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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-12-14, Page 1a V - ICC 'J ,J • J 0.J L -J iw V. N co 0 - Z p- - ;,. >- _iJ _J 4 U u Kati 11E BIAY HUI) BUGLE inc orp4)rat)nt; County t.' u rtuseu,W, : east cif okays ilty stu rJ Huron County Council moved one step fur- ther at its Dec. 1 meeting to determining the fate of the Huron County Pioneer Museum. Council approved a $27,050 feasibility study on the museum to be prepared by Museum Program Collaborative of Toronto. The Toronto firm was chosen over three other companies, two of which had lower bids. "I would appreciate further explanation why this firm was chosen when two others BLYT THE BLYT S 1ND: .. ! >. Stanley Township Reeve Paul Steckle. came in at considerably less money," stated Agriculture and property committee chairman Lionel Wilder said his committee 1983 interviewed each of the four companies and cents —N®, 50 �' f1�S�®�/, December 1 7 �, 8t` \ year Museum Program Collaborative gave the best presentation which was suited more to the county needs. avik coo Michelle Leigh By Shelley McPhee On Jan. 11, Clinton will become the new home of 12 young people. The group, aged from 17 to 21 and their group leader, Michelle Leigh of Toronto will be living in Clinton at 139 High Street for the next nine months as they take part in the national Katimavik program. Katimavik is an, -Inuits weal' meaning AVIester.iadividtiaL a ice to-ihe community "meeting place." Katimavik is also the members and an opportunity for par - name of a national volunteer youth service ticipants to develop a better understanding program operated by a non-profit cor- of Canada and its diversity. poration and funded by the Department of The first billeting program will take place the Secretary of State of Canada. between March 11 and 24. Families who es to to The new Clinton residents are among more than 1,500 volunteer participants who each year help hundreds of Canadian communities. Projects are already established in Goderich, Seaforth and Exeter and Clinton has chosen to be the host for a new project. The participants will be working primarily out of Wingham with the Ministry of Natural Resources. Their work willlfocus on outdoor projects such as pruning trees, reforestation and erosion control. In ad- dition, the participants will be working with the Huron County Health Unit and the Huron Day Care Centre for the Homebound on four weather days. Leader Michelle Leigh has also offered Katimavik's help to the town and suggested to town council that on days when travelling to Wingham is prohibited by the weather, the participants could assist with local projects, like painting, helping at the schools or shovelling snow for seniors. Katimavik has been operating with government funding for more than six years now. Some past Katimavik activities have included work at parks and playgrounds, with health care facilities, conservation agencies, cultural centres, educational institutions, senior citizen's services and recreational services. Non-profit groups, such a municipal governments, service clubs, schools, community associations, government agencies, churches or hospitals have received Katimavik assistance. Katimavik projects are intended to' ac- complish work that would not have been undertaken without the volunteers' par- ticipation.. Programs are also designed to offer, a learning experience and personal development of participants. A part of this learning experience requires participants to live with a family in the community for two week$: This enables ay require help and can help teaoh Katimavik participants a new skill, whether it be farming or mechanical work, craft skills or the operation of a small business, may contact Michelle Leigh for more in- formation. Billeting families are paid $6 a day to cover the cost of room and board for their Katimavik visitor. Apart from the billeting time, the Katimavik participants will make their home at the big brick home on High Street. Donations of used appliances, furniture, sports equipment and any household items are desperately needed, according to Michelle Leigh. Donations can either be dropped off at 139 High Street or arranged for pick-up by telephoning 482-3960 or 527- 0965. Katimavik volunteers represent a cross- section of Canada's population. They come from schools or jobs from every province and territory in the country. All single Canadian citizens between the ages of 17 and 21 are eligible to participate and last year alone more than 7,000 young people applied for the 3,000 openings in the program. Participants are selected at random from among the candidates by a computer. Socio - demographic characteristics are used as a selection criteria to ensure that each project group is made to reflect, as nearly as possible, a cross-section of the Canadian population. During their nine month stay in Clinton, Katimavik volunteers will be provided with food and lodging as well as transportation. They will receive $1 a day for spending money and on completion of their program, an honorarium of $1,000 to assist in -their return to the job in rket or academic life. Clintonians will• given the opportunity to meet their Kat' avik volunteers on Jan. 16 when a welcoming reception will has been tentatively scheduled, to be held at the Clinton Legion Hall. As well, an organizational meeting for the group will to held,on Pec.15 at 6 p.m. inti Ontario Ministry •of'"Agriculture and Pixie(' " offices on King Street. All members of the community are welcome to attend to find out more information, or offer ideas and assistance for the welcoming reception. y Mr. Wilder noted that the firm with the lowest bid of $16,757 doesn't have the staff that would be necessaryto compile the study. Clerk -treasurer Hardy added that the firm comes highly recommended. The feasibility study is subject to ap- proval by the National Museums of Canada and the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture. Mr. Wilder said 75 per cent of the study could be paid for by National Museums and the county is waiting to hear back on ap- proval of this funding. If this funding is denied, the provincial ministry will fund 50 per cent of the study. Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle said the future of the museum affects every citizen in the county and he hopes the consulting firm will consider public input when it is preparing the study. Hullett Township reeve is named Huron warden Hullett Township Reeve Tom Cun- ningham became the 116th warden of Huron County Tuesday, defeating Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell. The 44 year-old Cunningham, an eight year veteran of municipal politics now serving his second term as reeve, was a decisive winner, defeating Worsell 24-7. The last time Hullett Township produced a warden was in 1959 when Bill Jewitt was elected. The town of Goderich hasn't been quite as productive at the county level though, with the last warden being elected 45 years ago. In accepting the position of warden, Cunningham paid tribute to his opponent and outlined an ambitious county program for the coming year. "Harry is not a loser. He is a capable person and I admire and respect him," Cunningham said. "I hope to fill the shoes of warden and past wardens off this county. I ask for your support so that we can continue to bring good government to the people of Huron County." Hullett Township Reeve Tom Cunningham became the 116th warden of Huron County Tuesday at the inaugural session of county council. Cunningham defeated Goderich reeve Harry Worrell and accepted the warden's gavel and key to the county from past warden Grant Stirling of Goderich Township. ( photo by Dave Sykes) Good government will require some decision making in the next year and Cunningham suggested in his pre-election speech that he was prepared to tackle the issues. "We have a good system and I will try hard to preserve it," he said. "In the next year we must make a decision to com- puterize and a recommendation will come from the executive committee. The museum issue will also be dealt with and it could be costly, depending on how we proceed, but we must make a decision." The former chairman of the county's road committee expressed a desire to maintain an aggressive maintenance policy intimating that the citizens of Huron did not want the road system to deteriorate. In closing he remarked that he "would endeavor to bring dignity and honour to the office of warden." Unclench Reeve Worsell is a veteran municipal politician having served eight years as mayor of Goderich and four terms on Huron County Council. He has compiled over 17 years of municipal service and that, he suggested in response to concerns over his relative inexperience, was an adequate apprenticeship program. Worsell said he was seeking the war- den's chair for two main reasons; first because the town of Goderich has not produced a warden for 45 years and "they deserve that honour" and secondly because he "enjoys county council" and is interested in all facets of government relating to Huron County. Past warden Grant Stirling of Goderich Township received plaudits for his year of service and he expressed pleasure at having had the opportunity to serve the county. "I have travelled the province this year and I've met some fine people that I will never forget," he said. "I have always tried to put Huron County in the forefront. It is an agricultural and tourist county and is one of the prettiest areas of the province." Stirling said council will have to deal with the prospect of computerization within the next year and cited the relocation or rebuilding of the museum as another requiring immediate attention. The former warden said 1983 was characterized as a year of restraint and he lauded the eff of councillors and county staff in tha regard. "It was a t e of restraint but all departments were within budget or on the line," he said. "That says something about the staff." County Council reconvened Wednesday to accept the report of the striking com- mittee. When Santa Claus stopped in for a visit at the Clinton Library on Saturday he ended up doing double duty. Many youngsters came to see St. Nick including these two look-alikes, twins Andrew and Christopher Dyck of RR 2, Seaforth. Santa rolled into Clinton on the back of the fire engine as guest of the BIA. While Santa admitted he liked the new mode of transportation he said that Rudolph and the other reindeer would be helping make the Dec. 24 journey around the world. ( Shelley McPhee photo) Rec committee will stick by their decision Arena will look after food sales By Rod Hilts The Clinton Recreation Committee had second thoughts concerning an Oct. 13 motion prohibiting food from being sold at the arena other than by the arena canteen. Committee member Jim Hunter thrashed out against the motion at the Dec. 8 recreation meeting and called for it to be rescinded. In a recorded vote, the motion to rescind was defeated 4-3 with Chairman Frank MacDonald casting the deciding ballot. "If we can't admit our mistakes what are we doing here?" Mr. Hunter said of the original motion. The motion to rescind brought about a mixed reaction from the six committee members present. "I really can't see selling hot dogs in direct competition with the arena's booth," Bill McCone said, "but I honestly thought the motion was no good to begin with. After hearing about the Figure Skating and Optimist Clubs' complaints, I knew there was a lot of bad feelings. Those two clubs suffered. We can't change it (motion), we'd look like damn fools. We have to live with it fora year." Linda Reid agreed that the motion had caused bad feelings but was skeptical in a decision to rescind it. "There have been a lot of had feelings over it. Figure skating was upset. But if we amend it now...," she said. The controversial motion prohibiting food services other than the arena canteen to operate in arena was introduced on Oct. 13, after Arena Manager Clarence Neilans was asked to close the arena booth so that the Clinton Figure Skating Club could sell hot dogs in the upstairs auditorium during a skating carnival. The recreation committee turned down the Figure Skating Club's request. Since that time, the motion stopped the Optimist Club from selling breakfasts at the annual Bantam hockey tournament. The arena purchased a griddle and toaster at a cost of $107 so the breakfast could be offered. The recreation committee felt the utensils could become a valuable asset for future events. In an arena report, Mr. Neilans said that profit to date (Nov. 30) was $100 from the food sold at the bantam tournament. Charlie Burgess spoke out in favor of rescinding the motion. He noted, "What really „bothers me (about the motion) is the fact organizations, and they're good organizations have to make money somewhere. I can't see stopping bake sales." Mr. Hunter, Mr. Burgess and Ron McKay supported the motion to rescind, while Mrs. Reid, Mr. McCone, Bill Craig and Chairman MacDonald opposed it The Junior C Hockey Tournament on Dec. 29, 30, 31 and Jan. 1 is expected to be af- fected by the motion. This will mean the Junior C's will not be permitted to hold their morning breakfasts at the tourney. Incentive offered for programs A motion was passed that all first-time programs that are offered by the recreation committee at no cost to the committee, other than for their own employees, be free for the first five weeks. After that point, a rate of $1 per person per evening will be charged. If the program costs the recreation committee additional money to operate, the costs will be divided by 20, thus establishing the fee per person per night. "If there is some momentum there, I'd like to keep it going," Mr. Hunter said of the programs offered by the committee, after introducing the motions. This year the committee has offered gymnastics, men's and ladies' fitness, weight lifting and ringette. According to Steve Campbell, organizer of the programs, gymnastics has had the biggest response. About 70 youngsters between the ages of six and 14 have come out for the Monday night sessions. Women's fitness is the second most popular program with about eight turning out on a weekly basis. Ringette did not have enough response to operate independently and did not get off the ground. The interest in men's fitness was minimal so the program was combined with weight lifting. In an effort to upgrade their equipment, the committee recommended that $1,500 be included in the 1984 budget to purchase some gymnastic equipment. The committee is planning to hold a special meeting on Dec. 19, the discuss the impact and the future of some of the programs. Weather DECEMBER 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 1983 1982 1 1 5 1 1 7 3 1 2 14 0 4 0 5 2 13 0 6 1 15 3 9 0 8 4 0 5 13 Snow7cm Snow5cm Rain 25 mm