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Times Advocate, 1991-11-20, Page 29Times -Advocate, November 20, 1991 Page 29 Town saving $25,000 on project EXETER - The town's PRIDE 2 project to update the services in the southwest corner of town is expect - yd to come in $25,850 less than -priginal estimates, bringing the to- ad cost to $1.147 million, down from $1.173. Because the provincial grants had already been committed, the sav- ings will be fully realized by the town, administrator Rick Hundey told council Monday evening. Councillor Ben Hoogenboom asked about the article which ap- peared in last week's Times Advo- cate about the $12,000 "muffler" on the sewage pumping station, and whether it was included in the re- vised cost estimates Hundey was presenting. Hundey said it was, and explained the noise reduction system was a set of louvres re- quired by the Ministry of the Envi- ronment to cut noise on the backup diesel generator on the pumphouse. Mayor Bruce Shaw asked works superintendent Glenn Kells why the ministry would be so "high handed' when requiring these specifications before approving the project. Kells said part of the problem was that the design for the building came after the contracts were signed. He also said the different branches of the ministry dealt with approvals on the building. A noise pollution study came in after the contractor was hired. But Kells said that without cor- recting the problem and paying the extra $12,000, the town faced the prospect of having the whole pro- ject stalled. "Just as a comment, it seems like an awful lot of money for some- thing that only comes on in an emergency, short-lived at that. And people would be glad to hear it working and that the water is being pumped away." said Shaw. Kalb ((greed and said the only commute on the _pint station --without such elaborate "muffling" was one of concern that the pump was making a noise. The citizen was more worried about a problem than the sound. Hundey assured Shaw that the town staff had voiced the same ar- guments with the ministry, but were unable to dissuade them. Councillor Harry Klungel, attend- ing his last meeting, asked how long the system could fail before the sewers would back up. Kells replied that sewage would likely overflow into the creek before basements overflowed, which would then constitute an environ- mental hazard. Council now risking wrath of $olicitor General over police issue EXETER - The town council is running the risk of running afoul of the, Ministry of the Solicitor Gener- al but the consequences of ignor- ing the new police act have yet to bet determined. Council has repeatedly ignored • the'province's regulation that coun- cil decide on either a three person, or five person police board to over- see the town police force. Howev- er, council objects th,at it would have only a minority. voice on such a board and the province would be , able to appoint the majority of the members. ' "We will be in contravention of the law in a very short time. That doesn't necessarily bother us, but I thought you should know," mayor Bance Shaw told council Monday evening. Reeve Bill Mickle noted while Exeter struggles to meet its costs for operating its police, other mu- nicipalities receive free OPP vet_ age. He argued that wits mother in- equity of the new Police Services Act. "I'm prepared to stay with the present position. I think our stand is right...and if we back off it we have given up a very important case for the people of Exeter," said Mickle. Councilor and present police committee chairman Dorothy Chapman said the new act prom- ised a look at the inequities of po- licing costs in the province, but a year later there is no evidence any- thing will be changed. "I totally agree with Bill," said councillor Ben Hoogenboom, who said he did not want council to ap- pear to be "flip flopping" on its po- _sition. -. Council conaequendy approved a motion to continue its position that the new board should be made up of the current members of the po- lice committee, Bruce Shaw, Dave Urlin and Dorothy Chapman. "We're not walking away from our duties...policing in this town will not be void of a committee," argued Mickle, who said council had a responsibility to protect its people against the costs imposed by a provincial organization. Chapman agreed, saying a prov- ince -dictated board would be no more than "marionettes". Zurich PUC softening blow of January hydro rate increase ZURICH - Zurich residents may not be entirely pleased with the in- crease on their utility bills this Jan- uary, but they may be a little glad to hear that the damage could have been worse. Outgoing PUC chairman Doug Thiel presented his report to coun- cil Thursday evening and explained that while the utility will have to pay 12.3 percent more for electrici- ty from Ontario Hydro next year, only an 11 percent increase will be passed on to customers. Hydro will be increasingthe price of electricity to utilities by an average of 11.8 percent, but Zurich is one of the municipalities which will be seeing increases above the average. Ilowever, since Zurich's PUC has contracts to generate income from other sources, including meter read- ing for Dashwood, the utility will be able to offset the hydro increase. Also because some funds for cap- ital projects for the utility went un- used in 1991, they can be applied toward the overall budget. "We're saying we can get away with an 11 percent increase and meet our requirements," explained Thiel. Another unexpected Christmas bonus for a few Zurich PUC cus- tomers will come when the utility tums over the ownership of all its rental water heaters to the custom- ers. There are, however, only about six or eight water heaters still being rented in Zurich, dating from the 1970s. Thiel said that the few re- maining heaters still rented by the PUC are probably not in very good IJborne Sesauicentennlal condition z be getting ownership of the heaters Cotnmitee sponsors quiitcontest Cralgwlel Day Centre Seniors busy AILSA CRAIG - The Craigwiel Day Centre Sen- iors have been so busy it's been difficult to find the time to report to all of you what we have been up to. However we're back, so sit down- and read, and be prepared to be tented into coming to join us! Speakers have shared with us their talent, knowl- edge and wisdom - and In one case especially their wit! Yes, Bill Thayer was back with us, and as usual. brightened our day and gave those smile muscles a real work out! There's nothing like a good belly laugh for what ails you. We'd like to share some of his jokes but we don't want to spoil it if you'd like to join us the next time around. He's never repeated yet, but in case he does it's much better hearing the funny story in his own inimitable style! One senior was heard to remark at the end of the day, "You always go home feeling happy when Bill's been here!" I venture to say that the memory brings lingering smiles for days after! Joan Burchill from Ilderton showed another way to feel relaxed, when she demonstrated her specialty, - massage therapy. In fact her volunteer for demon- stration was so relaxed she was almost floating for the rest of the day! It was interesting too, to hear from her the many benefits of massage. There are very few of us in this busy rushing world who could not benefit from a few sessions with her. Bonnie Spencer Beer from the Arthritis Society shared a lot of facts the seniors hadn't known before. If you haven't had a close encounter with arthritis ei- ther from personal experience or from someone in your family suffering from it, you are one of the privileged minority! Something that common and pain- ful should deserve a great deal of attention and research one would think. Caroleen Baker came to not only show her beautiful Toll Painting, but very kindly helped the seniors all do some. We each went home with a painted tree or- nament. (Sometimes when movies are re- leased, they sound very interest- ing, but especially for seniors it's difficult to actually get to a thea- tre to see them. • "Home Alone" was such a one. Video made it possible for them to view it and enjoy it. The day centre's craft days have been busy the last month or so. They usually feature one craft on our calendar, but lately are apt to have several on the go each day. Before Thanksgiving, they made small corn husk dolls for wall to door decorations, but more recently the seniors have been busy with fabric wreaths, refriger- ator butterflies, and unique jewellery. The bazaar is quickly approaching so that has in- creased the flurry of activity. Christmas Extravagan- za will be on the sixth and seventh of December this year. Some tables will be occupied by other groups and individuals to make your trip ail the more worth while. The Keenagers always welcome new participants, so if you've felt the urge to join the fun, or have some questions where you fit in either as volunteer, client/ friend, give the centre a call at 293-3419 or drop in to see them. You should have no trouble finding the centre if you make it afar as the eastern side of Ailsa Craig, for there is a new sign in front to let you know exactly where the home is. The van has been busy too. Since we have so many seniors from Strathroy wanting to come to the Cen- tre, they have begun to use the van for pickups in that town on Tuesdays. Evelyn McNaughton took us on another armchair journey. This time to Newfoundland and Labrador with a stop off at the Metro Zoo on the way home. She has taken the seniors many places, but it never gets boring because there is so much variation in the destinations. There is only one constant, -- the hand- some tour guides with the hugs! Unless of course you count the food laden tables that seem to be a enjoya- ble aspect of every trip! The rest enjoy eating experi- ences too, but they don't get the tour guides with the meals! Cralgwlel Activity and Day Centre Sports New Sign. Shown above left to right are Reuben Gingerich, Carol, Whiteford, Ruth Smith, Beth Briemer and Levi White. Ruth and Beth are the co-ordinators of the regular program at the Day Centre open Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays while Carol co-ordinates the Alzheimers and Special Needs day on Wednesdays. Reu- ben and Levi, from the Activity Centre created the sign. So while the customers who wiur . , . "00 will no longer have to pay the monthly rental, they will have to assume responsibility for their maintenance after the PUC gets out of the heater rental business. "These are probably ones that should have gone by now, but haven't," said Thiel. Thursday was also Thiel's last council meeting. Due to personal reasons, Thiel declined to nm in this year's election and will be re- placed by Dwayne LaPorte next month. New. "politically correct" criteria Zurich council worried smaller centres won't be able to compete for provincial grants ZURICH - Recreation board chairman Marg Deichert told vil- lage council Thursday evening that the province's new program for channelling grant money to munici- palities will likely make it very dif- ficult for small communities like Zurich to qualify for funding. Deichert was referring to a pres- entation made by Melanie McLaughlin from the Ministry of Tourism and Recreation who at- tended the last tecrealion'boa[d meeting. McLaughlin had offered some suggestions to the fboard on how their applications for provincial funding might be more favourably treated, even though the illage are- na will not be able to show direct benefits to eight special interest groups targetted by the Ontario government. All ministry grant funds arc now to be shown to benefit tither senior citizens, children or youth, natives, francophones, visible minorities, the disabled, working families, or women. ^ --- -Y-- "If something's_done tut t1!!l_ lana we have to show how it benefits those groups," Deichert told coun- cil. "It seems the big cities are go- ing to benefit the most from this new grant system." Zurich, observed Deichert, may not be able to prove as much bene- fit to these groups as can more cos- mopolitan centres. "It's rather scary when they say all grants systems will be geared to these groups," agreed clerk Mau- reen Simmons. Another change to the grant pro- gram is that all fundraising will have to be done before workcwt `begin. ___"Before we can be given our third [grant] we have to have our two- thirds in the bank," said Deichert, or a letter of commitment showing money will come from taxation. EXETER - The technique of quilting has been practised in Can- ada since colonial days when im- migrants utilized the skills they brought from their native countries to piece together scraps of linen and wool from used clothing and the scarce new material that was available. These fabric designs were then fastened to an insulating layer and a bottom layer of cloth with tiny stitches in order to create warm bedcoverings or other useful household articles. A contest sponsored by the Us - borne Sesquicentennial Committee offers you the opportunity to prac- -tree--Ifs age-old art while at the same time contribute to the history of Usbome Township. Usbome residents or former residents are in- vited to submit, on an individual or group basis, quilts that are no larger than 72 x 84 inches and no smaller than 60 x 72 inches to this competi- tion. The quilt must commemorate Usbome's sesquicentennial heritage and may use any of the traditional methods, for example, piecework, applique or embroidery, with kits Bake sale EXETER - On November 2 The Helping Hands group from The Bethel Reformcd Church of Huron Street East, Exeter held its annual craft and bake sale at the Old Town Hall. Some of the proceeds will be do- nated to the Christmas Bureau, Meals on Wheels and to a needy mission in the Dominican Repub- lic. Swine producers meeting in Holmesville HOLMBSVILLE - "'tine Weaner Pig" will be the focus of a swine seminar to be held on December 10 at the Goderich Township Commu- nity Centre in Holmesville on Tues- day, December 10. The morning session which starts at 9'30 a.m. will feature three top- ics. Harry Huffman, an engineer with OMAP, will discuss the "De- sign and Ventilating of the Weaner Room". With the health of wearer pigs being a very important consid- eration, Dr. Tim Blackwell or Dr. John Martin will present ideas on "Wearer Pig Diseases, Sanitation and Performance". Ed Barrie, a swine specialist with OMAF, will focus his talk on "Feeding and Managing the Wean- er Pig" to round out the morning program. Technology has played, and will play, a very important role in the swine industry. With this in mind, Bob Robson, Manager of the Shur - Gain Research Farm at Burford, will discuss their new swine facili- ties. To wrap up the program, Chris Brown, a soil and crap advisor with OMAF, will be talking about a key area of concern, "Swine Manure Management". Interested producers must pre - register for thea program by Friday, November 29. A cheque made out to "Education Account" ($20 per person or S30 per couple) must be sent to the OMAF Office in Clin- ton. not being accepted. Judging will be based on work- manship, excellence of design, and rcentennraf. 'Winners will vbe an- nounced on Friday, July 24, 1992. Prizes of first - $500, second - $100, third - $75 and all others $10 will be awarded at that time. The first prize quilt will become the property of Dorothy and Gerry Prout and will be displayed in the Usbome Township office. All quilts will remain'iin display for Saturday July 25 of Homecoming Weekend. What better way to spend a long, cold Canadian winter than by using this artform to create a portrayal of Usbome's history. Note that al- though you have until July 1, 1992 to complete your quilt, entry forms along with a S2 registration fee must be received by December 31, 1991. For more information, contact Marion (Harry) Dougall, Dorothy Prout or Gwen Christie. Delicious cakes were on the dessert menu at Saturday's Dashwood United Church International Festival. From the left are Bernice Boyle, Mary Weber and Karen Tiernan. Tacos from Mexico were served at Saturday's International Festival In Dashwood. From the left are Bill Chandler, Helen Wagner, and Ralph Weber.