Zurich Citizens News, 1977-02-16, Page 1.....:. � .:::.<:,:<;: <::.::.::>';i:2'+. :: gi.::;;:,,'<:i is i i:4i:`. °;;;i';#.::::i:>:7: i::>!r:::S:'<,•:'ri?: i iii:i2 i:;:o-i?: �i
NO. 7 FIRST WITH L®CAL NEWS ..:...:. .:.:: ....::.
;'' WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1977 Price Per Copy 20 Cents
Hensall decides to build new arena-hal/
The council of the Village of
Hensall and the Hensall Parks
Board have unanimously ap-
proved the authorization of the
construction of a new arena -hall
facility.
In recent discussions with the
ministry of labor, council was
advised the existing facility in its
present state was unacceptable
to provincial standards and
would be closed permanently as
of October 15, 1977, unless ex-
tensive repairs are completed.
The engineering firm of B. M.
Ross & Associates advised
council any repairs to the
existing arena structure would be
IN THE MIDDLE — Many Zurich mothers found themselves the centre of action as their children used them
for -support on the ice during an afternoon of skating at the arena by children of the Zurich public school.
Above, Tanya Erb tries to keep both her daughters, Shelly, left and Sherri, right on their feet.
Photo by McKinley
Reeve has good responses
os tsharing
Reeve Fred Haberer informed
the Zurich Community Centre
Board he has held preliminary
discussions with the heads of
council of Hay township, Stanley
township and Grand Bend con-
cerning cost-sharing for useage
of the Zurich arena. Reeve
Haberer said the responses he
has had to date have been very
favorable.
At Thursday night's council
meeting the proposed budget for
the Community Centre board was
presented, including a figure for
the total amount of grant the
board feels it needs from the
other communities.
Reeve Haberer said in his
discussions with the heads of.
council for Stanley and Grand
Bend, they would prefer to give a
straight grant rather than work
on a percentage of the deficit
basis. They also indicated the
village would have no problems_
getting the grant from their
councils.
At council's meeting the
recreation budget was accepted
as presented and Reeve Haberer
requested that representation
from the arena board accompany
him to a further meeting with
each of the municipalities to
provide any necessary
background information relating
to the financial structure of the
estimated operating deficit.
An overall advisory group with
Council representaton from each
municipality is what Reeve
Haberer is recommending to the
other municipalities. The func-
tion of this group would be
primarily to decide on the final
breakdown for sharing the net
operating deficit.
This year's proposed budget for
the arena as prepared by the
arena board includes a budgeted
deficit of $11,532. With the help of
the other three municipalities,
the board has expressed the hope
that Zurich's share of this deficit
could fall to $5,532.
Last year's operating deficit
was only $3,675, a far cry from
the $11,016 deficit incurred in
1975.
use
Councillor McKinnon,
secretary of the Community
Centre Board said there has been
a $10,000 increase in revenue over
the past two years at the com-
munity center.
Councillor McKinnon said
"This $10,000 increase in revenue
in only two years is the direct
result of the good nature and
effort put into the centre's
programmes by our young
manager."
er sewage rates
rove by council
The Zurich PUC decided to
raise its sewage surcharge to the
village from 31 cents to 38 cents
per bill. This new rate was based
on actual costs according to an
Ontario Hydro audit sent to the
PUC.
At Thursday's' council meeting
this decision came under attack
from Councillor Ray McKinnon,
who felt this increase was not
fair.
According to councillor
McKinnon, "We're (the village)
assuming one-third of the cost
and we are only having some one
put in two figures in ink on the
bill."
Councillor Laporte stated some
of the increase is justified
because of wage increases and
the extra two cents needed for
stamps. Also the previous charge
was based on estimated not
actual cost and could possibly
have been too low.
After considerable discussion,
Councillor McKinnon asked the
vote on passing the minutes of the
Utility meeting which includes
the increased charge be a
recorded one.
Council passed the minutes,
with Mr. McKinnon being the
only member voting against the
motion. However, Councillor
Leroy Thiel, chairman of the
PUC committee, stated he "in-
tends to go back to his committee
and ask they go over the increase
once more" before it is im-
plemented.
Council had made no request to
Ontario Hydro for such an audit.
very costly and conformity in
bringing the arena to full
provincial standards would be
very uneconomical for the
residents of the village and
council was advised any further
repairs should be discouraged.
Maintenance costs for the
existing structure are increasing
immensely this year as pipes for
freezing purposes under the
cement floor are deteriorating,
leaking, and in some instances,
breaking.
Engineering firms are amazed
at the length of endurance of the
piping, which was installed in
1949.
The future plans of council and
the parks board are to build a
new arena with a large hall on the
ground level for easier access by
handicapped and elderly,
adequate washrooms and kitchen
facilities for all functions,
The grant system favors
building a new structure now as
capital grants and Wintario pay
approximately three-quarters of
the cost and the balance is raised
through public subscription.
Council estimates the total cost
between $500,000 and $600,000 to
complete a new structure which
would be provincially approved
and safe for all users.
A fund raising campaign will
begin in the very near future.
Council votes against
increasing their wages
All employees of the
municipality of Zurich received
an eight per cent salary increase,
but the remuneration for council
members was held to last year's
figures. The mileage rate was
increased from 17 cents per mile
to 20 cents per mile.
Council approved the pay in-
creases at their Thursday night
meeting.
Council also passed a
resolution to increase the rates
paid to the village building in-
spector to eight dollars per in-
spection. Previously the in-
spector had received six dollars
per inspection.
Due to the increase rate paid to
the building inspector the village
may have to increase the charge
of their building permits to break
'even. However, no increase was
decided upon at the meeting.
Ontario Hydro has given the
village permission to issue
debentures in the amount of
$25,000 for a 10 year term for
capital expenditures required by
the Zurich Hydro System in 1977.
The application has been sub-
mitted to the O.M.B. for approval
but no response has yet been
received.
Councillor Leroy Thiel will try
to attend a meeting at the
Ausable Bayfield Conservation
Authority headquarters in Exeter
Joanne Lansbergen has recently
received a Master of Science
degree from the University of
Guelph. A former student of
South Huron District High School,
she received her Bachelor of
Science from the University of
Guelph in 1974. Ms. Lansbergen
is the daughter of William and
Christine Lansbergen, Zurich, On-
tario.
concerning the Authority's Flood
Warning System. The meeting
will be held February 25.
Council was advised that the
Huron -Perth Assessment office
has rearranged its assessment
region and a new assessor has
been appointed. Zurich's new
Field Assessor is Barry Block.
Council felt they should
question this appointment as Mr.
Block is originally from Zurich
and one purpose of the setting of
the Huron -Perth assessment
office was to get away from local
assessors. Council felt this
seemed to be a returning to the
old method.
Council passed three
resolutions petitioning the
Ministry of Transportation and
Communications for final sub-
sidy on the 1976 road ex-
penditures of $36,450; approval of
the 1977 road program estimated
expenditures of $36,401 and
requesting the supplementary
subsidy and approval of ex-
penditures on the municipal
drain program of $10,250.
OPP report
12 cr rshes
in are',
Another storm hit the area
Sunday, resulting in a number of
accidents as driving conditions
returned to hazardous.
The Exeter OPP investigated a
total of 12 crashes and estimated
damage at $7,000. There were
some minor injuries reported.
Once again, the driving con-
ditions prevented police from
reaching the scene of some of the
crashes and at press time the
details of the accidents had not
been compiled by the in-
vestigating officers.
Highway 4 north of Exeter was
closed shortly after dinner and
Highway 83 was also closed at
one point during the night.
Visibility was nil at times on area
roads.
During the week, the local
detachment officers laid five
charges under the Highway
Traffic Act, four under the Liquor
Licence Act and three under the
Criminal Code.
Other occurrences were as
follows: four liquor seizures,
three snow vehicle complaints,
two impaired drivers, one at-
tempted break and enter, one car
fire, one chimney fire, one theft,
two domestic complaints, two
dog complaints, one assault and
one incident of littering.