HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2013-04-18, Page 27Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn’s
plea for leniency for a billing error
was met with a maybe. In reporting
that an Erie Thames-based billing
error was recently caught, but dates
back more than two years’ ago, Ginn
asked council to give the nod to
covering the under-charged amount
through the sewer reserve.
At issue, said Ginn, was an
incident wherein half of the
community of Clinton was charged
for 30 days worth of service when
the time period stretched to 44 days.
The amount outstanding is $16,000
said Ginn, $8,000 of which is being
offered to be picked up by Erie
Thames.
Councillor Alison Lobb said Erie
Thames should pick up the whole
tab since it erred.
“Why shouldn’t they pay the
whole show, plus interest?” asked
Lobb.
While the mayor noted that the
truth remains that the consumers did
use the service and are responsible
for the money, Councillor Brian
Barnim echoed Lobb’s sentiments.
Barnim said that council should send
a “stern letter” to Erie Thames.
Councillor Dan Colquhoun saw it
from a different angle. He noted
Central Huron is ultimately
responsible for billing, even when
Erie Thames handled it, and, as
such, it should pay off the amount
and “wash your hands of it.”
Lobb remained adamant, and
suggested Erie Thames should pay
at least three quarters of the amount
owing.
“They were paid to do a job and it
was their screw-up,” agreed Barnim.
Ginn said while he understood
councillors’ concerns, it seems staff
had done as much as possible to
redress the issue.
Ultimately, Barnim’s pitch to “go
after them for the money. They owe
it to us,” was supported by
councillors. Staff has been directed
to write a letter to Erie Thames,
asking the utility pay the entire
$16,000.
THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 18, 2013. PAGE 27. Huron County Council has
invested $15,000 in a Youth
Entrepreneurship Program (YEP),
which is listed under the Sustainable
Huron Plan.
Director of Planning Scott Tousawpresented the program to council atthe April 10 Committee of theWhole meeting, telling them the
program itself will provide $30,000,
while the county will provide
$15,000 of the $60,000. Where the
remaining $15,000 will come from
will be decided at a later date.Council approved the agreementwith the Ministry of EconomicDevelopment, Trade and
Development and also approved the
county’s contribution of $15,000 to
the agreement.
Not all councillors, however, were
sold on the idea immediately.North Huron Reeve Neil Vincentsaid he wanted to know more about the program before he
would approve any funding towards
it.
Vincent said he wasn’t sure if the
program would target the correct
areas to appeal to youth. He said he
had been part of a number of
programs through various branches
of 4-H Clubs, namely money
management, which he felt provided
a great service for free.
In addition, Vincent said, with the
program scheduled to start next
month, he said he felt there was too
little information to approve funding
with the deadline approaching so
quickly.
He wanted to make sure that the
program would be in-depth
enough to provide students with
information that would help them in
all aspects of their lives rather
than basic information that would
barely skim the surface of
agriculture.
“I think we should be talking
about life lessons, not just a little
experiment on the very fringes of
agriculture,” Vincent said.
Tousaw told councillors that the
program would be targetting
“youth”, which is defined as anyone
under the age of 30.
Tousaw said that while the topics
are not finalized, he hopes that they
will include human resources, farm
management, accounting, business
planning and access to capital and
succession planning.He said that students would befree to attend one or all of thecourses, and if they were to attend
all of them, the county would look
into some sort of certificate for
completing the program.
Councillor Paul Klopp also felt
there was much left to be desired. He
said he was disheartened to see that
the Minister of Agriculture and
Rural Affairs was not involved with
the program.
“We need to make sure that we’re
not insulting the young farmers
again,” Klopp said.
Howick’s Art Versteeg, however,
listed all of the post-secondary
opportunities that have left Huron
County, such as Centralia College,
and said that YEP would help
replenish some of those losses over
the years.
“I think it’s something we should
move ahead with,” Versteeg said.
Council approved the contribution
and further details of the program
will be coming to council very soon,
Tousaw said.
County invests in youth entrepreneurship program
Council refuses to pay for error
And now... the entertainment
Floyd Herman was tickling the ivories at Blyth United Church on Sunday after the weekly
service as over 150 people attended a last minute lunch there. With the cancellation of
Women’s Day Out on Saturday, there was plenty of leftover food and no one to eat it, so a free
will lunch was held at the church on Sunday. (Shawn Loughlin photo)
FREE PIZZA WINNER
This month’s winner of a large
4-item pizza from
422 Queen St., Blyth ~ 519-523-4303
is Rena Kolkman
of Londesborough
Thank you for subscribing to The Citizen
Blyth 519-523-4792 or Brussels 519-887-9114
90th Birthday Celebration
You are invited to attend a
Come & Go Tea
in honour of
Adeline Campbell’s
90th Birthday
hosted by her family
on
Saturday, April 20
2~4 pm
Blyth United Church
Best wishes only
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422 Queen St., Blyth 519-523-4303
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WeddingAnnouncement
Stephenson-BettlesStephenson-Bettles
Ann Stephenson and Mike Bettles are
excited to announce their wedding which
took place on Friday, February 8th, 2013
intheRivieraMaya,Mexico.Asurprisefor
parents Jim and Kathy Stephenson, Ethel;
JoanBettles,Egmondville;andGary(Cub)
Bettles, Seaforth.
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH, SEAFORTH
invites you to a
CORONATION TEA &
AUTHENTIC VINTAGE
FASHION SHOW
by Marion Kernighan
Saturday, June 8, 2013
1:30 and 7:00 pm
Seaforth and District Community Centres
• 60 models (men, women & children)
• Antique cars
• Delicious goodies, tea
and musical entertainment
Makes a great gift.
ALL WELCOME.
TICKETS $25
Tickets available at: NAPA Auto Parts, Blooms n’ Rooms
Allan Carter 519-522-0399
Courtesy of: McGlynn Family Funeral Home, Seaforth,
Staffen’s Lawn Care, Seaforth,
Nature’s Nest, Londesboro - naturesnest@tcc.on.ca
By Cheryl Heath
Special to The Citizen