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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-10-20, Page 1f -.o rd services? Soft services? None at all? best , according to Derek president of Municipal Planning Con- , is that once the municipality fixes up ets and the sewers in a neighborhood that wn old and out-of-date, `the homeowners neighborhood tend to take a greater in - their own property. experience with NIP proves this," said to town council Monday evening. Ily that's the way it is supposed to work. d RRAP (Residential Rehabilitation nce Program) go hand in hand." was at council to explain to the members e the next steps to be taken now that the funds amounting to $400,000 and ial funds estimated at $200,000. are set for use in the north-east corner of ch. He said there are three phases: n of the neighborhood; the preparation of hborhood plan; and implementation of C�ilciI' pondering ise 0 P part of the Neighborhood dollars vement rogram re is the point of no return?" asked for Stan Profit who was concerned about a tax burden to municipal ratepayers. aid council should know just at what commits itself stage the town to the completion of the work, and the costs involved. Little explained that there is a "psychological" point of no return during phase two. During the preparation of the neighborhood plan of action, the citizens become quite involved according to government regulations. ""There will be lots of public participation and people will bec'rme interested and excited about the project," Little said. "But you could still decide not to implement the plan, if it is found to be too expensive." "I suppose the point of no return is in the implementation stage," said Little. MUNICIPAL SHARE The federal and provincial funds have been designated for use in Goderich, but town council must send an acknowledgement by December 1, 1977 if it intends to proceed with the NIP program here. While there is still no definite commitment at that time, it does indicate to government officials the town is still interested in the program and giving consideration to the best ways to use the money available. Decision was reached Monday evening to send that letter of intent to the government. midget girls champions. Goderich nlop catcher Joni Thompson rushes out tulate winning pitcher Denise Mit- after the Goderich team downed 2 0 to win the WOAA championship. The fifth and deciding game was played before a chilly but enthusiastic crowd at Agriculture Park, Tuesday. More details on page 8. (staff photo) .operate not challenge avers association may be formed in if enot{gh concerned taxpayers in town t a public meeting to be held October 27 Hall. The meeting has been arranged s of Goderich residents that feel that r rapport is needed between Goderich Hand the taxpayers it serves. ding members of the association are at about 150 to 200 taxpayers will come inaugural meeting with a desire to Ong base for ratepayers to have a voice Heil chambers. Thus far the idea has rate success. About 10 people got t work one day and decided to check rmation of an association. A meeting council at one of the 10 people's house t30people. an and Brian Knights are two of the . Both are relatively new in Goderich, been here four years and Knights, two. at Champion Road Machinery Ltd., onceded that the bulk of their early IP is fellow employees. They are hopeful that the pwrblic meeting will attract a better cross-section of taxpayers from all walks of life, „ The pair said the original reasons for forming the association +'t' gone by the wayside. They said that high t xes and an apparent lack of communications caused them to be upset with council and they, and most of the original 10, were going to challenge council, "We've learned an awful lot since then," said Knights. "An informal meeting at Jim's house with council and town clerk Harold Walls opened our eyes to some of the problems council faces." Knights said that rather than challenge council the ratepayers wanted to work with them. He said the taxpayers hoped to set up a system of communication that 'would let council know the feelings of taxpayers on certain decisions and projects enabling them to make decisions with knowledge and a certain amount of public sentiment rather than an assumption that tax- payers want things done that way. "I found out taxpayers are as guilty as council 'I'urn to page 2 • is to visit Goderich ourable William G. Davis, Q,C„ Ontario will visit Goderich on Friday, to commemorate the town's nnial. Davis will arrive at Sky Harbour P.m. where he will be met by -Mayor elt and .Judge F.G. Carter. He will nsported to town hall by Business Air hall Premier Davis will unveil a memorating the town's 150th bir Plaque will he hung on the left hand outside front door at town hall. The ncouraged to attend the unveiling the unveiling, Premier Davis will the Royal Canadian Legion Hall for a dinner -reception at 7 p.m. Tickets are still available for the dinner from Ken Hutchins. Max Cutt of Goderich will he the master of ceremonies at the dinner. After dinner. the puhlic is invited to meet Premier Davis in the lounge area aftcr8 p.m at. the Legion Hall. At this time Premier Davis will present a citation to the Royal Canadian Legion Branch No. 109 in honor of its 50th anniversary. Provincial plaques will be presented to last year's hockey players with the Goderich Ban- tams All Ontario Champions Double 13 Division by Premier Davis and Jack Riddell, M.P.P. Thc Goderich Midget girls' softball team which recently won the WOAA championship arc also invited to attend the dinner and reception. Little advised then, that the town's next step should be to prepare a neighborhood plan. He indicated his firm would be anxious to prepare this plan and present it to council for approval. The cost, he said, would be between $15,000 and $20,000. "I haven't prepared an estimate," said Little. There was some discussion about the need to have professional planners prepare the neigh- borhood plan. Little suggested his company would determine from government sources whether the original submission for funds adequately fulfills the first phase to select a neighborhood, and whether the town could proceed directly with the second phase - to prepare a neighborhood plan. In a recorded vote, Counillors Stan Profit and Don Wheeler voted against a motion to instruct the planners to "prepare an application at the second level for presentation to council. There were six affirmative votes. Councillor Elsa Haydon was absent from the meeting because of illness. "I'm afraid that with that motion we have hired Municipal Planning Consultants," said Qpfr e 130 YEAR -42 Don Wheeler. He was assured this was not the case. The cost to the municipality will vary ac- cording to the type of neighborhood plan that is submitted to government. Government pays 50 per cent for hard services (roads, sewers etc.) - making the municipal share 50 per cent, the federal share 25 per cent, the provincial share 25 per cent; For soft services (parks, recreation etc.) the federal government pays 50 per cent; the provincial government pays 25 per cent; and the municipality pays 25 per cent. Little referred to these as "50 cent dollars and 25 cent dollars". He said many municipalities choose to spend more 50 cent dollars because it is a proven fact that when the necessary hard services are provided, the people in the neigh- borhood begin to fix up their properties and the whole effect is better. PUBLIC INPUT One requirement under the NIP program is that the municipality provide evidence of public participation during stage two. This means that public meetings for the people in the designated neighborhood must be held, to determine the rr • needs of the people as well as their suggestions for improvements. Mayor Deb Shewfelt said that if the town was moving toward spending the greatest amount of "50 cent •dollars" for hard services, the par- ticipation of the residents would probably be less than if plans were being laid for the, provision of soft services. "There's only one way sewers can go," said the mayor. '•'That would be an engineering decision." There was some indication, though, that the people must be invited to participate in the planning for even hard services.Citizen opinion regarding priorities would be necessary. Little said that applications for specific funds must be in by March 31, 1978. The money, once allocated, can be spent over a four-year period. He said it would take his firm up to six months for the preparation of a neighborhood plan and would include documentation of public par- ticipation and a detailed description of the neigh- borhood and the plans for improvement. Councillor Bob Aller, reminded council that in his opinion, professional planners had assisted the town to gain approval for inclusion in the NIP program, and he thought professional planners should be retained to carry the project to com- pletion. THURSDAY, OCTOBER 20, 1977 A 19 -mile lakeshore study along the townships of Goderich, Colborne and Ashfield com- missioned by the Ministry of the Environment and the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority will seek input from a select committee of Goderich citizens. The Waterfront committeewho met for the .first time under the •chairmanship of Don Wheeler last week, will examine the potential recreation, industrial and commercial prospects of the areas of Goderich bordered by Lake Huron and the Maitland River. The committee was selected by Harbor Committee chairman Wheeler and parks committee chairman Elsa Haydon. In his opening remarks, Wheeler said he was pleased that all the people contacted were willing to take the appointment on the waterfront committee and said its duty would be to provide input into a proposed plan on waterfront development on a short and long term basis. Councillor Dave Gower, also a representative on the MVCA, explained the mechanics of the shoreline study and added that the four municipalities would share 20 percent of the $80,000 cost of the study. He added that the input of the committee would ensure that the money was spent wisely. James Stanbury of Hough, Stansbury and Associates of Toronto will be working with the committee and his company will he responsible for 10 percent of the study, The firm of James F. McLaren of London, environmental consultants,• are undertaking the shoreline study. Stansbury told the committee they must he aware of all the benefits of a waterfront location and not concentrate on recreation. He said the group must assess the,environniental conditions along the lake and river around Goderich and determine the factors that affect that area• He stated the marina in Goderich was a key to the study since Goderich wads dearly lacking 30 CENTS PER COPY ron-.� reports of dumping of garbage along the river hanks and the erosion threat that existed because of it. He also voiced approval of Haydon's suggestion for a hiking trail along the good marina facilities. Several members later expressed concerns about thtpossible expansion MColbord e RTor, of the'marina. while others viewed it as an en- Colborne Township resident George Robertson croachment.on business interests in the harbor..,.;,,u claimed the lake facility was not being rto itsn Stanbury said that the committee's work will recreationetrans -main interests, definiteneed centered on and he cited a need for berpublished in a pamphlet that will be sent out to generate puhlic knowledge and input. The Huron County Planning Department will then hold puhlic meetings about the waterfront develop- ment. . Committee members were then asked to voice their specific concerns about waterfront development around Goderich and those in- terests varied with each member. Paul Carroll, former Goderich councillor, expressed interest in the recreational aspect of the harbor and said the town was lacking an overall coordinated effort to maximize the potential there. He said there was a pressing concern to resolve the dispute over the owner- ship of the river mouth.. Pat Wheeler said the recreational aspects of the waterfront should he developed for- the people adding that the area also needed some beautification, She hoped industrial develop- ment in the harbor would he halted. Haydon claimed her main interests were in parks and recreation, access to the Maitland River, a walking trail' and either an enlarged marina or a new one built in another location. "We haven't done much to beautify the area along the waxier,- she said. "Such projects could also qualify fair provincial grants." Bill Wisser expressed concerti on recent parking facilities for fishermen and enlarged marina facilities. Ivan McConnell"s prime interest was in the harbor facility and he believes its 'operation affected many local people, He suggested it could he improved if the beach facility was moved south and added that there was marina potential on the Maitland River. The commercial potential of the harbor was also stressed and Alvin McGee said there was room for expansion in that area, He stated that recreation could be increased in the area but divorced from commercialism like Snug Harbor. Sifto-Salt spokesman Bill Coughlin said the preservation and expansion of industrial - devc'lopment . was his only concern. He added that the recreational aspects of the ha-rbor were only a concern when pleasure craft began in- terfering with lake freighters. Muriel i\lur•chpv indicated a definite need for access to the .south portion of the beach. the development of cross-country ski trails. and a new marina facility just south of -St. Christophcrs Beach. Stan' P•acquettc directed his concerns to erosion and stater quality and land use. He believed that land drainage into the' lake threatened the water quality of Lake Huron. Wheeler Old the committee study should help Turn to page 2 • Tired salesmen. Trying to sell apples on a cold October morning can be tiring and at times frustrating. work. Two Cubs, Shawn Garrick and Dale Million found that business was limited on The Square last Saturday and the pair decided to rest their tired feet and munch on the profits. Goderich cubs and scouts held their Apple Day campaign last Friday and Saturday. OW( photo') . at