HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2007-03-15, Page 24Working deep into the night,Huron East council chipped away atfinalizing the 2007 budget.Deliberating just past 11:30 p.m.on March 6, council added and
subtracted from areas presented by
treasurer Brad Knight as they saw
fit.
Knight said Huron East had all but
eradicated the deficit the
municipality was carrying, whittling
it down from $300,000 to $10,000.
His hope was to shave $800,000
off the budget.
The municipality’s audit has been
completed and councillors are
looking to up tax rates by a modest
two per cent. This increase would
equate to a $32,000 addition to
Huron East’s bottom line, which
Knight pointed out, does not
significantly impact the budget.
Although council seemed to be
doing more adding than subtracting,
deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan
called the night’s meeting a good
start, saying that the budget needs a
few adjustments, but that overall it
looks good.
Council entertained the idea of a
separate meeting for the budget, but
did not make a final decision.
However, some councillors said they
don’t think they’ll need it.
The Ausable Bayfield
Conservation Authority’s general
manager Tom Prout was on hand to
speak to council and answer any
questions they had about the
Authority’s budget.
Several of the areas had significant
increases, but a lot of them had to do
with Source Water Protection; a
major initiative that the ABCA is
working together with the Maitland
Valley Conservation Authority for
2007.
However, Prout said source water
protection is funded 100 per cent by
the government. He said that in
2007, approximately 10 per cent of
his time will be dedicated to source
water protection.
Council approved the Authority’s
proposed budget and its
municipalities’ levies to the
Authority in the total amount of just
over $34,000.
The purchase of a new firetruck
was discussed with fire chief, Marty
Bedard.
A lot of the councillors, including
MacLellan and mayor Joe Seili, said
the truck that Bedard was proposing
was going to be a tough sell.
The truck would cost over
$200,000, including a newly
designed cab that Bedard said would
be safer. However, the lone cost of
the cab alone is in the
neighbourhood of $50,000.
MacLellan said that a truck with
the custom cab was demonstrated to
him and that he didn’t see enough of
a difference to warrant such drastic
spending.
He said that through his
understanding, the major selling
points were comfort for the
firefighters and more space for them
in the cab, in neither of which he saw
much difference from one truck to
another.
MacLellan said the custom cab onthe new truck looked good, butreiterated that he was having a hardtime justifying it.The different area fire boards’expenses were reviewed. Seaforth isshowing a surplus of nearly $10,000,while Brussels was slightly over
budget and Grey came in slightly
under budget.
Knight added that unexpected
fluctuations in the fire expenses are
not unusual, where one or two fire
calls can be the difference between
being over, under or on budget.There was no final decision madeon the matter of the new firetruck. Itwill be revisited in the comingbudget meeting(s).Council approved grants to theHuron Hurricanes Aquatics Cluband to the Brussels Business Group
in the amounts of $500 and $200
respectively.
There was some concern
surrounding Brussels recreation,
where revenues from liquor sales at
BMG arena were $20,000 lower than
expected in 2006, but are projectedat the same amount for 2007. Knightsaid with several special events, suchas the Brussels 135th Homecoming,revenues should be expected to spikethis year.One area where council was ableto subtract a little was in their legal
costs, which they expect to be much
lighter in 2007 than they were the
year before.
Throughout deliberations, there
were issues tabled regarding area-
rated costs, such as sidewalk
maintenance and bridges. Whilecouncillor Bill Siemon was nothappy that sidewalk charges werenot area-rated, because McKillop isnot a sidewalk-rich community, Seilireminded him that Brussels has nobridges, yet they contribute to bridgefunds.
These facts are just part of the
package, said Seili, adding there are
situations of give and take all
throughout the budget process,
which should continue at council’s
next meeting.
PAGE 24. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 15, 2007.Huron East council works through budget issues
Morris-Turnberry councillors
unanimously voted against
approving the draft budget of the
Wingham and Area Fire Board at
their March 6 meeting.
The budget called for spending of
$339,500 on operating and capital
expenses in 2007, a 52.8 per cent
increase from 2006. Much of the
increase comes from the need to buy
protective clothing for the firemen
($34,100) and self-contained
breathing apparatus ($51,000).
Council instructed its
representatives on the fire board to
oppose the budget.
Meanwhile council also received a
report on the expanded capacities of
the Brussels Fire Department which
now has a tanker and pumper and
offers first medical response.
The current fire agreement
requires the municipality to pay only
$1,200 a year to support the Brussels
department because its previous
lack of a tanker limited its ability
to fight fires beyond village’s
watermain system.
In a memo to council, following a
Feb. 23 meeting with Huron East
clerk-administrator Jack McLaughlin,
Marty Bedard, Huron East fire chief
and Murray McArter, chief of the
Brussels department, administrator
clerk treasurer Nancy Michie noted
the department might now be able to
offer faster service to parts of Morris
ward than the Wingham and Blyth
departments.
The Huron East delegation also
asked Morris-Turnberry to increase
its grant. A fairer share of costs, the
men felt, would be $16,600.
Council took no action on the
request at their meeting.
For The North Huron Spring/Summer Recreation and Leisure Guide in
the March 16th Edition of the Wingham Independent Plus.
Also available at North Huron Town Hall, the Complex and Blyth Arena starting March 16th.
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Includes: Summer Daycamps, Swimming Lessons, Fitness Memberships, Facility Rentals and Much More.
Looking for local heroes
There are so many people out there who do
so much to improve their community.
Now you have a chance to say thanks.
Nominate that special person for the 22nd
Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards.
Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area
and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the
community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot
and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation of why you think your nominee
should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win,
please feel free to try again.
I nominate
as Citizen of the year for
I feel she/he deserves this award because
Nomination Deadline March 31, 2007.
Name and phone number of nominator
❑❑Blyth
& area ❑❑Brussels
& area
By Shawn LoughlinThe Citizen
M-T rejects Wingham fire board budget
A single snowmobile crash
occurred on March 7, at
approximately 8:30 p.m. in Huron
East.
The 2004 Skidoo was on a trail
just north of Sawmill Road west of
Maple Line. The driver a 22-year-
old Huron East resident failed to
negotiate a curve in the trail and
struck a tree. The snow machine
burst into flames and was destroyed.
The driver was transported to
Seaforth hospital and treated
for serious non-life threatening
injuries.
Snowmobiler injured in crash