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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2009-07-02, Page 10PAGE 10. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 2, 2009. Staff of the Avon Maitland District School Board will be called upon to limit the costs incurred by their employee benefits package. That’s because, for the coming year, premiums for extended health coverage and dental coverage have increased by a total of approximately $1 million. Drawing on almost $900,000 in reserve funds, trustees passed a balanced budget totaling just over $177 million for the 2009-10 school year, at a regular meeting Tuesday, June 23. Finance committee chair Randy Wagler cited the benefits package increase as a major factor in the reserve fund draw-down, but said efforts to “inform our staff to make sure those claims continue to be in line and reasonable” are part of a wider strategy to ensure it doesn’t turn into “a structural deficit.” Another major increase in expenditures over the current year is for teacher remuneration. For the most part, however, that’s covered by increased Education Ministry funding that was provided after unions and school boards reached new, four-year collective agreements. “The budget was balanced without sacrificing existing funded programs, including maintaining school budgets without a decrease for declining enrolment, and have indeed managed to enhance in a couple of places,” states a report delivered by Wagler to fellow trustees. Improvements include a literacy support teacher, who will assist other teachers with the needs of struggling students. And trustee Tina Traschel, who serves on Avon Maitland’s Special Education Advisory Committee, reported the board continued with its practice of spending more on special education than it receives from the government for this purpose. In an interview after the meeting, business superintendent Janet Baird- Jackson addressed the increase in benefits premiums. “We think this is just a one-year- in-five cyclical blip,” she said, adding employees will be open to ideas for limiting claims because they also pay into the plan. Nearly $2.3 million in recreationinfrastructure funding was approvedfor Huron County earlier this weekthrough joint funding from both thefederal and provincial governments.Announced on Monday, 16projects were approved for funding throughout the Huron-Bruce riding, totalling over $3.6 million throughout the two counties. The funding is being provided as one third of the total cost of the project, meaning the total value of the 16 projects is nearly $12 million in recreational projects for the area. The Twp. of North Huron was approved for $305,076 for work at the North Huron WescastCommunity Centre, while theBelgrave Kinsmen were approvedfor $64,500 in funding for the newfloor at the Belgrave arena.The Municipality of Huron Eastwill receive $348,389 for its project at the Seaforth and District Community Centre and the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry was approved for $11,667 for the renovation of the Bluevale Community Hall. Central Huron will receive $1 million in funding for the Clinton Recreation Complex renovation project and Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh and the Twp. of Huron-Kinloss will receive $246,666 for itsaddition to the Lucknow and DistrictSports Complex.The Twp. of Howick will receive$33,600 for renovations to the arenaat the Howick Community Centre, the Municipality of Bluewater will receive $49,333 for upgrades to the Zurich Arena and Community Centre and the Town of Goderich will receive $223,352 for the Lions Harbour Park project. The Municipality of South Huron will receive $302,880 for the Stephen Sportsplex project, while the Municipality of Kincardine will receive $1 million for theconstruction of a gymnasium andarena dressing room.The Twp. of Huron-Kinloss willreceive $16,833 for the Point Clarkand Huron District CommunityCentre, the Town of Saugeen Shores will receive $15,000 for its Connection Communities Through Trail Development project and the Municipality of South Bruce will receive $30,120 for a detailed energy retrofit. The Municipality of Brockton received two different approvals for funding, $166,666 for the rehabilitation of the Walkerton Community Centre and $166,666 forthe Walkerton Centennial Parkrevitalization project.The funding was announced underthe Recreational InfrastructureCanada Program in Ontario as wellas Recreation Ontario. The goal of the funding is to provide stimulus to the local economy through investments that will spur construction activity related to recreational infrastructure. Improving recreational facilities and services will also encourage higher levels of participation in physical activity and community- building. John CONSTRUCTION LTD. 519-887-9061 • Excavating • Bulldozing • Loading & Hauling • Sand & Gravel • Screened & Regular Topsoil • Natural Mulch Crushed Asphalt now available R.R. #2 Bluevale Construction Ph.:519-523-9354 Cell:519-525-8615 Custom 5" seamless eavestrough in aluminum or steel N e w MEETING NOTICE MUNICIPALITY OF MORRIS-TURNBERRY The upcoming Council and Committee meetings for the Municipality of Morris- Turnberry will be held: Tuesday, July 7 at 7:30 pm Regular Council Meeting Thursday, July 16 at 7:00 pm History Book Committee Meeting Tuesday, July 21 at 7:30 pm Regular Council Meeting Nice drive! Kevin Kroetsch stepped up to the tee over the weekend to help benefit a great cause at the third annual Ainsleigh Bontaine Memorial Golf Tournament and Auction, bombing a thunderous drive down the middle of the fairway. The tournament, which has raised over $40,000 for the Children’s Health Foundation over the past two years was held at Woodlands Links, just west of Clinton. This year’s tournament was actually oversold, hosting 168 golfers. (Shawn Loughlin photo) On the grill Janice Machan, left, and Kendra Cardiff were hard at work last week on their respective barbecues, cooking to benefit Relay For Life, with proceeds going to assist Abi’s Angels and Mim’s Twisted Sisters in the upcoming fundraiser. These ladies braved the rain that came last Thursday to cook for a good cause. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Over $2 million throughout Huron for recreation By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen AMDSB to limit benefit costs BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED