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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-09-30, Page 1I\EORPOR.TIM;-THF: BI.1TH STANDARD -"THF; FBFIELD Bl WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 1987 NO. 39 NEW PLANS FOR CHRISTIAN RETIREMENT COMMUNITY All systems are go for a seniors housing complex CLINTON - After more than five years of planning and setbacks, it appears that the Clinton and District Christian Retirement Community will soon become a reality. The seniors housing development is set to go with plans to build an apartment project on Charles Street. It will be called Maplehill. A seven -and -a -half acre parcel of land on the northerly portion of the street has been purchased for the development. Jack Roorda said that plans for the hous- ing unit will be a scaled down version of former proposals. Architects are now draw- ing up plans for a one storey building that will feature, one, two and three bedroom apartments. The units will be similar to those constructed by other non-profit organizations in nearby communities. The apartments swill be specifically designed for the needs of active and in- dependent seniors. The building will feature its own exterior patio. Amenity areas being planned include a common lounge area with kitchen, a workshop and a meeting room. Mr. Roorda pointed out that the exact amenities and size of the areas will depend upon the number of persons interested in the project. Already more than a half-dozen people have indicated that they are interesting in taking up residence in the new seniors hous- ing units. Mr. Roorda said that seniors have been surveyed and he noted, "People have com- mitted themselves on the basis of the infor- mation that we've given them." Since government funding is unavailable to help finance the project, new plans call for private ownership and financing of Maplehill. The apartments will be privately owned at the estimated rates of: one bedroom apart- ment, $58,000; two bedroom, $65,000; three bedroom, $71,000. The prices of the units will be approx- imately those recognized by Canada Mor- tgage and Housing Corporation and the Ministry of Housing of Ontario as being suitable for the building of modest seniors housing in Clinton in 1987. People who are interested in buying an apartment have been asked to make a $500 deposit which will be credited against the price of the unit, when the agreements, and plans are ready, and construction is set to start. It is noted that deposits will be refunded if the project does not meet the satisfaction of the proposed purchaser. Further deposits, in addition to the $500, will be required when the building is ready to proceed. There will also be a monthly charge for operation of the project for residents which will cover the municipal taxes, utilities and maintenance costs. Maplehill will be operated by a local board of directors. It is established as a non- profit organization and its mandate is to create affordable housing for seniors in the community. It is expected that the apartment complex will be constructed by the fall of 1988. In future years, forecasted plans call for the construction of additional housing com- plexes on the Charles Street site. Sewage rates too high, council says CLINTON - Some concerns were raised during a council meeting here on September 8 regarding sewage rates. Council, in a previous meeting, passed the bylaw to set the rates, but the decision didn't sit well with all of the councillors. "It pertains to Bylaw 28, I personally have great concerns about that," said Councillor Case Buffinga, noting that some checking up has been done, and as he understands it, towns of similar size are paying less for their sewage system. Councillor Buffinga then moved that a recorded vote should be taken to have the Ministry of the Environment do a study on the whole system. Aside from a cost study, the ministry will also be asked to check into the maintenance and operation of Clinton's system to see if it is operating efficiently. Council voted unanimously in favor of having the study carried out. MAR 1' AND ELMER TRICK CELEBRATE A "pay as you go" marriage has lasted for 50 years By Shelley McPhee Haist CLINTON - He played the piano. She liked to dance. Such were the beginnings of a rela- tionship that has lasted more than 50 years. Elmer Trick piano played in a dance band that entertained at parties back in the 1930s. Mary Grigg sometimes attended those house parties. Little did the young couple know then, that they would wed and celebrate 50 years of married life. On October 9, Mary and Elmer Trick will honor their golden wedding anniversary. Both were born and raised in Goderich Township. In fact, they knew each other as children. While Mary and Elmer did not at- tend the same schools, they lived only three miles apart and their fathers both farmed. Elmer wasn't much interested in girls as a young boy. He was more apt to sneak off to the bush to trap skunks on a Saturday a fternoon. "i was shy. I wasn't much for girls and I wasn't a good dancer," Elmer quipped. He was. and still is. a good musician. He and six members of his band used to travel On October 9 Elmer and Mary Trick of Clinton will cerebrate their 50th wedding anniver- sary. An open house in their honor was held for family and friends on September 27 at Rill and Thea Trick's home. (Shelley McPhee Haist photo) around the country, playing for weekend parties. Some nights they made as much as $15. Elmer and Mary's courtship began at one of those parties. They dated for five years and were wed on an autumn afternoon at the Grigg farm in Goderich Township. "I married her because she was a good cook," Elmer teased. Elmer Trick loves to talk and he loves to make jokes. It's clearly evident that he also loves his wife. The young bride wore a velvet dress and grey shoes on her wedding day. She carried a beautiful bouquet of pink shoes. The groom looked dapper in a new suit. In the official wedding portrait he looks somewhat nervous. "I was so worried about getting married that I don't remember a thing," he recalled. Mary remembers the large family gather- ing and the wedding meal, a special event to enjoy during the depression years. And there were gifts for the newlyweds - a chair, a table and a magazine rack among them. Times may have been tough, but the bridal couple did not miss out on a honey- moon. They travelled to Quebec in an old Chrysler and enjoyed a two week holiday. On their return, they set up residence at the family farm with Uncle Frank Trick who lived with them for 11 years. The young couple farmed. They worked hard. Mary more equally carried her share of the load, working alongside her husband in the fields. There was no hired help to be found when the war was on. They raised two sons, Bill and Bob, and to- day they enjoy the company of their family, including Bob's wife Sylvia and daughter Karen, and Bill's wife Thea and children Tom, Julie and Billy. Elmer and Mary moved to Clinton some 18 years ago where they now reside on Rat- tenbury Street. Elmer keeps busy playing piano at com- munity functions. He represents the Town of Clinton on the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority. He is still actively involved in wildlife work and trapping. Mary has enjoyed quilting as a hobby and she is a talented painter. Her pictures show- ing various local landscapes hang on the walls of their home. She has also been actively involved in the Rebekah Lodge and is a Past Noble Grand of that organization. It's been a good marriage for Elmer and Mary Trick. The secret to their successful matrimonial union is a simple one, We all live from the same purse," Mary says, "Yes, you know women's lib," Elmer adds. They are concerned with the state of mar- riage today, in particular the high rate of divorce. "Don't use credit cards. Pay as you go," Mary offers as her advice to young married couples. "Don't smoke, drink or do drugs," Elmer suggests. It may be simple philosphies that Elmer and Mary Trick live by, but they have represented a way of life that has meant more than five decades of a good marriage. This area received one on its best fall days in recent memory on September 28, with temperatures rising into the 20s. Little Ashton Kurlek, 2, of Bayfield was at Clan Gregor Square in the village with his mom, enjoying a bit of the warm weather while it lasted. ( David Emslie photo ) New plan calls for reducing red tape By Anne Narejko CLINTON - A method to speed-up the pro- cessing of planning applications was ex- plained to council here at their September 21 meeting by Dr. Gary Davidson, Planning Director of Huron County. The main changes that would take place would be to shift the provincial authority to the county, allow the municipalities, through Huron County Council, to vote on the decision and remove one level (provin- cial level) of bureauacracy. This proposal was brought before county council at their last session, but was defer- red until the reeves had time to discuss it with their councils and obtain any clarifica- tion that may be needed. Benefits By shifting the authority from the pro- vince to the municipalities, Dr. Davidson believes it will save the developers time, in turn cutting costs which, "will hopefully be passed on," as well as give councils more direct access to what is happening. He stressed that no rights are removed from the municipalities, no more staff is re- quired at the county level to carry this out, and it in no way alters the appeal process. "An appeal still goes to the Ontario Municipal Baord," said Dr. Davidson. This new process would apply to applica- tions for subdivisions, condominiums, part lot control, road closings and zoning comments. Subdivisions And Condominiums "Subdivisions and condominiums undergo the identicial process, but are approved under different acts." explained Dr. David- son. At the present time, the process has an ap- plication by the developer, then a planning report is drawn up, followed by a local recommendation, a county recommenda- tion and a provincial decision. The proposed process would eliminate the county recommendation and the provincial decision, leaving it: the application by the developer, planning report, local recom- mendation and then the county decision. Dr. Davidson tried to calm any fears about he county giving the go ahead when the m icipality didn't want the building. You 1 encounter the situation where the municipality says 'no, we don't want the subdivision' and the county says, 'yes, go ahead' because the municipality has to enter into an agreement with the developer. The municipality controls the services." Part Lot Control "The part lot control is not used very often. it is only used in specific situations and it is very important in those situations," explained Dr. Davidson. The present process for using this is to have a local by-law drawn up, send it to the province, it then goes from the province to the county, a planning report is needed and then a county recommendation is made and a provincial decision is handed down. The new process would take it from a six step process to a three step process: local by-law, planning report and then the county decision. Road Closings To close a road, there are presently six steps but the proposed process would cut this number in half. At present, a local by-law is drawn up, sent to the province, sent from the province to the county, a planning report is drawn up and a county recommendation is made and then the provincial derision is made. The new process would he a local by-law, planning report and county decision. Zoning Comments if the process were changed, the province would not comment on any zoning changes, therefore, providing a "local perspective opposed to provincial," said Dr. Davidson. Presently the county comments to the municipality as does the province The pro- posed method would have the county com- menting and the county monitoring the situation for the province Accessibility, Accountability, Time, Local Variation, Administration and Decisions Dr. Davidson sees accessibility, accoun- tability, time, local variation, administra- tion and decisions as the six major benefits. Under accessibility, he listed access to decision makers as a benefit. "It's easier to go to Goderich and explain how the subdivision is going then it is to go to Toronto and say how the subdivision is go- ing," said Dr. Davidson. Under accountability, he said the local Turn to page 5 CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL BUILDING FUND