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Times-Advocate, 1988-06-22, Page 1fines Serving South Huron, North Middlesex Qne Hundred and Seventeenth Year voca -e & North Lambton Since 1873 EXETER, ONTARIO,. June 22, 1988 Price Per Copy 60 Cents 4 1. A BACKWARD GLANCg - It's been a long time since this scene was a regular occurrence in Exeter, but Her '- tage Days brought back the horse and buggy -- or stagecoach as it were -- for the weekend. Exeter residents were treated to stagecoach rides around town by Merl McClintock of Springford, Ontario. For more Heritage Days cov- erage, turn to Page 9. Rest Home plans million -dollar expansion ZURICH - Plans for extensive renovations to the Bluc Water Rest Home next year were confirmed at the home's annual meeting on June 13. Chairman Robert Westlake would not give an exact figure on what the renovations would cost, but noted that the Home has $492,000 set aside for the project, to be combined with 50 percent funding from the province, and will seek funding from other sourc- es. This would place the cost of the project over the $1 million mark. The decision to go ahead with renovations came from the Rest Home Board in an effort to im- prove the present facilities. "Individual washroom facilities should be a part of the home," said Westlake. Because washrooms would cortsume necessary 'floor space in the existing building, an addition will be needed to restore the building to its present capacity. Toronto architects Sisan and Montgomery have been selected to begin drawing up the plans for the extension, to sprout from the north- west corner of the building. Westlake told the members gath- ered at the meeting he hopcd a con- struction contract could be tendered before the end of 1988. "Of course the project can only proceed if the province contributes their portion," he said. The prov- ince provides 50 p ;rcent funding to rest home expansions, and 100 per- cent to facilities for care of Al- zheimer's patients. Westlake said an Alzheimer's dis- ease unit would likely be incorpo- rated into the design, complete with patient call buttons for instant com- munication with on -duty staff. "1V the need is in extended care, sn we can handle that," said West- lake. ' Other reports at the meeting con - eluded that the Bluc Water home is in sound financial shape. "1 have to say the Home experi- enced another successful year," said administrator Josef Risi. Operating costs came in slightly under budget at $1,054,988, not including $35,000 for a new 11,000 square foot section of roof. The budget for 1988-89 has. been sct at $1.141,301. The rest home has been running at 98.6 percent capacity with 20 ad- missions during the year for the 64 - bed home. Dr. Charles Wallace gave Blue Water a clean bill of health in his medical officer's report. "I'm very happy with the set-up here, medically," Wallace stated. A Toronto consulting firm is pre- paring a report at a cost of $4,000 to provide the province with re- quired information on Bluc Water's pay equity status. Charges pending in assault incident EXETER - Officers at the Exeter detachment of the Ontario Provin- cial Police are continuing investiga- tion of a Thursday assault which occurred in Usbornc township. Peter Marrion Grzyb of London was admitted to Univeristy Hospital where he remains in serious condi- tion. Charges stemming from the incident are still pending. Changing official plan for Sherwood property EXETER - Exeter cot.ncil decided Monday night to changc the town's official plan to allow the Sherwood (Exeter) Limited farm machinery dealership to move to the former Dan Bric property on Highway 83 east. The Planning and Development Department of the County of Huron had sent a letter of appeal to the town concerning a recently passed bylaw which allowed the change in location. The letter from planner Wayne Caldwell for director Gary Davidson suggests the bylaw which allowed the transfer was not legal and an of- ficial plan amendment would correct this non -conformity. On May 16, council approved the request from solicitor Randy Evans for Sherwood owner Gabby Mol to add the agricultural operation to the existing industrial zone. BANKS BLAMED F of A discuss farm debt page 2 This past week, more than 100 vehicles were checked in the OPP R.I.D.E. program on arca roads and three driving suspensions of 12 hours each were issued. Officers will continue this pro- gram this week and will be setting up throughout the detachment arca at various timos.and locations. A total of 61 general occurrences wcrc investigated.. Charges laid in- cluded 65 Highway Traffic Act, eight Liquor Licence Act, three Criminal Code, two impaired driv- ing, two CAIA and two young of- fenders. At 12.25 p.m. on Sunday, June 12, four vehicles wcrc involved in a crash on Highway 81, just cast of Grand Bcnd. Drivers were Saah Friesen, Toronto; Gregory Lone and Pamela Black, both of London ar,d Stephen Kuntz, Stratford. While ve- hicle damage was severe, six per- sons suffered only minor injury. Please turn to page 2 K/RKTON AMBASSADOR Leon Paul is K -W Citizen of the Year page 2 Taxes will be up and down EXETER - The 1988 budget and mill rates for the town of Exeter were set by council Monday night and the news for most taxpayers is good, but not as good as council- lors hoped it would be. Due to the establishment of Sec- tion 70 of the Assessment Act with the use of market value for the first time, it is impossible to make comparisons with previous years. At the beginning of the budget session, Mayor Bruce Shaw said, " With the change to 1984 market value for assessment, we expected there would be savings as high as S200,000 for Exeter's contributions for county and school board levies, but that didn't happen." He continued, ' We had hoped to use this extra money for additonal reserve' funds and cut taxes, but it didn't work that way. You can't compare any percentages over last year. It's a brand new ball game." Shaw went on to say, " The key for me is that my taxes are down. Some are up and some are down. The new assessment system brings equality to the tax rate." The assessments that were the lowest will be faced with the largest tax increase. Clerk -treasurer Liz Bell presented a number of typical assessments and eventual taxes. A house that was assessed at S2,080 for 1987 tax purposes is now assessed at $40,000 and will bear taxes of $786, which is an in- crease of $87 over a year ago. Taxes on a dwelling increased in assessment from $4.736 to 582.000 will go up by only $21 to $1,611 for this. year and some in other cate- gories will be reduced. Qne commercial example has tax- es down by $236 on a property raised in assessment value from $4,690 to $70,000. To best explain the financial pic- ture , Bell said, " Our revenues and expenditures are both up by about seven percent. The total mill rate for public school supporters is 19.641 mills and for separate school taxpayers the rate is 19.890 mills. Of these mill rates, close to eight mills and about 40 percent of the total tax rate gots to the town of Exeter with just over nine mills going to the school boards and 2.615 mills to the county of Huron. In addition, a mill rate of 3.857 mills is levied on the commercial assessments which arc used as a ba- sis for all businesses within the Downtown Business Improvement Area to raise the amount of $29,900, for that purpose. - The actual monies raised by taxes for town purposes is $932,514. Shaw said all committee budgets. were pared seriously from the very first meeting The only change at Monday's acting was taking $3,000 f l the public works re- serve f o be used by the police committee for the purchase of a ra- dar gun. This move cut the public works rescrvc fund to $12,0(0 and brought a comment from works superinten- dent Glenn' Kells, "I'm not crvine for a pickup truck, but what is the rationale in putting S12,0(X) into reserves instead of spending the same amount for a new vehicle." In reply to councillor Dorothy Chapman's comment about why some budgets are pared and not oth- ers, mayor Shaw rcplicd, " Every committee has cut as much as pos- sible. We played no favourites.' Councillor Gaylen Josephson agreed saying, "I have one concern. It's no; an individual budget, It's a council budget, but some may have higher priority." Shaw concluded with , This is the latest we have ever set a budget in my 12 years here. It couldn't be helped with the assessment change. There is no reason why we can't have our own budget set by early February from now on. This way we won't commit monies before a budget is set." The first good news of the night came when Jon Ganser of Gaiser- Kncale and David Reed of Frank Cowan Insurance Company pre- sented the insurance coverage pro- gram for 1988. The total annual premium will be reduced by over $5,00() to 550,783. Reed said this reduction came be- cause of the insurance market." Thc insurance brokers said they had np problem with a recent coun- cil resolution to take the insurance package only from now until the end of 1988 and then go to a tender- ing system. The premium for this year will be pro -rated from July 14 to December 31. - Colors in sky over "The Bend" GRAND BEND - A "Dance party of colors in the sky" is how Cham- ber of Commerce committcc head Gene Grcnicr describes the $10,000 fireworks spectacular planned for the beach at Grand Ber}i1 on July 1. Grcnicr, a Fireworks Supervisor, licensed by the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources who has staged displays throughout Can- ada for over 10 years, says this year he will bring back sky bangers such as "Niagara Falls, Cha Cha, Mardi Gras and Jitterbug and Jive'', to de- light the 25,000 plus audience. The display of red, green, yellow, blue and white is enhanced by their reflection in the water, and the twinkling lights from over 100 boats that anchor to watch the show from ring side scats. President Dave Sheppard applauds the efforts of Grcnicr and Nick Car- ter who head up the Chamber of Commerce committee to provide the firework . lisplay by staging at least one fund-raiser this summer, plus other projects to pay for the event at dusk July 1, Grand Bcnd Beach. IT'S TIMELESS Heritage Days took Exeter , residents back in time page9 CUTTING CREW - Zurich councillor Paul Morrison and reeve Bob Fisher slice into the barbecued beef prepared for the seniors' annual picnic. SCATCHERD CLASSIC Dave Scatchard throws a party to remember page 3A 1 HONOUR CHARLIE First and only Bean Boardmanager page 7A ti Town approves purchase of fire pumper . o EXETER - Exeter council Monday night approved make serious inroads into the eastern market. He a recommendation from the Exeter and arca Fire added, " I have checked a couple of departments with board for the purchase of a new fire pumper. similar machines and they are pleased. Next year the The board which,has representation from the town price will liklcy be up about 16 percent." of Exeter and the townships of Hay, Stephen and Deputy reeve Lossy Fuller commented, "No one Usborne wishes to place the order immediately for on the board thought the tender would come in so fall delivery.low. There could be as much as a 22 percent hike by The committee agreed to purchase a fully equipped next year." pumper for a total price of $166,798. Fire trucks arc Reeve Bill Mickle added, " Price is one thing, but exempt from tax and if they come fully equipped we must remember the terrific expansion we 'arc this purchase is also tax-free. Extra equipment to be now having. Last year's building permits were.over added to an unequipped vehicle would call for sales $6 million. It's important to have our fire equip - tax of 22 perccnt. ment up to snuff." Arca fire chief Gary Middleton received quotes on Chief Middleton continued, " We now have a city five fire trucks from four companies with specifica- rating for our department. We should make sure we tions and prices with and without equipment. provide our people the service. Thc Fire Marshall's Reserve monies will cover a portion of the pur- office approves the pumper and monitor we want." chase and the balance -will be required to be budgeted Thcrc was considerable discussion when clerk - by each municipality. treasurer Liz Bell presented the percentages for the On any capital purchase of fire equipment, Exeter purchase and a report on reserves put aside by Exeter pays 56 perccnt of the cost, Usborne township takes and the townships of Usborne and Stephen. care of 34 perccnt and the townships of Stephen and Bell explained that the percentages for the pur- Hay each contribute five perccni chase would be based on the new agreement for this As of the date of the fire board meeting, reserve year which has new percentages for the townships. monies amounted to $101,312. After the use of re- Mayor Shaw said this was not his intention when serves, Exeter will pay $30,723; Usbornc will con- the first agreement was signed and added ," Liz may , tribute $19,099 and Hay township will pay $8,340. be right, but that's not what we wanted." • Stephen's share of $8,340 is cordpletely covered by When Councillor Dorothy Chapman asked, " Is reserves. the only reason to buy the ncw purnper is so we can The board will attcmpt to sell the 1961 pumper to sell the old one, "Middleton quickly rcplicd," The offset the purchase price of the new machine.When 1961 machine is now 27 years old and no way can several councillors raised the question Monday we sell the 1974 model. We have too much money night,"Why buy it this year when the money is not in it. Repairs over the past two years have cost in the budget?", fire chief Gary Middleton replied, " $30,000. It's a matter of price. We expected the quotes to be The proposal for purchase of the ncw pumper is well over $200,000 ." being considered at Usbornc, Ilay and Stephen town - Middleton went on to explain that the successful ship meetings early this week and the fire board bidder Hub A, was a western company trying to meets again today, Wednesday. Colors in sky over "The Bend" GRAND BEND - A "Dance party of colors in the sky" is how Cham- ber of Commerce committcc head Gene Grcnicr describes the $10,000 fireworks spectacular planned for the beach at Grand Ber}i1 on July 1. Grcnicr, a Fireworks Supervisor, licensed by the Federal Ministry of Energy, Mines and Resources who has staged displays throughout Can- ada for over 10 years, says this year he will bring back sky bangers such as "Niagara Falls, Cha Cha, Mardi Gras and Jitterbug and Jive'', to de- light the 25,000 plus audience. The display of red, green, yellow, blue and white is enhanced by their reflection in the water, and the twinkling lights from over 100 boats that anchor to watch the show from ring side scats. President Dave Sheppard applauds the efforts of Grcnicr and Nick Car- ter who head up the Chamber of Commerce committee to provide the firework . lisplay by staging at least one fund-raiser this summer, plus other projects to pay for the event at dusk July 1, Grand Bcnd Beach. IT'S TIMELESS Heritage Days took Exeter , residents back in time page9 CUTTING CREW - Zurich councillor Paul Morrison and reeve Bob Fisher slice into the barbecued beef prepared for the seniors' annual picnic. SCATCHERD CLASSIC Dave Scatchard throws a party to remember page 3A 1 HONOUR CHARLIE First and only Bean Boardmanager page 7A ti