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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 26, 1998 NO MORE HOCKEY HERE: The inside rink area of the arena is being stripped of the side boards. Above the rink, a crew is in the process of removing all the roof panels and fasteners...more than 10,000 of them. While below, the front entrance to the old arean was torn down in a matter of hours. Blocks, glass and steel that once housed the seniors centre was being loaded into dumpsters. - Angela Tyler photo : BY MAGGIE PETRUSHEVSKY The New Tanner If members of the Acton Agricultural Society ex- pected their former president Mac Sprowl to raise funds for their new arena, they've got another think coming. In a telephone interview Monday Sprowl said the so- ciety's decision not to fight to maintain the old arena "changes everything". He is quite disappointed the arena restoration support- ers were given no opportu- nity to raise funds and at least attempt to save the old build- ing. He says the fair board's agreement is "a terrible deal that was cut with the town." "My original offer on the old town hall steps was to work on a fundraising cam- paign to restore the old arena," Sprowl said. "I said we could mail out letters to area residents and | offered to pay the postage for that campaign. Someone else of- fered to do the letter. But with the demolition, that's all gone." Sprowl said it would be "totally inappropriate" for him to be involved with any future fair board fund raising campaign for a new arena because he's no longer an agricultural society member. Raising funds not Mac's bag He left the board "more than 20 years ago" and it would just cause "all kinds of prob- lems" were he to undertake the task. S Tn fact, in the present situ- ation he's not even sure he wants to be involved with the project. Since the society agreed to raise almost all the money for any new building and fit in with the Town's Master Parks Plan, he predicts the project will be very difficult to accomplish. He expects it will take a couple of years to get details ready before a fundraising campaign can be undertaken and the momentum gener- ated over the restoration pro- THE NEW TANNER Tax bill uncertainties worry Halton Chambers of Commerce Chambers of Commerce in Halton Region met re- cently to address the impli- cations of the recent an- nouncement from Ontario fi- nance minister Ernie Eves regarding the 10 per cent capping of property taxes for businesses across the prov- ince. "The biggest message we -want to send to our munici- palities, the Region and the Province is that we are very concerned with increases in taxes on local businesses, the tax inequities that exist an this needs to be resolved as soon as possible. The longer this is dragged out the more changes that occur causes serious concern for business owners," the Chambers re- sponded. Business may not be happy with their tax bill but the greatest apprehension is created when there is uncer- tainty of what next year's bill will be. We encourage and support the Region, along with the area municipalities coming together at the table with the Province to deter- mine the best case scenario for Halton businesses. Deci- sions need to be made, and quickly, the Chambers de- clared. We commend the Provin- cial Government for its for- titude and courage in chang- ing the antiquated property tax system that has been in existence for years. We be- lieve Halton Region has done a good job in implementing some of the various options (tools) suggested by the prov- ince. We recommend an ex- eT meinen Waren a=. i Professional Auction Services Estate & Industrial ¢ Certified Appraiser Consignment Welcome NORM WEBSTER (416) 523-6645 (pager) (905) 873-7633 (home) _ R.R.#1, Limehouse GN emption from the 10 per cent cap for the majority of Halton businesses as it would alle- viate much confusion and eliminate future tax bill un- certainty, the Chambers de- clared. The business environ- ment needs stability in order to invest in the future. We also suggest revisiting other options for our hardest hit businesses. As such, extreme inequities still exist. Relief for those businesses needs to be considered. With due consideration to these issues we urge the Re- gion and the province to for- mulate a fair solution for all. posal is already gone. Sprowl noted that Herit- age Acton can't be involved with the project even if they wanted to be because their mandate only involves old structures and restoration. Sprowl speculated the board may have problems fit- ting in with the Master Park Plan since the design calls for Prospect Park to be a passive park with walks, flowers, rocks and even a new entry just south of the creek. "T hear they want to take out the track, the cattle ties, probably put the new build- ing in another location," he said. "It's not going to look like the park we know." © COUTTS CARDS e WE SERVICE ALL DRUG PLANS ACTON PHARMACY e IN TOWN FREE DELIVER ¢ COLOSTOMY SUPPLIES ¢ BLOOD PRESSURE KITS LTD. | ¢ BLOOD GLUCOSE MONITORING MACHINES 2 Main Street North, Acton 853-1620 SCZ. PLEASE MAKE A DONATION TO THE ACTON ROTARY CLUB FOR THE VICTIMS OF HURRICANE MITCH IN THE HONDURAS AT THE THE CLUB IS DONATING $2000.00 TO THIS CAUSE Starting at just o er < Get into the Holiday Spirit with our Gift Fruit Baskets 499 12 Main St Acton 853-1960. ACTON IGA ) Hometown aieua)