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Home My WebLink AboutZurich Citizens News, 1975-11-05, Page 1677,1 PAGE 16 - ZURICH CITIZENS NEWS, NOVEMBER 5, 1975 ounci1 said to be responsive, responsible (by Shirley J. Keller) Huron County Cauneilt is both responsible and responsive. So says a study completed b? Dr. C,T.M. Hadwen, a sociolog- ist from the University of Guelph, and presented Friday, ttober 31 to county council, Entitled "Local Government in Huron County," the study was carried out under a grant from the Ontario Ministry of Treas- ury, Economics and Intergovern- mental Affairs in co-operation with Huron County Comp. It showed that reeves and dep- uty -reeves are well-known, trusted, appreciated, honest and Loyal. It indicated that while some changes are needed, resid- ents of Huron County don't want anything to change to basic life style found in Huron; "This attitude of respect and trust, of co-operation and concern is sadly lacking in the case of many elected - and appointed - officials today," the report concl- uded. "The fact that it exists in Huron County is a factor to be taken into consideration when any changes are contemplated." The data for the study was gleaned from minutes of council meetings both at the county and municipal level, As well, 57 reeves and deputy -reeves were interviewed in 1973 along with 75 municipal councillors. There were 450 Huron County voters inter- viewed of which 80 percent were from the rural areas and 60 percent from the urban districts of Huron, All field work for the study was carried out by a team of four Huron Curdy residents whose work was carefully supervised and inspected. The results of all interviews were afterward coded, punched on computer cards and processed to yield the results presented to Huron County and perhaps more importantly, to Queen's park. The public described their el- ected officials as "-sten-liked, community minded, competent, honest and reliable." They feel that elected people in Huron run for office "to serve the commun- ity." Only a small percentage of those interviewed thought councillor value the prestige of their positions, or wish to exercise authority. People living in rural areas tended to stress the farming background . of a person who wanted to serve as a municipal OPEN DAILY DINNERS Mon. to Fri. and Sun. 5:00 to 7:00 Sat. 5:00 to 8:00 BREAKFAST Weekdays 7:30 a.m. • Noon Sat. & Sun. 8:00 a.m. to Noon LUNCH Every Day 12:00 Noon to 1:00 p.m. You Are Always Welcome! Dining Room Licensed Under LLBO SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 8 Special Guest Organist Green Forest Motor Hote YOUR HOSTS: "PETE" and "CAROLE" DEITZ HIGHWAY 21 GRAND BEND We have a wide selection of CARPETS and VINYLS From Canada's Leading Manufacturers BALLMACAU LAY LIMITED Hensall Phone 262-2418BUILDING cErrT arrr�e+rw,rrerrrir�er��wwnrs.�r��r�ri�rr.�m�r�s�i Cyd councillor.. There were six main reasons given by respondents in the study thought to be the motives for elected officials running for office in Huron. They were in order: a chance to improve local living conditions; a chance to support a' specific cause; prestige; opp- ortunity to enter political life; benefit to personal business; and salary. It was young people who tend- ed to give weight to theenefit to personal business for municipal councillors; about half of them feel this is "very important" or "extremely important." Middle- aged or older people do not feel so strongly on this matter. All groups believed that the salary was not at all important in deciding municipal Councillor to run for office. Those who had lived longer in the cotlnty were more emphatic about this. Road maintenance and snow removal was considered to be the single most important function of local and county councillors, according to the voters interview- ed. The next most urgent issue, according to the people, was pollution. Other important mat- ters were thought to be general upkeep of the county, control of the budget and setting the tax rate and drainage and sewers. In general, the voters felt that the areas in which the municipal councils had been most effective were roads and snow removal, general upkeep and drainage. Respondents from the public believed that hearing reports presented and paying bills were important duties of councillors. They were followed by bylaws, tenders, purchases, committee reports, grants, severances, loans and debentures sold. Voters felt councils had been successful in staying in contact with people, and said this was done through reports by the med- ia and by personal contact. Only a minority mentioned open public meetings. Urban dwellers ap- peared to be more dependent on contact through the media. Rural dwellers tended to give personal contact as the most important method of communication. A majority of voters felt that the municipal council does have the financial resources it needs to do its work, but a sizeable minor- ity felt that it did not. Three-quarters of the respon- dents expressed themselves as "fairly satisfied" with the work of the council. Some were very satis- fied and only a few were not very satisfied. More satisfaction was expressed by life-long residents of Huron County than by others. Almost unanimously, respond- ents were against a change to regional government. Apart from a few who thought that a regional government might be more effic- ient, the great majority respond- ed that there would be "no adv- antages" from regional govern- ment. A wide range of disadvantages was mentioned, with the largest single group, about half the resp- ondents, saying that they would lose contact with those directing their affairs. Others felt that regional government would be too expensive and that the resid- ents would have no local power. Respondents felt that among the changes needed in Huron was the provision of more. jobs. 4-H achievement .The 28th annual Huron County 4-H Achievement Night • will be held in the Central Huron Secondary , School. Clinton on Friday, November 7, commen- cing at 8 p.m. All Huron County 4:H agric- ultural members who completed a project in 1975 will receive their awards on this occasion. as will those who have received special trophies and awards for their 1975 4-1-1 club work. Everyone who has an interest in the 4-H program is invited to attend the Achievement Night. Rising costs in ,agriculture was seen as the major problem by rural and urban respondents, but very few felt the council could help with that problem, or any of the other agricultural problems mentioned. The average age of the vot- ers interviewed was 51. The larg- est single occupational group for female respondents was home- makers. The major occupations of male respondents were farmer (15.3%); retired (14.4%); skilled traded (10.2%); unskilled labor (8.8%); professional and technic- al (5.1%); clerical (5.1%); managerial (4.2%): and unempl- oyed (0.55). The majority of respondents had always lived in Huron Coun- ty. Nearly half of those question- ed were members of the United Church of Canada. More than half the respondents were active in one organization or another. Of the municipal councillors interviewed, 31 had served less than two years, 31 less than six years and 13 more than six years. Of the reeves and deputy - reeves interviewed, 24 had served less than two years on county council; 24 less than six years; and six more than nine years. The Beehive The Huron County Board Of Education at Hurn Centennial School Brucefield requires a Half-time Secretarial Assistant Duties to commence December 1, 1975, to work inthe school library each afternoon. Apply in writing to: A. Mathers Principal before November 15, 1975 D.J. Cochrane W. Shortreed Director Chairman N TINU PRICES SLASHED ON EVERY ITEM IN THIS STORE so OF 354 The Beehive Department St re Dish Cloths REG VAEA Tea Towels O3ti 4 CEA Infants' — Children's — Men's — Women's Clothing & Footwear MAIN STREET GRAND BEND PHONE.238.2154 irtie ' eul Es ` ate LTD ZURICH OFFICE _ FARMS AND LANDS - Various sizes and prices in the sur- rounding area. COTTAGES - Chesley Lake and also in the immediate area. Priced from $24,000 to $64,000. LOTS - St. Joseph Lakefront and second row, 75 x 237 and priced right. BUSINESS - Various good businesses with high potential in surrounding area. HOUSES - Various new and older homes in surrounding are at prices you can 't beat. You can expect and get more from, us AREA REPRESENTATIVES Gerrie l Eunice Healey leyPhone 236-4028