The Brussels Post, 1974-02-06, Page 7cake
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Teachers in the Huron Perth Roman Catholic
Separate Schools applaud Monday in Seaforth after
they voted 103 - 26 to accept a compromise contract
worked out with the HPRCSS board in meeting that
lasted until 4 a.m. Monday morning. The HPRCSS
board ratified the contract at a special board meeting
Monday night.
The report of the county auditor
has been received,. by Huron
Countv's Executive Committee
Ind was presented to council last
Friday showing an operating
deficit in the general account for
the year 1973 of $188,548, a
surplus in the highways account
of $102,097, making a net deficit
for the year of $86,45.
"ln preparing the 1973 budget,
it was anticipated that the general
account would have a deficit of
$207,464," said • Executive
ommittee Chairman Reeve
Doug McNeil, Colborne
Township. "in reality, however,
as indicated there was a deficit of
$188,548. Therefore, although
perating on a deficit finance
basis, actually we had a profit of
$18,916 over our estimated
udget."
The Highways account had
nticipated a break even
peration for 1973, but due to
nforseen circumstances a
urplus has been accumulated.
ome of the main reasons for this
urplus, according to McNeil,
esulted from the fact the county
as unable to secure vehicles and
ther materials that had been
rdered.
"It should be pointed out that
e do have a working capital, fund
f $250,000 which assists in
urrent operations and reduces
ank borrowing," said Reeve
cNeil,
County Road Committee
hairtnan, Reeve Joe Dietrich of
tephen Township, said his
epartnient expects to "hold the
ne" and predicted no increase
ver 1973 in the county share of
he 1974 budget. The county
hate has not increased since
970.
"We have not as yet been
dvised of our 1974 allotment of
rovincial funds," said Reeve
etrich. "We estimate our
llotment for 1974 Will be
ppfoxittiately $1,102,000 plus
120,000 as the Ministry of
ransportation and COnithutii,
athol
rs w
<eys
Aint
ified,
Social service
costs are up
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Surplus aids
cations 80 percent share of the
boundary bridge at Bluevale for a
total allotment of $1,222,000."
Total road construction in 1973
amounted 'to $494,886.11 while
bridge construction rea ched
$24,989:28. Construction of
bridges on boundary roads cost
$109,696.57.
Road maintenance for the year
'cost $685,466.52. Open minter in
1973 resulted in winter
maintenance costing less than
budgeted. Salting and sanding,
estimated at $90,000 actually cost
$78,461.48 while snow ploughing
estimated at $89,000 cost about
half that amount at $45,443.76.
Maintenance of bridges and
culverts cost $34,117.93.
The total amount spent on the
road system, including those
items not for subsidy, was
$2,028,973.10.
The 1973 Road Needs Study
Update, tabled on Friday by the
Road Committee outlined the.
"now" construction which has
reached an estimated $5,742,000.
Reeve Dietrich explained that to
bring presently deficient roads
and bridges in Huron up to top
condition would cost in excess of
five million dollars.
Due to financial restraints by
the proyince, counties are limited
each year to a subsidy
representing their share of
one-fifth of 45 percent of
construction .needs.
"The one-fifth is used because
the Ministry of 'Transportation
and Communications feel that
this backlog of work should be
scheduled over a five year period
and then found they could only
provide their share to all counties
deficit
of less than halt of this amount -
45 percent," reported Reeve
Dietrich. "As you can see it will
be impossible to eliminate all 'our
deficiencies in even 20 years if we
continue to budget for only nine
percent of our deficiencies each
year (20 percent of 45 percent)
because each year as we improve
some projects, other sections of
road become deficient clue to
normal wear or changi-.g traffic
patterns."
Reeve Deb Shewfelt, Goderich,
commented that court) residents
may soon be forced to accept a
greater share in the .:‘,.st_of roads
if they want them up to standard
across Huron. Engineer for the
county, Jim Britnell concurred
with this viewpoint and ,said the
Ministry will contribute a set
amount to the road system in
Huron but that Huron citizens
may choose to spend considerably
more which would have to be paid
totally out of county funds.
"We should begin to think of
this in t-rms of a grant .rather
than a percentage of total road
costs in the county," Mr. Britnell
said.
Fixed costs for roads in Huron
total more than one million
dollars per year and it is
increasing at a rate of about five
or ten percent according to the
Road Committee Chairman.
shows a projection of fixed costs
such as maintenance, overhead
and new equipment.
Engineer Britnell said the
increasing rate of five to ten
percent provides only for
inflationary trends and not for any
improvement in services.
, The annual report of the Huron
County , Social Services
,Administrator J.A.MacKinnon
noted that 1974 could be the most
expensive year to date because of
the various lay-offs in the county
coupled with the lack of job
vacancies.
"At the present time our
caseload is increasing and we do
not have any winter work
programs to refer our
unemployed clients to as we have
in the past two winters, said
MacKinnon.
Goderich Reeve Deb Shewfelt
asked why the county and/or the
municipalities could not create
their own winter works program.
"God knows that after the
recent ice storm in Huron there
would have been work for people
in clearing away trees, etc.," said
Reeve Shewfelt.
Reeve Charles Thomas of Grey
Township, chairman of the Social
Service Committee, thought
Reeve Shewfelt's idea was
excellent.
"If 'some municipalities could
make work for welfare recipients
maybe we could make some
`adjustments," offered Reeve
Thomas. He did warn it may "not
'be as easy as it sounds" but
promised the matter could be
studied.
wit is a good idea,"
commented Warden Bill Elston.
"We will work something out."
Adding .to 1974's welfare costs
as well will be the legislation
which permits social assistance
rate changes effective January 1,
1974, which provides for an
increase of 17 percent per month
on the average to clients.
"For families with dependent
children who ar e receiving the
increased Family Allowances
their combined income has
increased approximately 30
percent," added Mr.
MacKinnon "With these'
mandatory increases and the
present economic situation, our
costs for 1974 will probably
exceed our past costs."
In 1973, the Social Servis-es
department 'operated slightly
under budget expectations.
General assistance amounted to
$168,488.95 where $190,600 had
been estimated. Another
$109,002.56 wasi paid to nursing
homes for care of persons
($113,000 budgeted). Supple-
mentary aid totalled $18,371.17,
considerably more than the
$11,850 budgeted.
Administration cost
$47,944.08, slightly less than the
estimate of $48,000.
In all., social services in Huron
cost $358,079.51, less than the
$377,850 estimated for 1973.
The Land Division Committee
reported a busy year with 334
applications handled; 252
and 10 withdrawn. Of the denials,
approved; 31. denied; 41 deferred;
nine were appealed and the
Municipal Board decisions are
I still pending,
Circulation. is Up
County Librarian Ethel Dewar
said that total book circulation in
all .the branches was 340,205, up
6,000 over 1972.
"I am encouraged that
two-thirds of that increase was in
children's reading;" said Miss
Dewar.
She said that 2;003 special.
Trail riders
hold meeting .
Members of the Huron Trail
Riders Saddle Club met in the
gymnasium of the Londesboro
school on Sunday of last week and
saw slides showing the different
aspects of Western and English
Horsemanship.
The slides were shown by Dr.
Ray Flowers and Miss Lynn
Flowers read the commentaries.
Fifty-one members were present.
Members divided into two .
teams, and a fast and furious war
of volleyball followed.
With a new season of shows
scheduled for the near future
there is an increasing interest in
membership in the club.
Anyone wishing to join the club
is asked to contact president,
Doug Riley 'at Seaforth, 527-1059,
or any club member.
Dairymen
Three educational meetings for
Huron County dairymen have
been organized to take place in
the Londesboro Community Hall
during February.
The first meeting on February
6, 1:30 p.m., will feature Dairy
Herd Management. Ross Mar-
shall of Kirkton, will be one of the
speakers. Mr. Marshall owns and
manages, Huron County's top
. producing R.O.P. Holstein herd
The Road Needs Study Update and besides managing his out-
standing producing herd, pro-
vides leadership for the Holstein-
Friesian breed. He is presently
first vice-president of the Hol-
stein-Friesian Association of Ca-
nada. Gordon Bell from St. Marys
is the Western Ontario fieldman
for the Holstein breed. At this
meeting, Mr. Bell will speak on
the art of marketing good dairy
cattle. The present strong prices
for good dairy cattle makes this a
timely topic.
On February 13 at 10:30 a.m.,
Milking Management will be
discussed. Equipment, sanita-
tion, and milking procedure will
be major topics. Dr. Hacker of the
Aniinal and Poultry Science. requests were mailed out to all
Department of the University of parts of the county and of these,
Guelph, along with resource less than 100 were borrowed
people from the Surge Equipnient outside the county:
Company will be taking part 7 Books with large print are
Production of hoMe grown feed available for those with vision
is always important on the dairy problems, Miss DeWar said, with
farm, Pat Lynch, Soils and Ciops a direct mail service given to
Specialist, and Mike Miller, anyone unable to go to a branch
Extension Specialist, will team up' as well as home: delivery by the
On February 20 for a Meeting library van in the Town Of O n
at 1:30 p.m.,
THE BRUSSELS POST, FEBRUARY 6, 1974-7