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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-01-11, Page 1Vol. 11 No.2 Wednesday, January 11, 1995 610 -4- 4a GST650 The North Huron itizen No time to be pig-headed A member of the Seaforth Fire Department leads a sow to safety after several animals survived a huge barn fire on the farm of Rick and Lynn Packer of Conc. 10, Hullett Twp. Some of the survivors were housed in an old section of the structure, constructed of cement block which did not collapse during the fire. Approximately half of the farrow to finish operation was lost to the blaze, between 1,100 and 1,200 animals.The Blyth and Area Fire Department was called in to assist with the 6:30 a.m. fire on Jan. 9. The cause of the fire is still undetermined. Municipalities, TV station debate election coverage Health Brussels school encourages family fitness fun See page 2 Business Blyth gets new entrepreneurs See page 3 Sports Bulls enjoy brief stop in second place See page 10 Church Local Anglican churches welcome new pastor See page 13 Huron tourism boosts economy Despite a flood of protests from municipalities across Huron, Baton Broadcasting Incorporated, opera- tors of CKNX and CFPL television stations, denies its coverage of the 1994 municipal election was lack- ing. In a letter to Huron County coun- cil E. W. Eadinger, president of BBS said, "we correctly represent- ed the areas we are licenced to serve and applied our resources ,most effectively". Huron County councillors had passed a resolution at their Nov. 24 meeting protesting what they felt was a lack of coverage for county municipalities by the joint CKNX- CFPL coverage on election night. Councillors also expressed dissatis- faction with coverage by CKNX radio and The London Free Press. Towns, villages and townships across the county have since passed resolutions , protesting the coverage. The county's protest was also sent to the Canadian Radio-Televi- sion and Telecommunications Commission, the regulatory body for stations. That apparently upset Mr. Eadinger. While the county had also asked, in its letter to the stations, that there be more frequent coverage of county council ses- sions, Mr. Eadinger stated staff would not be present at- council because the county's document to the CRTC "negates these previous efforts and denigrates the service we have provided". Led by a strong American dollar and a strengthened Canadian econ- omy, tourist-oriented businesses enjoyed a much improved year in 1994, a report of the Huron County Planning and Development Depart- ment says. The report, presented to county council at its January meeting, said some shop owners in Goderich and Bayfield reported their 'best year yet. The Huron Country Playhouse in Grand Bend had an attendance of As the fiscal year nears an end for the Huron County Board of Education, the administration and trustees begin, their wrangling over expenditures and estimates for the upcoming year. Director of Education Paul Carroll said, at the Jan. 9 meeting, that as the board prepares to define budget estimates for 1995, "We must make estimates which are in line with reality. We are going through a period where the expenditure trends are changing. It is very difficult to estimate and the results are never exactlywhat we thought they would be." Mr. Carroll explained that the manner of bookkeeping used by the board may need some refining to more accurately indicate the specific category for expenditures though the budgeted amount for the entire classification is reasonably correct. (ie. Of the five subheadings under General Supplies and Services, one may be significantly over budget while another is below, leaving the classification on target. This may occur when expenditures are inadvertently filed under a different subheading or when monies are transferred from one to another to meet requirements.) The accounting department and administration is looking at these difficulties to improve budget estimating, says Mr. Carroll. As the board approaches the end Tenders will be called shortly for the renovation of the Huron County Courthouse after county councillors Thursday approved plans for the $1.7 million project. - Priorities of the- renovation pro- gram were to provide barrier free access for the handicapped, upgrade mechanical and electrical facilities, imprOvements in safety requirements (open staircases at the north and south entrances would allow the entire building to quickly fill with smoke in case of a fire), dealing with problems from old asbestos installations and providing better office space for the county 67,000 in 1994. Blyth Festival rebounded from a disappointing 1993 to post an attendance of 31,000. The report estimate& that for every dollar spent on tickets, theatre patrons spend $7 in food, gas and accommodations. It sug- gests Huron Country Playhouse generated $7 million for the local economy while the Blyth Festival contributed $2.66 million. The visit of the Tall Ships to Goderich is estimated to have drawn 23,000 visitors. of the Social Contract period, Mr. Carroll says the "coming out period will be problematic. If our expenditure reduction is not done in a permanent way, problems will arise." "I dislike having to tell the trustees this, but in 1996 (the end of the Social Contract) we may have to continue reductions in expenditures which will make the social contract dealings look pale in comparison," he says. "However, overall, we should see a net reduction in our expenditures though there will still be adjustments to be made." In other aspects of the budget for 1995, Mr. Carroll says -changes are being made in the way the board operates in conjunction with the schools. The board is moving to a- more school-based system and this is showing up in changes to budget figures. Board staff is going to the schools more often, working with the teachers and staff members on a more personal level. Changes are occurring in the technology available and the use of it in the schools. These are all items to be accounted for in the budget estimates for 1995 and are presently skewing • the 1994 estimates, says Mr. Carroll. Overall, the board's 1994 budget estimates are reasonably close to the expected level for the end of December, he says. and court staffs. A key feature of the plans is landscaping the area of the south entrance so that people will be able to enter at ground level instead of having to go up an outside flight of stairs. The changes will be part of a plan to redevelop the parkland owned by the Town of Goderich, including providing a better loca- tion for the farmers market. Once inside, there will be access to all levels of the building through a new elevator. The large old boilers that heated the building will be replaced by Continued on page 7 HCBE wrangles with budget est. County approves courthouse plans