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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-02-18, Page 1GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1987 60 CENTS PER COPY 1•,..� • ? fl. 1. YI II.E`3,4 4.4 C� � I (A � 1 i vita, lg 4 r lir II _t1.. n OPS [r 1 -11- ,1,V million com.1ex iroposed Concept calls for aquatic centre with raLuet sport courts BY' DAVE SYKES . • Residents" of the town of Goderich have expressed a need for a community sports and fitness complex and a consulting firm has recommenced the construction of an aquatic centre` and complex in the town. In presenting the results of a feasibility study, commissioned to determine what kind of recreational factlity residents would like, John Stevenson of Stevenson and Associates, recommended the town could proceed with the construction of $3.6 Million aquatic centre on a site adjacent to the high school on Bennett Street. ' The recommendation calls for the con- str=uc-fion• of -.a 954)0.0 ci-pi p on - the old football field that would 'include an irregular shaped leisure pool with three 25 metre competition' lanes, four squash courts, a raquetball court, fitness and weight training areas, sauna, whirlpool and locker rooms. In Making the presentation of the recon mendation before about 70 people at a public meeting. at The Livery Tuesday, Stevenson -stressed that his,recommenda- tions were only concepts and responded, in the most efficient manner possible, to the, desires of the town residents as expressed through surreys and public meetings. The facility, as presented, was estimated to cost $3.6 million by 1987 stan- dards and would increase to $3,9 million by .1989. Architect, Brian Gregerson of Moffat Kinoshita Associates, prepared conceptual drawings of the, facility and showed slides of existing leisure pools land complexes. He stressed that the leisure pool concept is popular because it accommodates all types of swimming and water sports. "What we are presenting here is a multi- purpose -family oriented facility for the community," ' he explained. "There are swimming lanes for competitive swimm- ing but there are also low ' areas for, children and family swimming, there's ac- cess for the handicapped and generous fighting." Leisure pools, as evidenced by the graphic, are irregular in shape and often include play equipment like water slides. Stevenson told the group they are popular because, unlike conventional rectangular swimming pools, they accommodate many different needs and activities. The various shallow areas, allow for child and family swimming while the three 'competitive lanes could easily' sate the needs of the serious swimmer. He suggested the entire complex, as presented, satisfies the needs as expressed by the community through surveys and public meetings. The proposed facility' eontains raquet sport courts, an aerobics and weight training„ room, activity and games -meeting 'rooms as well as kitchen facilities and a whirlpool and sauna. "It is a multi=purpose complex that 4111010 for total community use in bot�i.the pool and the rest of the facility,'"Stevenson explained. "What we have proposed in- ;volves• more people in the community and • will be better, in generating revenue and also responds, to the requirements of the the community." The. consultant recommended the site adjacent to the high school as being; the most central and. preferred loeation in- �rre, font complex j ••town A least; arrangement would have to :be worked out with the Huron County Board of Education but Stevenson said the ,adm•inistration was receptive, • to the concept. • While the cost of building. the proposed facility would exceed $3.5 million, Steven- • son said a comprehensive survey of 22 facilities across Ontario suggests the .. Goderich facility would have projected • yearly expenditures of about $168,500 while revenues could reach $123,500 for 'an an- nual deficit of $43,000. • Those .figures, while they only represent • estimates, Were comprehensive and Stevenson said family rates for use of Such a facdlity would run at approximately $200 a year. There was great interest in the consul- tant's thoughts on funding -of the project - and he indicated that a facility of such magnitude really requires goverrlrnent funding and assistance. It also requires a genuine commitment on the part of the community. - -Funding can he accomplished through grants, donations, municipal contri bu- • 'tions; debentures, taxes- and community fundraising," he explained. ':Our surveys indicated there is support for fund raising acitivities here. The project can also be phased over a period and its can be, downsized to suit your needs." "It is a real challenge, but it is an oppor- tunity for the community to pursue .and Meet the challenge. What ydru accomplish depends on the commitment and energy of the community:" . ,Stevenson said the proposed facility " responds to the needs of the existing com- munity, a slow growth community whose residents are Older. He said the next step in the process is to get the public behind the project and to make those public opi- nions known to council. Final 'recommendations will be taken to council sometime in March after the com- plex committee has had time to review and refine the proposal. The committee looking into the complex issue consisted of chairman Ron Bushell, Eileen Palmer, Elsa Haydon, Pat Hamilton, Ruth Erb, I)r.. Don Neal, Bob Dempsey, Ray Desjardine, and recreation • director Jane ' Netzke. They • have been together for a year and a half Bushell ex- plained;,meeting an average of three times a month since "May 1986. The consultant also made recommenda- tions with respect to'a'master plan for the town's recreational' needs and facilities. • He said the master plan was merely a guideline to plan the recreational needs over the next 10 years.• The town is in a slow growth rate, Stevenson claimed, adding that there.is an increasing number of seniors and adults. The recreation de,partrnent, he observed,- peovides a' wide range of - activities 'and ' programs for the citizens of Goderich. The• recreation department should develop goals and objectives and he stress- ed that the recreation board should be in- volved in planning and. policy, that it Turn to page 2 Consultants unveiled conceptual drawings for a 25,000 square foot aquatic complex at a sepcial public meeting at The Livery Tuesday. The drawing shows that a leisure pool is the major component bf. the community facility while other features include raquethall and squash courts, exercise and fitness rooms, kitchen facilities and meeting rooms. The complex, as show', would cost $.3.6 million in 1987 dollars. The consultants recommended a site adjacent to the high school as t4. most attractive and accessible for the proposed community recreation facility. ' Town employees receive increase An across-the-board pay increase of five per cent for municipal employees was ap- proved by Goderich Town Council at their Feb. 9 meeting. The majority of council approved the in- crease, the largest in several years, which adds about $82,000 to the town's total payroll of roughly $1,650,000. Wages to per- manent and casual employees, not in- cluding benefits, make up about 32 per cent or nearly one-third of the municipality's $5.2 million budget, said Adminstrator Tarry McCabe. "That still leaves a lot of money for pro - grains and services,"•! said McCabe, poin- ting out that a one-third expenditure for. wages is not particularly high for municipalities. While some members of council wanted to know how the five per cent figure was arrived at, others believed the increase justified. "I believe whole-heartedly that we will get this back in production from our employees." said Councillor Bill Clifford. • 1 agree that our employees are' doing a Council considers 3.5 per cent hike A proposed increase of 3.5 per cent in remuneration for members of Goderich Town Council was tabled, until the 1987 budget is discussed, by council at the Feb. 9 meeting. The proposed increase, would set the rate of remuneration for the reeve, deputy reeve and councillors at $4,625.08 per an- num and the rate for the mayor at $9;250.16 per annum. Also at the meeting, council passed a by- law setting the rate of remuneration for Police Commission meMbers at $''' +1 per annum and the rate for the Police Commis- sion Chairman at $1,050 per annum. good job, but the spread between those at the top of the (pay 1 scale and those at the bottom keeps getting wider," warned Councillor Jim Searls. EXECUTIVE EMPLOYEES The increase means the 1987 annual salaries, retroactive to ,Jan. 1, for the town's Executive Employees will be: Ad- ministrator Clerk -Treasurer, $47,721; Deputy Clerk Treasurer, $31,331.99;. Com- missionei& of Works, $44,161.79; Pollution Control Plant Manager, $32,283.77: Public Works Foreman, $:32,606.03; Arena Manager, $26,326.71; Airport Co-ordinator, $26,914.63; Marina Supervisor ( while Marina supervised), $23,021.47; Recrea- tion Director, $31,677.81; Program Super- visor, $22,943.63; Building Inspector — Secretary Committee . of Adjustment. $29,882.40; Parks- Supervisor, $26,914.63; Tourism Promoter, $27,300. GENERAL OFFICE Annual salaries for General Office Employees for 1987 are: Deputy Tax Col- lector, $22,574.74: Accounts Payable Clerk, $20,311.53; Secretary to Clerk -Treasurer, $20,31L53; Payroll C'lerk, $18,169.56; Secretary to Commissioner of Works, $17,706.29; Secretary to Recreation Direc- tor, $16,329.12. OUTSIDE EMPLOYEES Hourly rates for outside employees are: Pollution Control operator, $11.08;• Public Works Sub -Foreman, $11.61; Public Works Mechanic, $13.09; Laborer II, $10.47; Laborer T., $10;10; Operator, $11'.08; Arena IV and Harbor 1, $10.10; Custodian, $10.46; Bylaw Officer, $9,50; Arena Assistant 1, $10'.71. ' CASUAL EMPLOYEES Rates of pay for casual employees of.the town for 1987 are: Maitland Cemetery Sub - Foreman, $10.10 per hour; Parks Casual, $8.36; MacKay Hall Caretaker, $8.40; Library Caretaker, $6,517 per annum; Day Nursery Supervisor, $16,049.65 per term; Day Nursery Assistant, $13,845.52, per term; Traffic Control Guards, $21.79 pet day. There were only two exceptions to the general five per cent. increase. Both the Program Supervisor and the Deputy Clerk Treasurer received an iriCrease of $1,000 per year ;n addition to the percentage in- crease due to additional responsibilities in - their respective positions. Goderich hosts MEA meeting About 150 people are expected to attend the Municipal Electrical Association's i MEA, annual meeting to be hosted by the Goderich Public Utilies Commission r PUC) in September, PUC manager Evert Middel said at last week's commission meeting. Plans have been underway for the one- day meeting since last October. On January 20', Middel and PUC com- missioner Don McMillan rnet with MEA of- ficials to discuss locations for the meeting and activities. They presented their fin- dings at last week's meeting. -We gave a report to the MEA of 'local: arrangements for the September incetj,ng," Middel said. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m.° Maps of Goderich will be supplied by Robin Stuart, tourism • and industrial promoter. The meeting will be held at The Bedford Hotel and a dinner banquet.will be served at The Livery. Activities offered include a tour of the Domtar Sifto-Salt Mine, a tour of Cham- pion, golf at the Maitland Country Club, and for the ladies, a tour of Goderich, con ducted bj Robin Stuart, followed by a trip to 'l'he Old Mill in Blyth. Twenty-five persons will be able to enjoy the urine tour on a first-come, first serve basis. "We don't want people unneccessarily cdisappolnted, " said PUC commissioner I)r, Jim Peters, with regard to the number of people who could take the mine tour. Mayor Eileen Palmer noted that only 25 people could take the tour because there is "only one people carrier at the mine" and it seats only 25. - However, with regard to the mine tour, Mixidel said, "A lot can happen between now. and September as far as the. mine situation is .concerned." Those people who don't take the mine tour have a choice between touring; Cham- pion or•playing golf at the Country Club for' a ,special one -day fee of $5. . •The MEA holds•two meetings each year: a spring meeting and a fall , Annual Meeting.' This year's spring meeting, which Middel terms as "more technical 'than the Annual Meeting", is scheduled for April 20 in Waterloo. The Annual -Meeting, described as being concerned more with policies, is heIld1nrainl3'Ifor District 6 tom- missioners. District 6 is' comprised of PUC's fromGoderich to Kitchener - Waterloo, Guelph, Listowel, Palmerston and surrounding ,area. PUC to hire four students Once again this year,. the Goderich PUC r summ r students to do general duties. • Each ,year, the commission hires four university... college or high school students to assist the'utility during vacation periods. fors regular staff. Students hired to work for the, utility can stay.-for.onjy„ three years. The•,first students usually begin about the first of May., said PUC manager Evert, Middel. "'They do a little bit of everything,',' Mid - del said, explaining that the students do everything from general duties such as picking garbage up to helping out in the water, and line departments. Winter Weekend There was plenty of activity during the Snowblitz Winter Carnival this past weekend. ('overage of Snowpitch, Trivial Pursuit Tournament, and other activities, as well as the Big Brothers Bowl fir millions can he found inside. Hockey tournament The Goderich ()Id Deckhands will at- tempt to repeat as division champions as the team hosts it's annual three-day oldtimers hockey tournament here on the weekend, Details in the Sports section. Upcoming drama The Goderich Little Theatre is staging an challenging dramatic classic at the Livery beginning next Wednesday. See in- side this section for a preview of the event from the perspective of professional direc- tor Steve Ballantine.