HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-04-19, Page 32Continued from page 30
Martin teBrinke, who accepted on
behalf of their son, Curtis. Curtis has
played noteable roles in professional
theatre at the Blyth Festival (The
Thirteenth One (2005), Ballad of
Stompin’ Tom (2006), and
Innocence Lost: A Play About
Steven Truscott (2008). He also
participated in the Blyth Festival
Young Company for many years,
provides leadership writing,
directing and acting in school
productions and this year
spearheaded the Central Huron
Secondary School production for
the Sears Drama Festival.
The final award of the evening
recognized an individual,
organization or event that has made
a contribution to either the
promotion or preservation of Huron
County’s unique heritage.
Nominees included: John Hazlitt
and Ted Turner, Judy Keightley,
Ralph Laviolette, Narcisse the play,
Reuben Sallows Gallery, Van
Egmond House and Joe Wooden.
The award, presented by Huron
County Warden Bernie MacLellan
went to Narcisse, the play. A cast of
55 local, St Joseph residents came
together last summer to share their
own true heritage tale of one of the
Huron’s most colourful residents.
This tiny hamlet was acclaimed
nationally as the event, produced by
the St. Joseph and Area Historical
Society, won the Governor
General’s History Award for
Excellence in Community
Programming. Narcisse was a
wonderful tribute to our forefathers
and enhanced community spirit
across the county and beyond. Joan
Karstens and Martha Mungar, of the
St. Joseph Historical Society,
accepted the award.
Musical presentations during the
evening included the cast of Red
Sails in the Sunset, the upcoming
production at the Livery Theatre;
Tuesday Tunes, the weekly musical
collective from Seaforth; the extra-
ordinary talents of the Artistic
Directors of Bayfield Festival of
Song – Stephen Ralls and Bruce
Ubukata; and Canadian baritone
powerhouse Geoffrey Sirett. Eric
Coates also gave the audience a
glimpse of Blyth Festival’s 2012
season.
A decision on Central Huron’s
proposed budget, with a two per cent
overall tax increase, has been
deferred until council’s next meeting
on May 7.
With Treasurer Terri Taylor
prepared to make her budget
presentation at council’s regular
meeting on April 10, she was
stopped in her tracks by a motion
proposed by Councillor Brian
Barnim suggesting council wait until
the Huron County and area school
boards officially set their tax rates.
Barnim said that until the county
and school boards finalized their
budgets, Central Huron wouldn’t
know exactly what it was dealing
with. His motion was quickly
seconded by Councillor Burkhard
Metzger, saying that until all that
information is received, council
can’t look at the budget in a
complete manner.
The draft budget includes
municipal cash requirements of
$4,949,472. The tax increase
currently sits at a 5.43 per cent
increase for the Central Huron
portion of the budget.
For a residential property with
$100,000 current value assessment,
the amount of taxes for 2012, for
Central Huron purposes only, would
be $622.65.
Taylor informed councillors that
the budget would have to be
finalized and approved by the end of
May, as to not hold up the rest of the
county.
After having received draft
budgets from both the Avon
Maitland District School Board and
the Huron Perth Catholic School
Board, Taylor said that in her time as
treasurer, the school boards’ draft
budget has never changed from draft
to actual, but that she can’t guarantee
that there won’t be a change.
Mayor Jim Ginn said the county
budget was essentially set, it was
just a matter of how much
councillors wanted to put into
reserves. (The budget was set the
next day at a special meeting of
Huron County Council with a one
per cent levy increase.)
After minimal discussion the
decision was made to halt the budgetprocess, with just Councillor AlexWesterhout voting against themotion.
Immediately after the decision
was made, however, Roads/Public
Works Manager Tom Sinclair asked
where that left tenders for his
department.
Sinclair said that with the prices of
fuel and gravel on the rise, waiting at
least one month to send out tenders
could cost the municipality more.
Barnim then suggested that the
capital portion of the public works
budget be approved so that tenders
could go ahead.
Ginn then proposed that council
approve the asphalt purchase of
13,000 tonnes be approved, despite
the deferral of the budget. He said
the purchase of a quantity of asphalt
could be made, but it wouldn’t be
earmarked for any specific projects,
saying that Central Huron would be
able to ‘move around’ the asphalt if
they needed to.
Metzger clarified that the reason
so much asphalt was being
purchased was because buying such
a quantity afforded Central Huron a
wealth of savings.
The asphalt purchase was then
approved by council.
The conversation then shifted to
when to hold the next public meeting
to consider the budget.
Councillors said it was essential to
notify the public so they could have
their say on the budget, but after
doing just that for the April 10
meeting, there was just a handful of
people in the gallery.
“The public needs to comment and
then there should be discussion,”
said Central Huron resident Carol
Dutot, who was in the gallery, “the
budget shouldn’t just be passed five
minutes later.”
Councillor Marg Anderson
agreed, saying it was crucial that
members of the public have their
say. Original discussion proposed
that the next public budget meeting
take place at the April Committee of
the Whole meeting on April 26, but
since that meeting is during the day,
Anderson said, the majority of
residents will not be able to be there.
There was discussion suggesting
that public meetings to consider the
budget be held at both the April 26Committee of the Whole meetingand the May 7 regular councilmeeting, but councillors decided to
leave it to the May 7 meeting.
Barnim said he wanted to ensure
that the budget was looked over
closely enough and that it wasdiscussed extensively.“I say we just pick a night andhave the discussions [the budget]
deserves,” Barnim said.
Barnim also acknowledged that
council’s decision may throw a
wrench into the plans of severalsenior staff members, but that it wasessential that council give the budgetproper consideration.
“I know you prepared for this,”
Barnim told Taylor, “but it’s
important and I’m not ready.”
PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 19, 2012.Central Huron budget deferred for one month
Mirror, mirror in my hand
Kalvin Westerhout didn’t have to ask who was the fairest in the land after the mirror showed
the whiskers and pink cheeks he was rocking at Hullett Central Public School’s annual
carnival on April 13. The event, dubbed the Hullett 500 featured a NASCAR theme and
welcomed NASCAR driver Scott Steckly for a special autograph session. (Denny Scott photo)
Huron’s cultural
awards handed out
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen