The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutClinton News-Record, 1987-08-26, Page 5Leadership shown, now community needs to follow if economic development is to happen in Clinton By Anne Narejko CLINTON - Few people will disagree when the Planning Advisory/Economic Development Committee and Clinton Coun- cil say the town needs development that will create jobs, provide residences and in- crease the tax base. The only question is, how do we achieve this? In an attempt to increase their knowledge and enlighten other business owners in town, the conunittee sponsored an informa- tion evening with Tom Lemon, Seaforth Main Street Co-ordinator, as the guest speaker. Mike Falconer, Chairman of the Economic Development Committee, ex- plained that Clinton needs to try and attract industrial, tourist, agricultural and com- mercial business for four reasons - the town needs the business, it needs more jobs, a broader tax base and it needs more con- struction in the way of houses. "We need to build for future generations," said Mr. Falconer, who was born in Clinton. "We called this meeting for two reasons: We need ideas for starting businesses and ideas for expanding existing businesses." Mayor John Balfour presented a powerful speech, later apologizing for being "so curt." "There's a little bit of an attitude problem in this town...everyone says you can do what you want, but don't do it in my backyard. "You know what really frustrates me is when I work with people to get a develop- ment started and then sit and listen to the public object because it's in their backyard." Mayor Balfour then quoted John F. Ken- nedy, saying, "Ask not what your country can do for you but what you can do for your country. Just insert town where country is and ask not what your town can do for you but what you can do for your town. "It's as much up to you as it is up to this committee to get development in here." In stressing the need for development, Mayor Balfour told the audience that seniors are leaving town because they can't find suitable leaving accommodations here. "We need apartmends because the seniors are leaving, but don't put it in my backyard," he imitated. Mr. Lemon was impressed with the leadership both Mr. Falconer and Mayor Balfour demonstrated in their speeches, and said, "If the people in the community can respond to the leadership shown, the town will be in very, very, good shape." Mr. Lemon was hired by the Town of Seaforth and its BIA to revitalize its main core. They are presently working under the Heritage Canada Main Street Program. "The biggest threat to a heritage building is its economic viability. You have to make it look good outside and be viable inside," he explained. Mr. Lemon said there are basically four steps that need to revitalize a community. CI,INTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 26, 1987—Page 5 Waterloo, Ont. • Hairstyling •Barbering •Ear Piercing •Make-up 55 Erb St. East During the Planning Advisory Economic Development Committee's information night on August 19, various maps and diagrams were displayed in the auditorium of the town hall. These maps and diagrams were an overall view of Clinton's land use as well as the diagram which Clinton's Economic Development Committee Chairman Mike Falconer (left) points out to Bill Fleming, Peter Bakos, and the guest speaker for the evening, Tom Lemon. Mr. Lemon is the Seaforth Main Street Co-ordinator and was on hand to explain ways to attract businesses and make present businesses more viable. The drawing Mr. Falconer is pointing at is a conceptual drawing of the proposed industrial mall for Clin- ton. ( Anne Narejko photo) The first is organization. "Get the community organized," he said, adding the August 19 meeting was doing just that. Step number two was to look at the retail sector. "Take a look at what is being offered and at what is not being offered," said Mr. Lemon. As an example, Mr. Lemon said a survey taken in Seaforth showed a great many peo- ple left town, travelling to Clinton simply to purchase beer from the Brewer's Retail. "If we could only get a cold beer store we could keep that many more people in town," he commented. Mr. Lemon also explained that a gap in a service will lead to the shoppers spending money on other items in the town where they go to fill that gap. "We have two great grocery stores in Seaforth, but because of the gap. people go to the east side of Stratford to shop. While they're there, they pick up their groceries," Mr. Lemon said. Although he was not sure of the exact figure, he feels approximately $3 -million in grocery money is lost each year. The third step was economic develop- ment. For this, the easiest thing to do is assist the existing business people in the community to expand, then try to attract outside businesses. "First develop from within and then go after the Toyota plant." he said. Step number four is to improve the looks of the existing business by doing some win- dow work, adding a new sign or a canopy. Before the meeting closed, Carrie Salsbury, Chairperson of Planning Ad- visory, told the estimated figure of 55 people that the results from the survey taken in town had been returned, indicating that the commercial development has remained stable with the population increasing slight- ly recently. She also pointed out that there was an in- consistency with 90 per cent of the business owners saying their business is growing. yet they felt other businesses in town were not. Grant is increased for town CLINTON - Council here received welcome news at their August 17 meeting when it was announced the Ministry of En- vironment has increased their grant in the Direct Grant Program. Originally the town was to receive 62.9 per cent of the costs for water and sewage works from the ministry, but the percentage has been changed to 68.05 per cent. Legion Week Proclaimed • The Clinton Legion, Branch 140, requested the week of September 13 - 19 be proclaimed as Legion Week. As in the past, council made the appropriate proclamation. No Tax on Fire Protection Equipment Council received a letter from the Township of Beckwith requesting support for their proposal to the government that sales tax on fire protection and control equipment or supplies be dropped. The township stated the firemen and the equipment provide a valuable. lifesaving function and costs are high enough without the tax. Clinton Council agreed, supporting the letter. Sewage Ry law Passed At council's :August 17 meeting. a 1) law was passed to fix the sewage rates for the town, confirming the hlaws passed late last year. The bylaw had not been passed prior to the August meeting because council was unaware of the fact that the needed the ( )n - Helen will attend conference ('LINTON - The Bluewater ('('B (71ub of Clinton gathered in the Wesley -Willis United Church hall on August 16 for a potluck supper. A short business meeting was held follow- ing the supper. Helen Sootheran was elected to attend the conference being held this fall in Sudbury. Entertainment was provided by the Com- mittee with a number of bingo games Members would like to thank the sorority ladies for their help. Monday euchre results CLINTON - Monday afternoon euchre had a good turn out on August 24. The high win- ners were Mary Mair and Walter Pepper Low hand winners were Dorothy and Mar- jorie Caldwell. The most Ione hands went to Verna Re-elect (;lazier and Dorothy Wilson Just a remnder that all the members of the (olden Radar Seniors Club will hold Its first meeting on September 2 at 7 30 p m The potluck supper will he at the September 6 meeting Jack Riddell Huron's Strong Voice on the Peterson Team •14 Year Veteran in the Ontario Legislature •Minister of Agriculture and Food •Long outstanding service to the residents of Huron County SPONSORED BY THE HURON I,IBERAI. ASSOCIATION Clinton 482-3007 ® Wingham 357-1140 • Exeter 235-1544 Goderich 524-5336 • Seaforth 527-2202 tarso Municipal Board's approval because of a debenture taken out for the sewage plant expansion in the early '70s. NOW IS THE TIME... $ BEST INTEREST 101" Guaranteed Investment Certificates " Subject to change Gaiser-Kneale diiit Exeter 235-2420 Clinton 482-9747 Insurance Brokers Inc. Grand Bend 238-8484 Goderich 524-2118 • CASHBACK ON SELECTED MODELS • SPRINT •CHEVY CAVALIER •CHEVY NOVA •CHEVY CELEBRITY • OLDS FIRENZA •OLDS CIERA • CAMARO •S10 PICKUPS •CHEVETTES Limited Time Offer: ON SALE 1987 CHEVETTE 4 DR. SEDAN includes Freight, Automatic Transmission. Whitewall Tires, Metallic Paint, Rally Wheels, Side Mouldings, Rear Defroster No. 109727. SALE PRICE $8,63500 -d % Sales Tax 604.45 5750 GM Cash Back 750.00 TOTAL COST $8,4895 Licence Extra OTHER CHEVETTES TO CHOOSE FROM BROWN Chevrolet Oldsmobile CLINTON-since 1935— 402-9321 ATB 26 10 SPEED MTB 26 12 SPEED MOUNTAIN BIKE BAUER, COOPER, ADIDAS & PUMA SPORT BAGS AND KNAPSACKS 440