Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-02-18, Page 1Reeve casts deciding vte against free use of hall Zurich reeve Fred Haberer was forced to cast the deciding vote last Wednesday afternoon when members of council were deadlocked over the decision as to whether or not various organ- izations should be allowed to use the new municipal building to hold committee meetings. Al- though he indicated he favoured the idea during the discussion period, the reeve cast his vote with councillors Leroy Thiel and Isidore Laporte against allow- ing the practice to begin. A request was received from the Bean Festival Corporation asking permission to hold several meetings in the council chamb- ers duriirg the winter months. Both the reeve and councillor Ray McKinnon indicated they favoured. the idea, explaining that this idea was one of the selling points in favour of the new building. They were support- ed by councillor George Haggitt 'who voted in favour although he stated he had "nixed feelings about the idea." But, when the deciding vote was necessary Mr. Haberer reversed his earlier feelings. In other business at the meet- ing council agreed with a request from the County of Huron to pay their 1976 tax levy to the county in two instalments, the sane as taxes are collected. -No action was taken on five requests received at the meeting for grants for various purposes. Those requests filled cane from Businessmen elan summer promotion A number of interesting items were discussed at the second meeting of the Zurich Business- men's Association last Wed- nesday night, among them a special summer promotion to lure tourist business to the vill- age. After many ideas were brought forward for a promotion, a com- mittee consisting of Isidore Laporte, Herb Turkheim and Doug Oesch were appointed to look into various ideas and bring a recommendation back to the next meeting. Another committee of presid- ent Ron Heimrich and secretary Judy Clausius were appointed to interview any business people in the community who have not been attending the meetings to find out their feelings towards the association. Robert Westlake suggested to the meeting that possibly the Businessmen's Association might be interested in sponsor- ing the annual Santa Claus visit to the village next Christmas. He pointed out that to date the Lions Club has always sponsored this event but added that prob- ably it should be a project of the business places instead. Don Beauchamp, the new prop- rietor of the former Lucky Dollar Food Market, was appointed as the Businessmen's Association representative to the Bean Fest- ival Corporation. Also discussed at some length was the possibility of Christmas decorations in the village, and councillor Leroy Thiel reported that the village council would co-operate in any way possible. Some of the members of the organization expressed concern regarding the danger of traffic accidents at the corner of highway 84 and the Huron County road, and it was suggested that a signal light should be installed at the location instead of just a caution light. No definite action was taken on the recommend- ation. Considerable discussion took place regarding the -parking of cars in front of business prop- erties for an entire day, and this matter is to be discussed with the village council at a later date. VALENTINE CUTIES - Among the most attractive costumes at the Varna Valentine Skating Carnival `Saturday night were, front, Michele Turner, Adam Willert and back, Mavis Turner and Sandra Willert. News Photo the Huron Plowmen's Associat- ion, the Salvation Army, St. John's Ambulance Corps, the Mental Health Association, and the Association of Rural Munic- ipalities in Ontario, Council did approve the pay- ment of $50 membership itt the Association of Municipalities in Ontario (AMO). It was also resolution time at the meeting last Wednesday, and three of them were dealt with by the cuncil - two concurred with and the other filed. Council agreed with the resolution from Goderich Alexandra Marine Hospital regarding the closing of the Goderich Psychiatric Hospital. and with another from the town of Hanover regarding the costs of education in Ont- ario. The Hanover resolution asks the province to appoint a commission to study all the costs of education, especially concern- ing the method of collecting tax dollars from the ratepayers. The resolution turned down; by the council was one from Chesley regarding the closing of their hospital. NO QUEEN? - Depicting the King and Jack of Hearts at the Varna Valentine Skating Carnival Saturday night were Jim and Paul Hill. Unfortunately they didn't have a sister to play the Queen of Hearts. News Photo Maa olcgh dzio&ipot NO. 7- FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 1976 PRICE 20C PER COPY To coil tenders on senior citizen apartments by Marc 25 "The Senior Citizens Housing development in the Village of Zurich will be moving ahead shortly," reeve Fred Haberer told the members of council at their meeting last Wednesday afternoon. He said he had been talking to Ministry officials earl- ier in the day and they assured him tenders would be called before March 25. According to the information given Mr. Haberer, the final plans for the 20 -unit development will be in the village within two weeks for final approval. The reeve added, "we have had very little communication on this proj- ect right frons the start, but I am hopeful that we are finally seeing our goal accomplished." In correspondence from B.M. Ross Associates, council were advised that there are still a few details to be worked out in connection with the proposed sub -division of M. Sirotic Real Estate in the north-west section of the village, before final app- roval can be given. A report from the area fire board advised council that their budget this year will be slightly higher than last. As a result ratepayers in the village will be paying about one mill more for fire protection than last year. The area fire board also adv- ised council that from now on they will be recognizing any fireman who gives 10 or more years service to the brigade. No skating as ice tine in demand Zurich arena manager Jerry Rader told the Citizens News this week that public skating has been cancelled on Saturdays for the next few weeks. Mr. Rader -said that the skating has been cancelled as the local arena is being made available to Exeter hockey teams currently in the playoffs. The move, in the spirit of neighbourly co-opera- tion, was made necessary when the Exeter arena was closed on the weekend. Mr. Rader said other area municipalities such as Hcnsall and Huron Park are also making their ice available to the Exeter hockey teams. . Council agreed that they would ask the other two municipalit- ii;s, the townships of Hay and Stanley, to remit their share of the costs involved with the area hoard' twice yearly, at tax time. A delegation consisting of Harold Stade and Leo Meiding- er niet with council to discuss the possibility of opening Fred- erick Street to the northerly limits of the village. Mr. Meid- inger explained that he was plan- ning to purchase a parcel of land from Mr. Stade for an apartment building, but pointed out that he has t have access to the land before the county land division committee would approve the scverence application. He added that there was a question of own- ership of a small strip of land on the right-of-way, and this had to he Bleared up first. Council agreed to opening the street as long as it runs the full length of the village limits. Glen Weido, president of the eve �3,4 rrI^ ; f Ratepayers in the village of Zurich should be pleased with the 1976 budget presented by the Recreation and Parks committee for approval by the council at their regular meeting last Wed- nesday afternoon. Figures rel- eased in the budget show the entire program, including the Arena and Community Centre, will operate at a deficit of only $13,000 this year, compared to the sunt of almost $22,000 in the year 1974. Included in this year's budget is an amount of $2500 for park land acquisition this year, or the deficit would only be about $10,500. Of this amount almost $5,000 is for debenture debt so the entire recreation program is definitely becoming more effic- ient each year. According to unaudited fig- ures released with the budget for 1975, the deficit last year was approximately $11,000, of which a little over $5,000 was for deb- enture debt. Zurich Bean Festival Corporation, also nict with the council to dis- cuss 0 trust fund from the profits of the annual event over the past few years. The money is in a trust fund taken care of by the village, and presently earmarked for a swimming pool. Mr. Weido pointed out that presently there is about $5,000 in the fund, and many of the members of the organization feel it will take too long to raise enough funds to build a swimm- ing pool. He questioned whether the money could be used for some other purpose. Councillor Ray McKinnon explained to Mr. Weido that the funds are only in trust with the village, and if the Bean Festival Board wished to have them used for some other purpose all that would be required is a copy of a resolution from the organiz- ation authorizing the change. r.. e cu eficit The significant factor in the 1975 and proposed 1976 budget is the increased revenue for the arena and community centre. In 1974 the total revenue was $17,000, while last year's figures show receipts of a little over $32, 000. The committee is being modest in only estimating the same revenue again this year. On the expenditure side of the ledger the total expenses in 1974 were about $39,000, and while this figure jumped to $43, 000 last year the increased rev- enue more than offset this in- crease. This year's budget lists about the sane expenditures as last year. A considerable amount was also spent last year and the year before for maintenance and new equipment, and the commit- tee is hopeful this will not be the case again in 1976. Council members took little time in approving the budget which carried the mood news for ratepayers in the village.