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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1988-04-20, Page 1is si Dublin - A10 Hensall - All Sports - Al2,13 Walton - A17 Births - Al8 Weddings - A18 Obituaries - A20 Serving the communities and areas of Seaforth, Brussels, Dublin, Hensall and Walton ,,, collfr"ov+r i C; report She page Town receives setfierneffi. in court. See page AL Playoffs begin in +own bowling Q a ue. See page Al2. Huron XiO Seaforth, Ontario HURON EXPOSITOR, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 20, 1988 Highway 4 8 tur Although the proposed Highway 408 from New Hamburg to Goderich was, in ef- fect, shot down during a meeting with Ministry of Transportation and Com- munications (MTC) representatives April 5, local organizers are still confident the route will continue and be in place sometime in the future. Mitchell representative Lloyd Ortelli said that "it's not a dead issue. It's frustrating -but not dead. "I'm still confident it's going to come," he said, "it'll have to, for economic pur- poses, moreso than actual traffic count. That's what we'll have to justify in order to survive economically. "Without it (an expanded four -lane highway), it's difficult to attract good ac- cess for industry," he said. The meeting was held at the Mitchell Town Hall with Ortelli, Mayor Harold Jor- dan and Clerk -Treasurer Don Eplett the Mitchell representatives. Also involved were: Gerry Browning, Andy McConnell and Mike Duckett from the London MTC office, Bob Van Veen and Jim Kerhaghan from the Stratford MTC office, Jim Fit- zgerald and Anne Thompson representing Huron MPP Jack Riddell's office, and representatives from Goderich, Clinton, Seaforth, Stratford and Wilmot Township. Ortelli said the meeting was a follow-up session with discussion of a proposed survey completed in February as well as a reviev6' of previous surveys to determine the need of widening the highway. The 50 cents a copy ed down - for MTC representatives explained that the recent survey determined that the traffic totals had "diminished" somewh, t from a 1980 survey, with the projected totals far exceding what had actually happened. Hence, Ortelli said, with no traffic load to accommodate the need for a highway, the MTC basically said that it wasn't warranted. "We all felt very disappointed that results of the survey had shown up in this manner," Ortelli said. "Common sense dictates that traffic ha„s definitely increased." Ortelli alluded to the fact that the use of secondary roads (county) along the Highway 8 westerly corridor will affect the figures in the survey, and that these secon- OW dary roads weren't and aren't as strong and suitable as the regulation provincial highway. Ortelli did see some positive results, however. The fact that the MTC is definite- ly starting a two-year project of widening Highway 8 at the Tama Inn through to Baden, plus construction of a new bridge over the Nith River in New Hamburg bodes well for the future. This expansion, plus the widening from Fisher -Hallman Drive on the outskirts of Kitchener -Waterloo to the new stoplight along Highway 8, indicates that progress is being made. By 1993 at the latest, Ortelli mentioned, there will be four lanes from Kitchener to New Hamburg. "Maybe our presentation resulted in that being advanced slightly," he said. "That alone will open it up somewhat." These definite construction plans, plus an environmental study of the area to begin this summer, could lead to alter- native routes coming to the forefront. "We're rather, disappointed with the report, but at the same time, we're not discouraged and we'll continue to pressure the ministry," Ortelli said. Next on the agenda is the preparing of an economic forecast for the Perth and Huron County areas, Ortelli said, with the em- phasis that this part of Southwestern On- tario could not survive the future without a wide, four -lane highway to help promote industry. Seaforth to build works shed Seaforth's Public Works department hopes to have its own shed by next spring. Seaforth Town Council decided to pursue construction of a shed after the 1988 budgeting process revealed it would be cheaper in the long run. At present the town rents its shed from Smith Construction. Cost of that rental has been $1,000 per month for six years, plus taxes, and-was,scheduled to go up to $1,600 per month next April, when the current lease ran out. Cost of building the new shed is set at $120,000 and will be financed through the sale of debentures over 10 years - if the pro- ject and its financing, is approved by the On- tario Municipal Board. "It came out during the budget process that is would be more economical to build our own shed than continue to pay rent and Fire department BALLOON RELEASE - To celebrate Education Week and to mark balloon release on Monday in which students released 35 35 years of teaching in Seaforth, Seaforth Public School held a balloons. Corbett photo. Housing program endorsed by towri The presence of the Rural and Native Housing (NRH) program in Seaforth was fully endorsed by town council at its April meeting. Gerry Evans, Program Officer of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Howard Collison, Housing Development Officer, were present at Seaforth Council to discuss the program, which is designed to provide people in rural communities, who also fall in the lower income bracket, with an opportunity to become homeowners. The men were responding to enquiries from the Seaforth area about the program. Established in 1974 the Native and Rural Housing program makes housing units available, on a payment -to -income basis, to low income clients living in specific areas with a population of 2,500 or less. Costs of the program are shared between the federal and provincial governments on a 75 per cent/25 per cent basis, and in Ontario, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation acts as the lead partner for program delivery. The Ministry of Housing represents the province. According to Mr. Evans homeownership clients must make a minimum downpay- ment - in the form of cash, labor, materials or land - of an amount equal to 10 per cent of the average of his/her current and previous two years' adjusted household income. After that clients pay up to 25 per cent of the adjusted annual household income towards the monthly mortgage payment. The dif- ference between the clients' monthly pay- ment and the amount required to amortize the mortgage, plus taxes is subsidized. Based out of Kitchener, NRH covers an extensive area, but is limited to providing 36 units per year. Because of this limitation all applicants must meet specific criteria and housing is awarded according to the greatest need. To be considered for RNH, all clients must be in core housing need - which means their total income (before tax) from all sources for all persons in the household 15 years of age and over, must be at the lower end of the scale. A one person family, for example, cannot have an income of more than $16,000 and a four person family, and income of more than $27,000. Client eligibility is determined by taking into consideration such things as present housing conditions, family size, length of residency in the area, income, employment opprotunity and client affordability to main- tain a house, debts and expenses. A finan- cial review is carried out which includes a credit investigationa and search for judgements and writs. In Ontario priority is given to families, and affordability is based on annual income with mortgage payments being based on ad jested annual income. The client's income is reviewed annually with mortgage payments adjusted if re- quired. In extreme hardship an income review will be carried out and the mortgage payment may be adjusted if approved by CMI -IC. Depending on the circumstances NRH will rehabilitate existing units for its clients, or if existing buildings are unsuitable (the NRH prefers homes less than 10 years old - and between 10,000-11,000 square feet in size) will obtain land and construct its own. It operates on a price ceiling of approx- imately $94,000. House constructed under the program are energy efficient and relatively low in maintenance with standards meeting or ex- ceeding the National Buildin Code. Normal- ly, units are constructed through public or invitational tenders, and where possible, local contractors are encouraged to provide bids. That, said Mr. Evans, enables the local economy to benefit through the purchase of materials and employment opportunity. KLOM PEN FEEST QUEEN CONTEST - During aspecial dance Friday at the Seaforth and District Community Centres the 1988 Clinton Klompen Feast Queen was chosen. The 1987 Queen, Sandra Howson, front left, was on hand to present the crown. Also in the front row are, lett, runner-up Linda Brand, 1988 Queen Jennifer Hodgins, and Cori Sinnamon. Across the back, from the left, are the other contestants; Cherie Carter, Angela Haverkamp, Linda Van Dyk, Julia Feltham and Joy Cudmore. EmsIle photo. It's grass fire season and the Seaforth Fire Department has been called out several times this year to deal with this problem. The most recent case was April 12 on the p� ,aperty of Ray Eckel of McKillop Township at Lot 35 Concession 6. Mr. Eckel had been h ming garbage and it caught on Jn grass As the flames were heading tr ward some bush the fire department was idled in to deal with the situation. .rass has been very dry of late, and fire taxes on someone elses," said Seaforth's Deputy -Clerk Michelle Huard. According to Miss Huard the new shed will be constructed on town -owned property behind the Co-op. It will measure 118 feet by 50 feet, making it slightly smaller than the Tuckersmith Shed, but larger than the Smith Construction building. The new shed will contain a small office area, lunch room, washroom and change area, and will accommodate four bays. The building will be long enough however, that a fifth bay can be installed if and when it is needed. Town employees have already started to level the ground for this project, and it is hoped the groundwork can start in the sum- mer, and the actual building in the fall. busy with fires Chief George Garrick would caution people to be careful when they are burning gar- bage, fenceposts, or whatever, and remind the public that there is a town bylaw against burning anything within 100 feet of any building. • The second fire alarm this week was for a chimney fire on April 15 at 10:58, and was called in by Pat Benney at Lot 22 Concession 11 of Hibbert Township. No real damage was done by the fire, and Ms. Benney used a fire extinguisher to get the fire out before the fire department arrived. 1I► St. James part of Education Week student ceremony Students of St. James Separate School, Seaforth were part of a 500 -member mass choir that showed off its talents at the Strat- ford Festival Sunday. the occasion was the official opening ceremonies of the 50th education week. Following the theme, 'Dare to Dream' this year's event featured students within the jurisdiction of the Perth Board of Education and the Huron -Perth Roman Catholic Separate School systems. It is supposed to be the last opening ceremony to be spon- sored by an individual board of education and will be taken over by the minstry of education next year. More than 2,000 parents, students, educators and dignitaries from across On- tario were in attendance Sunday to watch the 300 -student actors and the 500 -member choir. .,, SPAGHETTI SUPPER was offered at the St. Thomas Anglican Church, as the church recently sponsored its annual event. Here Nancy Larone dishes up for one cf he customers. Corbett photo. • 6 4