The Huron Expositor, 1988-08-24, Page 1INDEX
Walton - A5
Hensel) - A6
Sports - A7 -A8
Grads - A13
Weddings - A17
Births - A17
Obituaries - A19
Locals report: UFO sighting. See page A4,
Serving the communities
and areas of Seaforth,
Brussels, Dublin, Hensall
and Walton
X
fSeaforth), Ontario
Wednesday, August 24, 1988
Taxes take a big hike - for some
Seaforth tax notices were sent out recent-
ly, and have sparked an onslaught of com-
plaints from town residents, some of whom
are seeing increases in their 1988 taxes, of in
excess of 25 per cent.
However, Seaforth Deputy -Clerk Michelle
Huard, said the increases have little to do
with the town, and more to do with the
county -wide reassessment of properties
conducted last spring.
"People don't realize the reassessment is
done by the county and not us," she said.
"Every single property in Huron County
this year has been reassessed based on its
actual market value in 1984." As a result
some property owwl�r's are seeing large in-
creases in their tailirs, while others are ex-
periencing decreases.
Miss Huard said the town realizes the
reassessment has hit some area residents
hard, but reiterated the fact the increases
have little to do with the cost factors faced
by the town.
"We're not trying to make extra money,
like a lot of people think. If there was no
reassessment this year the taxes would
have only gone up 4.9 per cent," she said.
"We are not lining our own pockets, and
there is no favoritism in the way the taxes
have been dispersed. Every one dollar in
one person's increase is a one dollar
decrease in another. So far it's proved to be
an equal balance."
Miss Huard said it's hard to make the
public understand, but the reassessment
makes sense.
"It's the way it should have been done
years ago. The only thing I can say is that
those people experiencing large tax in-
creases this year can take some small con-
ciliation in the fact that they were probably
being assessed at less than what they should
have been in the past.
Dennis McMeekin, Acting Commissioner
of the Huron County Assessment Office, said
the reassessment was undertaken in Huron
County at the request of county council, who
wanted to ensure taxpayers paid their fair
share.
Prior to this year Huron County worked
with a factored assessment, where each
home was given a base value, which only in-
creased if certain improvements were
made. The new system uses a more current
base and causes a shift in revenue to reflect
changes in individual property values. It
doesn't creat new assessment - only new
building can do that.
"It puts everyone on a common
denominator, so there are shared costs -
which may or may not have been happening
before," said Mr. McMeekin,
50 cents a copy
"The reassessment is fairer and more
understandable."
He expressed some surprise that Seaforth
residents would be so hard hit by the
reassessment, but said it was possible.
"The trend has been that the rural
municipalities receive larger increases. It's
unusal, but possible, that Seaforth would see
such large increases as well. The assessors
probably picked up something that had been
in abeyance for a while, and if detected and
brought to the forefront, it could result in
higher assessment,".he said.
But, he was quick to add, not all tax in-
creases can be blamed ori the reassessment.
"If you have a dramatic increase in your
taxes then it is probatiy the result of the
reassessment. But there were large in-
creases in education and county levies this
year as well," he said.
Huron County assessments were mailed
out in March, and residents could appeal
those assessments until July 15, 1988.
However, Mr. McMeekin said residents
who missed the appeal date and who are
dissatisfied with their 1986 assessments can
appeal them for next yew.
"If they write a lettlrr of concern. If
something is gone totally amiss, we'll be
more than happy to send an assessor out,
but as far as going before the Assessment
Review Board this year - the time is past."
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First year car show a success in Seaforth
"Wheels, Wheels, Wheels", Seaforth's
first ever car show proved a big success on
Sunday, both in terms of the number of
participants and the number of spectators
it attracted.
Organizers estimate between 800 and 900
people came out to view the 50 cars on
display, leaving approximately $1,400 at
the gate. A further $250 was garnered at a
water dunk tank and a car bash. Once ex-
penses have been met, organizers hope to
put the remainder of the money towards
community centres costs.
"We're pleased. It was our first show
and it went well," commented community
centres manager Graham Nesbitt.
"There were lots of good cars, and the
weather was excellent. The sun was shin-
ing and made every car look as good as it
could."
Mr. Nesbitt added "everyone" was a lit-
tle bit surprised at the number of cars
Seaforth got for its first show.
"A lot of people brought their cars in,
and we ended up with a little bit of
everything," he said, adding there were a
lot of local cars on display.
Mr. Nesbitt noted the oldest car at the
show was a 1929 Pontiac, owned by Harold
Smith of Seaforth. The car that drew the
most raves was a 1932 Ford Phaeton, built
and owned by Chuck Wildgust, and the
drawing card was of course, the monster
truck, Red Iron. Measuring 12 feet by 12
feet, and sporting 10,000 pounds of rubber,
it was an awesome sight within the con-
fines of the arena.
Based on the success of this year's show
Mr. Nesbitt said the conrmunity centres
hopes to repeat it next year, possibly on
August 20,
"This was our first show and we got a lot
of the bugs out. The next one will be a bet-
ter one," he promised.
Mr. Nesbitt said the 1989 show will be
shorter in length, and will hopefully
feature more cars. "I'd like to get some
more older cars at the show," he said.
"We know we have to advertise more.
this year we only advertised locally,
because we didn't know how well it would
go and didn't want to lose our shirts. But
you live and learn. Next year we'll adver-
tise further abroad, and hopefully draw
some more people."
"We got all kinds of good, little clues and
hints for improving this show. If we work
on it it can be a really good show."
Whether or not the car show will again
be run in conjunction with the Lions Huron
Foodfest remains to be decided.
"We probably sold 150 tickets to their
dinner, and they provided us with some
spectators. But ii was a long day for us.
Eight hours for a car show is too long,"
said Mr. Nesbitt.
THE PASTING PROCESS - Kevin Gridzak applies a little glue, and little colored paper
to this paper bag in an effort to create the perfect dinosaur mask Friday. A number of
local children took part in Dinosaur Days at the Seaforth Library. Mcliwraith photo.
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MIGHTY TALL FLOWER - If this sunflower plant continues to grow, Seaforth could
have a revised version of the fairytale, Jack and the Beanstalk. This particular
sunflower plant, stretches to 14 feet and extends past the wires leading from Harvey
Beuerman's garage, to his home, Mr. Beuerman, who actually has a whole forest of
tall sunflower plants, is seen here with the tallest. At his side is his seven-year-old
sidekick - grandson Michael Beuerman. Mcliwraith photo.
ommercial Hotel changes ownership
Long rumored to be for sale, the Com-
mercial Hotel officially changed hands
Last week. It is now the property of a
Mississauga man.
Maurice Hamouth, a husband, a father
of four, and a supplier of body shops, was
lured to the Town of Seaforth by the pro-
spect of purchasing the hotel, and when he
arrived liked what he saw.
"I had never been in Seaforth before, but
Hiked the town and I liked the (Commer-
cial) building from the outside," he said. Ho full .we'1➢
Mr. Hamouth added it is stilly get going in a month or
too earlyso "
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for tum [o detail all his pians WE Lite The Commercial Hotel was built
building, but did say there will be some originally by Thomas Knox in 1866. It was
renovation done to the upstairs. gutted by fire on April 17, 1895, but im-
"It's been neglected a little bit upstairs. mediately replaced with the existing Com -
We plan to fix up the 30 or more rooms for merical Hotel by Alex Davidson, at a cost
rental. The downstairs will stay the of $7,450.
same," he said. -
"We've a bit of work ahead - actually a More recently the Commercial Hotel
lot off work. But we're not full speed yet. was owned by Rene Dupuis, who purchas-
We're still hiring. We've had trouble get- ed it in September 1975. Renovations were
ting staff and getting a manager." done to its interior in January 1979, and the
entire outside of the building was
remodelled in 1985.
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