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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-02-11, Page 1• NO. 6 121 YEARS ECONOMIC GROWTH ESSENTIAL SAYS BALFOUR Huron mayors call for Highway 8 development Huron County Council has agreed to add its support to a brief which a committee of mayors from Huron's five towns hopes will persuad.e the Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications to improve and develop Highway 8 from Kit- chener to Goderich. The request for support was one of three items included in a presentation made by the committee of mayors in an appearance before council at its February meeting in Goderich. Goderich Mayor Eileen Palmer told council the Highway 8 traffic corridor must undergo improvements in order to enhance development in Perth and Huron Counties. "We understand that MTC has land purchased and plans in place to ex- tend the four -lane highway from Kitchener to Tama Inn," she said. The mayors intend to request that this four -lane development be extended to Stratford. In addition, the brief will suggest a bypass at Stratford and the possibility of passing lanes in "precarious" locations to improve the highway between the festival town and Goderich. Representatives from the municipalities in Huron and Perth Counties which border on the highway have already met with their respective MPPs, Agriculture and Food Minister Jack Riddell and Speaker Hugh Edigoffer. The two have arranged a further meeting with Transportation Minister Ed Fulton on Thursday, Feb. 19. Mrs. Palmer said at least five cabinet ministers are expected to attend that meeting to hear the brief. She also extend- ed an invitation for Warden Brian McBurney to attend the meeting. "One of the difficulties in attracting in- dustry to this county is the poor transpor- tation route up Highway 8 from Kit- chener," she said. "It is a problem that pertains to all of us and deserves your support." Exeter Mayor Bruce Shaw opened the committee's presentation, assuring coun- cil the mayors were there only for "positive reasons and (to) seek your sup- port." He alluded to earlier presumi►tions by some members of county council that the committee's mission was to tell them how to do their jobs. "And again through rumor, we understand that some of you even resent our appearance here this afternoon." As town leaders,.the mayors faced many similar problems covering a broad range of issues such as policing, communica- tions, waste disposal, recreation, planning and others. They have found in the last nine months that an exchange of solutions and approaches could "shorten that endless period between discussing a pro- blem and devising a successful resolution to it." The mayors' meetings were to assist each other in searching for solutions to common problems, he said. "You can see then, we are far removed from a group of subversives trying to undermine our political structures." Although some of the committee's major concerns centre on relationships with some of the neighboring townships and various departments of council, but the presentation would focus on just three specific items. The three are the Highway 8 improvement, economic development and a continuing but informal liaison with county council. Mr. Shaw said the last ten years have already brought about significant changes to Ontario and gradually to Huron County. However, the next decade promises more discomfort as we adjust to a wide range of changes, he added. Statistics indicate that Huron County has one of the best unemployment rates in the country, food production here dwarfs any other area in the province and ,gross farm income far exceeds the national average, he said. As a result, we consider this to be a rural county, yet no more than 25 per cent of county residents can be con- sidered farmers or members of families. There are fewer than 3,700 farms in Huron and probably fewer than 3,000 farm families, he said. The shift from farms to towns and villages has been slow but steady, he said, resulting in the appearance of new pro- blems. "We, as urban leaders, will even- tually have to provide answers, but more and more responsibility will be shifted to the county (government) for providing policy, insight and leadership in these areas. With more and more of county council's time devoted to urban problems and less to rural concerns, help and co-operation was essential. Each of the mayor's is prepared to assist, he said, but from the outside. "Not one of us is supportive of the notion that heads of council should be county representatives." Clinton Mayor John Balfour was the committee's spokesman on the issue of economic development. The only option the county has for easing the tax burden and ensuring growth, he said, is to agressivety seek more industrial, com- mercial and tourist development. With the farm community no longer able to support themselves let alone the urban areas that have been so dependent upon them farm operators are finding they now require a second income in order to sur- vive and looking to the urban centres to provide that support. An overall, con- certed effort should begin immediately to meet this change in roles, he said. The for- mation of a separate economic develop- ment office and the appointment of a full time development officer are now required to meet the changing needs. "We can no longer wait for development to approach us." A full time development officer would aggressively pursue all phases and avenues for attracting development that may be open. The planning department would also be relieved of an extra role and have more time to devote to the increasing planning workload.' There are several areas currently using similar systems, Mr. Balfour said. "And, they are working extremely well." Wingham Mayor Jack Kopas said the committee hoped the liaison with county council would continue, perhaps through the executive committee, but on an infor- mal basis rather than as a deputation or delegation. "Today, if is our hope that this venture will be extended further through a co- operative, informal partnership with coun- ty council for the betterment of all citizens of Huron, regardless of whether they reside in township, village or town," he said. In the short time the committee has been meeting, the mayors have come to realize the need for joint undertakings as well as their benefits. al The issues presented by the mayor should not be labelled as "rural" or "ur- ban" since they affected everyone, he said. "It follows then, that effective solu- tions must involve us all." In his closing remarks for the commit- tee, Seaforth Mayor Alf Ross indicated that future meetings between council and the mayors would deal with other issues. 1,andfill and its related concerns was one such item, he said. Later in the meeting, council passed the resolution in support of improving Highway 8, while the commit- tee's recommendations on economic development and ongoing liaison were referred to the executive committee for its consideration. 'Obis bale really took to' the air when Central Huron Secondary School teacher Daug Ludwig (left) tried his hand at the bale toss for the school's winter carnival Emslie photo) festivities on February 3. (David The barbershop sound was featured in concert on February 7 when the Seaforth Harmony Kings performed at the Clinton lbwn Hall. A men's quartet included Marlen Vincent, Barry Mahon, Bill Campbell and Clinton's own Don Andrews. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo) 1.1 million The announcement of a $1.1 million grant from the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture for the first phase of the reconstruction of the Huron County Pioneer Museum in Goderich was warm- ing news for the people who gathered in the unheated facility for a press conference Friday afternoon. Both Ontario Health Minister Murray Elston and Agriculture and Food Minister, Jack Riddell brought confirmation of the grant from Legislature colleague, Lily' Munro. The $1.1 million grant from her ministry's Community Facilities Improve- ment Program (CFIP) will cover up to one-half the costs of the Phase I reconstruction program planned for the county museum. The county has previously endorsed plans to renovate and rebuild a section of the existing museum and the old Central School portion of the facility will also be upgraded. This is an important initiative to enhance the museum's role as a historical attraction to its many visitors, Munro said. Tenders for new construction are ex- pected in mid-March and project co- ordinator Claus Breede said the new con- formuseum struction involved in the first phase, which will create 37,000 square feet of space, will take at least 14 months to complete. The county has committed $1.1 million to the project and Breede said it was hoped the federal government would contribute $1 million to the project through its Culture Initiatves Program but there has been no indication the work qualifies for the money. It will take about three years to complete the reconstruction project. Making the announcement of the grant on behalf of his.cabinet colleague, Riddell said it was a pleasure to help preserve a part of the province's heritage in his own riding. "It is delightful to come and bring glad tidings through this historic announce- ment," he told the gathering. "This is a unique museum and one of the largest museums of its type in Canada. It grew from the original schoolhouse and opened in 1951. 1 am glad the ministry could be of assistance to ensure that improvements are carried out." Commenting on the fact that the grant announcement was timely in kicking off Turn to page 2 Huronview studies delayed a month By Alan Rivett Huron County will have to wait for another month before the results of two needs studies proposed for Huronview will be known. The two studies, a needs study showing the needs of seniors in Huron County, and a functional needs study. showing how these needs affect the proposed expansion and renovations to Huronview, were approved by the county at their December meeting. At that time, the county also hired the ar- chitectural firm of Robert Ritz and Stin- son, Montgomery and Sisam to do the two studies at a cost of $70,000 shared by the province and the county. However, Huronview Committee of Management Chairman Clarence Rau said the studies, originally scheduled to be done by February 18, will be delayed by one month. "They )the architects) told us that they would have them ready by February 18. but it has been delayed one month. The committee had no choice but to accept that," said a disappointed Mr. Rau. "We ( the committee) felt the same as some county councillors that it was a short time period to have the studies done." In a letter from the architects, they sited "a delay getting background data" for the studies which has resulted in a "change in the overall schedule" of the project. The two studies were approved by the county in December after a meeting with provincial officials from the Ministry of Community and Social Services on November 20 of last year. At the meeting, the province requested that an "overall approach should be taken with regards to Huronview and its many deficiencies" and recommended that a needs and functional needs study be put in place before funding would be forthcoming from the province. Under the current timetable for expan- sion and renovations to Huronview, the county -run home for the aged near Clinton, the two needs studies would be approved by both county and provincial govern- ments by March. During the period of May 1987 to January 1988, plans for the expan- sion and renovations to the home would be prepared with the tender documents finalized, and all funding would be in place. The date expected for the start of con- struction at Huronview was set at the spr- ing of 1988. The estimated cost of the pro- ject is $.'3.2 million. ABSENTEEISM Qii1ESTIONED Women workers are "worn-out" Lester says By Alan Rivett At least one Huron County councillor ex- pressed his alarm at the high rate of absenteeism of employees at Huronview, especially in the female dominated areas. Bayfield Reeve Dave ,Johnston asked Huronview Administrator Wayne Lester about the high rate of absenteeism that was described in the Huronview Commit- tee of Management report at the council meeting on February 5. ''Why the large amount of absenteeism? Is it nbt a very healthy place to -work or are there too many benefits?" said Mr. Johnston. In the report of absenteeism for 1986, the administration and maintenance sections of Huronview, employing 13 and 7 employees, respectively, experienced a relatively low amount of absenteeism with an average of 6 days absence per employee for the year in administration while an average of 1 day per employee was missed during the year by the maintenance staff. However, the Dietary, Nttrstng, and social services (housekeeping and laun- dry ) divisions showed high rates of absenteeism for the year with 12 days per employee missed by the dietary depart- ment, 17 days per employee for nursing, and 15 days per employee missed in the social services department during the year. The Dietary, Nursing and Social Ser- vices divisions employ 19, 68 and 24 employees, respectively. Wayne Lester, administrator of the county -run home for the aged near Clinton, said the ladies in these departments were "worn out" and were more susceptible to sickness than their male counterparts. "We've looked at the absenteeism very carefully, but look how healthy the males are. In fairness to the women, they have a very difficult role to fulfil as mother, wife, and lots of times, they are the main pro- vider of home support, and they're also ex- pected to be involved in 'social events. Some of them just can't handle that load. In many cases, the ladies are just worn out and tired and get sickness much more readily," said Mr. Lester.'