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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1973-08-16, Page 2PAolt si-4xvigitICH SIGNAL -STAR. THURSDAY, AUGUST 16, 1073 f Blind to potential? Given grass. White sand.., Sparkling Clear Water touched with sunlight. Spreading shade trees. Sound nice? Sound like some place you'd like to visit? The truth of the matter is that scene is right on the doorstop of this municipality and last week Goderich Toren Council erased the spectacular view in favor of a pre -cast cement products business. For just $4,500, Goderich citizens could ,have , boasted an incomparable lakefront park, but council was unwilling to invest that measly amount for a future when lakefront property will be unat- tainable- at any' price. , Council was prepared ospend $7,500 to purchase the Stokes property at the base of harbor hill. But Walter Stokes felt the offer was too low, and indicated to council he would sell for an additional $4,500. For $12,000 Goderich could have possessed a piece of land which in years to come would prove to be an in- valuable asset to the face of Goderich. It is believed councillors felt the price was too high for the amount of land in- volved. But one of the real estate com- panies in town has the slogan, "Now is the time to . buy land. They just ain't making anymore. Ironical that town council with its two real estate members Would hesitate to snap up this prime lakefront property as a municipal -asset. Council is aware that with any luck, =,•• S,..• • .• • e• •••• • • . •• • • • • the lakefront property now occupied by a grouping of oil tanks will be turned laver to the municipality. Added to the Stokes property, what a marvellous ex- panse of grass and trees and sand could have been afforded the residing and visiting public just a few short steps away from the downtown area. Last year, council turned down an of- fer for a fully furnished and -landscaped park overlooking the lake and the har- bor. One begins to wonder. if council and the citizens of Goderich have taken for granted their good fortune as a com- munityon the sh6res of one of the .world's few fresh -water inland lakes. One questions whether council and the people are blind to the potential which shouts at them from every corner of thd town's northerly and westerly boun- daries. Later in the same meeting, council passed the necessary bylaw to sell a narrow strip of property to a resident of this municipality at what could be con- sidered a fair mark-up. Council also agreed to begin to move toward a commercial development on the southerly limits of town which could - result in tax income of about $100,000 annually. How wise it would have been to make provisions now to preserve a choice piece of lakefront property, albeit expen- sive for the people of Goderich and their guests - present and future. Water, water everywhere This week is Water Appreciation Week in GOderich. It is a time when' citizens of the community should stop and think of the many advantages of having an ample supply of fresh, cold, clear water running into their 'homes at the tun of a tap. Last week in the editorial column of this paper, the topic of water restrictions was discussed: It was pointed out thai in Goderich, certain laws apply to the out- door watering situation which exists• in the summer months. This week, the editorial page is carrying a cartoon by the talented Dave McKee which denotes just how some people react to the laws governing our water supply.' In general, the reason the people pf Goderich rebel against the watering' restrictions is the' fact. it is 'common belief that water is not in short supply in this -lakefront town. As one'citizen put it; "Plenty of water is one Of the advan- tages of living in Goderich and then you find it is restricted." • Sorne people are under the impression that the PUC simply draws from the lake as much waier as is required to meet the daily needs of the people. That's not exactly true, points out PUC employee Don McMillan. McMillan explained this week that the. pumping station is capable.of pumping a - • • Aiple.0001e"ac• tP, — •••••....401•111110001111. 02400"1-' -5./1/A1 DAR •READERS specific number of gallons per hour. By increasing filtering capacity and exten- ding the size of the water pumphig station,- extra water demands could_be. met. But that's an expensive project which would cost the people of -Goderich more money than they would likely care to spend. When the watering restrictions are not met: when people continue to run their hoses outside the appointed hours - the water In the holding tower is reduced to a dangerous level in the event of fire. Serious ,property damage_ couki= be recorded if a major fire was to develop when the water tower's contents was at- a low'ebb.' Water appreciation begins when people learn to value water in tile same way as do people in communities whose water supplies are constantly in dou.bL Once the sheer joy of water is .under; st6* - once the inconvenience of a dry well or a failing water supply has been experienced - water appreciation comes naturally. Then when a tap is opened and the sparkling clear liquid gushes forth, there's a feeling of gratitude and thanksgiving. There's no griping about water restrictions, only sincere hap- piness over, the abundant supply for most normal needs. ig Shirley J. Keller Still wo left Persons from Goderich and area who have not yet-. visited Huron Country. playhouse should plan now to attend. It is, Without a doubt,. one of the- most ex- citing theatre adventures to hit this area for many, many years and all county residents should place their support solidly behind the group. The calibre of theatre offered at the Playhouse cannot be construed as top - note,: It is not intended to be so. The Playhouse offers summer stock theatre and summer stock is rarely the. kind of finished theatre one expects in the larger eratablished theatres in the city. The atmosphere at Huron -Country Playhouse is its greatest- selling- aid. Many a the actors and actresses seem to • double as ushers and- ticket sellers' and stage hands and just plain joe-boys. There is friendliness everywhere mingled with that very. distinguishable smell of the grease paint' which is so unique to theatrical people. If culture is to get a foothold in Huron - if the people of this county are to have the advantages) exposure to theatre and related arts can bring then Huron County Playhouse must survive. To survive, the. Playhouse .needs you. Thanks to Goderich Little Theatre, Pen- dulum Players and the great draifia club at GOCI, Goderioh and area citizens are among the most astute theatregoers in the county. They are naturals to al)- * preciate the efforts of the Playhouse troupe and should number strongly in the line-ups at the ticket office on the "B" line in Stephen Township. , There's only two plays left to be per- formed after this week's show. Why not make an appearance there sometime in the remaining days of the 73 season? Council's approval to begin forcefully than that. proceedings to make changes in "Until a parking study has the official- plan and in the been undertaken,- a plan for - restricted area bylaw (zoning mulated and implemented and bylaw) to permit the construc- some experience has been , had tion • of a regional shopping under the new conditions mall in Goderich has to be the thereby brought about and un - big news storyof the week til it is demonstrated that such new conditions do not solve the Strangely enough though, the parking problems," he said, businessmen of the community "tlie development'of a shopping gave the impression at last centre on the outskirts of the Thursday evening's meeting town should,nOt be entertained. that the matter was not impur- This is what the official plan tabt tO-Warrant-their says' and therefolre we submit full attention. Only two this is what the town council businessmen,' Jim Remington should and Dennis. Fincher, attended There's one man in Goderich the council session and both of at this very' moment who is these men left the'meeting saying "I told you so." That's early - too ,early to see the R Robinson, a former town valiant fight their solicitor councillor, who claimhe wan - George Plaxton was putting tip ted parking meters installed in on their behalf. ," the core area five or six years One would naturally , have ago. According to Robinson, his assumed that since the local proposal at that time was that businessmen are spending con- the revenue from the parking siderable money. to -voice their meters would be set aside to oRrections to the expenditure by buy off-street parking space for packing the council chambers the future as land became with, concerned members of the available. Association.,But apparently, Robinson's Not so. Geore Plaxton was ideas were cast .aside at that left to faee council virtually time as being impractical 'alone. There was little doubt and/or unnecessary. ,,ifter all, that council members had who could foresee a shopping already "agonized" over the mall in the future. Human problem and had come to the' nature tells us to remain static meeting prepared- to voteOn the whenever possible„ to avoid subject.- Many other spactators change at all ,costs until it in theroom were obviously becomes imperative and then to rooting for the Suncoast team. resist with - every ounce of The ' come -from -behind strength we possess. businessmen of Goderich had Deputy -reeve Stan Profit, a deserted their legal counsel in local downtown businessman this most important of by the Way, doesn't see things moments and their disin- quite that way. - terest did not go unnoticed. "This town will never grow .if Neither did it do a great deal we don't have ambitious people for their public image. with ambitious plans," said Profit at last week's meeting. The real question then must be; "How many ambitious Plaxton presented , a well- people are there in Goderich? prepared and Well thought out. In the business community? set of briefs - one on behalf of How many people really want the Downtown Businessmen's Goderich to grow? To change?" Association in opposition to a proposal of Suncoast Estates Limited to develop a regional shopping centre and one refuting statements made in a brief. previously presented by Earl Cherniak, legal counsel for Suncoast Estates. In his presentation, Plaxton talked aboutthe lack of economic feasibility . for the shopping mall and the . im- proper proposed location of the * * * -..-0•!!!!!,10.191.t eobtrith SIGNAL -STAR • —0— The County Town Newspaper of Huron * * * Fortunately for Goderich (if you believe that a community must grow or die) there are developers around like, the Sun - coast Estates principles. While not everyone will agreewith'all the methods and ;each of the projects of Suncoast Estates, there is little doubt that without that organization - and other similar groups of venture. developers locally - this town One of the points most would be much less prokressive. labocedAyStaxton was the feel_ Suncoast's solicitor Cherniak. that the local businessmen are madeveryv�1iilpoititinthis being ignored by the municipal connection. Cherniak told -the bodies. meeting' last Thursday evening Plaxton.poinled out, for in- that the ioai businessmen had stance, that the town's -official really done _nothing concrete 'plan had clearly emphasized toward re -development of the that parkin i problems related downtown area - toward up - to the core area should be dating the total setting and the studied and an attempt made overall services offered .there. to solve them. He went on to As Cherniak put it, there is say that if it is shown there is no immediate evidence that the no answer to the problem of downtown businessmen are parking in the core area, then spending "one dime" toward and only then should con- improved parking sideration be given to the brighter stores, ,etc. etc. development of an outlying On the contrary, Cherniak competing shopping area. pointed out, his clients were in - Not only has no such study, vesting heavily in the future of been undertaken, Plaxton Goderich. They are proving argued, the council has taken their firm belief that Goderich no action toward the has future worth investing businessmen's request for the establishment 'of a parking authority in Goderich. Plaxton nut it little more 770— Founded tn 1840 end publ 'shed every Thursday *9 37 West St , Goderich, Ontario Member Of the Audit Bureau of Circulation. the CWNA andOWNA Advertising rates on request Tain-cPlns payable tn advainceAU 00 on Canada2U SO in all count•ies other than CaAada, single coptes 20 cents Second clansmen Registration Number 0716 Adverlistng is accepted on the conditton M the event 61 typographical errdr, that portion of the advertising space occupied by the erroneous Om, together with robsonabli allowanc• for signature, worn not be charged for but the balance of the advertisement *ill be resod for al the applicable raft In th• event of a typographical orro• advertining goods or services an wrong price. goods or services may not be sold Advertising it merely an offerto son, and may f• vsithdrperi at any time Business and Editorial Office TELEPHONE 5244131 area Code 515 Seised class mail registration number -0716 PubNshed by Signal -Star PubNshing Ltd, , ROBERT G. SHRIER—prosident and publisher SHIRLAY J. KELLER—editor R. W. EllAW—Pdhorial staff EDWARD J. BYRSKI--advertising manager DAVE R. WILLIAMS--advertleing representative in. And -that brings us to another point which cannot be glossed The new shopping mall, if constructed, would- result in something like $75,000 to $100,000 in additional_ tax dollars annually. That's not to be taken lightly. Goderich needs a broader tax base. That need was vividly demonstrated when council struck the budget this year. Scuttlebutt around the town this week had it that of the, tax revenue to be expected from the shopping mall, much of that would be spent by the Municipality in servicing the complex. That rumor'was hotly denied by Bert, Alexander this week. Alexander insisted the respon- sibility for maintenance and upkeep' of the shopping pIazs' and the surrounding area (Parking lot) would definitely remain in the hands of Sun - coast Estates. - This writer' checked that point with Town Administrator Harold Walls who also foresees only minimal costs to the municipality in connection with the shopping mall. But just to be certain, Walls is now double-checking his opinion with persons in the know. On the other hand, the_down- town businessmen have openly declared their intention that the municipality - the people of Goderich )( should establish a, parking authority and' inquire into the acquisition of land. In other words, the core area business people want the town- sfolk to invest in' Goderich'a future for their sake. These two factors - conflic- ting as they may be- must examined by the people, as they were examined by Councillor Mrs. Elsa Haydon. The lady councillor Who always does her, homework, sometimes to the chagrin of her associates, stated quite clearly her feelings on this point. *aid Mrs. Haydon, "The shopping centre would create an estimated $75,000 to $100,000 tax income, yearly, to the town - money lost to Goderich if a similar shopping centre would open,elsewhere in ' the vicinity. It would also sup- ply the much needed parking facilities at no cost to the tax- payer." It was former reeve Paul Carroll who often spoke about the need for the business com- munity to begin to make their own, breaks without depending so much on municipal funding. .Murucinal money._ domnot. spout from a never-ending fount of wealth and goodwill. On the contrary, people are becoming more and more selec- tive atvut the municipal projecttinto which their'moneY is channelled. It appears, then, that . the local businessmen are sadly misinformed about the expec- tations of the shopping public. They do not have their fingers on the pulse of the community. Over 2,000 names from Goderich alone on a petition - would give strong indication of the truth of that conclusion. Paul Rivers, solicitor for the * * Citizens' tommittee, is not the world's most forceful speaker. Yet Rivers touched on a most basic point in his' presentation to council last -week, and 'N though it has been mentioned many, many times previously it sounded new and provocative. Rivers stated: "There's nothing wrong with com- petition. Competition, is gocki for everyone." There's.so much truth in that • statement it seems elementary. Yet it truly appears that the downtown business people fear competition as though, it was something ugly and devastating _instead of that vital element to spark ideas and incentive and drive out complacency. If people go out of the area to shop, it ik only to a community where competition, is keen making businessmen eager and "hungry.** 'There's nothing to be feared by the introduction of a shop- ping mall in Goderich unless downtown merchants are ,not prepared to compete and to. battle for business. And if that's the case, shoppers will begin—to drift. away to other centies in ever increasing num- bers -anyway, sO 'there's still nothing to be gained and everything to be lost. Perhaps the greatest concern now is that the Focal downtown merchants will lose heart - will 'fail to accept the challenge that is smacking them in the face. The questions the downtown merchants should be asking these days is,,:'How can we cash in on the shopping mall ad- dition, if itis built? We've got several months, maybe two or three years, to show the people of this community we're alive and well. • We've got the same amount of time to 'prepare to lure the new business that is supposed to be coming our way. How can we best -use this time? How can we revamp our natural mall, the Square?" * * * „ lace Neil don lawyer George pia4 Association , has, rut* Ws battle With Suncoast Dear Editor, The Goderich buoi ovthe proposed mall. In an article ie et that Mr. Pluton told (AUsust 11, 1973) it ia LONDON 'FREE lig council he intends to o the Ontario Municipal hearing for an order Goderich to pay all ctirred by the merchao raising their objections to plaza. I can only infer that Businessmen's Associatioa requested that their Proceed with tsuch act' that the association co such action. To say the am incensed at Mr. p suggestion. Every tarps Goderich should likewise opinion, it wou jcuesnItris edm. for yall taxpayerstou' a complete .boycott of all chants who belong te asrsociation if Mr. Pluton plies to the Ontario Mu Board on their behalf ting to get the taxpayerto the association's bills. A plete boycott lastihg a would not, in my view,be p r Theopri a derive to Clinton, ford, or some other corns would well be worth the' venience. it is time the citizens of Goderich -together and made feelings known. I love , town, but I won't let people of the town use money for purposes that benefit only them io an al tre lot, of lis m 111)81 oLii 1 r, oniti tl ug In V of i Th te use en( Yours sin Bruce D. Bjort Get your Letter to the Ed n)1 In right am boycott, the council who make .a decision so harmony. with the 'viewpoint. ,But the letter also poin the .fact that the businessmen are tread' thin ice vvitit ,the co generally. The old adage customer is always right" plicable here and if the sumers in Goderich want things they feel they are presently getting, it is right to find it wherever however they can., 01 * There, is small d however, that not all the sons who signed the peti favor of the shopping mall , fully informed concern' the implications of the Just" the same as fele are ever fully informed the issues when marking ballots in,an election, signers 4" are rs knowledgeable about economic aspects and the range effects of someth .comiilicated as a sho mall. But, just as intelligent are not separated from intelligent oters for the poses of an election, should petition signe 'scrutinized and chest , their ignorance. A petit people expressing their,. - nothing mOre, nothing As the Letters to the Editor this week -Will- attest, at least onp citizen is outraged at the suggestion the local businessmen will instruct their solicilor to press for the municipality to paythe costs, for their fight in this battle. It Ills been our experience in matters such as this that if one ratepayer takes the time to write a letter, we can be assured many, many more are entertaining the same kind of thoughts. The letter suggests, Of course, t te by promising to boycott file downtoWn business section for a period of one month. What the letter writer may not realize is that if costs are awarded by the Ontario Municipal Board, it will only be after it has been proven the town council was negligent in hearing all the facts involved in- the dispute and have overlooked some pertinent in- formation which has bearing on the whole matter. In that instance, of course, one .could hardly blame the businessmen for requesting their costs be paid for it will have been mho" wn their concerns were justified and borne out by the OMB. And, in such an instance, one would only suggest it would be much more to 'The point.. and much more vliluable - to y that in this parTallar final outcome will be d either by the Ontario Mil Board or the provi Ministry of Tres d Intel Economics an mental Affairs. M that the citizens,' the develope the businessmen will the recommendations locally were in tune tn thinking of those peuPle position to best judge the of the area. Counsellor flaydon gain when she, tsla -a meeting they were just "verbal circles." Council he congratulated for gel with this project ... for stand and preparing for the next BM* What happens now co be defined ai the decision. YL oi