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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2017-11-16, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: HOLIDAYS - Pg. 3 Blyth -based program to host Christmas weekend HEROES - Pg. 9 Goderich group to launch Heroes of Huron website ROYAL. - Pg. 11 Local chef part of cooking demonstration at fair Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 4Citiz Volume 33 No. 45 n ESTABLISHED 1877 $1 .25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, November 16, 2017 Remembering On the eleventh day of the eleventh month Canadians all across the country stop for a few minutes to remember those who fought and died so that Canada could be as great as it is. Locally, several Legions held Remembrance Day services in Blyth and Brussels, as well as local schools and retirement homes. Here, in Brussels, members of the Brussels Legion Pipe Band laid their poppies upon the wreaths at the village's cenotaph as part of the service. (Shawn Loughlin photo) FD costs could rise under Bill 148 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Concerns are mounting over the potential approval of Bill 148, which is the Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act proposed by the provincial government. While those who own small businesses throughout the province, especially in rural areas like Huron County, have expressed concerns with the proposed $15 -per -hour minimum wage, Central Huron Fire Chief Dave Renner says there may be unintended consequences for volunteer fire departments. At Central Huron Council's Nov. 6 meeting, Renner spoke to council about the changes the act may bring about in the world of volunteer fire departments. He said the act would dictate an increased pay grid for employees who are "on call" that could result in massive increases to the department's budget. Renner told councillors, however, that he felt the province's definition of an on-call employee differed from the reality of volunteer firefighters being "on call" for a potential fire. On-call employees in the traditional sense of the word, he said, cannot refuse work if it arises. Volunteer firefighters, however, could refuse to attend a fire for a number of reasons, whether they be related to their day jobs or any other number of factors. After consulting with Central Huron Treasurer Terri Rau, Renner said that if Bill 148 was to go ahead unchanged, it could add 17 per cent to the budget just by way of the fire department. The decision, however, is far from made, he said. In addition, the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs (OAFC) has proposed four amendments to the act that would allow volunteer fire departments in rural areas to operate as they have and not be impacted by the new legislation. In addition, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) is also working in favour of the fire departments. In a statement, the organization said that the changes contained within the act could result in budget increases of between $1 million and $2 million for various municipalities throughout Ontario. At issue is that the new act would dictate that any "on-call" employee be paid a minimum of three hours per day at the municipal rate, rather than simply paying firefighters when they respond to a call. Paying out for on-call hours, Renner said, would result in a massive shift in how volunteer firefighters are com- pensated for their time. The difference, Renner said, is that when career firefighters are "on call" in an urban centre, they must respond to a call, while volunteer firefighters can respond at their discretion. Renner said that he will continue to monitor the situation and report back to council when there are developments. Locals impress at Royal By Denny Scott The Citizen Several local food producers earned impressive accolades at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, which wrapped up on Sunday. Blyth Farm Cheese brought home the Grand Champion Goat and Sheep Milk Variety Cheese title with its Golden Blyth - brine -washed cheese. The cheese, made by Paul Van Dorp, also took first place in the Interior Ripened — Gouda, Friulano, Manchego, etc. category, which the company dominated by claiming second place with its Eweda — brine - washed and third place with its Aged, brine -washed 14 month cheese. Van Dorp also brought home awards for Blyth Farm Cheese's Drunken Goat - merlot-soaked cheese (eighth place in Flavoured Fresh Cheese), Queen Bee - honey mead washed (11th place in Flavoured Fresh Cheese), Apple Wood Cold -Smoked (third place in Flavoured Cheese - Smoked Jalapeno) and jalapeno flavoured cheeses (fifth place in Flavoured Cheese - Smoked Jalepeno). Connor Rodger of Auburn was named Champion Senior Showperson and Grand Champion Showperson in the Showmanship competition of the Youth Beef Show with Loyal Line Daisey ET. Rodger also claimed a third-place finish in the Junior Beef - Limousin Yearlings competition. Ryan Smuck of Wingham took third place in the Youth Beef - Commercial Yearlings competition with Molly. Michaela Rodger of Auburn took sixth place in the Youth Beef - Limousin, Yearlings competition with Loyal Line Dee Dee ET. Mason Weber of Belgrave earned a fifth -place finish in the Youth Beef Continued on page 22 NH begins budget process By Denny Scott The Citizen North Huron Township Council has some difficult decisions ahead of it as it begins its budget process. As part of an information -only meeting on Monday night, council was told that, aside from priorities it wished to set, the municipality was already facing tough economic decisions. The recommendations in the municipality's asset management plan, for example, would see tax revenues increase by 2.6 per cent for the next 20 years independent of any other capital or project increases. The plan also called for waste water rates to increase by 3.2 per cent per year for the next 20 years, water rates to increase by 1.2 per cent per year and debt or grant moneys to be reallocated to other projects instead of being removed from the budget. Chief Administrative Officer Dwayne Evans and Director of Finance Donna White took council through a brief overview of the budget and one point that was often revisited by staff and council alike was that savings wouldn't necessarily be passed on to the taxpayer. During the overview, Evans explained that as debt is paid off and as grant revenues become available, those funds should be shifted to other debts and projects to plan and prepare for the future. Councillor Trevor Seip agreed Continued on page 19