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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1981-07-15, Page 16 the deric NAL by 133 YEAR -28 WEDNESDAY, JULY 15, 1981 50 CENTS PER COPY r Townships ai'' ICU fund drive Colborne Township council has agreed to support the-fund-ra.sg• campaignfor the construction of a new intensive Care unit at Alexandra Marine and Genera 1 Hospital. At its last regular monthly meeting, Colborne Township council entertained a delegation from the cund-raising committee that included hospital board members Bob Dempsey and Doug McNeil. The two represented the campaign committee and explained cost figures and cost-sharing,formul,as that indicated the township's share would amount to $12,200. Council considered the request and later in the meeting .passed a resolution approving the payment of 1.12.200 for thepro jest over a two-year period. Turn to page 5 e etition calls for tent s an Citizens lodge complaint about beer tents in Harbor Park BY DAVE SYS Local residents will have a chance to toss in their two cents worth about beer tents and music festivals when council calls a. public meeting to gather infor- a !nation on the subject. At its regular meeting Monday, council decided to call for a public meeting on the issue of beer tents, festivals and related matters, subsequent to receiv- ing a petition from a group of citizens who complain- ed about the noise from the Optimist Club's recent music festival in Harbor Park. The petition asked council to ban beer tents and any outdoor licenced area set aside for the purpose of con- suming alcoholic beverages, especially in a residen- tial area. The petition said the ban was to include the Optimist Club's Music Festival in Harbor Park because it created: undue noise, unruly behaviour, loud music, traffic congestion in the area and the petitioners claimed the music did not stop at specified times. Spokesman for the more than 70 petitioners, Nor - „.4 man Leddy told council that Harbor Park was not the proper place for such a festival. "For three nights I didn't get sleep. There were people on my lawn and I know more people had the same problem,” he said. "I just as soon it (the music festival) wasn't there." Following Leddy's comments, council quickly laun- ched into a heated debate and councillor Jim Searls ° said the people had a right to complain. Bob and Connie Radunske of New Hamburg both ran in Goderich's third annual 10 km Classic Road Race and Fun Run held Saturday. And because they were mighty thirsty when they completed the race, they lined up for a drink of water from the hose at town 11r.r�_ hall. Their 16 -month-old daughter Rachel decided she should have a drink too. Even though she didn't run the race, it was hard work waiting around for mom and dad. ( Photo by Joanne Buchanan) English buses could provide'tours There could be a touch of old England rambling through the streets of Goderich if a local en- trepreneur can obtain clearance to run double -deck bus tours in town,. Mr. R. Stevenson of R.R. 4 Goderich approached council Monday to discuss the* feasibility of establishing double -deck bus tours in town during the summer. He has purchased 'two English buses and while they are not in running condition now, he said, they would be made road worthy if council endorsed his proposal. "I have two English double deck buses and would like to run tours Friday, Saturday and Sunday;" he said. "The tourist committee is favorable to the idea but I want to find out the regulations," Tourist committee chairman, Doug Bundy, said his committee was agreeable to the bus tour business. "The tourist committee is agreeable t� the business because many 'people visiting the tourist booth ask ,for such tours," he said. ° • Council agreed with the proposal in principle and Mr. Stevenson will work out details with the town clerk . in order to conform to all bylaws and transportation requirements. • "I agree with the taxpayers. If it was in my backyard I would object," he said. "It is getting to the stage where service clubs have to come up with a way of raising money other than beer tents. Beer tents are nice and quick and make money but the Lions set a good example with their barbecue and breakfast. Let's set up a committee to look at beer tents because everyone has a right to privacy." While the petition was endorsed by 73 people, some of whom live out of town, councillor John Doherty said it didn't reflect the attitudes of all taxpayers. • "There are 73 names on the petition and some are from out of town," he said. "There were over 3,000 who paid to get in to the festival and enjoy it." Searls said that statement was ridiculous adding that "if it's not in my backyard I won't complain either." Councillor Glen Carey opposed any quick reactions and decisions to the petition and related problems, claiming the matter deserved lengthy consideration. "I oppose dealing with the matter tonight because it deserves attention . and consideration," he said. "There is a major possibility we might want to move the location but we should set up a committee and hold public meetings." Elsa Haydon said the festival location was un- suitable but claimed council's responsibility was, to take a stand on the matter and not merely suggest. She agreed the.matter should be fully investigated. The text of the citizen petition asked for a ban on beer tents and councillor Stan Profit said a total ban was not the answer.* "Let's talk and find out what the problems are and if Harbor Park is unsuitable then maybe we can have it somewhere else," he said. Reeve Don Wheeler endorsed a decision to hold public meetings to get input from several sources. "Council should devise guidelines .on these ac- tivities," he said. "They were always treated on an individual basis." Speaking on behalf of the Optimist Club, Bill Wedlock said the club complied with all local regula- tions before staging their major fund-raising event of the year. - "We tried to concur with every department but it turns into a yearly question and answer period and is really a scrutiny of the Optimist Club," he said. "Sun- day we paid a band $500 not to play because we ran in- to problems. We just asked for a little leniency but are trying to concur in every way. We also tried to keep the noise down this year." Wedlock said the club would be in favor of a deci- sion on the matter, even if it meant relocation. "The Optimists are in favor of a decision but we just want to know," -he said. "We would be in favor of relocating." Cot ncil has not set a date for the public meeting but will be seeking input from taxpayers and service club representatives. Council agrees to pledge 533,000 for hospital. ICU building fund Goderich town council gave the Intensive Care Unit Building Fund Campaign -a boost with a pledge of $33,000,in the 1982 budget. Recently the board ,of governors o Alexandra Marine and General Hospital announced plans td ex- pand the ;hospital with a 2,400 square foot addition to be used as a four -bed intensive care unit. The cost of the project is estimated at $495,000 and while the Pro- . vincial Government has endorsed the project, it has._ not committed any funding. The board has allocated $245,000 to the project from reserve funds and has launched a fund-raising cam- paign to raise the remaining $250,000. Spokesman for the Campaign committee, Iain :the present intensive care facility is "woefully inade-` quateandinefficient " The existing, intensive care unit of the hospital is a ' 432square foot converted ward with four beds located amongst the necessary equipment. . "The acceptable standard is 300 square feet.per bed and we have 432 square feet for four beds and second-• hand equipment," Bain said. "It is a serious situa- • tion." . The new unit will contain four beds for intensive care and three other active care bedrooms of various sizes that will permit the expansion of certain depart- ments, aid the relocation of the ,pediatric ward. The building will cost $375,000, while architectural fees Bain explained that the committee is seeking- $250,000111 eeking y $250,000.in pledges and that a target of $60,000 was set • for local government. Since 56 per cent of the patients using the hospital were from Goderich, Bain said the tows i would be asked for 56 per cent of the $60,000 target or $33,000. The intensive care unit is expected to be opera- tional by September 1982 but pledges can cover a three-year period to 1983. Council agreed to donate the $33,000 to the intensive care building fund and could make the money available in the 1982 budget. The • committee has already received $60,000 in •pledges from the coin- - • lu 1 munity and neighbouring governments have made Bain, told council that there is a real problem in that are estimated at $35,000 and equipment at $85,000. • • additional pledges. Drivers don't yield to :emergency vehicles Constable Eric Gosse of the Goderich Detachment Of the Ontario Prgvincial Police says there is indeed a problem. in Huron County with drivers who joist don't obey the Highway Traffic Act where . emergency vehicles are concerned. Constable Gosse says that ambulances, fire trucks, police cruisers and any public utility emergency vehic le are granted the right -of way when their bells or sirens are sounding ore their roof lights are Clashing. Traffic must pull over and stop, whether the emergency vehicle is approaching from in front or behind. That's the law. Section 106i 11 of the Highway Traffic Act reads thus: The recent spell of heat and humidity has made the Goderich was cooling off Wednesday and found that water after much effort and was able to cool beach a haven for people seeking to escape the her inner tube was just a lithe too bulky to manoeuvre off ( Photo by Dave Sykes) present hot spell. Melissa Porter, 3, of R.R. 2 around the sand. She eventually got it down to the r "The driver of a vehicle, upon the approach of an ambulance, fire or police department vehicle or public utility emergency vehicle upon which a bell or a siren is sounding or upon which a lamp located on the roof of the vehicle is producing intermittent flashes of red light, shall imrnediately bring such vehicle to a standstill, , i a as near as is practicable to the right-hand curb or edge of the raodway and parallel. therewith and clear of any intersection; or i b► when on a roadway having more than two lanes ,for traffic and designated for the use of one-way traffic; as near as is. practicable to the nearest curb or edge of the roadway end parallel therewith and clear of any intersection. • c ► No driver of a vehicle shall -follow a fire department vehicle when responding to an alarm at a distance of less than 150 metres." PICC workers reject offer Contract negotiations between the Goderich Public Utilities Commission and members of CUPE Local 2478, broke off last week and the union has applied for conciliation. Gord MacDonald, London CUPE representative, said the union was certified in January 1981 and embraces 14 employees in Goderich. Negotiations between the sides began in February but they were unable to reach a first agreement when talks broke off last week. The 14 unionized employees include t'UC office staff, linesman, meter readers and water works employees. Prior to a break in negotiations, PUC manager Al Lawson said the employees were offered 9.3 per cent in the first y ear and 8 per cent in the second year of a, two-year agreement. The wage package also in- cluded a cost of Jiving allowance clause in the second year that called for 1. Per cent increase for each 1 per cent increase in •tlie"'consumer price index over 8 per cent to a maximum of three per cent. On Monday, the PUC received notice that the anion had applied to the Ministry for conciliation and Lawson said there would be no reply to the, ap- plication. After five days a conciliation officer will be appointed. Lawson said the PUC presented a proposal to the union and that some- of the provisions were ac- ceptable. • "We presented a counter proposal last Tuesday and sa5me of the provisions were accepted by the union and others weren't," he said. "The proposal is in line with other small utilities in towns our size." The fine set by the courts for violation of any part of this section of the Highway Traffic Act is $28.00 says Constable Goss. ;Motorists are reminded these regulations are designed for tfie safety and protection of everyone. ri f«i INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Slowpitch tourney There was plenty of slowpitch action in town this weekend as the Goderich Men's Slowpitch League hosted its third annual tournament: Forty • teams participated in the three-day affair with the Mitchell BPs win- ning the A division championship. Stories and' pictures appea r on the Sports Pages. im Blyth Festival The second Blyth Festival summer production, Love or Money doesn't answer the question," what happened to Ambrose Small?, but it does provide plenty of intrigue and guesswork. Joanne Buchanan has the review for readers on Page IA. Fun run While slowpitch action was contained to Agriculture Park, hundreds of runners participated in the Gbderich 10 km Fun Run. Despite the heat most runners made their way through the streets of Goderich to weleoine finish- at town hall: More details appear on the Sports Pages. fi Z 8