HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-04-13, Page 13PURE MAPLE SYRUP
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 13, 2017. PAGE 13.
Plan aims to raise Internet capability to 98 per cent
Continued from page 1
County, Blumhagen suggested that a
special levy be installed from 2018
to 2024 to pay for the project, using
figured based on the 2017 tax rate.
The levy would be one per cent of
the total overall levy in 2018, two
per cent in 2019 and then three per
cent for 2020 through 2024 for a
total of just over $7 million.
Blumhagen said the only way the
special levy funding would work to
pay off the project is if the levy was
brought in above and beyond any
other base budget requirements or
tax levy increases.
In order to ease the transition,
Blumhagen said, some reserves
would be utilized, but they would be
paid back over time.
In 2018, Blumhagen said, $16,871
would be taken from reserves to help
subsidize the project, followed by
$17,570 in 2019 and $199,464 every
year for 2020, 2021 and 2022.
The reserves would then be paid
back by way of the special levy in
2023 and 2024 to the tune of
$207,559 and $606,213 respectively.
This would leave an additional
$180,939 in the reserves at the end
of the seven-year fundraising period.
Another option, Blumhagen said,
would be debt financing. However,
he said that staff would have to look
into the availability of debt for the
type of project — research he said
had yet to be conducted.
Huron East Deputy -Mayor Joe
Steffler called the project "very, very
important" and added that he felt it
was crucial that Huron County
support the application in principle
now. While the specifics of how the
county would fund its aspect of the
project could be finalized later, he
felt the county supporting the
application was an essential step in
the process.
"If we have to dip into reserves,
let's not forget that money belongs
to the people of Huron County,"
Steffler said.
He added that with reserves, just
Walking on
As part of Blyth's annual Walk Through Holy Week, many of those attending one of more of
the five services felt compelled to walk from church to church. The series of services began
with the Palm Sunday service at Huron Chapel in Auburn and was followed by the anointing
at Blyth Christian Reformed Church, the last supper and washing of the feet at Living Water
Christian Fellowship, the garden and arrest at Blyth United Church and finally the trial and
crucifixion at Trinity Anglican Church. Here, some of the attendees are seen walking down
Morris Street on their way from Living Water Christian Fellowship to Blyth United Church.
(Shawn Loughlin photo)
Melville Guild plans
for 2017 Fall Fair
The March meeting of the
Melville Guild and Women's
Missionary Society was held on
Tuesday, March 21 in the church
parlour.
The WMS purpose was repeated
in unison to open the meeting.
Leona Armstrong and Margaret
Mclnroy were in charge of the
devotional portion of the meeting.
The Easter -based theme was "He
Walked Ahead". The reading "What
will you give up for Lent?" was
read.
The roll call was to tell about your
life journey and where have you
have felt closest to God. This was
answered by seven members.
The call to worship and opening
prayer were based on personal
pilgrimage as members walk daily
with the Lord, sharing acceptance,
compassion, understanding and love
for those who enter their lives.
The hymn "One More Step Along
the Way" was sung. The scripture
Luke 24: 13-35 was read in unison.
Margaret shared with those
present the words of Rev. Rick Fee
as he reflected on his personal
journey. He said a pilgrimage is a
journey, a discovering, a joyful trip
that challenges and inspires and
cheers those who take it along. The
hymn, "Precious Lord Take My
Hand" was sung.
Leona led in prayer and the
Mizpah Benediction was repeated in
unison to close the worship portion
of the meeting. The collection was
taken. Highlights of the business
presided over by Leona are: The
Springtime Songfest will be held
Sunday, April 2 at 7:30 p.m. at
Brussels United Church. The
Sunday school would be holding an
Easter breakfast on Sunday, April 16
from 9 - 10:30 a.m. with the
proceeds going towards its foster
child. Donations are appreciated to
help the group in its endeavours.
The display for the Brussels Fall
Fair is to be "Showing the Bounty of
Huron County". It was decided to
have tulips in memory of loved ones
once again for Easter. An
announcement will be put in the
bulletin.
"Kintail on the Road" will once
again do the Brussels Bible School
July 17-21. The Presbyterian Church
of Canada is sending out a
newspaper Presbyterian Connection
four times per year replacing The
Record.
Dona Knight and Alice Marks
volunteered to host the April 18
meeting.
The meeting was adjourned and
members enjoyed a time of
fellowship over lunch provided by
Leona and Margaret.
like any private business, the county
has been saving money for special
projects. The internet infrastructure
and ability to make Huron
competitive on the world stage, he
said, is just one of those projects.
Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul
Gowing said that during his two-
year term as warden, which ended
last year, this was the most important
issue he dealt with. He said that
while there were still a lot of "ifs"
and "hoops to jump through", he felt
it was necessary for the county to
support the application in principle.
Howick Reeve Art Versteeg said
that while he felt the internet
capability of the county needed to be
improved, he was unsure why some
of the money to do so had to come
from members of the public. Forty
years ago, he said, when copper was
laid throughout the county it was
viewed as essential and it was a
project that was completed, but
without the use of taxpayer
dollars.
Warden Jim Ginn said he felt this
infrastructure was vital moving
forward. He compared it to the
laying of hydro lines decades ago.
Now, he said, looking back it would
be unthinkable to not invest funds in
a project so crucial. Years from now,
he said, people will look back on this
infrastructure in exactly the same
way, wondering how people ever
lived without it.
The first phase of the project
would take place in 2018 and would
focus on areas around South Huron,
Clinton and communities both north
and south of Goderich. The first year
of the project would cost a total of
$9 million. Half of the costs, $4.5
million, would come from the
government, while $2.5 million
would come from the co-ops and $2
million would come from the
county.
The second phase, 2019, would
also cost $9 million and follow the
same costing breakdown. Areas
around Seaforth, Auburn and
southeast of Wingham would be
serviced in this phase of the project,
bringing the county to 93.35 per cent
serviced as a result.
The project would aim to hit 98.35
per cent of homes in Huron County
by the end of 2020 when the third
phase would focus on communities
surrounding Brussels, Blyth and
homes west of Wingham and south
of Lucknow.
The third phase of the program
would cost $13.5 million — $6.8
million of which would be provided
in government funding, while the
co-ops would pay $3.8 million and
the county would pay $2.9 million.
The first phase of the project
would service 1,500 homes, while
the second phase would encapsulate
a further 1,150 homes and the final
stage would service 1,210 homes.
By the projected end of the project
98.35 per cent of homes in Huron
County would be serviced.
Council voted to approve the
project in principle, supporting the
application, which is due to be
submitted by the end of the month. A
financial commitment from the
county was needed in order to file
the application.
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