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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1993-01-20, Page 1See page 6 See page 18 Homesteaders While not everyone is happy to see the snow fall, there is always one group who can find constructive ways to entertain themselves when temperatures drop and winter drops its fluffy coat. Saturday these youngsters from Walton couldn't wait to get outside and build their own special house. From left: Armand Dube, Katie Emmrich. Melissa Dube, Jamie Emmrich, Jamie Hill and Jennifer Hill. Blyth council puts office project on hold Education Educators, parents get information on Transition Years News Junior Farmers may be nearing the end Entertainment Grand couple not really 'Wrong for Each Other' See page 19 Farm Organizations offer emergency aid to farmers See page 20 itizen The North Huron Elem. teachers get 1% increase Elementary school teachers with the Huron County Board of Educa- tion will receive a one per cent As it was for the past few months of 1992, a topic of much discussion at Blyth council's first meeting of the new year, Jan. 13, was whether or not to construct office work sta- tions and purchase a new filing sys- tem for the municipal office. Noting that council had agreed to discuss the project further at the beginning of January, Reeve Dave Paul Nichol, a Brussels resident who is Community Development co-ordinator for Huron County, will speak at dinners in Brussels and Blyth in the next two weeks. Mr. Nichol will discuss the Com- munity Futures Program which will promote the establishment of new businesses in the county, in some cases providing grants, and the Huron County Small Business Resource Centre in Clinton which provides advice for those in busi- ness or those thinking of going into Lee said he was concerned that it had been included in the 1992 bud- get and not done. "We raised money through the taxpayers to do it," he said. Also, Reeve Lee said the fact that confidential material is presently being stored in boxes was not prac tical. "We have an obligation to the ratepayers. It's their confidential business. The dinners will be in Brussels on Wednesday, January 27 at 7 p.m. at the Brussels Country Inn and in Blyth on February 3 at 7 p.m. at Tim's Family Restaurant. Both are sponsored by The Citizen. Tickets are $10 each and are avail- able through The Citizen offices in either town or through The Citi- zen's sales representatives. Anyone interested in hearing about commu- nity development is invited to attend. information, too." Councillor Shirley Fyfe spoke in favour of the project saying that at the last meeting council agreed unanimously to purchase a new snowblower at a cost of $2,700 because Town Foreman John Rinn had provided information to show it was needed. "This wasn't in the budget. I am curious as to why we aren't using budgeted money for something that is also needed," she said, adding that everyone would benefit from a system that was compact and efficient. "My concern is that we have a deficit despite the fact that the money from this wasn't used," said Councillor Doug Scrimgeour. "I would like to leave any decision until the next budget to see what the mill rate would be." His feel- ings were echoed by Councillor Robbie Lawrie. Councillor Fyfe reminded them the money for the office has been included in the budget for two years already. "I just think we should wait for the budget to see if there is room for it this year. Then we'll go ahead," said Councillor Lawrie. "In a way I can't disagree," said Reeve Lee, "but my concern is we raised the money last year but it was spent on something else. I don't want them (the taxpayers) to feel we're coming back again to get money for this." Reeve Lee then asked for coun- cillors' feelings about getting esti- mates for computer and typewriter work areas, filing system and a fax machine. "Would it be prudent of us to get costs so we have a figure to work with at budget time?" he asked, adding that the previous fig- ure of $9,000 had been an estimate. "As long as we know we may not go ahead," said Councillor Scrim- geour. Council voted unanimously that Clerk Helen Grubb should obtain estimates to present at budget time. salary increase for 1993. The two-year agreement was rati- fied last week. Though teachers will receive a one per cent raise increase in 1993, there will be no increases in salaries or benefits retroactive to September 1992. Then, the agreement calls-for a salary increase in the second year. However, it will not be paid until the end of the agreement in June 1994. This increase, which will be retroactive to September 1993, will be equal to the percent change in the Ontario Consumer Price Index from March 1993 to March 1994. The maximum adjustment will be two per cent. Before the increases, the mini- mum teacher salary was $27,015 while the maximum was $62,120. All benefits remain the same except for the dental plan which will be modified on April 1, 1993 and April 1, 1994 based on a two- year lag in the Ontario Dental Association fee schedule. Rutabaga Fest. needs chair If a volunteer doesn't soon 'turn up' to fill the shoes of Rutabaga festival Chairperson, the successful Blyth event which began four sum- mers ago will at the very least have to be scaled down or cancelled completely. This was the statement of Pat Brigham, one of a dozen or so peo- ple who attended the recent meet- ing to discuss the festival's future. Ms Brigham says that while many are committed to seeing the project continue there has not been anyone as yet, who has offered to organize it. Nor is there a secretary or trea- surer. "If no one comes forward soon, we are hoping that we can go ahead with the festival but it will have to be on a much smaller scale," she said. Several suggestions have been made, including the elimination of the parade and cutting the three day long festival to one day. "There were many ideas discussed, but no definite plans made yet," said Ms Brigham. So concerned is the committee about the fate of the festival they have decided that they would be willing to pay people to fill the top positions. Anyone interested is asked to contact Bev Elliott at 523- 4323 by Jan. 25. Ms Brigham also said that any group, organization or individual interested in looking after an event should come forward by then as well. Representatives from the Optimists, Lions, Legion and Ladies Auxiliary were present at the recent meeting and have each agreed to run the events they have for past Rutubaga Festivals, said Ms Brigham. Vol, 9 No. 3 Wednesday, January 20, 1993 60 cents Citizen sponsors dinners