The Goderich Signal-Star, 1975-03-06, Page 1'4P
Clinton's Cook
would move
library to Hub
Twenty-three members of
Huron ,county Council voted
against signing a new lease for
library headquarters facilities
in Goderich, but 30 affirmative
votes were cast to permit the
building on Lighthouse Street to
remain .in county service until
at least January 1, 1977. -
The debate arose when the
county library board asked
council to approve a new lease
with the owners of the building.
According, toboard members,
the.building has changed hancjis
and new tenants have shown
interest in the building.
While the county lease does
not expire until June 1'; 1976, the
new owners were willing to
negotiate a new lease with the
county at tfiis time. The five
year 'lease will increase the
rent to the county to $4.85 per
square foot or $810 per month
with.a yearly adjustment up or
down for taxes and utilities
based on the actual costs for
1974. The county can terminate
the lease with one year's`notice,
any time after January 1, 1977.
The board members ex-
plained that if the new lease
had not been negotiated until.
the present lease expired next
summer, the , odds are 'that a
lease at that time would be
much more expensive than
$4.85 per.square foot.
Theory was, according to
Chairman Norman ' Durst, to
lose a little now but gain a
subs:W.60a amount later . `
iscssion, s =-ha nod°
all members of councilr'were
convinced the economy would
remain" that buoyant for that
length of time. Reeve Ed.
Oddleifson of Bayfield said he
was. "darnsure" the county
would not have to pay as much
for library facilities even in the
five years and it is the same old
story. Everybody likes to be
close to the court house,"
stated Mr. Cook. "Let's change
it a little. Why does everything
have to be in Goderich?"
Reeve Oddlelfson concurred.
He said that with proper
plannin ,,, d a courier system,
library headquarters at Clinton
could still make 'use of court
house equipment and facilities.
"You don't ,have to be just
across the street from the court
house to make use of equipment
here," said Reeve Oddleifson.
Deputy -reeve Frank Cook,
called ' for a recorded vote
which resulted in a 30-23 tally in
favor of signing the • new lease
for present library facilities.
During the debate, however,
it was evident that county of-
ficials are considering a new
county building to house the
library as well as other county
departments. It was pointed out
such a building would take
several years to plan with
construction not possible much-
before 1977.
Kinsmen
128 YEAR 1,0
THURSDAY, MARCH 6 1975
Say talks are, peces ary
until reasse.s
11
ark
Town -council agreed Monday in his. opinion the matter was
night to reconsider who will use settled and council should not
Agriculture Park on Labor Day have an about face regarding
weekend. Council decided two their decision,
weeks ago to grant the Councillor Dave Gower, said
Industrial Softball tournament that he felt the problem could
- the use of the park in favor of not be solved by legislation but
the Goderich Trotting by counselling. He said that two
Association, who would nor- parts of the community are at
malty be operating , harness loggerheads over the Friday_
.racing thatpight. night and that it was not up to
, The second look at the council to solve the problem.
ituation was agreed upon after Gower added that council had
s
trotting, association president the power to settle the dispute
Don MacKay. --confronted once and forall but, that,_ that
council on what he termed the course would not be the best
unfairness of the decision. He answer to the problem.
told council that he could `nest "We can say who gets the use
, understand how they could of the park but to solve the.
stag niali"f
'4 t
justify taking the. use of the problem the two groups should
park away from a business and. get together and , discuss the
give it to a group whose aim matter, working ,out the best.
seems to Tie to raise money 'Jo possible- solution --that -is ac
indu�i g��eelff fsp-orr.at :less -per-- ce'ptalile to, -tidal.,. �-"
stI .
sonarexpense. Gower. -"Then I think council
Councillor Leroy " Harrison , would be fair in taking a second
Goderich Kinsmen . are disagreed with Mr.. MatKay look at the matter."
grateful for the support ' last saying that last year when the -
weekend at their annual stag big "hullaballoo" over Friday
night. All proceeds went toward night use of theye' park was
the addition to the Kinsmen started, the trotters were given
CI
ub House on South Street the right to the facilities arid the
present Wilding, in 1976. which also serves as a ball tournament had to sit back -Y
workshop for retarded adults in and wait"' He added that this . �' s
"Maybe we want to be Santa this area, year there was a gentleman's Sky Ilar o
'' ui ed Oddleifson t , .nus,qppThe club house is supplied agreemeno assist
t
ounty is
to
Mr. MacKay reminded
council of the effqrts the
trotting association made last
year to improve the grandstand
at the park and referred/to the
financial asset harness racing
was to the community.
He said that',he average
income from racing nights was
about $7,300., half of which
went to purses. He said that
over $1,000 of the ,money was
paid to Goderich and Clinton
residents in the form of wages
which made racing a greater
benefit to the. Goderich area
than the ball tournament.
The ,, association president
challenged the authenticity of
,the quote by Ken Crawford,
saying the race dates could beci
changed to June or September
t'o solve the situation. He said
that-rbiangtng..the date:_wotttd,b
very difficult because of
(continued on page 8)
obliged
Cl
h warned
t t bargain for the
against
G d h d there was no
f char a to the o otic ark an
who w free o g p
"presuming" the economy and District Association for the discussion on the subject
would remain stable. He, said.- Mentally Retarded which between the two factions. .
he ,felt the country is definitely •sponsors • the workshop ac- "GentlerIzen'.s agreeme pts
. in a recession and headed fora • tivitiesfor the '---mentally have to be kept as well as,.
depression. retarded adults. ', ' written ones," he said.
"The present lease should be The stag night was' .termed Deputy Reeve Bill Clifford
honored," Reeve Oddleifson' "very successful" by Kinsmen told council that he had, vpted
said. - vice-presidenW'Bob McDougall against giving any one group
i
Deputy -reeve Frank Cook, a
longtime . advocate of decen-
tralization of county offices,
drew .council's attention once
more to the fact that a building
is available at Vanastra which
would adequately • house the
. library headquarters. '
Library head William Par-.
tridge was' present and ' com-
mented that the library staff
makes regular Vise , of court
house equipment and facilities.
"We like to 'be close to the
court house," said Mr. Par-
tridge.
"I've been .op this council)pr
• who convened the event. He use of the facilities because 'of
said Kinmembers -worked long • 'the.. -manner in ' which subject
and hard to , arrange the --was handled at • the council
evening but community sup- table. He said he was under the
port was vital to make it worth- impression that the matter was
while. to go to a council committee to
The big winner in the draw be discussed between the town
for $500 was Gerry Eggleston.'',, and the two associations and
Winners of $25 each were Kirk • .that this was not done before
Lyndon,' Brian" Draper, Allan the ball tournament vote was
Armstrong, Ron McDonald,, taken. He added that it might
George Chambers, R. Murray, be in order to rescind the
Jim McLeod, Dick�Prit, Austin motion to give the park to the
Hartman, Abe, Chase, Davia tournament awaiting' a more
Graff, A. Manderson, R. Hill, complete , picture of ,th-e
Pete Mason, Jim Fairish, situation. '�
Brian Miller Randy Keller, Councillor Jim Peters
Harry Little, B. Chisholm and denounced the suggestion to
Mike Mallon h. rescind the motion'saying that
g
A'reminder that the County of
Huron has an obligation until
1985 • to see that Sky , Harbor
'Airport continues to operate as
an airport, clinched a request -
from the Town of Goderich, for
support to help maintain the-,
premises.
The Town of Goderich pur-
chased'the airport last year and
in addition to, capital costs, has
budgeted $30,000 for main-
tenance of the property. County
councillor Bill Clifford said that
maintenance bills, - include
hydro, snow removal, runway
repair and the salary for a part-
time manager at $150 per
month.
-The town asked the county
for 50 percent for the main-
tenance , budget up to a
maximum 'of $15,000 this year.
• This Was approved.
Reeve Derry Boyle of Exeter
wondered Can "epidemic" of
similar • req.uestsmight not
flood, " county council from
:airports in Grand Bend and
Huron Park.,_ However, Deputy -
clerk Bill Hanly , reminded
council that clue w an,- - old
agreement, the county must
maintain at least one runway at
Sky Harbor until 1985. If the
facility was allowed to
deteriorate, the ost to the
county' could. be nsid e
Hanly suggested. so said
the county has contributed
nothing to Sky Harbor to date,
The ,airport is, considered to
be an asset to the county as a
whole, Goderich Reeve Stan
Profit said Hhe believes Sky
` Harbor will orie'day, be part of a
circuit planned for STOL (short
takeoff and landing) craft to
transport passengers to
Toronto.
Construction of a new ter-
minal and hangars at .Sky
Harbor is 'envisioned- by
Godericlhcs airport committee,
and it is hoped that federal
government funds, as much as
$250,000, will be available for
this purpose. The facilities will
then be operated on a user -pay
basis.
Some revenue is already
being realized from the facility,,
Mr, Clifford said.
Three accidents in Goderich
in the' past week resulted in
approximately • $2,500 in
damages.
On February 2/ :vehicles
driven by Stephen Smith of 515
London Rd. Sarnia and John
Banter RR 2, Clinton collided at
the, intersection of Victoria and
Elgin Streets. There was $1000"
damage to the Banter vehicle
and $400 damage to the vehicle:
driven by Smith. Both drivers
were treated for minor cuts_and._
biruises.
A two -car collission at .the
corner of Huron and Britannia
Roads resulted in a total of $700
damage to ,vehicles driven by
Frank Namik of RR 2 Goderich
and Robert Watson of
Egmondville. There were no
injuries.
In a third two -car .collision on
February 28 vehicles driven by
Warren Penny, 163 Rosewald
Rd., Hamilton and Billy -Marie
. Westman of 56" Stanley Rd.,
collided at Waterloo and Nelson
Streets resulting .in a total of
$300 damages. There Were .,no
injuries.
During the 'week the
Goderich Police Department °
also laid,„1¢ charges. under the
Highway Traffic Act,' 28 ander
the Criminal Code oft, Canada,
foul-' under the °Narcotics Act
and one under the Liquor.
Control Act.
Jim Britnell feted by Huron ,_.
r-'
'Ralph McNichol, McKillop Township, chairman of the Huron Couhty Road Committee, was on
hand at the recent Ontario Good Roads Convention i, Toronto to --present Huron County
Engineer Jim, Britnell, PGRA chairman, with a watch In honor of the recognition he has
brought 'to this county durin"g hl tbrm of office. According to Huron Warden Anson McKinley,
the county might "be a long time seeing it again", that a• county engineer rises to OGRA
chairman. Mr. Britnell has been in Huron County's service since 1956.
•
t
SINGLE COPY 25c
.11
•4
George Currell receives congratulations from postmaster Mel Farnsworth at Ya ,retired ent
party held for the 11 year yeteran of the postal service' o, ,Frida+V,,1ni'_ t; ; ,N .�`p d1y Sits'Ir'
party '"-;�•r".:.Y'`a.,..< r,7 kXfE4. 1,Yvt:L'e'1. kG..., .(.7 ..
the chair presented to him by his fellow a loyees. <staff, Oho
Postman recalls..
eo• urre
fter
By DAVE SYKES
, During the past 11 years
George Currell bas walked over
30,000 miles, has made stops at
over 100,00 houses and
businesses and, has trudged -
through the snow and rain
delivering hundreds of
thousands of pieces of mail.
Last Friday George , retired
from the Goderich post Office
and the miles of walking -and
accompanying tired and aching
feet are all behind him.
George, 65, has been walking
Board could save
•
if
retia
0 miles
a beat ain Goderich since April
13, 1964 when home • mail
delivery was first instituted
here. He was one of the first'
seven . postmen who began
,. .ei.ivering rrraal here.�».and,_.
riday` night the postal em-
loyees,honored George with a
retirement party and presented
him with a lazy -boy chair.
For George retirement will
be . a welcome period of
relaxation and he also plans to
do some renovations around the
house. However, his immediate
plans are to.soak up some sun
in Florida and rest his weary
legs and tan a weather-beaten
face.
If George has any Misgivings
about retiring it is simply,
because he will miss the many
George will also, attest to the
fact that, delivering mail is not
as uneventful as it appears to
be. Slips and falls on slippery
sidewalks, .do f all sizes who
would just as o�'n bite,first,and
bark later, blistered feet and "..
inclement weather conditions
are simply accepted as•hazards
of the job•'-
But George could also recall
with a sheepish grin that the
dogs were not the only ones on
the route with a bark and a bite.
Some people si:rnply couldn't
understand how a piece of mail
could be delivered to the wrong
house or why they didn't
receive. a letter.they thought
should have been there on a
particular day. The postman
became the obvious target.
For the postman the day would
begin at seven in the morning.
The mail would have .to be ,
sorted for the route. Delivery
would begin between 8:30 and 9
a.m. and the final piece of'mail
"would be delivered by four in ,
the afternoon. "
Since George has lived all of
his life in Goderich he. was
already familiar with Many of
the people on his route and
delivered his mail by name. He
claims that if he had delivered.
by, the addresses on the.' en-
velopes his mail' could have
gone to. some `God awful ,
places'.
One letter he delivered had
the nanNe of the person
correctly '° written but the ad-
dress under the name simply
read 'Near the'', Standpipe'.
Fortunately George knew the
party and delivered the letter
without question. •
During his stint with the
postal service George has been
involved in a number of strikes.
He believes that pay and
working conditions have ,been
bettered by the strike but he in
no way condones them. It wa4,
friendly and familiar faces
he has ewntey
Bro O s' a L o s e on thealkcoun. Hered hasin his basicallyears
maintained the same route
h Cunt One during his 11 years as a post -
A report to the board from
Superintendent of Education
J.W. Coulter . indicated that
phasing ” out North Ashfield
school could save the board
over $2,000.
In the report Mr, Coulter
listed two options available
which would be'to operate one
classroom in North Ashfield in
the next school year to ac-
comniodate grades five and six
and transport the other
students to Brookside or to
provide a portable classroom at
Brookside anti accommodate
all the students at Brookside.
North Ashfield; School has
two regular classrooms." and
two divided by a wall while
Brookside has 11 classrooms,
one kindergarten, one library,
a gymnasium and a portable
„The present enrollment in
North Ashfield is 40 covering
grades four through six.
The matter was referred to
the committees for further
investigation with the
suggestion that the Board also
re-evaluate its school 'boun-
daries within the County. man and he knew just about
board member noted that some er name and face.
children are already 'being evW
bussed several miles to school hen the mail service began
while living within a "stone's back in 1964 there were seven
throw" of another school. postmen and five routes' and
The meeting of the Board of George can recall that those
Education , Marked the first early days at the .post office
time the board haci met on the were filled with confusion.
first Monday of -the month open "There was a lot of confusion
to the public and also in ad- when we started the routes but
'loco of the Education and then there wasn't one of us who
M,thlagement Committee had been' a mailtnan ,before,"
meetings., George said.. "But you know
everyone of the fellows that
Monday hoard members started delivering mail 11 years
agreed to hold the board ago is still on "the walk except
meetings on the first Monday for one fellow who only lasted, a
and the two committee couple weeks anyway.''
meetings' at the''sa'me time on But take trials of the new
the third Monday of the month. postmen weren't confined to
Mr, Hill urged board the post office. George; recalls
members to try the new that the walks were too big in
schedule at least until the end the beginning and many of the
of June and 'if it met with,ap- postmen, including himself,
proval the meeting procedure were delivering mail long after
could be adopted. He stated' dive o'clock. The problem was
that the board could proceed eventually solved with' a re -
much faster and evaluation of routes and
with matters
get more things done under the delivering in the dark' became (continued ort page 4)
new schedule, obsolete.
'4 4,•4.4
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