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Clinton News-Record, 1980-05-14, Page 1By Jim Fitzgerald • ' Clinton will have .a summer activity program this year, after the town's recreation committee ',deeided last Thursday night at thheir meeting to go ahead withfthe plan. • The contnxittee decided to go ahead and hire five students to run the program after secretary -treasurer Marie, Jefferson told the committee the town would be getting a $2,000 grant from the ministry of culture and recreation. The town. will kick in an additional , $500 as part of; their commitment to;_ the Jive students' wages for the 10 week program. The rec committee decided to wait until. after they have hired the students before sending;, them to a proposed summer leaders training camp at 'Camp Menesetung in late June. The committee also -decided to advertise for six additional students.. to work at the pool this summer. The head guard, Steve Campbell, who is returning, has already been hiredand is helping to clean up the park priort0-1 ` the opening of the pool. Member Ron McKay reported that the pool construction was right on schedule, and they hope for an opening day in early July. ,The rec committe is still looking inter .starting up a roller skating pregra n in the; arena this summer and Mr, McKay is looking into the possibility of either renting skates or buying some, second-hand ones. Another member, Bill Craig, is to furthet' investigate the. cost of lighting up the town owned tennis courts behind the high school, in order to extend their use: . Mr, Craig was told that the students' council had already ob- tained several prices from local electrical contractors, but nothing has been done yet. . Arena manager Clarence • Neilans reported that his men have been hard at work, re -decorating the arena for a busy summer, which gets underway in two weeks when 2,000 Shriners visit Clinton, followed by the Spring fair, the monster bingos, the giant bar- -beeue-and-the-horse races. He said the the arena auditorium was in need of new chairs, so the rec committee agreed to purchase 50 new 'chairs. The committee also gave Mr. Neilans the go ahead to get a quote on 10 new picnic tables for the park and hoped he could get them from ARC Industries in Dashwood. The committee also agreed to split 50-50 with the Clinton Kinsmen on the cost of repairing several of the bleachers used for the baseball games and the raceway. Total cost for the' new lumber is estimated at $500. Four members willalso be at- tending ,a recreation workshop .being held in Clinton at Wesley -Willis United Church on May 15. Horsemen tp pay fee . Out of town horsemen will pay a flat $25 annual fee to use the Clinton racetrack, the rec committee also rlpr'r1did. 1MTernher Frank MacDonald, who is also a horseman, 'will be in charge of collecting the money and the $25 will cover any number Of horses for one trainer., • . Member Ion Wright will look intoe the cost of putting up a flag pole in the front of the arena, and several coznmittee members Will meet with Police Chief Lloyd Westlake about the problem .of ears and trucks racing around the track and grounds at high. speeds. ospital to get bucks Clinton - hospital • administrator Doug Coventry has learned of a large sum of money coming to the hospital through a Happy Hospital Day ad in Mon dayl-s L,on ion -Free- --ress.T.-------._. The ad lists nine Ontario hospitals which are going to share $360 million, part of which is coming from the new Super Loto and the rest from the ministry of health to upgrade facilities. The other hospitals are in Exeter, Goderich, Ingersoll, Kin- cardine, Listowel, London, Sarnia, and Walkerton. • - Mr. Coventry expects that Clinton's • share of the money will go towards • Ten Clinton firemen and two of the town's police officers are now trained in the life saving cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) technique. The four hour course was taught under the direction of Dr. Brian Baker., right, Linda -Reid and Antje Troyan. CPR is a combination of mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and heart massages used to revive heart attack victims. Jerry Cox, left, is shown practicing the method on Rusi-Anne, a human sized mannequin, while fireman Al Finch, back, looks on. (News -Record photo) Tax jump in Hullett By Shelley McPhee Municipal taxpayers in Hullett Township .will see their taxes rise 11 per cent this year, after township council approved the 1980 milt rate last week. - " An average public school residential taxpayer in Hullett, with. an assessment of $5,000, will be ....paying $68.45 extra in taxes this year, from $623.50 last year to $691.95 this , year. The total mill rate this year for that same„ resident. is, '138.39,.•.cofn- pared to 124.7 in 1979. The general increase in taxes is not as high as it was in 1979 when tax- payers faced a 14 per cent increase. This year the secondary school rate jumped up by nine per cent, the separate school rate is up by eight per cent and the public school levy is up by five per cent. The county rate has increased by one per cent this-.. year and the township's own rate jumped by six per cent, which is lower than last year's increase by 22 per cent. As in 1979, the tax jump will be felt by Auburn residents who hace a 22 per cent inerease. Hullett Township Clerk by f II"S t COIU171 �1 jim fitzgerce Harry Lear explained that the rise in Auburn taxes was due to the large amount of road work done in the village over the year. An Auburn residential public school supporter with an assessment of $3,000 will be •paying $506.58 in taxes this year. In 1970 the same Auburn taxpayer paid $423.30 but must dig an additional $83.28 out of his pocket this year. Clerk Lear explained that in some areas the township council over - budgeted but thought they would have some money saved as a result of a smaller amount of road maintenance over the past winter. He noted that the money saved will be put back into the roads for repairs and upgrading. The tax rates for the township for 1980 (with last year's- figures -in brackets) are: county rate, 21 (20.88) ; public school, 40.34 (37.83) ; secondary school 36.57 (30.38); separate school 43.58 (39.13) ; township rate, 40.48 (35.61) ; Auburn, 70.95 (52.01). On top of the township rate, Lon- desboro residents pay an additional five per cent to cover their street lights. ' by Shelley McPhee Hi! It's me again taking my annual stint in the cpatain's chair. Editor Fitzgerald is taking his vacation leave for the. next couple of weeks, but it is debatable whether he's really having much of a holiday. He's playing the nervous father role, wafting for his wife to have their baby. No, Lois has not brought another little Fitzgerald pinto the world yet, but Fitz says it will happen any day now. + + + In the meantime we're keeping the ship afloat at the News -Record with some help from Cath Wooden. Cath is a reporter with our sister paper, the Goderich Signal -Star and her help is keeping me from- jumping romjumping off the boat. There's a clear horizon in sight and we'll all get a break from work for the Victoria Day long weekend. The News -Record offices will be closed on Monday for th �liday. All stores, banks a►. other government offices will also be closed on Monday. The post office will have regular serviee on Saturday, May 17 for counter and rural route delivery, but they'll be taking a holiday 'on Monday so there won't be any mail.delivery or wicket service. + + + Many people will be packing up their camping gear this weekend but for those of us- who will be staying home to catch up on spring, gardening and cleaning there are a few exciting events to put us in the holiday spirit. Fireworks displays are being held at Pine Lake, near Bayfield, at Hully Gully and in Londesboro. There's also a pan- cake breakfast in Bayfield, skydivers at Hully Gully, sail boat races at Bayfield .and a pipe band at PineLake. With that variety -of events there's surely something that will interest everyone. + + + But before we start the holdiays there are a few important matters to take care of. The Clinton ° Kinettes are sponsoring a blood donor clinic ori Thursday, May 15 (today) at Central Huron Secon- dary School. A special SOS has come from the London Red Cross and they are in need of 0 -negative, A -negative and B -negative blood. If youTiaim that type please be sure to go to the blood donor clinic, but even if you don't, still be sure to make a contribution.. You may save someone's life. + + + The start of su-mmer also means job hunting for high school and university students and that's not an easy task his year. The Clinton public works department has had 31 applicants for summer help. The problem is, they only have one opening available. + + + Problems seem to be what we exist on nowadays, with the world problems in Cuba, Iran the United States and even closer to home with the referendum issue. I'm not sure I know all the an- swers to these difficulties but the Main Street Wit agrees with a suggestion from George Burns who said, "Too bad all the people who know how to run the country are all driving taxi caps and cutting hair." + + + And speaking of running things, I've got a paper to get out to you on time so these ramblings must end. I've still got 15 store to write before deadline (which was two hours ago.) + + So signing off for Captain Fitz, is First Mate McPhee who hopes to keep hel° head above, water until next week. . Thursday, May 14, 1980 paying for the new $82,000 elevator that has been installed, and a recently completed $7,006 paint job. Also, plans are being drawn up for major renovations to the hospital which" will be presenteW to the ministry with hopes of receiving financial assistance. Plans call for the demoliton of the 100 -year-old north section of the hospital with a new two floor addition to be built with to main entrance off John Street. Renovations to the emergency entrance and X-ray department are also planned in the $1.7 million proposal. Weather 1980 1979 HI LO Apr. HI . LO 6 26.5 8 16 3 7 17 6 24 6 MAY 8 11 9 9 10 10 1-I - 1-9 12 16 4 28 12.5 ..1 29:5 14.5 ..1 27 16.5 -1_ __:. 7 17 6 Rain 4.0 mm Rain '0.8 mm IA votes on parking meters by Cath Wooden Paying to park your car in Clinton's business area may be a thing of the past if members of the BuSlness. Improvement Area (BIA) vote for their.Y removal this Friday evening. If in fact, the majority do not want parking meters then the BIA may approach Clinton town council with the request to remove them. In its letter along with the ballot, the BIA board of management stated,_ "It is important that each member voice his or her opinion so that if anything is to be done, the BIA will have the full support of its - membership. As yet, council has not discuused the matter. • BIA members and people who reside in the downtown area received a ballot in the mail this week asking for their opinion on the matter. The votes will be counted before a general meeting on Friday, May 16 -at 9:15 pm in the town hall. Those retailers it favor of the removal of parking .ers feel that- they hatthey only antagonize shoppers and require costly maintenance and repairs because of vandalism. They also feel that snow removal would be easier without the meters. Exeter was cited by BIA as one town which does riot have parking meters. A town study showed that shoppers parked for an average of 15 minutes in the two hour' Zones and did not create parking shortages. However, supporters of the meters say that they provide revenue for the town. In 1979, $7,800 ' was collected in Loins and $2,100. came from fines. for a total of close to $10,000. Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake said that the cost of . vandalism repairs has been minimal. "I'd rather see meters than be chalking •tires every day," he said. Chalking would be required if time limits were put on parking spots. "Main street parking should be for the shoppers and there should be off street parking " for those who work down- town." he added. Town Clerk Cam Proctor said that those who claim that parking meters cost money are talking nonsense. In 1979, the meters cost the town $1,024 in upkeep while $10,000 was collected, resulting in about $9,000 revenue for the town, or an equivalent of three mills. Along with discussion of parking meters at the May 16 meeting, the BIA members will be shown plans drawn up by Hill and Borgal, a Goderich ar- chitectural firm. The proprosals will show some projects that the BIA can undertake as part of a re -vitalization program for Clinton's downtown area. Some projects could be started immediately as the BIA budget has allotted $5,000 for intial re -vitalization. Council memebers and represen- tati=ves from local service clubs are also urged to attend this meeting. The BIA responsibility tree planters are this year. By20TO hastakenover the of having flower pots and on the main street core The town has agreed to have the public works department make sure the pots receive daily waterings. uckersmith taxes up by Wilma Oke Tuckersmith Township public school -supporters, with homes assessed at $3,000 will pay $393.70 in property taxes this year, up $43.24 over last year. A separate school supporter with a home assessed at the same level will pay $402.03, up $43.42 over 1979. The total budget approved Tuesday night in a six -hour session, was $1,302,064.18, an increase of $113,653.50 compared to 1979. Township taxpayers are faced with a tax bill from Huron County Board of Education and Huron -Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School board of $369,948, an increase of $62,895 over last year; $11,788 from 'the County of Huron, down from $138,538 last year; roads, $265,480 down from $273,000; recreation costs, $141,750, an, increase of $116,252 over 1979; and fire protection costs $31,000 up from $19,200. It's happened again! On Monday a CP Express transport truck wasn't agile to squeeze through the 12 -foot railway underpass on County Road 11, at the Clinton 'tC1Witlifits. The subway has become a trucker's nightmare and has claimed three trucks in the last two years. The driver in Monday's accident, George Ritchie from Scarboro was uninjured but the empty trailer was pulling was destroyed. (News -Record photo) Clerk -treasurer Jack McLachlan pointed out that a public school supporter -with an increase of $43.20 in .property taxes that 88 cents of that increase goes to the municipality, $2.85` to the county, $13.22 to elementary education and $26.29 to ,-secondary education. Education budget increases are the primary cause for a 1980 mill rate jump over 1979 The mill rates, passed with the 1980 budget showed increases'of over 22 mitis in total for the 1980 commercial public school rate and just over 21 mills for the separate school com- mercial rates. - Residential rates for public school ..supporters jumped approximately 24 'mills over last year, while separate school supporters will see a total increase of approximately 15 mills on the rate. "The whole increase, except for approximately -one mill is due to education costs, said Mr. - McLachlan. Other more minor increases for the increased rate can be attributed to a general municipal and county budget increr creating a 1.244 mill .ate -, incre, - overall, said Mr. McLachlan. Hullett people Mill fighting phone change by Cath Wooden Six Londesboro area' ---Bell Canada subscribers will be attending a Canadian Radio -Television and Telecommunications Commission (CTRC) regional hearing in Toronto this week to request that Hullett Township's Concessions 8 and 9 remain on the Clinton 482 exchange. Mrs. Albert Buffinga, Mr. and Mrs. Bert Greidanus, Mrs. Ralph De Weerd and Harry and Grant Snell represent five of the 10 subscribers involved in the attempted change over to the Blyth exchange by Bell Canada. The sub- scribers protest the change because it would men calling long -distance to just abou everywhere and thus a substantia increase in their monthly bill. Turn to page g.