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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-06-19, Page 3Public meeting to be held to judge response for BMX track A public meeting will be held to judge the public response to a BMX bicycle track in Goderich, council decided at its June 17 meeting. The meeting was recommended by a report from the Industrial/Tourismr Pro- moter Robin Stuart after he consulted four towns with tracks including Richmond Hill, Port Elgin, Milton and Newmarket. All tracks experienced a drop in .en- thusiasm with both riders and volunteers except Newmarket, "The enthusiasm exhibited by both riders and -parents will play a major role in the track's success or failure," he said. Though the town's insurance policy will cover BMX racing, town solicitor Dan Murphy warned council "the situation is fraught with potential liability" citing the recent $6.3 million case against the City of Brampton involving a motor bike on city - owned property. fail to understand the issue of liability on the town about BMX tracks," said Deputy -Reeve John Doherty. "If a 1.101nnuldu w4a 11.111cu at the track or a ballplayer was killed at the ball diamond, what's the difference in liability?" Though BMX racing may, not. be more dangerous than other sports, a different age group is involved and the recent law suit caused quite a burden for the City of Brampton, explained Clerk -Administrator Larry McCabe. "I'm personally against it. It's training for a high risk sport of either motocross or drag racing," said Coun. Don Wheeler. "And, we have to determine how much we want to get involved with these types of things. To take it to ridiculous proportions, we could be building tiddlywinks sheds next," he said. He , added that the town would have greater liability , with a. community - sponsored facility such as a BMX track than a town -owned field that is rented for team sports. According to Stuart's report, the tracks ranging in size from 1200.feet to one acre cost between $4,000 and $20,000 to con- struct. Municipal involvement with the track rangers from not contributing to pro- viding-tan'd and initial funding, grass cut- ting, garbage service and maintenance in the four municipalities polled. Reeve Harry Worsell complained about • Stuart's proposed location of the lot behind Bluewater Manor on Suncoast Drive for the track. "Why doesn't he move it down behind his own house? We don't need it near our home,';, said the reeve. Stuart recommended the lot because it is accessible and its visibility could deter those considering using motorcycles on the course. Recommendations from e the Frank Cowan insurance company say the track should have sufficient signs indicating that motor vehicles, motorized snow vehicles and off-road motorized vehicles are pro- hibited from the track reading "offenders will.be prosecuted." Police should also be instructed to enforce the prohibition. The meeting should be held in the next three weeks, said McCabe. Salt emissions cause problemslor bots Emissions from the Domtar Sifto-Salt Mine are creating problems for pleasure craft in Goderich Harbour and more than half of the boats previously docked at the municipal facility have relocated because of the problem. Parks committee chairman John Doher- ty said he has received a number of calls about the emission problem from the third shaft at the mine and marina supervisor Bruce Allin told the meeting Friday that' while 50 boats docked at the facility before the shaft was iii place, now only 20 boats occupy the docks. In an attempt to gain some headway with the problem, the committee has ask- ed that environment ministry district of- ficer, W. Page be invited to a meeting along with area boaters to discuss the pro- blem. Page told the committee in a letter that the ministry would not be undertaking an air monitoring program but suggested the ministry would not object if the municipality undertook its own study. The town initiated an emission sampling system just as the members of Local 16 of the Chemical and Energy Workers began a• strike. After an investigation by the ministry in 'May it was pointed`outthat during the two years the third shaft has been in produc- tion three salt spills have occured due to electrical failures. When this occured, Page said in a letter, salt from the skips, which dump salt into a collector bin overflowed and spilled back down the shaft and was immediately exhausted by the two exhaust fans through 30 foot high stacks to the.atmosphere. The company has installed a control system to help prevent further spills and Page said spills have riot occured recently. He also noted that there is an accumula- tion of salt outside the shaft building en- trance at ground level. This salt, which ac- cumulates from the hoisting of salt by the skips, was previously pushed back down the shaft during cleanup and exhausted by the fans to the atmosphere. Page said in his letter that this practice was to have been stopped by the company. Skirting, which prevents salt einissions from going back down the shaft and being exhausted through the fans has been repaired. There has also been a problem with grease accumulations on the boats and Page said this was due to over greasing of the cable pulley system during regular maintenance. Employees have been in- structed not to over . grease during maintenance. Page said that at the May 31 inspection there was no adverse effect from salt em- misions occuring but he admitted it had rained the morning of the inspection. He concluded that with improved housekeeping practices in effect at Dom- tar, the. ministry wotild not undertake a monitoring program. Boat owners have suggested the pro- blem is as bad as it ever was and the parks committee has asked Page and boaters to attend a meeting. No date has been set. Amendment to parks by-law means animals not allowed past toe of slope Goderich Town Council has passed an amendment .to the town's , parks by-law, which defines the term 'beach', as it refers to the town's beach area. Under the new definition, the beach will be considered, "That. area of the Town of Goderich, between the toe of the slope and the water's edge, which is located to the south of the north edge of the South Pier and to the north of the north' limit of the water treatment plant fence." In addition to regulations covering all the parks in Goderich, the beach area is also subject to specific regulations of its own. One exarnplc'is the regulation prohibiting animals of any kind (including dogs) from being on the beach area, even if on a leash or being carried by owners. In other town, parks, animals are allowed, if on a leash not more than six feet long. No Vehicles are allowed on the, beach ex- cept in designated parking areas along the roadway and no vehicle may legally be parked in such a way as to block traffic. Overnight parking is prohibited unless per- mission from ,council has been obtained. In an emergency, Police Chief Patrick King can give permission. Selling of food or merchandise is pro- hibited without the written permission of council. Open fires are prohibited except in designated areas provided for the purpose of cooking. Chief King said that it is per- missible for people to use their own. barbeceues on the beach. Team games, such as soccer or baseball are not allowed in any park except those provided for that purpose. Chief king said this regulation could even apply to a game of catch with a frisbee disc, if it interfered with other persons' on the beach. Any person convicted of a breach of this by-law shal be liable to a fine of not more than $300, exclusive of costs. Accusations fly around regattaincident Amid accusations that peopled had lied and that councillors' families should be left out of town business discussions, the parks and waterfront committee has ask- ed Tory McDonald to ask permission from town council before allowing vehicles on the grassed portions at St. Christopher's Beach. McDonald appeared before the parks committee at its Friday meeting at the re- quest of council to clear up a misunderstanding that resulted in trucks being parked on the grassed portions of the beach during a sailboard regatta. Vehicles parked on the grass"contravenes a town bylaw. McDonald indicated at the meeting that it was necessary to have one vehicle on the grassed area and the committee suggested that for future sailboard events she ap- proach council for approval. Chairman John Doherty said he had no concern "one way or another" adding that the beach was left in great shape after the regatta. "It was just a misunderstanding and no great harm was done,"•he said. "Pollee are instructed to enforce the new bylaw and no vehicles are allowed inside the fence." There was also some discussion "with respect to the storage of sails on the beach and the committee has decided to wait un- til the end of the season to evaluate the' situation. While she admitted that there has been limited use of the beaches until now, McDonald told the committee that there could be as many as 40 sails on the beach at one time. Mayor Eileen Palmer suggested the matter of sail storage be tabled and looked at next year after the committee has had a season to evaluate the situation. Watch out for `sticky fingers' warns Police Chief Goderich police have investigated seven separate shoplifting incidents in town over the past week. resulting in charges being laid -against -one - adult a-nd-four j't ,e-niles, Police Chief Patrick King reports one adult and two juveniles were arrested for shoplifting at the Goderich Canadian Tire store in the -past week. Charges -van e al,o laid against two juveniles for shoplifting DOH'T FORCET THE STRIPPER- AMA This Saturday June 22 10 am -4 pm at NORHOLME DECORATING CENTRE 54 KING ST., CLINTON See ail -new furniture, wood, masonry and metal stripping products being demonstrated. Now easier and faster to use'than ever! A from Rieck Pharmacy. Two .Juveniles were questioned about shoplifting in- cidents at Mac's Milk in the past week, but they were too young. to face. charges, said. Chief King. (thief King says that many people have the wrong attitiude about shoplifting, con- eiderinp it._a less serious offence than theft... This, he insists, is not true. "You are never charged with 'shoplif- ting' - you are charged with 'theft,' said the Chief. Chief King has advised arca merchants . to._be on_guard_.for shoplif er _an1...warns that police are prepared to lay charges in shoplifting cases. "If you have sticky fingers," says the Chief, "and want to take things without.._ paying for them. You'll find that a sum- mons will stick just as readily", BTOTFWRM COSMETIC DAY Our Biotherm Beautician will be in our store SAT., JUNE 22 9:30 am to 5:30 pm, Consultations and Demonstrations FACIALS • COSMETICS • SKIN CARE Phone 524-7241 for an appointment ID 14 SHOPPERS SQARE PharmacGObER1CH S 5OU41 y Your Friendly Neighbourhood Drugstore GODERICH SIGNAL STAR, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 19,1985 --PAGE 3 . Mon., Tues., Wed., Sat, - 9 am to 6 pm THURSDAYS & FRIDAYS - 9 am to 9 pm SUNDAYS - Noon to 5 pm Your Friendly Neighbourhood Drugstore I Pharmacy 14 SHOPPERS SQUARE GODERICH 524-7241 PRECIAt[ YOU! the staff of Rieck Pharmacy salute all the Senior Citizens in Huron County coffee, cold drinks, cookies not include lottery tickets, prescriptions, cigarettes or sale items. Your Friendly Neighbourhood Drugstore Doi o)oa. Pharmacy 14 SHOPPERS SQUARE. GODERICH 524-7241