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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1987-12-09, Page 1Gthteric 139 YEAR — 49 GODERICH ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1987 60 CENTS PER COPY Poll response favors aquatic plan Respondents to the The Goderich Signal - Star Aquatic Centre poll were almost two - to -one in favor of construction of a municipal aquatic recreation complex in town. The poll, in the form of a clip -out ballot published in two consecutive issues of the paper, ran from Nov. 25 to Dec. 7 and at- tracted a total of 215 replies. Respondents were asked to check one of two boxes, either, "YES – I belieVe Goderich needs a municipal aquatic recreation centre and I would be willing to support such a facility through tax dollars," or "NO – I do not believe Goderich needs a municipal aquatic recreation centre and I would not be willing to support such a facility through tax dollars." The final tally was 142 "YES" – 73 "NO". The method of polling was unscientific and respondents were not asked for signatures (though a number of signed ballots were received), nor any informa- tion on their financial status, number of family members, or whether or not they pay taxes in town. However, judging by the comments pro- vided, those who did fill out a ballot generally had very strong feelings on the issue one way or another, as the following sampling of commentary indicates. "Tired of driving to Clinton (Vanastra) with my family to have a swim in the winter". "As newcomers to town, we were sur- prised that there was no recreational facility for the public in Goderich. We would like to have a facility to take our family throughout the year". vans. "A centre such as this would help draw people to this area as well as provide them with an incentive to remain in this area". "Goderich has needed an aquatic centre for years. It will be good for young and old." "I would much rather have an indoor aquatic pool that I can use all year round, rather than two short months of the summer". "It's time for Goderich to join the 20th Century and provide facilities for recrea- tional use". "There is too much accent on baseball and hockey in Goderich. Many people love to swim and lots of people of all ages would use the aquatic centre". "I feel it's tragic that Goderich is giving up a chance to give our young people a place to go instead of 'hanging around,' Wearing his chain of office for the first time Huron County's newly -acclaimed Warden Robert M. Bell, reeve of Tuckersmith Township, accepts the symbolic key to the county from outgoing Warden Brian McBurney at Huron County Council's inau: ral meeting, held at the Huron County Courthouse, Goderich, Tues- day afternoon. - Bell, the sole nominee for the position was unanimously acclaimed by council. (photo by Patrick Raftis) ......Jaa:ATESCF2191.1.14t WOMAN. Huron County to fund museum project Huron County Council has agreed to financially support the Huron County Pioneer Museum project until the museum committee receives a decision on its ap- plication for a federal government grant. Following a lengthy discussion at its regular December session, council decid- ed to provide interim financing for the pro- ject through the early release of funds which the county has already committed to the project. At the same time, council also informed Project Director Claus Breede that there will be no more new spending and that a freeze has been placed on the project's $10,000 contingency fund. The long delay in approving the federal grant has resolved in a shortfall of about $300,000 even though the project is slightly ahead of schedule, Breede told council. In- itial reaction to the committe'e's request for financial support was negative and at one point council appeared ready to turn thumbs down to the request. However, when it was pointed out that any decision to stop work on the project would un- doubtedly mean the contractor would sue the county, it was decided to defer the issue until later in the meeting to allow members of council more time to consider the issue, and Breede more time to prepare a presentation in support of the committee's request. In asking for the financial support, the committee pointed out that it was seeking only that money which has already been committed by council and that no new financial commitment will be asked. Should the federal grant not be approved, Mr. Breede said, the committee is prepared to raise the shortfall for the pro- ject's first phase through public subscriptions. The project was broken into two phases last year when it appeared there was going to be a delay in an anticipated federal government grant of $1.15 million. Cost of the first phase would be almost entirely covered by the county's $1.15 million share, a provincial government grant of $1.171,300 and $115,700 from the Museum Assistance Program to help offset ar- chitectural costs. The federal government grant was to Turn to page 11 • Lawsuit filed against town, contractor A lawsuit has been filed against the Town of Goderich and Lavis Contracting Co. Limited, by the family of a 13 -year-old Goderich girl who was injured in a bicycle accident on Suncoast Drive, July 28. The suit, filed Oct. 26, names as beneficiaries of the action Jacqueline Ann Banter, her parents John Edward and Lauretta Jean Banter, two sisters Tanya, 13 and Elizabeth, 20, and the.girls paternal and maternal grandparents. The family is claiming compensation for damages and expenses. The suit alleges that Jacqueline, on the day in question, was riding her bicycle in an easterly direction along the travelled portion of Suncoast Drive about 3:30 p.m., when the front wheel struck a hole and ridge in the pavement at a point where the contractor was carrying out repairs, thus causing the front wheel of her bicycle to suddenly separate from its front forks and jam into the sprocket and chain mechanism. The girl was thrown over the handlebars, landing on the asphalt surface of the street, causing injuries to her head and neck and facial scarring. The suit maintains, among other things, the Town of Goderich and Lavis Contrac- ting failed to keep the street safe for public use and also that the defendants did not take adequate precautions to warn of the potentially -unsafe condition of the street at the time tri question. Goderich Administrator Larry McCabe pointed out that the town's agreement with the contractor for the work on Suncoast contains the standard "hold harmless," clause, which could release the town from liability in this matter. Goderich bids for inclusion on tour The Town of Goderich is making a con- certed effort to be among the municipalilties included in a foriegn in- vestment Opportunties Tour, being organized by the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Technology for September, 1988. A Economic Development Committee sub -committee, which met for the first time Dec. 3, is currently preparing a local economic development brochure and will pinpoint specific business investment op- portunities and are soliciting submissions from local businesses, industries and in- dividuals who feel they could make use of foriegn investment to expand their opera- tions or initiate new projects. The sub- committee consists of Goderich Ad- ministrator Larry McCabe, Tourism and Industrial Promotor Robin Stuart, Town Councillor Bonn itrtnger ana ttob Chapman. Goderich, along with other municipalities in the Counties of Perth, Grey, Bruce, Huron and Middlesex, will be receiveing consideration for inclusion on the tour, based on submissions made by the muncipalities to the ministry by the Jan. 29 deadline. Hopefully, said McCabe, "They'll look at us and say, 'Yes, Goderich is a place where opportunties exist". The tour will allow foreign investors to examine investment opportunities either by becoming involved with an existing business or by starting something from the ground up. Stuart estimated about 90 potential investors from the United States and some European countries will be on the tour. The sub -committee has targeted 60 to 70 local businesses, industries and in- dividuals who may be interested, to receive a package containing information on the tour and a summary to be com- pleted detailing company information and a basic business plan. McCabe said any organization or individual who wishes to participate, but does not receive a package can obtain one at the Goderich Town Hall. Also in preparation, is a list of other in- vestment opportunities for presentation to the ministry. These opportunities identify needs and 'ideas for new development which exist in the area. A preliminary list complied by the committee includes: a recreation and convention centre (which could, Stringer noted, include a 'full-size iti door pool) and accomodations, waterfront - related development (restaurant, theme park etc.), electronics -related induatryo airport -related development and a variety of others. 141 The Square". Negative responses were equally strongly -expressed, with concern center- ing on cost. "The few people that want the Aquatic Centre better put their money where their mouth is". . "I believe this centre is too rich for our pockets. If the upper class wants the cen- tre let them pay for this luxury. It would be a nice change!" "Does everyone have two Rolls Royces? An impossible cost. The answer is simple. No, No, No, No, No". "The whirrs of a few. Paid for by so many. $3 million – get real. Just say no." "Just another hair -brained idea. Thought up by a few who have no intention of paying for it." "Capital expenditures unrealistic for our tax base. Operating costs also would be too high". "Taxes need not be increased for an un- necessary facility. It should be funded by donations from persons wanting it". "Taxes are too high now!" A fair percentage of the replies indicated they were from senior citizens. Seniors were about evenly split between those who felt pensioners on fixed incomes could not afford it and older people who would welcome' the opportunity to use the facility for exersice. "I am approaching 80. I would like to think that health -minded seniors had ` a chance to exercise summer and winter," said one "YES" voter. "The taxes would be too high for those on a fixed income and seniors," predicted one "NO" voter. A number of people voting either way in- dicated they would prefer some changes be made to the most recent proposal (including a leisure type pool) if a centre was built. "$3 million is too much. I am for a no frills complex, which could be built for less". "Surely architects can design a less complex aquatic centre which would ade- quately meet the needs of this area. If "ex- tras are wanted they could be added later, if and when funds are available". "The swimming pool should have at least three competitive lanes and not be only a "play" pool". The current status of the aquatic centre is that of a non -project. After receiving the Master Plan for Recreation in Goderich, commissioned from an independant con- sultant by the town, Goderich council authorized the formation of a volunteer Aquatic Centre Committee to look into the eonsultant's recommendation for- a $3.6 million complex. The committee returned to council with a recommendation for a $3.1 million facility to be funded through municipal contributions from Goderich and surrounding townships, community fundraising and $700,000 in available government grants. Council, unable to break a voting. deadlock either to oppose the project or refer it to a committee for further study, eventually agreed only to "receive" the committee's report. Council's handling of the issue was greeted with a mixed reaction by poll respondents. "I think this should be top priority and am very disappointed with the way the town's council has handled the situation," said one respondent who voted in favor of the concept. "I am proud of the few council members who used common sense and voted against this ridiculous waste of money," said one naysayer. One respondent, another "YES" voter, pointed out that the people of Goderich have already spoken on the issue through the original survey done by the consultants preparing the Recreation Master Plan. "Town Council is being unfair to the peo- ple of Goderich who have shown, through the original survey, to want the Aquatic Centre. They are more concerned with the condition of the roads, than they are with the condition of the taxpayers". Rescue system Agreement in principle has been granted by Huron County Council to a proposal for establishing a country -wide rescue and support system. At its regular December session, council approved an executive committee recom- mendation to agree in principle with the proposal , and to draft and sign the necessary agreements and bylaws. Fred Lobb, the county's mutual and fire co- ordinator, met with the committee Nov. 29 to outline the proposal which suggests that if the county established the system it could then make application for a JEPP grant for up to a maximum or $70,000. This figure represents 50 per cent of the value of rescue equipment already purchased by the fire departments in Wingham, Clinton and Exeter. However, $35,000 has already been received in grants to the Wingham Area Fire Department, recurring the max- imum available to $65,0110. The proposal calls for the strategical placing of three special rescue -support units at Wiiighain, Clinton and Exeter. There would be no cost to the County o Huron, the executive committee recom- mendation states, Other than for ad- ition the necessary bylaws and Consultants to be hired Huron County's waste management steering committee will narrow a short list down to three or four consultants who will be invited to 'make a presentation of a detailed proposal for a county -wide waste management master plan. At its December meeting, Huron County Council was told the steering committee had received a total of eight proposals from consulting firms interested in preparing the master plan, but the com- mittee will narrow the list down to three or four who will be invited to make a format presentation. Approval was given at council's November session to draft terms of reference for the waste management master plan. The plan is to be developed in three stages. -Public participation and data collection. -Identification of potential areas and marekts, and analysis of alternatives. -Formulation of a document which iden- tifies the preferred system for waste management in the study area and how best to implement that system. The terms of reference call for the waste management master plan to address the county's needs for a minimum 20 -year period, with long term waste projections for a 40 -year period. Development plan proposed Huron County Concil has adopted a report which proposes alternatives to establishing a separate economic develop- ment department for the county. At its regular December session, council adopted the report prepared by Gary Davidson, planning and development director which suggests the county con- sider three alternatives to a separate department: —Discussion with all municipalities to ex- plain the county's present approach to economic development and to receive sug- gestions for improvements. -Development of a commitment to local responsiveness at the county level. -A county review of its approach to the' economic development function, making any necessary changes to ensure respon- siveness to local and county concerns. The report stems from a suggestion made to council earlier this summer by a commit- tee of mayors from the county's five towns. The mayors favored an aggressive selling approach to economic development and recommended that the county separate its planning and development functions. The department is currently placing em- phasis on local economic development committees and pursuing the idea of establishing join community economic development organizations. The county ea also assist local municipalities pursue economic development, but it cannot do it for them, the report states. According to the report, the county's rule "would be to assist in the organization at the community economic development units, providing back-up start resources, and providing funds and general assistance with county promotion and information. INSIDE THE SIGNAL -STAR Ladies curling The Ontario Ladies Curling Associa- tion Zone Playdowns were held at the Maitland Curling Club last week with the Goderich team making it to the semi- finals in the B division. For storyand-' photo, see the Sports section. Fashion industry Karen Palmer, daughter of Mayor Eileen Palmer, along with husband Mar- ty Baechler is making it big in Toronto's fashion industry with her wardrobe ac- cessories business called Chameleon. This story, found on the front page of the Community section, about a former Goderich resident is the first in what The Signal -Star hopes to make a regular feature. - - i