HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1993-02-24, Page 1PUBLISHED IN
LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
Wednesday,
February 24, 1993
5 °G.S.T.Included
47 plus :GS.T.
Tom Adamson, Al
Shepherd, Debbie Huffman
and Lynn Shepherd (seated)
braved the blustery weather
conditions on Sunday as
the St. Helen's Snowmobile
poker rally finally took place
after five delays this year.
(Pat Livingston photo)
Sewell report: nothing for rural Ontario
Bruce County delegations to the
Sewell commission public forum in
Owen Sound, last Thursday had a
warm-up session at county council
Wednesday. Ron Andrews of Bruce
Township started the debate by
saying the Sewell •commission
"hasn't . done anything for rural
• Ontario." .
Andrew , ,who planned to make a
separate Bruce- Township presenta-
tion to the commission, described
commission members as "a bunch
of urbanites trying to dictate law for
Ontario."
"They need to be faced on some
issues,' he said, predicting a firm
stand would lead the commission to
back pedal on more issues, as it did
on. septic tank regulations.
Andrews wanted the county Ari -
culture, Tourism and Planning
committee to lobby for severance of
'surplus' houses on farms.
"Surplus farm homes protect the
rural tax base," Andrews said, add-
ing the issue is especially important
in an area. like his, with a high
degree of foreign land ownership.
That ran against planning chair
Ross Herron's position.
"We will be advocating 50 acre
farm lots," Herron said. "We're -not
going to get it without trading
something," he continued, indicating
that the surplus or retirement home
lots are the trade-off.
"OMAF is the biggest .objector,
they are opposing any severance
(on rural land)" he noted.
Murray Thompson of Huron
Township said the Sewell report is
"going to go through pretty quickly".
if the county doesn't put up a
bigger fight than the trade-off
Herron advocated. "Our rural tax
base has eroded so badly already,
we should consider more."
Herron said that with off -farm
jobs, "50 acres is about all you can
do" to do a good job of fanning.
Lindsay Township Reeve Milt
McIver supported the view. Retire-
ment lots on the .home farm are
"fine for a while" McIver said, but
can "create incompatible use down
the road"' if later owners object to
fanning practices on the nearby
land.
As a compromise, the county's
brief will advocate "that the Com-
mission should allow for a range of
farm sizes, based upon the desires
of the community (i.e. 50 ,acre
farms minimum)".
Among 36 recommendations in
the county's brief, Bruce asks that
none of the Sewell suggestions be
put into effect unless there is clear
information from the province about
its new policies; full public consul-
tation; and full funding for any
changes in responsibility for moni-
toring or administrating planning
policies.
County finance chair says rumour's "crap"
"Nothing's holy when you're
looking to cut costs," said finance
chair Bill Ferris at the February
session of Bruce County council.
But Ferris dismissed as "crap" any
suggestion that county library
branches ' will see temporary
shut -downs to save money. He;also
discounted fears that the county will
do away with its own tourism
department.
Ferris said his committee has told
all county departments they will
have to reduce budgets in an effort
to reach a zero increase in the 1993
levy. '
"It's up to them where they cut,"
Ferris said, adding some department
budgets are "not reasonable yet."
Kincardine Reeve Alex Clarke
spoke strongly in favour of saving
the Bruce County Tourism depart-
ment, and Ferris agreed with
Clarke's view. But he said the
county may have to "not belong to
somany" tourism promotion groups
as a cost-cutting measure.
Two tough spots on the budget
are .welfare and the ' library. The
countyhas no control over welfare
. caseloads, and has to budget for .a
one per cent increase in payments
to recipients. Social Services Com-
missioner Dick Verrips said "It has,
not been an easy two months"
trying to set his department's
budget. Librarian Marzio Apolloni
said his department has to swallow
a $100,000 deficit, mainly .due to
pay equity, and may be faced with
reducing hours at the branches.
Apolloni was adamant that there
will be no closures, and said the
same budget problems are hitting
libraries across the province.
• Connell Expenses
Remuneration and expenses for
county councillors and committee
members cost taxpayers
$263,453.65 in 1992.
1992 Warden Sheane's portion
accounts for $40,041.21 of that
amount, including $12,470.47 in
expenses for attending a year's
worth of meetings, conventions and
official functions.
Next on the list is Culross Reeve
Roy Pennington, who tallied up
$11,367.16 in pay and expenses in
1992. George Goetz of Carrick was
third at $9,546.56, followed by
now -warden Carmen„Fullerton with
pay and expenses of $9,047.10. The
remaining councillors had bills
ranging as low as $3,897.50 for
Walkerton's Dale Wilson. Commit-
tee members' pay ranged from $28
to $3,591.50.
Heliport plans discussed
by board of governors
by Mike Robinson given hospital CEO Lloyd Koch
Plans to create a permanent permission to apply for a heli-
, heliport for the Wingham and port.
District Hospital are coming Mr. Koch said an agreement
together. had been made with Lynn Hoy
Discussion; concerning the cre- concerning a long term lease.
ation of a heliport, occurred The objective, he said, was to
several times throughout the create a permanent site that can
recent meeting of the Wingham be used at night. A site has been
and district hospital board of selected behind the shed on 'the
governors meeting. Hoy property and reflective
Chairman Doris Inglis said dis- cones would be put into place.
cussion on the issue had reached These cones are able to reflect
Turnberry Township council light at a distance of 1.5 miles
before the board because the and would eliminate the need for
township was in the midst of special lighting, Mr. Koch said.
revamping its secondary plans. Therefore the cost of the heliport'
She noted that the hospital's would be relatively inexpensive.
property committee had already taro to page 2
Ashfield employees offer
to accept wage freeze
Following committee of the whole
discussions at the Feb. 16 meeting
of Ashfield Township council,
remunerations were set.
Full time employees of the
township had offered to accept a
wage freeze for 1993 din lieu of
adjustments to their pension plan,
and this was accepted by council.
The employer contributions to the
group pension plan were increased
anywhere from .65 to 1.9 per cent.
All part time employees (landfill
site superintendent, animal control
officer, building inspector and part
time grader operators) received a 20
cent/hour increase.
Council adjusted the road's
department hours from 45 to 40
hours per regular week. Regular
working hours will be from ..8.a.m.
to 4:30 p.m.
Council held their remuneration at
1992 levels: reeve $90 per meeting;
deputy reeve $85 per meeting;
councillors $80 per meeting; special
meetings $65 for full meetings and
$35 for those under two hours.
Liz Brown, of the Goderich
Ambulance Service, addressed
Ashfield Township council at its
regular `meeting on Feb. 16. Ms.
Brown stressed the need for
changes in the Ambulance Service
of Ontario, to provide the best
possible emergency medical care to
its residents while achieving finan-
cial accountability. She outlined
some of the recommendations in the
December 1991 Swimmer Report,
which ambulance officers are
attempting to bring to the attention
of the Minister of Health (MOH).
Council subsequently passed a
resolution supporting the efforts of
ambulance officers and dispatchers
in Ontario, to have the recommen-
dations of the Swimmer Report
implemented by the MOH.
Rev. Gerald McFarIane,
accepts appointment at
Mount Forest United
by Pat Livingston
On Sunday, Rev. Gerald
McFarlane will give his last sermon
at the Lucknow United Church. He
has accepted a Presbytery appoint-
ment at the Mount Forest United
Church until June 1994.
As he packed' up his belongings
that fill a house, in preparation of a
move tb a two bedroom apartment,
Rev. McFarlane said he now under-
stood how seniors feel leaving their
homes and moving go smaller guar-
' ters.
He looks forward to the challenge
the two-point charge brings, but
quickly says he will miss Lucknow.
"They are great people to work
with. They have helped me through
a lot of trials and tribulations. There
couldn't have been any better
people than when Marion was ill."
Rev. McFarlane speaks fondly of
the many "great" friends he has
made during his six and a half
years in Lucknow, saying, "I
received a great deal of support
through friends. It is during the lean
times you learn who your friends
are."
Rod McDonagh, clerk of the
session, said the congregation real-
izes the tremendous contribution
Gerry and his late wife Marion
made to the church. "We are going
to miss him. We had hoped to see
him through to his retirement."
A farewell service will be held
February 28, at 11 a.m. at the
Lucknow United Church, with a pot
luck lunch to follow immediately.
Anyone in the community is 'wel-
come to attend.
Rev. Gerald McFarlane