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The Citizen, 1992-09-09, Page 1News I Government_______I_____Special section Brussels man gets behind the scenes look at movie mak See page 8 County council tables motion opposing stable funding legislation See page 11 Souvenir issue marks 31st Thresher Reunion See inside CitizenTheNorthHuron Contractors place liens on Huron view projects Vol. 8 No. 36 Wednesday, September 9,1992 60 cents Unpaid sub, sub-contractors have registered mechanics liens against Huronlea and Huronview Homes for the Aged in Brussels and Clin­ ton to ensure payment of bills, Huron County Council was told Thursday. Bill Alcock, county treasurer told councillors that to his knowledge six liens totalling under $200,000 have been registered. Nigel Bellchamber, county clerk­ administrator, explained to council that the county has urged this method of legal action to trades who have complained to the county that they have been unpaid by a sub contractor on the huge project. It is the one way the companies can be assured of being paid for their work, he said. He explained that the county pays the general contractor as it is informed by the architect that vari­ ous stages of the building project are complete. The general contrac­ tor then pays the sub-contractor and the sub-contractor is supposed to be paying other companies hired to do work. The general contractor has been paid by the county and there is evidence the sub-contractor has been paid but many smaller local companies working for the sub­ contractor have complained their bills are unpaid. Blyth councillor stresses When a lien has been registered against the property the general contractor is required to appear in court and post a bond guaranteeing the claims of the sub sub-contrac­ tors will be paid if they are found to be valid, Mr. Bellchambei said. The county has paid the general contractor and has documentation to show that the general contractor has paid the sub contractor. Brian McBumey, reeve of Tum- berry was upset to learn that some local sub-sub-contractors had not paid. "County council should have known (about this) long ago." Could the county, he said, not ensure payment? But Mr. Alcock said the county would be on very dangerous ground if it paid local contractors who were already supposed to be paid by the sub-contractor. "We have no way of knowing the claim is valid. We have to go through the legal process." Robert Hallam, reeve of West Wawanosh wondered if the county was taking action to recover its legal costs in the matter from the defaulting sub-contractor. Mr. Alcock said the county was attempting to do that. "It's up to the courts to decide if the county should be paid its legal costs." no more blind spending Back to school Jimmy Ritchie of Blyth shows off his new Ninja Turtle lunch box just before he starts his first day of Kindergarten at the Blyth Public School on Tuesday morning. Students lined up at the school doors early in anticipation of the new year, new friends, and new teachers. Council seeks co-operation Brussels Village Council will seek co-operation in extending sewer lines on James St. toward the Brussels Morris and Grey Commu­ nity Centre in order to service more lots on the street. The decision came after Betty Keggenhoff appeared before coun­ cil Sept. 1 to ask that two lots she owns on the street be serviced because she has a potential buyer. As part of a development agree­ ment for the area, the village had undertaken to service these lots if they were ever needed (at village expense). Reeve Gordon Workman said the village had fully intended to service the lots but was trying to reach an agreement with other property owners in the area to share the cost of putting in new sewer and water lines that would open more lots for development. Without a sharing of costs, he said, "We haven't got the money". Mrs. Keggenhoff argued that she had been paying taxes on the prop­ erty for five years and lhal the vil­ lage had committed itself to provide services and she wanted them now. Reeve Workman said council had no intention of "trying to leave you holding the bag" but said it was unfortunate that an agreement had­ n't been reached with other proper­ ty owners earlier. If the recession hadn't come along, depressing housing demand, the services would likely already be there, he said. Mrs. Keggenhoff said that when council wants to do something it can usually find the money. Councillor Bruce Hahn said council is trying to do its best. "We're going to help out but it many not be as quickly as you'd like." Mrs. Keggenhoff had men­ tioned the potential owner wants to start building a house this fall, to be finished in the spring. Continued on page 2 There will be no more blind spending. This was the message expressed by members of Blyth council at the regular meeting on Sept. 2. The discussion began over the request for a motion to tender for the municipal office work areas. As it was another month before the next meeting, Clerk Helen Grubb wondered if prospective tenderers could come in and pick up the specs at the office so tenders could be submitted for council's consider­ ation then. Councillor Robbie Lawrie, how­ ever, said he could not agree to spend anymore money until he had a better idea of what has been spent to date. Councillor Lawrie has requested a run down of the accounts several times in the past. "If someone were to ask me today how much money there is I would find it hard to tell them, because I wouldn't have a clue," he said. "I feel strongly about this. Before I can consciously make a decision to spend any more money I want to know what there is to spend." Mrs. Grubb mentioned that coun­ cil was told last month that there was over $60,000 in the account, however, Councillor Lawrie explained the information he was seeking was a budget comparison. Mrs. Grubb said that there was money in the budget for the office work area. Also, she said, the fig­ ures that Councillor Lawrie wants arc not as yet on the office comput­ er, but on the auditor's computer and she will be able to get them after the interim audit next monih. While the office computer has the capabilities to handle this informa­ tion, Mrs. Grubb said the first pri­ ority was to get the utility accounts running. While everything will eventually be on the office comput­ er, they are "just doing it step by step," she said. Mrs. Grubb said that this infor­ mation has never been given to councillors in the years since she has been here, nor does she believe, in the years prior. Councillor Lawrie, however, said that when he was Reeve (about 15 years ago), council did get that information. Noting that the present council was elected nine months ago, Councillor Doug Scrimgeour, backed up Councillor Lawrie stressing that they should by now have some idea of the money being spent. "We can't even help you, Helen, if we have no idea of what is happening," said Councillor Scrimgeour. "As Robbie said, we're running blind." "This is not a way to run a busi­ ness," said Councillor Lawrie." OPP look for suspects Wingham OPP are investigating an auto theft which occurred in East Wawanosh Township on Sun­ day, Sept. 6, between the hours of 1:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. According to a police spokesper­ son, a 1986 beige pickup, owned by Michael Franken was driven from his farmyard a short distance north to County Road 22, where it was driven into a ditch and left. The keys had been left in the truck, which received minor damage to the front quarter panel. The police have no suspects at this time, but are asking anyone who may have seen anything to call. The investigating officer is Const. Hank Ysinga.