Clinton News-Record, 1984-03-21, Page 1•
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nesday, March 21,
Council pays $1,505 to help offset deficit
c
ton sit
By Shelley McPhee
CLINTON - Town Council here has agreed
to help foot the 1983 deficit bill at the
Tuckersmith Day Care Centre.
Council made the deicison at their March
19 meeting after hearing a presentation
from Tuckersmith Councillor John
Brownridge, Tuckersmith L_Clerk Jack
McLachlan and Day Care supervisor Karen
McEwin-McConnell.
The municipally operated pre-school
centre in Vanastra requests yearly
contributions from Clinton and surrounding
centres. Most years, Clinton council debate
the request, arguing that they are opposed
to the idea of financially supporting two
working parents who send theirchildren to
the centre.
Clinton's argument has been that while
they understand the problems of single
working parents, many who utilize the day
care facility could be paying higher fees.
Council's opposition has remained
•
119t
year
steadfast, but as in past years they
approved their share of payment to help
offset the deficit.
After hearing the presentation made by
the Day Care representatives and
discussing the request, council agreed to
pay their share of the deficit, amounting to
Councillor Brownridge explained that the
centre faced a total deficit of $50,145 in 1983.
Of this, the provincial government financed
80 per cent of the loss, leaving the centre
with the remaining $10,029.
Twelve area muncipalities use the centre.
Three of these use the facilities sparingly
and eight financially support it. Each
municipality's financial contribution is
based on the number of enrolment days.
These figures are calculated on a monthly
basis by the Tuckersmith clerk.
' Councillor Brownridge noted that in 1983 •
the township proposed a $76,645 budget for
the centre and the actual budget was lower
than anticipated, at $76,316. The proposed
fees were estimated at $26,500 and the actual
figure was $27,441.
He explained that the centre had one fee
increase in 1983, from $7.50 to $8.50. These
will be raised again in April to $9 per day,
per child. The fees were increased partially
bemuse- nf the governmenV:s - proposcd-
cutliaCkS and partially to make the centre
closer to self-supporting. To be totally self-
supporting rates would have to be set at $12.
Self-supporting may be what the centre
will have to face by 1986 when the
government proposes to cut funding to
municipally operated day care centres.
Clinton council had this concern in mind
when making their decision' to support the
centre. Councillor Rosemary Armstrong
noted, "The day care centre is a much
needed service in the area. Next year's
situation will be different as the centre
works to become self-supporting. Our
biggest objection was paying for parents
•-••
who could pay their own way."
Councillor Jim Hunter supported the
motion, saying he valued the service, but
added, "If Clinton Pays- 15 per cent of the
deficit, I would like more say in the budget
and the operating costs."
TwentY-one Clinton children attended the
7-9g4tre -41-Jnils--111e-Pe-htre-lh-licenced- on an -
annual basis for a maximum daily
attendance of 34 pre-schoolers. In total the
Day Care facility has approximately 55
children-; attending on a weekly basis.
Attendance varies from every day to once a
week, from half to full days. Some students
from nearby Vanastra Public School buy
limeh at the.centre and others attend after
School, until working parents return home.
Councillor Brownridge stressed to council
that the centre• is more than a babysitting
serVice. He noted that it prepares children
for the school system and offers educational
and Social services.
The centre is operated under the Ministry
of Community and Social Services and is run
locally by Tuckersmith Township.
•••
Hot stew and crusty bread were served up at Clinton's St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church
on Saturday for St. Patrick's Day. Dianne Freeman and another helper dressed in
traditional costumes and helped serve the steaming Irish lunch. (Wendy Somerville
photo )
eparate Board okays funding
or St. Joseph's School addition
CLINTON - St. Joseph's Separate School
will receive funding from the Huron -Bruce
County Roman Catholic Separate School
Board for a 4,700 square foot addition, con-
sisting of a gymnasium and change rooms.
Construction for the addition is planned to
begn next month and officials are hoping
.
Tor a December completiiiii:Fun&-ge The
1!1 addition will come from the board's budget
.0 possible dentures. •
ria:20tionrip—pit-tinis:enlife'Voith--an
INIAineement from Agriculture Minister and
MOMber of Parliament of Essex -Windsor;
Eugene ipielan that $261,960 waS approved
for furfdliig to the Separate School Board.
Mr. Whelan 'made the announcement on
behalf of Minister of Employment and Im-
migration, John Roberts.'
The amount provided through the use, of
Section 38 of the Unemployment Insurance
Act in this case will be added to level addi-
tional private sector investment, bringing
the total value of the project to $712,078.
In addition, 27 jobs will be created for a
total of 934 work weeks. Other project ac-
tivities include the construction of a 6,000
square foot addition to the Precious Blood
School in Exeter that will consist of a
library resource centre, and gymnasium
with change rooms.
"The planned additions would be of
benefit to the students of the school," said
Clinton Hospital administrator Doug Coventry, left, and board of
directors president Leen Rehorst, right, welcomed the hospital's
new administrator Dan Steyn on Monday. Mr. Coventry will be
retiring at the end of the month and Mr. Steyn will be taking charge
of administration duties' at the local hospital. A Bradford native,
Mr. Steyn comes to Clinton from northern Ontario's Hornepayne
Community Hospital were he worked as executive director. He has
been involved in hospital administration for seven years and has
worked in Saskatchewan, Newfoundland and Prince Edward
Island. The Steyn family have settled into their new home in
Brucefield. ('Shelley McPhee photo)
Education Board ends '83 in black
By Stephanie Levesque
The Huron County Board of Education
ended 1983 in the black with a surplus of just
over $340,000.
Director of education Robert Allan
presented the unaudited financial statement
for last year at the board's Feb. meeting.
The board started the year with a. $35
million plus budget and ended the year with
expenses at $34 million plus.
There was some over spending in areas,
particularly in maintenance. The largest
.over expenditure was $265,000 for. roof
repairs to two elementary schools. The
repairs were approved after budget ap-
proval. •
Spending in emergency • repairs to
buildings was over budget at both'thesecon-
dary and elementary schools. This, said Mr.
Allan, reflects the aging buildings and
possibly estimating too low.
Elementary school repairs cost $56,928
compared to the budget figure of $28,200.
Secondary school repairs cost $35,907 com-
pared to the budgeted figure of $26,800.
The one bright spot in property expenses
was utility and heating expenses. Last
year's mild winter is credited with the sav-
ings in the utilities area.
At the elementary level, $375,169 was
budgeted for utilities and heat and only
$361.512 was spent. At the secondary level,
$375,070 was budgeted and only $367,673 was
spent.
The entire elementary budget, including
teachers' salaries was set at $16,588,918 last
year. The final tally shows expenditures of
$16,655,122 or 100.4 per cent of the budget
figure.
' The secondary level ended the year with
actual costs of $15,866,145 or 98.7 per cent of
the $16,078,750 budget figure. This includes
secondary school teachers' salaries.
The final expenses for the board office, in-
cluding administrative staff salaries and
trustee honorariums are $2,401,734. This
represents 92.5 per cent of the budget figure
of $2,596,486.
Extra tax dollars will
go to Huron road budget
By Stephanie LeVesiiiie
Repeated calls from Huron County's road
committee for additional tax dollars to
maintain the roads in the county were
answered when an additional $300,000 was
approved at the March 1 meeting of county
council. ' •
Council approved the road dhpartment's
$5 million plus budget which has the county
paying $1,862,000 la five per cent increase)
plus the additional $300,000.
The county's cost for roads has remained
at five per centfor the second year, but -road
committee chairman Brian McBurney of
Turnberry Township said sticking to five
per cent increases won't maintain the pre-
- sent road system.
"Unfortunately roads deteriorate as fast
in times of restraint at in good times," said
Reeve McBurney.
He said the county should be resurfacing
13 miles of road each year, but is only doing
about six or seven miles each year.
Morris Tpwnship Reeve Bill Elston said
the road c'bmmittee should try and stay
the TiVe trent 'guideline: The Mor- •
ris reeve said he lmows the health unit board
would like an eight or nine per cent in-
crease in its budget.
Counter remarks. came from past warden
Grant Stirling of Goderich Township.
"I believe the county cannot afford to
allow its roads to deteriorate," said Reeve
Stirling. ' "The county has no alternative.
There is nothing the people in this county ap-
preciate more than a good road to travel
on . ,
The question of using county reserve
• funds to kipPIernetit -the roadlnidget by -Ex-
eter Reeve Bill Mickle was negated by
clerk -treasurer Bill Hanly.
"I think it would , be very.unwise to
• allocate our reserves," said Mr. Hanly.
He said that while the county ended 1983
with a $300,000 surplus, it is unlikely that
surpluses will continue.
County engineer Bob' Dempsey said the
road department only has a $30,000 reserve
from the sale of property in Auburn.
"We depleted our reserve when we built
the Auburn garage," said Mr. Dempsey.
The county engineer has several projects
in mind for the $300,000. They include Coun-
ty Road 29 into Wroxeter and the
reconstruction of Wroxeter's main street
and county Road 13 from Clinton to
Bayfield.
The portion of the budget not paid for by
Huron tax dollars is paid by the Ministry of
Transportation and Communications.
Fixed costs such as roadside maintenance
and winter control total$2,379,000 for the
coming year.
The county estimates winter control costs
to be $625,000 this year compared to $541,782
paid out for snow removal.
Road construction and paving for 1984
have been estimated at $2,298,000.
The projects include the construction of
10.7 km. on Roads 22, 25 and 20 for $917,000;
resurfacing 2.5 km. of Roads 12 and 16 at
Brussels for $540,000 and 8.2 km. of Roads 30
and 34 for $452,000, and hot mix paving of 6.1
kan. of Roads 30 and 7.
The only bridge construction being under-
taken by the county is the large Forester's
Bridge project. This rebuilding project is
estimated at $424 000.
Mr. Whelan.
• Of the 27 participants, 19 will be receiving
an enhanced unemployment insurance rate
of $300 a week and the remaining eight
laborers will receive $240 a week. These
amounts are within the prevailing wage
rates for the region.
"This -board takes- a -Certain arneunt-Of
pleasure in being able to secure funding
from the federal government," said Ron
7114Urray-of-RRisiXiblixti
This is‘the-boarers"geond successful at-
tempt to get capital funding to improve
'school facilities from areas other than the
Ministry of Education. Last year the board
applied for funding under the Canada-
• Ontario Employment Development (COED)
program. Additions and renovations. to
Sacred Heart Separate School in Wingham
are being done through that program.
A press release issued by the board states,
"Director of Education William Eckert, in
his statement from May 10, 1983 indicated
that the board's sincere attempts to Lin,
prove facilities for our pupils, through the
request of Ministry capital grants has not
been
The additions and renovations at the Ex-
eter and Clinton schools is estimated at
$700,000.
• "The rest (about $300,000) will have to be'
funded through the budget of the board,, or
through debentures. Whatever the board
decides," commented Mr. Murray.
Both schools will be getting gymnasiums
with a stage' and change rooms, library
rooms, special education areas, unproved
administration areas, health -assessment
rooms and sufficient ciassroom space to
----eliminate-out,Sicle portable claskromris.
e fundin f jog,
Once again, Mr. Wheian "
nouncement on behalf of the Minister of
Employment and Immigration.
"This project will last for a period of eight
weeks and will provide a total of 40 work
weeks for five unemployed insurance
claimants," he said.
The project will receive $12,000 ffrom the
Canada Employment and Immigration
Commission (CEIC), and $2,721 from the
Ontario Ministry of National Resources. Mr.
Whelan explained, "participants in the pro-:
, ject will prune white pine trees."
The CEIC will pay each worker up to,$315
a week from Uneinployment Insurance
funds, ,while money provided by the Ontario
Ministry of National Resources will top up
the .wages for each job the project creates.
The funding will also cover overhead and
benefit costs of the project. -
The Clinton Public Library opened this week in its former location
and the new look is impressive. Even the old circulation desk has a
new look, with a smooth refinishing job. Architect Carlos Ventin
has combined old and new decorating and remodelling schemes in
the library. Natural wood wainscotting and pillars, refinished oak
tables and a tin ceiling give the library a warm, comfortable
feeling. White painted walls, a large reading area and big windows
give the new library a bright, modern look. Librarian Shirley
Falconer is pleased with the look. (Shelley McPhee photo)
Bus parking area, now car parking zone
CLINTON - A no parking zone along the
north side of Rattenbury Street West will be
changed to a regular twO-hour parking area.
Acting on a recommendation from Clinton
Police Chief Lloyd Westlake, council has
agreed to change the parking regulations.
The area was originally zoned no parking
to accommodate the bus stop, however
buses seldomly .use this area. Councillor
John Neves noted that buses prefer to stop
on the tnain street, because the side street
parking area can only accommodate one
bus, when often two buses arrive at the
same time.
"It's a hazard on main street," he noted,
"but most don't want to negotiate two extra
blocks (the route they must take by parking
on the side street)."
Mayor Chester Archibald noted that the
area offers prime parking area and the
owners of Bartliff's Bakery and downtown
shoppers are now being ticketed for parking
there.
"It's unfortunate that for the expense of
five to 10 minutes a day, this is a no parking
area," he noted,
Councillor Rosemary Armstrong asked,
"Where will the biases park? We
recommended they move off the highway
and park on the side street."
Council agreed that it was unlikely that
the buses would use this parking area and
the signs would be best removed.