HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1994-02-09, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9,1994.
Morris says no to fire agreement renegotiation
Morris Township Reeve Doug
Fraser gave county councillors
notice Thursday that his township
has no interest in renegotiating the
Grant cut sparks debate
A decision to allow the Town of
Goderich to present financial infor
mation on the operation of the
Goderich Municipal airport in an
effort to convince the county not to
cut its grant led other reeves at the
February county council meeting to
state their intention to fight for pro
jects in their own municipalities if
Goderich wins its argument.
Goderich had presented its case
at the Jan. 20 meeting of the
Administration, Finance and Per
sonnel Committee and the commit-
Prog, would aid
welfare recipients
If the province approves, Huron
County will undertake a program to
help welfare recipients find jobs
and get off public support, county
council decided Thursday.
Under the Municipal Employ
ment Program the Social Services
department would be eligible for 80
per cent funding for the $114,000
cost of the program. It would see a
special staff member dedicated to
matching welfare recipients to
existing job opportunities.
Patricia Carrier, reeve of Bay-
field and chairman of the Social
and Cultural Services Committee,
said the program was an important
part of trying to bring in the Social
Service budget at a zero per cent
increase this year. If the new staff
member could help 10 welfare
recipients a month find jobs, it
would reduce the county's share of
welfare costs by $32,000 a year,
she said. That would drop by
$65,000 if jobs could be found for
20 welfare recipients a month and
$97,900 if 30 jobs a month could
be found.
John MacKinnon, administrator
of social services, said the special
ized case worker would take on a
function that used to be carried out
Continued on page 9
Centre’s set up
cost, $75,000
Continued from page 1
the students, considering the finan
cial restraints."
The report indicated a $75,000
set up cost for the centre (budgeted
for) and there would be transporta
tion cost savings as well as
improved facilities for the students,
said Mr. Mathers.
Group plans
special dinner
Continued from page 2
of great musical numbers
including, marches and a chorale.
Joan Stamper from Town &
Country Homemakers thanked Mrs.
Perrie for coming and for the lovely
music. She also thanked the
students for their weekly
participation as volunteers in
Community Dining. Their help is
greatly appreciated.
The door prize was won by
Herman Garland and the 50/50
draw by Jim Mair.
Cards were signed for Edna
Evers and Kate Wilson.
The next meeting will be held
Thursday, Feb. 10 and Valentine's
is the theme. Anyone wishing to
share a story, card or memento
with the group is encouraged to
bring them to the meeting.
fire agreement for Huronlea home
for the aged as the county wants.
The Health and Seniors Commit
tee reported to county council that
tee voted to defer final decision on
the request to reinstate the grant.
Bill Camochan, reeve of Tucker
smith, asked if he should also have
representatives of the Vanastra
Recreation Centre bring financial
information to the committee.
Vanastra has the only indoor public
pool in the county, he pointed out.
Tom Tomes of Stephen Town
ship said he would come forward to
argue the case of the Huron Coun
try Playhouse that its grant should
not have been cut if the Goderich
grant was changed. Dave Lee of
Blyth said he would put forward a
similar claim for the Blyth Festival.
The Festival means "thousands and
thousands of spin-off dollars for the
county" he said. However despite
the hurt the grant cuts would mean
to the various organizations, the
county should stick with its policy,
Reeve Lee said. "We made a deci
sion to cut off grants and people are
going to have to live with it."
But Norm Fairies, reeve of How-
ick, and Pat Down, reeve of
Usbome, argued that the airport
grant might be a special category.
Reeve Fairies argued the potential
economic loss would be large for
the entire county if the airport
should be closed. It is important for
companies locating here to be able
to get in and out in a huny, he said.
He suggested the airport should be
considered part of the transporta
tion system of the county.
"I think we have two kinds of
grants," agreed Reeve Down. "I'd
like to suggest that this be an item
we discuss at the next Strategic
Planning Committee meeting," she
said.
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it was prepared to renegotiate with
the Clinton Area Fire Board, for the
Huronview Home, and Morris
Township (which pays for fire ser
vice from the Brussels Fire Depart
ment), for Huronlea, for reduced
fire costs at the two homes. Cur
rently the county pays $4,000 a
year to the Clinton department
while Morris charges $500 a year
plus $300 per false alarm.
The cost covers such things as an
annual inspection of the homes plus
orientation of the local fire depart
ments and instruction of home staff
Service could cost $3,500
Continued from page 1
animal control would likely be
about $3,500 a year, including his
two patrols per month at $60, a
couple of emergency calls a month,
plus boarding fees and the cost of
destroying and cremating dogs no
one claimed and no one wanted.
Currently the village pays $100 a
month for two patrols and very sel
dom has any additional costs
because few dogs are being caught
Mr. Trick advised the dog bylaw
should be revised to change fines
into administration fees and give
the animal control officer more
authority. Council also might want
to look into the amount of the dog
licences, he said, pointing out Brus
sels was considerably below neigh
bouring communities. Such a
licence structure could reward
those with neutered animals and
those with only one dog, he said.
Those fees brought more discus
sion later in the evening after Mr.
Trick left the meeting. When it was
pointed out the licence fees would
have to increase to tty to offset the
additional costs of using Mr. Trick,
Councillor Bruce Hahn objected to
dog owners having to pick up too
large a part of the costs. "It's not
the owners of the dogs who have
by the fire departments. Many
county councillors have objected
that non-profit homes in communi
ties such as Zurich and Hensall pay
no special fees.
But Reeve Fraser put his town
ship's displeasure on the record
right off the bat His township has
already spent $2,000 in extra costs
because of meetings to discuss the
fire agreement, he said.
Bill Camochan, reeve of Tucker
smith, said he is awaiting negotia
tions. Tuckersmith, he pointed out,
is just one of the participating
complaints. It's the people who
don't have dogs who complain,
therefore all taxpayers should pay."
After a chorus of disagreement
from other councillors Councillor
Hahn agreed dog owners should
pick up a fair share of the cost but
he still warned against setting the
new fees too high.
"A guy buys himself a $10 pet
dog and you're going to turn around
and charge him $35 for a tag," he
Water mains concern Wilson
Continued from page 1
again.
Brussels can spend up to
$117,584 under the joint project.
The federal and provincial govern
ments will provide $78,389 with
the municipality being responsible
for $39,175.
"I know you're not prepared for
something like this (providing the
village's share) but these opportuni
ties are getting fewer and fewer,"
Mrs. White said.
Councillor Dave Hastings
thought the possibility of using the
funding for a fire hall was wonder
ful, saying there would never be an
opportunity to get two-thirds fund
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municipalities in the Clinton Fire
Area board.
County Clerk-Administrator
Jocelyn Murray explained that the
higher rates at Huronview date
back to the time when the old
Huronview was in use and did not
meet fire standards. This resulted in
extra work for the Clinton Fire
Department. When Huronlea
opened, the old agreement with
Clinton was used as the basis for
negotiations of a fire agreement
with Morris and the Brussels Fire
Department
said.
Councillor David Hastings noted
that no matter how high the dog
licences are, they're not going to
cover all the costs of the service so
taxpayers are going to have to pick
up part of the cost.
Councillors agreed to give notice
of termination of the current ser
vice and prepare bylaw amend
ments and a new rate of dog
licences so that Mr. Trick can be
hired.
ing again.
Councillor Greg Wilson agreed,
but said there are other possibilities
as well. "I wouldn't object to a new
fire hall, but all I can see are these
rotten water mains breaking six and
eight holes through our new
streets." Each time a water main
breaks it costs $1,000 to repair the
streets, he said. "Last year we
spend $14,000 fixing roads. We've
got a rotten fire hall and we’ve got
rotten water mains."
The need for improvements in
storm sewers was also discussed.
Mrs. White was given authorization
to get more information on all three
possibilities.
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