Times-Advocate, 1985-01-23, Page 3Debate stop signs, rec costs, agri park
Times -Advocate. January 23. 1985 Pldge 3
Students tackle variety of Ioeal issues
Although obviously disadvantaged
from a lack of background informa-
tion (or possibly in understanding it
fully) a mock council at SHDHS on
Friday afternoon nonetheless en-
thusiastically tackled a number of
local issues in a Local Government
Week activity.
Some out-of-town members of coun-
cil had difficulty taking the position
of a resident of Exeter, particularly
during the debate on user fees for
recreation programs.
A quick about-face featured a deci-
sion tat least it appeared one had
been made) regarding the proposed
agri-industrial park in Hay Township
and the student council dismissed
budget considerations in tackling the
problem of speeders on Marlborough
St.
Student petitioners presented the
pros and cons in each issue and coun-
cil members were further assisted in
their deliberations by students posing
as Exeter's department heads.
Mayor Bruce Shaw. principal at the
school, and teacher.Joe Hogan also in-
terjected some helpful advice during
the debate which was enjoyed by town
clerk Liz Bell, rec director Lynne
Farquhar and council members Bill
Mickle, Dorothy Chapman and Don
Winter.
The session started out in a rather
disjointed manner until Shaw
presented mayor Rob Hoffman with
a gavel and the chain of office. The
grade 10 student then ruled with an
iron hand as he directed the debates.
The opening issue was the presen-
tation of a request from Tuckersmith
council for Exeter to provide a grant
to help meet the deficit at the
Vanastra rec centre.
Suzanne Wareham. the most vocal
of the council members, led a plea to
assist, noting that many Exeter
residents use the facilities, especial-
ly in the winter. She also noted that
field trips from the school were en-
joyed at reduced rates.
However. Dashwood resident Paul
Mellecke said he had never met
anyone who used the Vanastra facili-
ty and didn't feel everyone from Ex-
eter should contribute through taxes.
Mary Fleming suggested a grant of
$1,000 be made and then a vote was
conducted on a motion to provide
$2.000. That was defeated and the
students opted for a grant of $1,500.
Trevor Cottrell and Trevor Ratz
presented the petition for stop signs
along Marlborough St. to slow traffic,
while Tont Oke and Bill Willemson
petitioned against the move.
Ratz said parents on the street were
very concerned about the present
situation ano called tor "quick and et-
fective action" to stop the drivers
who were abusing the situation and
TACKLE ISSUES — A mock council made up of grade 10 history students at SHDHS debated o number
of local issues as part of o Local Government Week activity, Friday. Members of the council standing
from the left are: Mary Fleming, Sandy Pratt, Kellie Whiteford, Ronalynn Bell, Suzanne Wareham and
Catherine Davison. Seated are mayor Rob Hoffman, clerk Tracy Spencer, Vern Iskauskas and Poul
Mellecke.
turning the street into a drag strip.
He said the drivers were jeopardiz-
ing young children's lives.
Cottrell urged that a new street be
opened west of the CNR tracks for
trucks heading for the Co -Op and Can-
ners and also asked for a sidewalk
along Marlborough.
Oke called the suggested new street
a costly alternative, white Willemson
noted that children had playgrounds
in Exeter and there was no need for
them to be playing in the streets.
He also explained there would be a
lot of noise pollution for residents if
large trucks and tractors had to stop
for signs and then start up again.
"It's better to spend a few thousand
than have a life taken," Ratz
responded.
Police Chief Sharon Boersma said
extra supervision could be under-
taken by her department.
Council member Vern Iskauskas
noted that Precious Blood separate
school was in the area and students
were crossing the streets daily.
A child's life is worth more than a
truck's transmission," he contended.
Ronalynn Bell said residents would
become immune to the noise of
vehicles starting and stopping.
"Any human life lost is much too
much, said Wareham as the debate
ended and a motion was presented to
have stop signs placed at Gidley and
Ann St. as well as a new sidewalk
along Marlborough and a school
crossing sign at Precious Blood.
A second motion was also carried,
calling for the police to provide more
extensive supervision in the area.
The proposed agri-industrial park
appeared to give the students the
most problem. Many confused it with
the building of a facility similar only
to the Co -Op.
In presenting a petition against the
development, Tammy Bell noted it
would be placed on grade A
agricultural land, a point also em-
phasized by works department head
Brad Borland. __ -
Scott Fields, speaking on behalf of
the development, admitted the
developers wanted it close to Exeter
"to use your resources" such as
sewers, etc. He said not a lot of land
was involved and therefore it
wouldn't be missed a great deal.
Wareham suggested those in favour
wanted to have their cake and eat it
too by wanting the advantages of a
small town but not wanting to pay for
it.
"If it will help farmers they can put
it there," argued Iskauskas, while
Mellecke explained that all cities and
A motion to oppose the develop-
ment was approved, but debate was
opened up immediately after and the
students then voted for the proposal
in a show of hands.
"If we oppose it, there may not be
one built at all." Mellecke explained.
Hoffman had the audience laughing
when he called for a vote of those in
favour, those against and "those sit-
ting on the fence".
Tanya Delbridge, Chris Tiedeman
and rec director Tim Moore were
well-prepared with facts and figures
to support their contention that
neighboring township residents were
not paying their fair share for recrea-
tion progpaams and facilities in
Exeter.
However. De(bridge said that ask-
ing the townships for higher grants
was more favorable than instituting
user fees whereby townships
residents would have to pay higher
registration fees than town residents.
They noted in particular that
Stephen and Hay paid less in grants
Wedding delayed
Continued from front page
Walper kitchen at five minutes to six.
Meanwhile, the prospective groom
was marooned on the farm next door
to his own at RR3 Ailsa Craig, where
he had gont to do chores.
Mrs. Adair phoned Rev. Peebles in
Grand Bend to tell him the wedding
was postponed, and he put up no argu-
ment. He couldn't get out of Grand
Bend anyway.
While waiting out the storm, the
bridesmaid recalled that during the
last war, couples were sometimes
married by phone. Kim Ann refused
that option. preferring t9 wait a week
and have the traditional wedding. The
new date is Saturday. January 26.
The cut flowers are being kept in a
cooler until next Saturdj'._Some of,
the food prepared for the reception
and then given to neighbours will
have to be replaced.
Mrs. Adair said her daughter,
though very disappointed that her
wedding plans had been disrupted.
accepted the -situation with good
grace. There is only one sad note -
wedding guests who had come from
St. Thomas and Toronto only to get
stranded in Parkhill for the weekend
are not sure if they will be able to
come again this Saturday.
Someday, when their grandchildren
want to know why the date on the
wedding invitations and that in the
ens ire questions
at local civic authorities
How much land does Exeter own?
Do you get paid for being on a county
board? Are we going to get a Tim
Horton's?
Those are some of the questions
grade seven and eight students at Ex-
eter Public School had for visiting
Councillor members Dorothy Chap-
man and Bill Mickle on Thursday.
The question and answer period
was combined with a brief look at
municipal administration both in the
Permit values
decline slightly
No splurge of building activity oc-
curred in Exeter during December,
and as a result, the 1984 value of per-
mits ended up about $185,000 less than
the 1983 total.
The value of permits issued in
December was only $20.900 according
to the report submitted to council this
week by building inspector Brian
Johnston.
That brought the 1984 total to
$2,100,517.24. The 1983 total was
$2,286,283.50.
Included in the December permits
was one residential renovation for
$8,000, one institutional for $4,500. one
commercial for $8.000 and one tool
shed for $400.
There was one permanent sign ap-
proved to bring the 1984 total to 26 and
there were eight temporary signs ap-
proved to bring the year's total to 161.
town and in Huron County. It was all
part of Exeter Public School's
celebration of Local Government
Week.
The day before, the grade seven
apd eight students had gone on a bus
tour of Exeter, with Principal Jim
Chapman at the front of the bus. Chap-
man explained the significance of the
municipal government's role in Ex•
eter life at every stop along the way.
The tour started at the school itself.
which students learned costs $885.000
annually to operate.
It continued at the new recreation
centre, which cost $1.4 million to build
and has already been paid off. The
bus continued up and down the streets
of Exeter, with stops al the P.U.C.
hydro station. the Exeter and Area
Fire Department. the post office. the
police department, the pumphouse
and the sewage 'lagoons, to name a
few.
Teacher Jim Bishop was the bus
driver on the tour. Bishop teaches
history and social science to grade
seven and eight pupils at the schooi,
and he helped organiie the special ac-
tivities.Students were listening atten-
tively during the bus tour to catch the
answers to 24 questions about
municipal buildings and officials that
Bishop made up for them.
As part of the open house activities
throughout Exeter on Wednesday,
Exeter Public School had six
hostesses ready to give visitors a
school tour and answer any questions.
They were Student Council president
was once good agricultural land.
"You can't replace good land,"
• e .refuted Bell.
Spring Cushman, Elizabeth Mol, Kim
Murray. Michelle Ellison. Diane
McCarter and Marcie Ellison.
The purpose of alt these activities
was to teach students how tax money
is spent. who runs town and county af-
fairs.,and the ways municipal govern-
ment touches almost every aspect of
their lives. It's hoped that some of
these informed citizens will grow up
to participate in municipal govern-
ment themselves.
Will advertise
for police chief
Exeter council decided this week to
advertise for a "senior police chief."
Present Chief Ted Day has been off
sick since early last fall and Mayor
Bruce Shaw said the action is based
on the indicat ion that Day is not ex-
pected to return to his post in the near
future.
Shaw said the town will be seeking
someone who will function as a work-
ing police chief and the position will
be permanent.
Chief I)ay will reach retirement age
of 60 in about 15 months.
The town discussed the current
situation with the Ontario Police Com-
mission and chose one of the four
alternatives presented for
consideration.
The Mayor said applications from
present members of the force will be
welcomed for the position.
TAXES Deputy Clerk -Treasurer Laurie Dykstra shovis students from Exeter Public School the assess-
ment roll at the Exeter Municipal Office. The students were touring the town as port of Local Govern-
ment Week celebrations.
than they should, based on statistics
of those who use facilities and
programs.
Mark Laporte, Dan Watson and
Ruth Martin argued against user fees,
with Watson noting township
residents have to spend money on gas
to get to Exeter.
"If the prices tof recreation) go
up, poeple will think about not com-
ing to Exeter." Laporte suggested.
Mellecke had difficulty responding
as a member of Exeter council. as he
argued against the need for greater
township funding.
Ile pointed out that people using the
recreation facilities spend Honey in
Exeter when they bring kids in for
hockey practices and then go
shopping.
"We can shop and play hockey in
Hay," Laporte commented.
"You can't look at where you live."
offered Ronalynn Bell, urging the
debaters to look at it as something in
which they all participate.
"I don't think Exeter should be
disadvhntaged," added Wareham.
The council finally decided that. to
be fair, the grants from all
municipalities should be equal on a
percentage basis to the percentage of
their residents using the facilities and
programs.
At the end of the session, Shaw com-
mended the students for their efforts
and noted that municipal council
members have to have three main
qualities: understanding. tolerance
and fairness.
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