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Zurich Citizens News, 1970-05-07, Page 1[rti© No. 18 --FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS ZURICH, ONTARIO, THURSDAY, MAY 7, 1970 10 CENTS PER COPY LIONS' OFFICIALS - Two zone chairmen and a deputy district governor were elected at the Region Rally of Lions held last Wednesday night in the Zurich Community Centre. Left to right are . Morris Jenkins, of Goderich, the new zone chairman for the north zone; George Mutter, of Brussels, elected as deputy district governor for the region, and Ory Wassmann, of Grand Bend, zone chairman for the south zone of the same region. County Budget Shows Slight Drop In Mill Rate; Reserve Fund Increased (by Shirley J. Keller) Huron County residents will pay less in county taxes this year, it was revealed by the clerk -treasurer John Berry at Thursday's meeting of Huron County Council in Goderich. The mill rate will be 20.75 comprised of 10.75 for the gen- eral account and 10 mills for the highway account. It repre- sents a reduction from the year 1969 of 1.5 mills. The reason for the reduction, according to John Berry, is due in part of the fact that the county is no longer responsible for assessment. As well, a deb- ebture issue on Huronview at Clinton has been retired, and the building program in con- nection with the Administrative Building has been completed and is fully paid. Expenditure for all county purposes in 1970 will be $3, 679, 526. Offsetting revenue totals $3, 856, 668 or in other words, { there will be an estimated sur- plus of $177, 142 for the year 1970. The working capital reserve fund has been increased from $50, 000 to $100, 000 by alloc- Lions Clubs Elect Officials For Coming Year At Rally in Zuric'h Well over 200 members of Lions Clubs in region three at- tended the annual Zone Rally in Zurich last Wednesday night, and elected George Mutter, of Brussels, as deputy district gov- ernor. He succeeds Lloyd Case - more, of Wingham, who has held the position during the last year. Named zone chairmen were Morris Jenkins, of Goderich, for Hear Report On Driver Education A brief report on the driver education courses offered in the five county high schools was set aside at Monday's meeting of the Huron County Board of Ed- ucation until more information is made available. The initial report showed a wide variance in the costs to students and the methods of operating the course at the dif- ferent schools. Dan Murphy, Goderich, suggested that a much more detailed study should be made of the actual costs of the various systems before the board approves or disapproves any motions pertaining to driver education in the county. .Recommendations in the re- port were that students be charg- ed a uniform fee for the course; the classroom instruction be given by a .teacher of the second- ary school concerned with night (continued on page 17) three north, and Ory Wassmann, of Grand Bend for three south. They succeed Orville Oke and George Mutter in those positions. The battle for deputydistrict governor was a spiritedaffair aetween Mutter and Orville Oke, who finished his term as zone chairman. Both men did con- siderable campaigning for the position, and Oke came to the rally complete with banners, placards and bagpipes. Lloyd Casemore, of Wingham, who is just finishing his term as deputy district governor, acted as chairman for the evening's activities. Also present was the District Governor, Howard Hend- erson, of Owen Sound, who addressed the gathering briefly. Past DDG Warren Zurbrigg, of Clifford, conducted the election of officers. Seaforth Lions Club were a- warded the prize for having the largest number of members pres- ent at the event. An added attraction at the rally was the presentation of a five-minute skit be each club represented. The Zurich Lions Club were awarded first prize for their presentation, which was directed by the club pianist, Mrs. Beatrice Hess. V . L. Becker, president of the Zurich Lions, extended greetings to the group on behalf of the host club. The Zurich Women's Institute catered for the dinner. Following the meeting enter- tainment was provided by Earl and Martha Heywood, of Wing - ham. ating $50, 000 in 1970. This money is used for current fin- ancing and with these funds available the borrowing require- ments are considerably reduced. A second reserve has been allocated in the budget in the amount of $25, 000. This will be used to establish money to offset the present sick leave liability which has been incur- red by the county over the past number of years and at the pres- ent time totals $113, 693., and for a fund to be used in the event of long term illness of an em- ployee. "I can see no reason at the present time for any increase in the mill rate in 1971 unless some unexpected capital expend- itures are incurred, ' stated Perry. I believe the time has come when committees must be re- stricted to the amount of increase that is going to be permitted by county council each year, " the clerk went on to say. In some areas there is no need for any increase in funds. In other areas a modest increase can be expect- ed due to continuing rise in costs of supplies and services. I feel that in practically every depart- ment the very maximum in- crease that should be tolerated would be between five and ten percent. Huron County Council Grant Approval For Summer Assistance in Health (by Shirley J. Keller) Huron County Council has Civen approval for the Huron ounty Board of Health to hire a summer assistant in the Public Health Inspection division. In his report, chairman, Everett Meliwain rioted this will not increase the total county budget over the allotted sum of $125, 353. Stephen Township Reeve, James Hayter wondered why the matter was even brought before council. "Under the circumstances, " stated Mcllwain, referring back to the March session at which time the health budget was drastically cut, " we thought we should bring it to attention of council." The executive committee has recommended that the names of Donald H. McKenzie, Ernest Snell, Harry Gowdy, Walter J. Forbes, Glenn Webb and Frank McFadden be submitted to the Department of Municipal Af- fairs as possible appointees to the Assessment Review Courts. It was also learned that the executive committee is plan- ning a bus tour in June to the Maitland V alley Conservation New Staff for Huron Board (by Shirley J. Keller) A re- organization of the administrative staff of the Huron County Board of Education was approved in a committee meet- ing following the regular open session of the board meeting Monday evening in Clinton. It is understood the county will be divided into three sect- ions for administrative purposes with each section to have a superintendent. A fourth super- intendent will co-ordinate the programs of study and planning. All four men will be directly responsible to director of educ- ation, John Cochrane. James Coulter has been named to co-ordinate the programs of study and planning; W . H , Knisely, F.E. Madill and one more superintendent yet to be hired will each have charge of a section bf the county and will oversee schools in those areas. As well, Roy Dunlop, pres- ently business administrator, will henceforth be called a superintendent and will also be directly responsible to Mr. (continued on page 15) Authority and the Ausable Con- servation onservation Authority. Three mem- bers from each municipality in he county will be invited to take this tour and "to learn firsthand the function of the Conservation Authority." In other business, council learned that County of Huron Agreement Forest has cost $57, 648,60 up until March 31, 1969 with $3, 898.27 spent in the year 1968-69, voted to petition MODA to establish definite pol- icy with regard to non -paid up memberships in the organizat- ion; agreed to advertise all county employment opportunit- ies in all Huron County weekly newspapers; and discovered that a Huron delegation which travelled to Ottawa seeking a solution to the closing of CFB Clinton were well received by officials there. Separate School Tax Jumps In Huron and Perth The Huron -Perth separate' school board Friday might app- roved a $2, 020, 000 budget calling for an 11 percent increase in taxes. The budget, an increase of $263, 000 from last year, will be offset by $1, 685, 000 in provin- cial education grants, an in- crease of $223, 000 over 1969. A total of $305, 000 in taxes will be raised in the two counties Board business administrator Jack Lane said the tax rate structure for municipalities contribufing to the board will be the same as that set by the Huron Perth boards of education, with the exception of McKillop Town- ship, whose rate will be similar to that of neighboring Hibbert Township. Separate school supporters in the two townships share three ;eparate school and the. board felt, for this reason, that an equal tax rate was the practical solution. Main factor for the increase in taxes is a $219, 000 increase in salaried teachers this year, to $1,176, 000. The two-year- old school board currently is in the middle of negotiations with the system's 150 elementary school teachers. Mr. Lane also cited increases in other costs as contributing to the tax increase. Deputations Keep Hensel! Council Bus (by Mrs. Minnie Noakes) ; were to service the saw mill which once was located there. He was advised to contact the P.U.C. Council also felt that the building inspector should be called on to condemn the smoke stack, and a registered letter be sent to the owner, this being ignored, then contact the village solicitor to take proper steps. Baker also inquired if Cook's division of Gerbro are going to take proper caution to nave good drainage near their ramp as the water is backing up to the prop- erties to the east. Reeve Jaques replied "I'M pretty sure they mentioned they would put in a culvert for drainage." Gerald Flynn appeared on behalf of the local firemen and asked if council would consider donating $100. toward the fire- works display on May 18, and he stated that the cost of the display has risen from $410. last year to $478. this year. Mr. Flynn was told that council would consider his request and The regular meeting of the council of the village of Hen- sall was held on May 4, with all members present. Follow- ing the reading and adoption of minutes of meetings of April 6 and 23, council dealt with dep- utations. Robert Baker Jr. asked council if there is any way it can have a large smoke stack removed in the vicinity of his property on Elizabeth St. Mr. Baker could sell some of the property for homes and future develop- ment but due to the fact said smoke stack is in danger of col- lapsing, he is doubtful of build- ing anything until said item is removed. Council promised to contact the owner and advise him of the condition of smoke stack and request that it be removed at once. Mr. Baker also inquired regarding the removal of large electrical transformers which let the firemen know their dec- ision. David Kyle and Gary Alexan- der appeared again regarding the drainage problem on their prop- erties. Mr. Kyle asked if coun- cil would consider paying for the drain from the Verlinde drain to his back fence. After lengthy discussion and many suggestions he was told that council could not do this and referred to By- law #9, 1967. Councillor Knight said that , it would be simple for council to pay approximately $100. but this would set a precedent that council could not continue. Kyle stated that the town should have investigated more thorough• 1y the Verlinde drain which is costing the town $700. or $800. and will service nobody and reminded council that it would also be installing drains for any new development. Reeve Jaq- ues informed him that he could not say anything about new (continued on page 3)