HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News Record, 2013-12-18, Page 3Police talk budget
increases at CH council
Hard numbers coming
in New Year
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
It will be well into 2014 before Cen-
tral Huron finds out the full cost of its
looming contract with the OPP.
Huron Ontario Provincial Police were
at Committee of the Whole Dec. 10 to
answer any questions council had on
the agreement, which brings with it an
eight per cent increase over last year.
Staff Sergeant Rod Case and Sergeant
Kevin Hummel made the Central Huron
stop as part of their "magical mystery
tour," which Hummel said will take
them to 14 districts within Ontario.
Case said there are some loud and
clear messages coming back from
municipalities about the cost of the
contract renewals, however, they won't
have hard numbers until the New Year.
Many municipalities are looking for off-
set or mitigation funding, he told coun-
cil, as some will see their costs rise sig-
nificantly while others may be reduced.
Those paying less than $300 per
household for policing can expect that
number to go up, while those paying
more than $400 could likely see their
rates reduced, he said.
Central Huron currently pays about
$260 per household with a $90 per call
charge on top. So what constitutes a
billable call? The question was put to
officers by Councilor Alison Lobb.
Case noted while the current agree-
ment handles about 80 different cate-
gories of calls coming in to police, the
new billing model contains 354 catego-
ries. Of those, it is expected to be pared
down to 150-175, he said. Under the
new billing model, Central Huron will
also be able to see how and where
policing money is spent - an issue
which has been discussed in length
during regular council meetings.
The total amount will depend on the
Municipal Property Assessment Corpo-
ration's survey of households in the
municipality. The more accurate the
reporting, the more accurate the billing
estimate.
Central Huron is looking at $1.34 mil-
lion in its 2014 police budget.
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Wednesday, December 18, 2013 • News Record 3
Recreation role questioned as
YMCA contract renewal date nears
Gerard Creces
Clinton News -Record
Is there any appeal to municipal fitness?
Central Huron Council debated the issue
at Committee of the Whole Tuesday, Dec.
10. The issue arose as looming budget
increases coincide with YMCA contract
renewal time.
Councilor Dan Colquhoun said there
could be considerable savings - and income
- for Central Huron should they decide to
run the fitness facility themselves.
Right now, council has three options -
renew the contract with the YMCA, put out
a request for proposals or take the facility
over and run it internally.
Coun. Burkhard Metzger said while he felt
the YMCA is a good match for the commu-
nity, there is no harm in opening up discus-
sion with other potential providers.
Colquhoun said with about 420 members,
the money being generated at the YMCA
could offer a substantial stream of income
to Central Huron.
"We're talking about $200,000 in revenue
and we're giving it away," he said.
Coun. Metzger and Allison Lobb both
We're talking about
$200,000 in revenue and
we're giving it away
— Coun. Dan Colquhoun
stated they feel the YMCA name does carry
some weight with it, as does the fact Central
Huron members are able to go to the
Goderich Y to use the pool and facilities
there.
Should council choose to go it on their
own, the revenue is up for grabs, Colquhoun
said.
Council decided to hold off voting on the
matter until more councilors were present.
Coun. Barnim, Anderson and Deputy -Mayor
Jewitt were absent for the meeting.
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