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Clinton News-Record, 1983-03-09, Page 1-r C. • 0 44 In 50 N®. 10 Wednesday, March 9, 1983 intrio The Clinton Town Hall and Library, may receive new life with the approval of two Winatrio Capital grants. The Honourable Bruce McCaffrey, Minister of Citizenship and Culture today announced the grants totalling $318,312. Council had been waiting to hear about the grant before pro- ceeding with the $1,275,000 renovation pro- ject. They anticipated receiving a max- imum grant of $250,000. Clinton was one of 200 applications re- questing $24 million in funding, 75 pro- posals were approved with projects primarily involving renovation, restora- tion or construction of cultural facilities around the province. These applications were required to meet certain criteria, in- cluding: - whether a need for the project has been clearly demonstrated; - whether existing facilities could be altered for new and -or better use; - whether renovations would reduce operating costs, particularly energy costs; - whether the project fits into the overall ants Cli plan of the cor niunity. In addition, the grant proposals were priorized regionally and provincially with local economic conditions being con- sidered as well. "The $7 million in Wintario Capital Grants distributed today, together with funds raised locally, will stimulateapprox- irnately $20 million of activity in the con- struction industry and create an estimated 600 man years of employment," said Mr. McCaffrey. The program provides grants on the basis of one dollar for every two dollars raised by the local community in Southern and Southwestern Ontario. In northern and eastern Ontario, the grants match one dollar for every dollar raised locally, within the maximum eligible amount. A total of $1.39 million in Wintario Capital Grants will go to 47 projects in the South Western Region of Ontario to expand facilities for sports, fitness and recreation, the Minister of Tourism and Recreation, Reuben C. Baetz, also announced. ontreal Across the province, $10 million has been allocated to capital projects undertaken by municipalities and community groups to increase the opportunity for their residents to remain fit and participate in sports and recreation programs. In this region, the grants will go to pro- jects 1 anging from the construction of a hockey arena and community hall to the provision off playground equipment for children in public parks. The size of the grants range from one with two rinks and a community hall to one that will help in the installation of a creative playground for children. The Township of East Wawanosh has been awarded a Wintario Capital Grant of $4,446 to help provide playground equip- ment at Belgrave Community Centre. The residents of the Huron -Bruce hamlet have invested their time and money in their community centre without seeking finan- cial aid from the township. Tuckersmith Township will receive a grant of $6,716 to help in improving the ,312 Seaforth Lions Park and Pool. The project will provide washrooms and playground equipment. The Township of McKillop has been awarded a grant of $6,500 to help in the construction of a service building at Winthrop Community Centre. The building, to serve the athletic field, will include washrooms and change areas. Local residents have engaged in volunteer labor to improve the site. Colborne Township has been awarded a Wintario grant of $2,885 to help construct a baseball diamond at the township's recreation centre. It will be the only facili- ty of its kind in the township. Enthusiasm for the ball field has been shown by the amount of volunteer labor dedicated to building the diamond. The Wingham Recreation Department will receive $2,926 to help develop a new baseball diamond at Riverside Ball Park. The new diamond is designed to meet the growing need for hardball and softball facilities. Even the boys joined in the fun and exercise at Clinton Public School last week when students took part in the Jump Rope for Heart program, sponsored by the Ontario Heart Foundation. The education program is being held in schools around the county. The program will also include a Jump -Event, a marathon skipping contest. More details on the program and the Jump -Event will be available in upcoming weeks. (Shelley McPhee photo) 11 continue to support farms, Survivalists are told Allen Wilford, left, director of the the Canadian Farm Survival Association was in Blyth last week to meet with close to 100 farmers and bank officials to discuss financial problems in Canada's farm industry. (Shelley McPhee photo) By Shelley McPhee Farms are businesses and in order to thrive and flourish, they must carry on like other professional businesses. That was the advice given by Bank of Montreal (BOM) officials and a financial consultant to nearly 100 people attending the Huron Farm Survival Association meeting in Blyth on March 1. Farmers from throughout the county, along with Farm Survival activists in other areas came to Blyth to •.;'scuss problems of farm financing with bank officials from Toronto. The discussion was ... heated at times, .f liners voiced thein - financial opinions and oppositions, bank • officials answered. Ernle Morel, senior vice president of the western Ontario s;'vision at the OM stressed that banks are not retreating from agriculture. "We intend to stay in the agricultural sector in a big way," he said. Mr. Morel noted that a nationwide survey has shown that 90 per cent of far- mers are still managing successf operations and small commercial ° businesses are actually facing more financial difficulties and bankruptcies. However Allen Wilford, director of the Canadian Farmers Survival Association asked Mr. Morell, "Are small businesses going under because the farmers are in trouble?" Cletus Dalton, a Kingsbridge area farmer said ti t it seems that banks are retreating. He said, "It seems the banks are beginning to realize that there is no money in farming not due to poor business practices on the farmer's behalf but to the low rate of return and losses in the agriculture business." Reading from a letter he had written to The Lucknow Sentinel Mr. Dalton con- tinued, "The banks have seen farmers use all of their equity in holding up a sinking ship, waiting for things to turn around and get back to a profit situation. Well this takes time. Hopefully we're through the worst. We've seen 25 per cent interest and the harm that has been done. But now we need time, not government subsidies to use some of these better economic times to get ourselves back in the black." One farmer commented that three years ago people borrowed money at 8 per cent then paid as high as 25 per cent. He said that most would not have initially borrowed the money had they known in- terest rates would take such a drastic jump. Mr. Morel said that the banks don't set the interest rates. He noted that the BOM is now offering a fixed operating line of credit. Farmers now have the option of accepting a fixed or floating rate. "The floating interest rate is a gamble no matter how you look at it," he said, noting that other farmers have criticized the bank for putting them on a fixed rate. A comment from the audience was, "We'll accept this fixed rate and by some fluke the rates will go down and we'll be suckered into high rates again borrowers beware. They'll only give you something to get something back." Mr. Morel said the BOM has lent Canadian farmers in excess of $1 billion. He noted that the bank has written off a substantial amount of farmers and he said, "We're not iroud of the fact. The bank loses money too. "The re: lity of it that some farmers will go put of business," that Mr. Morel said, is part of the free enterprise system. "We don't like to play the role of deciding who and should go out of business and who should survive," he added. One f,rmer noted, "It appears to me that the r,,nks are running the farming industry. If in the future credits are demanded as in the past, the whole system will collapse." Many attending the meeting were concerned about the millions of dollars that lollks have been lending financial troubled countries. "How much are you prepared to write off for the farmers in Ontario," Mr. Morel was asked. He replied, saying that loans to foreign countries have minimual losses. The countries must continue to exist, they rely heavily on imports and need support from western banks. He said that these coun- tries have the right to defer interest payments, "but in 1983 and 1984 western banks won't be so willing to lend." Mr. Wilford added, "No matter how good their (financially distressed coun- tries) intentions are, if they don't have the money they can't pay." Mr. Morel said the BOM had backed farmers by supporting the Ontario Farm Adjustment Assistance Program (OFAAP). OFAAP is available to farmers who have a farm income of at least $12,000, an equity between 10 and 60 per cent and interest and principal payment last year amounting to at least 20 per cent of their total expenses. The government budgeted $60 million for the program $10 million was used. Mr. Morel said that of 3,648 applications, the BOM handled 787. Of the total amount, 3,509 were approved and the BOM share was 741. One farmer commented that the government never intended on handing out the entire $60 million for OFAAP in one year. Mr. Wilford asked for a show of hands, which discovered that less than a half dozen had applied for OFAAP assistance. Many more felt they could have used it and several said they were discouraged at the Library and environment budgets are sent back (:aunty bud By Stephanie Levesque Despite a projected 4.98 percent overall increase in Huron County's 1983 budget, two department budgets were referred back to their respective committees after coming in over five percent. Both the 1983 library and plumbing and environment budgets were referred back at Huron County council's March 3 meeting. Clerk -treasurer William Hanly said the county's budget as it stood on March 3. would mean a 4.95 percent in- crease. The county's share of the $714,781 library budget is $551,781, up over $50,000 from its 1982 actual cast of $499,565, representing a ets must stick to 5 per went 9.6 percent increase Po the county. Library board chairman William Elston acknowledged the budget is over the five percent limit, but noted that the library board will be receiving exactly $5,000 Tess from the provincial government and the cost of books has risen almost. 20 percent. "if the budget is cut, that's where we'll have to save money," said Mr. Elston referring to the $231,400 budgeted for hooks. processing and periodicals. He added that if consideration is given to closing any small branch libraries, cost savings wouldn't be significant. Chief librarian William Partridge noted salaries accounted for a large percentage of the increase. Looking further, he noted that a lot of staff received a $750 increase as per the provincial guidelines. The librarian noted the budget increase does not depict an increase in service. Hullett Reeve Tom Cunningham re- quested the library budget be sent back to the library board since the county's share will increase over the five percent limit. The county's share of the plumbing and environment budget increased over 810,000 from $38,610 in 1982 to $48,644 in 1983. Goderich Deputy Reeve Jim Britnell estimated the increase at about 26 percent. Health Unit board chairman Tom Cronin said fees received by the plumbing and en- vironment department are expected to be down as not much construction is being done in the county. County clerk -treasurer William Hanly said the county's share could be reduced by 18,100 in the salary portion if a grant is -received by the Ministry of the Environ- ment. "But there is no guarantee since the pro- vince has made no decision," said Mr. Hanly. The clerk -treasurer said a decision has to be made to either maintain the current staff level or cut staff. No decision on staff was made as county council turned the budget back to the Health Unit board. 1 local bank level. Tom Shoebottom, auctioneer at the Feb. 9 Gowanstown penny auction, questioned the BOM public image, asking, "How are bank managers evaluated? Are they checked to be sure that they are reliable? Do you back harrassment and managers calling four times a day to say they'll be taking away equipment." Calling it "immoral behavior," he said that Mr. Morel should "be held personally responsible for managers' actions." "If you think this group is made up of radicals and militants," he added, "we'll show you just how militant and radical we can be my good man." Royal announces program The Royal Bank has announced a new recovery. farm support prograin •.air d .. to .help financially troubled farmers on their land and continue farming.' Referred to as short-term solutions, The Royal Bank said that the programs will assist a number of producers over these particularly difficult times. For example, the bank will consider the partial deferral of interest payments for those farmers who are extremely hard pressed by ad- justing the amount of interest currently being paid down to a level that the operation can afford. Where a producer's total indebtedness exceeds the value of his farm, the producer will turn his farm over to the bank. The bank may in turn rent the farm back to the producer. He would also be given the first right of refusal to re- purchase the farm at a pre -determined price if his financial condition permits, within a few years time. The Canadian Farm Survival Association ( CFSA) immediately opposed the new program and Allen Wilford, CFSA director stressed, "We will not accept the bank ownership of farmland." In announcing the Royal's new farm sup- port policy, Mr. Arnold said that the bank pledges: + individual assessments of farm ac- counts in significant difficulty by a bank agrologist and lending officer. + foreclosure action only in those relative- ly rare cases where fraud is involved or where owner equity has been completely eroded and there is no possible hope of 1 >yNrc, feasible, ferriporary. tpjdling of farm proptity until it can be sold without unduly depressing prices. The farm land and equipment markets are currently under significant pressure. Any large scale forced sale of real estate would almost certainly create further price declines which would have an addi- tional negative impact on the community. The bank recognizes that the sale of land and equipment for loan recovery may not be a viable or desirable option now. Where closing a farm and asset disposal is unavoidable, the Royal Bank is seeking ways of temporarily holding the property off the market through such options as leasing it back to the farmer until it can be sold without unduly depressing prices. The bank has produced a Discussion Paper entitled "Farm Lending in Canada", which has been distributed to agricultural branches and reinforces the Royal's review process for farm accounts in difficulty. "Our branch managers and our team of agrologists are taking the extra time to in- vestigate all of the avenues available to support farmers through the downturn. We regard foreclosure as a last resort step, on- ly to be taken if there is no possible hope of recovery for the farm operation or if there is evidence of deliberate fraud. "We are underlining our strong commit- ment to agriculture and our determination to take every responsible and reasonable step within our capability on behalf of our farm clients," Mr. Arnold said. council accepts core beautification proposal By Rod Hilts At the regular meeting of Blyth village council held on March 7, it was decided to accept Nick Hill's downtown beautification proposal. The accepted proposal will be made up of a number of architectural drawings of the improvement areas as well as in- terviews with local merchants to get their ideas on downtown beautification. ONiP grant On Feb. 11 council held a special meeting to discuss the application for the Ontario Neighborhood Improvement Program (ONiP). Blyth will apply for a $362,000 grant. Art ('lark, public engineer was in at- tendance and a program for updating was agreed to by council. A motion by Councillor Lloyd Sippel was carried and council approved the following itemized program. The grant being offered is 50 per cent of the total submitted. Council's 50 per cent contribution may come from service groups or donations from any source. Areas eligible for ONiP work could include the picnic area and pavilion at the Lions Park, with renovations at an estimated cost of 815,000. Food booth renovations at the ball park will be $3,000 for a total of 818,000 Work on the arena is estimated to cost of $51,000 Work would include moving the condenser at a cost of $6,000. repainting the beams ai $10,000, rinmh waiter 1 ,, $15,000 and dehumidification, $20.000 For outdoor recreation, bleachers could be added at a cost of $9,000 and lights costing $15,000 for a total of $24,000. The application also requests funding to renovate the memorial hall ceiling for $5,000, the theatre for lighting im- provement $2,000 and work on the control panel for 865,000 for a total of $72,000. For street maintenance ONIP money would be used for water mains loop 10 inches for fire protection at the ap- proximate cost of $30,000 and a metering for the water supply costing $8,000 for a total of $38,000; roads and streets work on asphalt and drains a total of $120,000; curbs and sidewalk work $30,000 and street lighting at a cost of $9,000 Weather 1983 1982 HI 10 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Ram 6mrri HI LO 10 9 7 15 12 17 -5 -4 -2 0 .3 5 1 -10 - 4 -11 - 9 -25 0 -24 0 -13 - 2 -20 - 4 -10 Snow 14cm t