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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 1981-02-19, Page 11• Trying out skis and snowshoes was Just one of the many when they were out for a hike. The conditions were near things the Bayfield Cubs and Scouts -dld last Saturday perfect for the rna .(Bud Sturgeon photo) BAYFIELD by Bud Sturgeon and Helen Owen Lampoonery Pipeline is a pipe dream BY BUD STURGEON . A number of Bayfield residents were appalled at the village council's decision to support a water pipeline study. In fact, the mood could probably be described as abusive whenever the topic. came up in conversa- tion. At least one councillor and a few residents referred to the general populous as being apathetic. Apathetic is _ a _fanny word that doesn't crop up all, that much.,in thy circle of travel. To hear it that many times in a week annoyed me and set me to wondering whether they all learned it within the past • week in -Ban "-Impr-oveYour- English" type of column in some obscure publication, or where. \ The dictionary defines the Word. `apathy' as a Wentt of. • feeling; privation of'passion, emotion or excitement; in- sensibility; indifference, and `apathetical' as devoid of feeling. The word has synonyms too! Dull, inert, languid, sluggish, torpid, anesthetic, impassible, . in- sensible, insensitive, calous, ujunoved, •untouched, limp and spiritless.I don't know how the majority of our citizens feel but I for one don't consider myself as fit- ting this mold. At length, I had been con- templating writing an article on the `pipeline' proposal under a separate heading but the sheer foolishness of bringing a water line into Bayfield from the south (or from anywhere for that mat- ter) prohibits the topic being discussed under any heading except 'Lampoonery'. Everyone is talking about the pipeline and taxes rising dramatically and the residents are hopping mad. An idea that is nothing short of folly ( comparable to the Great Hydro Folly of 1927) has been set into the people much like a fly infesting a body with maggots. Did they ever stop long enough to find out, what the _people might have to say about it?Why" bother if they fit the mold? Are we all apathetic and gutless? "Council Wants Pipeline" the headlines read in the paper a couple of weeks ago. Certain persons intimated to me that this headline was misleading and that a water pipeline wasn't wanted at all. They only want to do a study (if certain conditions are met) to see about bring- ing a pipeline into Bayfield. Well excuse me for being alive 'and able to think, but usually the first step is an in- vestigation into the feasibili- ty and the cost. However much double talk is paried around the table, if you want to do a study (and spent tax dollars doing it) then you're interested all right. And • if you're interested you want it!. I mentioned the year 1927 a little earlier.. There are a great .many similarities between 1981 and then. In 1927 the world was only two years from a great depress sign and now they. may refer to itas a recession, but we're bordering on the same damn think now. _1927 was a black year for Bayfield: Oh yes, the village council suckered most of the residents into thinking it would be a bright year liftt wit, t l .coming• of hydro -electric power bu't' .as it turned out, because of their hasty and foolish ac- tions, the next 38 years were pretty dismal for Bayfield. Nobody listened to John Pollock then. He was put down as a raving maniac by the council. The village got 'their electricity and couldn't afford to pay for it. The village lost their incorpora- tion. Bayfield was now con- trolled by Stanley Township and our own tax money was channelled away from here: 38 black years under the Stanley township Council. Here we are in 1981 with the same type of proposal facing us again. Is it a coin- cidence that Stanley Township is heading up the proposal? It's no coin- cidence, it's more like fate. Back in '27 the arguments were all the same. Hydro might be expensive to bring to Bayfield but just think what it could cost next year or five or ten years down the road! If they had waited (I know hindsight is great) but only two years, we would not have lost our incorporation, and still had hydro all the same. Mistakes are to be learned from - not copied! -_ So- -.-her:e_. we _.have__.__thi .. pipeline `study' proposed before us in 1981. It is not a new proposal. It was turned down by the village once before. We can't afford a water pipeline and we don't need one now or five years from now or 20 years from now. There are plenty of drilled wells in Bayfield. I just can't imagine why a pipeline is necessary. There is no building boom taking place. We have three prac- tically empty ( new) subdivi- THE SEPARATE SHOPPE sions in the south end of the village. People aren't exact- ly flocking in to build homes. These subdivisions all have community wells anyway. It is a government approved system of supplying water. .What's here in Bayfield to suddenly attract hordes of people? To my knowledge, the council is not planning any big industrial park to at- tract people. How can anyone justify even the slightest interestin a pipeline that would double .our taxes at the very least? Oh yes, but the govern- ment's going to make us get a water pipeline. That's nothing but malarky!� The government spends money in cycles.. For years they pumped countless dollars in- to the Ministry of Transport „wand .Communications Allf81- the Department of' Highways). The policy was hire this guy and hire that guy and . while you're at it build a road here and then one over there. The `boom' came to an end. All the `this' guys and 'that' guys have been laid off (phased out) and the road projects are now very. limited. The government just simply quit spending on the MTC. Then it was the Ministry of Environment. The . policy was this town needs water and that town needs water and while you're at it build a sewer here and then one over there. Last year the funding stopped and the environmen- tal projects are now limited. r We have seen them all. Culture and Recreation. Build an arena here and then build one over there and while 'you're at it tear that old one down and replace it with a new one. Oops! I guess that one didn't really have to be torn down but it's too late now since you've already levelled it. Natural Resources. Plant a tree here and one over there and while you're at it stock that stream and hire 200 game. wardens. to catch the poachers. It's a never ending cycle. For argument's sake, let's say they brought the water pipeline to the edge of the viljage. Do you really think the government will cap it and let it sit idle? They may waste money but not like that. The village would be ol4iged 441• running the pipet' ands rt taking the villagers to pay for it. We're not stupid! That is what would happen. The time to can the project is now. The present council doesn't hold any mysterious power over the government. They can't stop a project once it is started. Oh, I know some councils might think they can talk a lot, but I can remind everyone of the 'school issue' and the 'hole that was cut through the north pier to make a private marina.' Nobody could stop the government then. We have no pull in Toronto or Ot- tawa.,Wake up people! Turn to page 12, LUGGAGE CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 1981—PAGE 11 Gord Graham closes the village books By Helen Owen Gordon Graham retired at the end of December after acting as clerk -treasurer for Bayfield for the past 12 years. . During that time, he has worked with two reeves, a succession of councillors, and saw manly changes in the affairs of the village. Although strictly speaking the role of the village clerk is classified as a part-time oc- cupation, it is hardly an ac- curate description, and over the years Gordon Graham's availability, regardless of the official hours, would cer- tainly cause a rise in blood pressure among the devotees of trade unionism! Gordon was born in Liver- pool (England) but came to Canada as an infant and was educated in Galt. He started his career rn banking, moved on to accountancy and then became a commercial traveller. When he married his wife, Audrey, in 1935 they made their home in Galt and Preston. Their daughter Judy was born in Galt and educated in Preston and London. . . The Graham's first in- troduction to Bayfield was sheer coincidence. Their daughter was staying at Huron Church Camp, and ar- riving to collect her a day early, they decided to stay somewhere nearby over- . night. They were immediate- ly impressed by the village: That was back in 1947, and . ' froin then on they became regular visitors. In 1962 they decided to build their own home and moved here per- manently in 1968. Apart from the appeal of the environ- ment; as animal lovers it also provided ideal surroun- dings for them to keep. Oldtimers and Mice tie The =O1dtimers _and ---Rink Mice clashed at the arena on Saturday night and the game ended in a 19-19 draw. Space doesn't pe goal scoring summaryr �%(. we should make mention that Mr. Larouche was outstanding in covering a lot of ice. Four tables play bridge Despite the inclement weather, four tables turned out again and enjoyed the group to add further to their February contributions to the Clinton Hospital Exten- sion. . Highest score was Mildred Fellows with 7320; second Jessie Blair with 6590; and low Joyce Seaman - 2620. �SALE � MAIN CORNER, CLINTON PHONE 4112-77711 (NEXT TO CAMPBELL'S MEN'S WEAR) BONNEVILLE" In •Blue •Brick *White *Tan •Brown SAVE UP TO 25' While Quantities Last • horses, as well as their regular quota of dogs and cats. It was just about this time ► that��the former village clerk had resigned and Gordon was approached by the then reeve, Frank McFadden and the council with the sugges- tion that he should take over the job. Although still travelling at that time he agreed to do so and his original working hours were 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. When he finally retired, the hours were changed to 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. - at least that's what it said on the door! The work involved a varie- ty of aspects related to the village, which expanded as time went on, and required the acquisition of informa- tion concerned with municipal, provincial and federal governi ient` and its attendant bureaucracy. In- evitably, the duties increas- ed in scope, as did Gordon's experience and familiarity with, the practical and economic aspects of village administration. Over the. years his knowledge and concern in connection to village resources have pro- vided a valuable contribu- tion in ensuring that income did not over reach expen- ditures. Without the benefit of items now considered essen- tial in order to maintain any sort of administrative posi- tion, Gordon still fulfilled all the tasks demanded from is- suing dog tags to collecting taxes, issuing building per- mits to coping with the Arena. Nor was he off duty when the office closed, there were outside meetings to at- tend, and if the occasion arose, it was not unusual for him to be sought out at home. The role of the village clerk is not always an en= viable one, especially when it comes to implementing the decisions of the council - which do not necessarily en- joy general approval! Pro- tests are immediately directed to the Municipal Of- fice. Nonetheless, with his dry humour and persistence, Gordon carried on with the job of handling his respon- sibilhties. to the .Council, • although::- -Offen 'having o bear the brunt of the criticism. Explosive situations were defused - Gordon took it all in his stride. There were humorous occasions - although perhaps they didn't appear so at the time, like the road and sewer in- spections which always seemed to take place during the rainiest periods in the spring and fall. Although the reeve and council carry the respon- sibility for the affairs of the village, so much of their work depends on the ground- Ye Old ountry Store ¥tRGusoN APIARIES WE'RE LOCATED ON tr HIGHWAY 84. between HENSALL & ZURICH ® WE'RE OPEN: MONDAY -SATURDAY 9 a.m. -6 p.m. CLOSED SUNDAYS 236-4979 / Cr- , rr t ASKoON ED BA (1y RY INGREDIENTS FOR SOUP WATCH FOR THIS AD' FOR DIFFERENT FEATURE SPECIALS. PEARL BARLEY RED KIDNEY BEANS WHITE BEANS . LIMA BEANS CHICK PEAS SOUPM$X-. YELLOWYED'BEAN?� O/0 GREEN & YELLOW SPL T E S OFF REP LENTILS BABY LIMAS *t. •.._... —o . RICE. b. -‘ CHRISTIE'S SALTED & UNSALTED PREMIUM ALCKERS 28 work, reference material, follow-up and confirmation with which the clerk keeps them supplied, thus ensuring that their actions conform with legal regulations and limitations. Without this con- stant and invaluable sup- port, often of a very time- consuming nature, the ad- ministration of the village would' flounder and come to grief. There must be many, who over the years have worked with, south help and advice from - and crossed swords, with Gordon. Yet, at the con- clusion of his duties as village clerk there is no doubt that his work has been sincerely appreciated by the residents of Bayfield, who extend to him their warmest wishes for his "second retirement" EE Your Child's Portrait In vivid color A gift to you from CLINTON NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY Just drop into our store during. the days and hours listed below. • Your lovely gift picture will be tak‘n FREE by a professional children's photographer. One gift portrait to a family which may include groups. It'sour way of saying "Thank you" to our regu- lar customers, and "Welcome" to everyone else. TUESDAY FEBRUARY 24 • 11 A.M..TO 6 P.M. ONE DAY ONLY! Compare Retirement Savings Plan rates. If you're not getting a rate of interest as good as ours, consider switching to the Royal Bank. A high rate of interest on your Retirement Savings Plan means much more to spend during your retirement years. Phone or come in and get all the details before March 2nd, ALL CLOTHING PRICE DRESSES -BLOUSES -PANTS -SKIRTS -SUITS AIKEN'S When you succeed .md e su LUGGAGE - FOOTWEAR m WORK CLOTHING Albert Street, Clinton 482-9352 ROYAL BANK OPEN 1-5:30 PEN 1.3:30