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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1984-11-14, Page 5A The forest industry and its employees paid over $3 bil- lion in taxes and resource revenues in 1981, of which 43 per cent was federal and 57 per cent provincial. Annual Meeting of the Wingham Horticultural Society will be held in the Court Chambers of the Wingham 'blown Hall on Tuesday, November 20,1984 Reports/Election of Officers The Society has enjoyed the largest member- ship since its inception and we invite them to this annual meeting on the above date. Iris and Ed Fielding will show slides of their recent Horticultural Tour of England, Scotland and Wales. Refreshments will be served. Huron -Bruce Progressive Conservative Association Delegate Selection Meeting for Leadership Convention Thurs., Nov.. 29' Registration: 7:30-8:15 p.m. Meeting: 8:15 p.m. Location: Huron Township Hall, Ripley "Look forward to seeing you there" • The Wingham Advance -Times, Nov. 14, 1984—Page 5 am Town Council S orts Wingham Town Council has joined with the Township of Downie (near Stratford) in expressing alarm over a population explosion among ring -billed gulls. - A resolution from the township, which was forwarded to other councils for their support, expresses concern that the birds, which currently are a protected species and cannot be shot, "are increasing in numbers at an alarming rate." It says the gulls are not only invading lake fronts and beaches and polluting water sources, but are invading farm- ing communities, feeding on and destroying farm produce and eating millions of the earthworms which help to keep soil fertile and workable. "Since none of us has any expertise in this matter, why are we getting involved," Councillor Tom Miller asked after Councillor Jack Kopas had proposed endorsing the resolution. Deputy Reeve Patricia Bailey said her husband is familiar with the problem "and he says there are too many of them (gulls) and they're running out of things to eat," which is driving them inland from the waterfront areas where they usually congregate. 0-0-0 Council passed a resolution declaring the week of Jan. 30 to Feb. 3, 1985, as Frostyfest days in .Wingham. The action was taken in response to a letter from Andy Rodger, Frostyfest 'chairman, asking to have the festival officially declared. Councillor William Crump noted the date has been ad- vanced by three weejts "hg ng for better weather." For the past several years, some Frostyfest events have had to be cancelled after a midwinter thaw melted most of the §now. 0-0-0 Council plans to take a look at its taxi licensing bylaw before responding to a request for a taxi licence on behalf of a Wingham man and his sister, who currently lives in Hong Kong. The request, which came to council in a letter from a local solicitor, was made on behalf of Wayne Wai, owner and operator of the Great China restaurant, and Wei Wing Fong, his sister who resides in Hong Kong where she and her husband have been operating a taxi business for the past seven years. Mayor William Harris told council Mrs. Wei is a teacher and her husband is a chartered accountant and also a taxi driver. Several councillors objected to the proposal they should issue a licence to someone who is not yet even in the country. "This is like granting a person the right to operate an airline before you know whether he can fly," Councillor James A. Currie said. Eventually he suggested council' should take the matter under consideration while it studies its taxi bylaw, which most councillors had not realized exists. "We're not saying no, but we're not saying yes." 0-0-0 Council has approved a new policy to recognize the con- tributions of volunteer members of its various boards and sub -committees. Councillors unanimously agreed to present such persons with a gift pack at Christmastime. Councillor Jack Kopas told council the packs would cost about $15 each, for a total expense of about $400 a year. "It's a nice way of saying thanks," Deputy Reeve Bailey commented. 0-0-0 The proposal to hire a zoning administrator to lend strength and consistency to the enforcement of the town's zoning bylaws is under "intensive review" by the finance - management committee, Councillor Kopas told council. He said it will be several months before a proposal is brought forward. He also told council the committee has received legal advice regarding the. home business being operated by John Schedler and council went into committee -of -the -whole in - camera for about half an hour to discuss the matter, After emerging from the closed session, it passed a motion to advise Mr. Schedler of the contents of the solicitor's letter. It also passed a second motion accepting, the recom- mendation of the planning advisory committee to proceed with a study to identify existing home occupations, with a view to making any revisions which may be needed in the zoning bylaw to permit such uses to be licensed. It was not specified who would carry out the study. 0-0-0 The town has agreed to carry out further environmental studies at its waste disposal site, located in East Wawanosh, though councillors are not enthusiastic about the additional expense. Council was told that although the studies initially required by the Ontario Environment Ministry have been completed, the ministry now has asked for some additional tests. "They have reason to believe there is more problem there than they thought there was," Councillor Crump explained. He and Councillor Bruce Machan told council it really didn't have much choice in the matter, since if it refused the additional tests the ministry could either order the dump closed or require an environmental assessment hearing, which Mr. Crump described as "very ii pJved and ex- pensive." However councillors were irked at being told the town will have to shoulder the burden of paying for the additional tests which the ministry wants. Eventually they agreed to notify the ministry they are complying with the request, but expect some reimbursement. 0-0-0 Council has decided that, in the interests of security and fire safety, it will severely restrict access to the washroom and other rooms in the basement of the Town Hall. Councillors endorsed a series of recommendations from the property committee urging that the area be sealed off, with access to the meeting room limited to members of the men's club. It also agreed to close the meeting rooms which had been used by the Junior Citizens and to invite members from that group and their sponsors, the Wingham Optimists, to come to the next meeting to discuss alternative ac- commodations. In addition, only the caretaker, police chief and fire chief will be allowed access VI the Town Hall through the back bSisement door. Councillor Currie told council the town wduld be "very vulnerable to loss by fire" if it did not seal off the areas in question. Council had been told at a previous meeting that evidence had been found of earlier attempts Co set fires in the basement washroom area. 0-0-0 Councillors have been promised a final accounting of the cost of the facelift to thelront of the Town Hall this summer. Councillor Tom Miller told council he had asked several months ago what the work had cost and never received an answer. Councillor Kopas told him that because of some additional items such as railings on the front steps the final total had not yet been pulled together. However he promised to circulate a figure to council members. 0-0-0 Council agreed to begin proceedings to designate another building in town as a heritage property, as recommended by the Heritage Wingham committee. The designation of the building at 306 Josephine Street, across from the post office, had been requested by its owners, Barry Reid and Tom Deyell, and endorsed by Heritage Wingham. Reasons given for the proposed designation are as follows "This building erected by Frederick H. Roderus, probably in the early 1870s, was operated by him for many years as a boot factory and is one of the earliest industrial buildings remaining in Wingham. Constructed of local brick in the boom town style of architecture, it features brick swagged arches above the upper windows with cut stone keystones. ,Gothic arch tracery is executed in the bricks along the top of the main facades." Heritage designation is intended to protect properties from such alterations as would detract from their historic ap- pearance or significance. Council was told/the owners are studying the possibility of restoring the front of the building to its original appearance. Turnberry council meets with dam committee reps Turnberry Township Coun- cil met with representatives of the committee looking into replacing Wingham's Lower Dam at a meeting last Tuesday evening, but the Municipal council members were very careful not make a dollar commitment to the committee. Ron Beecroft of Wingham, committee chairman, said he was not looking for a monetary commitment that night, but just attended the meeting to update Turnberry council and to see what type of funding might be available. The committee's original intention to construct a weir - type dam at the site virtually has been ruled out because Whatever the weather, make sure it's Very Mild. Canaderialkiky tw+aaGan`7i/wNti, def vnoi&uta a# 4i '"'1 &Aim age MEICRERS INC • MONTREAL • CANADA 110 mi 40% alc /vol VERY MILD Rye Whisky. From Melchers. Cheers! • • the near -$700,000 pricetag was considered prohibitive. However another proposal is being considered and that is to construct a dike -like structure with an earth and clay core, then covered with field stone and concrete. The estimated cost of this alternative proposal has been targeted at between $300,000 and $400,000. The original dam at the sitegave out in June of this year. Reeve Brian McBurney suggested a joint meeting between Turnberry and Wingham Town Council to discuss the matter more fully once an engineer's report has been presented. Other possible avenues for funding were suggested such as the Nature Conservancy of Canada and London's Ivy Foundation. Mery Baker, one of Tur- nberry's representatives on the committee asked "If they (the foundations) don't come through with funding is there any hope of squeezing some money out of Turn - berry? " "That depends how much," answered Deputy Reeve Doug Fortune. PIONEER MUSEUM Mr. McBurney reported to council on a proposal made to county council recently to restore the Goderich Pioneer Museum to the tune of $2.6 million. The recommendation proposes that the county contribute $300,000 per year for five years toward the project, that money being made up of grants from Huron's member municipali- ties. Turnberry Township will be expected to contribute $6,705 per year for the next five years and council members were not too pleased about the prospect. "What amount of say do we have in this?" asked Councillor Don Morrison. "About one -thirtieth," replied the reeve, the same as any other municipality. Mr. Fortune said he thought Goderich and the municipalities located nearest to the museum should have to pay more because they will receive direct benefits from the renovation. "I think we should have a museum, but I don't think it's a fair way of paying. Goderich gets '90 to 95 per cent of the benefit and I don't suppose Turnberry would get five cents," A"r. Fortune said. 'T a "'yth+er members of Council agreed with him and Mr. McBurney will convey those feelings at the next meeting of county council. In other business Doug French attended to inquire about obtaining a severance for a piece of property he is considering buying. The land is owned by Jim Wright and Councillor Joan Wright declared a conflict cf in- terest on the discussion. Mr. Fortune said he did not think Mr. French would have much hope of obtaining a severance because of the restrictions of the township secondary plan in severing agricultural land. Earlier this year council had requested that the CPR abandon its Teeswater subdivision line and let the land revert back to the ad- joining landowners since the track is not being used and has become overgrown with weeds and brush. The tracks even have been graveled and paved over in some sections. Council received a reply from MP Murray Cardiff into the matter at last week's meeting. Mr. Cardiff said he had communications with a Mr. Allison of CP who said he does not see the trackage being abandoned in the immediate future. Mr. Cardiff said he was not satisfied with Mr. Allison's reply and will continue his investigation into the matter. Want submissions on education financing If anyone wants to offer suggestions to the govern- ment regarding the cost of education, now is the time to do so. The Commission on the Financing of Elementary and Secondary Education in Ontario has issued a call for briefs. Commission chairman, H. Ian Macdonald, said school boards, organizations, associations, agencies and the general public have been asked to submit briefs to the commission before Jan. 31, 1985. Mr. Macdonald said the commission will hold a series of public hearings across the province during the spring of next year. OM= Mail The commission, ap- pointed in July 1984, is in- quiring into all aspects of financing of elementary and secondary education. Specifically, commissioners intend to study. 1. The apportionment and allocation of provincial funds to school boards; 2. Alternative methods of financing elementary and secondary education; 3. The degree of local par- ticipation in meeting education costs through property taxation, including the consequences of that participation for local decision-making and. ac- countability; 4. Other financial issues in respect of elementary and -or secondary education. COMMUNITY CALENDAR Mei/ INSURANCE BROKERS LTD. Insurance - All types. Home, business, auto, farm, life. WINGHAM 357-2636 GORRIE 335-3525 Thurs., Nov. 15 to Wed. Nov. 21, Thurs. Nov. 15 Seniors' Dance, Wingham Seniors Happy Gang, 8:30 to 11:30 p.m., Wingham Ar- mories. Beef Dinner, Belgrave United Church, 5:00 and 7:00 p.m. Fn. Nov. 16 Craft, Tea and Bake Sale, Lucknow Legion Hall, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m., Hot Ham Supper, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.,. Auction, 7:15 p.m., Lucknow and Dist. Christian School Ladies Aux. Brussels WI Tea and Bake Sale, 2:30 p.m., at Brussels Library Sat. Nov. T9 Craft and Bake Sale, Ladies Auxiliary to the Legion at Wingham Legion Hall, 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Dance, Howick Community Centre, 9:00 -1:00 a.m. Flea Market, Bluevale Comm. Hall, 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Hunter Safety Training, Wingham Sport- smen's Club, 10;00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Bring Lunch. Just So Stories, Blyth Mem. Hall, Music, jj •Dance, Puppets for Children, 2:00 p.m. Sun. Nov, 1"8 Grey Cup Day, Wingham Legion Branch No. 180, Doors Open at Noon. See Game on Large Screen. Mon. Nov. 19 Meeting, Auxiliary to Wingham and Dist. Hospital, 2:00 p.m., Hospital Board Room. Tues. Nov. 20 Annual Meeting, Belgrave, Blyth, Jirussels School Fair Bd., Bdgrave Comm. 'entre, 8:30 p.m. ' Wed. Nov. 21 Child Health Clinic, also Adult Immuniza- tion, 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. ROXY HOME VIDEO Great Family Entertainment 241 Josephine St., Wingham Phone 357-3373