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Times-Advocate, 1982-05-05, Page 1Overall project could cost :600,000 South-west storm sewer gets priority Exeter council agreed this week to ipsignate a storm drain in the south-west sec- tion of town as the number one priority for 1983 construc- tion, but heard a prediction that providing total services to the area may be turned down by the Ontario Municipal Board in view of the high cost involved in ser- vicing a small number of homeowners. 'Drains committee chair- man Tom Humphreys said that the proposed storm drain to serve the area south of Huron St. and west of the CNR tracks was estimated at $85,000 in current dollars, but the total cost of storm and sanitary drains as well as road reconstruction would CROQUET ANYONE - Co -conveners Nancy Rooth and Vero Armstrong check over a croquet set prior to Thurs- day's rummage sole sponsored by the South Huron Hospital Auxiliary. The sale netted close to $6,000. Brucefield youths fined over breakin Two Brucefield area teenagers were each fined Moor soder! after pleading guilty to break, enter and theft charges before Judge Walter Bell in Exeter court, Tuesday. Trace B. Dallas, RR 1 Brucefield, and David Ross Stoll, RR 3 Klppen, were charged with the March 16 breakin at Shaw's Dairy Store in Hensall when cigarettes and potato chips valued at $300 were stolen. Damage of $200 was also caused by the pair in the breakin. The court was told the pair made restitution in full for the stolen items and the damage caused and further that neither had any previous record, and they had cooperated with the police in the recovery of the stolen items. Judge Brown of London decided to impose fines rather than probation so as not to put a burden on the probation office. The youths were given until May 31 to pay the fines. David Charles Gill. 16; RR 1 Grand Bend, was given a conditional discharge and placed on probation for six Boost fees once again For the second time in the past year, Exeter's commit- tee of adjustment have ap- proved an increase in the fees for applications to the committee. As of May 1, cqnsent ap- plications and minor variance applications will both be $100. Last September, the com- mittee increased its fee for consent applications from $50 to $75 and boosted the minor variance applications from $50 to $85. Laurie Dykstra, secretary - treasurer of the committee, said that a cost study analysis on the applications revealed that the costs were ranging over $90. Costs involved include wages, postage and copying. For minor variance applica- tions, the committee must send notices to all landowners within 400 feet of the concern- ed property. Members of the committee are Bob Russell, Norm Tait and Dr. Gary Balsdon. After noting the fee hike, Monday, Mayor Bruce Shaw suggested council should carry through with a previous ' suggestion to meet with the planning board in the im- mediate future to see if the two bodies can come up with Please turn to page 3 months after- pleading guilty to two charges of the theft of gasoline. The thefts occurred about three or four hours apart on the night of March 27 and the early morning of March 28. Other youths were also involved in the incidents and the court learned that Gill had made restitution. He had no previous record and is employed full-time. An Exeter man, Donald A. Hulley, pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of an unregistered weapon and was fined $100 or 15 days. He was given until May 17 to pay the fine. Evidence revealed that Hulley had a revolver that was the possession of his former wife. The court was told there were no ex- tenuating circumstances involved in the police finding out about the gun. The accused was reported to be applying fot a registra tion • in the only other case on Tuesday's docket, Bertha Taylor, RR 1 Varna, pleaded guilty to making a false statement under • the Unemployment Insurance Act and was fined $200 or 30 days. The court was told she forged a medical certificate to get unemployment in- surance. . A charge of rape against Raymond Arthur Desjar- dine, Hay Township, was adjourned until May 25 as was a charge against Roy Alien Becker, of wilfully setting a fire. cost about $600,000. A delegation of property owners from the area met with the committee last week to discuss the matter and in- formed council members that they had been asking for storm drains for the past 15 years without success. Humphreys said many of the homeowners experience flooded basements and there is considerable Water in the area. The engineering work for the storm drain has already been completed by B. M. Ross & Associates and council:ac- cepted the committee recom- mendation that it be made a priority for 1983. The recommendation also gave appppyr vat to have the enginee�ingofirm begin design work for sanitary sewers in all of the area west of the tracks, so construction mi?ht be completed within five years. Humphreys said the estimated cost of $600,000 in- cluded a pumping station that would be required for sanitary sewage. Mayor Bruce Shaw ex- pressed some concern that the OMB would not allow the town to assume such a large debt in view of the small number of homeowners presently Located in the area, although he noted that one developer was interested in proceeding with a project as soon as the services are provided. Shaw also explained that one reason for the delay in getting the storm work started was the reluctance of. some owners in the area in giving the town the necessary easements required for the project. The delegation which met with the drains committee in- cluded D. Triebner, I. Ford, V. Postill, Elmer McBride, P., Durand and W. Truemner. The consensus of the delegation was that they'd be satisfied with the proposed storm drain as it was explain- ed to them by Burnes Ross, Humphreys stated. Council also approved the roads committee recommen- dation that the town apply to have the ministry of natural resources undertake the On- tario base mapping program in' Exeter. The Ontario Government is* encouraging municipalities to obtain mapping to a scale of 1:2000 by agreeing to pay a large portion of the costs involved. Consider CPR mandatory for policemen Four members of Exeter council have completed a course in cardiopulonary rescuscitation (CPR) and there was suggestion this week that consideration should be given to making it a condition of employment with the local police department. Councillor Morley Hall, who completed the course along with Mayor Bruce Shaw and Councillors Dorothy Chapman the Tom Hum- phreys, said he would like to see greater participation in the course by members of the local police and fire depart- ments, given the fact they are often the first rescue person- nel on the scene of mishaps. Mayor Shaw said he would like to see the matter go one step further and that comple- tion of the course be a condi- tion of employment with the police department. He suggested the police committee consider the matter. Hall had also recommend - Please turn to page 3 Representatives of Ar- chibald, Gray & McKay had appeared before council at their last meeting to outline the mapping project and noted the town's cost of the project would be about 3.7 percent of the total cost. Public works committee chairman Don MacGregor said the matter had been discussed with the town's engineering firm and they had indicated the mapping would be great help to them and would save the, town a considerable amount of money through engineering in just ,a few years. The recommendation +0 Crash injures three For the second week in a, - row, only one collit was investigated in the area by the Exeter OPP. However, the - crash resulted in injuries to three London youths when the car driven by Lori Patten failed to •negotiate the curve on Highway 81 south-east of Grand Bend on Sunday at 1:00 a.m. The vehicle rolled uver several, times and was demolished. The driver, along with Derek McLeod and Clark Jacobs, were taken to South Huron Hospital by Hoff- man's Ambulance and were treated for extensive cuts and bruises. Damage to the car was listed at $8,000. proceed with the mapping had been endorsed by the ex- ecutive committee as well. MacGregor also informed council that verbal requests had been received to allow Stephen Township residents ti) connect to the new sanitary sewer being installed along Waterloo St. While the town will install laterals on the Stephen side of the street, works superinten- dent Glenn Kells explained that the ministry of the en- vironment would not' allow non-residents to hook in at the present time. - He said he would approach the ministry to see if the policy may be changed. Mayor Shaw said even if the ministry was agreeable, council would have to come to grips with their current policy of not providing services to non-residents. A DOUBLE FAIR WINNER - Kelly Hern was a double winner at the recent SCJIMICIP and History fairs of Usborne Central School. She is shown with her prize winning weather. and Uncle Tom's cabin displays. Serving .South Huron, North Middlesex at es tEr aaD yrf qi Tis, One Hundred and Ninth Year & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO, MAY 5, 1982 Price Per Copy 50 ante Separate school supporters hit hardest Tax incvesse averages 20 mills Separate school sup- porters will face the biggest increase when they pay their 1982 municipal taxes in Exeter, although the in- crease leaves them still slightly below the rates for public school supporters. The residential rate for separate school supporters has increased 21.91 mills or 9.40 percent over last year. The public school sup- ! -porters' increase is 18.12 mills or 7.64 percent. Public school supporters still remain slightly ahead in the total mill rate figures. The current rate is 255.24 mills, compared to 237.12 for 1 1. The separate school rate increases to 254.83 mills. Last year it was 232.92. WINS PROVINCIAL AWARD - Janet Eagleson, a grade eight student at McGillivray School recently won the Ontario Federation of Home and School Associations Citizen- ship award along with a cheque for $50. Making the presentation at the left is On- tario president Marie May and at the right is McGillivray Home and School post president Terry Heffernan. T -A photo Okayed in principle Salary study cost down Exeter council this week endorsed in principle the hir- ing of Personnel Management Associates to develop a system of administering salaries and benefits for town staff. Council had set aside $8,50o in the 1982 budget for'the pro- ject, but members had ex- pressed some concern that it was not going to cover all the areas they wanted covered. Councillor. Gaylan Josephson reported, Monday, ENJOYING RUMMAGE SALE TOYS -- Pleased with the assortment of toys at Thurs- day's South Huron Hospital Auxiliary rummage sale were Lisa, Kevin and Steven Wynja. T -A photo that the committee named by council had not yet had a per- sonal meeting with company president Lion J. Sharzer, but in a telephone communication he had indicated the survey would cover the topics they wanted covered. in addition, Sharzer has reduced his price for the pro- ject. Ile had originally said the survey would cost $6,500 plus expenses, but he has reduced that to a firm price of $6.000 plus $400 in expenses. ,Josephson said he and the other committee members, Mayor Shaw and Councillor Mickle, still planned to meet with Sharzer before making a final decision, but council authorized the committee to proceed with the project if they were satisfied with the terms as outlined by Sharzer in their discussions. Josephson said the study ,would cover four major areas: job desperiptions for 10 staff positions, perfor- mance review procedures, salary comparisons for the various municipal positions and the town's staffing SEEK LICENCE Good Times Eating Eni- prrium in the centre mall has made application to the Li- quor Licence Board for a din- ing lounge licence. in it letter to council an- nouncing the application, Clare Matthews of the LLBO said a date and time for the hearing has not yet been set. ('ouncil members had no concerns or objections relating to the application. • requirements. it is expected the project would take about three months to complete. In his written proposal to council, Sharzer outlined the following results that could be expected from the project: 1. Job descriptions clearly spelling out duties, accoun- tabilities and reporting relatonships. 2. A fair and easily understood salary and benefit structure. 3. Comprehensive local and regional salary and benefit surveys. 4.A system for evaluating Town positions to establish ranking and classifications within the salary structure. 5. Procedures for implemen- ting the salary system wish schedules of job classifica- tions, individual salary in- creases. if any, resulting from implementation and initial and future costs. implemen- tation procedures would take into account both the need for reasonable salary progress and the Towns ability to pay. 6. Salary administration ane performance review pro- cedures and forms. 7. Recommendations to fill major gaps. if any, in the Town's benefit plans. 8. Specific recommendations on ('ouncil salaries, benefits and allowances. 9. Recommendations on revised reporting relation- ships, staffing arrangements, administraive policies and other mechanisms necessary -to achieve the aims of Objec- tive No. 2. The percentage increases are the same for commercial properties, although the totals are higher. Com- mercial property owners paying for public school support will have a total mill rate of 300.29 and it will be 299.80 for separate school supporters. The corresponding figures for last year were 278.97 and 274.04 respectively. The general municipal levy for residential is 105.22 mills, an increase of 5.23 mills over last year, while the county rate has in- creased by 2,04 mills to 28.82. The high school levy is up 8.14 mills, or 16.65 percent, to 57.02 mills. The public elementary mill rate goes up 2.71 mills to 64.18, while the separate school increase is 6.50 mills to 63.77. In her report to council this week, clerk Liz Bell detailed the total taxation dollars to be raised for the various purposes. The figures are as follows (with last year's in brackets): General municipal $632,166 ($591,283), county $173,154 (158,372), high school $342,559 ($289,043), public elementary )363,452 ($344,437), separate school $22,053 ($17,797). There were few comments on the final tax rate' at council, Monday, although finance chairman Bill Mickle noted that the spread between the amount of money being spent on municipal purposes In relation to education was continuing to grow in favor of the latter. He had previously presented a survey which showed that in 1979, 46.62 percent of the tax dollars raised locally went to municipal purposes and 42.27 percent went to education. By 1981, the percentages had been almost reversed with education taking 46.52 percent and only 42.12 percent going to municipal purposes. Mickle said this year's figures resulted in the spread continuing to widen in favor of education with that percentage Increasing to over 47 percent and the town's share going down to about 41 percent. He also cited a concern that the tabulation used for education purposes resulted in Exeter paying more in relation to, its equalised assessment than some other Huron niunicipelities. It- was noted that Exeter had just over four percent Of the county's total equalised assessment, but the adjusted apportionment ratio resulted in the town paying over .11 percenj: of the county bested of education's secondary school panel budget. Mickle said the towns and villages in the county all had an increase in the adjusted apportionment ratio, while the township figures were all decreased. - He said the matter should be clarified, but prodded that it too would be some government formula that would be difficult to com- prehend. Irk (1 - TICKETS SALES BEGIN - Exeter grounds development chairman Don Cameron shows his appreciation to Martin DeBruyn, president of the Exeter Soccer Club for DeBruyn's contribution of half a pig to first prize in a ticket sale to raise money for the soccer pitch. Other donors of prizes are Jerry MacLean and Son Automotive Ltd., The Junction, Anstett Jewellers, Hopper Hockey, Cheese Please,Three AAA See Restaurant and the Ironwood Golf Course. The draw will be held Saturday, Juno 19. T -A photo Park development group give pitch for soccer pitch The Exeter Grounds Development Committee is into action again and will continue to develop the community park area as funds -permit. Committee chairman Don Cameron reported this week that two meetings have been held with the Exeter Soccer Club. The soccer pitch is the next step in the park develop- ment. Plans have been made to sell tickets to raise funds for the project. The tickets will be sold by members of the committee, by soccer club members and by other groups involved in the park development. "The tickets are only one dollar and we hope to sell 5,000 of them" said Cameron. Area businessmen have donated prizes for the draw. First prize is valued at $225.00 and it includes one- half pork donated by Martin DeBruyn, president of the Soccer club. A $50 gift cer- tificate from both The Junction and Jerry MacLean and Son Automotive Ltd. are also included in first prize. The second prize is valued at $100.00 and it includes gift certificates from Cheese Please, Anstett Jewellers, and Hopper }Hockey. Third prize, valued at $65.00 includes gift cer- tificates from the Three AAA See Restaurant and Iron- wood Golf Course. Recently, too, the Exeter Soccer Club donated $1.250.00 to the Grounds Development project. "With that money and what we sell in tickets, we hope tomake a real good start on the soccer pitch," Cameron stated. "We realize that money is difficult to find these days but we don't want to see this project die - so we'll keep going and do the best we can The over 150 interested soccer players this year will surely add some extra in- centive to the grounds development efforts this summer. 4