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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZurich Citizens News, 1976-04-28, Page 1Core redevelopment plan proposed A plan for the downtown core redevelopment of the village of Zurich was endorsed Thurs- day night at a meeting of the Zurich Businessmen's Associa- tion. The plan, proposed by Nick Hill, formerly with the Huron County planning department, would consider all aspects of the downtown area including build- ings, sidewalks, streets and open space. Mr. Hill said half the cost of the planning would be subsidized by the Ministry of Housing of Ontario under Community Planning Assistance. Cost of the plan is estimated to be about $4,000. With the province paying half the cost, the remaining $2,000 would have to be raised locally. It was sug- gested that the village council and the Chamber of Commerce. be approached for their help both in the financing and later stages of the plan. Mr. Hill said basically the plan would use the existing build- ings to the best advantage and open areas, other than buildings, would be used to the best advant- age for pedestrians. Discussion of the Alpine theme suggested by various groups in the past prompted Mr. Hill to state that while he did not feel an overall Alpine theme would be best for the village, it could be worked No leads Despite rewards totalling $2,500, no information has been received regarding the cattle stolen from Usborne Township farmer Bob Down earlier this year. A total of 23 cattle valued at $7,000 were taken from his feedlot. Mr. Down personally offered a $1,000 reward and the other $1,500 came from cattlemen's associations. Those rewards arc still being offered. Named to provincial organization in on buildings which were suited and which had no real value architecturally as they presently existed. A committee of Lou Schilbe, Robert Westlake, Ted Row- cliffe and Ron Heimrich, associa- tion president, was appointed to follow through on the matter. The association also endorsed "Crasy Daze" promotion to be used to encourage shopping in Zurich during the next four months. Shirley Bedard, Herb Turkheim and Ted Rowcliffe Were delegated to initiate planning and report back to the association. CORRECTION In last week's issue, a schedule of increased hydro subdivision rates for the village of Zurich w as not completed. The schedule of charges for multi -family units to be charged to the owner or contractor will be $190 for multi -family units with two to 22 units for each individual unit within one struc- ture. For multi -family units with 21 units and up $65 for each additional individual unit within one structure. DOWNTOWN DOINGS—Planner Nick Hill spoke to a meeting of the Zurich Business Association Thursday night regarding a "sprucing up" of the village's core area. Above, Mr. Hill, left, discusses a point with Reeve Fred Haberer and association president Ron Heimrich. News Photo Zurich 014 News RUSSELL GRAINGER Russell Grainger of R.R. 2, Zurich has been appointed as a member of the Board of Directors of the Ontario Society for Crippl- ed Children. The appoint- ment of Mr. Grainger is for a three year term. Contacted by the News, Mr. Grainger said he was pleased and honoured by the appointment. He explained that he became involved in the work of the Society as chairman of the fund raising campaign done by the Zurich Lions Club, a position he has held for the past two years. Mr. Grainger is a charter member of the Zurich Lions Club, active since the club was founded in 1945. He said his duties as a director of the Ontario Society will include attending board meetings in Toronto, attending regional meet- ings and speaking to service clubs and other groups in this area. He said another duty of all connected with the Society was make themselves aware of any situations in which the help of the Society is required. NO. 17 -FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 28, 1976 2OG PER COPY The tax rate for school pur- poses in the County of Huron for the year 1976 will be increased by 28.7 per cent as the result of the budget approved by Board of Education trustees Wednesday night. The total budget for the year was approved at $18,428,354. This is an increase of $2,330,150 from the actual expenditures in 1975. It amounts to 14.47 per cent. In the last two months the Board in supporting the Ontario government's request for res- traint in spending slashed expected expenditures drastically in three areas. The cost of education services was reduced by 31 percent, operating expenses were down by 22 percent and non-operating costs were slashed by 13 percent. About 30 members of councils From Huron municipalities attended the budget approval meeting and participated in a question and answer period. Board chairman Herb Turk- heim in opening the budget discussion said, "we have done our utmost to pare our budget to the bare bones and to cut any more would be irresponsible." He continued, "I would emphasize that the cutbacks we have effected will not harm the education of our young people. Drastic as it may seem we feel that the co-operation of our school staffs, students, parents, municipalities and the Board will continue to provide a sound educational system of which we can all be proud." Turkheim emphasized that close to 80 per cent of the school budget was already committed when the Board received notice of the decrease in support from the provincial government. Turkheim continued, "when we were advised that the rate of support would be reduced to 60 percent at the elementary and secondary school levels. respect- ively, we were already faced with salary contracts that had been negotiated eight months pre- viously and tenders for school supplies had been called." In 1975, government support was 62 percent in both the 'elementary and secondary school panels. The Board chairman continued, "We, as a Board believe that restraints are necessary if our economy is to be saved but are concerned that the lead time given to us by the government was a minus quantity. Chairman of the budget committee, John Elliott of Blyth said that provincial grants will account for 71 percent of revenue for the board compared with 75 percent in 1975. Elliott continued, "the reduc- tion in level of assistance will r o,:t thn hn.,,•rl r•l.,••., ,,. ¢ s./ n nnn „ SCHOOL AN D MUNICIPAL OFFICIALS --A large number of representatives from Huron County municipalities attended Wednesday's meeting of the Board of Education when the 1976 budget was seta From the left are Board of Education chairman Herb Turkheim, Exeter clerk Eric Carscadden, trustee Clarence McDonald and Stephen township reeve Cecil Desjardine. News Photo The budget committee recom- mended and the Board approved the transfer of an existing work- ing fund reserve fund of $200.000 to be used to reduce the requi- sition from municipalities. At the sank meeing the Board agreed to make application to the Ontario Ministry of Educa- tion for permission to postpone the second phase of construction at the Exeter Public School to the 1977 budget year. The Ministry had authorized the expenditure of $277,710 for alterations and addition of an auditorium at the Exeter school. The budget shows no plans for capital projects. In 1975 $186,- 658 was spent in this category. Trustee Cayley Hill of Goderich asked why debt charges and loan interest had increased by more than $160,000 and was told this is the first year for repayment of a $750,000 debenture debt at Victoria Public School in God- crich. At the same time, Hill who is chairman of the Board's nego- tiation committee said teacher's salaries accounted for about 75 percent of instructional costs which are increasing by $2,435,- 344. Trustee Dorothy Wallace of Goderich asked, "if nothing is being spent on capital expendi- ture, what does this do to our equipment supplies, etc?" Superintendent • of Business Affairs Roy Dunlop replied, "We are in a better position now because the government was 'liberal' in recent years. For one year the situation should not be too bad and we will continue with essential maintenance only." Director of Education John Cochrane added, "in our budget formula for operating expenses for each school we have a limited amount of replacement capital items of emergency nature." Chairman Turkheim said Huron was rated as one of the most economical school boards in the province. Roy Dunlop added, "Our increase in the tax rate will be among the lowest (continued on page 5)