HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 1981-06-25, Page 1Industrial park gets resounding "yes" at meeting
By Shelley McPhee
If 65 Clinton people had the final say, the
town would go ahead with plans to develop
a serviced industrial park and the
jority of the cost would be paid out off
general fundsover two years.
At a public meeting on June 23, more
than 60 people, including council mem-
bers, industrial board members and
county representatives; met to hear the
proposed purchase and development of 54
acres of land in the southwest corner of
Clinton as an industrial park.
While council will make the final
decision on. this proposal, Mayor Chester
Archibald commented that from the
unanimous consensus supporting the plan,
"Council members at this meeting surely
have a feeling of what the people want."
Members of the public supported a plan
presented by county planner George
Penfold, that would see the purchase of the
54 acres for $140,000 and the initial ser-
vicing of 12 of those acres on Devon Street
as far as the Isaac Street intersection, for
a total cost of $300,000 for Phase I of the
development.
If the land was sold to industries, he
explained, then returns would be used to
extend services on the remainder of the
park.
The development may also be eligible
for government Industries Parks Loan of
up to $125,500. If awarded, the loan would
be repaid back with interest deferred at a
decreasing rate for the first five years, and
repaid at -100 per cent for .he remaining 10
years at an interest rate of 113,4 per cent.
With a loan covering a share of the costs,
$174,5.00 would be left as Clinton's capital
repayment and those present at the
meeting supported a plan which would see
this repaid immediately over a two year
period, from the general funds, without an
18 per cent interest payment.
For the Clinton taxpayer with a $2,500
assessment this could mean a maximum
mill rate increase of 26.21 mills, or $65.53 in
the first two years, and for the remainder
of a 15 -year amortization period for 15 -
year provincial loan, the tax rate would
decrease to a low of 2.97 mills,
representing a tax increase of $7.43.
Mr. Penfold explained that this plan
would see the town pay a total off $402,300
over 15 -years for the purchase and
development off the park, and this is
assuming that there are no returns from
land sales and no increase in the
assessment base of the town.
A second alternative, debenturing the
cost over five years at 18 per cent interest,
would result in a total repayment of
$506,556 in 15 -years. A third choice,
repaying the casts over 10 years at 18 per
cent interest, would cost Clinton taxpayers
$612,144,
"Repaying over 10 years would reduce
the mill rate," Mr. Penfold explained,"
however the total cost would be sub-
stantially more."
Mayor Chester Archibald supported the
two year repayment plan, noting that
while Clinton taxpayers could face a hefty
increase over the first two years, the rate
would take a major drop over the next 13
years.
"I can't see people leaving because of
this," he added.
Mike Falconer, Clinton industral
committee chairman, stressed the need
for industrial land in Clinton, noting that
the town is on the decline and explaining
that industries prefer to locate on publicly
owned, serviced land since it is already
properly °coned and prepared, thus saving
them the labor of developing private land
and spending years of research and
planning before obtaining Ontario
Municipal Board appro al.
Mr. Falconer noted that presently,
Clinton has more than 150 houses for sale
or left vacant. There is only one major
industry in sown and presently Clinton's
tax base is 75 per cent residential and 25
per cent commercial, less than 10 per cent
of which is industrial The ideal per-
centage share for a inunicipauty 's tax
base is 60 per cent residential and 40 per
cent commercial.
Mayor Archibald stressed that without
the development of an industrial park,
Clinton taxpayers in the future will be even
more harder hit by the declining economy
in the a rea.
"There will never be lower taxes," he
said, "but without the industrial park, our
taxes will see a rather horrendous in-
crease over the next few years, if we don't
increase our assessment base."
After council makes its decision, it will
take up to five months to get approval
from the government for the loan. Con-
struction on the park could begin next
spring, and be ready to sell by the end of
1982.
"The land won't be developed one day
and sold the next," Mr. Falconer pointed
out, "but our prospects are good, and we
have to get out there."
Mr. Falconer said that Clinton has
become known as a "negative town," since
in the past it never showed any interest to
encourage indu stry.
With positive promotion, reasonably
priced land, and a good location, Clinton
could have a- second chance to attract
industries.
The proposed location of the park was
chosen because residential growth is
moving in the opposite, north-easterly
direction, therefore causing little in-
terference. The CNR tracks and the
Bayfield Road act as natural boundaries
between the park and residential land in
the area 'and the land is already in-
dustrially zoned.
Mr. Falconer noted that already one
industry within 45 miles Clinton must re-
locate and is attracted by Clinton's land
prices. The firm could employ 30 people
immediately, as well as keep on members
of its present staff.
"This community's in a do or die
situation," he stressed "and we have to get
out and promote this town."
116th year'—No. 25 Thursday, June 25, 1981
Lavis awarded 866,500 tender
50 cents
Town facelift to begin soon
By Shelley McPhee
The low bid of $66,464.25 from. Lavis
Contracting has been accepted by Clinton
Council to complete work on the Business
Improvement Area (BIA) re -vitalization
program.
At their June 15 meeting, council ac-
ceptedthe bid from the local firm,
eliminating tender applications from C.A.
McDowell Ltd of Exeter for $68,198.50;
Elgin Construction of St. Thomas for
$78,915 and C.W.A. Contracting, London
Ltd.. for $76,272.50.
Despite a error in Lavis' bid that would
Crops look good
have put the firm's corrected' price at
$68,264, slightly higher than the McDowell
bid, council decided to hold Lavis to his
initia 1 tender.
"We've held other contractors to their
original tenders on the arena and the
pool," Councillor Ron McKay reminded.
"I'm prepared to accept the lowest tender.
If Lavis won't take it, then we'll accept the
next lowest tender."
BIA member Clarence Denomme, who
was present at the meeting, noted, "If I
was on council, I'd be leaning towards a
local contractor, but I know McDowell has
F armers welcome rains
Although those farmers with hay cut and
laying in the fields weren't too happy, most
farmers welcomed with open arms heavy
weekend rains that dumped up to 50 mm (2
inches) of precipitation on the area.
Stan Paquette, associate ag rep for
Huron said this week,- that the rain was
"welcomed" by most crop producers,
although it did, knock down some winter
cli.' Gee, I never realized just how long
I've been at this typwritter, (now a
computer consol), and just how fast the
years fly by without one really noticing.
It really hit home hard on Monday when
I was out at Hohnesville taking the
Grade 8 graduation picture, when I
suddenly realized I recognized most of
the names of the advancing students.
Why, because it seemed like only a few
years ago I took their picture when they
graduated from kindergarten eight
years ago!!! ..
Well, the graduation ceremonies are
over for another year, I'm depressed,
the kids are thrilled, and we have their
grad pictures in this week's paper.
Several will also be printed in next
week's issue.
+ + +
Now that school's out, we can settle
down to a nice long, hot, (hopefully)
summer of baseball, suds, and shirtless
nights in the y: rden.
We're not too sure about the baseball,
however, as the professionals are out on
strike, about something or another, I
don't understand. I'm findirfgit harder
and harder to find sympathy for a
bunch of guys making $160,000 a year,
playing a fun game and going out on
strike.
But there is plenty a baseball around
here practically any evening of the
week, and most of it is good en-
tertaining ball, whether it be the semi-
pro Colts, or the hilarious antics of the
"over 30" slopitchers, of which this
writer is a member. There's exciting
ladies fastball, men's industrial ball,
and even the little guys and their T -ball
make for some enjoyable spectating.
Our slo-pitchers, who use every game
as a practice, had a good time up at
Londesboro on the weekend, and even
though we got thumped by Benmiller
and Holmesville, we picked up some
valuable tips we can use in out next
"practice." As you can see, we play
ball for the fun of it, and Londesboro
0 made us feel right at home.
.-,-- About that strike of the pros, that is in
its 13th day, there is a least one con-
solation: it's the 13th day in a row that
the Blue Jays haven't lost a game!
first
column
wheat and a bit of barley, and halted the
first cut hay harvest.
"The late planted beans needed the
moisture to get through the ground, and it
certainly benefited the corn and soybean
crops," Mr. Paquette said. "The crops
look really good."
The old expression 'knee high by the first
of July' will certainly apply to this year's
corn crop.
But, says the Main Street Wit, one
thing about reaching for the sky is that
we never come up with our hands full of
mud.
+ + +
Sometime in the next week, we will be
observing our country's birthday,
called by various names such as
Dominion Day, or Canada Day, but just
what day it actually is, is anybody's
guess.
Officially, next Wednesday, July 1st
is the holiday; and most businesses,
banks, and government offices will be
closed that day. However, some in-
dustries have given their employees the
preceeding Monday off, while others
will be on vacation the following
Friday.
Here at the News -Record, the
editorial staff will work as usual next
Wednesday putting out the paper, but
the office will be closed, and the paper -
will be delivered on Thursday, as the
post office will be closed Wednesday.
Confusing, ain't it !
+ + +
Now, to throw a proverbial straw on
the camel's bade, the papers will be at
the post office, providing they aren't on
strike as is a distinct possibility. It's
unlikely they'll go out before next
Friday, July 3 as they'd lose their
holiday pay, but if and when they hit the
picket lines here is what we'll do:
All ih-town box holders and general
deliveries can pick up their papers here
at the News -Record office; all local
rural route subscribers will get their
papers the same as usual, as will all
subscribers in Bayfield, Varna,
Brucefield, Kippen, Londesboro, and
other nearby hamlets. All other papers
for distance points will be held here in
storage and mailed when the strike
ends.
Now, we're hoping the preceeding
contingency plan won't have to be used,
but I'm a pessimist so there you have it.
+ + +
Well strike or not, summer is here
and there's plenty to see and do, in-
cluding the aforementioned ball and the
horse races, Which kick-off this Sunday
with an exciting two-year-old stake
done good work for the town."
Mayor Chester Archibald explained that
the general rule is to accept the low tender
if the firm is reputable, and thus avoid any
problems.
If Lavis agrees to sign a contract at the
$66,464.25 price, work will shortly begin to
spruce -up the core area of Clinton with
trees, park benches, planters, ramped
sidewalks and other decorative and fun-
ctional changes.
With the aid of the loan interest loan
from the government amounting' to
$67,000, repayable over •10 years at one per
cent interest, and 50 per cent funding from
the business people in the BIA area, the
work will be completed.
However with the Levis bid and Ulu
addition of engineers' teas, the total cost of
the project will go beyond the present BIA
budget and some portions of the plan may
have to be deleted.
Weather
1981
HI LO
JUNE
16 26 16
17 19 11
18 26 10
19 23 12
20 22 5
21 22 11
22 17 12
1980
HI LO
14
21
20
22
, 19
23
26.5
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0
7.5
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Rain 40.2 mm Rain 21 mm
J
Starting the search
Students map out their accessibility survey before hitting the streets of towns and
villages in Huron County. Their project is to prepare an Access Guide for disabled
residents. Left to right are Mary Jane Scott, Brucefield; Mary Peckitt, Clinton; Sherry
Robinson, Bluevale; Lydia Schuurman, Clinton; and Stewart Huyck, Goderich, Project
Manager. (photo by Elaine Townshend)
Students to do accessibility survey
by Elaine Townshend
An , accessibility survey of public
buildings and private businesses •Ivill be
conducted in Huron County this suin1Tl:,r to
prepare a guidebook for disabled
residents.
1 he eleven -week Summer. Canada pro-
ject is sponsored by Huron Day Centre for
the Homebound, Clinton, in co-operation
with the Awareness League of Physically
Handicapped Adults ( Alpha Huron).
Five students are involved - Lydia
Schuurman, Clinton; Mary Peckitt, Clin-
ton; and Mary Jane Scott, Brucefield; (all
graduates of Centr) (Huron Secondary
School) ; and Sherry binson of Bluevale
(a graduate of F -. Madill Secondary
School, Wingham). Project Manager is
Stewart Huyck of Goderich, a third -year
engineering student at the University of
Western Ontario.
The students are using facilities at the
Day Centre as a base with satellite offices
in Exeter and Wingham.
Disabled individuals are often 'han-
dicapped' by physical barriers that they
Clinton area students
needed to fill jobs
By Shelley McPhee
Are you -still looking for a summer job?
Then the Canada Employment Centre for
Students is the place you should go.
Joanie Thompson, a worker out of the
Goderich office, said that the Centre is
particularly asking Clinton area teenagers
to register at the Centre.
"There are all kinds of jobs in the
Clinton area," she stressed, "but we need
the students before we care give them the
jobs."
Joanie said that while the Centre is being
used by many other high school and
university students, Clinton area young
people are not making use of the hiring
service.
"There's Tots of farm work in (Tinton."
.Joanie encouraged, "ten students got job;
on Friday alone."
The Clinton area is also offering
restaurant work, a photo printing job,
farm work, handyman positrons and
numerous other sources of employment.
Workers at the Centre have also been
visiting Clinton business people and em-
ployers, seeing if they could use summer
help.
As well as helping students to find jobs,
the Employment Centre for Students gives
tips on how to look for a job. how to conduct
a winning interview and how to write a
resume.
Joanie says that Clinton area students
should call the Centre at 524-2744 for a
registration card, or drop into their 35 East
Street offices in Goderich for more in-
formation.
Jean Poulin trains 2 -year-old sensation Ideal Wilco
encounter in the community, such as
curbs, steps, unuseable restrooms, narrow
doorways and heavy doors.
The purpose of the survey is to prepare
an accessibility guidebook - a pocket -sized
directory of the towns and villages in the
County focussing on features of impor-
tance to mobility -impaired persons. The
advance information will allow disabled
residents and tourists to plan their
movements around the communities.
Huyck explains - access guides have
been printed in cities and towns across
Canada. Using these guidelines, the local
group will produce a directory of Huron
County that will come up tointernational
guidelines.
Letters are being circulated to.owners of
businesses and managers of public
facilities to introduce the project and to
ask for cooperation in arranging conve-
nient times for brief accessibility surveys
of buildings.
The Summer Canada Project grant will
finance only the survey. Huyckwill be con-
tacting service clubs and other community
groups in hopes they will fund the printing
of_the directory.
The Access Guide of Huron County will
be made available to the public through
Town Halls, Libraries, Inforrnation Cen-
tres, Employment Centres, the Day Centre
for the Homebound and border points.
Here comes Santa Claus?
Volunteer elves seek toys to repair
By Shelley McPhee
it may be difficult for some to start
thinking about Christmas just as the
slimmer season is getting underway, but
forthe number of area children who could
benefit from such early planning and
preparation, the extra thought may be
worthwhile..
To make Christmas Day a little. extra
special for less -fortunate children in the
(1intnn ai ra, a Christmas Toy Bureau has
been set up by a group of Clinton business
people.
initially organized by Sheila Murray and
John Balfour, the aim of the bureau is to
collect donations of old toys and children's
articles. and re -condition and repair them
in tinge to go under this year's ('hristmas
tires
With )>t'lp from local service groups. four
1 ' drives will be conducted between July
nc! September. when local people can
cbowte any used toy, from puzzles to
i i pert s. fru in base ba ll s to books.
From t herr. the collections will be taken
to the upstairs portion of the Clinton
iihrar\ where the southern version of
S,int ;i's \+urlcshop will get underway in
• 'ptcnlbcr
-We need people, from high school
students to senior citizens. to fix these
s." Sheila explained. 'e'll be ap-
proaching clubs in the area and we're
.hoping tor help.trom various individuals."
Along with the toys and volunteer help,
the Toy Bureau will also be looking for
donations including paint, nails and
screwdrivers, cash to buy any needed
materials, and even new toys will be
gladly accepted. Mary's Sewing Centre in
Clinton has already agreed to donate
fabric for doll dresses.
"All donations will be carefully sorted
and screened for safety's sake," Sheila
stressed, but also noted that all donations
would be accepted. since parts from one
could be used to repair another toy.
By the end of November, all the toys will
be ready to be sent onto Huron's Family
and Children's Services and will then be
distributed by Wynn Homuth of Clinton in
.her yearly Christmas Bureau to the less -
fortunate families in the area.
While the annual Christmas Bureau.
conducted throughout Huron County . gives
poor families gifts of food, clothing and
household articles, this is the first attempt
at including toys for children and ac-
cording to Sheila. "Family Services is iust
thrilled."
-We hope to make this a continuing
project.- ,John noted and added. "In
1,1n , the Kinsmen have had a similar
progra01, and have such a surplus of toys
that they haven't had to ask for donations
in!twee years .•
Speedy two-year-old colt
will open race meet here
! he sensational two-year-old parer ideal
\\ ik o is expected to make has next start in
Sanday afternoon's 520.900 plus Ontario
Sires Stakes feature al the opening of the
Clinton KInsnlrn li•aceway };a: ing will be
lic1,1eachSunday until Sept 28
,sot n her with trainer,iohn 1'ouhn at the
reins, tate talent,. rl oungster scored his
fifth .straight victory in as many career
start, last Saturday at i,amdnn's \\esters
l•'ai1 in track record tient of 1 59 four
fifths .Liao week before Ideal Wilco had
posted a North \nlrru an season's and
1AIIIDJ'i ii,µ h 1 el Old ,n , ,to
The clo,•kings are also all-time 1 ntarie
Sires Sta kes records
\ $12,000 purchase as a \ carting h\
('ourtne' •s Wheeling, By Suab!« of t; rand
Bend, Ideal \\'ilco has already •'rarnod over
$21,500 in purse, w ilii Noma McKnight Jr.
as driver
The lith rat rig reason. w it h posttrnae at
1 .10 p.nl. each da \ . \c ell •,so have a host of
other features including fhree other OSS
e\a'cts. the Clinton a entc,uual face, the
(1}1H:\ four- \c,ir-o ai parr and the second
ones' al of t)s' i'1rntonGoderich stakes
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