The Huron Expositor, 1978-12-21, Page 1•
Whole No. 5780
_11%/1 Year. sgAFORTH, ONTARIO, 'THURSDAY, ECEMBER 21, 1978 — 40 PAGES, [Second Section Pages 1 24)
112.00 a year in adVance
Single Copy 25 cents
WA.
. •
FIRE DAMAGE -,6.Thesis are this charred reinaltia of furnitOre ih thes
apartmentr of Ronald HoWard, 36, of 1'A Main Street, who lost his life in a
tire early Wednesday itiariltig. • (Expbaltpr Photo)
f
O W 91i
4
r /on ‘4CxPostror
Inside this week
Huron Centennial Concert P.M
The liuron Road, Pt. 2 PISA
Christmas around the world P. 7
Silent Night by W.G.StrOng. P. 8
Ohristrnas Miracle by Eric:Tint:40j . P.23
min aze
UNDER THE CHRISTMAS TREE—Two-year old Jill Wood and her eight
month old brother Scott, who live at 71 Railway Street, Seaforth, may
have needed a little help writing to. Santa Claus this year, but they're still
looking forward to seeing just what's insideall those interesting looking
boxes under the family Christmas tree. , (Expositor phcito)
. .... . . ... - ,:t,L:-," . :4;: ...1'. • unman chairs. P
Donald Howard, 36; of IA Main Street,
Seaforth is dead, as the result of an early
morning fire Wednesday in the three storey
brick Royal Anprtments building at the
cornet of Goderich and Main Streets.
Mr. Howard was alone in his apartment
when he was found by firemen on a couch in
the livingrooin, He was taken to Seaforth
Community Hospital where he ,was pro-
nounced dead on ararival by Seaforth
coroner, Dr. Paul Brady.
The fire alarm was turned in at-3:34 a;in.,
and almost the full Seaforth fire department
responded to the alarm.
Dr. Brady said death was caused by smoke
inhalation. The cause of the fire is presently
under investigation by the fire marshall's
office. -Results of the investigation are
expected later this week.
An autopsy mithe body will be performed
at Stratford General Hospital on Wednes-
day,
Clarence Reeves, another tenant in the
building, is credited with discovering the fire
and alerting the other apartment dwellers.
The residents of the other aparatments
escaped from the building without injury.
Young artist
is SPS studen
Brian Sootiens, 10, whose drawing is on
the front cover of this Christmas Huron
Expositor is the son of Mr. and Mrs. John
Soontiens of R.R.#5, Seaforth. Brian is a
Grade 5 student at Seaforth Public School
and said the teacher's advice when she
asked students to design a Christmas picture
was "To draw a good background". The
other children in ,Brian's family are sister
Kathy and brother David.
Mayor . Sinnamon suggested'' PUC
employees be:asked to fill in a checklist each
time a vehicle is taken ottt to ensure the
equipment receives the pro r :maintenance.
Other BusIne
In other. business, t e commission
received a letter from the Fire Area. Board
(FAB), asking that PUC manager Tom
Phillips attend the board's December 18th
meeting to outline the cost of upkeep and
maintenance fer the Seaforth fire hydrants.
The Seaforth town council, which pays the,
PUC for' fire hydrant maintenance, is asking
that the FAB assume these costs in thar
next budget,
Mr. Phillips said the Seaforth PUC
charges the town $90 per year 'per hydrant
for upkeep, He pointed out the Exeter PUC
charges $168 per year and. Goderich PUC
charges.$100 per year . for maintaining each
hydrant in their municipality. The only town
in Huron County Where the costs for hydrant
maintenance are below those in Seaforth, is
in Cli .Clinton PUC charges $45 a
r in mainten ce costs per hydrant, but
they have 30, more drants. than Seaforth.
Mayor Sinnamon sal e didn't see why
the FAB was involving the PUC at all in their
debate with the town over paying hydrant
costs. However, Tom Phillips -agreed to
attend the meeting on Monday and outline
the fire-hydrant expenses..
The PUC manager also reported that the
company has been assessed for more
property than the PUC owns by the Regional
Assessment Office. Even though the PUC is
a tenant, it must pay both business And
properly taxes on its office area.
Under the present assessment, the PUC
Was billed for the police office, part of the
front hall of the town hall and the fire
n. stati •
The commissioners aske r. Phillips to
draw the discrepancies to the attention of the
assessment office and appeal the assess-
ment,
The commissioners also discussed the sick
leave benefit plan for town employees and
the policy se paying for' employees" training
courses. Both matters were tabled for
discussion at the next meeting of the° PUC.
The total value of building permiti issued
in Seaforth so far in 108 is more than triple
last year's. Including-the new senior citizens
apartment building to be constructed on
John St., $1 ,512,000 in permits have been
issued through the town cleric's office.
$676,900 of that total have been permits
for he* hbines and apartments and the test
have been commercial and include about
$140,000 in repairs And improvements,
according to toWil clerk Jim Crocker.
• Town building ,inspector Herman • Van
Reeves said he discovered the fire
when he saw smoke pouring but between the
clOor and the back of his bedroom wall, Mr.,
Reeves' apartment is behind the apartments
vv,as occupied by Mr, Howard.
Mr. Reeves alerted Ferg McKellar, who
lives in the building next door, and Mr..
McKellar, turned in the alarm.
In the meanthn0, Mr, Reeves woke the
other tenants, who were able to escape down
the back stairs of the building. They were
giv,en -stielterAfr.tho,•McKellar apartment
cintil they found another place to spend the
remainder .of the night.
The•Royal Apartment building is owned
by Harvey Dale of Seaforth. The Howard
Fire Area Board
The•fire Area Board(PAP) has decided to
postpone making a decision.on the issue of
whe pays for the maintenance of Seaforth
fire hydrants until they have a legal opinion
from their lawyer.
BY WILMA OKE :
It's going to cost Tuckersmith Township
residents more to own a dog in 1979 if t
by-law for the proposed new fees for
licences is approved at' the
meeting in January.
Councillor Frank,Falconer proposed Tu
day rising the fees . in the hopes
discouraging people from keeping more than
one dog 'in a household.
'The proposal calls for the licence fee for a
first male dog to be raised to '$6.00 from the
$plredmo to sentfee of $5,00; a first female dog from
$12.00; second male to remain the
same at $20.00; second female to be raised
from $25.00 to $30.00; for an additional
number of males over two to remain the
.Wieten would like to be paid a salary rather
than so much per inspection, the clerk said
at last week's meeting of council. His
services are shared with 'other area
municipalities and he's Wring each to pay a
portioh of his salary, Mr. Crocker reported,
A salary could rte cheaper for the
municipality and no extra'benefits would be
paid: the clerk'Said.
Council referred' the matter' to its police
and property committee.
apartment was heavily damaged by fire,
smoke and water, but no estimate of
damages was available at press time,
Other apartments in thoBeilding suffered
varying: amounts of smoke and, water
damage, 'as did the medical office of Dr.
Charles Mayo, located on the first floor of
the building beneath the Howard apartment.
This summer, renovations to the royal
Apartment building included the installation
of fire doors at the front and rear of the
building,,.
Seaforth fire. chief Harry Hak said the
apartment has been sealed off until the
investigation by the fire marshall's office is
complete.
Seaforth council, who also sought a legal
opinion, have stated they feel the FAB
should pay the entire $5400 cost of fire
hydrant maintenance in the town, since fire
protection is the responsibility of the board.
same $30.00 each, and for additional
fern to be raised to $50.00 from $30.00
Edith and Norman Turrall of Egmondville
wrote council a humorous ditty on the dog
problem in their hamlet. 'They called their
hamlet "Dogville, commonly known as
Egmondville". They report many dogs
running free causing a nuisance.
Another problem in Egmondville surfaced
at the meeting when Allan Nicholson, road
superintendent, who is also in charge of the
water system, said Seireial 'regidentS com-
plained about the bad taste and the bad
smell their water had during the past two
weeks. Clerk Jack' McLachlan said
according to recent Health Department tests
Although smoking is suspected` as the
cause of the fire, the fire marshall's office is
still investigating.,
Mr. Howard was the son of the late Mrs,
Bella (Dupuis) Howard.
Mr. Howard ,is survived by two uncles;
Norman Dupuis of Huronview and- Gordon
Dupuis of London and one aunt, Mrs. Myrtle
Beacom of London, as well as several
cousins in Seaforth, Goderich and London.
Mr. Howard.was employed at the Douglas
Point power plant, and had lived in Seaforth
for a number of years.
The funeral service will be held frornBolc
Funeral Home, Seaforth, on Friday at 2 p.m.
with burial in Maitlandbank Cemetery,
The town pays Seaforth PUC for the
upkeep of the hydrants.
Seaforth council had threatened to' with-
hold part of its' 1978 payment to the FAB
until 'a decision—had been reached on the
hydrant question.
However, at the last meeting of council,
.members decided to pay their 1978 levy, in
the hopes the issue would be solved before'
the 1979 FAB budget was drawn up.
Tom, Phillips, PUC manager, appeared
before the FAB to outline costs of
maintaining the fire hydrants.
He quoted from a 1977 Waterworks Digest
which said the costs of maintaining hydrants
in Goderich was $100 a' year, $168 a year in
Exeter and .45 a year in Clinton, where they
have 30 more hydrants than Seaforth.
Mr. Phillips said the original guidelines
l'or fire hydrant installation were that a
hydrant should be installed every 500 feet in
- 're identialcarta •intr'eVery 300 feet in an
industrial area. .
Mr. Phillips said some municipalities are
now increasing the distance between
hydrants from 800 to 1,100 feet due to
more efficient fire fighting equipment.
Mr. Phillips said it now costs between
$1,200 and $1,300 to' install a .new fire
hydrant.
In the' discussioe following Mr. Phillips'
explanation of hydrant rental costs, Gerald
Groothuis, ,one of two Seaforth councillors
who sit on the FAB, said "The town is just as'
obligated to keep their costs down as the
FAB is."
Mr. Groothuis asked if the board felt the
hydrant rental cpsts were outrageous or out
of hand after comparing costs with those in
other towns.
Roberth. Fotheringham, the Tuckersmith
representative, said- at one time he had
wondered if the town was getting a kickoff
from the hydrant rental fees.
Members of the board decided since they
would have to pay for the legal opinion, they
should wait to hear it before coning tb any
decision on the fire hydrant 'question.
Irwin Johnstcc, the Seaforth representa-
tive said, "What if he (the lawyer) has a
different opinion (from Seaforth's lawyer)
will we sit around for another year?"
Gerald Groothuis said he thought there
would be a court case if the two legal
opinions differ.
on the water that it was satisfactory.
Following a discussion on what might
cause the problem Mr. Nicholson was
instructed to work with Neil Hopper, well
driller for the township owned well to
attempt to clear up the trquble Mr.
Nicholson said only a few Egmondville users.
seemed to be affected on dead-end lines
while the rest of the customers had no
problem, including the township garage
where the water is good.
An application for a building permit by Art
Havercamp, lot 32, concession 2, Huron
Road survey, was approved for alterations to
his barn.
Passed for paymefit were accounts
totalling $15,626.92.
(by Mice 'Gibb]
Gordon 'Pullman, last year's P,UC chair-
man, was re:elected to, the position• at the
first meeting of the new Seaforth PUC
commission on Wednesday,
Mr. PUllmati is the only Pug veteran.
with two new faces on the conmiission--
Mayoi trdohii Sinnarnon and commissioner
Doug Fryett.
In discussing the proposed 1979 budget
for the PUC, which has been. submitted ,to
Ontario Hydro, commission members
decided an increase • in PUC rates wasn't
likely until late .spring.
Ontario HydrO has raised its rates to the
PUC by over nine per cent as of January 1.
HoWever. an excess revenue rebate received
from Hydro will mean. Seaforth residents
likely won't face an increase in their utility
bill until. May.
Hovvever.in examining the proposed 1979
Widget, the. commissioners decided to
postpone the purchase of a new bucket truck
for the town until next year.
The truck now in use was purchased in
1966. Tom Phillips. PUC .manager, said a
new bucket truck would cost approXimately
$38440,000. The manager said he expected
the old truck could 'be sold for approximately
$10,000 to a smaller utility, company. which
,would still mean anexpenditure of $28,000.
Alternatives would be to purchase a new
cab and chassis and remove the bucket
apparatus from the old truck. attaching it to
the newer odel. An estimate from a
company w tch sells the bucket trucks set
the cost a new, cab and chassis and
installatio• of the old bucket at approxi-
mately '$ 2.000.
The • commission decided to try and
salvage the truck for another year by putting
, in a new motor •if necessary. • '
PUC commissioners also discussed how to
dispose of an International dump truck,
which the PVC 'manager said is unused 80
per Cent of • the time.
Last year's PUC commission had deckled
to trade in the dump truck on a one ton truck
with a smaller Ow box. Tenders were
received from McLaughlin Motors, Seaforth
and West End Motors, Mitchell on a trade-in
arrangement, •
However, since the last PUC' meeting,
Torn Phillips reported the motor'in the dump
truck is "shot", and the truck is now in.
Brown's Repair Shop, Egmondville.
PurehaSe
The commission decided to 'give the two
car dealers a chance to purchase the dump
truck. Also, the dealers will be asked to
re-tender on an outright purchase basis for
the new truck required by the PUC. The
tenders will be due by January 8.
The commission decided to ask any firms
submitting tenders in the future to submit
them in sealed envelopes with the word
tender on the outside of the envelope. This
. envelope won't be opened until the • •
,commission meets. This procedure will
'\ protect Mr. Phillips and members of the
commission -from' any criticism they
the tenders submitted before the
actual PUC meeting when the lowest tender
is accepted.
In discussing •ilie question of disposing of
the dump truck. Gordon Pullman pointed out
motors in two of the town trucks haVe gone
since last March.
eaforth's booming
Building permits triple last . year's
A VERY SPECIAL CHRISTMAS GIFT — Charlotte and .Kenneth
T3achert, of Ft. R.4, Walton, received a very special gift this year for
Christmas, twin boys born last Thursday. The boys, who haven't been
named yet, are brothers for Wendy and Timmy Bachert.
(Expositor Photo)
Postpones decision on hydrants again
Tuckersmith gets
Dad, water .Egrmond\ii le
•