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Zurich Citizens News, 1974-04-25, Page 1Qaciii(gh NO. 17 - FIRST WITH THE LOCAL NEWS THURSDAY, APRI1. 25, 1974 l5¢ PER COPY BOWLING CHAMPIONS - The Packers were the champions this season in die Zurich Ladies Bowling League, and were presented with their trophy at the annual banquet Saturday night at Pineridge Chalet. Back row Left to right are Mrs. Leona Rader, Mrs. Marion Rader, Mrs. Marg Clarke, and Mrs. Nellie Trott. Front row, Mrs. Frances Gibson, Mrs. Mona Kraft, Mrs. Ann Gesell, land Mrs. Elaine Weido. Huron -Perth RC board budget up The Huron -Perth county Roman Catholic Separate School Board set the 1974 budget of $2, 942, 956 Monday -- up $289, 778 (15 per cent) over last year. Approximately $1, 829, 100 (82.5 per cern) of the total ordinary expenditure is for teachers' salaries, an increase of $226, 000 over last year. The maximum ordinary exp- enditure this year is $704.00 per pupil, which is the same as the provincial ceiling. Municipal taxes set in separ- ate rates for the 47 municipal- ities will raise a total of $386, 700 and the rest will come from provincial grants, Arthur Haid, R. R.4, Listowel, chairman of the finance committee, reported as he presented the budget to the board members, - The 19'74 tax rate in mills established for each municipal- ity, with the 1973 figure in brackets. PIan visit to Seaforth The council of the village of Zurich have made arrangements to transport any interested sen- ior citizens in the municipality to Seaforth on Thursday after- noon, May 2, to view the sen- ior citizens apartment units in that town. .Any persons interested in making the trip to Seaforth should contact either the clerk's office, or any member of the municipal council, as soon as possible. There is absolutely no charge for the trip over to Sea - forth. By viewing the senior citizens low cost rental units in Seaforth, the residents of this area will. have a first hand chance to see what is being planned in Zurich in the way of accomod- ation in the very near future. Clinton 27.66 (26.65); Exeter, 25.59 (22.59); Goderich, 30.18 (29,97); Seaforth 23.13 (23.13); Wingham 29.29 (28.72); Bayfiel 31.45 (28.45); liensall23.48 (22.50); Zurich 29.96 (29. 89) Ashfield, 28.50 (25.50); Col- borne 28.21 (25.21) Goderich Township 25,00 (22,00) Grey 24, 72 (24.72); Hay 30.91 (29.45 Howick 22.00 (19,00) Hullett 24.22 (21.22) McKillop 23. 88 (23.08); Morris 20.11 (19.00) Stanley 22.02 (22.62) Stephen 31.19 (28.19) Tuckersmith 25.42 (25.42); Turnberry 23.20 (25.20' Ijsborne 21.38 09.90) East Wawanosli 24.47 (21.47) West Wawanosh 23.21(22.30); Bid- dulph 24.25 (21.25); McGillvray 33.45 (30.45) Culross 5.40 (5.40) Kinloss 5.36 (5.30) East Nissouri 25.00 (22.00) (continued on page 2) Huron school tax up by average two mills (by Wilrna Oke) The Iluron County Board of Education approved a budget of $13, 155, 831 for 1974 at a spec- ial meeting in Clinton Monday; up 0.24 per cent ($1, 115, 503) over last year, Municipal taxes will cover $3, 091, 559. while $9, 426, 000 will come from provincial grants. Tuition fees and school rentals will cover $612,7 54. B.C. Srraughan, chief acc- ountant for tate board, said there was a surplus of $55,4 88 from 1973. (In rhe elementary panel there was a surplus of $80, 832 less a deficit in the secondary panel of $25, 311). The average local mill rate for 1974 will be elementary 20.7 mills, down one mill from last year, and secondary 20.4 stills, up 3.2 mills. The province will pay approx• imately 74 per cern of ordinary expenditures in the elementary panel in 1974, an increase of about 2 per cent over 1973, and will pay approximately 74 per cent of ordinary expenditures in the secondary panel this year, a decrease of about 2 per cern. R.B. Dunlop, Business Adm- inistrator explained the improve menu in the elementary panel resulted from more generous assistance in the French lang- uage grant for elementary pupil I)..I . Cochrane, Director of Education, in presenting the budget said preparations for it were started last November to outline the capital needs and Planning stressed in Huron Sound planning and an open line of communication between county and municipal govern- ments emerged as key factors involvedin restructuring Huron County's local government during a workshop Friday in Goderich. The 80 civic and elected officials from Huron also dec- ided that improved transport- ation links are necessary to promote county growth. "Right now, thereis no public train transportation in Huron County, and freight transport- ation is very limited --espec- ially in the north, " said Warden William Elston, of Morris Township, in an interview. The workshop was one of sev- eral to be held this year in Ontario by the Association of Counties and Regions of Ontario and the Ontario Association of Rural Municipalities. Through input of local off- icials, the associations plan to direct information regarding regional government to the ministry of treasury, economics and intergovernmental affairs. Huron is the first county to have its official plan approved by the province and also is one of the first to have its own planning department. Under -new provincial guide- lines, the ministry is suggest- ing some restructuring of local governments, but has not made regional government mandatory in Huron County. Representatives at the work- shop, however, felt this likely will be the case within the next few years. "It is felt the shotgun will come out from under the blank- et if we don't get moving, " said Iluron County director of planning, Gary Davidson. He was giving his group's response to a set of questions which representatives were asked to discuss at the afternoon session. Each of the ten groups was asked to consider several aspects involved in restructuring local government --including meth- ods, size of municipal units and crucial problems facing Huron County. Most groups agreed that plan- ning was important, as well as consulting with neighbouring counties, Municipal units from 3, 000 to 6, 000 were considered as being "a reasonable yard- stick" for a local municipal unit in rural Ontario. Transportation was cited as the most crucial problem by mast groups, with maintenance of agricultural land next in importance. Half of Huron's 53, 000 resi- dents live on farms. All the groups felt more discussions between county and municipal officials are needed as well as information meet- ings with local residents. Allan Masson, chairman of the regional municipality of Halton, warned in an address that civic officials should nor be agraid to "vote themselves out of office" if this is necess- ary for efficient, regional government. "Sometimes it comes down to self-preservation, " he said, "and I know it's a difficult thing." He also warned that costs can increase rapidly under regional government because of larger staffs. Speaking of one area in his region, he said, "we now have two fire chiefs in one municipality where there used to be one." He added, however, "we haven't put a third one from the region over the other two yet." He stressed that the public is often quick to blame region- al government for cost increases when this is a problem univer- sal to all local governments. "All municipal governments are caught up in the spiral of inflation...but when we build a building we're blamed for building an empire, " he said, referring to public criticism over planned construction of a regional government office in his area. the maintenance needs, and continued through January, Feb- ruary, March and April to pres- ent date as requisitinns came in from principals for additions or replacements of equipment as staffing needs and enrolment projections were up -dated and grant regulations received. Cay ley hili, chairman of the Board, said it would be a good idea at rhe .inaugural meeting when board of management and education committees are being set up to have a sub -committee formed to act as a budget com- mittee. The committee members would sit down with the administration and screen requests for equipment and assist in presenting facts to board members, Mr. Mill said. It was decided that two memb- ers of the education committee and two from the management committee would be named to forum this committee. (continued on page 16) 0 Hydro interviews Ontario Hydro researchers are carrying out a preliminary study of public attitudes and other related social factors in lluron County. The study involves the gath- ering of data on attitudes of people in the study area toward possible new generating station sites and associated transmiss- ion lines. It is hoped the work will identify major social issues and concerns in the area, and provide information for further research into citizen involy- ment. This preliminary study inv- olves government ministries and the community. It marks the very first step in a sequence of events that would lead to full public participation in the selection of a site in Huron County once such proposal is approved. During this early phase citi- zens randomly selected will be interviewed by a team of researchers. The research group were in the Zurich area during the lat- ter part of last week, and inter- viewed persons from various walks of life. 0 ®MAF sponsor youth program This year the Ontario Govern- ment, as part of its special youth employment program known as EXPERIENCE '74, is sponsoring the Junior Agricul- turalist Program through the Ontario Ministryof Agriculture. and Food. The Junior Agricult- uralist Program is designed to provide a practical learning exp erience for young people 16 and 17 years of age, from non-farm homes who have a serious int - (continued on page 3)