HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1985-10-16, Page 1NOP 42 - 120TH YEAR
WEDNESDAY', OCTOBER 16,1985
50 CENTS
ELECTION NEWS
Cronin will not run
BLYTH - Reeve Tom Cronin will be stepp-
ing out of the village's municipal political
circle this year.
Only one other councillor, Bill Howson has
declared his intentions to run in the
November 12 election, while two tither coun-
cillors, Lloyd Sippel and Bill Manning re-
main undecided and Councillor Albert
Wasson has announced his retirement, from
council.
After six years as reeve of the village, Mr.
Cronin has decided to retire from council.
He noted that while he enjoys village coun-
cil, he finds his work on Huron County Coun-
cil time consuming.
Reeve Cronin believes that younger
business people in the village should be
working in municipal politics. He noted,
"Everyone in the village should serve on
council to find out what it's all about. It
would cut out a lot of nonsense."
Another six year veteran of the council,
Albert Wasson has announced his retire-
ment.
Councillors Lloyd Sippel and Bill Manning
have not announced their election inten-
tions.
Councillor Bill Howson is the only
member of council who plans to seek re-
election, however, he stressed, "If my
name's on the ballot, it won't be for reeve."
Anyone who is interested In running for a
seat on council may declare their intentions
to do so between October 17 and October 21.
Nomination forms are available at the
village clerk's office.
A ratepayers', meeting has been scheduled
for Tuesday, October 29, at the Blyth
Memorial Hall starting at 8 p.m.
An advance election poll will be held on
Saturday, November 2 and voting day is set
for Tuesday, November 12.
Steckle to step down
STANLEY TWP. - Paul Steckle, township
reeve and Huron County warden won't be
seeking re-election this year.
Reeve Steckle announced that he would be
stepping out of municipal politics at the last
township council meeting. '
Councillor Clarence Rau will try for the
reeve's chair. Deputy Reeve Don McGregor
and Councillors Jack Coleman indicated
they'll be running again, but -have not yet
decided which positions they'll try for.
In otherbusiness, the list of members,for
the township's 1986 sesquicentennial com-
mittee was approved. It will be headed by
co-chairman Gordon Hill and Phil Durand.
Other members are: secretary, John Camp-
bell; treasurer, Lawrence Beane; sports
committee, Bill Gibson; food committee,
Arnold Taylor; hospitality committee, Joe
Durand; public relations, Randy Collins;
special events, Debbie Rathwell and Janet
Webster; finance chairman, Tim Beard.
Charles Kalbfleisch will be the parade
marshal, Howard Armstrong will represent
council and special advisors are Jean
Rathwell, Cliff Henderson, Joyce Dowson
and Carol Simons.
Council 'agreed to raise their pay by five
.per cent. The reeve's 1985 stipend will be
$3,265 plus $182 for sighing cheques. The
deputy reeve and council tors will receive
$2,865 for their year's work.
Nuammaargrouwaragrambammer
R fiver problems still muddied
By Alan Rivett
BAYFIELD - With hope of finding govern-
ment funding for the proposed Long Hill
Road stabilization project, council has writ-
ten to government representatives re-
questing assistance.
A letter from Huron -Middlesex MPP Jack
Riddell stated the matter of funding for the
project would be referred to the Ministry of
Municipal Affairs. The ministry has a pro-
gram called the Unconditional Grants Act
which may tie in with funding for the pro-
ject. The matter is currently being assessed
by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs London
Regional office.
Bayfield Clerk Pat Graham said he
received a call from the Brussels office of
Huron -Bruce- MP Murray Cardiff prior to
the council meeting. Mr. Cardiff's
spokesman asked if the village had concrete
budget plans for the road project. The clerk
said the village was not currently in that
position. The spokesman said, however, that
a make-work project could be funded by
federal programs if unemployed workers
were used as part of tender agreement. The
spokesman also said the matter was a pro-
vincial and municipal concernbut they
haven't ruled out assistance as yet.
Meanwhile council is still embroiled in a,
long running stalemate situation with Dr.,
Walker over the ownership of the strip of the
land near the river which the construction
will affect. The ownership dispute which has
been going on for the past four years is still
before the courts. Reeve Dave Johnston
says,if Dr. Walker does in fact own the land,.
he will be expected to share erosion control
costs with the village when the project gets
underway.
According to Reeve Johnston, he along
with the village's solicitor were to have met
with Dr. Walker and his legal council in Lon-
don on October 4 to discuss what end use Dr.
Walker has for the land, whether it, be
building on the land or keeping it as a
greenbelt area. Reeve Johnston says it's
crucial for the village to find out.. what the
end use will be before plans can be drawn up
for the re -stabilization of the road.
However, Dr. Walker failed to appear at
the meeting, stating to Reeve Johnston he
had thought the meeting was to be held at
the Bayfield Municipal Office. Reeve
Johnston said he was to have a reply about
the end use at 3 p.m on October 7, the day of
the council meeting. Dr. Walker and his
lawyer failed to reply, he said, adding that •
he intends to keep pursuing the matter.
In other correspondence to council con-
cerning the project, the Ministry of Oceans
and Fisheries sent a letter to council stating
they recognize the need for the remedial
work. However, they reiterated their posi-
tion concerning the channel width. The
channel should have a minimum
unobstructed width of 110 feet which would,
allow for a 40 feet area for the berthing of
vessels, leaving 70 feet of navigable waters.
The depth of the water should remain at six
feet below charted datum.
Councillor Jim Quick explained the term
charted datum means the average depth of
the water after it was charted in 1975.
However, he feels, both recommended
methods of repair ( rip -rap and sheet piling )
will not be able to adhere to Ocean and
Fisheries position.
"It will; be impassible to remain at• chart
datum because rip -rap will take two or three
feet off the water depth," he said.
The Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority (ABCA), in a letter to council,
pointed out again that it has $135,000 ear-
marked in it's 1986 budget for the project
which is subject to approval in February or
March of next year. ABCA also voiced their
concern that the most cost effective solution
to the problem .should be considered (rip
rap $200,000 vs. sheet piling $530,000 - all are
estimated costs). If council chooses the lat-
ter it will have to be paid 100 per cent by the
village.
Terrence Bullen, an interested party at
the meeting, provided council with some
pictures and descriptions in offering an ex-
planation to the river road problem.
The retired engineer says since he moved
to the village in 1973, a number of large trees
have been cut down by the river, which has
allowed the erosion to grow worse every
year. He suggested to council the best way
to deal with the erosion problem is by
"restoring equilibrium" tothe area. This
can be accomplished.by planting a number
of fast growing saplings such as poplars.
Reeve Johnston said council's position on
the matter is to continue to seek funding for
the project so it can go ahead by the spring
of 1986. -
"We want to resolve the issue and keep it
as simple as possible. We want to negotiate
as settlement that will resolve the problem
and save the taxpayers as much money as
possible," he said.
Riddell won't "let Wise off the hook"
By Stephanie Levesque
Jack Riddell Was ready in August for a
stabilization program but the Ontario Cat-
otlemen's Association and the Canadian Cat-
tlemen's Association asked him to hold off.
Riddell, the Ontario agriculture minister,
got annoyed when he was criticized for the
delay of stabilization. He was the guest
speaker in his home riding at the Huron
County federation of agriculture.
"I want you to know, that as of the end of
August, I was ready for stabilization," said
the agriculture minister.
However, he said he was asked to hold off
so, federal agriculture minister .John Wise
could make a national stabilization pro-
gram. -
Riddells' words heated up and he asked
his audience several times if they wanted to
know who had asked him to hold off.
He said it was the Ontario Cattleman's
Association, the Canadian Cattlemen's
Association and verbal conversations with
the pork producers.
"It's not fair to be critical of the minister
of agriculture, at least not this minister,"
said Riddell.
He later apologized for getting annoyed.
"I'm sorry I got annoyed. But olpstacles
are put in my way for no reason," he said.
Riddell also commented that he wished
other members of parliament were present
so they could go back to Ottawa and tell
Wise that farmers have "played around
long enough". The comment was in
reference to Huron -Bruce MP Murray Car-
diff who was absent from the meeting.
Riddell did say that earlier conversations
with his federal counterpart indicated there
could be some program by the end of Oc-
tober.
"I'm not about to let Wise off the hook,"
he said.
The agriculture minister has been making
the rounds of federation meetings and fairs,
including an incident last Tuesday when
some tobacco farmers had to be taken away
by police at the Norfolk County Fair.
Blyth's population is dropping
The entrance sign to the Village of Blyth
puts the population at 1,000, but contrary to
that statistic, the 1985 census report puts the
village head count at 890.
Blyth's population has been dropping for
the Last number of years. In the past three
years the count has decreased by 44. For the
first time in several years the head count is
below 900.
An examination of the census report
shows that the majority of the 1985 popula-
tion, 460 people, are between the ages of 20
and 65. Two -hundred -and -ten people . fall
between the ages of five and 19, another 164
are 66 years and older and 56 are up to four
years old.
Of the totals, 454 are, female and 436 are
male: Further breakdown of those figures
show: 0-4 years, 37 are male, 19 are female;
5-19 years, 98'male, 112 female; 20-65 years,
229 male, 231 female; 66 anfl up, 72 males, 92
females.
The majority of the population in Blyth
are public school supporters, 871 in number.,
Another 19 residents are separate school
supporters.
Canada's top financial consultant Brian Costello was in Clinton on Friday night. A crowd
of more than 700 was on' hand to learn how to make money work harder and last longer.
Costello visit's was part of a nationwide tour being held to promote his new book, Your
Money and How to Keep It. His tax savi'hg, money making advice will be featured in next
week's edition of the News -Record. (Shelley McPhee photo)
Farmgate defence plan?
By Steirihanie Levesque
Farm gate defence could become fact in
Huron County if federation of agriculture
members indicate this is what they want.
The Huron County federation of
agriculture went on record at its annual
meeting on Oct. 10 in Hensall as being in
favor of enforcing a moratorium, or delay-
ing payment of money due by farmers to
lending institutions. The delay is caused by
farmers placing themselves at the farmer's
gate when banks threaten to foreclose -
farm gate defence.
"It's not the solution," admitted federa-
tion president Doug Garniss of RR 4,
Wingham.
"I guess what we're looking for is a farm
debt review agency." he said.
While the moratorium support resolution
passed with a comfortable majority at the
annual meeting, Garniss worried there
wasn't enough discussion or debate on the
issue.
"We may have to call a special meeting if
there . isn't board support," he told the
gathering.
Garniss said federal Agriculture Minister
John Wise has promised a debt review agen-
cy.
Bruce County federation of agriculture
representative Ken Kelly said the
moratorium is a "bridge" until the agency
is set up. .
Garniss said Ontario could set up such an
agency despite what provincial Agriculture
Minister Jack Riddeltr said earlier in the
evening. Riddell was the guest speaker at
the annual meeting.
The provincial agriculture minister said a
debt review agency couldn',t be formed in
Ontario because the province has no contip1
over lending institutions. In Saskatchewan,
where there is such an agency, Riddell says
the lending institutions are credit unions,
which the province does have control over.
"If it works in Saskatchewan it will work
in Ontario, too," said Garniss.
The federation president is looking for his
membership to come forward and say they
will help with farm gate defence. Lists pass-
ed around the hall filled with almost 400 peo-
ple garnered only about 50 names. The
small response prompted words from Kelly.
"The motto of the federation is farmers
working to help farmers. But when I see the
number of names on the list, your motto
should be farmers surviving in spite of
farmers," he said.
Garniss encouraged federation members
to phone him, write or let him know
"anyway they can" their thoughts on the
moratorium.
Unveillitig date set
First proposed in 1984, the Huron County
Historical Atlas has now been published and-
' will be' released on Wednesday, October 23
Reeve Grant Stirling of Goderich Township,
who heads the Atlas committee, announced
. this week.
A copy of the Atlas will be presented for-
mally tothe County in a short ceremony on
Wednesday, October 23 which will take
place at the Court House, Goderich at 4 p.m.
and to which the public is invited to attend.
When undertaken by Huron County Coun-
cil, the atlas contemplated was similar in
size and style to the original Belden Atlas of
1879 and a subsequent Perth atlas published
in 1982. However, Reeve Stirling said, in-
creasing public interest and participation
had resulted in a much larger book, The
Atlas contains 350 pages 13 by 18 inches and
weights 7' 2 pounds.
Special. arrangements have been com-
pleted to assist patrons andhose who have
purchased prepublication copies of the Atlas
to. pick up their copies on presentation of
their certificate or receipt. A temporary of-
fice in a transport van which has been con-
tributed by Laidlaw Transport will be
located adjacent to the north entrance to the
Court House in Goderich. Copies of the Atlas
will be available for distribution from this
location commencing at 9 a.m. Wednesday,
October 23 continuing daily Monday to Fri-
day from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and on Satur-
day mornings from 9 a.m. to 1 p.rn. for two
weeks until November 5. After November 6
prepaid copies of the Atlas niay be obtained
at the clerk's office in the Court House or by
delivery on remittance of $6 per copy to
cover shipping and handling. Pictures
which have been loaned for us in the Atlas
also may be picked up at the t mporary of-
fice.
Reeve Stirling pointed out that` the present
prepublication price of $45 for prepublica-
tion certificates would continue to be in ef-
fect until October 22 and applications with
remittance should be forwarded to the Atlas
office at the Court House, Goderich. The
postpublication price of $59.50 will become
effective with the publication and release of
the Atlas on October 23.
Following publication, copies of the Atlas
will be available at the van and after
November 6 from the clerk's office as well
as at a number of retail outlets in the county
that have completed arrangements, Reeve
Stirling said.
Containing nearly one million words and
1,000 pictures, the Atlas includes 16
township maps showing property owners,
nearly 50 maps of towns, villages and
hamlets, lists of small lot owners (under 40
acres ). In addition the stories of some 600
families, organizations, churches and ,
businesses as well as of 26 Huron
municipalities are featured in the Atlas.
Roofs, boilers, elevators needed
Almost a quarter of a million square feet
of rodf is up for replacement at Huron
County schools.
The roofs, along with a couple of boilers
and an elevator, are on the Huron County
board of education's annual list of items
that need replacing. The list gets sent to
the ministry of education for approval and
funding.
The 1986 list includes the replacement of
248,991 square feet of roof at seven
elementary schools and four high schools.
Director of Education Robert Allan said
the London office of the education ministry
has informed him that Huron has been
allotted $200,000 for roof replacements.
Not only will that not cover the costs for
all the roofs, but the local school board
doesn't get the chance to choose which roof
jobs need to be done first, says Allan. The
London office does that.
For next year, the school board would
like to see a new boiler in Seaforth Public
School and Vanastra Public School. Aldan
said over the past 10 years, the ministry
has approved about four or five new
boilers for Huron schools.
Something new for the school board is to
be applying for an elevator for Victoria
Public School in Goderich. Thedirector
said the elevator will be beneficial in this
two-storey school so that children in
wheelchairs or others can, get to the'second
floor. This is a particular need at this
school with the library on the second floor.
It will be some time 'before the board
learns if the items have been approved.