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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1974-11-28, Page 7 (2).+o The attention of the public iS naturally on the race for mayor and, council seats in this 1974 municipal election but another important decision the voters must make is who will be .tini.- PUC corrimissioners for 'the next two years. The seldom, heard of PUC commissioner has a great deal of responsibility in operating and maintaining the utility. Their main concern, and that of their electorate, is the costs for operating the PUC. All financial policy is handled by the commissioners. • The setting of rates for hydro and water, establishing wages for ' PUC emPloyees and gran- ting capita) expenses for new PRECIOUS TOPAZ "I have topazes as yellow as the eyes of tigers, topazes , as pink as the eyes Of wood that are as the eyes of cats." Tfins does Oscar _Wilde pic- ture part of the offering of gemstones made by Herod to SalOme in his attempt to per- Isuatle to withdraw her request for the head of John the Baptist. To the colours mentioned by Wilde must be 'added blue, brown, red and colourless„. to complete the list of known varieties of topaz. Yellow is the colour. most often associated with this' gem mineral, ,since all yellow stones were once called topaz. The name Topaz is believed to be derived from the Sanskirt word "topes", meaning fire. Perhaps no other gem has had more varied or preposterous powers ascribed -to it. When. worn as an amulet, it was said to drive away sadness, strengthen the intellect arid bestow courage. It was con. sidered the stone of fruit- fulness and faithfulness, con- ferring cheerfnlness on the wearer, calming passidn. s and preventing bad dreams. Topaz has long been uaed as the birthstone for NoVem- ber. The alternate choice is more commonly sold for this purpose. Unfortunately, the name topaz has been applied 'so indiscriminaielY to citrine that the beauty of true topee is all but unknown to most persons. In fact, verY little of the so-called topaz, is genOie or precious topai.., The most important varietY is referred to as sherry 'topaz, due to its ' brownish -yellow or yellow-, brOwn colour. Fine topaz haw,' a very soft and velvety. qnality found in no other gem mineral. Topaz is -mined in Ceylon and Burma with the most important ' source being Brazil. David Anstett. Clinton, Ontario. ate equipment and material are t'he main concerns of the PVC com- missioner. • Four of the six men seelting the job will be elected. In ao at- tempt to educate the votera on the stand of the candidates on some issues affecting the PUC they have ,been asked to respond to a series of questions. Here is what they said. 1. How Important Is ex- perience? ' GEORGE FILSINGER: It has a great deal of importance. There's an awful lot to learn. It takes • time to adapt to procedures, especially finance. BEN SHEARDOWN: It cer- tainly helps a bit, all right. Without experience, you May haN-ye to feel your way along for bit of insight. BILL MILLS: Experience one of the most important things. Especially in finance. I started 21 yeara ago. This cquld be a controversial question. helps quite a bit. I have worked with the PUC quite a bit on their jobs and have a good idea r PEI issu say a man should serve on the conwiission for at least two years to become qualified for the job. I'm not saying a new man could not do it but I think a whole dew set of faces would create some problems. HARRY CRANE: I worked with Hydro for 40 years, 22 of them as line, superintendent for this PUC, ad I think. I know what people want and egpect. I know people from all areas, hoUses and factories and I It means a lot. toi run the PUC right and be able to answer the people's questions. taking into acCount the PUC's responslblitties? Are you abreaet of the development'? How much more can be hen - .died 'by the PUC? FILSINGEB: The puc, as it's . constituted, can hat -idle only 'a municipalit!,/ of about this size, much,, more. There's nothing we can do to prepare ourselves. We can expand our personnel and equipment if asked. SHEARDOWN: Our equip- ment is up to date. We have a new truck on order, and money on reserve, 'yet. If the growth isn't too rapid, we won't go into debentures. town recently have been taken care of, Our equipment can handle the„ present load and if the expansion remains the same for the next little while we shouldn't ,,have any capital expense for awhile. The sewage plant was built to handle a population of 10,000 people and if We construct a new water tower or reservoir in the southeast end of town. we have the pumping tepee* to feed it. Our ' hydro system loOps the town so that if there is a • power. stations the town will still haYe problem in one of the sub. RYAN: I think the plic is abreast of What is going on. They have to be to aupply the services to new housing and in. dustrial growth. Our problem is waiting for materials.for these jobs to arrive. ready to install the t;ewWeequaipre, ment.as soon as it gets here but we can't plan ahead of con - ,(continued on page 10A) of. the wants and needs of the people. I have a good idea of the costs for hydro and materials and"! think this helps a bit when you have to answer BRUCE RYAN: I would think it is very important. I would 2. Does the PUC keep the public informed on all Isgueti? FIL§ING,ER: Yes, but I don't - think it's as important for the PUC to keep the, public infor- med, as' it is for town council. From time t necessary. be more publicit To the electors of Ashfield Township time it's There should' Meetings are HARR WORSELL the utility would probably be out of town. The public would lose their representation and service that has been excellent in the past. RYAN: I don't want to see any regional government. wonld wou probably be three fulltime com- missioners getting $20,000 each instead of four .getting $700.00 each, That's a big spread, $2,600 to $60,000. There would also be a problem answering questions locally. Now with a meeting every two weeks the board can answer a qu usually within one we ,„,..6.11 "decisions affecting Goderich now go before the board and there are no personal decisions made. We may loseothis. CRANE: I think the sYstem now is -good and I would object to any regional governrnent but 'I really don't think the provin- cial government could be stop- ped if they decided to set up a regional system , here. They haven't yet. We -would certainly has)e ttrtry to stop it especially , if it meads higher rates for Qoderich or soinethingo, that was not beneficial to this town. 5. Is the planning in Goderich Local PUC works efficiently,economically If you are constantly complaining about your PUC bill,. * you are probably complaining less than people in other " county towns because your bill is probably less. - People,. in Goderich seem to take the Public Utility for granted and probably are nnt aware of the prestige it enjoys amongst the other 350 operations in the province. The Goderich.ptility is highly respected and should be. Its total sross revenue last year was $1,066,431.15. It's big business. The,total gross earnings, however, are not ea important to • the Goderich PUC as some may think. The publicly owned firm really tries to keep rates down as low as possible without risking financial suicide. , In a recent interview with comMissioner George Filsinger, the feeling of the PUC towards rates was made evident in 'the coment, "in these inflationary times the Utility cannot halt increases in both Hydro and water rates," Mr. Filsinger. exaMined financial docnments from the past eight yearirand pointed out some facts that indicate the local • Utility's efforts in curbing rate hikes. _ In the past eight years Hydro have announced yearly price increases amounting to a total increase of 521/2 percent. The :Goderich PUC,dropped rates three percent in 1967 and did not raise them until 1969, the first hike in. .1.5 years. Since then the prices have risen four times at•the local level bUt have only increased 38.6 percent. Hydro costs 'for the year have more than doubled since Centennial -year.-The-PUC-billa for Hydro` have lb -creased' due to residential and industrial growth of the,town•but this increase of power need is not twice what it was -eight years' ago. The bulk of this extra cost from Ontario Hydro is due to _their • price , incfeases. This combined with extra costs for wages, materiale and capital expenses have steadily reduced the reyentie; of, 'the Gederich PUC. The water syStem ernployed by the PUC is modern and up- dated: The filtration system' installed three years ago has proved to be a benefit td the town and can easily handle the Projected industrial and residential growth crier the next few 1Wes for water are significantly lower than other municipalities in the area that draw their water from the lake. A rendoni survey Of rates in' eight lakeshore towns shows that• the Goderich water rates are lower by $1.25. . The results of the PUC efforts to keep their services relatively cheap to the owners, the public, have kept local rates amongst the Itoest in Western Ontario. • For transportation to the polls call 524-7827 ELECT STAN PROFIT REEVE 4 YEARS COUNCIL EXPERIENCE LAST 2 ON COUNTY COUNCIL YOUR 'DEPUTY REEVE. For Transportation to the Polls, Cell 524-7402 tend, if they want an answer.. MILLS: The public is pretty well informed. ' We've had several audiences, and several press releases. The public should be more interested. WORS,ELL: I think they do pretty well. The • commission meetings are open to the public if they Want to come and ask about something they can. RYAN: I think they do. The ,mayor sits in on all the meetings and should go back to council to discuss all relevant polity and the media coverage 'helps }alot. Meetings are open by invitation if someone wants - to corne and discuss something. . CRANE: I think they should be informed, it's a public utility. The people own the utility and all the work done is for the public. 3. Is there a problem between the .Goderich PUC and 'other FILSINGER: None whatever! We don't have problems with, other utilities. The people of ' Goderich ought to be proud of our utility. , SHEARDOVVN: No. It's a very harmonious affair. We get a lot of co-operation with other, PUC's. • MILLS No. We .have good co- operation with other•utilities. If another utility wants—Min.- pOwer, in' case of an emergency, we're very congenial:. If there's. a problem' in Clinton, we're available here, and vice versa. It's been proven on several oc- casions. . HARRY WORSELL: No I don't think so. If they need some equipment or help from us -or we need it from them they uspally co-operate. We have gone to them ' in the past 'and. they have helped readily and worked together. BRUCE RYAN: I don't think there is a problem. We have a very good working system with the other PUM and on oc- casion they come to Goderich for help or just to see how we .operate. We also have a very good working relationship:With our excellent staff. . HARRY CRANE: I don't think so. I thinICGoderich operates as efficiently as others. We always ha0 excellent- to -Operation on construction problems and I really can't.say anything about the administrative end of the operation. 4. How would legions! govern- ment affect the PUC? Is It desitable or not? FILSINGER: That's difficult to answer. If Huron is patter- ned after Oxford, water will be,, left as before. It will be left with the utilities. But, in 12 regions before Woodstock, as soon as they became a region, water was taken away from the utilities, Hydro has never been altered. Regional grovernment might help Auburn 00_ Blyth utilities, but you canTjet bet- ter administration that w6 have ' now in Goderich. It will only coat More money. SHEAR.DOWN: If they do put it in, there would- be more eqnipment to be utilized, but we have a fair set-up here already. The cities would get the biggest genefit. Goderich wduld not get any great benefit. MILLS: That • remains to be seen. If We aren't doing our job, the Ontario government will , step in and take over, to the ratepayers disadvantage, I'm against it by all means, The tax rtite could be doubled. WORSELL: I don't want to' see regional government, We are running this PUC well now and if regi, government was installid the headquarters for Your support on Dec. 2nd would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely Meth Austin Insimmensmar *IefitoRed&taandrim FORNEY/WARM "" HARRY CRANE MILS: We're,, in a fortunate position to have a source of water supply. We're ahead of 'everybody turns their hose on,-, somebody- might suffer, but JulY and August are the treacheroos months of the year, and we've had no problems then. But no one can .predict what or how much Goderich Will grow in the future. WQRSELL: Planning has taken into account the growth of the town and the growth of ., the PUC, All the new industries and plazas 'that have come to" JOE E. FRITZLEY FOR Goderich Township Council MONDAY, DECEMBER' 2, 1974 • PLANNING FOR YOUR FUTURE YOUR .SUPPORT WOULD BE APPRECIATED, We thank you most sincerely for the confidence and patronage accorded us during the last eight years. Your expressions of loyalty and kindness will always be remembered. We say a warm "thank you" - all is deeply May we solicit your continued support for Mr. and Mro. Baker. This congenial couple will endeavour to serve you promptly and to, your Satisfaction. The same lines of, merchandise will be available for your selection. It will be our pleasure to continue in the businesi as their assistants. Respectfully yours, Milford and Ina Mae Durst. DURST FARM AND GARDEN CENTRE - 22 lbatt St. Clinton' . Phone 482.4333, PURINA CHOWS and ANIMAL HEALTH PRODUCTS • HORTICULTURAL SPECIALTIES — PET SUPPLIES V 41111011116111111111110111,1111111.111111116101111.011111111k Tuesday, December 31, 1974" Music by The Ken Varley Quartet. A Chinbse buffet will be served at 12:30 p.m. For thote who prefer, a baked :ham and • scalloped potato dinner will be served. A special wine -punch is inclhded. Lots of novelties & balloons and a door. prize A Happy New Year for all 7ctiy-eftn, Highway 21 South, Goderich . GeLyour tickets now and don't be disappointed. TIcketp are $24:00 per couple.'Call 524-7711 for reiervetions. ' Your "someday" home can be yours now. Why go on planning for the future) Itl:ien it can be yours today? Get that dream home now—with the help of a Victoria and ,Grey Trust Fortgage and pay for it as you live imit. Einja-y it today— at Victoria, and Grey. VG Insurance Corporation . VLCTORIA GREY and TRUST COMF;ANY SINCE, 1889 MANAGER .1.1:4 (DAVE) CROSS GODERICH 3244311