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The Citizen, 2011-04-21, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 21, 2011. Residents air concerns with 2011 North Huron budget Suzuki dismisses turbine concerns Over $125,000 for local abattoir from province The butcher is king Carol Mitchell visited Green’s Meat Market in Morris- Turnberry near Wingham on Friday, April 15 to announce the abattoir would be receiving $128,250 to help with the installation of new machinery and storage and modernize the plant. The funds were delivered as part of the Rural Economic Development Program. (Denny Scott photo) Despite reportedly toughregulations, one local abattoir isplanning on a major expansion in thenear future.Kevin Green, owner of Green’sMeat Market, welcomed the publicinto his abattoir to announce that,after 40 years as a family business, the processing plant and store front, located in Wingham, would be making major upgrades to better serve their customers. Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Huron- Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell was on hand to announce that Green would be receiving $128,250 to help with the development through the Rural Economic Development Program. The renovations will include new cold storage areas and machinery to help to modernize the facility andincrease sales, as well as allowingGreen’s to create four new jobswhile maintaining the 14 they havenow.“Small abattoirs and meatprocessing plants are part of ourfood chain,” Mitchell said. “Thisinvestment will help keep ruralOntario strong.”Mitchell stated that announcements like this, and last month’s provincial budget which had funds for permanent risk management programs for cattle, hog, veal and sheep, make this a good time to be the minister of the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA). “We’re trying to show that we count on farmers and farmers can count on us,” she said. Morris-Turnberry Mayor Paul Gowing stated that with trying times in the small meat industry, the Rural Economic Development Programhas become important. “The Rural EconomicDevelopment Program removesbarriers to rural development,” hesaid. “That’s important becausesmall business has repeatedly ledeconomic recovery and will continueto do so.”Gowing praised OMAFRA underMitchell for the program. Green stated that it was a great day and that the expansion had been both a dream of his since he took over the company from his parents and something he needs to do to ensure that the company continues. “I’ve wanted to expand into ready- to-eat-meats and diversity to support local producers,” he said. “My parents built this and it was there for me to take over – if I don’t upgrade and improve it, it won’t be there if one of my children want to take it over.” Continued from page 1 surprised by Suzuki’s answer to the turbine quandary. “[My family] has turbines near us and we have no problems,” she said. For more information, and video of Suzuki answering the question, visit the AMDSB website at blog.amdsb.ca Other local students who participated included: Les Irvine, Shelby Armstrong, Zach Campbell, Jackson Goodall and Cassi Carter from East Wawanosh Public School; Ben Hruska, Wyatt Stevenson, Adam Baan, Lexi Smith and Matthew Swart from Grey Central Public School and several from Blyth Public School. Continued from page 1 concerned with the increase of operating and capital costs. Bill Knott, a Blyth resident, was concerned with several increases in aquatic and fitness programs at the Wescast Complex in Wingham, as the increases seemed to be building on a particularly bad financial year for the programs. The programs don’t break even, as they are a provided service to the municipality, according to Recreation and Facilities Director Pat Newson. As far as the perceived suffering of the program, Newson explained that an accounting program error lead to a drastically reduced reporting of revenue in 2010, and that 2011 should be in line with previous years that saw the programs increasing in revenue. Councillor Alma Conn echoed Knott’s concerns, stating that, even with a programming issue, there seemed to be missing revenue that would indicate a leaner year than what was being represented. Wingham residents were concerned more with the North Huron Wescast Community Complex itself than the programs being run out of it. Questions regarding the amount remaining to be paid off, Wescast’s donations to the project and the Knights of Columbus’ share were voiced. White explained that, of the $857,219.92 remaining to be paid off on the complex, approximately $305,000 was the responsibility of the Knights of Columbus. It was also stated that North Huron had been paying the interest on the full amount owing, including the portions the Knights are expected to pay. Knott also stated that the municipal airport, which is actually located in Morris-Turnberry, was something that council needed to consider cutting funds to. The airport remains open for the winter months, according to Reeve Neil Vincent, to accommodate an estimated 40 reported incoming and outgoing flights, as well as flights that would not have been reported due to them leaving and returning to the airport. For those purposes, the roads to the airport and access to airport buildings need to be maintained throughout the winter, which Knott felt was an expense that should not be borne by the residents of North Huron. “We’re maintaining this [site that runs a deficit of $20,000 to $30,000 a year] and Morris-Turnberry gets the taxes from it and from surrounding developments,” he said, and then suggested trying to sell it to Morris-Turnberry. Council and staff stated that the airport, like many other large investments from the past, were made at a time when it looked as if the municipality was going to grow due to the increased work at Wescast, and now they were dealing with the fallout of Wescast’s northern plant closing. “We have these buildings, and we can’t knock them down,” White explained. “This is the reason taxes are so high. We offer services comparable to much larger city centres with a smaller tax base.” Council and staff also explained that, due to medical use of the helipad, the airport needs to be maintained throughout the winter. White referenced the fact that North Huron was one of the smallest municipalities in Huron County, showing that they had the second- lowest amount of money generated by assessment, and the third-lowest recorded population in the county. North Huron, according to White, provides services of a higher population municipality, and does so on the budget of a much smaller municipality. She also noted that many of the township’s services are used by non-residents, and that non- resident fees were being considered for many township services and buildings. Major capital expenses in the budget include the Josephine Street phase one reconstruction, which, with a final price tag of $3.7 million, none of which will be generated through 2011 taxes; the Emergency Services Training Centre in Blyth, which has been budgeted $1.9 million, none of which will be generated through 2011 taxes; a new pumper/tanker for the North Huron Fire Department, which will cost $313,000, half of which will be paid from reserves, the rest of which will be raised through taxation and the water and sewer costs for Josephine Street, which will cost $972,699, of which all will be generated through grants and user fees and not through taxation. By Denny ScottThe Citizen Going once, going twice Dave Johnston was on auctioneering duties on Friday night as the Maitland Conservation Foundation held its 23rd annual dinner and auction at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre. Between the live auction, the silent auction and the card draws, there were over 100 prizes to be had with all of the money going to support the Wawanosh Nature Centre. (Vicky Bremner photo) Was his name-o Andy Lubbers and a junior assistant called out Bingo numbers at Blyth Memorial Hall on Tuesday, April 12 for Easter Bingo sponsored by the Blyth Legion and the Legion Ladies Auxiliary. (Denny Scott photo)