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The Exeter Times-Advocate, 1974-05-23, Page 1-•••••>.t Exeter council agreed this week to make formal bid to purchase the present post office for municipal offices, They agreed to follow the recommendation of the property committee and submit a price of $22,500 for the facility. Property committee chairman Derry Boyle explained that the post office department had lorfF4ft: Okay bid for post office teak latelge„,2 submitted three alternatives for the acquisition by council of the post office, It could be leased for a two- year period at $1.50 per square foot; it could be purchased outright at market value; or it could be purchased for half the market value if it was to be used as a community facility for senior citizens, a day care centre, rae%4. frigogenboom lone .dissenter position as being in favor of retaining the present town hall, He asked if any figure had been set regarding alterations at the post office, and when advised none had been determined, set a figure of $25,000 himself, Other members said this was much too high, noting they would not undertake any major changes in the immediate future if the post office is acquired. "Time isn't on our side," Councillor Bruce Shaw advised in noting there was some urgency in making a decision. Hoogenboom countered with "we don't have to buy the building." Shaw said it would be "money well spent," Hoogenboom said he couldn't see the need for spending $50,000 (purchase price plus his estimate of alteration cost) when the clerk had been able to operate at his present facilities for many years. Depty,Reeve Helen Jermyn then asked the local florist why he had enlarged and modernized his own building when in fact he too had been doing a good job there for many years. Boyle said the town had to give its employees the best possible working conditions and Shaw noted that the present facilities were "inexcusable" and a "disgrace." "I'm against it, let's fix this one town hall) up," Hoogenboom sated. "We were already told that is not practical," Mrs. Jermyn countered. Other members of council then voiced their approval for the offer to purchase and the motion was approved. BALING WATER AT HOSPITAL — Early Friday morning the water level mounted at South Huron Hospital and employees and firemen baled out the window wells. Shown above are Bill Berends, Bill Gilfillan, Larry Smith, John Morgan, chief Gary Middleton, Alex Meikle and Bill Hirtzel, T-A photo recreation or a drop-in centre. "We can't afford to consider this option," Boyle said in turning down the final alternative. He said after due consideration the property committee recommended outright purchase of the building. The lone opposition came from Councillor Ben Hoogenboom, who had previously outlined his One Hundred and First Year Price Per Copy 25 Cents TRACTORS SWAMPED — Most of the farm of Clark Landscaping on Highway 83 west of Exeter was covered by Friday's flood waters. Above, Mr. Clark takes a picture of two submerged tractors. T-A photo Torrential rain hits district Basements, fields flooded New rules to slow GB building, approve grant to minor soccer The heavy rain of Thursday night and Friday morning sent torrents of water through Exeter streets again, but little damage was reported. Many basements were flooded in the central portion of town and the most damage appeared to be at the Canadian Tire Store where many items stored in the basement were soaked. However, store owner Ken Pettigrew said the damage was not great. Water aIso..f4owed through the show room at Snell Bros, garage again, but little damage was reported other than the mess which had to be cleaned up. The area along the Anne St. drain from the south-eastern limits to the west was flooded, Several complaints regarding dusty streets were aired at Tuesday's session of Exeter council, but members didn't have to look far for the solution. They were advised that the oiling of streets had commenced that day and would be near completion by the time members were ready to leave the meeting. A petition citing "appalling conditions" was received from several AndreW St. residents who live in the block between Sanders and Gidley. The letter said house cleaning was futile and some residents hesitated to allow their children to play outside because of the dirt being created by the road con- ditions. The letter was signed "yours in desperation". Another request for an end to with many residents in that district having water in their basements. One home on Simcoe St. had water nearing the first floor level. Some water seeped into the basement of South Huron Hospital, but firemen, hospital staff and works department personnel were on hand pumping out the window wells to keep damage minimal, The fire trucks were used to pump water from the Anne St. drain at Marlboro St. to reduce the buildup. While 'the heavy rain spelled problems for many people, works superintendent Glen Kells said 'the problem should be alleviated when the new pumping station the dust problem was received from residents on Sanders St. Councillor Tom MacMillan said it would be impossible to com- pletely eradicate the dust nuisance, noting that it was still a problem on Main St. even after the paved road was swept and watered down by rain. Clerk Eric Carscadden agreed, noting that while his residence was located on a paved street, there was still dust. Noting that the oiling program had been started earlier than usual, Mayor Jack Delbridge said, "we're making the best effort we can", Members noted that com- plaints about the oil would probably be aired at the next meeting and the subject was dropped on that note. and the new drain to parallel the Anne St. facility are completed. That work is presently in the engineering stage and council had hoped to have the project started this year. However, that looms as a remote possibility at best. However, they did authorize Engineer B. M. Ross & Associates to acquire the necessary property easements for the drain extension, which will parallel the Anne St. drain from Edward St. to the west side of town. Council also agreed to send a letter of thanks to Canadian Canners Ltd. for sending 10 men to help fill and place sand bags at the Riverview Park dam on Friday morning. The men were sent to the park when flood waters neared the top of the cement embankments. The water started to recede shortly after the sand bags were placed in position. Also assisting in the sandbag operation were town and PUC employees and members of the Ausable-Bayfield Conservation Authority Sweep program. One of the most heavily flooded areas was Hay swamp, where a section over five miles square was completely covered with wa ter. Many roads in the swamp north and south of Highway 83 were closed after being covered, with water. Two tractors owned by Clark Landscaping left in a field ad- jacent to Highway 83 just east of the Black Creek were submerged in water Friday morning. Fields in the area were again saturated, further delaying seeding, but many sections had dried up remarkably fast and some farmers were back on the land by Tuesday. Rust indicatei cans not made of gold "Those garbage cans we paid so much for are rusting on the inside," Mayor Jack Delbridge told Exeter council this week. He said the rust didn't show except when garbage was being put in the containers, but he suggested it was not a good situation for such an expensive item, Deputy-Reeve Helen Jermyn suggested payment of $1,153.98 for the seven cans be withheld until the situation was checked out. • "You pay more for a car and it starts to rust a week after you get it," commented Councillor Ted Wright. Council agreed to pay the bill, but will enclose a note outlining the rusting problem. Resort course, cottages entered Two damage complaints were reported by the Oakwood „Golf Course, Saturday. Two vehicles were driven onto the course and became stuck after damaging the fairways to a considerable extent. OPP Constable Bill Glassford and Al Quinn headed up the in- vestigation and two persons have been charged in connection with the incident. Police are also investigating thefts from two cottages in Oak- wood Park and Highlands III subdivision north of Grand Bend. Some liquor was reported missing. May have erred with objection? Did Exeter council err in presenting an objection to the liquor application submitted to the LLBO by the Burkley Restaurant? That was the suggestion this week after council met in closed session with Burkley owner, John Tzavaras and his lawyer, Donald J. Hamilton. Council voted to go into a committee-of-the-whole session at the request of Hamilton, who had made his wishes in that regard known to Mayor Jack Delbridge prior to the meeting. No reason was given for the closed session. A motion arising out of the session was that council have their solicitor check and ascertain whether the Burkley was in contravention of the local zoning bylaw. Council had voiced an objection with the LLBO on the ground that the restaurant did not have the required parking space for the number of seats involved, One parking space is required for every four seats in a licenced establishment. A comment by Reeve Derry Moyle after the meeting with the two men suggests there was a request that town property be leased to the restaurant. "There's no way I'm leasing any of this (town hall?) property," Boyle was heard to tell another member. Thirty-five seek bicycle awards About 35 students of the two Exeter elementary schools participated in Saturday's bicycle rodeo sponsored jointly by the Kinsmen club and the pollee department, Written examinations are to be corrected and winners will be announced the week of May 27. To Be Teacher Gretta Verkerk, daughter of Mr, and Mrs. Cornelius Verkerk of Crediton graduated from a four- year Spanish course with honors at the University of Western On. facia. She hopes to make teaching her career. Family Studies Cora Van Raay, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Case Van Raay, Dashwood, graduated May 22 from the College of Family and Consumer Studies at the Universi- ty of Guelph. She received a Bachelor of Applied Science degree with a major in Family Studies and has taken a position with United Community Services in Peterborough. "The ball is now back in their court," RAP member Jack Underwood said Tuesday night in reference to the fact the Exeter Lions are being asked to consider a new site for their proposed tennis courts. . The Lions had requested they be allowed to build the double court facility in Riverview Park, just west of the swimming pool. RAP members favored having the courts at the community park so they would be available for use by students at the two schools during the day. Tuesday night, Underwood said that Lions representatives Peter Raymond and Glen Kells, along with himself and Bob Pooley and rec director Jim McKinlay looked at the Riverview Park site and all agreed that it was not suitable. Underwood told council that the site did not have ample room and would be a detriment to the park aesthetics. RAP had come tip with a counter proposal for a location that would now be studied by the Lions. Underwood did not detail the loeation, but indicated it was in the community park and would Grand Bend council learned Tuesday night that new provincial regulations regarding septic tank installations are now in effect. Recent legislation transfers the responsibility for the approval of septic tanks and private sewage disposal systems to the Ministry of the Environment, Hearing of the changes in sewage requirements, councillor Tom Webster who is the village's building inspector commented, "this effectively stops all building in Grand Bend". Regulations say a conventional septic tank system is allowable only where the soil is sand or of absorbent material, The second section says, "a septic tank system with a raised type bed is allowed where the soil is non-absorbent hut where the lot is large enough and surface Business Grad Allan Sararas, d graduate of the Business Data Processing Program of Fanshawe College,London, has accepted a position as computer programmer with Joy Manufac- turing Ltd., Galt, Ont. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ross Sararas, Hensall, He and his wife, the former Barb Muir will live in Preston. Phillips photo be adjacent to the schools and the proposed sports complex. The RAP member was making the monthly report to council in the absence of chairman Gord Baynham, who is in western Canada, In his report, Underwood also urged council to ask the Ausable Hayfield Conservation Authority Gun discharges, youth wounded An area youth, Alexander "Sandy" McBeth, suffered a gun shot wound to his upper leg early Saturday morning while he was shooting rats in the Algoma Tire building on Highway 83 east of 20-year-old was taken to Exeter,rr The South Huron Hospital for tree trnent. The bullet from the .22 calibre rifle passed through his leg. McBeth, an employee of the tire firm, was hunting rats with two other people when the rifle accidentally discharged. The incident occurred around 2:00 a.m. drainage good. This type of system requires a lot frontage of approximately 160 feet and surface depth to provide a safe barrier against any lateral leaching out of pollutants onto adjacent property. Usually an acre or more of land is necessary for this type of system." Grant for soccer Reversing a policy started last year, council approved a grant of $250 to a Grand Bend minor soccer group. Roy Harris who has been in charge of minor soccer teams made a personal request to council for funds after being refused financial help from the Grand Bend Minor Sports committee. In 1973 council agreed to make an overall grant of $1,200 to the minor sports group and each Lambton College Graduate Sharon Jacobe, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Laird Jacobe, RR 1, Zurich, graduated Friday from Lambton College in Sarnia with a diploma in Early Childhood Education. Sharon accepted the position of supervisor at the YWCA Nursery School in Woodstock commencing September 1. to repair the gabion baskets in Riverview Park below the dam. The baskets were undermined last year and suffered more damage in last week's flooding. Council agreed to ask the Authority to investigate the situation, although it was in- dicated they had been asked to do that last year as well. Council also agreed to in- vestigate the erection of a fence between the bowling green and the Burkley Restaurant, Underwood said RAP members were concerned about possible damage to the greens, par- ticularly if a liquor licence was approved for the restaurant. He said the fence would prevent damage from "people who may forget which way is out" from the turicley, The matter was turned over to the town's property committee, although there was some argument over who would pay for the fence if it is recommended, Deputy-Reeve Helen Jernlyn tookthe occasion to remind RAP Officials that the park between the library and town hall had Please turn to page 3 sport would then receive their share. Apparently the amounts were not paid by the committee and council made separate con- tributions to soccer and weightlifting with the balance of the $1,200 going to the hockey program. Harris said when he ap- proached the minor sports committee a couple of weeks ago for funds to operate a couple of soccer teams in the Huron Association he was told each player would have to come up with a $10 registration fee. In his plea to council, Harris said, "all the money seems to be used for hockey so let's call it the Grand Bend Minor Hockey Association instead of Minor Sports. During the discussion, court- Please turn to page 3 Unhappy over street width Mayor Jack Delbridge an- nounced this week he was not happy with the width of the road resulting from the Andrew St. reconstruction and urged that council take steps to ensure that streets in the downtown area not suffer the same fate. He noted that the portion of Andrew St, north of Gidley was not wide enough to provide parking on both sides and "we can't allow that to happen on the southern part of the street." "I agree with you 100 percent," commented roads committee chairman Ted Wright, The Mayor said the loss of parking would be bad for events at the arena and community park, "We complain about the lack of parking, and now we are eliminating more," he added. Works superintendent Glen Kells said the problem could not be blamed entirely on the ministry of transportation and communication. Kells said the ministry would have paid subsidies on a wider road, but it would have necessitated the removal of many trees and the moving of several utility poles, The general feeling of council members appeared to be that when the southern portion of the street is reconstructed, it will be made wider to allow two lanes of traffic and two parking lanes. Later in the meeting, council approved reducing the number of parking spaces in the vicinity of the hospital. Parallel parking only will be permitted on the south side between Main and William. Lions announce fund raising plans The Exeter Lions have two fund-raising campaigns un- derway. Tickets are presently being sold on a 10-ounce gold bar, Present value of gold is around $170 per ounce, but club members note they have no idea of what valucth bar may have when it is awarded. Gold prices have been climbing steadily for some time. The Lions are also planning a Las Vegas Night at the local arena on July O. Various games associated with a gambling casino will be featured, along with a dance, Dust brings complaints, oil to be next in line? 4r• CHECKS HIS THUMB — Junior grade students et laxeter Public School received identification cards Thurso day with their thumb prints, Above, Jimmy Northcolt checks his thumb as Etrenda Waldeck and Constable George Robertson look en. T-A phoict Tennis court bounced, tossed back to Lions