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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2015-04-29, Page 22 Huron Expositor • Wednesday, April 29, 2015 Revised Some Ontario residents can now text 9-1-1 Marco Vigliotti Huron Expositor trims tax hike Marco Vigliotti Huron Expositor The prospective tax hike facing Huron East homeowners has been narrowly reduced to an average of 5.13 per cent in the second draft of the municipality's 2015 budget, released last week. Treasurer Paula Michiels pre- sented council on April 21 with the revised spending blueprint, which slashes the municipal levy rate to 10.4 per cent from 11 per cent and adjusts the distribution of policing costs among households, in addi- tion to pulling more funding from the surpluses in the Grey/McKillop and Tuckersmith waste manage- ment systems. Huron East council will finalize the budget at its next meeting on May 5. Including the trimming of the original 5.4 per cent overall increase, the most prominent revi- sion in the second draft is an addi- tional two per cent levy hike in funding for all three recreation centres in an attempt to cut into the sizeable operating deficits pro- jected by the facilities this year. In exchange for the funding increase, the Seaforth and Brussels arenas are expected "to bring a 2015 balanced budget and not exceed this set budget," Michiels writes in a report to council. The Vanastra Recreation Centre, though, is still expected to be sad- dled with a $22,340 deficit, mainly the result of planned repairs to a section of its roof. In the first draft, the Seaforth arena forecasted a deficit of about $39,000, while the Brussels facility was projected to come in roughly $14,000 in the red. Under the revised spending plan, the Seaforth and Brussels are- nas would receive an additional $18,585 and $23,071 in funding respectively. Despite the revenue hike and further spending cuts, the Seaforth arena would still boast a roughly $7,400 deficit, according to budget projections from the municipality. The options to balance Seaforth's budget include taking the difference from its reserves, which currently total $18,876, cancelling work on the compressor valued at $10,000 or slash other expenses such as snow clearing, Michiels writes. The accumulated deficit for all three recreation facilities in 2014 was cited as $235,000 in the first draft budget. Michiels proposes in her report that a review be launched prior to next year's budget to "determine how they are going to eliminate their accumulated deficits:' In terms of taxation, Seaforth ward residents are facing the small- est overall levy increase in the sec- ond draft budget at 2.62 per cent, while ratepayers in McKillop land the highest hike at 6.78 per cent. The proposed increase, however, is not entirely attributable to the municipality, with McKillop home- owners feeling the pinch from hikes in the county and education levies. Meanwhile, ratepayers in Sea - forth are actually seeing the com- bined cost of their county and edu- cation levies fall slightly by about $4,000 and $11,000 respectively. Brussels, the municipality's sec- ond biggest urban centre, is project- ing a higher overall increase than Seaforth at 6.14 per cent, which Michiels attributes to reallocation of the policing special area levy. Huron County council approved a 2.3 per cent levy increase for the year in March, while the education rate for residential properties fell slightly in 2015. ATTENTION ADVERTISERS! DEADLINES Our Weekly Deadlines are as follows: ADVERTISING & EDITORIAL Friday @ 2:00 pm JI' Huron Expositor 8 Main St., Seaforth PH: 519-527-0240 www.seaforthhuronexpositor.com OFFICE HOURS: Mon. - Fri. 9am - 5pm CLOSED TUESDAYS E 0 0 V) 0 L M= I 1 Emergency services in certain parts of Ontario are now just a text message away. Residents with hearing and speech difficulties can now access local emergency services in over 340 communities across Ontario by tex- ting 9-1-1, the Ontario Provincial Police announced earlier this month. "The OPP is committed to Ontario, visit http://textwith911. increasing accessibility for persons ca/service-availability/. with disabilities, and has made The OPP, though, warns that some extensive network upgrades to be older model phones may not be com- able to offer Text with 9-1-1 service patible. The police force also stresses in the communities we serve," that the service is not intended for use Vince Hawkes, the provincial by the general public. police force's commissioner, said in The preparations for the launch a prepared statement. of the text messaging service were To use the force's new "T9-1-1" "complex," and involved "months service, people with communica- of collaboration with our service tive disabilities must first register provider and the communities," their cell phones with their respec- explained Chief Superintendent tive wireless carrier. Those with Rick Barnum, commander of the more than one cell phone must OPP's communications and tech - register each line individually. nology services bureau. The Waterloo Region, Simcoe The OPP, he said, appreciates the County, Wellington County and "patience of many stakeholders Windsor represent just some of the while we implemented the neces- many regions where they service is sary changes to provide this impor- currently available. tant and innovative service." To see all of the communities Further information can be where the service is available in found on http://textwith911.ca/. Forms changing for criminal record checks The Huron County Ontario Pro- vincial Police (OPP) administrative team would like to inform the public of an upcoming important change to the Criminal Record Check/Police Information Check procedure. Effective May 1, 2015 anyone seeking a Police Criminal Record Check (PCRC), Police Information Check (PIC) or a Police Vulnerable Sector Check (PVSC) will be required to use the new version forms. Any applications on the old forms will not be accepted. The new forms can easily be found online at the OPP website located at www.opp.ca, once on the homepage, a search for Criminal Record Checks will take you to the desired page or you can click on the appropriate tab under the "How Do I?" section. Detailed information about the various forms and what is required to complete a proper application is provided on this webpage. In addi- tion, the new forms can be obtained at any OPP Detachment. Please note: The OPP cannot complete any type of record check for any applicant if they reside in another police service's jurisdic- tion. For example, if you live in the Town of Wingham, the Wingham Police Service will have to com- plete your record check. All checks provide Canada wide results. So, if you live in OPP jurisdiction, please attend your local detachment to have one of the three checks com- pleted. Huron County OPP provides this service at the following detach- ments: Huron OPP located on Blue - water Veterans Highway south of Goderich, Goderich OPP located on Courthouse Square, Exeter OPP located on Main Street North and the Clinton OPP Detachment located on Albert Street. Those requiring checks must attend in person for drop off and pickup dur- ing administrative hours Monday to Friday, excluding statutory holidays. Two forms of identification are required to complete any of the above checks; one must be govern- ment issued and must include the applicants name, date of birth, signa- ture and photo of the applicant. Acceptable forms of photo ID include: Driver's Licence, BYID (Bring Your Identification, issued by the LCBO), Military Employment Card, Canadian Citizenship Card, Indian Status Card, Passport, Perma- nent Resident Card, PAL (Possession and Acquisition Licence issued by the Chief Firearms Office), CNIB card, Ontario Photo ID Card, NEXUS card or FAST pass. Acceptable forms of Non -Photo Identification include a Birth Certificate, Baptismal Certifi- cate, Hunting Licence, Outdoors Card, Canadian Blood Donor Clinic and Immigration Papers. The fee for a Criminal Record Check, Police Record Check or Vul- nerable Sector Check is $25, payable in cash only. The fee is waived for volunteer positions. Normal pro- cessing time is generally 10 to 15 business days.