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Times-Advocate, 1984-04-18, Page 1•UALITY FUR ITURE pea WHY PAY MORE? I, Whitings Phone 235-1964 Council critical of county council, commend school boa s zeter fax rate he 'There were bouquets and brickbats handed out as Ex- eter council set their 1984 mill rate, Monday. The words of praise were for their own efforts in holding the local portion of the budget to a negligible in- crease and, for the first time in memory, commendation i for the boards of education for their efforts in keeping in- • creases within inflationary guidelines. The criticism was saved for Huron County council, whose 13.6 percent increase this year was termed "way out of line" by Mayor Bruce Shaw. Those sentiments were echoed by several other READY FOR EASTER - These bunnies appear to be right at home on the front lawn of the St. Joseph home of Ross and Marg Johnston. T -A photo Ball, soccer kids will get to pay too increases in most rates for facilities operated by the South Huron rec centre board of management were approv= ed by the hoard, Thursday. .Most sports groups will he facing increases when they take to their various playing surfaces for the upcoming season. Ice rental will increase $2 per hour to $42 for the corning season, while minor groups will have a $4 per hour in- crease to $31. The latter rate, however, is the same as that in effect for the 1982-83 season. Last year's rate was actually decreased Minor ball and soccer groups will also he charged a fee for the first time'this year. Each organization will be charged $2 per player for the season use of the diamond - and soccer pitch. Adult groups using the ball diamonds will pay $7 with no lights and $14 when the lights are used. 'That's an increase of $1 and $2 respectively. The rate for ball tour- naments remains unchanged at $75 for the weekend and the use of the ag building in con- junction with tournaments is also unchanged at $75. The lawn bowling green rental will increase $10 to $275 for the current season, while the weight room rental is un- changed at $210. All fees for rental of the ag building were left unchanged. Charges for the hall, bar, foyer and arena floor at the rec centre will change. at the beginning of 1985. Friday ren- tal for the hall goes up $10 to $185 and the Saturday rate in- creases $5 to $275. The rate is $17 per hour on other days of the week and that's an in- crease of $3 per hour. Bar rental rates, which are based on the.number of peo- ple attending an event, are up in most categories by $5. it's $30 for groups up to 150 peo- ple and increases to $155 for groups up to the maximum capacity of 517. The arena floor bar costs $290, an in- crease of $5. The kitchen rate is up $3 to $48 for a hot -meal and in un- changed at $12 for a cold lunch. R members. The average increase for property owners will be around four percent, one of the lowest percentage in- creases in recent years. The largest portion of the increase comes from higher apportionments for county purposes as the general rate increase approved this week by council is actually listed at zero because it is so small. The rate increases by 9.94 mills for residential public school supporters (up 3.67 percent) bringing the 1984 total to 280.82 mills. For separate school supporters the rate will be 280.33 mills, an increase of 11.07 mills or 4.11 percent. The commercial rate for public school supporters in- creases 12.25 mills or 3.85 per- cent to 330.57. The rate for separate school commercial is up 13.23 mills or 4.18 per- cent to 329.99 mills. Increased assessment has helped keep the general rate to a negligible increase, Local citizens will provide $655,087 for the town's coffers, com- pared to the $639,191 they paid last year. The biggest increase in 1964 is for county purposes. That rate is up over 13 percent and the total contribution will be $202,945, compared to $176,367 last year. The high school levy has in- creased 2.34 percent, while the public school rate is up 1.82 percent and the separate levy jumps 6.5 percent. Exeter property owners will be contribltting $374,864 for high school purposes. The public school levy amounts to $442,446 and tJt e separate school is $25,931. The cor- responding figures in 1983 for the three were $358,253, $412,450 and $24,650 respectively. Total taxation is expected to generate $1,720,611 for general, county and school purposes, while the balance of the $2,839,476 budget comes primarily from the provincial government, fees and ser- vices to local citizens and other municipalities. "I am pleased to see that in more areas, constraint has helped to produce this low total increase in this budget," finance committee chairman Rill Mickle commented. He continued: "Without reservations, I congratulate the board of education in limiting its increase to about 4 percent. This is below infla- tion and reflects the prophesy of the two representatives from the board that visited our council in 1983. I sincere- ly hope that this lower level of new funding is not a blip, but an indication of the efforts that will continue. THEY'RE PROTECTED The occupants of one civic building in Exeter will soon be able to rest easier knowing that their facility is protected by a burglar alarm. The facility? The Exeter police station on Sanders St. Included in the 1984 budget approved by council this week is an expenditure of $800 for the alarm system, which had been recommended by the Ontario Police Commission. "I do not find the county this year has shown restraint or even an effort to create a realistic budget. Your Deputy -Reeve and myself fought to have the county in- crease of 13.6 percent reduc- ed. However, this was a losing Chop rec user fees Despite a hefty chop in their proposed budget by Exeter council, the South Huron rec centre board of management may not have to make signifi- cant cuts in programs or move to user fees. The board had requested an $87,134 operating grant and $13,250 for capital. At the rec board meeting, Thursday, a letter from Mayor Bruce Shaw advised that council would grant only $75,000 for operations and $8,250 for capital. The rec board decided to leave the matter in the hands of their finance committee and it had been indicated that they may come back to coun- cil this week to plead their case further. However, no board or staff member appeared, although council representative Gaylan Josephson said he thought a staff member would have been on hand to plead for money. exercise and the diacttufalons, I regret did not Alter the budget in any fond. Action such as this doesn't`add com- fort to the efforts of County and municipal progt<ams try- ing to increase the assess- ment base. I woull hope that budg4t; unlikely Josephson explained that the board's budget had been set several weeks ago and since then a 84,000 source of unexpected revenue had arisen to help the situation significantly. He also advised council that the Swimming pool would probably operate one week less than planned to help reduce costs in that area. In his letter to the board, Shaw noted that the proposed 20 percent increase was "from council's perspective inappropriate " He also advised that while council had decided not to compel the board to initiate user fees, they would not ob- ject if the boa : d decided to do so through a reasonable for- mula to generate additional. income. Board chairman John Pym told the T -A on Monday that user fees would probably not be considered at this time by the board and he hoped they could work with the reduced budget. r 6' to under four percent citizens of Huron would make their feelings known. "Lastly, we as a council have again created a realistic budget in co-operation with the department heads. Although, the expenditures of some departments rose faster than I would have wished, the overall operating expenditure /increase was 4.04 percent. On the revenue side we have had increases in unconditional and conditional grants also payment in -lieu of taxes. The largest beneficial affect in this budget is our increased assessment. "This increased assess- ment should give us pleasure. The growth in commercial, industrial and housing pro- perty and business assess- ment was approximately 887,000. This growth benefits all ratepayers by 4.75 mills, and also assisting us to main- tain a very small growth in our taxation requirements. It is certainly hoped that future growth will continue. "This will be obtainable on- ly if realistic planning and zoning is achieved, and a competitive atmosphere in rents, sales and services coupled with choice is found in Exeter. It should also re- affirm this Council's continu- ing efforts in promotion and development plans for Exeter. At the end of the Reeve's comments, Councillor Dorothy Chapman succeeded in getting approval for her motion that council send a let - ter of commendation to the board of education for their budget this year. "They're be- ing very realistic this trip," she said. Council also approved her suggestion that a letter of pro- test be sent to county council regarding their mammoth in- crease. Mayor Shaw said the degree of tact to be used in the communication could be worked out between Mrs. Chapman and Clerk Liz Bell. Shaw commended the Reeve and his committee as well as all members of coun- cil and the department heads for "the excellent job you did in sharpening your pencils," in arriving at the 1984 budget. BLOWING principal Friday F^' OUT CANDLES Bill Linfield in blowing morning assembly. - Usborne Central School students are backed out the candles on a Bi -Centennial coke T -A Imes Serving South uron, North Middlesex up by during a photo VOC & North Lambton Since 1873 One Hundred and Eleventh Year EXETER, ONTARIO, April 18,1984 SKIP FOR HEART FUND = Montreal Concorde nose guard Glenn Weir was at McGillivray Central School Friday to start a skipping marathon for the Heart Fund. Students joining in are Mike Little and Joanne McAlpine. T -A photo Some concern over tenants too Concern Concern over the number of vacant stores in downtown Exeter was expressed at Ex - 0 RURAL BLOCK PARENT PROGRAMS - Meetings were held this week at Usborne and Stephen Central Schools to organize Block Parent programs in the two municipalities. Shown above of the Usborne meeting ore Cor- poral Dove Woodward of the Exeter OPP detachment, Lynda Hern, chairperson Eileen Miron and Barb Passmore. Seek volunteers now Plan rural Biock Parents Preliminary steps to organize a Rural Block Parent Program are under- way in Stephen and Usborne townships. General informa- tion meetings were held last week at Usborne and Stephen Central Schools with about 18 adults in attendance each night. The Exeter Block Parent Committee chaired by Eileen Miron explained how a rural system would work. in addi- tion to window signs, Block Parents are provided with decals which are stuck on mailboxes. Children on bicycles or hiking who require assistance would know where help could be found. Corporal Woodward of the Exeter Detachment OPP, presented a film titled "Say No to a Stranger". lie pointed out that the Blodc Parent Pro- gram is an important step in crime prevention because of the deterrent effect on un- wanted strangers. The Exeter committee hopes that enough volunteers can be found to eventually establish committees in each of the areas. Anyone wishing further in- formation about the program or how he/she can help can call Eileen Miron at 235-0958 or Lois Godbolt at 235-0691. over vacancies eter council's session this. week, as well as some con- cern over the type of business that is being conducted from one. "it bothers me to see a number of empty stores on Main St.," Reeve Bill Mickle commented in opening discussion on the topic, noting that he had discussed the matter with several people in an effort to remedy the situation. Ile told council that the On- tario government will help municipalities in finding retailers from overseas, but said that it would he necessary for Exeter to in- dicate the type of retailers they required to locate here. "If we're going to be healthy, we have to keep the floor space filled with activi- ty," he suggested. Ile made mention of the fact that some people suggest that the high rent being charged by some owners is having a detrimental effect on keeping stores occupied, although he noted there was little council could do in that regard other than keep the town competitive in the mat- ter of taxes and services. Mayor Bruce Shaw then ex- plained he had received three complaints from local retailers regarding a liquida- tion business which is plann- ing to operate out of the former pool room for only one week. While noting that the business falls under terms of all local bylaws, he said the amount of money the firm hopes to take out of Exeter during their stay here may suggest that council should in- crease transient trader's licences to their maximum to discourage such operations. The current fee is $100 and the maximum that can be set by council is $500. He said that the firm did present some unfair competi- tion in that they would not be around to support local ac- tivities as local merchants do througout the year. The matter was turned over to the executive committee for recommendation. Two cyclists suffer injury A 12 -year-old Exeter youth escaped with minor injuries to his wrist and leg after be- ing involved in a collision with a car on Thursday. Allan Robertson, son of Ex- eter Police Constable George Robertson, was in collision with a vehicle driven by Ronald Clarke, Huron Park, at the intersection of Sanders 'and Carling St. A London motorcyclist, John McMahon, sustained a minor foot injury in a collision with a car on Saturday. The other vehicle was driven by June Vanduse, Scarborough. The collision occurred on Main St: at the intersection of Waiper St. and damage was listed at 8300 by Constable Kierstead. In another collision on Thursday, damage was set at $600 when vehicles driven by Edna Anderson, Exeter, and , Larry Consitt, Hensall, collid- ed at !tie intersection of Highway 4 and 83. Constable .iim Barnes investigated. Price Per Copy 50 Cents Municipal officials elect Stanley reeve Stanley :township reeve Paul Steckle will head the Huron County Municipal Of- ficers Association for the coming year. Reeve Steckle was named president of the organization at its annual meeting, April 10. He succeeds Grey Township reeve Leona Armstrong. There were about 120 municipal representatives both elected and appointed at the meeting as well as representatives from various provincial, inistries and sur- rounding counties. The group comes together several times a year to hear guest speakers on topics that pertain to municipal life. This year, -the regional supervisor - of Fire Advisory Services from the Ontario Fire Mar- shal's office spoke on the future of volunteer fire ser- vices: a consultant from the Ministry of Citizenship and Culture spoke on Ontario's hi - centennial, and parliamen-. tary procedure was discussed by an advisor from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Besides Steckle, other ex- ecutives were named to the association. Elizabeth Bell, Exeter is the first vice- president, Robert Bell, Tuckersmith township is se- cond vice-president and direc- tors are Tom Cunningham, Hullet township, Nancy Michie, Morris township and Winona Thomson, East Wawanosh township. This year Grey township hosted the annual meeting at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. For next year, both Stanley and Goderich townships have ask- ed to host the meeting. Cardiff gets job Opposition leader Brian Mulroney has announced that Huron -Bruce MP Murray Cardiff will become deputy critic for agriculture. He replaces Gary Gurbin in that capacity. Cardiff was previously deputy critic ministry of state for finance. Ile will continue to play an active role on the standing committee as he feels that the economic problems facing Canadians should be a first priority for any MP. At the same time, he notes his new role as deputy critic for agriculture will expand his responsibilities with regards to the -agriculture sector and he is looking foward to that. Ile has been a member of the agriculture caucus of the Conservative party as well as the agriculture standing com- mittee since his election to the House in 1980. KIDS -- Justin Shaw holds one of a set of quadruplet Nubian goats born two weeks ago on an area form. • t