, owners were
given numbers, but these numbers
were not official and were later
changed when Clinton, developed an
official numbering system.
Mr. Allen pointed out that one
resident even had three numbers to
choose from and all home owners in
the area wanted to retain the original
numbers issued to them.
"The numbers there serve our
purposes very well. We've lived with
these numbers for seven years and
changing then becomes an issue to
us," Mr. Allen explained.
He pointed out the the changes also
meant that home owners had to
change .all their legal documents,
drivers licence, assessment notices,
magazinesubscriptions, stationary
and cheques.
Councillor Rob Parr said that he
had checked into the' situation and
found .that the Post Office preferred
the original numbering system.
A lengthy discussion took place on.
were the original numbers came from
and why.
Clerk Cam Procter said that the
town was not responsible for the
original numbers but they supposedly
came from the resident, the sub-
divider or the PUC.
However, Mr. Allen felt that his
original number had been given by
Turn to page 3 •
Faulty wiring
blamed for fire
Faulty wiring is blamed with
starting' a house fire on February 15
that heavily gutted a home at 161
James Street. "
About 30,000 damage was cau°sed in
the blaze in the home owned by Cale
Doucette and rented by,Joan.and Tom
Burley, who lost nearly everything in
the fire.
flC
restoration Viet fld cost $SQ,000,_. -.
Chris Borgal, from Dill and Borgal,
later explained to the News -Record
that no new study has been planned
andspecificatitendersonwsauldanbe.B.plalledansa, usilreng adythe
d,R
completed. - • • '
° "The specifications they (council)_
have in hand' are from seven
engineers and two architects,,' Mr.
.Bengal' explained and noted that'there
were no discrepancies in the plans
and no separate study would.be made
by the architects. ,
He said that there would be a
'maximum cost of $500 for Hill •and
Borgal to print drawings of the plans
ler the contractors .to, make their
tender bids on.
While some councillors objected to
the additional charge, Councillor Ron
McKay. pointed out, "We called for
tenders on the pool twice. That cost
us. No *matter how you call tenders
you'l have to pay. " .. •
"But how are you going to pay?"
questionned Clerk Proctor,
Councillor.., RumbalI • suggested,
-"I'm beginning to think that we
shouldn't . go ahead with this and
Councillor Archibald added, "I went
through the building and I was ab-'
solutely appalled. at what I saw. I
can't believe that this is a sound
building with the cracks and the
heaving.
Councillor Archibald also reminded
council that they never received the
detailed engineers' report •that they
had requested and commented, "That
was an absolute insult to council when
the architect said we wouldn't un-
derstand the report."
Councillor Rob Parr interjected,
"Either we're here to do the business
of the town or to play games. We did
the business, now let's see what the
tender s bring us. If $500 is what it
takes to all the tenders then okay."
Also regarding the town hall, and
available grants, Councillor McKay
said there had been past discussions '
with the Heritage Foundation and
they had said that $55,000 to $65,000
could be available to help pay for
restoration work. He added that the
Foundation had been asking why
Clinton bad notapplied for funds.
"So the maximum we could 'get is
- $55,000 to $65,000?" Council'lor,
Archibald .confirmed.
"They have set aside..nothing,"
Clerk Prector -said; "' ;hey have not
even ' dis us sed •'it. 1 asked about the
$.55,000 and I was AOld that thleytaite
nothing in their records, It takes six to
eight months to make the .grant
available," '
He added,; "There's. no ;maximum `,
minumum or any -percentage. There's
nothing' for this town hall since. no
application has been made."
Councillor McKay agreed, R but
noted that it 'could be available if
council decided to go ahead with the
renovation work.
Thirsty thieves
steal one case
Clinton Police reported that
sometime over the weekend, thieves
broke into the Clinton Hotel, went into
the cooler and stole a case of beer'.
Otherwise, the police have reported
a quiet two weeks with only two
reportable accidents.
A car driven by. Cindy Fleet, 25, of
— Clinton received $400 in damages and
a second vehicle driven' by Stewart
Vriesinga, 24, of Clinton received $150
in damages following a February 19
accident. The two cars were damaged
after they struck at the intersection of
Mary and Issas Streets.
Barry Welch, 23 . of Clinton, was
uninjured after the car he was driving
went out of control on an icy section of
road'and hit a hydro pole.
„The February 16 accident occurred
at the, intersection of Mary and King
Street when the car was attempting to
make a turn: Damage to the car was ,
set at $400 and damage to the pole and
light was set at $300.
Tuckersmith council wants
Tuckersmith council wants its
ratepayers to know how a ward
system operates and would like to
hear thein -opinions on whether or not
the 'scheme should be adopted in
Tuckersmith.
That was council's report out of a
•half hour committee of the whole
private session at last week's council
meeting.
Over 160 of Vanastra's 400 electors
signed a petition asking for wards and
a separate one for Variastra that was
presented at council's last meeting..
Council refused to send the petition to
the Ontario Municipal board.
The petition has been forwarded to
the OMB by a Vanastra committee,
according to • Evelyn Garland of
Vanastra who attended the council
meeting as a spectator.
Several councillors said they'd been
.asked what a ward system would
mean by ratepayers. Councillor
Frank Falconer said they'd been
unable to find anyone from a ward
system at the recent Rural Ontario
Municipalities Association convention
in Ontario...
When a municipality is divided into
-wards, each area votes for one
representative to council, in effect
system
making a separate race in each ward.
Ratepayers no longer vote for the
Whole, council but usually the head of
council is chosen by -a --vote at large, in
Fall wards.
A ward system in Tuckersmith for
example might mean councillor Bill
Brown running just in Egmondville
while all township electors would
have a vote for reeve.
Division of a municipality into
w..rds can be a way of ensuring that
various geographical areas get
representation but much hinges on
how ward boundaries are drawn.
Weather 1
1980 1979
HI LO HI LO
FEBRUARY
19 2 •8 "7 —20
20 3 0 4'3 —16
21 3 •4 —1 —8
22 2 •3 3 _6
23 1 —4 4 —3
24 0 -3.5 2 "5
25 .3 —9 '"3 —10
Snow 2 cm Rain 15 mm
Pouring
the batter
Bernice Reid was only One of 'the Many helpers
from the Varna UCW for Iast Tuesday's Pancake
Supper In the church. Along With cooks, servers and
clean up crews many ladies showed their baking
talents with all the delicious looking pies for
dessert. The ladies' efforts paid off and over MO
was raised for tICW projects. (Newt-Reeord photo)
..1
,.Lk JY -.4' SIL