HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-02-14, Page 20PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2008.
Huron County is going after some
provincial dollars to proceed with
work on County Roads 19, 25 and
12.
A resolution passed at the Feb. 6
meeting of county council to
proceed with an application for
$700,000 through the Municipal
Infrastructure Investment Initiative
(MIII).
The total cost of the project is
$4,954,000.
Councillor Bernie MacLellan of
Huron East questioned the decision
on how much the application should
be for. “That won’t cover the work
for County Road 25. Is the
justification just to show that we are
asking for a small percentage of the
total?”
County engineer Don Pletch said
that when all the projects were
combined together in one contract
there was a better price. The amount
had been previously discussed and
applying for work on three roads
would be serving a greater number
of people, he said.
CAO Larry Adams said that they
county had “really gone after” this
grant. They had discussion with
MPP Carol Mitchell and through
their efforts ascertained that the
program should benefit many people
in Huron. “It’s the proverbial bang
for their buck. The roads are used by
a number of people.”
Asking for a percentage of the
total, plus the fact that the project
has been tendered and is therefore
ready to go, should help Huron’s
cause, he said.
Ashfield-Colborne-Wawanosh
councillor Ben Van Diepenbeek said
agreed that asking for a percentage
was probably the best idea. “I think
the ones that don’t ask for a smaller
amount than the total may have their
applications fall through.”
Huron East begins time-consuming exerciseHuron East council began the“time-consuming exercise” ofbudget deliberations at its Feb. 5meeting.
Treasurer Brad Knight began his
first budget presentation of 2008
by discussing the federal and
provincial funding that the
municipality gets before even
discussing the general tax levy,
something council will begin to
discuss at its next meeting.
One of Knight’s first points was
that 2008 will be a unique year, and
will be likely tough to budget for
due to two large building projects
scheduled for the year; the Family
Health Team building in Seaforth
and the new Brussels Library.
With the new clinic beingestimated at $2.3 million and thelibrary being estimated between$500,000 and $600,000, Huron East,in its preliminary stages at least, issuggesting that departments meettheir 2007 budgets despite the 2.5
per cent salary hike and rising fuel
costs.
With these capital costs both
scheduled for 2008, Knight said in
his report that it may be impossible
to set aside the $360,000 to reserves
that Huron East had hoped to
dedicate to reserves each year.
It was the hopes of Huron East
that over seven years, at $360,000
per year, that approximately $2.5
million dollars would accumulate
for the fire equipment, road
equipment and general equipment
reserves.
Knight pointed out that in additionto normal maintenance, the roadsdepartment had been anticipating 11years of life from their graders andall three of Huron East’s graders arenow between 13 and 15 years oldnow.
In addition to the reserves, Knight
cited the municipality’s bridge study
and went over which projects were
scheduled for work in 2007, which
never got finished, and went over
some addition bridge projects that
warranted discussion.
Currently Huron East’s bridge
reserve sits in excess of $490,000.
Knight made suggestions about
which projects he felt were priorities
and which ones he felt could wait
another year.
At the Feb. 19 council meeting,
the first draft of the budget will be
reviewed and tweaked by council,but at its last meeting, council hadalready started to discuss the taxlevy, a topic of much interest in lastyear’s deliberations when taxes wereeventually increased by 13 per cent. Deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan
stuck to a similar position he held
during last year’s budget talks,
saying that due to the magnitude of
the two projects the municipality is
facing and all of the road and bridge
work that its citizens expect, that a
large tax increase may be in order
for the second straight year.
MacLellan suggested a 10 per cent
increase after Knight’s first draft of
the budget projected a deficit over$200,000. A 10 per cent increaseacross the municipality would equalapproximately $250,000 for themunicipality, which would wipe outthe deficit if the budget stays as it is.Knight is suggesting that council
goes through and finalize the general
budget first and then begin a new
round of talks featuring area-rated
and user-pay systems. Huron East
used this system last year as well,
with water and sewage coming in
under user-pay and streetlights,
waste management and some
policing coming under area-rated
services.
County goes after funding WINGHAM & DISTRICT HOSPITAL HIGHLIGHTS
“Excellence in Rural Health Care”
We are pleased to be continuing the Primary Care Clinic for the month of February.
Those without a family physician can access the clinic by calling 357-3703 for
hours and appointments. The clinic is operated on a part-time basis BY APPOINT-
MENT ONLY.
February 23, 2008 - 1st annual fundraising Curling Bonspiel at the Teeswater
Curling Club. Interested teams please contact Michel at (519) 335-0010.
Golf Ball Drop and Golf Tournament scheduled for June 21, 2008.
Golf Ball Drop tickets are now on sale, cash prizes totaling $3000!
Get yours at your local municipal office.
The Ombudsmans Role is to investigate complaints from members of the public
who feel they have been treated unfairly by some act, omission, decision or rec-
ommendation. The Ombudsman can help to resolve complaints both formally and
informally.
How can the Ombudsman Help Me?
You may think no one can do anything about your problem. If you feel Wingham &
District Hospital has treated you in a way that is unfair, illegal, unreasonable, mis-
taken or plain wrong, you should bring your matter forward to the Ombudsman.
Effective complaining can serve to prevent or stop injustice, correct efforts and
promote change for the better. Call the Ombudsman if you have exhausted all
avenues and your complaint is unresolved. Lisa Henry 519-357-6631.
PRIMARY CARE CLINIC
HEALTH PROFESSIONALS RECRUITMENT FUNDRAISERS
Phone: 357-3210 Fax: 357-2931 Website: www.lwha.ca
ROLE OF THE OMBUDSMAN
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
It cost $99,000 to run Morris-
Turnberry council in 2007,
according to a statement of
councillors’ remuneration and
expenses released at the Feb. 5
meeting of council.
Mayor Dorothy Kelly had the
highest payout for the year with her
honorarium of $7,569 plus
remuneration for meetings at $9,374.
The rest of the $21,428 cost was for
conference fees, lodging, travel and
meals.
Remuneration and expenses for
deputy-mayor Jim Nelemans totalled
$20,098 made up of his honorarium
of $4,865, meeting fees of $8,293
plus conference fees, lodging, travel
and meals.
Councillor Edna McLellan
received $14,874 made up of an
honorarium of $3,773 and meeting
fees of $6,401 plus conference fees,
lodging, travel and meals.
Payment to councillor Lynn Hoy
for the year totalled $13,044, made
up of an honorarium of $3,773,
meeting fees of $5,971 plus
conference fees, lodging, travel and
meals.
Councillor Paul Gowing received
his honorarium of $3,773 plus
meeting fees of $6,022 and $237 for
expenses for a total of $10,345.
Remuneration and expenses for
councillor Bill Thompson totalled
$10,228. He received the honorarium
of $3,773, was paid $6,001 for
attending meetings and had just $453
in expenses.
Councillor Mark Beaven received
his $3,773 honorarium. plus $4,007
for attending meeting plus
conference expense of $1,550 for a
total of $9,568.
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 23rd
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the
community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot
and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win,
please feel free to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because
Nomination Deadline March 31, 2008.
Name and phone number of nominator
❑❑Blyth
& area ❑❑Brussels
& area
M-T releases council expenses
Brussels
Optimists
Family Day
Free
Skate
Monday,
February 18
2:00 to 4:00
at B.M. & G. Arena