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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1985-12-18, Page 1INDEX Births /A15 Brussels 1A5 Classified /Al2, 13 Dublin /A4 Entertainment /A17 Family /A14, 15 Farm /A7 ., Hensall /A16 Legion /A17 Obituaries /A18 People /A15 Sports /A8, 9 Walton /A6 Weddings iA15 Australian slides shown at Staffa meeting. See page 44 Former Juveniles return for benefit game. See page 49. Maplewood Manor officially opens its doors. See page 410, A11. Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton xpositor SEAFORTH, ONTARIO, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 1985 — 18 PAGES Huron warden faces is -sues The (ymundbreaking of the Huron•County museum, renovations to Huronview, hydro lines and open meetings will be dealt with by the country's first female warden. Leona Armstrong, 51, the reeve of Grey Township was named Huron County Warden at the inaugural meeting of the 1986 council. She sought the same position last year along with four men, but came in third in a race between Bob Bell of Tuckersrnith, and the successful warden, Paul Steckle. "I must say that the pressures are not so great today as they were a year ago," said the new warden. There were no contenders for the position this year when Mrs. Armstrong announced her intentions to seek the seat that was once held by her father, Harvey Johnston of Morris Township. "1986 1986 is going to be a challenging and exciting year for all of us. The new Huron County' museum will get underway in 1986. It is anticipated that an architect will be hired early in the year and that we will be in a position to break ground for phase one sometime in late summer. When alt the phases of the museum are completed we will he proud that we had a part in making it a reality,r she said. She also noted the importance of the proposed renovations to the country's home for the aged. Huronview, "Our elderly deserve the best and that means the right to live in the most comfortable and enjoyable surroundings possible 1 take a personal interest in Iluroonew as I have spent many a night there when dad was administrator. . The province has recommended for approval S716,000 for this project Hopefully we can work together to come up with the funds to match this grant without ever taxing our people." said the first female warden for Huron She also sees Ontano Hydro's plans for a transmission corridor through the county as an important issue that has to he dealt with in the coming year "W a must work together to make sure that the mutes taken will have the least impact if any. on our county." said Warden Arm. strong On the question of agriculture in general. Warden Armstrong said the county will have to encourage both federal and provincial, governments to assist the farmers. The warden's husband, Jim, a high school teacher at Mitchell District High School said he would stand in the background and help his wife as much as he could. "It feels great." he said in answer to the question how it feels to be Huron's first man. "It's quite an honor. i'll just go along and help when 1 can. So far I've let her do her job and she has done very well," said Mr. Armstrong. Many ac'c'olades were brought to the warden, most recognizing the fact that with a 140 year history. Huron has just named its first female warden. "it's the first time I've kissed a warden of Huron County," quipped MP Murray Cardiff who jokingly added. "No offense Paul." For her part. the new warden commented that she isn't an eloquent speaker like past warden Steckle, nor does she have the smile of former warden Toni Cunningham or the wit of another past warden Grant Stirling. However, she said she would do her best to represent the county. Judge F.G. Carter swore in the new warden and dispensed some words of advice. "Be a woman, not a man, you have your own qualities." said the judge Members of the new warden's family, including her mother Lyle, and two sisters who came from Truro, N.S. just for the inauguration congratulated their daughter and sister after the ceremony Her immediate family was also present There was husband Jim and their four children. Hobert. Bruce, Brian and LeeAnn Warden Armstrong first started in munic pal politics in November of 1974 She was then deputy reeve for three years before being named reeve in 1981 when then Reeve Hnv Williamson resigned in mid term The full time community worker in a horticulture group. her church and women's institute has also served as chairman of the county's planning and development department The new warden was presented with' a county warden's pm, a key to the county. and a dozen rases The committees for the coming year are to he named at a meeting of county SUNDAY MORNING HOCKEY — donated new equipment bags. emblazoned with the team name and colors, to the Seaforth Midget hockey team, which is leaving December 26. for a trip to Denmark. From left: Midget player Dwain Osborn and exchange chairman Ron Murray accept one of the bags from Sunday Morning Hockey representative Jerr isRafri Atli Midgets team set for trip Aiter more than a year of organizational u irk and fundraising, and despite a couple of setbacks. Seafnrth's Midget hockey team is imalh set to embark on an international iii' hockey adventure The team ref 18. 13 to 17-year-olds, plus a contingent of coaches. parents and tans which brings the total number to 30. arc scheduled to leave for Denmark at 6 a m on i )eccmber'_'6 The team will he overseas until .t,inuar% 11 and will spend time in Copen- hagen nn Denmark's east coast and Eshorg on the west coast 11 hen onganalty conceived. the trip was In he a Seaforth•Nnrw'ay hockey exchange Hi ee\erthe Norway team, which was to visit here dining the Christmas holidays last year. hacked out of the venture and was unable to host Seafnrth's team this year So. the alternate trip to Denmark was arranged ' Wi' hope to host a team from Denmark nem war." said Ron Murray. president of exchange i'ommit lee The pray ers on the team will he hilletted m r. 50c a copy homes in the h. r..1 (toes while the adults In the group \\ill arrange other ,ic•ennimndal inns II/night> $27.1rnii was raised tar the trip. ahnnt 3h per cent nt a Inch was raised by the pia\ ers I hemselyes, throughcheese .eihng drive i tiler funds wen' rinsed through a car raffle. tickets sold on video cassette record (Is and through a circus promotion The t'w,il optimist Club also made a donation and Seatorth Sunday Morning Hnc•koy dr,•tated equipment hags to the team Mliich of the money will he used In ntlsit the' co -4 of travel, about $1.000 lar each pla acenrding In Mr Murray s islim.itt' "ft will ,ill he spent on the kids. he said. Ihnugh he added hopefully some tends aould he len over to help with the cost 'it'hosting a f)rnin,irk team next \ear The community was n',ilI\ responsible for rnisnig the funds for the trip said Mr Marra. "We went to them quite a ley, times and Ihe\ really responded RUDOLPH LEADS THE WAY for Santa's team of reindeer, In a skit performed by the Grade 3 and 4 class at St. James School's Christmas concert, Neta Tuesday evening, From left: David Middegaal, Mike Devereaux, Katie Craig, Michelle Etue, Christine Dale. Melissa Blake. Rants photo Response indicates Dramatic insurance increases are affecting both municipalities and school hoards, so the Huron Perth Roman Catholic separate school board is hearing. "We are getting responses." commented director of education Bill Eckert al the board's December 9 meeting it was last month when the school hoard sent out a resolution calling for the provincial legislature to change nr take out existing rules which are responsible for excessive court awards The hoard decided to go ahead and pass the resolution to all school hoards in the province and local municipalities after as own insurance premiums went up 98 per cent Insurance companies blame the huge claims awarded by the courts as the cause of the increase cost for liability insurance The local school board has heard from the full support Stormont. (Glengarry and Dundas hoard as ►well as school boards for !lasting, Simcoe, +Ottawa and Kent county Local townships. iflibb'rt. McKillop. and Fullerton, have also 'Indicated their support for the resolution Superintendent of business and finance Jack Fane, said a questionnaire from the ministry of education had just crossed his desk He said the ministry is asking for an indication of increased costs for fire and liability insurance In ether business. the hoard recently approved several salary increases The secretaries at the hoard office, the board office custodian -courier driver and the school secretaries were all given 3 5 per cent salary increases The board office secretaries maximum salary is now $17,445 and will increase to $19.040 in 1986 The three year contract provides a catch up provision of $950 in both 1986 and 1987 and $850 in 1988 The driver's salary increased from SI !Onto in 515,525 The school secretaries hourly rate it creases 26 6 cents per hour over the three years The minimum rate is now S7 per hour and the maximum is S7 70 per hour That s. It increase to 17 03 minimum per hour rale and 58 27 maximum Mr lane said the Large increase for the maximum rate ii, because the current salary rate is over a three sear grid. but starting in January will be over a:.i ?CV grid The school board also recently approved hiring the architectural firm of Carlos Vent in of Simeoe to prepare a draft plan with cost estimates for renovating St Michael's school in Stratford The idea is to turn the school into a high school, Council supports resolution All but one member of council voted in favor of a resolution asking legislation found to he responsible for the excessive lawsuits and court awards he altered or removed councillor Boh Dinsmore said he support- ed the resolution in principle hul could not vete in favor of because it suggested the judwia! system he examined to ensure subsequent awards do not arker'el\ affect the atailahilitt of insurance, or the premium for such insurance protection "i support the motion in General hut not that paragraph That's up In tate system '' he said "It's riot the power of any government In say a hat the judges come drain with aithnut changing the laws." added clerk turn ('rocker Councillor ('amlanne Drag said she teas in 1;avor of the paragraph 'f'rohabl the biggest linilik,m is that 9idges arc following the line 01 the fudges in the l'nted States I'd like In see ahal the are basing their judgements on and I think that paragraph should be added to the motion.'• sato said The resolution was written by the Huron Perth County Roman Catholic Separate School hoard it has reeentb expenenced an increase of 98 per cent in the renewal premiums for all areas of liahilit insurance and school bus operators, upon the hoard's request for increased limits of hahility have had their premiums increased h\ on per cent or more, resulting in costh contract renew• als SI'1'Pt)HT MOR. T4)RII 31 Seaforth Town Council voted last week to endorse a' resolution from the Huron County Federation of Agriculture to impose a moratorium in Huron fount\ in all farm foreclosures until fair and equitable legisla hon is in place A great number of fernier. in Huron ('aunty are on the brink of financial inn and will not he able to take part in promised programs of the Fi) Federal and Proinc•ial govr'rnmenIs because of ,iccelerated f,irr•i' 0 sures 'I',, irate the Federal Minister of :lgncut two John W Ise has promised debt revut'te hoards a ill he in place by fall ;mil the FY'(' is currently iindergnmg a poll('\ and mandate revive the hanks appear to he increasing their efforts to move on and foreclose on outstanding accounts in view ,if the an- nounced moratorium on F('(' NOT MARRIED Mixed reactions greeted an offer by the Humn•Middlesex Engineering Ltd . to con duct a seminar on engineering topics of interest to the municipality of Seaforth John Forrest. Parks Manager. said in his opinion the town had the firm of B M Ross and Associates on a retainer with the loan, and if Seaforth wanted a seminar it should seek one from (hem Others were opposed to that "We're not roamed to them, ' commented i'ueuncallor Bill McLaughlin "it seems to me they have everything wrapped up L don't think it would hurl us to take advantage of information that can he nffer'd us by other firms by way of seminars." added councillor Camlanne bola "I don't know (cur sure if we're al%ays getting the best deal when we have all our eggs in one basket .. INSIC t\\CF. Service groups who request a resolution by town council an they can have a liquor licence Continued on Page A7 Hydro approves rate increase The Consumer Services Division of Ontario Hydro has approved a 4.2 per cent increase applied for by the Seaforth Public Utilities Commission. Approval for the increase was announced on December 6, and will affect all power consumption as of January 1, 1986 The 4.2 per cent figure represents the average combined increase to both residen- tial and commercial customers of the PUC. "This increase is due to a four per cent increase in Ontario Hydro rates charged to the local utility and the cost of a new transformer to replace the existing one at Main Station Number One," said Tom Phillips, manager of the local PUC. The commission decided to debenture the $85,000 cost of the transformer replacement over a 10 -year period. A request to issue the debenture was granted by Seaforth Town Council at a meeting. December 10. The decision to debenture the cost of the new transformer over 10 years, enabled the PUC to offer customers "the cheapest possible rate," indease this year, said Mr. Phillips, The increase means the charge to a customer with an average monthly hydro consumption of 750 kilowatt hours, will increase to $43.88 from $42 13. said Mr Phillips Any attempt to pay for the new transformer in a shorter period would have resulted in a much higher rate increase, he added The actual installation of the new trans- former will likely take place in the latter part of April, 1986. said Mr. Phillips. The PUC has booked a portable auxiliary transformer, to supply the town with power while the changeover is being made. The commission is considering making use of a proposed Ontario Hydro surplus equipment sales service, to dispose of the old transformer, which has been in operation since 1945. in other business, Jim Sills was reappoint- ed by the commission to serve as commission chairman for 1986. Mr Phillips reported PUC workers flushed and winterized the town's fire hydrants during the latter part of November and said all the watermains appear to be in good shape. Also, markers were placed on the fire hydrants. to make them visible to snow removal workers and to aid firemen in location of hydrants in case of file The markers are "a vital, important part of supplying fire protection service," said Mr Phillips, adding he hoped the markers would riot be removed or damaged by vandals, as has happened in the past PVC workers also replaced a damaged hv;lro pole located near the Topnotch Feed Mill The pole was damaged when hit by a truck las( month and Mr Phillips said the replacement was made with a minimum of power interruption 4