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Zurich Citizens News, 1971-09-16, Page 1NO, 37 - FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS er'4 ZURICH, ONTARIO, TI-IURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 1971 • BEANS AT EXHIBITION - Numerous visitors to this year's Canadian National Exhibition have enjoyed a taste of Ontario Beans at the "Bean Pot" booth of the Ontario Bean Producers Marketing Board. The Minister of Agriculture and Food, the Hon. W.A. Stewart samples the tasty product. Looking on are the booth hostesses, Miss Barbara Pritchard, Weston; (right) and Miss Lynn Piott, Stoney Creek, Lynn is the daughter of Sam Piott, president of the Ontario Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association. ( Dept. of Agriculture and Food Photo) Zurich .water proiect hits snag The proposed water system project for the Village of Zurich received a severe jolt last Wed-' nesday night, when seven tenders were opened on the contract and the lowest one was found to be about forty percent higher than the original estimate, as prep- ared by the engineer, 9, M. Ross, of Goderich. Mr. Ross had estimated the total cost of the project at $215, 000. which included all engineering fees and supervision, and the lowest tender received was for $261, 596.20 for the construction alone. With the engineer fees, supervision and interim financing charges, added to this amount, it would be approximately $300, 000. or almost Jorty percent more than the original estimate. Oddly enough, there was a variation of $146, 000 between the lowest tender received and the highest bidder. The low tender was received from Yundt- Increase salaries of staff members Salaries for the administrative staff of the Huron County Board of Education were adjusted at a special meeting of committee of the whole "in -camera" August 23. It is understood the new sal- aries are effective for one year only. The director of education received a $2, 000 per annum increase from $27, 000 to $29, 000. The five superintendents will receive salaries ranging from $21, 000 to $23, 000. The chief accountant was raised from $13, 500 to $14, 500; the plant superintendent from $11, 000 to $12, 000; and the manager of purchasing from $9, 000 to $9, 500. McCann Construction Company of Stratford, while the next was from C.A, McDowell Const- ruction Co. Ltd., of Centralia, in the amount of $280, 035.17. The highest tender, in the amount of $407, 583.90 was received from Cornell Construct- ion of Brantford. The sharp increase in the overall cost of the project has left the outcome in doubt, since the Ontario Municipal Board, at the hearing for the system, granted approval up to the amount of $215, 000 only. If the project is still to go ahead, it will require a new approval from the OMB. A special meeting to discuss the problem was held in the council chambers on Monday night, and no definite decision was reached by council. Mr. Ross attended the meeting with a new schedule of what the in- creased costs would mean to the water subscribers in Zurich, and it added up to an increase of about forty percent. The original estimate called for a rate of approximately $85 per year for the average home, while the new rate would have to be approximately $108 for the average home. Any homes with large frontage would nat- urally be higher. Mr. Ross' suggestion was to leave the frontage rate the same at 50¢ per foot, and the fire protection rate the same at four mills. The increase would all be added to the domestic rate, which would jump from the present $48 per year to a new rate of $67 per year. Over a 20 -year period this increase would make up the extra amount of money needed for the project. The council held a lengthy discussion on the problem, and finally agreed to seek advice from the Ontario Municipal Board. Several members of council felt the new rate would be too high for the average home- owner, and in some way or an- other the amount spent should be reduced to the original est- imate. It was also suggested that a public meeting of the water subscribers should be called to have the people exp- ress their opinions on the matter. However, it was first decided to obtain advice from the OMB before any further course of action be pursued. Council also received further bad news from the engineer, when he told them the proposed sewage system costs would be higher as well. He said he felt (continued on page 15) 10c6 PER COPY Huron enrolment dow Enrolment in the Huron County public school system is down, it was learned last Tuesday evening at the board's regular meeting. Enrolment September 7 was 13,171 students. Last year, on the first day, 13, 434 students registered. Elementary schools have 8, 519; secondary schools, 4, 609; and schools for the retarded, 43. It was also learned that the secondary schools are fully staffed despite the fact that the board was pink -listed during the past few months. A science teach er from South Huron District High School and a French teach- er from Seaforth School were the only two teachers who didn't sign contracts again after the salary dispute was ended. The Science teacher had gone into private business and the French teacher had moved with her husband to another location. The cafeteria at Winghain District High School will be operated this year by Bill Lee on a concession basis at no profit or loss to the board. In Goderich, the previous system will prevail again this year with the board hiring cafet- eria operators and paying the bills. However, it is understood there will be some reduction in the number of choices on the menu. At Seaforth, there will be investigation into the need for an express line where students may purchase items such as hot- dogs, soft drinks, ice cream, etc, The new addition to the Sea - forth Public School opened on schedule although there is still work to be done on it. Grade 7 and 8 students are housed at the high school at the present time however. The situation with the McKillop kindergarten students seems to have righted itself for the time (continued on page 10) RCSS Board hears (by Wilma Oke) Mrs. Gary Fitzgerald of St. Marys has been appointed cust- odian at Holy Name School in St. Marys, effective August 16. Trustee Pat Carty, of Strat- ford reported at a meeting of the Huron -Perth County Ronan Catholic Separate School Board Tuesday that the custodians' meeting held on Atgust 31 was well attended and was well org- anized, with participation ex- cellent. He said a committee of custodians has been formed to plan in-service meetings to take place later this fall. Howard Shantz, chairman of the board, spoke of the Ontario Separate School Trustees Assoc- iation meeting which he attend- ed in Toronto, along with Trustee's Association meeting which he attended in Toronto, along with Trustee Francis Hick- nell of Seaforth. This meeting was held to discuss the extension of grants to allow for the compl- etion of separate schools to the P.C.'s nominate Friday night Htron PCs are expected to stage a lively show for their provincial candidate this Fri- day night at the party's nomin- ation meeting in Goderich. Many of the new 18 -year-old voters are planning to join the party faithful in a demonstration of strength for the Hon. Charles MacNaughton, who has indicat- ed he will stand for the nomin- ation. Guest speaker will be the Hon. Darcy McKeough, Treasurer of Ontario and Minister of Econ- omics, who was one of the top contenders for the party leader- ship earlier this year. With both Mac Naughton and McKeough sharing the same stage, the nomination will re- call the "M and M Road Show" two summers ago when the min- isters toured Ontario to explain the provinc's tax reform program, MacNaughton, the former treasurer, introduced the reform plan, which has included prop- erty tax reduction grants, farm tax rebates and increasing fin- ancial aid to local school boards. McKeough, the former min- ister of municipal affairs, cont- inues to develop the reforms as the new treasurer in the Davis administration. The Huron PC nomination culminates a series of municipal reorganization meetings through- out the riding, at which poll committees have been strength- ened and enlarged. The final municipal meeting will be held in Clinton Monday night, Sept- ember 20. Another feature of Friday night's nomination meeting will be the election of officers for the Huron PC Association. The president, Douglas Freeman, of Clinton, has stated he will not seek re-election. A local youth band will prov- ide color for the nomination and a floor demonstration is expected James Donnelly, Q, C. will be chairman of the meeting, which will be held in the Harbourlite Inn, Goderich. eports end of Grade 13. At this meeting the members present reaffirmed their belief in the need for the extension of the grants, secondly they would continue to make (continued on page 11) Huron Liberals pick Hansell for nomination With Monday's announcement by Premier William Davis of a provincial election on Thursday, October 21, all political parties in Huron are preparing them- selves for the upcoming camp- aign. The NDP nominated their candidate, Paul Carroll, some time ago, and the PC's are expected to name the pres- ent member, Hon. C.S. Mac - Naughton, at their nomination meeting on Friday night in Goderich. Meanwhile, the Huron Lib- erals, who have not picked a candidate as yet, have planned a nomination meeting for next Monday night, at the Hensall Public School. Guest speaker at the nomination meeting will be the popular Murray Gaunt, the provincial member for the Huron -Bruce riding. According to John Laporte, R. R. 2, Zurich, president of the Huron Liberal Association, the field is wide open for his party stalwarts. He told the Citizens News on Monday night that several top calibre men have indicated their interest in the candidacy, but the associat- ion was not prepared to release any names before the meeting. There is little chance that the candidate in the last provin- cial election, Brigadier Morgan Smith, will be in the race. He leaves in a couple of weeks for a three-week vacation in Europe, and will not be around during most of the campaign. Several prominent municipal officials throughout Huron have been mentioned as possible candidates, but there has been nothing definite from any of them at press time.