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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2008-04-10, Page 32County councillors said no April 2 to the draft budget increase of five per cent. The 2008 proposed levy increase had been passed at the March committee of the whole in a recorded vote of 11 to 7 with two absent. However, several councillors changed their minds when the budget made an appearance at last Wednesday’s meeting. Bluewater councillor Dave Johnston raised the issue of the infusion of cash the county had recently received from the province and wondered if there had been any thought given as to how this could affect the budget. Treasurer David Carey said that the $3.68 million is for roads and bridges capital projects with no deadline on when it’s to be used. Huron’s application for funding under the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative was not approved. Carey said that as it had been discussed that $3.5 million be moved from reserves, his recommendation would be to do a transfer to reserves. “There will be a wash happening and the levy would remain at five per cent.” This was not acceptable to Johnston and he asked for a recorded vote when the motion to approve was called. Goderich councillor Deb Shewfelt questions what the impact would be if they split the difference between the funding and the transfer and went to a three per cent increase. Carey said they would utilize $712,000 and transfer $2.8 million to reserves. Councillor Ben Van Diepenbeek of Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh wondered if the budget shouldn’t be re-visited. “Are we going to rehash this at all or is it a done deal. We really never cut anything when it was presented. Should we be going through it now in detail and do some cutting.” Huron East councillor Bernie MacLellan agreed emphatically. “We did not do our due diligence. I think items got washed away because we were happy with five per cent.” “We didn’t know we were getting this money when we did the budget,” said Johnston. “I didn’t agree with five per cent then, and I don’t now.” Councillors voting in favour of the five per cent were Neil Rintoul, Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh; Ken Oke, South Huron; Bert Dykstra, Central Huron and Tim Collyer, Central Huron. In addition to Van Diepenbeek, Johnston, Shewfelt and MacLellan councillors voting against were Bill Siemon, Huron East; Bill Dowson, Bluewater; Neil Vincent, North Huron; Max Demaray, Howick; John Grace, Goderich; warden John Bezaire, Central Huron; Murray Scott, North Huron; Joe Seili, Huron East; Jim Fergusson, Bluewater; Jim Dietrich, South Huorn; Dorothy Kelly, Morris- Turnberry and George Robertson, South Huron. The budet will be dissected at the April committee of the whole. PAGE 32. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, APRIL 10, 2008. All together now Josh Feltham the Reptile Man recruits some volunteers at Hullett Central’s fun night, to assist with this presentation, though a few look a little less than sure of what they’ve gotten themselves into. On display was a Burmese python. (Vicky Bremner photo) Sweet Kids love candy floss and Catherine Fielding, three, was among those trying out the tasty treat at the Hullett Central Public School’s annual community fun night on Friday. (Vicky Bremner photo) New friend? Tyler Boven spent some time with Josh Feltham the Reptile Man and his friend at Hullett Central Public School’s community fun night on Friday. (Vicky Bremner photo) Balloons to go With a little assistance from Snippety the Clown, Myea Fleet, five, checks the design for an original chapeau, at Hullett Central Public School’s community fun night on Friday. (Vicky Bremner photo) Al w a y s r e a d a n d f o l l o w l a b e l d i r e c t i o n s . Ag S o l u t i o n s a n d H E A D L I N E a r e r e g i s t e r e d t r a d e m a r k s o f B A S F . © 2 0 0 8 B A S F C a n a d a I n c . You can get a yield boost with HEADLINE®, too. In fact, this impressive result was just one of the trials run in Ontario and Quebec that netted an average yield boost of 12.2 bu/ac with high-yielding hybrids in 2007. See all the trial results for yourself at www.agsolutions.ca/planthealth #U" UNTREATED )&"%-*/&BOOSTS  $03/YIELDIN 4&"'035)County budget back on table By Bonnie Gropp The Citizen