HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Lucknow Sentinel, 1994-06-08, Page 1PUBLISHED IN .
LUCKNOW, ONTARIO
Wednesday,
June 8, 1994
550
•G.S.T. Included
Provincial .cutbacks force
municipal tax increase
1
ASHFIELD TOWNSHIP After
a lengthy review, council has set
the 1994 mill rate for this
municipality at 15.482 for public
school supporters. The municipal
portion (2.846 mill) represents 18.4
per cent of the total, with county
claiming 18.9 per cent and through the budget and cut back
education 62 per cern. The total where they possibly could, but that
mill rate increase is 4.7 per cent money has to be raised
higher than last year. Separate somewhere."
school supporters' rate is slightly Reserve funds had already been
higher at 15.788. earmarked for projects, so no funds
Clerk treasurer Linda Andrew were utilized there.
said that due to provincial cutbacks The 1994 budget is set to cover
the township " received about expenses with nothing being put
$66,000 less in funding than .in into reserve this year.
1993. Road grants were the largest Mrs. Andrew said, "Ashfield's
hit: mill rate is considerably less' than
Mrs. Andrew said the increase in other surrounding municipalities,
the municipal portion (2.703 to even though it is the largest."
2.846) of the mill rate raises only Miscellaneous
$21,410 of the $66,000 not received In other business at the May 17
in funding. "Council threaded meeting of council, Bernard O'Neill
`money had to
be raised
somewhere'
addressed councillors regarding
access over a right-of-way to his
property at part of lot 11, con. 11
W.D. Councillor Van Diepenbeek
declared a conflict of interest and
vacated chambers during the discus-
sion. Mr. O'Neill was advised that
he may have to:consult his solicitor
to verify legal access over the right-
of-way.
A tile• drain loan was approved
for Donald MacLennan subject to
the availability of provincial. fun-
ding.
Council approved' the use of the
township logo in a sketch being.
prepared by Ashfield Presbyterian
Church.
Authorization was given 'to the
reeve and clerk to sign an
agreement between the municipality
and Auto -Administrator Int' 1 Inc,
regarding a service contract for the
computers. •
JUST HANGIN' AROUND Is Heather
Richardson during field day at the Lucknow
and District Christian School last week. In her
spare time between events, Heather showed
exactly what kind of little 'monkey' she Is as
she adeptly maneuvered the rings. (Pat
Livingston photo)
Input needed from business
community on arena complex
by Pat Livingston
The Arena Complex Phase II committee is seeking the support of the
local business community to secure funds from jobsOntario for the.
project. Barry Johnston, chair of the committee, asked for this support
at last week's Chamber of Commerce meeting.
A meeting is scheduled for tonight (Wednesday). A questionnaire;
designed by Multiplex Engineering of Port Elgin, will be handed out
and explained. The questionnaire' deals with what impact the new
facility will have on the community by way of .creating jobs. On the
other hand, the negative impact, should the facility not be restructured,
will be addressed as well.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m, and will take place downstairs at the
Town Hall.
Johnston said the committee is hoping to have a firm commitment
from jobsOntario within two months, thus the short notice to the
business community regarding this questionnaire.
This is an important part of the process in obtaining the funding; -and
the business community is urged to give its full support. •
Huron County.,
Countycouncillors decry
same-sex benefits bill
by David Greenberg
GODERICH - Same-sex benefits
are an affront to society and the bill
currently under discussion .in the
Ontario legislature should be
"withdrawn forthwith," Huron
County councillors say.
In a 28-1 vote last Thursday,
representatives from the county's 16
Municipalities decried Huron MPP
Paul Klopp's . support ' of the
controversial legislation and agreed
to send him a letter "indicating the
displeasure of this council."
The lone opposition to the motion
came from Usborne Township.
representative Pat Down.
"I knew I was in a •minority
position," Down said after the
meeting.
Choking back tears she said that
she was "in a minority in my own
home town, too."
But, she added, "I felt I had to
take this stand. I firmly believe
homosexuality is genetically in-
herited."
Down commented that her public
stand on this issue could hurt her at
election time,but that she would
not withdraw her opposition, to the
county motion.
West Wawanosh 'Reeve . Bob
Hallam proposed the' motion, saying
that the NDP 'was trying to
"diminish the status of the
traditional society and family."
The bill before the legislature
would extend the same employment
and social benefits - including the '
right to adopt children to all self- -
declared couples, including
homosexuals.
The NDP is introducing the bill
under fire from most Liberals, all
Conservative 'members and even a
dozen or so of its own party.
Turn in those guns
during amnesty period
A three-month provincial gun
amnesty is under way. ,
The amnesty began June 1 and
.will conclude on Sept.. 1. It allows
people to turn over weapons to
police without fear of criminal
charges.
In a press release, Solicitor Gen-
eral, David Christopherson said,
"Our goal is to reduce the number,
of firearms in Ontario: We hope to
get as many guns as possible out of
circulation."
In 1992, during a similar amnesty,
45 different firearms and 195
rounds of ammunition were turned
in to the Kincardine detachment of
the OPP between November and
December.
In Ontario, more than 16,000
firearms . turned over in the same
six-week .period.
In addition, nearly 4,200 other
unwanted items such as explosive
devices were turned over provin-
cially.
Christopherson said, "Firearms
amnesties serve to remind people of
guns they have forgotten, that they
may have inherited or do not wish
to keep in their homes any more."
As of yet, no weapons have been
turned over to the Kincardine OPP
this time.
Weapons brought to the
Kincardine OPP will be sent away
for disposal.
Killer bacteria
is rare: MOH
The recent cases of a "killer bac-
teria" in Britain has,caused concern
for some travellers to England. Dr.
Murray McQuigge, Medical Officer
of Health at the Bruce -Grey -Owen
Sound health Unit, sees no reason
to panic. "The bacteria responsible
for the disease has actually been
around for a while. The disease is
rare. In the 1980s there seemed to
be an increase in the number of
cases. In fact, muppet creator Jim
Hensen was one of its victims. But
since 1990-91, the number of cases
has dropped off again." McQuigge
sees no reason for travellers to
England to change their plans.
The disease has occurred in. On=
tario, Canada and the United States.
It can be contracted through skin
wounds which rapidly become very
swollen, painful and discolored. The
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