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Times-Advocate, 1979-04-25, Page 1hWMifc HiOSi*'' SOUTH HURON GIRLS PLACE WELL — The girls' gymnastics team from South Huron District High School in addition to winning the Huron-Perth team championship had several fine in­ dividual performances. Ending up as a Senior A and Senior B champs respectively were Helen Muller and Lisa Westcott (top row). Placing second in the junior and intermediate divisions were Jacki Hyde and Liz Scott. T-A photo * MHiiiMMt w rWWW MWiitlllllf mimh ““ jSBsHHHHSSBSLi iMM UeirUA...«» itoAitOaS» ' •St' ■ ■ fcjjNA ■ f • 1 !1 w '(ft. *:«tl wwiri?1 Town agrees to pick up $50,000 of core project Exeter council agreed Monday to make application for a $150,000 loan under the Main St. Revitalization Program, and also ap­ proved, with very little com­ ment, a recommendation that council be responsible Two injured in collisions I Two minor injuries were reported in two of the four accidents investigated by the Exeter OPP this week. On Friday, Timothy Smith Zurich, sustained injuries when the car he was driving went out of control on con­ cession 2-3 of Stephen, just north of the Crediton Road. Damage was listed at $300 by Constable Wally Tomasik. An Exeter man, Ronald Moore, received minor in­ juries in a one-vehicle collision on Saturday. He was a passenger in a vehicle driven by Glen Overholt, Zurich that rolled over on concession 2-3 of Hay, just north of Highway 84. Constable Bill Osterloo investigated and listed damage at $2,500. On Monday, a two-vehicle accident was investigated on Walnut Street in Zurich. Drivers involved were Rosemary Scott and Albert Hoffman, both of Zurich. Constable Al Quinn estimated total damage at $450. The other accident of the week was reported on Saturday when a vehicle owned by Harriette Boutilier, London, was struck by an unknown vehicle in the Club Albatross parking lot at Huron Park. Constable Tomasik in­ vestigated and set damage at $200. Tax boost five percent Exeter ratepayers can expect a tax increase of about five percent this year according to Mayor Derry Boyle. He reported at Monday’s council session that the tentative budget was completed and asked if members wished to have a closed session in which to consider it. “It’s the only way to handle it,” Councillor Ted Wright replied. The budget will be presented to members in a committee-of-the-whole session on May 1 and will ■ probably be up for approval at the regular council session of May 7. Boyle advised the T-A that the budget calls for an in­ crease of about five percent in taxes. “That’s what I had been hoping for,” he added. for repaying $50,000 of that amount over the next 10 years. The Business Im­ provement Area would repay the remaining $100,000. Reeve Si Simmons, who made the recommendation on behalf of the finance and executive committee, said the town’s $50,000 share of the loan would be used towards off-street parking. The only stipulation added to council’s approval of the $150,000 for the revitaliza­ tion program being con­ sidered by the Business Im­ provement Area is that the loan be exempt from the town’s debt capacity under regulations of the Ontario Municipal Board. Clerk Liz Bell reported that the 0MB have already asked the provincial cabinet to exempt loans for the revitalization programs from the debt capacity of municipalities. Council members have also decreed that all plans for the widening of sidewalks in the revitaliza­ tion program be approved in writing by the ministry of transportation and com­ munications, the local works superintendent and police chief. Loans made under the revitalization program carry an interest rate of only one percent. After Monday’s session, Simmons told the T-A that the town’s $50,000 would be used for improved off-street parking, but noted that it could only be spent on municipally owned lands and those within the BIA jurisdiction. He said this would negate use of the funds to purchase the lot PRECISION RIDING — Jacki Schottroff had no problem through the straight line and balance portion of the bike rodeo held Saturday sponsored by the Grand Bend Lionesses. T-A photo because the lot is not in the defined BIA area. In answer to a question from Councillor Don Cameron, Simmons in­ dicated some of the funds would probably be used to pave the parking area behind the municipal building and also the town hall. "The town will direct the $50,000 where we see fit,” Mayor Derry Boyle com­ mented. Simmons said the ratepayers were more in­ terested in parking than beautification of the core area and the latter job will be left to the BIA. The BIA will hold a special session at the town hall tonight (Wednesday) when members will get their first look at the plans for the revitalization program that have been drawn up by Pro­ ject Planning Associates Limited of Toronto. The town also has to guarantee the $100,000 loan for the BIA and would become responsible for it as well if the business group defaulted or dissolved. Up permit cost In another recommenda­ tion from the finance and ex­ ecutive committee, council approved an increase in btfilding permit fees. The fee for permits up to $1,000 will remain at $10, but the cost of each additional $1,000 will be increased from $3 to $4. Mayor Boyle said the in­ crease was to meet the in­ creased costs of the building inspector’s department, suggesting that the fees should basically cover all those costs. Sprackman tired of harassment... suit will proceed Town faces plaza suit again For the second time in less than a year, the Town of Exeter is threatened with a law suit over the actions of building inspector Doug Triebner in putting stop­ work orders on vacant stores in the Hawleaf Develop­ ments Limited shopping centre at the north end. Last year, the Toronto law firm of Siegal, Foglpr, acting for Hawleaf, threatened a law suit of up to $500,000 when a stop work order was placed on one of the vacant stores. Times - Advocate Serving South Huron, North Middlesex K & North Lambton Since 1873 One Hundred and Fifth Year BROWNIES VISIT FIRE HALL Exeter Brownies paid a visit to the Exeter fire hall Wednesday afternoon. Above, fireman Norm Tait explains the use of a fire hose to Monique Aunger and Jodi Chanyi. Photo by Schwartzentruber. Vandalism blamed on gang of youths A gang of youths has been blamed for a number of van­ dalism and mischief acts in Exeter in recent days and Chief Ted Day has asked citizens to cooperate in their apprehension. He asked that citizens who see a gang of youth roaming the streets contact the police. A total of 10 incidents are currently under investiga­ tion by the police, most of them occurring in a period from last Wednesday. Four of the incidents resulted in some unwanted painting for local citizens. Dave Prouty reported that the bus owned by the Pentecostal church had been spray painted, while Carl Mills, Main St., and Casey Cook, Andrew St., had gar­ ages on their property splattered with paint. Usborne revokes permit for motel A building permit issued for a motel by Usborne council at their April meeting was revoked this week when township officials were reminded there is a freeze on unplanned development outside urban areas. Usborne was one of the many Ontario municipalities placed under the five-year freeze by former provincial treasurer John White. However, that fact was overlooked when council approved the permit to Exeter contractor Jan VanHaarlen for a $215,000 motel on Highway 4 south of Exeter. Now, the town has received a letter from the same firm indicating they will take legal action over a stop work order p.laced on one of the stores intowhich a ladies’ dress shop was planning to move. However, this time it may be more than a threat ac­ cording to Gerry Sprack­ man, of Hawleaf. “This law suit is going forward,” he said when contacted by the T-A at his office yesterday afternoon. “It isn’t some game and it The local Scout Hall was also sprayed with paint. On Thursday, a garden hose was put into the base­ ment of a house owned by Francis Burton, 44 John St., and the hose was then turned on, resulting in the base­ ment being flooded. Several citizens in the Edward and John St. area reported damage to their lawns, while a vehicle ran over several shrubs at the Save-U Gas Bar. Jay Campbell, 81 Hill St., had a flag stolen from a pole in front of his home and Lloyd Reynolds, RR 1, Ex­ eter reported that a 50- pound bag of multiplyer onions was stolen from his truck parked at the rear of Becker’s store on Wednes­ day. A number of youths were frightened away from the But Huron county planning director Gary Davidson saw the item in the T-A account of the April session in Usborne and reminded township officials of the 1974 freeze. Reeve Bill Morley said it was the first time an ap­ plication for such a permit had been presented and council members, several of whom weren’t in that capacity in 1974, weren’t aware of the problem. While some avenues are open to VanHaarlem to get the permit approved, it is expected the township zoning can be completed later this year and the freeze would then be lifted, won’t be petty (the amount),” he added. He said town officials were harassing him “and driving my people crazy” and added that he hoped the law suit would smarten them up. Sprackman indicated the suit would again ask for the loss of revenue which has resulted from the prospective tenant moving to another location in another community. He said there was no doubt in his mind the stop work order was illegal, suggesting & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, APRIL 25, 1979 Price Per Copy 25 Cents 'And don't tell me it can't' Flooding can be remedied Exeter Public School on Thursday around 9:00 p.m. after a local citizen advised police of seeing people on the roof of the school. In addition to the above occurrences, the local police investigated four minor traf­ fic accidents, issued 12 speeding tickets and charg­ ed five people with having liquor in a place other than their residence. Appoint group for rebuilding A building committee has been appointed to plan reconstruction of Zion Lutheran Church in Dash'- wood which was destroyed by fire in the early morning hours of April 6. Chairman Howard Datars told the T-A Monday night that his newly formed committee would begin Thursday night in visiting other newly built churches to get some ideas. Included in the visits will be the Brucefield United Church. Other members of the building committee are Bill Becker, Rev. Mayo Mellecke, Harry Hayter, Ron Merner, Mrs. Ray Rader, Mrs. Delmar Miller, Hubert Miller, Dave Rader, Alphonse Denomme and Emil Becker. When asked about a building start, Datars replied, “That’s something we don’t know yet, but, I would hope we could be far enough ahead in con­ struction to have it closed in by winter.” It has been decided to remove the present church shed when the new sanc­ tuary is completed. that the action taken last time when council lifted the previous stop work order was ample proof of that fact. “I don’t understand it,” he said, adding that he found the action distasteful. “To say I’m annoyed is hardly the word.” The letter from the Toronto law firm was in­ cluded on Monday night’s council agenda, but was passed over when Mayor Derry Boyle said it would be left over until the next council meeting. Some corrective action has finally been presented to the many residents on Carl­ ing St. who get raw sewage backing into their basements. After listening to several complaints at the regular council session this week, Reeve Si Simmons presented a plan to the residents, and while it was the first suggestion made for improving the situation, it was one that few of the residents thought would work. Simmons basically told the ratepayers that they should take corrective ac­ tion themselves and end the problem that has been plaguing them for several years. He said that if he had a basement that had similar problems it would only happen once and he’d take some corrective action per­ sonally. “It can be done and don’t tell me it can’t,” he said. However, when some of the residents asked Sim­ mons what type of correc­ tive action they could take on an individual basis, they reported that they had already taken most of the steps he was outlining, such as installing back water valves and special pumps. Marion Dearing said she and her husband had spent over $600 in special valves and pumps “and you can’t stop the water from coming up”. She questioned if the sewer line was too small, but Councillor Ted Wright replied in the negative to that question. Wright also suggested that if the problem was being created at the John St. pum­ ping station, it was a problem that probably couldn’t be corrected. He gained some support in that suggestion as a couple of the delegates said their problem had in fact become worse since a new pump was installed at the pumping sta­ tion. This week’s complaints from the Carling St. residents stemmed from the flooding conditions they ex­ perienced over the Easter weekend. Mrs. Olive Ostland, who acted as spokesperson for the delegation, said they were “utterly fed up with conditions”. “We know you’ve been looking into the problem,” she advised council, but add­ ed that it was time the look­ ing ended and something be done about the problem. Mayor Derry Boyle, who has heard similar com­ plaints from the Carling St. residents on many oc­ casions, said he realized they had an “awful problem”. In fact, he described it as the biggest problem in town, and while noting council members JOINS STAFF Mary Blewett has returned to The Exeter Times- Advocate after completing the M.A. program in jour­ nalism at the University of Western Ontario. Mary worked at the T-A in January as part of the journalism course. She will be covering the news and taking photographs in Port Franks, Grand Bend, Bayfield and surrounding areas. A notation on the agenda indicated the building in­ spector has retained a solicitor regarding the matter. When quizzed on the subject after the meeting, Mayor Boyle said the item had been put on the agenda by mistake. He said he hadn’t studied the letter and was unaware of what action the Toronto law firm was planning to take, or why. The Mayor said he didn’t know if a copy of the letter was attached to the items didn’t like it any more than the residents, admitted that no solutions had yet been found although considerable investigative work had been undertaken. “We’ve done everything in the book and we don’t know the answer,” Deputy-Reeve Don MacGregor added, while Councillor Ted Wright, who spent most of Good Friday helping the residents pump out basements, said he didn’t blame them for being sick and tired of promises for corrective action. Councillor Don Cameron said he had talked to several residents and found many conflicting answers on how they felt the problem could be corrected. This prompted him to question the merit of WINS AWARD An Exeter student was among those receiving special awards at the Fanshawe College presentation for the Hotel and Restaurant Management course, Thursday. The Russell Food Equipment Ltd. award was won by Cheryl Chapman, Exeter, daughter of Jim and Dorothy Chapman. POST OFFICE AWARD ~ Stan Frayne, Postmaster at Hay for the past 25 years recently received a public service pla­ que. Making the presentation at the left is area Postmaster Harvey Pfaff. T-A photo Older homes could be hit the hardest Exeter council this week joined the list of municipalities asking to have a new method of assessment adopted. It’s one that is expected to make assessments more equitable within the municipality and will be based more ac­ curately on market values. The new system was outlined to council by a provincial spokesman at a closed session two weeks ago. After Monday’s meeting, Mayor Derry Boyle in­ dicated that the new system may be implemented for the 1980 tax year During the discussion, Boyle said there was no great change expected in the overall taxes for most local residents, but did indicate that the owners of some older homes and vacant lots would see some increases in their assessments. Councillor Don Cameron suggested the new system was basically a sound idea, but added that it may not be given to each council member prior to the meeting, and he refused to allow the press to have a copy of it. Sprackman said he could understand why members of council weren’t saying anything about the matter. “It’s because they’re dead wrong,” he said. The developer said the amount of the law suit would be made public in due time. Building inspector Doug Triebner was unavailable for comment. calling a meeting where the residents could meet with the town’s engineering firm. "Numbers don’t solve a problem” Wright replied to that suggestion, noting there were still a few things to consider in the way to cor­ rect the situation. He promised the residents that once a solution is recommended, council would take steps to imple­ ment a plan even if it meant that they had to borrow funds to do it. Boyle further suggested that if the present engineer­ ing firm couldn’t find a solu­ tion, he would personally recommend that council seek the advice of another firm. "I’m deeply concerned and we have to right it somehow,” he told the delegation as they departed. “I think I’ll get an apart­ ment 11 flights up”, Mrs. Ostland remarked as she left the council chambers. After the delegation left, council supported a motion presented by Councillor Jay Campbell that the engineer­ ing firm of B.M. Ross and Associates be asked to pre­ sent an interim report on their investigation into the problem at council’s next session. any more equitable than the present system. He said it would be dif­ ficult to determine market value on many properties. He too indicated it would hurt people living in older houses and said this was a concern to him. However, Councillor Jay Campbell indicated there was relief available for senior citizens although he predicted many would be hesitant about seeking that relief. Most of the work necessary to change to the new method of assessment has already been completed for Exeter and the market value will be based on 1975 values. Councillor Ted Wright said the new system would be beneficial in that it would be easier for council members to explain how it was un­ dertaken. Wright suggested that no one around the council table could probably explain the basis for the current method of assessment.