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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-04-11, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 11, 2013. Five options considered for Central Huron budget Huron East is ‘unwilling host’ to wind turbines Flipping flapjacks Mike Boven chipped in on Sunday morning as the Londesborough Lions Club held an olde tyme breakfast for the community. (Vicky Bremner photo) April 16 is set as the date night for Central Huron Council’s public meeting on its 2013 budget. During its April 2 session, councillors took time out to debate the merits of five options put forth by Finance Director Terri Taylor. Taylor reported option one features an overall 3.43 per cent tax decrease with a 3.84 per cent cut for Central Huron purposes and $57,000 into reserves. Option two includes an overall tax decrease of two per cent and a 0.66 decrease for the Central Huron portion with $57,000 into reserves and $167,800 to finance the Harlock Bridge project. Option three had overall 1.7 per cent decrease, zero per cent for the Central Huron portion, and $57,000 to a tax stabilization reserve with $202,900 dedicated to the Harlock Bridge project. Option four proposes an overall one per cent increase, a 1.55 per cent hike to the Central Huron portion with $57,000 to reserves and $285,150 for the Harlock Bridge. The final option features an overall 3.78 per cent tax increase, with a 7.92 per cent hike to the Central Huron portion, $57,000 to reserves and $402,800 for financing the Harlock Bridge. While many of the proposed increases were set at nominal amounts or decreases, Councillor Alex Westerhout said it is important to remember the numbers do not reflect the true story since taxes are based on current value assessments, which continue to rise. “To say we’re having a zero per cent increase is not real,” he said, suggesting that if options four or five were chosen, Central Huron residents will be seeing an overall tax increase of 50 per cent in the past few years. Westerhout also suggested a zero per cent increase this year, coupled with a decrease next year, could easily be seen as a ploy for votes in the 2014 municipal election. In noting a number of new expenses have come on board the approximate $5 million annual budget for Central Huron in the past few years, including the Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre of Huron (REACH), the new fire hall, and the new arena complex, Deputy- Mayor Dave Jewitt said the other reality is those new items come with operating costs. Councillor Dan Colquhoun was more concise in his assessment. “I am not going to support any one of the [options],” he said. “We’ve been spending money like drunken sailors.” Other councillors gravitated toward option three, which includes a 1.7 per cent tax overall tax decrease, with a zero per cent increase for Central Huron purposes on a $5.289 million budget. The reserve question proved to be a concern to Councillor Brian Barnim. He said in a harsh economic climate, it is difficult for Central Huron to justify putting extra money aside care of taxpayers that are financially strapped. “I really believe we’re in a difficult time right now,” he said, adding taxes are “extremely high” in some areas, particularly west of Highway 21. Barnim said he finds it “very difficult to support anything of any magnitude” towards reserves. Councillor Alison Lobb disagreed. She said it is imperative to have reserves in place for future projects and unforeseen expenses. Councillor Marg Anderson said council must be mindful of the tough economic climate in the county. Meanwhile, Councillor Burkhard Metzger supported option five which he said seems to be the most fiscally responsible given the reality of the day is costs and wages are going up. “It’s just the nature of the beast, I think,” he said. The deputy-mayor also supported that option, but said he could stomach option three if necessary. Ultimately, council passed a motion endorsing option three. A final vote is anticipated to be held following the April 16 public session. A big unknown for council is whether it will move forward with the Harlock Bridge project. Council plans to review the tenders, which are due prior to the budget vote, before making a decision. The Municipality of Huron East has declared itself an unwilling host to industrial wind turbines, but, says Mayor Bernie MacLellan, that’s about as far as council can go. At Huron East Council’s April 2 meeting, dozens of anti-wind turbine protestors were present to hear council’s decision, but were disappointed to hear that proposed requirements between the municipality and wind developers are not a move that could be legally made. The way council approached the issue, based on advice from two different lawyers, which was reviewed in closed session at the beginning of the meeting, was to raise a motion from Feb. 21, 2012, that had been defeated. The motion, MacLellan said, was essentially to do the same thing as some councillors wanted to do at the April 2 meeting, to authorize an agreement between the municipality and wind turbine developers that would make the developersfinancially liable for changes inproperty values, increases in noise levels and adverse health effects. Legally, Huron East had to revisit the Feb. 21, 2012 motion, rather than bringing up a new motion. In order to raise a defeated motion for discussion once again, a two-thirds majority is required, which was crucial when it was time to vote. In a recorded vote, seven councillors voted to bring back the issue, while four councillors voted against it; so while a simple majority was achieved, the vote came one vote short of a two-thirds majority, therefore defeating the motion. MacLellan explained that in the legal advice received by council, two different lawyers stated that the municipality “wouldn’t have a leg to stand on” if it were to enact a bylaw requiring wind turbine companies to pay the aforementioned damages. After the vote was taken, MacLellan explained to Huron East Against Turbines (HEAT) founder Gerry Ryan, and his dozens of supporters, why council voted the way that it did.He said that while council couldn’tenter into a legal agreement with any developer, it was the municipality’s hope that perhaps a gentlemen’s conversation could take place where council could get to the bottom of some of its, as well as HEAT’s, concerns. “We can sit down and ask for answers, because we want answers too,” MacLellan said. “Can we ask questions about property values and health issues? Yes. Do we have a legal foot to stand on? Absolutely not.” MacLellan said that according to legal advice received by the municipality, such requirements would not be within the municipality’s jurisdiction, because the Green Energy Act is provincial legislation. In addition, he said, the legal advice stated that in the rare occurrence that such an arrangement has been challenged by the province, defending its legislation, the municipality has not only lost the case and had to pay its legal costs, but has had to pay the province’slegal costs as well. All of thosefactors, MacLellan said, created a situation that could potentially cost the taxpayers of Huron East a large amount of money. “I don’t care,” said Ryan, “but I’m only speaking personally. “When the turbines go up, the cost for me and my family is everything. So don’t be looking for sympathy from this group of people.” While the motion to reconsider an agreement between the municipality and wind turbine developers failed to receive a two-thirds majority vote,the first vote on a motion to declarethe municipality as an unwilling host to wind turbines passed unanimously. A letter explaining the municipality’s position has already been sent to the Ontario Premier and the Ministry of the Environment. The term “unwilling host” to wind turbines originated from Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne’s throne speech in which she stated that only willing host communities should become home to wind turbines. Huron County CAO Brenda Orchard says she hopes to keep things simple when the county hires a new treasurer later this spring. In answering a question from a member of the local media, Orchard acknowledged that in hiring a new treasurer, the title of deputy-CAO will no longer be attached to the treasurer title, as it had been with the last person holding the position, David Carey. Orchard said that not technically having a deputy-CAO will not only make filling in for the CAO less complicated, but it will also cost the county less and improve staff development. Orchard told members of the media that there was a $10,000 honorarium attached to the deputy- CAO title that will no longer need to be paid. She also said that if she is ever absent, the “title” of deputy- CAO will go to one member of the senior management team, and then a different member the next time. She says it will keep things fresh and also aid in professional development. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS - CALL FOR NOMINATIONS We are seeking talented, engaged members of our communities who have an interest in rural healthcare and expertise in one or more of quality, communications, marketing, finance, governance, law, health policy, strategic planning or recruitment. If you would like to be part of a volunteer Board that will help forge the future of acute rural health care in our communities, expressions of interest including background information regarding your skills and experience will be received by the C.E.O./Board Secretary, Karl Ellis, up to May 12, 2013. Elections will be held at the Annual Meeting on June 12, 2013. Current directors are eligible for re-election. Corporation of the Wingham & District Hospital The Wingham & District Hospital is calling for nominations of individuals who are interested in serving as a Director on the Board. Four Directors are required for a two year term. Elected Directors must have a strong interest in health care services in Wingham and area and meet eligibility criteria as defined in the corporation’s bylaws. Corporation of the Listowel Memorial Hospital The Listowel Memorial Hospital is calling for nominations of individuals who are interested in serving as a Director on the Board. Four Directors are required for a two year term. Elected Directors must have a strong interest in health care services in Listowel and area and meet eligibility criteria as defined in the corporation’s bylaws. For additional information, please contact Denise Mino, Executive Assistant, at 519-357-3210, ext. 5295 or denise.mino@lwha.ca REPRINTS OF PHOTOS taken by Citizen photographers are available to purchase. ALL ARE IN COLOUR 4x6 - $4.00 5x7 - $5.00 8x10 - $8.00 Phone to order ~ 519-523-4792 or 519-887-9114 By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen By Cheryl Heath Special to The Citizen County to ‘eliminate’ deputy-CAO position