HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2014-06-11, Page 3Council Ice to remain at
approves
a 2% Bayfield Arena
increase to
water and
wastewater
fees
Dave Flaherty
For the News Record
Water and wastewater fees in Central
Huron will increase 2% effective July 1.
The increase was passed by council-
lors at the June 2 meeting.
In 2012, Central Huron hired Watson
and Associates to complete a water and
wastewater rate study accompanied
with a financial plan in accordance
with Ontario regulation 453/07.
The studies forecasted operating and
capital requirements over a ten-year
period and recommended a 2% annual
increase in user fees each year of the
ten-year period.
The recommendations were sup-
ported in a report prepared by munici-
pal staff.
The proposed rates are $30.15 for a
monthly base rate and a 1.35 volumet-
ric rate for water and a 0.93 volumetric
rate for wastewater.
Council had previously approved 2%
increases in 2012 and 2013.
BREATH
THROUGH
that's cystic fibrosis.
Council supports
motion for three-
year plan
Dave Flaherty
For the News Record
The original "Miracle on Ice"
took place in 1980 when the
U.S. Olympic men's hockey
team defeated the highly
favoured Russians, but Bay-
field may have experienced its
own last week at Bluewater
council.
In turnaround from a decision
made late last year to remove ice
at the Bayfield Arena, Bluewater
council unanimously voted to
allow it to remain for three more
years.
Bayfield Arena Community
Partners, a group of citizens who
have been fighting to have the
ice remain since the decision
was made last year, presented a
business plan to increase the
number of hours of usage at the
facility.
Group co-chair Bill Whet-
stone told the News Record they
have a commitment from a
number of groups that would
equal 30 hours of use per week.
He said this would reduce the
arena's deficit from $125,000 to
about $75,000.
The three-year agreement will
require a review at the end of
each year.
Whetstone said members of
the group would work along-
side municipal staff on the
reviews.
The group will have the
majority of responsibility of
marketing the arena, as he said
it wasn't well marketed in the
past.
Whetstone admitted while he
was optimistic their plan would
be supported by council, he
wasn't expecting it to be
unanimous.
Whetstone said the group's
feeling after this past meeting a
total turn of those after council
had stood by its earlier decision
to remove the ice at a March
meeting.
"We've gone from sadness to
complete satisfaction," Whet-
stone said. "It's on the complete
other end of the spectrum,
before it felt like nobody was lis-
tening regardless of what we
said."
However, he acknowledged
that the group's work is far from
over.
"We have to keep moving and
moving:'
He said they are trying to find
a way to automate the booking
system for the arena as that has
been a problem area in the past.
They are also looking into
possibly installing thinner floor-
ing, which would allow events
such as trade shows to come to
the arena during the winter
months.
The group will be doing fund-
raising as well.
Whetstone said the support
for their efforts was amazing.
"We had 700 people who
signed a petition, I would like to
thank each and every one of
them," he said.
He also thanked The Virtual
High School in Bayfield, the
Baker Family Foundation and
Marg and Peter Payne, who
donated the presentation
boards the group used at the
June 2 meeting.
Whetstone said they already
have some groups using the
arena as ball hockey just started
up last week.
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Wednesday, June 11, 2014 • News Record 3
Race fans took a break this Sunday
afternoon to enjoy all that the Clinton
Spring Fair had to offer, it was another
perfect weekend to do so.
Live racing at Clinton Raceway,
resumes this Sunday, Father's Day at
1:30pm. Bring Dad out to relive some
childhood memories of standardbred
racing at Huron County's oval. A special
free handicapping contest of all the
dads in the crowd will be taking place,
as well as special Super Sunday draws
and games all afternoon between
the races. Parking and admission are
always free, and the patio is a great
place to take in the afternoon card of
racing.
Sunday evening, following the races,
head on up to the Raceway Cafe (in the
OLG Slots at Clinton Raceway, must be
19 years of age or older) and enjoy a
delicious Father's Day dinner buffet,
for only $13.95 +tax. Buffet runs from
5-8pm.
There are still plenty of opportunities to
take in live racing at Clinton Raceway,
the season runs every Sunday through
August 31 with a post time of 1:30pm.
For a detail schedule of events,
please take a minute to visit
www.clintonraceway.com and see
what Clinton Raceway has to offer.
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