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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-03-16, Page 1C> . • TM] BAY FIELD BUGLE incorporating THE BLY H STANDARD 50 cents —No. 11 Wednesday, March 16, 1983 Huron won't back 100% proposal Federation opposes tax rebate The Huron County Federation of Agriculture has voted to oppose the 100 percent proposed rural land tax ebate. Although not unanimous president of the Federation, Tony McQuail said 48 members at a March 3 meeting iii Blyth were in favour of a resolution to oppose the proposed tax rebate and a second resolu- tion that a Federation task force develop an alternative to the present 50 percent tax rebate and avoid the proposed rebate of 100 percent on farm land and outbuildings. He said 25 were opposed to both the resolu- tions. Wingham area farmer Jim Armstrong said he is opposed to the principle of the 100 percent tax rebate. He said farmers "are stewards of the land" and fears for the right to private land ownership if the pro- gram becomes fact. Mr. McQuail explained the monthly meeting was not held to discuss the rebate. "Those opposed got their rnember-sftip out. As president, I have to work un the deci- sion of the Federation." Voicing his personal views, Mr. McQuail felt "the meeting may not have been fully representative of farmers of Huron Coun- ty. The general farm membership was not aware the proposed rebate would be a ma- jor item discussed." "The motion was made late in the meeting and is poorly worded. It does not give direction." Mr. McQuail was concern- ed with the resolution which in part states, that the federation opposed the proposed tax. "That doesn't even say if it's property tax laws." He noted the 100 percent rebate will do more to equalize tax payments between urban and rural residents. "It is a rebate of taxes the farmer has already paid." In an effort to take education taxes off land, Mr. McQuail explained a 25 percent farm tax rebate was initiated by the provincial government in 1971. The rebate was in- creased to 50 percent in 1973. Mr. Armstrong says he is debating ttie proposed rebate un "principle only . People have to be made aware of the whole story They should realize there could be a lot of implications. The rebate will benefit ap- proximately half of the rural landowners initially but we have to look down to road. The government lias method in their madness. They arc not going to give something away for nothing.'. The tax rebate system has been studied, say; Mr. Armstrong. "'There is an alter- native." He explained property assess- ment is based on an index. "All the goverri- nient has to do is lower the index figure to take the education tax portion off land. The additional $20 mullion which would be rebated to landowners with the 100 percent proposal could be sent directly to the board of education. Therefore, townships won't lose assessment and the townships are save from collecting education tax." He noted that "53 percent of niy total tax bill goes to education," "We hope the government will rethink the matter. Our ancestors never passed a loess onto us. We owe a responsibility to future generations. Basically, we don't trust the government." During the meeting, Mr. McQuail asked the group how many were not claiming the 50 percent rebate. "Not one person put up their hand." He explained farmers have said they are being overtaxed. "Shifting to a 100 percent rebate and a residential assessment, farmers will be equalized to their rural -urban neighbours. Farmers should keep in mind that if faun land and residential assessment are equal, the rebate would be the same." Noting people don't trust government, Mr. McQuail says this has resulted in many being upset because they think pro- perty rights may be lost. "That is always a valid concern. Farms organizations make sure property- and citizens' rights are respected. 1-er»o:w ly, ire lou percent rebate will not erode rights. i don't see how the S.0 perccut rebate has eroded rights. The lack of trust makes people wary of any government action. If properly owners feel there is a threat, they don't have to collect the rebate." The Federation, Mr. McQuail explained, has argued that education is a service for people and should be paid by people. "I have heard a lot of emotionalism. I don't understand the logic because there is no logic. The government is not paying the land tax, they are rebating. Thus, they are saying fanners are over -paying." During the meeting, OFA regional direc- tor Merle Gunby of RR 2, Dungannon said he resents charges made that the Federa- tion is putting something over on its niernbers. He said the question of farm lax rebates has been discussed at least three times in the past few years. "The government is not paying our tax- es. I don't consider it a privilege to pay taxes, but an obligation," said Mr. Gunby. "I agree, it is a privilege to live in this country and pay a fair share which this policy allows." Mr. Gunby added that voting against the farm tax proposal will "discredit your organization in the eyes of the govern- ment". Numerous farmers said they were will- ing to pay their fair share to the govern- ment for services they received, but don't want the government to have control over their land. Adrian Vos from the Blyth area said he sensed the discussion at the meeting was more emotional than rational. He sug- gested that those far Fs who don't want the rebate shoull`1<ap for it. Huron federal iptr .p�, ident Tony Mc - Quail called fotr' the .failin community to work together and not spend a lot of time arguing amongst itself. "I think our strength as farmi;:s7 y depends on dur ability to 'work together,". said Mr. McQuail. Clinton may have a tourist booth y Shelley McPhee Tourists passing through, or visiting Clinton must come prepared, or know exactly where to find information on Bluewater country. Restaurants and businesses, the Ontario Auto Club, the Clinton Library and town hall all carry a variety of brochures and tourist information magazines, but a proposal is in the works to make this in- formation readily available at a tourist information booth. Clinton council is studying a suggestion from the Southwestern Ontario Travel Association (SWOTA) to establish a tourist booth this summer near Highway 4 and 8 in Clinton. Spence Cummings of Clinton, Huron director of SWOTA for 10 years explained that presently the association has one booth in the county, in Goderich. SWOTA, ne said, teels there is a need for a second tourist booth. SWOTA produces an annual travel guide, holds travel shows and mall displays throughout Ontario and Michigan. Based out of London, SWOTA is one of 13 travel associations in Ontario and the Southwestern Association promotes eight counties, Essex, Kent, Lambton, Elgin, Middlesex, Huron, Oxford and Perth. For several years SWOTA has operated a successful tourist booth in Goderich. Another Huron director Mac Campbell and a local tourist committee help in its operation and promotion. Mr. Cummings explained that the booth is filled with tourist brochures, magazines, maps and event schedules. The Goderich booth is open seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. under the direction of four workers. SWOTA is hoping Clinton will assist in the establishment of a similar booth. Council has been asked to cover the location cost for the booth which would be open from June 15 to Sept. 15. Councillor Charlie Burgess suggested that a portion of the Clinton Library could be used. SWOTA would pay for the wages of one person to run the booth, five days a week. Council supported the idea in principle, however Councillor Ross Carter noted that in the Huron section of the SWOTA Travel Guide, Clinton was not mentioned. Information and photographs from Goderich, Bayfield, Blyth and Seaforth were included in the 1983 guide. "We need to give tourists information about Clinton too," Councillor Carter stressed. Mr. Cummings agreed, noting that he would volunteer his help to organize this. Karen Scott Booth, right, who operates a pottery studio at Ehikora demonstrated techniques on the potter's wheel to the members of the : yfield Potter's Club last weekend. For more details on the successful workshop see The Bayfield ugle. (George Chapman photo) 118th year 01 6,800 merchandise stolen More than $(1,800 in merchandise was stolen from Maple Leat Small Engines un March 11 Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake reported that 22 chain saws, two trimmers and one water pump were taken from the Highway 8 east business. Clinton Police aided the Goderich OPP in apprehending two Clinton youths following a recent break-in at Debbie's Restaurant, south of Clinton. Chief Westlake reported that damage amounted to $3,500 following a March 12 single car accident on Ontario Street. A car driven by Paul Nigh, 32, of Seaforth lost control, struck a concrete pole, there continued on and hit a second pole Damage to the Nigh car was set at $2,000. Damages to the PUC poles was $1,500. The Michael Gerais horse at 153 Mar) Street received $2.000 in damages after u was struck by a car drivn by Steven I.ayton, 31, of RR 5, Clinton un March 8 1.ayton lost control of his vehicle, striking the Gerrits' house and the Gerrits' car which was parked in the drive Damage to the Gerrits car was $800 and $1,500 to the 1,ayton vehicle. Roy Vodden Jr., 21, of Clinton received minor injuries after the car he was driving collided with a ve'.icle driven by Clayton Hodgins, 49, of Clinton. The March 4 ac- cident resulted in $1,200 damages to the Vodden vehicle and $100 to the Hodgins car. Chief Westlake also reported that a car driven by David ('rich, 47, of Clinton was damaged to the tune of $2,000 after the Turn to page :i Hundreds of people sat back and enjoyed the sausage, p..:neakes rioonard, 2, of Blyth. His dad Johan helped to direct the flow of cooked at the Clinton and District Christian School in Clinton on syrup. (Shelley McPhee photo) Friday. No one enjoyed the meal more than little Peter Clinton lady dies in pile - Pearl Cummings, 66, of Clinton was kill- ed on March 10 in a four -vehicle accident on Highway 4, east of Holmesville. The Goderich OPP reported that Mrs. Cummings was driving a westbound car. It met head-on with an eastbound pickup truck driven by John Burley, 29, of Clinton. Two other westbound vehicles were also involved in the accident. A car driven by Cheryl Campbell, 19, of Seaforth and a pickup truck driven by Robert Mc- Cullough, 29, of Goderich were also struck. A passenger in the Cummings vehicle, Helen Sootheran, 59, of Clinton received major injuries. Drivers of the other vehicles received minor injuries and a passenger in the Campbell car, Mary Ryan, 18, of RR 2, Dublin was treated for minor injuries. Damages in the crash amounted to more than $11,000 and the Goderich OPP reported that dangerous driving charges have been laid. Mrs. Currunings was a well known Clin- tonian, and lifetime resident of the area. She was born on December 5, 1916 in Tuckersmith Township to Jonathan Hugill and the former Gertrude Crich. Raised in Tuckersmith, she received her education at the Seaforth high school and the Clinton Cornrnercial College. On November 24, 1940 she married Fran- cis Joseph (Frank) Cummings in Goderich and the couple made their home in Clinton. They raised a family of four sons, Ken of Laval, Quebec, Harry of Guelph and Gary of Stratford, and the late Roger Cumm- ings. Mrs. Cummings was a devoted com- munity worker and took an active part in many clubs and projects. She was a member of the Wesley Willis United (mnrch Worthen, the Clinton ,Senior Citizens p eras Club, the Women's Institute, the Clinto- nian Club, the Clinton Horticultural Socie- ty, and helped to organize the Crich and Hugill family reunions. Along with her husbands and three sons, Mrs. Cummings is survived by two sisters Mrs. Arnold (Verna) Rathwell of Port Elgin, Mrs. Gordon (Mary) Horner of Kit- chener and five brothers, Arnold, Clifford and Clarence, all of Goderich, Elmer of Clinton and Wesley of Kitchener. Also sur- viving are seven grandchildren. Funeral services were held at the Ball and Falconer Funeral Home in Clinton on March 14. Rev. James Bechtel of Wesley Willis Church officiated and interment followed at the Clinton Cemetery. Pallbearers included her sons Harry, Gary and Ken Cummings, Bill Rich!, Reindeer Middel and Charles Wallis all of Clinton. Business needs planning board okay By Shelley McPhee The Clinton and county planning boards will be re -studying a request from Emmanuel Nikolaou who is asking to operate a retail antique furniture business in a residentially zoned area. The planning boards, understanding Mr. Nikolaou's request as a spot zone change, reccommended to council that the request be turned down. The planning board made their decision after recently turning down a similar spot zoning request at 169 Ontario Street, which requested per- mission to operate a craft shop. The planning boards reasoned that there is presently vacant commercially zoned property in downtown Clinton that could be used. Thomas Fowler, representing Mr. Nikolaou attended council's Feb 7 meeting to explain that he had not requested a zoning change for his antique business at 139 Ontario Street. He noted, "We only want a few things wavered to allow a home occupancy. We didn't move here to create problems. We want to operate on a low key system." "We're asking for a slightly expanded use of the existing zoning bylaw," he noted. Mr. Fowler said that the antique refinishing and retail business would specialize in art and fine furniture. He said that the business would appeal to a limited clientele and their aim is to sell quality, not quantity. "We will be offering fine, individualized items, not junk. It will hopefully bring collectors and architectural significance to Clinton," he added. The shop will also tx Mr. Nikolaou's home and Mr. Fowler noted, "bascially we're opening our horn e.' He also noted, "We have the right to make a living in our chosen field," and reminded council that nine other Clinton businesses operate in a Zone 3 residential area. Councillor Rosemary Armstrong noted that council and the planning board had similar reservations about Raintree Interiors when it moved from a downtown store location to the owner's residence. She noted, "This business i Raintree i has proven beneficial to the town. We should try to assist this new business." Councillor Jim Hunter, member of the town planning committee, said that the board would look at the request again and the business owners would be invited to the town planning committee meeting to voice their proposals. Need progiam will make 17 jobs in HuronBruee OTTAWA, March 7, 1983 - The Honourable Eugene F Whelan, Minister of Agriculture today announced four ad- ditonal New Employment Expansion and Development projects in Huron -Bruce on behalf of the Honourable Lloyd Axworthy. Minister of Employment and Immigra- tion "These projects will provide the county with 17 new jobs and will make permanent improvements to Goderich, Rayfield and Hensall," Mr. Whelan said. in Rayfield, $11,086 has been provided for three jobs over 36 work weeks for the improvement, landscaping and en- vironmental enhancement of areas within the Village The Township of Ashfield is allocated $14,400 to create three jobs over 36 work weeks for sidewalk construction, the erec- tion of fences, cemetery improvements, and the environmental enhancement of I ownsrup property. Huron County will receive 886,240 for eight jobs over 277 work weeks for the refurbishing and improvement of Huron new facilities HensaII is allocated 814.800 for three jobs over 37 work weeks for the refurbishing, landscaping and improvement of the arena and its adjoining park area. The NEED program's main objective is to provide work for unemployment in- surance benefit exhaustees for a minimum 12 -week period. Hiring for these projects will be through local Canada Employment and immigration offices.