Times-Advocate, 1981-02-18, Page 1Former county engineer seeks nomination
555
PCs get a
Jim Britnell, Goderich
has announced his candidacy
for the Progressive Con-
servative nomination for the
Huron -Middlesex provincial
riding.
Britnell, 52, was Huron
County engineer for 21 years,
from 1956 to 1977.
His experience .with the
county "exposed (him) to all
aspects of county and
provincial life". Especially ,
he said, in the areas of
transportation, communi-
cation and the environment.
The environment"is one of
the critical issues" of today,
he said.
Britnell is a past
president of the County
Engineer's Association,
which involved county and
municipal engineers from
across Ontario, and was
vice-president of the
National Association of
County Engineers, and
organization of U.S., Ontario
and Alberta county
engineers. He is also past
president and a life member
of the Good Roads
Association.
His association with these
organizations led to being
part of advisory committees
to the ministers and deputy
ministers of highways.
"I know my way around
Queen's Park," he said.
Britnell came to
Goderich in 1956. He has
been chairman of the
Goderich Hospital Board and
is a past president of the
Goderich Lions' Club. He
currently serves on the
Goderich airport committee.
Britnell is a graduate of
the University of Toronto
and still holds his
candidate
professional engineer's
status in civil engineering.
Atter 21 years with the
county, Britnell felt it was
time for a career change. He
is currently the director of
field research and testing at
Champion Road Machinery
in Goderich.
Britnell said he was in-
directly involved with the
PCs in the past. but felt
during his years with the
county he could not play high
profile politics while a public
servant.
The Progressive Con-
servative association's
nomination meeting will be
held Thursday evening at the
South Huron Rec Centre.
The speaker for the PC
nomination will be the Hon.
Larry Grossman, minister
of industry and tourism. It
will be his second visit to
Exeter this year, having
been here to open the BIA .
downtown project and the
town hall restoration.
Jim Hayter, a former
warden who operates an auto
dealership in Goderich, said
he was thinking about
contesting the nomination,
but admitted it was "way out
there".
The former reeve of
Stephen was an unsuccessful
standard- bearer for the par-
ty in a previous provincial
election against LiheralJack
Riddell.
The Liberals will hold
their nomination at the Ex-
eter Legion hall tonight
(Wednesday) and Riddell is
expected to get the call
again without any opposi-
tion.
Murray Gaunt, who has
retired after serving Huron -
Bruce as Liberal tnernber
for several years' will be the
guest speaker.
KIRKTON-WOODHAM CARNIVAL QUEENS — Choosing a Queen was the highlight of Friday night's edition of the
Kirkton-Woodham winter carnival. Seated are Queen Lynn Robinson and Princess Donna Bickel!. The other contestants from
the left are Ellen Copeland, Rosemary Weersink, Pot Taziar, Marlene Kernick, Connie Francis, Lisa Pratt, Barb Jaques,
Marian Levy and Karen Heather. T -A photo
AREA,YOUNGSTERS TAKE PART — More than S00 enthusiastic skiers participated in
Sunday's Lappet at the Pinery Provincial Park sponsored by the Grand Bend Optimists.
Area youngsters enjoying the activities were Shelley Uniac, Julia Merner and Julie Uniac.
Goes back 65 years
Want favor repaid
London Mayor Al Gleeson
may be among the con-
testants in this year's cow
milking contest for
politicians at the Exeter fall
fair.
If he does come, it may be
as recompense for
something that happened 65
years ago.
At Monday's council
session, Deputy -Reeve Alvin
Epp said he had been
reviewing Exeter's history
and found that in 1916,
Exeter council declared a
local holiday so citizens
could attend the fair in
London.
Epp suggested that the
decision had been reached
after London promised free
admission to the fair for the
council of the day.
It was difficult to deter-
mine if the historical item
was based on fact or merely
a figment of Epp's
imagination.
Mayor Bruce Shaw told
Epp he wasn't saying the
story had been concocted,
but merely that his
association with Epp led him --
to believe the deputy -reeve
Bylaw changed
to fill loophole
A traffic bylaw in Exeter
was amended this week
making owners of vehicles
liable for violations.
The change was made due
to a recent court decision in
Toronto where the owner of a
vehible was absolved of
paying the cost of a parking
ticket because there was no
proof he had been in charge
of the vehicle at the time of
the infraction.
The amendment stipulates
that the owner can be held
responsible for paying the
fine unless that owner can
prove to the satisfaction of
the court that at the time of
the offence the motor vehicle
was in possession of another
person without the owner's
consent, express or implied.
The change covers
situations where car rental
firms were successful in
having violations sustained
by customers discharged.
was capable of making up
such a story.
At any rate, Epp agreed to
research his story with the
aim of providing some
factual proof of the 1916
incident, which could lead to
the London mayor being
asked to reciprocate for the
holiday declaration 65 years
ago through his attendance
at the 1981 Exeter fair.
The credibility of both
Shaw and Epp came into
question by other council
members when the pair
outlined the scores they
recorded in Sunday's
bowlerama for Big Brothers.
The pair had been sponsored
in that event by several
members of council.
When Shaw's score of 188
was announced, Councillor
Gaylan Josephson asked if
that was a three -game total
or for a single game. Epp's
score was listed at 158.
The latter said that Al
Rankin was the top per-
former as he had pledges of
$3.77 per pin and recorded a
202 game for total revenue of
$745.
Ames
Serving South Huron, North Middlesex
One Hundred and Eighth Year
& North Lambton Since 1873
EXETER, ONTARIO, FEBRUARY 18, 1981
5{;
Price per copy 40 Cents
Four people hart
in area collision
Warmer temperatures
started to cut through the ice
on area roads over the
weekend, but there was still
enough to contribute to two
of the three accidents in-
vestigated this week by the
Exeter OPP.
On Saturday, a vehicle
driven by Gayle Cronyn,
Stratford, went out of control
on the icy surface of a
parking lot at building 5,
Huron Industrial Park,
Huron Park, and struck
some plywood panels which
were piled on the lot.
Total damage was listed at
$550.
There was one accident on
Sunday, it occurring on the
Biddulph-Usborne townline
west of concession 6-7 of
Usborne when a vehicle
driven by Brigitta VanGeel,
Lucan, struck a patch of ice,
slid into the ditch and rolled
over.
There were no injuries and
damage was set at $500 by
Constable T.R. Chapman of
the Lucan detachment.
Four people sustained
minor injuries in the other
collision, it occurring on
Friday on Highway 83 just
west of Exeter. Drivers
involved were Robert
Sharen, Grand Bend, and
Derek Rau, RR 2 Zurich.
Damage was estimated at
$5,200 by Constable Al Quinn.
Minor injuries were
reported by Sharen and
three passengers in the Rau
vehicle, Richard McCann,
RR 3 Ailsa Craig, William
McCann, RR 3 Dashwood
and Danny Morrissey, RR 3
Ailsa Craig.
COSTS JUMP
Most area residents
probably realize already
that the current winter is
more severe than 1980 and if
they don't, they'll find out in
their taxes come spring.
Exeter works superinten-
dent Glenn Kelis advisd his
council this week that winter
costs are already overiest
year's figures and there may
be more to come.
To February 6, the local
costs for snowti,uwing, snow
removal and sanding has
been $11,3000. Last year's
total was only $8,650.
STIPENDS UPPED
Members of the Exeter
committee of adjustment
were granted pay increases
of 100 percent this week.
The three members will
now each receive $10 per
application.
In a letter to council,
chairman Robert E. Russell
said that after reviewing the
survey of committees of ad-
justment of other
municipalities they felt that
an increase to $10 (from the
present $5) is justifiable.
Council learned the com-
mittee handled about 17
applications last year. It is
theonlyappointed committee
to receive a stipend from
council.
..a
WIN FRIENDSHIP TROPHY— Students from Huron Hope School won the Spirit of Friendship trophy at Saturday's Special
Winter Games in London. Three members of the team won gold medals. More than 450 participated from 26 schools. Above,
Andy Volk and Susan Hemingway hold the trophy. The others are Claudette Proulx, Larry Rowe, Eileen DeKort and principal
Eleanor Scott.
T•A photo
Oh nol Not again!
Ask engineer's study on arena
The Ontario ministry of
labour has asked that the
Exeter arena be inspected
by a qualified engineer to
ensure it is not in danger of
collapsing during heavy
snow falls and high winds.
The request came by
registered mail, but unlike a
similar letter hack in 1977,
didn't cause as much con-
cern when it was put on
Monday's agenda at Exeter
council.
The letter four years ago,
of course, eventually led to
the local arena being con-
demned by the ministry of
labour.
However, the contents of
this week's letter indicated
that the ministry were
unaware they had con-
demned the structure
because the one they wanted
inspected was the old arena
that was demolished to make
way for the South Huron rec
centre.
Councillor Jay Campbell
expressed indignation over
th' situation, noting it was
agreat example of one hand
of government not knowing
what the other was doing.
He said he hoped council's
response to the letter would
indicate his indignation.
However, Mayor Bruce
Shaw said that Campbell
should consider writing a
personal letter to express his
views.
in his report of the
executive committee, Shaw
said it was decided to advise
the ministry that Exeter has
a new arena and to question
whether in fact they would
be required to expend 82,000
on an engineering study,
Deputy -reeve Alvin Epp
said it was proper for the
ministry to keep
municipalities on their toes
regarding arenas as their
intent was to ensure that the
facilities were safe and could
not lead to tragedies.
K -W CARNIVAL QUEEN — Lynn Robinson was named Queen of the 1981 Kirkton-
Woodhom Winter Carnival Friday night. Above, she is being crowned by last years winner
Terry Brintnell. Also seated is Princess Donna Bickel!. T•A photo
Okay death penalty,
20 years for guns
Over the objection of
Deputy -Reeve Alvin Epp,
Exeter council this week
supported a resolution
calling for the death penalty
for any criminal who shoots
and kills a policeman while
taking part in a crime.
The resolution from the
Regional Municipality of
Hamilton -Wentworth stip-
ulates that the death penalty
imposed would not be sub-
ject to appeal to the Cabinet.
Epp said he was not in
favor of the death penalty,
saying he did not feel he had
the right to take someone's
life.
Gaylan Josephson,
Rushing the
season a bit?
it may be 10 months before
Christmas arrives again. but
Exeter council will be
prepared.
Monday night, they ac-
cepted a recommendation of
the property committee to
advise the 13iA and PUC that
the town will contribute- 50
percent (to a maximum of
$300) of the replacement cost
n 1981 for Christmas
decorations along the Main
St.
Chairperson Lossy Fuller
reported the town paid $500
last year. while the BiA
contributed just over 8100. in
previous years the
businessmen and council
split the costs evenly. ane
that policy will he used agair
this year. -
\%'hat happens to the light
which the PUC decides hay(
to he replaced? Mrs. Fuller
said some were given to the
local firemen last year and
they proceeded to repair
them and decorated the local
fire hall.
speaking for the police
committee which made the
recommendation to endorse
the resolution, said members
knew the matter would be
"quite an emotional issue"
and he could see the cause
for concern.
Ilowever, Epp said it was a
moral issue, not an
emotional one.
Ile cited a situation where
a policeman could be killed
without the offender knowing
it was an officer.
Epp's was the only op-
posing vote when Mayor
Bruce Shaw called for a vote
on the motion.
Also approved in the
recommendation was a
sentence of not less than 20
years in jail for anyone
carrying a firearm while
participating in a criminal
act.
The resolution expressed
concern over the every -
increasing attacks on the
members of the various
police forces across the
across the country and said
Competition
is invited
Having found they can get
a better deal for banking
services through coni -
petition, Exeter council
agreed this week to try the
same approach in their in-
surance coverage.
The coverage has been
provided in previous years
through Gaiser Kneale
insurance and has hero
handled by Frank Cown n
and Company. The latter
firm handles much of the
insurance coverage for
municipalities and school
hoards in the province.
laws should be working not
only to protect the lives of
the citizens, but also those
who are hired to protect the
citizens from the acts of
criminals.
"The constant concern
that our courts are showing
toward the welfare of the
criminal at the expense of
the weifare of the com-
munity as a whole. needs
some readjustment." the
resulution added. saying
those who carry firearms
while taking part in a
criminal act should be dealt
with more severely when
they are brought before the
courts.
Vro
Next phase
underway
Don Cameron, chairman
of the community park
redevelopment committee,
told council this week his
members were optimistic
that $100,000 could be raised
to undertake phase II of the
project this year.
The major cost in that
second phase is the proposed
agricultural building which
will he situated directly east
of the rec centre and will
house animal exhibits for the
local fair and will replace the
existing cattle and sheep
sheds east of the public
school.
Cameron said the latter
facilties were "a blight" on
that part of town and added
that he was looking forward
to seeing the old structures
demolished.
The new pavilion will be
60' by 159' and the cost has
been estimated at $60,000.
The former member of
council said a general
canvass for funds would be
undertaken in Exeter and
the surrounding rural area
and it was hoped the new
building could be in place for
this year's fair in Sep-
tember. It is hoped that 50
percent of the total cost will
be met through various
government grants.
Cameron had a slide
presentation to bring council
up to date on what has been
completed through phase I of
the project. lie said for all
intents and purposes it has
been completed, although
the two new ball diamonds
established last year will not
be ready for play until 1982.
Under the first phase,
much of the 20 -acre site has
been drained. a horse ring
installed. the grandstand
removed. lights for the new
softball diamond purchased.
new backstops are under
construction and 700' of
fencing has been purchased.
The cost of the first phase
was around 850.000 and
Cameron said the financing
was met through grants. a
canvass of the Exeter
business community and a
810.000 donation from the
Please turn to page 2.
A DOG SITTER June Robinson holds one of the dogs prior
to Sunday dogsled races at the Kirkton-Woodham winter car•
nivol. At the right is Pauline Brintnell of Exeter. T•A photo