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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-01-31, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JANUARY 31, 2008. Continued from page 2 served their country in armed conflict. Service records and pictures, when available, were assembled into these books. A gift was presented on behalf of the Comrades of Branch 218 to Comrades Charles and Grace for their lasting contribution to Branch 218. A presentation was also made to Comrade George Adams for his contribution. A display case was created by Comrade George to provide a place for the keeping and display of the books. A plaque has also been placed on the case to recognize the efforts of the Comrades involved in the completion of this project. A social time of Comradeship was held following the conclusion of the evening downstairs. Euchre on Saturday afternoon had 12 and 1/2 tables of players. The top team of the day was Elsie Mogk and Doreen Skinner. Tying for second place and sharing the prize money were Eileen Sellers and Marie Stewart and Rita Flynn and Verna Gibbings. The low team of the day was Helen Dobson and Mabel Willis. Low hand prizes went to Shirley Gilders and Charlie Cameron. The annual Robbie Burns dinner and dance saw a great crowd for the dinner, but a poor turnout for the dance. A delicious dinner by the Presbyterian Church, including Haggis, was enjoyed by nearly 140 folks but only near 40 stayed to enjoy the dance music of the Georgian Bay Islanders. Unfortunately for the Brussels Pipe Band it was not a very good evening. The Pipe Band played during the intermissions, and were wonderful as usual, to the small, but appreciative attendees. The Georgian Bay Islanders were on hand to play for the good turnout for the Sunday night dance. The hall was still decorated nicely from the Robbie Burns dance and looked quite festive for the dancers. THE EDITOR,I am hoping our mayor andcouncil will reconsider thefate of our Library since theBrussels Inn or New American Hotel is being demolished. We don’t need anotherbuilding sitting empty or insome state of neglect such asthose we already have on ourmain street. The Post Office and Library are two of the most attractive buildings on our main street.Also, Jim Lee has done anexcellent job with his coffeeshop and laundromat. The spahas been updated and is very attractive, the old CIBC building is being put to good use.But then we look at the olddrugstore, Export Packers, 5¢- $1 store property, the formerauto parts store, the welding shop on the west side and the bakery. We don’t need another absentee landlord buying more main street properties. My family, as long-timetaxpayers and communitysupporters, will be veryreluctant to supportfundraising to build a new library. Besides what are we going to get for $600,000. It sure won’t be nice red brick building like we have. Spend money on adding toour existing building to makeit accessible to the seniors andpersons who need to usewheelchairs. So what if it does cost more? By what I am hearing from others, that is where our money should be spent. Joan Bernard. Letter to the editorReader expresses concern about library Continued from page 1 margin was 51 to 49 in urban areas versus 63 to 37 per cent in rural areas). “There is a general feeling they are not in favour, even in some urban areas,” said Allen. But many of those in urban areas who receive curbside pick up now feel it is very important, he said. He noted there were more than 200 comments on the topic. “A lot of people seem to be worried about costs,” said deputy-mayor Jim Nelemans. “I wonder what they would feel about it if it didn’t cost more.” Council has considered possible cost savings such as closing the Turnberry landfill transfer station as ways of making curbside pick up economical. On the survey of what services residents felt were most important and how satisfied they were with these services, Caldwell and Allen said that often the importance was ranked higher than the satisfaction. Roads, for instance, were ranked high in importance but there was less satisfaction with the service. He also provided some of the comments supplied by those responding to the survey and noted that the greater the difference between the importance the resident gave to a service and the satisfaction they had with it, the greater number of negative comments. Gravel roads brought some severe criticism with one comment saying: “Gravel roads in Morris are terrible. (The) dust is unreal, choking at times.” Gravel roads and the need for paving more of them was a topic among those attending the meeting as well. While people want more roads paved, councillors wondered if they were prepared to pay more. “I look at it if I pay more for paving, I save on vehicle maintenance,” said one resident. Mayor Dorothy Kelly said that she’d recently read an article where residents in one municipality where roads had been paved were now complaining that people drove too fast. When it came to the subject of emergency services, one of the complaints was that police were those who were speeding. Others complained of the need for more police officers. Generally respondents rated police, fire and ambulance high in importance, but their satisfaction rate was slightly less. The vast majority of people seemed reasonably satisfied, the survey team said, but the challenge is to move more people to the “extremely satisfied” category. There was some discussion at the meeting, prompted by one of the comments from the survey, on problems with 9-1- 1 numbers that were incorrect or vacant properties that had no numbers. Those present were told that if they have a vacant property that they want a sign on they can pay $35 to get one. Recreational services were not rated as high in importance as emergency services, Allen said noting there is a lower population of young people. Kelly thanked those who completed and returned the surveys and those who attended the meeting. The information would help create a strategic plan for the municipality and help councillors get their priorities right for budgets, she said. Starting in 2000, a number of people across the province became Hydro One Networks customers when we acquired their local utility. While the customers we acquired have seen changes to their delivery rates in recent years, many acquired customers continue to pay rates lower than other Hydro One customers receiving the same type of service. Hydro One believes that all customers deserve fair, reasonable and affordable rates. In order for rates to be fair, they must be applied consistently across our customer base and reflect the true cost of delivering electricity to homes and businesses. For this reason, Hydro One is seeking to have all its customers pay the same rates for the same services. In some communities this could mean an increase to delivery rates. Under the proposed rate structure, all customers in the same rate class would be charged the same delivery rates, regardless of where they live. The Ontario Energy Board (OEB) regulates the rates charged by all electric utilities in Ontario, including Hydro One, and must approve any changes to our delivery rates. On December 18, 2007, Hydro One applied to the OEB to harmonize or consolidate the rates in your community with other communities across Ontario served by Hydro One (OEB file number EB-2007-0681). Based on our application, the delivery rate increase would be phased in over four years. This would limit the increase to less than10 per cent on the total bill in any one year for an average Hydro One customer. (The average Hydro One residential customer uses 1,000 kWh per month and the average general service energy-billed customer uses 2,000 kWh per month). The table below shows the proposed delivery rate increase for your community for 2008 and over four years for an average customer’s electricity use. Average Delivery Rate Increase on the Total Bill How do I know if this might affect me? You can confirm if you have community-specific rates by checking on page two of your Hydro One bill. If your bill states either “Your service type is Residential – Blyth”or “Your service type is General – Blyth”you will be affected. If approved by the OEB, the proposed rate increase will affect the Delivery line on your bill. For more information on our rate application, please go to www.HydroOneNetworks.com/2008RateApplication or call 1-866-543-8031. Our office hours are Monday to Friday, from 7:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Do I have a say? Yes, you can participate in the OEB process. The OEB will undertake a public process, which includes a public hearing before rates are approved. Interested parties can intervene, observe or provide written comment. Public participation helps ensure the OEB makes an informed decision on our rates. Information on how to participate may be obtained by visiting the OEB’s website at www.oeb.gov.on.ca or by calling the OEB’s Consumer Relations Centre at 1-877-632-2727. Bringing Power to the People of Ontario™ Hydro One Networks is seeking OEB approval to harmonize its customers’ rates General Service Residential customers energy-billed customers using 1,000 kWh using 2,000 kWh per month per month Average Average Average Increase on Average Increase on “Community Name” 2008 Total Bill at 2008 Total Bill at from Hydro One’s Increase on the end of Increase on the end of Electricity Bill Total Bill 4 years Total Bill 4 years Blyth 8.7% 23.1% 8.5% 23.0% The Brussels Library was broken into sometime during the night of Jan. 24-25. Suspects pried their way in and ransacked the main floor of the library. Approximately $160 in cash was stolen. The OPP also investigated a break and enter at the Blyth Festival that occurred sometime that same evening. In addition to approximately $100 in cash being stolen, damage to a pried door is estimated at approximately $70. Anyone with information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477) or the Huron OPP at 1- 888-310-1122. OPP investigate thefts from Library, Festival Nelemens said people worrying about costs Comrade creates display for commemorative books