HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Brussels Post, 1976-05-26, Page 1Mel Debate reducing
county council again
A GREAT BIG PANSY -- Peg Cudmore showS'a fine pansy bloom to Alf Knight at
the Horticultural Society's flower and craft show Friday at the library. There was a
good selection of spring blooms at the show although weather outside has teen
nseasonably cold. (Photo by Langloisl
(By Shirley J. Keller)
The matter of whether or not to
reduce the number of representa-
tives to Huron County Council
was discussed only briefly at the
May session of council Thursday
in Goderich.
The entire subject was tabled
until the June meeting when it is
hoped a full council will be
prepared to debate the issue from
every angle. But that session
should show a wide variety of
viewpoints, judging from the
smattering of comments voiced
this month.
County • administrator Bill
Hanly also indicated the type of
debate it should be in June. He
said the county had received five
letters from municipalities.
concerning the move to
implement Section 27 (a) of the
Municipal Act.
"There were two for, two
against - and one other," Mr.
Hanly told council.
Warden Jack McCutcheon
clarified what the main point of
June's discussion should be:
"Is this council ready to accept
more responsibility?" asked the
warden, who also promised to be
"the_clevil's advocate" in order to
provoke comment from everyone.
Reeve-Derry Boyle of Exeter
said his council felt that by
implementing Section 27 (a), it
would seriously limit the numbers
of people who could aspire to
county council because of the
extra work and extra time which
would be demanded for each
remaining member.
Depty-reeve Frank -Cook of
Clinton said someone would have
to prove to him that costs would
be cut across the board. He
claimed council would not operate
as efficiently with 29 members as
with 45.
Deputy-reeve Joe Miller of Hay
urged council to try getting the
tContinued on Page 20)
•
urplus helps
old taxes
o3 mill jump 105th Year Issue No. 21
WEDNESDAY, MAY 26, 1976
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Property owners in Brussels
an breathe a sigh of relief as
ir mill rate is only up three
lls.
The total budget increased
ubstantially from $156,392 last
ear to 219,000 this year, but
ost of this is being covered by a
urplus from last year's budget,
ccording to village clerk Bill
ing.
"We had quite a healthy
surplus last year and we are using
it this year to keep the, mill rate
from increasing very much,". said
Mr. King. "Also we kept all our
expenditures pretty . tight," he
added.
The mill rate which was
elayed last week was finally set
at 110.62 mills for residential
property owners, and the
commercial set at 126.68. This
May 24th weekend in Brussels
as quiet. No special events were
cheduled to take place during
he holiday weekend. If you were
coking for organized entertain-
eat you had to find it elsewhere:
orne folk here were providing
heir own, canoeing on the
aitland, horseback riding,
yang, cruising around in cars or
Imply congregating in groups,
idding around, finding
musement in the way young
eople do.
* 41
It has been good to see that
othe of theyoungsterS of our illage have improved their bike
iding habits: They have been
een riding single file, close to the urb on the correct side of the.
treet. Unfortunately there are
till others ride two or three
breast; come speeding around
most igttote stop sings; fotget 11about Signals. Th e odd one Will
udd011Y, warning, dart
cross the street in front Of a car.
compared to 107 mills for
residential last year and 126 for
commercial.
A resident with a .$3006
assessment on his property will
pay a total of $331'.86 in municipal
taxes, while a business with the
same assessment will pay
$380.04. •
Brussels share of the County
costs is $35,587, up less than $400
than in 1975. The largest increase
in the budget is in the education
portion with Brussels paying
$13,919 more than last year. The
total education levy is $54,550 as
compared to $40,631 a year ago..
"We'ye cut corners pretty
well," said Mr. King. "The
County has held their spending
pretty well, but the school budget
has shot. If it wasn't for the
surplUs the mill rate would be
much higher."
it almost seems as if they are
actually daring the car driver to
hit them. We sincerely hope that
they do not become victims
of dangerous behaviour.
* * * * *
The week of June 1st to June
7th is Water safety Week. When
the Warm Weather comes, soon
We hope, folk will be heading for
the beach and fun in the water. It.
can be great sport but do not
forget about water safety when
you to frolicking in, Or on the
waves: Never' swim alone never
swim 'beyond the limit of your
ability or in waves strong enough
to sweep you; off your feet; do not
take your eyes off young childten
foe they can get into trouble in
only a moment for they do not
realize the. danger: Water Safety
is not 'something: that should be
ignored when Water Safety week
IS &et:, it should be kept in 'inhld
and ptactised every flint' you go
into, or on the water.
(By Shirley J. Keller)
Huron County Council was
unable to decide Thursday exactly
where school electoral boundaries
should be placed and referred the
matter back to the executive
committee for further study.
New boundaries must be
established in Huron County for
school election purposes. Since
there are now two separate school
trustees on the 16-member Huron
County Board of Education, the
public school trustees must be
reduced by one to 14.
Executive committee chairman,
AllanCampbell sait it is a county
council responsibility to delegate
school electoral boundaries
before September 1, 1976 and
prior to the fall elections.
The report from the executive
committee also advised that the
board of education was satisfied
with the proposal for the two
separate school electoral districts.
Basically these two districts
comprise everything south of a
line bounded by Goderich
Township, Clinton and Tucker-
smith in one, and everything
north of that line in the second.
Each district would elect one
representataive,
The number of separate school
supporters in the northern portion
is 1,746, where the equalized
Separate school assessment is
$15,523,672. In the outhern half
there are 1,636 'Separate school
supporters, representing an
equalized' separate 8choel
assessment of $15,203,462.
The clerk of Hay Township will
be responsible for nominations
and elections in the southern
pOrtion while the clerk of
McKillop will have that tesponsi,
bility in the north.
It is the public school electoral
districts which are causing the
problems.. Some remain
unchanged - Stephen, Exeter and
Usborne are still one area; Hay,
Zurich andHensall remain
together; Ashfield and West
Wawanosh, Goderich Township
and Colborrie, and the Town of
Goderich still form three electoral
districts.
The rest are changing - and
Some are content with the
proposed alterations. Clinton and
Tuckersmith have been placed
together for the first time and
Stanley and Bayfield have been
paired up. These changes are not
in dispute.
Seaforth was previously
lumped with Tuckersmith,
Stanley and Bayfield for school
purposes with that area electing
two representatives. The new
proposal would put. Seaforth in
with McKillop and Hullett. Other
changes in that corner of the
county would put. East
Wawanosh, Blyth and Morris
together; Brussels and Grey
together; and Wingham,
Turnberry and Howick together.
It is this total area which is in
dispute in as far as the proposed
boundary changes are concerned.
The Huron County Boatd of
Education favored the retention
of the existing Elettoral Districts
for public-sChool purposes, with
the Brussels, Grey, Morris area
representation being cut by one.
A delegation from the board
proposed Seaforth and McKillop
as a district with one repreknta-
tiVe; Hullett, Blyth and East
WaWatiosh as a district With one
teptesetitative and Brussels,
Morris and Grey as, a district- with
one representative.
This latter suggestion was
supported by Blyth Reeve RObbie
Lawrie who said he liked the ida'
idea of Blyth being at the centre
of things for a change.
"We've been on the outside
corner for too long,," said Reeve
Lawrie.
Reeve Bill Elston of Morris
Township said the executive
• conanittee had tried to. do away
with as many two-member areas
as possible. Under the' new
proposal, only three districts - the
town of Goderich; Wingham,
Turnberry andHowick; and
Stephen, Exeter and Usborne -
would elect two members.
"We think when one member
is elected for one area, that
member is more responsible to
his area," Reeve Elston said.
Reeve Elston pointed out there
were guidelilnes set out for the
committee to follow when
selecting these electoral districts.
"We tried three or four
different ways and this way
. seemed to be the best way,"
Reeve Elston told council.
Bill Hanly, county adminis-
trator, said the areas are selected,
according to equalized
assessment and not population:
He said the percentage
differential between groups
Should not be more than five per
cent.
"This is laid down in the Act, t'
said Hanly.
Deputy-reeve Bill Morley of
Usborne Township said it appearS
that "somebody is going, to have
to fight for his seat and that's Why
these complaints are coming in".
"The old way they possibly
wouldn't," continued Deputy-
(Continued on Page 20 )
Brussels, Morris, Grey to lose trustee
County delays vote
on school boundaries
Short Shots
by Evelyn' Kennedy