HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-01-04, Page 1The CitizenVolume 23 No. 1 Thursday, Jan. 4, 2007 $1.25 ($1.18 + 7c GST)Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County
Inside this week
Pg. 6
Pg. 7
Pg. 8
Pg. 9
Pg. 13
Defibrilator arrives
for Blyth and area
A retrospective look
at 2006
Local teams taste
victory
Oh, baby, they’re
sweet
New grader for
Morris-Turnberry
If you were looking for someone
in Brussels on New Year’s Day,
chances are you wouldn’t find them
at home.
Some 325 people signed the guest
book at the New Year’s Day Levee in
the Brussels community centre,
though the estimated attendance was
probably closer to 400. As a kick-off
to this summer’s 135th
Homecoming, organizers are very
pleased with the even’ts success.
“I can’t believe the turnout,” said
Homecoming co-chair Don
Sholdice. “I am absolutely thrilled
by the number of people here. I
couldn’t be happier with the way it’s
gone.”
For entertainment value the day
was also deemed a success. Local
talent sang, danced and performed
sometimes less than typical routines
to the delight of those present.
Among those taking part were Kasey
King, who did Highland dancing;
Mr. and Mrs. Walter Eigenheer, who
played Swiss horns and provided
some background and information
about the unique instruments; Joshua
Gropp, who performed music from
his recently released CD Sunsets
from Swingsets; soloist Elli
Schimanski, pianist Matthew Cardiff
and Katee Richmond, Trista Deitner
and Alix Sholdice, who performed a
somewhat unusual dance.
The final performance was a
‘fashion’ show featuring original
creations.
The 135th Homecoming is being
held July 27, 28 and 29th. The
opening ceremonies will be held at
the Brussels ball park at 6:45 p.m. on
the Friday evening.
Among the planned activities are
ball games, dances, car show, soap
box derby, car boot sale, parade and
a jamboree.
Kickoff
quite a
party
Pinups
Well, Playboy and others may not be lining up to sign
them, but these models were the highlight of the Brusssels
135th Homecoming kickoff New Year’s Day Levee at the
arena. The ‘fashion’ show created and organized by Rene
Richmond, Jo-Ann McDonald, Jean Davidson and Agnes
TenPas, with makeup by Kiley Deitner featured, back row,
from left: Miss September (Murray McArter), Miss May
(Hank TenPas), Miss October (Tim Prior), the New Year
Baby (Gary Pipe), Miss February (Wayne Lowe), Miss
June (Frank Stretton), Miss July (Don Sholdice.) Front:
Miss December (Doug Sholdice), Miss November (Brian
Deitner), Miss March (Bob Richmond), Miss April (Dave
Hastings), Miss January (Alvin McLellan) and Miss August
(Ken Higgins.) (Vicky Bremner photo)
The problem of covering recreation
costs in North Huron while being fair
to taxpayers was again on the agenda
at the Dec. 18 council meeting.
The recreation committee and
council have for some time been
trying to find a solution that would
see North Huron users treated fairly.
The hope had been that outside user
municipalities would contribute
financially. The amount would be
determined by looking at the
percentage of users from each
municipality.
North Huron accounts for 54 per
cent of those using the North Huorn
Wescast Community Complex. Eight
per cent come from South Bruce,
nine from Howick and 18 from
Morris-Turnberry.
A large portion of minor sports
users are from Morris-Turnberry.
South Bruce and Howick refused
any financial support. Morris-
Turnberry said they would consider
their level of support during
budgetting.
Director of recreation/facilities Pat
Newson said that that municipality
has paid an annual grant of $30,000
towards the facility, but it has not
been enough to cover their portion of
users. They also used to compensate
through a youth recreation grant.
“This is the first year we didn’t
receive the funding from the youth
sport grant,” she said, indicating that
this had been on a sliding scale.
Newson presented two options.
The first would be a higher fee for
each service as it is purchased. For
example North Huron residents
would pay $385 for a fitness
membership while outside residents
would pay $565.95.
Option two is to charge an annual
recreation membership fee to all
residents outside of North Huron who
want to sign up for a North Huron
recreation program. As a summary,
Newson explained tghat a $600 fee
could be charged for a family
membership. On top of that they
would be eligible to join programs
and participate in activities at the
same rate as North Huron residents.
It’s a catch 22 situation, however,
she admitted. “This could be a huge
barrier to getting people to use this
facility.”
Clerk-administrator Kriss Snell
said that Newson’s report is
something council needs to consider
seriously. “At the very least I think
we need to tie down an agreement
with our neighbours that’s fair.”
He added that he didn’t know of
any other municipality that had a
two-tier system. “I personally don’t
think it’s the preferred option.”
Newson agreed. “It’s tough to
market out this facility when you’re
charging more for outside people to
use it.”
Councillor Archie MacGowan
questioned the 47 per cent increase as
being a little heavy. “I don’t think
we’re trying to gouge anybody. It’s
just that our ratepayers are concerned
they’re picking up the tab.”
Newson explained, “We’re talking
that 20 per cent of the users come
from Morris-Turnberry, so if we took
the cost of recreation for the
municipality it won’t cost as much.
But if we charge each user it goes to
47 per cent. That’s why I’m asking
the municipalities to spread it around
to all their ratepayers.”
Council suggested revisiting the
neighbouring municipalities with the
report in an attempt to work out an
agreement.
In the final meeting of Huron East
council before 2007, councillors
looked into the future of water and
sewage: Apparently prices are going
up.
In discussion at their Dec. 19
meeting, and now in a full report
on their website, Huron East
council discussed making
adjustments to water and sewage
rates in 2007.
This report has been made public
in order to get the information out
there to the ratepayers in time for the
Jan. 9 meeting, where council will
discuss the matters further as they
look to establish the rates for their
upcoming term.
The proposed rate increase for
water in Brussels would be an
increase of over 41 per cent of the
current rate, bringing the rate to a
monthly charge of $29.10.
However, council is considering
rounding up to an even $30 to
provide a hedge against inflation.
All water systems in Huron East
have proposed rates with similar
increases. Council is going to
recommend that the flat water rates
be the same in Seaforth as they will
be in Brussels.
This proposal will leave
both Brussels and Seaforth with
a flat monthly water rate of $30 and
a flat monthly sewage rate of
$31.50.
The recommendation to raise rates
comes from the government says
Brad Knight, Huron East’s treasurer.
Knight says the government is
telling council that they need to
build up a reserve. This reserve
would be enough to cover inflation
as well as improvements every 40
years, which is a timeframe in the
middle of two estimates that council
received.
Deputy-mayor Bernie McLellan
pointed out that the current rate
situation has a lot to do with
Walkerton.
Saying that when E-coli broke out
in Walkerton, “regulations were
dropped in our lap that had to
happen within three years.”
Mayor Joe Seili was not
necessarily in favour of the
increases, but pointed out that the
new rates will still put the price of
water at less than a dollar a day for
everything a household needs.
“I don’t like these rates, but I’ll
defend them,” he said.
The last review of the rates was in
2003. This was in order to recover
water production upgrades within 10
years. The rates however, provided
little funding to finance upgrades or
replacement costs to the distribution
system.
Ratepayers will be able to attend
the public meeting Jan. 9 at 7:30
p.m. at Huron East Council
Chambers in Seaforth if they wish to
discuss these matters with members
of council.
Cost of water, sewers going up in HEBy Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen
By Shawn Loughlin
The Citizen
NH council ponders rec cost issue again
By Bonnie Gropp
The Citizen