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Home My WebLink AboutZurich Citizens News, 1975-02-06, Page 121975 1 ly, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1975 Report on Police in Huron County need unproved communications sys- tem and, .in some cases, up- graded accommodation, an Ontario Police Commission (OPC) report released Thursday concluded. The four-month study into policing alternatives in the county also found that the public generally appears satisfied with the quality of policing. The 35 -page report made no recommendations about which of the four policing alternatives should be implemented. "No recommendations have been made in this study as to what the commission considers the preferable method of polic- ing but rather the fact ors are presented with a view to assist- ing political authorities to reach decisions in relation thereto on a factual basis, " the report said. The four alternative consider- ed were : Leaving the present system in effect; retaining the present system but upgrading communications; establishing a county -wide police force; and turning all policing duties over to the provincial police. Huron County council reques- ted a study of policing in June at the urging of the chiefs of police of Huron's five towns, who suggested a county -wide system might be a viable alt- ernative to the Ontariotask force on policing recommend- ation that towns with population of less than 15, 000 should be policed by the OPP. The chiefs feared that if this recommendation were adopted, a good deal of local autonomy in policing would be lost. The study concerned itself primarily with the costs involv- ed in the four alternatives but also took a cross-section sampl- ing of opinion about policing. Interviews were conducted by OPC staff with county and municipal officials, judges, farmers and businessmen and included a random on -the -street sampling. The study found rural resid- ents --who are policed by the OPP --have little direct cont- act with police but feel present patrols are sufficient. Town residents also felt sat- isfied, the report said, but suggested improved communic- ation and liaison is needed bet- ween forces. "In short, nowhere was found much demand for large-scale change, " the rep- ort concluded. It estimated that if the five towns maintain their police forces, costs are likely to increase 15 per cent during 1975. Goderich has nine officers, Exeter five, Clinton, five, Wingharn, five and Seaforth, four. The total cost to maintain these forces in 1975, the study Independent Shipper to United Co-operative of Ontario Livestock Dept Toronto Ship Your Livestock with Roy Scotchmer Monday Is Shipping Day From Varna Stockyard CALL BAYFIELD 565-2636 By 7:30 a.m. Monday For Prompt Sorrks No Charges on Pickup ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS PAGE 13 policing in Huron estimated, will be $539, 706. Maintaining the present system but establishing a com- mon communications and disp- atch centre would increase pol- icing costs by another $150, 000 The provincial government, the report noted, will pay 75 per cent of the costs of establ- ishing such a facility. It would cost an additional $40, 000 annually to operate the communications centre with a staff of five persons, the study suggested. Establishing a county police force would cost about $1.2 million in addition to the cost of replacing inadequate police accommodations in Seaforth, Exeter and Clinton. Under the county system, the report noted, all county municipalities would be requir- ed to contribute directly to pay for policing, unlike the present system under which rural areas face no direct charges for OPP policing. The county system would also require a centralized commun- ications systems, the report stated. Costs involved in having the OPP take over are extensively examined in the report. A report'from the OPP indic- ates that the use of provincial police in the five towns would have reduced costs by a total of ,about $35, 000 in 1974-- $434, 546 compared to the 1974 budgets totalling $469, 369. In Goderich, the existing OPP detachment south of town would serve as primary head- quarters while a store -front office would be established in the downtown area. The OPP estimated it would require nine men to police the town of 7, 000. In Exeter, the existing OPP detachment near the downtown would be retained while polic- ing would be handled by five men. In Clinton, new office acc- ommodation would be required by the five men needed to police the town. Accommodation at Seaforth is adequate "for the present" and the town would require four officers. Existing Wingharn OPP offices are adequate to serve the town and five officers would be required. At $75, 000 annually, the town would save about $10, 000 from present costs. The report noted its new estimate was considerably bel- ow an estimate provided in early 1974 at the request of the town and which showed OPP policing costs at about $120, 500. In addition, under the OPP plan, the remainder of the county would be charged per - capita levies to recover costs which in 1974 amounted to about $880, 000, In a letter fromOPC chair- man Elmer Bell, which accom- panies the report, municipal officials are promised that• members of the OPC will attend meetings to discuss the report if questions arise. Girls 4 - H Club begin meetings (by Wendy Meidinger) Our first 4-H Club was held on February 3 -at the home of Cheryl Turkheim. As a group we discussed the clothing that should be worn as a matching set. The election of officers took place; President, Lesley Hogg, secretary -treasurer, Pam O'Brien, press reporter, Wendy Meidinger. We discussed how to go about taking measurements. We ended the meeting with the girls letting us look at differ- ent patterns and decided about the pattern we are going to use in making a blouse. 0 ABOUT PEOPLE Mrs. Seleda Steckle returned home after visiting in Ohio with her daughters, son-in-law and also former friends not seen for many years. Ivir. William Davidson, R.R. 3, Zurich is a patient in South Huron Hospital, Exeter, 'rot¢ct your children aRainst isease, thr. • h immunizaf This is . t Ontario is doing to help you. Immunization protects against polio, diphtheria, `measles, rubella (German measles), whooping cough, smallpox and tetanus. Although often considered to be "childhood diseases," they are anything but minor—measles, for in- stance, can lead to encephalitis (brain disease), a cause of retardation! Here in Ontario, the Ministry of Health provides the vaccines and your Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) pays a fee to the physician for administering them. But the responsibility for immuniza- tion—for making sure your children are protected — is still up to you. Have your children immunized by your family physician. Or, for school age children, use school immunization programs pro- vided by Health Units. Immunization is quick and convenient —vaccines against several diseases are often combined. .And the only way to control these diseases is to immunize as many people as possible. Your Ontario Government is doing its share—by providing vaccines and pay- ing for immunization through OHIP. Do your share—make sure your chil- dren are immunized. Consult your family physician, public health nurse or local medical officer of health. A free booklet on immunization is available, with a chart showing what diseases your children should be im- munized against, and at what ages. For your copy, write to: Health Resource Centre Communications Branch Ontario Ministry of Health Hepburn Block, Queen's Park Toronto, Ontario M7A 1S2 Ministry of Health Frank Miller, Minister =BM Amsozi ®. Government of Ontario William Davis, Premier