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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-12-11, Page 1INDEX Births /A10 Brussels /A4, 5 Classifieds /A14, 15 Dublin /A9 Entertainment /A16, 17 Farm /A18 Family /A10, 11 Hensall 1A7, 8 Legion /A17 ' Obituaries IA11 People /A10 Sports 1Al2, 13 Walton /A6 Save the ducks plan a good idea. See page A3. Dublin family .provides much local hockey talent. See page Alt. Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton ur xpositor SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 11, 1985 — 18 PAGES 50c a copy THE ONE THAT GOT AWAY — might have been a better catch than what Matthew Wynja actually did pull out of this pond, but there were no losers Friday at a fishpond held during a carnival hosted by the Seaforth District High School. Prizes were donated by area merchants, and no fishermen left without one. See page A3 for more on the Carnival. Mctlwraith photo Genesco plant strong The Genesco shoe manufacturing plant in Seaforth will not be hit by massive layoffs or plant closure, officials from the head office of General Shoe, the manufacturing section of Geneeco, stated during a recent visit to Seaforth. The future of the domestic shoe industry, including the local plant, was cause for some concern last week, when the federal government announced the lifting of import quotas limiting the importation of foreign footwear. "The bottom line is, we're certainly not considering, contemplating, or in the process of, clos'ng (the plant in) Seaforth," said Ian Holland, General Shoe general manager, of the company's Cambridge office. A combination of the quota -lifting an- nouncement, and a column on the editorial page of The Huron Expositor (Cornucopia by David Broome) in the November 27 issue, caused a lot of anxiety among Genesco employees and merchants in Seaforth, said Ken W arnsby, managerof manufacturing for General Shoe. While admitting the absence of quotas will cause some problems throughout the domes- tic shoe industry, both Mr. Holland and Mr. W arnsby insist Genesco is able to withstand the expected increase in competition. "Quotas have been removed and there will be changes within the industry," said Mr. People council's top priority Serving the people of Seaforth as best it can will be the fop priority of council over the next three years. In his inaugural speech last week Mayor Alf Ross said council will be attempting to make Seaforth a place where "men, women, and children of every walk of life and every background thrive and prosper in an atmosphere of decency and dignity." "i would like to suggest to all of you (the new council) that we must indicate to the people of this town that we are builders with deep concerns for others." he said. "A heap of stones and a pile of timber do not make a building until they are joined together by workmen with a conscious plan. Each person must lend their strength, however great or small, to the plan." Mayor Ross reminded the councillors not all their decisions would be popular ones, but that council would have its critics. "But that's an important part of Canadian politics. We must realize the town is facing a demand of all services it provides, well beyond its financial capabilities," he said. Without question one of the issues Mayor Ross said council must address is that of the landfill site. "We have been wrestling with this issue long enough. in my opinion it should be settled and settled quickly," said Mayor Ross. Other areas Mayor Ross suggested council could look at include: -Improving its sewer and lagoon system through upgrading. -Stepping up the rebuilding program for streets and sidewalks. -Finding a solution to a lack of off-street parking, -Better looking after the needs of the senior citizen population by supplying a Seniors Drop -In Centre of sorts, and -or with the help of private business and government look into supplying two bedroom apartments for seniors. "it has been said that coming together is the beginning. keeping together is progress and working together is success." said Mayor Ross in closing. Smoke, no fire A pot left burning on the stove is believed -to be the cause of a lot of smoke. which resulted in the Seaforth Fire Department being summoned to an apartment building on Friday, December 6, about 2:45 a.m. When firemen answered the call to I A Main Street. Seaforth. they found a great deal of smoke, although no fire appeared to be burning said Deputy Fire Chief Tom Phillips. The smoke quickly dissipated when firemen opened windows in the building, Phillips said. A pot. burned dry. found in one of the apartments may have caused the smoke, said Mr. Phillips, although the resident of the apartment contends he set the pot of water on the stove in an attempt to clear away some of the smoke Holland. However"There is no change and no anticipated change," in the 'status of the Seaforth operation," he added. "It's too early to tell what impact there might be on any one segment (of the shoe industry). But, from a Genesco standpoint, we have a diversity of products including mens' dress and casual footwear and safety footwear," said Mr. Holland. Men's dress footwear is the primary product of the Seaforth factory. "That is a segment of the industry where we feel reasonably secure," Mr. Holland said. "We feel we've got a product that will stand up to competition." Mr. Holland said he does not expect the increase in competition for the Canadian shoe market will be all that great as a result of the quota lifting. IMPACT SLIGHT "There will probably be a lot of fringe players coming into the market," said Mr, Holland, adding "anyone with a connection overseas," will probably try to cash in on the eased import restriction. "However, the impact of these small importers will be slight," he said. Although 85 to 90 per cent of Genesco's business is in manufacturing, Mr. Holland said Genesco itself does import some shoes for sale in Canada. The company only imports shoes in market categories "that don't affect our basic shoe," Mr. Warnsby pointed out. Recent layoffs at the Seaforth plant helped fuel rumors the operation was in trouble. However, Mr. Holland said these layoffs are seasonal and were `unrelated in nature," to the lifting of quotas. There are traditionally two low points in every year for the industry when layoffs generally occur, said Mr. Holland. "Quotas or no quotas, that's going to continue," although Mr. Holland points out that this year the local plant actually laid off fewer employees than at this time last year. Mr. Holland said the decision on the quotas came late enough in the year that business for next spring won't be affected. It will be the fall of 1986 "before we get any real feel," for the impact the quota lifting will have, he said. Still, Mr. Holland admitted, the shoe industry has been very vocal in their criticism of the government's decision. Manufacturers had been lobbying for a five-year extension on current quotas and a limitation of imports to a 50 percent market share. The total lifting of import restrictions will force the industry to respond, he said. "Everyone is looking at what they have to do to stay competitive," said Mr. Holland. Egmondville discuss ONIP funds Approximately 25-30 Egmondville resi- dents debated the priorities for use of funds from an Ontario Neighborhood Improvement Program (ONIP) grant, which was approved for the village in April, at a public meeting at the Egmondville United Church, on Decem- her4. Tuckersmith Township Council applied for a grant of $500,000 for improvements in Egmondville in March of 1985 and approval fora grant of $150,000 came through in April. The funds must be matched by e municipality, making the total amount available for projects 5300,000. The money must be spent within three years or the grant will be lost. F.5ghty per cent of the available funds will be used to improve hard services in the village, while 20 per cent will go toward recreation. Under conditions of the grant, not more than 15 per cent of the money may be used for administrative costs. Proposed projects include improvements to water systems, roads. street lights and parks, Tuckersmith Deputy Reeve Bob Broadfoot told the crowd. Council has a long list of proposed projects which could be done under these categories. Not all of the projects will be possible under the current ONIP program, so a list of priorities must be established, Richard Anderson, of B M Ross and Associates, a Goderich firm of engineering consultants told the gathering. Mr. Anderson presented a list of proposed priorities developed by his firm in consulta- tion with Tuckersmith Council. These priori- ties are only proposals, it was stressed, and council is seeking input from the taxpayers to establish a final list. "The top priority," Mr. Anderson said, should be, "to get water over the Bayfield Tuckersmith council endorses resolution BY WELM A ()KF, At its inaugural meeting last Tuesday Tuckersmith Township Council endorsed a resolution of the Huron. Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School Board the legisla- ture he informed, through the office of the Attorney General for the Province of Ontario, to alter or remove existing legislation which is found to be responsible for the excessive lawsuits and court awards. and further the judicial system be examined to ensure subsequent awards do net adversely affect the availability of insurance nor the premium for such insurance protection. The resolution had been endorsed and circulated by the Catholic school hoard when it found its recent renewal premium for all its areas of liability insurance had increased 98 per cent. and the school bus operators, upon a request for increased limits of liability. have had their premiums increased by 100 per cent and upwards. resulting in anticipated costly contract renewals. In other business the council voted to rent a heated shed from Matthew Haney for the tandem dump truck for $150 per month. Jim Papple of RR 4. Seaforth was appointed as the township representative on the Seaforth and District Community Centres Board A request by the Vanastra lions Club and the lioness Club for council approval to enable them to apply fora liquor licence at the Vanastra Recreation Centre for their winter carnival on February 1, was granted. Council gave approval to an application from the Van Egmond Foundation to apply for a BRiC Building Rehabilitation Improve- ment Commission i grant for the Van Egmond House. Passed for payment were the following accounts: Day Care Centre at Vanastra $8.555.52 t special Day Care Centre at Vanastra, 55.885.67 Vanastra Recreation Centre, $9.140.55: roads. $62,702.87; and general accounts. $316,172.30 for a grand total of $402,456.91. River and service approximately 15 houses presently not serviced by the municipal water system." Other top priority work, under the proposed schedule would include bringing a new weft qp Third Street into service and installattod of a new water main on Water Street. Second priority work, would include placing a water main through Centre Street and upgrading of a water main off William Street. The purpose of this project would be to "set up a loop, so if there is a break (in the water lines) more people would have uninterrupted service, while the break is repaired. Mr. Anderson said. Upgrading of the water main on Bayfield Street would be part of third priority work. A number of lesser projects would be under- taken if funds were still available. The above proposals apply only to the hard services portion of the grant funds. It was indicated at the meeting that some of the recreation allocation may be spent in conjunction with the Seaforth lions Club it became apparent during a question period, supplying water to the currently unserviced residences across the river was also a priority of most of the ratepayers present. It was suggested that even if this project receives top priority rating, it would be six to eight months before water would be available in this area, In response to questions concerning the type of mains to he used in these upgrading projects. residents were told no less than six inch main would be used. This size is the minimum allowable for hook up to fire hydrants. which may be added in the future Tuckersmith Council will make the final decision on pnonzation of projects after it has examined all the available information r • • ICY CONDITIONS contributed to an accident at Seaforth's main Intersection last week Antone Siemon of RR 5 Seaforth was a victim of the winter's wonderful weather conditions His car received $2,500 In damages. No one was injured in the accident. Mctlwraith photo Alcohol consumption lower Local police have come to the conclusion people in and around Seaforth are not drinking as much as they used to The Seaforth Police Department. in con- junction with the OPP. set up a spot check early Sunday morning Of the 45 or so motorists that were stopped only one failed to pass the breathalyzer test "Obviously the drunk driving ratio in Seaforth is not in keeping with the provincial one of one -in -ten." said Constable Charlie Akey "Some i expected to blow over weren't even close." Constable Akey said the results of the spot check reflects a drop in drinking in the area, a drop off that was first noticed in the summer "Friday and Saturday nights are dead here. it's not like it used to he," added Constable Akey. "The people who used to go to the bars now don't go until around lip m. stay for the last set. then go straight home " The police will be conducting spot cheeks sporadically during the Chnstmas season DRIVING HAZARDS Some local residents discovered one of the hazards of winter driving over the past week Antone Siemon of RR5. Seaforth attained $2.500 damage to his 1980 Chevrolet Malibu early last week when it slid into the town's Continued on page A l6