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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-01-04, Page 1= Meet Goderich's New Year's baby for 1979. Little Sarah Lynn Hill (seen here with mom Sue) was the first baby born in Alexandra Pians stibnjtted BY SHIRLEY J. KELLER Elmer Taylor, administrator at • Alexandra Marine and General Hospital, reported last week during the regular December board meeting that sketch plans for the new receiving and dispatching- laundry dock at AM&G are completed and have been submitted to the Ministry of Health for approval. , Architects for - the addition are Hill and Borgal of Goderich. Taylor said he has received telephone confirmation that the sketch plans are acceptable and he is now awaiting formal confirmation by letter. The addition to the north of the hospital beside the laboratory should be completed and -ready for occupancy by September. The board is expected to call tenders January 21 with the closing date February 21. Preliminary estimates are that the building will cost $125,000 of which the local hospital must raise $10,000. Letters are prepared to be sent to the municipalities utilizing the services at AM&G; soliciting their support. The Ministry of Health will pay two-thirds of . the remaining costs; the County of Huron is-, expected to pick up 25 per cent of the total approved cost of the building. Letters are going out to the other four general hospitals in Huron requesting their support in principle for the new laundry dock at AM&G. This support is necessary before Huron County will consider any .grant to any of the five county hospitals. At last Wednesday's board meeting, mem- bers approved in principle a $140,000 capital project at Clinton Public Hospital. AM&G's present laundry has been con- demned by the fire marshal's office. The new facility will be a receiving and dispatching dock only, with AM&G laundry going to the Bltrewater Centre -for ---processing. Only-one-- AM&G staffer will be required for the laundry ' here after t)ie new facility opens. In the meantime, though,Thospital laundry will continue to be -handled at AM&G. • BY SHIRLEYJ. KELLER Following a meeting •ot, the board of Alexandra Marine and General. Hospital on Wednesday, December Z7, patients in the new year as well as, staff and visitors will not, be permitted 'to smoke in most - areas of the hospital. The decision came following a meeting December- 22 of the medical staff in which cidetprs'foundAM&G to be falling behind other hospitals in taking the lead where smoking ' regulations are concerned. Dr. Bruce Thomson who gave. the medical staff report at the recent board meeting, said, "We're really very lax in oiir attitude to smoking in the hospital, both by patients and staff.'" "The staff is not setting what could be called, Thomson. "Staff shouldn't be smoking in I suppose, a good example at all," said Dr. patient care areas:2L, In future, smoking by visitors in the hospital is restricted to the main lobby. Smoking by in- patients in the hospital is restricted to the main lobby on the first floor, to the TV room on second east and to the sun room on second west as well as in private rooms on both floors. Smoking by staff is restricted to the nurses' lounge;the doctors' lounge and the cafeteria. Visitors to the hospitaLwill be reminded at all entrances that smoking is discouraged except in approved areas. There will be standing ashtrays at the entrances to receive any smouldering tobacco and there will be "no smoking" signs strategically placed as war- nings What's_ more, no smoking zones will be clearly labelled as will smoking zones. Not all members of the board were eager to • pass the new policy. Jim Britnell, for instance, asked about immobilized patients who would not be able to retire to the smoking areas to indulge in their favorite pastime. Marine and General Hospital this year. See full _ "What will you do in those cases." asked story inside on page 12. (Photo by Joanne Buchanan) Dr. Khomson said the immobilized patients / ( • hospital will pose bit of a problem, but stressed the fact that in Toronto hospitals, the no -smoking policy isworking qu4e well. In fact, Dr: Thomson said some of his own patients who had been confined to city hospitals where the no smoking rules are enforced, had reported they had been able to give up the habit during their stay. What's mcire, Dr. Thomson noted there was a "serious „risk" to- immobilized patients who smoked beatise they were much more apt to develop such ailments as pneumonia. br: Thomson also cited classic examples off a non-smoker being forced to share a room with a smoker ... and not having any choice but to: accept a steady diet -of "blue haze" when smoking regulations are not inforce. He said Post-operative pa,tients' often suffer - an- necessarY discomfort from smokers as do patients with respiratory problems. Infants, too., .kept in the room with the mother, are often subjected to heavy smoke inhalation. "W.e should really be taking 'the pcisition a setting an example and leading the way," said Dr. Thomson. "We're supposed to be demon- strating ,preventive health' care, preventive medicine." Some patients who are bothered by smoke don't have the -courage to --ask other patients to stop smoking, Dr. Thomson explained. And some smokers aren't too co-operative even when they are asked to put their cigarettes, pipes and cigars out. "Smokers do have rights, admitted Dr. Thomson," but I don't feel this policy is too restrictive. Surely non-smokers should be able breathe clean, fresh air in hospital." Dr. Thomson said that TorOnto's legislation is "very impressive." and helps, to —Promote discussion" which in turn educates people to the dangers of smokingas well as to the need to be conscious of the rights of non-smokers. AM&G back in the black For the first time in two years, Alexandra Marine and General Hospital is operating in the. black. As of the end of November 1978, the hospital was -$12,796 under -budget. - In presenting the rePOrt, finance chairman Jim McCaul commented, "We finally made it." The statement was drawn up at the end of eight months of oPeratio'n, and while nursing care costs still show up over budget, the overall budget shows the hospital is running under budget. It had been previously explained to the board that nursing hours are coming back into line now that summer vacations are over when rggular salaries are paid along with replacement nursing staff salaries. As well, a final financial settlement for former nursing director, Charity • McDonald, added a one-time lump sum to the nursing budget. Mrs, McDonald is no retired and a new director of nursinng is being sought. Swedes play • ._, Area hockey fans are in for a treat this weekend as -an International game betwee' the Goderich Green and Parent Midgets and he Vasteras midgets of Stockholm Sweden will be played at 8:30 p.m. at the Community Centre. Opening ceremonies will begin shortly after 8 p;rn.• with player introductions, exchange of gifts and the playing of national anthems. Following the game the teams will attend a reception in the arena, auditorium. • • Ticket sales have beeh going well but some tickets will be available atthe door: ``'AtiVorgla...49 131YEAR-1 1.1.111111MS THURSDAY, JANUARY 4,1979 35 CENTS PER COPY BY JEFF SEDDON Benmiller Estates, owners of the Benmiller Inn and the River Mill. in the tiny Colborne township hamlet, have upset residents there with plans' to convert a house into a 15 unit hotel and develop a 20 unit subdivision just north of the village. ' - An Ontario Municipal Board hearing has been scheduled for January 31 in Toronto to attempt to settle concerns residents have that the 20 unit subdivision will destroy Benmiller's. rural charm. The Benmiller Preservation Association, to which about 80 percent of the residents of Benmiller belong, is opposing the development because members feel if the 20 units are constructed there will be "little left of the rural charm and peace which so many people come to this village to enjoy." Don McKee, spokesman for the association, said in a letter to the Huron County Planning rt minty -that -B er-Lresidents-had--a-- number of concerns about the subdivision and fume& to use the township's official plan to protect their village. -Upset about a lack of communication between the developer and the residents op residents the BPA has objected to the sub- - division because it feels the let sizes for each unit are too small, there is not enough natural' environment left to offset the development and sewage treatm-efit- facilities installeciWY Ben - miller Estates are not adequate to handle the - construction. Concerns residents have about the con- version of a home in the village into a 15 unit hotel seem to centre around sewage disposal. Some problems developed over work habits of construction crews on the site and township council's, feeling that there is too little land near the proposed , hotel to allaw for adequate off street parking but those seem to have been resolved and construction is proceeding on the hotel. FROM A HOME TO A HOTEL ----Plans-to- cony ert-the-Gledh il-1--Hom e--inta•a 15 unit hotel accommodation have been in the offing nearly two 'years. A misunderstanding between the ministry of housing and the coufitrt.- planning department caused Colborne town-, "›..•• 4,4 Wig Construction on a $400,000 conversio of this Bennoiller home 1nt a 15 unit hotel began in 1978 despite refusal h Colborne Township count 1 to issue a building permit for the project. Council had several concerns about the project developed by Benmiller Estates and delayed issuing a- permit - • „7. until those ,concerns could be cleared up. The firm wented to install • footings before winter set in for two wings to be added to the house. The lf house will be converted into four hotel urts and six units wilt be "Cod - strutted on each of the wings. (pfiato by Jf Seddon) - ose units ship council some consternation and council refused to issue Benmiller Estates a building perm itto proceed with construction. The Misunderstanding developed when the - ministry suggested that permission,to build the hotel be denied because it conflicted with the township secondary plan. The county planning unit had given approval to Benmiller Estates to build the unit because it conformed with the township plan. Council couldn't decide who was right. • An investigation into the matter showed that •the ministry had based its decision on in- formation received by using the wrong plan. Gary Davidson, Huron County Planner, said the ministry was correct in its decision but had based that decision on the wrong information. He said it appeared the'ministry wanted to play it safe. • _DaVid.S_QP .. tstrIP_ concern about parking for guests at the h-o-tei. He said it appeared as though ample parking.. space had been provided by Benmiller Estates but because of habits or workers on the site residents weren't convinced 'that parking was available. Workers had been parking their vehicles on the county road adjacent to the site making travel arourid the parked cars difficult and residents claimed no parking signs had been torn down and thrown away. Anotherresident complained to council that water lines to his home had been cut by con- struction workers and watet service was not restored for several weeks. eouncji_finally issued a buildjag permit late in December but rapped Benmiller Estate's knuckles for% continuing construction without 'a -permit. The firm said it had to go ahead with con- struction to get footing poured -before the winter freeze to permit construction to continue in the winter mpnths. "OIr The building -permit was valued at $4 n00.. The- home will be converted into a four unit hotel and two wings will be constructed, each containing six _ units. The new 'facility will strictly be for accommodation for guests using facilities at the River Mill and the ,Benmiller 'Inn. Benmiller Estates said the 15 units will bring the total hotel number of accommodation units to 41. In a letter to township council the firm said the 41 units were "far more than an- ticipated" when it began de'elopment of the Benmiller Inn and thatsthe new units are "the maximurrecontemplated". It reminded council that it was paying considerable taxes to the township and that 60 full and part time jobs had been created by the development. GUEST HOMES The 20eunits planned for the subdivision are, Iftso unique according- to Benmiller Estates. The firm plans to retain ownership of the land the ,units are Wilt on and -sell the units privately. It also hopes to retain management rights for the units with the intent of renting them to guests for use year round, It hopes to spit rent monies with owners of the units and alio provide private type accommodation to people wanting to take extended vacations to Benmiller • to relax in the rural' atmosphere created in the hamlet. David-s&n said the opposition to the 20 units was unfortunate because the developer had conformed to all details of the township's secondary plan. He said the plan provides for this type of development in Benmiller but pointed out that it also provides residents, of the hamlet with the opportunity to object to any development. The planner said public meetings herd_cluring the drafting of the plan made it clear to owners of land that this type of development could take place but added that few people envision anything like this ever being done in areas like Benmiller and it "tends not to sink in". Davidson added that opposition to the development was understandable because land owners want to protect their own interests. He Said-th-e:geWage tre-atriletst facilities installed by , Benmiller Estates had been carefully screened by the ministry of the environment and met all requirements. He said the objectors , want the minimum lot size for any develop- ments to be three and one half acres but. 'said -that was impractical since it would take 70 acres to construct the 20 unit subdivision and only 17 acres is to be used by Benmiller Estates. , The Benmiller Preservation Association is not happy with the OMB decision to hold a hearing in Toronto at the end of January. Its members feel travel to Toronto could be very difficult due to winter drivineconditions and eel tra t the meeting -woutd be very iso -o -fir--- - attended. It appealed to the OMB to change the meeting site to Benmiller but no decision has been reached on the matter. Meanwhile he 20 unit subdivision has one unit partially completed and all roads marked out and graded. Work on the development has stopped until the controversy is cleared up. Index NeW Baby Wins Big. . Page 12 Sports Review Page 13 Tear Out Calendar.” . Page 20 Charity retires Page 1A Nbrrrimiiiuumirimsvilsasaeieesmgiiie,