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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2017-09-28, Page 15DRIVERS WANTED' THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2017. PAGE 15. North Huron receives 'F' for asset planning, funding By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron ratepayers could be facing tax increases of over six per cent per year for the next 20 years if council decides to plan for replacing existing assets and infrastructure. Donna White, when explaining the updated 2016 asset management plan for North Huron that she presented during its Sept. 18 meeting, said that the municipality had received an overall grade of 'F' on its infrastructure report card, prepared by Public Sector Digest. The report card looks at the health of assets throughout the municipality and how well prepared the municipality is to replace those assets as the need arises. In her synopsis of the report, White explained that, to meet the needs of the municipality, taxes would need to be raised 2.6 per cent (which would currently generate approximately $127,000) every year just to begin addressing the deficit between current reserves for assets and infrastructure and what could be required. Similarly, sanitary sewer and water rates, to save enough funds for replacement, need to increase 3.2 per cent and 1.2 per cent per year respectively for the next 20 years to meet the need. Taking last year's increase of 3.61 per cent as an average, White said it would lead to increases of more than six per cent per year. White also explained, in her report, that the asset management plan needs to be kept up to date with information regarding asset status and that council should keep that in mind during budget discussions. In order to plan ahead for Fowl Supper set Oct. 4 PEOPLE AROUND BELGRAVE By Linda Campbell Call 357-2188 Fall is here again and with it comes our 69th Annual Fowl Supper. For all newcomers to the community and also to remind those who have helped for years, here is a brief history of this annual event. It started in 1949 and each year over 1,000 people sit down together at one time over a traditional hot turkey supper with the whole community contributing time and food to make it a huge success. Last year was another great year realizing a profit of approximately $7,800. The proceeds go toward the operating costs of the Belgrave Community Centre, arena and park and sponsor minor sports programs throughout the year. Without the fowl supper, these areas might close. Tickets are available at our local stores. Please help when the committee calls on you. The annual turkey supper is on Wednesday, Oct. 4. Keith and Joyce VanCamp of Cayley, Alberta were guests for a week at the home of Joyce's parents, Jim and Mary Hunter. While here they visited with family members, relatives and friends and attended the International Plowing Match in Walton. Sunday, Oct. 1 is World Day Communion Service. The UCW meeting will be held at Nancy Folkard's home on Tuesday, Oct. 3 at 7:30 p.m. Come out and learn a few things about Alberta that night. replacing infrastructure, White suggested that North Huron Council plan to continue making payments on projects that require debt after they are paid off. The payments made after the debt is cleared should be put into a reserve to replace the infrastructure when necessary, White explained. One example is a proposed street lighting upgrade for North Huron's urban areas. During the same meeting, council was told that, depending on whether they replaced all streetlights in the municipality or just the non - decorative lights, it could take six years for the proposed LED lights to pay back their installation cost in electricity savings. Councillor Trevor Seip said he wanted to make sure those savings, after the debt for the lights was paid back, went into a reserve specifically earmarked for maintaining the lighting system throughout the municipality. The replacement cost of the non - sewer and non -water assets throughout the municipality is $214.5 million according to White who said that only 25 per cent of the asset replacement was being put away. White's report indicated that nearly 80 per cent of the municipality's assets have at least 10 years of useful life left, which is why the municipality can phase in the savings over such a long period. Unfortunately, however, 11 per cent of the remaining assets, with a valuation of $24 million, are already past their established useful life and four per cent ($9 million dollars worth) of the assets will reach the end of that period within the next five years. The summation of the report card reveals that asset health ranges from a 'D' to a 'B' letter grade with roads, bridges and culverts and the water system at the higher end of the health grade and buildings and V facilities, machinery equipment, recommendation from White, to land improvements and fleet in the place the 142 -page document on the lower range. Sanitary Sewer services township's website for review. are graded at a 'C'. The average letter grade for health of the assets in the municipality is a 'C'. Financial capacity grade, or the `health' of the reserve accounts for replacement of each asset, however, represented a far worse scenario. Of the nine different categories, North Huron's reserves received an 'F' letter grade for seven of them. The municipality's water system reserve has a 56 per cent funding for replacement, earning it a 'D' grade and the machinery and equipment has 124 per cent of its necessary funding, giving it an 'A' grade. The average financial capacity grade for the municipality's reserves is an 'F', resulting in the overall 'F' grade. Council adopted the asset management plan as presented as well as instructing staff, per the FROM BELGRAVE Trudeau plows at IPM Continued from page 1 withdrew himself from competitive plowing as a result, but his dad Joe says it was worth it. Trudeau was coached on the fields by Brian McGavin, a champion plowman in his own right, who said that the Prime Minister impressed in the fields and kept it pretty straight. While Trudeau was plowing, John Ryan came out and helped McGavin with his coaching duties, while also discussing his plow with Xavier, the Prime Minister's nine-year-old son. After the furrow was plowed, the Trudeaus made their way to the main stage, where the Queen of the Furrow contestant speeches were ongoing. Trudeau congratulated all of the young ladies for their hard work and commitment before greeting them all personally. Sophie also spoke to the women, saying that they "rock" and that she was so impressed with the quality of contestants in the competition. Bishop, reflecting on the Trudeau visit, said it was so special to have the Prime Minister in Walton for the match. She said the family was so gracious and welcoming and it was the private moments with the Trudeaus that she will remember forever. 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