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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 1981-01-29, Page 1116th year --No. 4 Thursday, January 29, 1981 • Merchant's association will fold • • By Shelley McPhee With no one to fill the vat 's position and less than 15 active the Ston M ants Association, as it now emdsts may become a thing of the past Tuesday evening all re members of the association were called to a general meeting to decide the future of the organization, only nine turned out. At the meeting, yrs were to vote on a majw proposal that would dissolve the association and have members become part of the Retail Merchants CommiRee of the Business Improvement Area (BIA)_ A letter sent to each association member noted that their absence at the meeting would signify their approval of the proposal, which is offe' ring the menthants an annual budget of $2,000 to $3,000 each year, raised through BIA assessment, to be spent on promoticn- The vote was not taken, the nine at the meeting feekttg that is was an un- democratic way of making a decision_ Instead, associatien members are being given onemore chance to vote on the issue, when a representative from eadn block will approach the business people in their area, with a referendum, asking for the merchants support or opposition to the BIA offer. At the meeting, acting chairman Bob Campbell, of Campbell's Men's Wear noted, "There are 55 people out there who don't give a damn or don't care what happens to their businesses., their town or the BIA." John Balfour, ownerof the Home Hardware stated, „Apathy is going to be the winner here tonight. By the people who didn't come out tonight_ it shows the way the association's Borne.,, "I don't think we have any choice but the join the BIA, bit we should be " he warned. Merchants at the meeting quotid the syr hett_419m 1ft Bilk ansl n€ted ter disapproval that no BIA represen- tative was at the meeting to answer their moons. Mr: Campbell noted, "They're (BIA members) business people and ,',i ey got this letter. They should be here to give their p " "They want us to vote, but their no BLA representative here to eve us the lowdown," Mrs. Edith Burgess, of Burgess' Department Store noted. Some members of the Merchants Association are not happy paying two organizations through membership dues to the Merchants Association and an extra tax assessment to the BIA. They would prefer to pay one, however the nine at the meeting voiced their concern of losing their power if they became part of the BIA. Mrs. Burgess asked, "Do welose out power to veto BLA plans we disagree with?" Mr. Balfour added, "They (the BIA) won't guarantee us any further representation on the executive_ Even if we merge into one, you'll still have two distinct groups. It will be a tag -of --war between the two." "If the BIA members are true mer- chants they should be here tonight with their merchant buttons on, not their BIA ones." Presently, Jane Groves represents the merchants on the BIA board and the town ceemcil, who controls the BIA, must ap- point members to sit wi the executive. Mr. Campbell suggested that Mrs. Groves could report to the merchants on Weather ideal for poker run. Altholgls officials, of the Ciintontitt District Snowmobile Club have their fingers crossed that the weather will co- operate for their charity poker rally this Saturday, the weather forecast calls for wintery weather, and with an excellent base already on the route, there are no harries to a good tunroid. Another lure to area snowmobilers is the over 100 prizes donated by business per- sons from Huron and Perth Counties, so nearly everyone could get a prize, ranging from a Bulova watdi for first prize. &awn gels upderwa y. at 1 pm from - Dale's Pump Service on Highway 8 at the east end of town. The prize list continues to grow, and here are some more additions: Cyanimid, Ken Carnochan of Highland Seeds, Garth Posthill Bulldozing, Huron Expositor, Old Mill, Pizza Train, Don Buchanan of Dekalb Seed, Al Finch of Toastmaster Bread, Elder Enterprises, Keith Tyndall, and Seaforth CO-OP. As well, the Clinton Scouts will be selling hot dogs at one of the check -points on Arnold Riley's farm. first column For all those interested in trash, read on. The rest can catch up on the news by watching TV tonight. +++ Apathy has been with us in Clinton and indeed in all small towns for a long time, and as a result, many volunteer organizations suffer. In this age of self- indulgence elfindulgence and the so-called "meeism" decade, the results have been even more devastating. "Let the other guy do it, I haven't got time," or, "I'm too busy, call someone else," are just two of the many excuses. As a result, volunteer organizations lose members, and the few that are left are tired of carrying the whole load and eventually give up. Two recent examples of that attitude can be seen in the near collapse of the both the Clinton Horticultural Society and the Clinton Merchants Association, both of whom are going to go the way of the dinosaurs. The Horticultural Society, for in- stance, has contributed thousands of free hours of their time as well as tens of thousands of dollars worth of material to beautify the town But their ranks are getting older and few younger people will take on the burden. The alternative seems to be either let the town go to seed, or hire a parks crew at a greatly added taxpayer's expense. The Merchants Association as well always seems to have the same half- dozen members attend the meetings, organize the promotions, and do the work, while the remaining 75 per cent of the membership sits on their butts, Moaning, groaning and complaining about what the Association is doing. Why, there are even some merchants who have been doing business in town for decades and have never been at a single meeting! . It's no wonder the faithful few are sick and tired of the whole thing and want to let it fold. Attracting new shoppers, or industry or residents to the town should be a community effort, because when a new consumer comes to town to shop, for instance, they do so at many businesses. I'm just as sick of complaining about it as you are sick of reading it, but the by jim fitzgerald truth must be spoken, no matter how much it hurts. We can't continue to take and not give any back. Can you imagine what the high cost of fire protection would be if all the volunteer firemen decided the 500 bucks a year wasn't enough for all their hassles and told the municipalities to hire full-time firemen? + ++ To which the Main Street Wit adds: "Responsibility on your shoulders is better than a chip." + + + Well there are .still some active volunteers helping the community, with sometimes not even a pat on the back, and couple of them will be very active this weekend. One, the snowmobile club, is raising funds for crippled children this Satruday at their well -organized poker rally, and the other, the Optimist Club, are raising funds for youth work at the bantam hockey tournament to be held this weekend. + + + We have it on good word from our informant in Hulled Township, that the ground hogs are snowed in, and won't be able to get out next Monday morning to see his shadow. So, does that mean winter will last six more weeks, or will it end soon? Another informant in Stanley tells us that Jack Peck from Kippen did shoot enough of the beast last fall to fill a good size freezer, and so he will have plenty for his third annual all -you -can -eat free ground hog supper. Our informant also says that a sample of that "douse" Peck shot last fall will be served. +++ In a recent report on our frontpage about a fire in a trailer owned -by Marsha Kerr, it was inadvertently stated that faulty wiring was the cause. This is not so says Ontario Hydro, as the cause is unknown, at this time. We wish to aplogiae for any "inconvenience this may have caused. + + + Says the Wit this week: "One of the troubles with this world is that the wrong people have inferiority carn- plenes." theBlA decisions. Gord Herman of Herman's Men's Wear noted, "The big problem is that the BIA never tells us anything." Mr Campbell age saying that the BIA had never called a general meet* for all the more than 100 members, but the board members only meet on a monthly basis Mr_ Campbell noted however that he had explained this problem to BIA chairman David Anstett, and Mr. Anstett peomised that there would be better cot nrnpunwaffion between and board and the BIA members. "Seventy-five per cent of the people paying the BIA assessment don't 'mow what's going on," he noted. He went onto explain what the BIA is all about and noted bike many' ether area towns the BIA is a group, funded by government loans, to make visual im- provements to the downtown municipally owned land. "A lot of people had the wrong idea about the BIA powers," he noted. "When it comes right down to it, they only can make changes on town property." Mr. Carmpbeil went on to say that before the BIA can mase any changes, they must receive town council's approval, since the town is repaying half ,of the $60,000 loan that the group has borrowed from the government to make the improvements. Merchants help to pay the other half of the 10 year loan, at one per cent interest through a special assessment placed, on their , to bin-_ However Charlie Burgess noted, "The merchants don't know where the future leads. They've got $60,000 this year, will it be $125,000 next year?" Mr. Campbell explained that the BIA have applied for the $60,000 loan and that will be used during the next 10 years. The BIA does dot have the authorization to increase this without applying to the government again. They also must have the members and the council's approval before any more money can be loaned_ "They asked for $60,000 because they tboughti'li could handle.paying it IAEA: Exeter went farther, asking for $150,000," he noted. Out of that $60,000 for the past two years the BIA has set, a $10,000 budget. Approved by council, the 1981 budget allots $3,000 for promotion, 56,000 for construction and $1,000 for extra expenses. In 1980, the BIA spent $5,000 having plans drawn up by architects Hill and Borgal from Goderich to make improvements to the downtown area, with tree plantings, pedestrian rest areas and flower boxes, which they have taken over feem the Clinton Horticultural Society. Each BIA member had a chance to view the plans and they received majority approval from members as well as the town council. One change was made in the proposal, and Isaac Street will not be closed as originally intended. Mr. Campbell approved on the BIA plans and noted, "What they spent so far you don't see. They had to call in somebody to get a survey done in 1980. Now in 1981, they'll go ahead with the work." Bill Counter suggested that fixing the parks won't make much difference to business in Clinton and Mr. Burgess ad- ded, "I say muncipal work should come out of municipal pockets, not only out of the businessmen's pockets." Mr. Campbell warned, "We shouldn't condemn the BIA because we are the BIA. We're all members." He noted that when the BIA proposal first originated all 105 business people in the designated area had a chance to defeat it, but at that time only three rejected the program. „ Art Aiken, of Aslken's Brothers noted, "We're already paying the BIA assessment whether we are a committee of it or not." Mr. Burgess maintained., "A voluntary association will go further and with be better will, rather than putting them under the thumb and saying you have to do it." However .the majority at the meeting agreed that since the merchants had supported the original BIA proposals, they have no choice but to see the work com- pleted. It was felt that there was little point trying to keep the present Merchants Association in existence, and rather then paying yearly dues to the organization, most merchants would be happier to pay one assessment to the BIA. Gord Herman noted, "We're just changing our source off money." Mr. Balfour added, "Instead of calling Retail Merchants meeting for all the business people, we call BIA promotion meetings." It was agreed that a chairman would be elected to represent the merchants and they chairman and selected committee would meet with the BIA board, as soon as possible. The merchants group will be asking for more communication from the BIA board and a guarantee that $3,000 will be allottedaeach year for promotion work and the committee decides how it should be spent. A committee is nearly formed with Mr. Burgess, Mr. Campbell, Dave Beattie and Helen Bariliff representing four of the six Mods to the desintoien arse. Exhausted from trying to save their belongings, Vera and Lloyd Penfound rest on a Sire on their front lawn and are comforted by neighbor Laura Popp as Blyth firemen in the background try vainly to save their home. The Penfounds lost everything in the Monday morning blaze that may have been started by a wood furnace. (James Fitzgerald [photo) Family loses everything in fire By Jim Fitzgerald Despite a seven hour fight by firemen from three area departments, an Auburn area family lost all their personal belongings in a house fire on Monday morning. Lloyd and Vera Penfound of RR 1. Auburn, 1"2 miles south of the village on County Road 8, were left homeless after the blaze completely flattened their 112 storey brick home. They only managed to salvage a few clothes and personal papers before flames consumed the home. Mr. and Mrs. Penfound were in the barn loading pigs wain weir oldest son Bruce when the fire broke out about 9:30 am. The other two children, fancy 16, and Ken, 8, were in school at the time of the blaze_ Blyth firemen were first on the scene, but were hampered by high winds and a water shortage at first. They soon called in tanker trucks firm Clinton and Wingham and managed to save a nearby implement shed, only 10 feet from the ruined house. Irvin Bowes, Chief of the Blyth District Fire Area, estimated damage at $40,000, and cause is believed to have been a wood - burning furnace in the cellar, Chief Bowes said. Mrs. Penfound said they had just cleaned the chimney last Sunday. The family is temporarily living at the home of Lloyd's mother in Hallett Township, and the Auburn Lions Club are already co-ordinating an effort to raise funds and to try and find clothing, fur- • niture and appliances for the couple. Anyone with a donation to make can call either 526-7505 or 526-7786. Other neighbors helping out include Murray and Laura Popp, Hans Bon - stopple, Larry Johnston. and Bill and Maxine See rs. Hotel ruins bother business people By Shelley McPhee The Clinton Hotel ruins, left from the devastating October 16 blaze, have become a concern to the town's business community. At their recent meeting Clinton Council heard three letters, from, the BIA, the Clinton Business Association and the Klompen Feest committee, each asking that the hotel be demolished as soon as possible. The three groups said that the blackened hotel ruins are an eyesore on the main street of Clinton and the Klompen Feest committee is concerned that the hotel will make an unattractive back drop for their May 'celebrations. The groups have suggested that the loose bricks in the building could be dangerous and the barracaded sidewalk in front of the building is an inconvenience for pedestrians. Reeve Ernie Brown agreed that the barracades were troublesome and warned that a pedestrian could get hurt, trying to maneuver among the street traffic to get around the barracedes. Mayor Chester Archibald explained that he had spoken with the Clinton Hotel owner Des Cassidy and he said that he had not received an insurance settlement yet. Mr. Cassidy told Mayor Archibald that his insurance adjustor had been away, but was schedule to return shortly. He also told the mayor that it would still take another 60 days before he would receive the money and the building may not come down until late March or early April. Councillor Ron McKay suggested that the town should out some pressure on the insurance company and he asked why London's YMCA building was already being torn down after the recent fire there. Mayor Archibald agreed to contact the companyinseranos and send copies of the three letters to Mr. Cassidy. In regards to the future of the Clinton Hotel, council passed a motion. on the advice from the county planning depar- tment, giving appy oval for Mr. 'Cass -MY to build a tavern on the site of the burned down hotel. Council's support of the plans were necessary before Mr. Cassidv's liquor Turn topage 3� Special teacher hired BY DAVE SYKES The Huron County Board of Education will hire an additional teacher to ac- celerate the integration of Indochinese students in the school system. The board gave unanimous consent to the motion Monday after learning that 44 Indochinese in the Huron County school system were having problems integrating due to their inability to speak or un- derstand English Director of Education, John Cochrane, said the board faces a real problem with the refugee students because they cannot speak or understand English. Before the students can be fully integrated into the education system, he said. they must be taught English. The major problem is with the 22 secondary students. 20 of whom are at Central Huron Secondary School in Clinton. Those students are grouped in one class and spend most of the day with a remedial resource teacher, who .is now unable to provide assistance to students for whom it is intended. Superintendent W.D. Kenwell told the board the secondary school students have the academic ability but are set back by the language barrier. He added that the refugee students cannot even com- municate among themselves because of differences in language. Some do sok 4 French while others may speak Chinese or Laot i an The situation appears to be a little brighter, among the 22 refugee students in elementary schools. They are spread out in seven county schools with the largest concentration being in Victoria School, Goderich with eight students and Huron Centennial Public School with six. There are nn grants available if ad- ditional staff is required to teach refugee students so the new teacher v.J1 be con- sidered part of student services and. the salary will not be added to a sche..)1 budget. The board also hopes some assistance can be provided by adult volunteers. � Weather 1981 1980 1H1 LO "1 J JANUARY 20 - 3 16 21 4 -15 22 -1 - 23 -1 -3.5 24 1 - M 4 - 15 26 6 0 Snow- 0