HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1982-06-16, Page 1.the
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GODERICH, ONTAR , D]ESDJY, JUNE 16,1982
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Finances put snag in expansion plans
The taxpayers of Goderich may have to finance the
expansion of the water distribution system to the tune
of $1 million but members of town council and the
PUC couldn't agree on how to approach the people for
that money.
The groups did agree that . the present water
distribution facilities were inadequate but the con-
struction of a new water reservoir and the upgrading
and automation of the water filtration plant will cost
$1.8 million. The provincial government is willing to
pump over $700,000 into the project, leaving the town
with a bill over $1 million.
The task of improving the water distribution
system m town nas been with council and the PUC for
several years. The Ministry of the Environment,
owner of the water filtration plant, has urged the
town to improve the facility and also assume
responsibility for its operation.
The PUC is quite infavor of ,taking over the plant
from the ministry and financing the improvements
through a debenture. Members of council had some
reservations on the. benefits to the town for assuming
control of the plant and the methods of financing the
$1 million worth off construction needed to update the
system.'
There was general agreement that the town needs
to improve the water distribution system. The
system, according to PUC manager Al Lawson, is
designed to produce 1.5 million gallons: per -day but
has the capacity to produce three million gallons per
day. During peak usage periods in the summer,
residents are using three million gallons, leaving
little, if any, water for fire fighting.
A report prepared for and commissioned by the
PUC, by engineer E. Allen Ladbrooke, suggests the
town should immediately proceed with the takeover
and upgrading of the water distribution system.
Despite the fact the capacity of the plant would be
doubled, Ladbrooke insisted the town would realize
Candy floss and a ride on the elephant were two of
the attractions for children who visited the Martin
and Downs Circus in Goderich on Saturday_ The
circus' visit to town was sponsored by the Goderich
Rotary Club. There were two shows under the big
top featuring animal acts, juggling and acrobatics.
f Photos by Joanne Buchanan)
Board .will study fesibi1ity of moving
Grades 7 and. 8 to Victoria School
The Huron County Board of Education received a
proposal from a group of Goderich residents who
presented a petition with 188 signatures on it, asking
the board to look into' the possibility of setting up
classroom space at Victoria School for grade seven
and eight students now presently attending Rober-
tson Public School.
According to Roy Straughan, a spokesman for the
group, the parents feel that their children should not
have to walk the additional distance to Robertson if
students now attending Victoria could continue at the
school at a grade seven and eight level_
At the present time students who will be going into
grade seven have to go to Robertson after completing
grade sit.
The group also expressed concern that their
children might have difficulty integrating into the
Robertson school system and that Robertson students
discriminated against students from Victoria.
"I would.really question .any. discrimination and 1
have never seen any indication of discrimination at
the school, said Robertson principal, Ralph Smith,
in a telephone interview with the Signal -Star.
Sinith saki that the group should contact him with
any problems they feel their children "Might en-
counter at his school. He also expressed'support for
the proposal if it will cut down- the distance the
students have to travel. r
The group told the board that some of the parents
had noticed a drop in the student's marks after they
started attending Robertson Smith said that if that is
the fact then it is because the students are not doing
their work.
Some parents have expressed that they will send
their children to Holmesville i(f.sl,ace is not provided
at Victoria.
School superintendent, John Cochrane, told the
group that students could not be transferred to any
school in Huron County unless special permission was,
granted by the School Board under provisions in the
Edircation Alct.
The group told the board that there are several
possibilities to free space already in use at Victoria
for grade Seven and eigtnt classes_
The one proposal was to move the home economics
and technical classes now being used by several area
schools at Victoria to make room for the new classes.
Several board members told the group of the dif-
ficulties' involved. in such a move because these
classrooms are generally larger to accommodate ap-
pliances and machines and that the equipment would
not fit into a normal size classroom_
Another proposal offered by the group was the
possibility of moving students of Queen Elizabeth
School to Robertson, although the group
acknowledged that such a move was not favorable.
The group told the board that if grade seven and
eight students were moved to Victoria they would
have to make extensive use of the Public Library
before a new library could be set up at the school.
An agreement was reached between the group and
the board to set up a committee to look into the
feasibility of such a move for the beginning of Sep-"
tember 1983. The committee in matting its recom-
mendations to the board for final approval will have
to look at a number of issues involved.
'Riese will include boundaries, number of children,
projected school. enrollment, east and other factors.
However. it was evident at the meeting that the
petition has wide support from the board, parents and
school principals. •
Extra taxes to cost board
of education 75;000 a year
BY STEPHANIE LEVESQUE
• CLINTON - The recent provincial budget will cost
the Huron County Board of Education at Least $75.000
more than it had budgeted for 1982.
Director of education John Cochrane explained the
implications of the new budget to the board .at its
June 1 meeting. OHIP, sales tax on school suipplies.
building material sales tax, capital equipment and
labor costs are all costs the board has to pay.
A resolution from the Ffatdimand-Norfolk Separate
School Board protesting the seven per cent sales tax
on school supplies was endorsed by the Huron board.
A list of'the financial impacts 'lathe board will be sent
along with the resolution to the Ontario Public School
Trustees' Association.
Trustee John Elliott said the OPSTA had received a
similar resolution from the London Board of Educa-
tion, supported it and forwarded it to the Ontario
Trustees" Council.
There are two choices open to the board. one is to go
over budget and the other is to cut tine quantity of sup-
plies and services. Superintendent Robert Allen said
the•.bnard would probably end up doing both, cutting
down on the purchase of capital equipment and go
over budget in the area of school supplies.
The increase in OHIP premiums will mean an op,
proximate extra cost of $30.000 during the balance of
1982. 's •
The provincial sales tax on school supplies such as
paper and pencils is estimated to cost about $14.500
during the rest of the year.
The building material, sales tat is expected to cost
the board in excess of $20,000 for such! things as roof-
ing projects. The new tax on capital equipment is ex-
pected to reduce the board's purchasing power by
over $7,000.
Labor costs, which are now taxable in certain
cases, will increase costs to the board, but no dollar
valise has yet been put on this cost. The board awaits
clarification:on this matter..
savings through automation, which would eliminate
the need for two employees.
While the ministry has encouraged municipalities
to assume control of filtration plants, Ladbrooke
admitted the savings were meagre, if possible. His
report stated that the general public believes it has
more control over its affairs when servicing is under
the control of elected representatives.
The snag is financing the $1 million project but the
PUC is willing to produce the payments from water
rates. PUC member Herb Murphy said the costs must
be redeemed from revenues or the sale of water to
customers. He added that the utility is putting $38,000
into a reserve account annually and at the end of 1982
the account will have approximately $180,000.
The town has to apply for a debenture on behalf of
the PUC and a report submitted by administrator
Larry McCabe indicated annual payments on the $1
million debenture would range from at least
$150,000 to over $200,000 annually, depending on the
terms and interest rates.
The PUC believes the payments can be met by the
$38,000 reserve fund coupled with an average $27
increase per year to residential users. Water bills for
Goderich residents are already among the highest in
the province.
While the Ministry has not made notification of
grant approval for the project, PUC members in-
dicated such approval has been received verbally.
Written approval, they said, would be forthcoming at
any time.
Murphy told council that financing was obviously
the major concern but pointed out that in the last 12
years the town has built a pollution control plant and
subsequently expanded that same plant. Councillor
Stan Profit said the expansion should not be
recovered solely from water rates and insisted the
two groups must derive the best method to gather
funds. "The reserve fund is a good idea," he said.
Commission chairman, Albert Shore, intimated the
financing of the project should be left to the PUC.
"The question is, does the town want to give us a
debenture?" he asked. "We've proved we can pay for
it" He said later that the coli,mission was not asking
the town for money and that the PUC would pay for
the project.
Deputy -reeve Bob Allen said no-one was
questioning .the need for improved water distribution
capabilities but cautioned members on the Cost.
"We must be careful and look at what we can af-
ford," he said. "Once we're into something it's for
keeps and I'm concerned about the payments."
Elsa Haydon substantiated Allen's statements
saying the question of need was evident adding that
financing should be scrutinized closely.
"I am against a debenture because we can't place
further heavy burdens on the taxpayer," she said.
"The town hasn't grown, there are no new industries,
why are we pushed for expansion now. Why can't we
wait and look at the financing."
Murphy conceded there was no great emergency
adding that six to eight years of planning and work
would culminate in the next 18 months with the ex-
pansion
xpansion process.
"We've gone through the exercises and answered
all the questions except financing, he said. "If we
are not in a position to accept grants this year we
could move down the list. If there is one major fire or
a breakdown, we're in a bind."
Commissioner Jim , Peters told council that if
grants from the ministry are not accepted this year,
the town would wait 10 years for another grant ap-
proval_ Reeve Don Wheeler took exception to the
comments and said the ministry would certainly
understand if the municipality needed more time
before making a committment to the $1 million ex-
pansion.
The town has survived with the limited capabilities
of the system by imposing water restrictions and
councillor Jim Searis suggested restrictive measures
could be imposed until the financial details were
worker out.
"We definitely need water storage but, perhaps, we
could restrict the use of water more and we'd have a
chance to look at all the angles," he said. "We have to
know where the money is coming. from. People are ,
taxed to the ears now."
Both council and the PUC will review methods of
financing the project before holding another joint
meeting on the project.
•
Education program
will be costly
CLINTON - Special education iii Huron County will
'Cost $1.84'7,000 in 1982
Figures on the cost of special education and
. revenue from the Ministry of Education were
presented to the Huron County Board of Education at
its June 7 meeting.
A.treviots denting, trustees asked to receive a
written clarification of special education funding.
The Iocal share of the costs is $499,531, with the
Ministry picking up the remaining $1,347,469_ There
are several different grant structures for special
education funding. The board receives $125 per
elementary student and $90per secondary student.
Trustee Marion Zinn asked how much ,theLocal
share would be if Bill 82 ( the special education
artiendinent to the Education Act) hadn't been in-
troduced. Superintendent of program Robert McCall
pointed to figures showing the Ministry would have
paid $659,144 while the tocal share would have been
$1,847,000.
Expenditures in: the school program include:
salaries and benefits for teachers, $1,196,931: salaries
and benefits for teacher aides, $97,941:- bill 82 irin-
pletnentation, $18,985; staff improver rent, $3,423:
formula allocation, $12,830; for a total of @1,330,110.
Expenditures for support services `(student ser-
vices department) include: salaries and benefits,
$484,190; general supplies, $13,600; itinerant travel
$17,7(10; staff improvement, $'1,400. Tire total is
8516,890.
Accident victim
dies in hospital
Mrs. Ann Obrovac, 30, of Hamilton, one of five
worm pickers injured by a car near Auburn early last
Tuesday morning, died the following day in
University Hospital, London. Driver of the car,
Doreen Jefferson, 19, of R.R. 1 Belgrave, has been.
charged with careless driving.
Miriana Nikolic, 31, of Stoney Creek is in fair
condition In a Hamilton hospital with two broken legs
and Milena Kresina, 30, of Hamilton is in fair con-
dition in Wingham hospital. Slobodan Nikolic, 37, of
Stoney Creek, Dragon Nikolic, 31, of Hamilton and
Jefferson were treated for minor injuries and
released. --
The Goderich Detachment of the OPP, which is still
investigating, say the accident occurred on Huron
County Road 22 about 11 kilometres north of Auburn
at 3:25 a.m. Tuesday. The injured persons were part
of a group loading dew worms into two parked vans
on the west side of the road when a southbound car
driven by Jefferson slid sideways into the rear of one
van,, sending it crashing into the other. Obrovac was
caught between the Jefferson vehicle and the back of
one of the vans.
Ministry requests
landfill testing
The Ministry of the Environment has asked that
further testing be done at the Holmesville land fill site
to determine if there is contamination at the site.
The land fill site committee reluctantly agreed to
the request by the Ministry despite the fact that
similar testing was completed in 1981". However, the
Ministry hydrogeologist is not satisfied that there is
sufficient data to determine what the future con-
tamination of the site may be.
While the committee was hesitantlo undertake new
studies of the area, they felt there was little recourse
but to comply with the Ministry's demand. Sul>
sequently, the committee passed a motion
authorizing the firm of Ian D. Wilson Associates
Limited to proceed with testing.
Testing of the land fill site will cost $6,000 for
drilling, engineering, sampling and supervision. The
work will include the drilling of four new test wells,
sampling of seven shallow wells in the community of
Holmesville, resampling of the creek to the east of the
land fill site and survey levelling.
The committee has also asked that the consultant
make a recommendation on the utilization of the
eastern side of the site..
The committee also recommended the acceptance
of an agreement with George Laois for the land fill
site, in the amount of $170,000. The town of Goderich
will bill participating municipalities on a quarterly'
basis and payments will be made by the town every
three months.
Film depicts
farming in county
ETHE,L - Broken Dreams is two Humber College
graduates' attempt at explaining farmers to city
folks.
Broken Dreams - is a 15 -minute movie featuring
• farmers from Bruce and Huron counties talking
about the economic difficulties they face. It was
shown ;at the monthly meeting of the Huron County
Federation of Agriculture on June 3. •
Dave Ransley,Ahe movie's director, was on hand
for the showing, and gave credit to his absent part-
. ner, cameraman Mark Matthews. Both live in Toron-
to now, but Mr. Ransley said his parents live in Bruce
County, explaining the reason for the location of the
film.
Wanting to produce something meaningful for a
project for their college film -making program, the
two' students chose the topic of farming. They started
at an OFA task force hearing held last fall in Hanover
by making contacts with farmers and the first print
of the movie was completed in April.
Film makers, not distributors, the two men. have
attempted to have the film shown on national televi-
sion. It has been shown to the National Film Board,
CBC, W5, Global, the Optario Pork ' Producers
Marketing. Board and the Ontario Federation of
Agriculture. Global said it is not interested, but W5
bought a two -minute clip from the Movie on Bruce
County pork producer Brian Ireland.
Other area people in the movie are Gisele Ireland,
Clarence Ackert, Bev Brown, Jean Moorley and
Lloyd Hutton.
As a result of the film, the two men produced a 10 -
minute segment on farm consultants for CBC's Coun-
try Canada. The two will show Broken Dreams to any
interested group.
1NOIDET
SIGNAL -STAR
B ll. tournament
The Goderich Women's Fastball League held their
second annual fastball tournament over the weekend.
For a wrap-up of the events turn to the Recreation
section of the paper.
Sports history
Linda Reid made sports history for the town of
Goderich over the weekend when she took two gold
medals in,the Special Olympics Swimming Cham-
pionship. Her story is on the front page of the
Recreation section.