Times Advocate, 1991-03-20, Page 3T1V THF Times -Advocate, March 20, 1991 Page 3
Upgraded fire coverage
rating may mean good
news for local industry
EXETER - Town industries are
getting some good news from the
Insurers' Advisory Organization
now that the Exeter Fire Depart-
ment's
epartment's coverage has been upgraded
to a grade four from five.
The new rating, on a scale of one
to 10. will come into effect in the
next few months and may mean in-
surers will look a little more fa-
vourably on town industrial and
commercial properties.
John Morgan at George T. Mor-
gan Insurance Brokers said he
hoped the new rating, the highest
possible without a full-time fire de-
partment, would directly benefit
businesses.
"We're hoping to see a reduction
in premiums," said Morgan, but he
said he did not know how much of
a reduction could be expected.
A grade four rating may also help
attract industry to town.
"A four is very, very good for a
volunteer area," said Morgan, not-
ing not many small Ontario towns
enjoy the same rating.
John Gaiser at Gaiser Kneale In-
surance, also a member of the Exet-
er Fire Department, said the main
benefit from an insurance point of
view is it will likely make the mar-
ket more confident, and therefore
more competitive.
"The only thing it does is put
confidence in the insurance compa-
nies to write in this area," said
Gaiser, who also said companies
may be more willing to take on
larger policies for large customers.
While Gaiser said the new fire
coverage rating may not be as at-
tractive to industry as a four lane
highway connecting Exeter to the
Acotlecwble
Ac;ft
ATreasure
401, he said it may be a contribut-
ing factor in the location of new
factories.
"It's a feather in Exeter's cap to
have the quality of rue deparirnent
they do have; said Gaiser, pointing
out that qwck response to fires
means less damage to the building
and consequently less time to get-
ting back in business.
Exeter Fire Chief Gary Middle-
ton attributed the uped rating,
which applies only to industrial and
commercial properties, to the de-
partment's training programs, regu-
lar safety inspections, prevention
programs. and a stable water sup -
Pi town's residential rating re-
mains a two on a scale of five, also
the best possible without a full-time
department.
I have to give the PUC a lot of
credit, they flush our hydrants eve-
ry year...they maintain them and
they're colour-coded under regula-
tions," said Middleton.
Also, said Middleton, the dedica-
tion of the volunteer force plays a
large part in the rating.
"It mai.es a person proud," he
said.
However, a grade four rating can
be hard for a volunteer department
to maintain, especially since the in
surance industryplaces a strong
emphasis on equipment. The insu-
rancereport already expresses mis-
givings about, the age of the 1974
pumper and recommends it be re-
placed before it is 20 years old.
Unfortunately, Middleton says he
has estimated a new pumper at
costing up to $280,000.
epee%
Businessman says no,
to eliminating speakers
GRAND BEND - While Grand
Bend is in the midst of drafting a
new bylaw regarding outdoor
loudspeakers, at least one busi-
nessman has voiced his concern.
Jerry Sanders, owner of the Ho-
tel Mainstreet and Sanders On The
Beach, is opposed to passing a by-
law which would eliminate the
aspeakers. etter to council, Sanders
wrote, "it would seriously create
economic hardship in an already
difficult time to interfere with exist-
ing systems."
Councilor Bill Uniac who said
that nothing will satisfy everyone,
added, "the main street is beginning
to sound like a carnival and it's get-
ting out of control."
In an unrelated incident, but in-
volving Sanders, Uniac has asked
the clerk -treasurer to invesigate ap-
proximately $1,200 which Sanders
raised for a Save the Beach cam-
paign.
46' iotY
JessicaDof(
�snr�
�tbyaa�►d poke, bymcn
a
fitezmwfol'a
"JIm1fA Poll "
todedrawn �Pri�y
Matrit for Wier iMbn►wfionudl
235.1211...405 MairStreet
SUGAR 6 SPICE
ft'a
Oils tale ouraisplayof
GMr�a! eclrtiAn
idleti'S iTttl6 & {I111rCS
cpen GAI friday 11-5
Saturday 9-5:349
scWay&t►yOriy 11-5
Gibbs, village can't reach agreement
By Fred Groves
GRAND BEND - A big ques-
tion mark is hanging over the main
beach in Grand Bend.
The village has refused Archie
Gibbs' latest offer and as a result,
there may be no washroom facili-
ties.
Gibbs, the owner of the beach
until an appeal is held, was willing
to pay half of the $5,500 in taxes
on the property.
"He made us a final offer and
we said no," said Grand Bend
councillor Dennis Snider.
It was going to be a tradeoff, the
village would pay the taxes and in
return Gibbs would let them use
his beach house. Last year, the vil-
lage maintained the beachhouse
cleaned the beach and provided
Lifeguards.
That cost the village about
$25,000.
"Nobody really wins in this;
said Snider.
Gibbs will now have to be re-
sponsible for all three and he has
the option of not opening the beach
house.
On March 9, over 200 concerned
residents of the village crowded
into the Grand Bend Legion to
voice their opinions. They were ba-
sically given a choice. They Were
asked whether or not the village
should continue negotiations with
Gibbs or discontinue them.
Councillor Bill Uniac said there
should have been a third option,
whether or not to have the same
deal as last summer.
"We went the extra yard. ,We
went and basically negotiated with
him on last year's terms, we said
let's have it the same as last year.
We feel we went above and beyond
what the ratepayers wanted," said
Uniac.
Legally, the village is not under
any obligation to have washroom
facilities, but they said they do feel
morally responsible.
"There are temporary alterna-
tives," said Uniac.
One of those is building tempo=
rary washrooms. Local contractor
Steve Kadlecik was scheduled to
attend Monday night's council
meeting but he was absent. Council
said he was going to come and dis-
cuss the possibility of setting up
washrooms.
The village has not set a deadline
to when they will decide whether or
not to build a temporary facility.
Grand Bend's first big weekend is
just two months away.
"If we do something, it will be
done by then," said Snider.
Last summer Gibbs collected the
revenue from the 300 -car parking
lot. Prior to him becoming the own-
er of the beach in December 1989,
the village collected that revenue.
"When Archie first got it, we
went to him and offered to split the
revenue 50-50 and we'd operate
everything as usual but he said no,"
said Snider.
Tie snow Hafts faster these days. Crocuses bring colour to the chilled
gray countryside and in tune with nature's waim sigh of relief, people
around the world celebrate spring with smiles and Easter, the gentlest
Gays•
M.J. HU1VIMEL. FIGURINES
The Ultimate Display of Affection
MARCH 21ST IS THE FIRST DAY OF
•Safe and easy weight
loss
•Eat regular foods
*Nutritionally balanced
diets
1
You can
Lose 18 to
25 lbs. by
May 24th •
And Keep
" It Off!
it/eiffw4wcz
EXETER: 26 Thames Rd. E.
435-3355
Regular Programs Include:
'Weight loss time
.52 weeks of
maintenance
•6 weeks stabilization
•No expensive
pre-packaged foods
It's Carnival Time,
BsGeve it or not, german -tenure prapamtions
actively begin in November, But the real ctebration ,
&Bins neater Baster. tris surra*. arrfws on Shrove
Tuesday... the day before Ask Wednesday. In Germany
the time is boom as yasehinlgor or Carnival - a day
for noise maw and costa nes. One of Sister
Monotefs creations in particular captwes the sherry
making - a boy Awed as a clown. "Can
A