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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-07-13, Page 1li Auctioneer Jack Riddell enticed over 100 registered bidders to produce more than $5,000 on the 130 items offered for sale at the. first Dream Auction at the Livery Saturday. The zany list of items catered to a variety of tastes and organizers are confident that next year's auction will be bigger and better. $photo by Dave Sykes) Bidders put up over $5,000 The bargains were plentiful and the items were unusual as the first Dream Auction was held at the Livery Saturday. More than 107 registered buyers bid on everything from clothes and art to weekend trips, maid and butler service, pay television, meals and a chance to toss a pie in the face of a local politician. The auction was, reasonably successful for a first effort and more than $5,000 was raised for, the Livery restoration fund. Special events chairman, Maria Metcalfe, called the one -day auction "very suc- cessful" and now that people have been exposed to the unusual auction, she expects next year's to be "much bigger and better." While the turnout may have been a bit disap- pointing, organizers realize that timing played a key role in the numbers. "Next year it may be a twilight auction and it should be at the beginning of the summer," Metcalfe said. "But we did well for the crowd we had and all the"people who donated items deserve thanks." While some items failed to attract Me attention of buyers, others commanded a big dollar. The maid and butler service offered by the Dempseys pulled in $104 and a year's subscription to pay television went for $190. The weekend for two package to Mackinac Island fetched $240 while a $100 bid won a weekend for two at the Little Inn in Bayfield. One bidder spent $125 for the chance at dinner aboard a lake freighter and the kid's birthday package, complete with clown, was a popular number. Ed Giesbrecht, representing town council, took a pie in the face for $7.50 and Dave Gower of the Goderich Police Commission commanded a hefty price tag of $10 for a pie. Emergncy fire call prop ;.sal on hold A proposal to have Goderichh's emergency fire calls answered and dispatched rxthrough the Huron Municipal Police Communications System has been put on hold pending further antestigation. Representatives from the foie county towns served by the communications system met at Goderich town hall last Wednesday to discusshe matter. While none of the other towns' representatives expressed an interest in having their fire calls put through the central police dispatch system, they stated their concerns regarding Goderich's intention to do so. These concerns centred around the system's ability to handle the extra calls; the fee structure for the new set-up; and the manner in which the Goderich Police Commission made the decision to implement the new set-up. Before making a final decision on the proposal therefore, it was agreed to compile data from each of the towns, including the number of fire calls and the number of police calls received as well as some of the characteristics of these calls. This data will be presented at another meeting of the representatives in October along with input from the Ontario Fire Marshall's office and the Ontario Police Commission. The Huron Municipal Police Communications System became operational in April of 1979, providing 24-hour dispatch service to the five Huron County municipalities of Goderich, Clinton, Exeter, Seaforth and Wingham—serving a population of over 19,000. This system is comprised of nine police cruisers and 14 poi -table radios amongst the five forces. It was installed with the provincial govern- ment paying 75 per cent of the costs and the five municipalities paying the rest on a per capita basis. On-going costs are also shared on a per capita basis. The system is housed in Goderich and manned by five dispatchers. In 1982, the 'total number of calls received by all five municipalities where police were dispatched by radio to the scene was 6,723. This is not the total number of radio transmissions made. No figure is kept of these but it is estimated at least 30,000. In addition, several. deed enquiries "which do not require police -ac 1 ife answered by the dispatchers each year. Ttie dispatchers also handle enquiries for the Canadian Policetlnformation Centre (CPIC) terminal in Ottawa. Goderich Fire Chief Bill Beacom estimates that there are about, 60 fire calls in Goderich per year, not including the "no alarm" or non -emergency calls. At present, these calls are answered by phones located in six of the firemen's homes. Ken Anderson, chief dispatcher for the police communications system, told the meeting that handling these additional fire calls would present a problem. "We don't expect an overload of calls but these things have a tendency to all happen at the same time," he said. He explained that at the present time, two to three calls get stacked up during the days while Friday and Saturday nights "it's a madhouse." He warned that police calls may take less priority after the dispatchers start handling fire calls. He also expressed his concern over the characteristics of these calls since many of the callers are often in an agitated state and unable to give the proper location of the fires. Wingham representative Jack Kopas said he felt more specific data was needed to ensure that the present system could aecommodate the fire call's, especially if the other towns decided to have their fire calls put through the police dispatch system at a future time. "We don't want a system that is going to disintegrate...we want to make sure its present'level is maintained," he said. Goderich Mayor Eileen Palmer said at the time the central police dispatch system was installed, she remembered being told it could handle police, fire and PUC calls. Clinton Police Chief Lloyd Westlake commented that maybe the equipment could handle the calls but "we don't know about the humans who have to handle the situation." Goderich Police Commission Chairman Alvin McGee said, "The information ive have learned here shows there is a larger workload .involved than we first thought. It could mean additional staff or equipment." He then suggested putting the whole matter "on hold" until further investigation. Seaforth representative Wayne Ellis told the meeting that Seaforth town council was "irate that Goderich would go ahead in the first place without checking with the rest of the towns." Ellis said, "If anything like this comes up in the future, it should be discussed before the fact and not after. The system is owned by all five municipalities and we didn't feel we were properly advised." He reminded those present that there was a communications committee which was suppose to look after such matters. This committee consists of the five police chiefs and mayors or representatives from each town.- - Chairman McGee pointed --out- that all:flame. municipalties had been •contacted about Goderich's fire call proposal and that none had expressed an interest. He admitted though that he had been on the Goderich Police Commission for a year before he knew that a communications committee ever existed. He suggested re -activating this committee and electing a chairman for it at the next meeting in October to prevent future problems. Goderich commission member Dave Gower told those present, "Perhaps the way we went about this matter was wrong. We have to develop a basic trust. All of a sudden it seems to have gone out the window here." Turn to page 2 The 4 +aelltuallL �i1G� weelt a Sq offering g, euier alnment,, The carnival at. nooxa 'Rol ly .7141),447 carry on through to aloaing Satu ay. i1: .;. mnidway will be located on The &quare andx,South Streets and motorists arethat section will be closed off to vebia thethree days. Kin Jima Hayter said Carter Shows"wi up the midway and new rides have been: melt d.. The mnidw.py wilt.feature var ous aides, ' games *treats as well as bingo,: The Kinsmen Club will operate its refreshment tent in Courthouse Park. Exeter withholds county taxes It would be a "nightmare" if every njuoteipojty followed Exeter's example and held back- alio` ini -: . Collected portion of Huron County's requisithin aa,ys county clerk -treasurer William Han1y. Mr. Hardy was referring to a notice received'b the - county indicating Exeter's decision to hold<.bac the - uncollected portion of taxes. The notice from Exeter was presented forltifonna- tion'at county coutcil's July 7 meeting. ti "The council of the County cannot do anything: I hope it doesn't extend to. many more municipt�ttes," commented Blyth Reeve Tom Cronin. , • - .•w, - The Town of Exeter previously sent a : sltnta resolution to the Huron County Board of Educatao,i Exeter Reeve Bill Mickle defended his councrrs ae- tion by stating the town doesn't want to prepayfe rte- quisition.to either the county or the board ofd ea • tion when it has not collected this amount frpm hea taxpayers. "We want to keep our financial position strong,:asit is now," saidReeve Mickle. He acknowledged the fact that the municipality will have to pay the same penalty as a ratepayer would be chargedfor being late. Stanley Township Reeve Paul Steckle criticized Exeter by saying withholding the uncollected portion does not serve any purpose. "The responsibility falls upon the local politician. We're empowered to collect taxes. This isshifting away from our powers," commented Reeve Steckle. Reeve Cronin commented that this situation would shorten unemployment. When askedto clarify, Reeve Cronin said, "It will make a lot of book work." Social service caseload decreases Something is going right for the social services caseload in Huron County. Statistics presented at the July 7 session of county council show 89 cases were closed during the month of May while ,only 38 were opened. This results in a decrease of 51 cases. The total number of cases in May was 163, compared to 118 a year ago. But, social services administrator John MacKin- non noted a new heading on the statistical sheet has been added, that of UIC exhaustec, which.shows only 12, people ut two4- ao�ming +imr n category. : . "Twelve people in the last two, months isn't that large a number of people," said M. . MacKinnon ad- ding he would keep council informed on the number of cases coming in as UIC exhaustees. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR •.. Recreation There was plenty of sports action this past week in the area and a number of items are featured on the Recreation page. Hully Gully hosted the Canadian Motocross Championships and Rod Hilts provides the coverage. Slowpitch, fastball, ball hockey and other minor sports news also appears on the sports pages in the second section. Play reviews Summer theatre continues to offer varied fare for theatre goers and this weeejc the Signal -Star offers reviews on The Return of the Curse of the Mummy's Revenge at the Playhouse II and Neil Simon's California Suite which is at the Huron Country Playhouse. Blind books Huron County Library system now has books for the blind, a new service offered at the Goderich head office. Joanne Buchanan has the story in the second section . i