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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-03-12, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 12, 1986. PAGE 11. East Wawanosh will look at reassessment BY GARY WALDEN John Garrett of the Huron-Perth Regional Assessment Office was present at the March meeting of East Wawanosh council March 4. to discuss assessment of the properties in East Wawanosh. 50 attend Brussels meeting to study Morris draft plan BY DOROTHY FOXTON Fifty people attended a public meeting to study the Morris township plan March 4 at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Com­ munity Centre. Huron County Planner Wayne Caldwell was present toexplain the proposed plan to the public. With him was student planner Scott Tousaw and Warden Leona Arm­ strong and Reeve Lionel Wilder of Hay township, representing the county planning committee. Mr. Caldwell said that over the past year there had been many public “line meetings’’ and work­ shops to set up the plan and that this viewing of the plan was required under the Planning act before it could be passed. The basic principal of the plan is to ensure the continuance of agriculture as the long term future of the townships. With agriculture as the highest priority, future farmers will have the flexibility of changing from one type of farming to another if the market is changing. The plan hopes to protect soils and prevent fragmentation and to retain existing woodlots to reduce wind erosion and flooding. There The last assessment was done in 1975 and since then there has been a shift in value of properties. The whole idea behind reassessment, he said, is to try to equalize the taxes paid. Municipalities should- not go too long between reassess­ seemed to be some bad feelings about severences because if a farmer has 150 acres and buys another 100 acres from his neigh­ bour itautomaticallybecomes a 250 acre parcel and cannot be sold separately. Urban areas in the plan are Bluevale, Walton, Belgrave and some parts of Brussels. The plan hopes to promote residential and commercial points in these areas but to compact development to protect agriculture. Sue Gowing of Brussels asked why the forests had to be designat­ ed when they were covered under the Huron County tree-cutting bylaw. Mr. Caldwell said that the wetland areas are not valued by the bylaw and seem to be a concern to the people. Glenn Warwick of Bluevale wanted to know if a farm building was left vacant could it be brought back to working capacity. The Planner said as long as it is in a restricted agriculture area it can. If it is in an urban area and has been vacant for two or more years it can not be reopened. Concern was expressed atthe Plan not including building permits and an inspector to keep people from building a ment or else the value of properties gets out ofline with each other. The baseyearfor the reassessment will be on property values in 1984. The reassessment will put more value on the land and less on the buildings of a farm, since recently house too close to a neighbour’s barn. Reeve Fraserwas asked if the new Secondary Plan could be passed without a building inspec- or. He said that council hadn’t thought much about it. Mr. Caldwell said there was a policy in the plan to add an inspector further down the road. Reeve Lionel Wilder said that Hay township has had its plan in effect for the past six or seven years and would definitely not be without it but that council would be well advised to have a building bylaw. One concerned citizen wanted to know how much this new plan was going to increase taxes. The planner said he couldn’t see any way thatitwould increase taxes because the township pays into the county planning department and should receive a levy to cover costs. Councillor Howie Morton asked if the plan had to be changed in two years down the road would it not costalotforlegalfees. The planner said this also comes out of the planning levy. At the close of the meeting Reeve Fraser thanked everyone for such a good turnout and asked that any further questions be brought to council. buyers have been paying very little or nothing for any buildings. This is a shift from the way farms were valued in 1975. Any fluctuations in the value of properties from 1984 won’t really matter as the revenue from taxes remains constant, the only difference will be the ratio of the property to its assessment. This ratio will then be applied to the 1975 base value to get the new valuesfor 1984. In most cases there probably won’t be much if any change, heexplained. However vacant land and lots will likely increase to reflect their increased value. Also, any improvement on land that isn’t being assessed now will be included in the new assessment. Mr. Garrett stressed that the reassessment wouldn’t get rid of all the inequities between different types of properties i.e. farmland verses industrial properties in the township but that it should equal­ ize the values of each property within a similar market (farm verses farm) so that everyone is paying his fair share in taxes, within his market. A recommendation was made by Fred Meier to have an impact study done on East Wawanosh by the assessment office to see what the new figures under reassessment would look like. Council agreed and the motion was passed. If, after seeing the impact study, council agrees to go with reassess­ ment the new taxes will be in place for the 1987 fiscal year. TOWNSHIP RECORDS SURPLUS On February 26, 1985, the Financial Statement for the town­ ship of East Wawanosh was presented to council by Nancy Excel of Spire & MacGillvray in Listowel. East Wawanosh ended the 1985 fiscal year in a strong financial prosition with a surplus figure of $28,555 of which $4,710 was credited as surplus to the Belgrave Community Centre Board. The surplus was due mainly to lessborrowing than in previous years, resulting in higher interest revenues and a subsidy received for repairs and preliminary plann­ ing for the 10th line bridge. The Township ends the 1985 fiscal year with reserves of $143,000.00. Tile drain applications by Ralph Caldwell, Gordon Caldwell and Leslie Caldwell were presented to council requesting subsidies undei he drainage programs and were acceptedby council. A building permit by Barry Mason for a cattle shed was approved. In discussions regarding fire protection for the township it was noted that the Wingham Fire Department charges the township $650 per hour for each call, while the Blyth Fire Department charges only $250 perhourfor each call. Reeve Snell wanted to know why there was such a difference in costs and suggested the council look into having the Blyth Fire Department called whenever possible and to have their territory come further north. Also there was a brief discussion about organizing an Emergency Committee to look after any disasters (i.e. tornadoes, large chemcial spills), in the township. As it stands now, the township would be totally responsible for any liabilities caused by a disaster but if they form an Emergency Committee, the township would receive help regarding any liabili­ ties.