HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1984-05-02, Page 1E
incorporating
Wednesday, May 2, 1984
Study will help determ�
CLINTON - "The Town of Clinton occupies
a land area comprising 1,018 acres, which
has evolved into a mosaic of different land '
uses." This overall statement introduced
land use in Clinton, in a recent study put
together by the Huron County Planning
Department.
The study will become part of the town's
official plan and will help detemine Ontario
Neighborhood Improvement Plan funding
for Clinton.
The detailed plan looks at Clinton in four
categories: population and socioeconomic
profile; existing land use; services and
facilities and conclusions.
Last week the Clinton News -Record took a
look at population, education and income
statistics in town. This week land use will be
studied.
Approximately 58 per cent (590.5 acres) of
Clinton's land base has been developed,
leaving 427.5 to meet- future _ lan.d:..
requirements. Most of the undeveloped land
is located at the town's fringe and currently
71 per cent (305 acres) is used for
agricultural production.
Residential
The study states. that, "the residential
component is the greatest consumer of land
and places the higest demand on the land
base in terms of areal magnitude....the
planning of residential areas influences the
quality of the living environment and the
physical character of the community.
The report continued, "Clinton has
several attractive and pleasant areas
distinguished by many turn-ofChe-century
residences, tree lined streets spacious
lots. A distinctive character and
environment is present, which is most
worthy of preservation and enhancement."
Figures from the 1981 census show that
there were 1,710 occupied private dwellings
in Clinton. This number was down from the
1980 figures of 1,273.
The 1981 census also showed that more
than 50 per cent of Clinton homes were
established before 1946, compared to 25.9
per cent in all of Ontario.
Because of their age a majority of Clinton
housing is in need of repair. The census
specified that 26 per cent of all dwellings
require minor or major repairs, compared
to 22.5 per cent in all of Ontario.
The study noted, "This . information is
verified by a sample of 232 residences in
Ward 3 which revealed that approximately
42.6 per cent were in need of substantial
upkeep and repairs. A partial result of this is
that the average value of dwellings in
Clinton is $46,994 in 1981, compared to
$78,218 in Ontario."
Figures from 1980 show that housing stock
in Clinton ran higher than the provincial
averages. In Clinton single detached
dwellings make up 78.5 per cent, compared
to the 1976 provincial average of 56.7 per
cent.
The next major category is multi -family
homes, which take up 8.6 acres, followed by
mobile homes with 7.9 acres and apartments
with 7 acres.
Commercial
The planning department report
explained, "The commercial component
an integral element in the urban land
•
structure. Commercial activity provides the
goods and services required by the
community to function and to prosper:it
provides a source of employment aid tax:
assessment."
Of the 1979 assessment, the commercial
sector contributed 26.4 per cent. There are
currently 47.1 acres or 4.6 per cent. of the
land area in commercial, use, including 4Fe . -
area,. highway commercial, `home
occupations and local commercial. .
The Core Area
"The core area is the most concentrated
and intensive centre of commercial:activity
in the muncipality, providing a broad range
of retail, service, professional,
entertainment and institutional uses as well
as housing -accommodation," the' study
reported.
"The closely built building S wand
sidewalk system provide a multitairpose
commercial environment faci1,itath
pedestrian comparison shopping iii n
attractive, safe and convenient setting," the
report continued. "A healthy core has the
highest land values, the greatest investment
and assessment and provides a major
source of municipal revenue. It is also the
focal point of social, economic and cultural
interaction in the community. The physical
and economic condition of the core is a
reflection 'of the community. It creates
ons about the community and in
impress,
this way influences the attraction of a
munici ality for economic investment,
indust'.- 1 development, shopping and as a
p1�
DOJ of the high value of commercial
Board
ucatiQn
o:� � _ , � r
five per cent in Huron Count: �;
• BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE
The education tax 'on an average assess-
ment of $3,110 in Huron County will increase
by $18 or 4.23 per cent.
The Huron County Board of Education ap-
proved a $37 million 1984 budget at its
meeting on April 2. This is up about 5 per
cent from last year's costs of $34 million.
"To hold the expenditure portion of these
estimates' to 5 per cent has taken a major ef-
fort by every segment of this board's opera-
tion. It is the lowest year over year increase
we have ° experienced in many, many
years," said Robert Allan, • director of
education.
The 26 Huron County municipalities will
share in paying over $12 million of the
board's budget.
The majority of the funding is from the
, province, through the Ministry of Educa-
• _w_...tion,_and has ,:Only ,increased by 4.4 per cent
from last year for Huron County.
Provincial grants are expected to be over
$22.7 million, up from $2L7 million in 1983.
The remainder of the revenue of $1.5 million
will come from tuitions paid by other county
boards of education and rentals, etc.
On the expenditure side, the largest single
cost is for salaries and benefits and totals
$28.3 million,up from $26.7 million in 1983.
Transportation costs have been estimated.
at $2.98 million, up- from $2.78 million for
1983.
General supplies and service costs are ex-
pected to cost $2.2 million. These costs
• totalled $2 million in 1983.
The operation and maintenance of all
schools and the administration centre is ex-
pected to ,cost $1.4 million, up from $1.3
million in 1983.
Debenture payments for the year are
$636,000. These are the payments paid out by
the board for the schools built in the late
1960s.'These,payments have declined from
$1 million in 1979 to $673,000 last year.
"The public should know that we have had
commitment from the board, commitment
from trustees individually in bringing in the
expenditure estimates at a 5 per cent in-
crease. We have attempted to be a cost con-
scious administration and we take some
modest credit for the fact that we finished
1983 having spent $390,963 less than the
amount originally estimated," said Mr.'
Allan.
Chairman Eugene Frayne said a very
good job had been done on the budget this
year. .
There was little discussion on the budget
and Mr. Frayne Said the board "thoroughly
discussed" the budget in a camera session
prior to the open portion of the meeting.
Trustee Tony McQuail added that budget
considerations were made at open commit-
tee. meetings such as education and
management committees.
The main reason for the decline in provin-
cialdollars, said Mr. Allan, is because ofthe
decline in student enrolment.
He noted that the average daily enrolment
in Huron County schools has declined by
1,341 students since 1979. The average daily
enrolments for 1984 is expected to be 10,063
down 236 studentsfrom 10,299 last year.
These figures, noted Mr. Allan; are what
the ministu bases its grants on,, _ .
"The public needs to have drawn tolls at-
tention again the fact that our teaching staff
is being reduced to reflect the declining
enrolment. You will recall that the teaching
staff reduction was approximately 11
teachers," said Mr. Allan.
worth placed on the core area, in Clinton 44.6
per Cent of the core area is used for
residential purposes, 35.5 per cent is used
for., commercial, 11.6 per cent for
institutional use and 8.3 per cent for other
land uses.
Highway Commercial
. _ Highwa, . commercial areas ..,play_ a
different roleifom the core area structure.
_Highway commercial is designed for
vehicular, not pedestrian traffic. Highway
commercial uses can't be accommodated or
would be undesirable in the core area.
Clinton's highway commercial area takes
in Highways 4 and 8, however the study
pointed out that the development has been
limited.
"Highway 8, which is a high volume
vehicular arterial, has predominantly been
developed as a residential street, leaving
limited potential forhighway commercial
development. A similar situation has
evolved along Highway 4," the study noted.
The report added, "Unless suitable sites
Turn to page 3
Just before lunch on Miihday Steve Taylor of RR 1, Brucefield saw the roof of his 200 foot
by 40 foot poultry barn lifted by gale force winds and dropped 200 feet away. Fortunately
30,000 broilers had just been shipped out and the barn was empty at the time. Damage
has been estimated at between $50,000 and $80,000. On Tuesday neighbors were on the
scene to help clean up the mess. Over in Goderich Township, Wayne Tebbutt of RR 2,
Clinton managed to climb onto the roof of his barn and secure it, before winds carried it
off. (Wendy Somerville photo)
The official opening ceremony at the Hullett Wildlife Management
Area on April 25 included the unveiling of a plaque. Pictured (left to
right) are Minister of Natural Resources Alan Pope, Ducks
Unlimited Provincial Manager John Bain and Vice President of
Ducks Unlimited Duncan Sinclair. For a detailed story on a
opening and a tour of the wildlife area, please turn to Page 17. (Rod
Hilts photo)
The huge pine tree at the front of Rick and Marilyn Tyndall's home
on Victoria Street in Clinton took a nose dive in a gust of wind on
Monday.The top half of the tree landed on the roof of their two-
story home: Downtown, -a-storefro-nt'Window was mashed in the
storm and Margaret Dykstra, north of Clinton, called in to say that
the storm window blew out of her screen door. (Shelley McPhee
photo) -
County discuss growth• of Huron
BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE
Is Huron County, as it is known today,
disappearing?
This was the feeling at the March 29
meeting of Huron County, Council when
Brussels Reeve Cal . Krauter said "I'm
hollering for help", after he learned the
Royal Bank of Canada is pulling out from
his village.
He spoke of the "considerable jolt" • he
received earlier that morning when the
Brussels manager of the Royal Bank told
him the bank was leaving. •
"I'm concerned where the county as a
whole is going. I have no figures, but I'm
told we're losing population, industry and
commercial projects," commented Reeve
Krauter.
The Brussels reeve noted that he had been
in conference with MPP Murray Elston
(Huron -Bruce) and the provincial parlia-
ment member wanted to know what the
village is going to do about the bank.
"We're going to `fight. We have to do
something," said Reeve Krauter.
The Brussels reeve also noted that on the
side of the street where the Royal Bank is
located, three or four other businesses have
left in the past year.
He feels the smaller urban areas are be-
ing phased out and the county as a whole is
being pushed into regional government.
Other reeves commented on the lost
businesses in their own communities. Turn -
berry Township Reeve Brian McBurney
said as he drives through neighboring coun-
ties he sees similar problems with small
hamlets disappearing.
Exeter Reeve William Mickle said attrac-
ting businesses and industries to the county
isn't something that happens overnight, but
it is one solution to the problem described by
Reeve Krauter. In attracting companies to
Huron County there may be one sound con-
tact out o£150 said the Exeter reeve.
"We have to make a commitment to
create development, a time consuming com-
mitment." commented Reeve Mickle.
"We have to fight for this county. The
county has to stand behind (Brussels) and
help," added Reeve Mickle.
One problem, as . outlined by Howick
Township Reeve Jack Stafford, is the
amount of "red tape" any potential develop-
ment has to go through.
"Maybe we've created some of these pro-
blems ourselves," said Reeve Stafford.
County council's morale seemed to reach
a low ebb when Reeve Mickle reminded his
colleagues that Huron County does have
pluses.
"One other thing, don't downgrade your
county. We have recreation along the
shoreline, communities here are close to
markets. We've got something here. It's a
matter of telling people," he said. •
Colborne Township Reeve Russel Ken
nighan said the county has. to pull togethei
and one area could be to assist the Town of
Goderich in the Goderich harbor expansior,
project.
Reeve Krauter acknowledged the fact,
that Huron is based on one industry -
agriculture.
"Maybe it's time to diversify."
Morris Township Reeve William Elston
said his township is suffering too, but from
another problem. He noted part of the pro-
blem is that the province's new grant .
system is based on the number of
households in a municipality and last year
Morris lost 17 houses.
"There's a reason for that. When the press
is here I won't say ...," said Reeve Elston.
"They ( not the press) don't care about our
homes, our community." •
Reeve Krauter commented that he hoped
something could be done about the losses in
Huron County.
"This is the most beautiful county in the
world," the Brussels reeve said.
Londesboro seniors
get Horizons grant
LONDESBORO - A group of retired people
from Londesboro will receive a New
Horizons grant for $4,708, Health and
Welfare Minister Monique Begin announced
recently.
Founded in July 1981 by Myrtle
Fairservice, the Happy Gang Seniors will
establish recreational programs, social get-
togethers and catering. Beth Knox, Presi-
dent, said the group also hope to use the
grant for Londesboro Hall supplies, card
tables, chairs, kitchen equipment and shuf-
fleboard equipment.
The group meets on the last Wednesday of
every month in the Londesboro Hall. The 46
member organization started with a
membership of 20 in 1981 and today they
have six women who make up the executive.
They are: president, Beth Knox; vice-
president, Hazel Watkins; secretary, Isabel
Scanlon; assistant secretary, Stella Adams;
press secretary, Doris Shobbrook and
treasurer, Margaret Taylor. Jean Scott was
the past president. They will be electing a
new slate of officers at the end of June. As
part of their us ial activities, the Happy
Gang Seniors meet for tea and play card
games like progressive euchre.
New Horizons is a federal government
program that enables retired people to
create ,projects of their own choosing. It of-
fers grants to groups who undertake ac-
tivitieS for the benefit of themselves and
others in their community. The accent is on
local needs as seen by older people and on
their willingness to meet such needs.
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