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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1986-11-26, Page 1eric 138 YEAR - 48 GODERICH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1986 60 CENTS PER COPY "l. Councillors opposed to restriction An agreement between the Town of Goderich and Ontario Hydro could put $100,000 in the . town's coffers, but some members of town council are concerned about a stipulation that has been placed on the proposed payment. As compensation for problems created at the Goderich Airport by the proposed construction of a new Ontario Hydro power corridor throughout the area, the town would receive $100,000. toward the con- struction of a new airport runway. However, a letter from Donnelly and Mur- phy, lawyers representing the town in the matter, received at the Nov. 24 meeting of council indicated the agreement would contain a stipulation the money must be used within 10 years from the date of the decision. If the proposed runway is not built in that time period, the $100,000 plus accumulated interest would be returned to Ontario Hydro. The letter states the agreement has yet to be finalized by the Consolodated Hear- ing Board, before whom the lawyers ap- peared in Guelph recently to present the town's argument on the matter. The board has to be satisfied the settlement is in the public interest before granting approval. Goderich Administrator Larry McCabe pointed out that final approval is not ex- pected before Dec. 8. Counc. Bill Clifford was concerned because the lawyers had made no mention of the time restrictions at an earlier meeting. "I understood no strings were to be at- tached," agreed Counc. Jim Searls. Works Commissioner Ken Hunter, who is also secretary of the Goderich Airport ' Committee, explained the need for the new runway created by the proposed power lines is the sole reason the money was awarded. "If no runway is needed, the money is to be returned," he said. Mayor Eileen Palmer pointed out that Goderich was the only objector to receive any form of compensation for disruption caused by the proposed power corridor. If the town had not opposed the plan, Hydro lines would have been built in the air space over both the existing and the proposed new runways, said Hunter. A motion was made to receive and file the correspondence and notify the 'solicitors of council's objection to the pro - ,posed time restriction. "I feel we've already spent enough money with (lawyers) and got nothing in return," objected Searls. Mayor Palmer pointed_ out the town had managed to persuade Hydro to adopt an alternate route and to lower proposed lines in the vicinity of the airport. "I don't think it's fair to say we got nothing," she said. The motion was eventually passed, in- cluding the decision to register council's objection. The hearing board is also considering „ordering hearing cost's to be paid by iL4.•. Hydro. ...:,.:.::.....: .......:: ��>: i;::;t:::53?i.......ii5$e5i::;;.:rs'.'•:•rr.:i:i:::;:y;::ii•`. � i ............... Everyone loves a parade. Anne Schoemaker got all `wrapped up' in her part in the town's annual Santa Claus Parade Saturday as part of the Don Sowerby entry which won first prize in the Individucategory.The Victoria School float, Visions of Sugar Plums,won first place in its div Ion ahead of entries from Colborne and Robertson Schools. The most popular float wa the one containing Santa Claus and his helpers. Hundreds of people lined the parade route Saturday. (photos by, Dave Sykes) • 'Rat Pack' MP supports John Turner at meeting BY PATRICK RAFTIS • Don Boudria, federal Liberal member of parliament for Glengarry -Prescott - Russell urged support for party leader John Turner in an adress to the annual meeting of the Huron -Bruce Federal .Liberal Association in Holmesville on Nov. "20. Boudria, a member of the infamous group of rookie MPs dubbed the "Rat Pack" by the media, for their boisterous ,hounding of the government in the House of Commons said Turner has "earned our respect by being with us when times were tough." The Liberal leader is currently at- tempting to gather support to fend off calls from within the party for a review of his leadership at an upcoming convention. "There was a time back in October and November of 1984, when our party was pretty low in the polls," said Boudria, " .and I looked at my leader in the House of Commons and wondered, Why is he staying? "To be able to be a leader when the going gets difficult takes a very special person," said Boudria. "In my view, that's the kind of leader the people of Canada will want." Boudria called Turner "the best friend of the Liberal party," joking that Conser- vative Prime Minister Brian Mulroney is "a close second." He said the Liberal party was in the pro- cess of making "a great comeback," following a sound beating at the polls in the 1984 federal election. Likening the recent election results to the party's similar col- lapse in the 1958 electi'bns, Boudria said on both occasions the party was "severely wounded." "Sometimes a government that has been in power a long time can become so busy governing, that you start to forget about - the people you've been governing for," Boudria offered as an explaination for the party's poor showing in the last general election. However, he pointed to Liberal victories in by-elections in the fall of 1984 and the popularity of the provincial Liberal minority government, as signs that the party was regaining support. Boudria voiced disappointment that the focus of the upcoming national convention Turn to page 2 Farmers get extra aid package The provincial Ministry of Agriculture and Food has announced Ontario farmers will get an extra $100 million over three years to compensate them for low Com- modity prices and losses caused by ex- tremely wet weather this past summer and fall. Agriculture Minster Jack Ridddefl also announced Monday, an existing interest rate reduction program will be extended to cover more farmers — including some with a net worth of $1 million or more. He said the government action is a signal to banks and other private lenders the province is willing to help farmers thorugh a difficult time. Bankers, he said, have privately assured him they will follow the government's lead. Riddell said he's pouring more money into an existing program called the On- tario Family Farm Interest Rate Reduc tion program (OFFIRR). OFFIRR was orginally supposed to pay out $150 million during the next three years, but Riddell said $240 million will now be available. A special $10 million package is now be- ing set up to help thousands of farmers hit by unusually bad weather this year. Asked why taxpayers should be suppor- ting farmers worth $1 million or more, Riddell said many of these farmers are taking drastic measures to reduce their own debt, such as selling off farm land. He also noted farmers have traditionally been cash poor in that, despite a high net worth, their farms don't always generate a lot of income. Riddell estimated about 18,000 farmers will be eligible for the reduced interest rate program and about 3,000 to 4,000 will get assistance for weather damage. The plan covers only farmers who lost 30 per cent or more of their crop to bad weather. Day care costs would be $20 per day says report. A municipal day care operation in Goderich would need to charge fees rang- ing from $19 to $21 per child per day in order to be feasible, says a report compil- ed by Town administrator Larry McCabe. The report, which Mr. McCabe was directed to compile at the Nov. 10 meeting of Goderich Town Council, was presented to council at their Nov. 24 meeting. Council passed a motion to receive the report and to send copies to any interested citizens, such as the Parents for Daycare Committee. Debbie Selkirk, a representative of the daycare committee asked council to "fur- ther look into the situation ba:,cd on the tr. report and see if a municipal day care cen- tre is still feasible." Counc. Bill Clifford said the issue now is Whether the parents believe. it is feasible for them to participate in day core, in view of the estimated costs per child. • "I think we're all willing to. pay more money. Some of us might fall under the needs test and be eligible (for financial assistance) but we would certainly like to see the report," replied Selkirk. The report indicates the government still has $55,100 in ea pitai funds available for .God'erieh lre . resentin an e p k 50 per OM renovation grant to the existing day "nursery facility. In previous reports it has been estimated the gross expenditure to operate day care would be $150,000 with an estimated full enrollment of 32 children. McCabe Said checks With the ministry and with other mutticipali fes indicate only about an 85 per cent occupancy rate can be expected. Based on these figures, an estimated 7,180 "units of care" would be heeded to. operate the facility. Dividing $150,000 by 7,180 units of care results in the estimated pdiem cost of $20.00, Por a family with o... Child in day bare, the cost would prnldmatelh $5,000 per year ani 00`0. children, roughly $10,000 per year. s ..the report also exploit* that no matter what income level the municipality sets as a cut-off mark for the needs test, the Ministry of Community and Social Ser- vices will not allow a reimbursement on a need basis . for anyone Who has quid. assets in"ekeess of $55,000.Other assistarlee programs, such As welfare, have the same stipulation on liquid assets, the r report notes. If, 'under the needs test, a family did qualify for assistance, their day care fees would be paid on an 80 to 20 per cent ratio b $.Wee• the ministry and the i l+eWci.pioat fll fs are expected to qualify for `assistance under the current set-up. Bizier serious Production returned to normal this week at the Domtar Sifto-Salt mine, 10 days after a methane -gas explosion injured one worker and forced thb closure of the Ulb:in lyCvw:SnCi .....• Mine manager Gaston Brousseau said that employees reported back to work mid- night Sunday and that the mine was back in full production. During the closure of the mine, some employees were laid off while others took vacation, the manager said. Only about 65 per cent of the work force was active dur- ing the shutdown. Dan Bizier, the employee injured when the explosion of methan gas rocked the mine Thursday, Nov. 13, remains in Vic- toria Hospital London but his condition has been upgraded to serious and he has been transferred to the hospital's burn unit. Bizier was burned in a flash fire and ex- plosion when he was inspecting a new area of the mine. Leave granted. Councillor Stan Profit has been granted an extension of his leave of absence by Goderich Town Council. Profit, who has missed all council meetings in September, October and November due to illness is ex- pected to return to his seat in the new year. A council member's seat is automatical- ly declared vacant after missing meetings in three consecutive months, unless coun- cil passes a special motion allowing an ex- tended leave. Council passed the motion granting the leave, following an in -camera session at the Nov. 24 council meeting. Profit is ex- pected to resume his seat on or before the first regularly scheduled council meeting in January, 1987. Prevent thefts A rash of thefts from unattended automobiles has prompted Goerich Police Chief Pat Kingto warn residents about the dangers of unlocked cars. Chief King said the number of thefts of items from unlocked cars is on the in- crease and suggested that with people do- ing more shopping for Christmas, cars should always be locked. Even cars in driveways have been targets of audacious thieves, he noted. "People should remember to always lock their cars, especially if there are Christmas presents inside," he suggested. "We have had a lot of theft this year and people would be advised to lock things in the trunk, including groceries." Park lights up That special seasonal glow which ap- pears at Christmas time will actually be visible on Friday evening, Nov. 28, when all the lights are turned on in •Court House park for the Christmas Lights Festival. r.;: to Rmk aiTiiyA, = ►tA i sAkthe, South street entrance to the Court House will be followed by the tree lighting ceremony at 7:30 p.m. in °the same.loca- tion. The program includes the firing -of a cannon by the Royal Canadian Naval Association, Huron County Branch to signal the opening of the light festival. Choral performances by the Robertson Memorial Public School Choir and the Goderich District Collegiate Institute Jazz Choir will also be a feature of the event. For additional information, contact the Goderich Tourism Office, 524-6600. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Sailors defeated 5®1 In Friday night Junior C hockey, the Goderich Sailors were defeated by the Walkerton Blackhawks at the Goderich arena. The Blackhawks won with a score of 5-1. For a story and pictures of the game, see the Sports section. Santa came to town Santa came to Goderich on Saturday afternoon for the annual Goderich Christmas Parade sponsored by the Goderich Recreation Department. The bands, floats and, of course, Santa delighted young and old alike. For pictures of the parade, see the front page of the Community section. Lung program A better breathing program for persons afflicted by chronic lung disease is current- ly underway at the hospital for the first time. The program, sponsored by The Lung Association of Huron -Perth County, was designed to make people aware of their disease and how to cope with it. For a pic- ture and story on the program, see inside the front section. •