HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1997-03-12, Page 1Government News
Issue of waste
management still a mess
for county
See page 7
Local youth returns from
volunteer mission work •
in Haiti
See page 8
Blyth Bantams take
WOAA series
from Lion's Head
See page 10
Brussels ends year
$107,000 in the black
70c + 5<J GST75CBy Bonnie Gropp
Citizen staff
The future may appear uncertain
for municipalities, but financially,
at least, Brussels council got some
good news al the March 10 meet
ing.
Accountant Robert Loree of
Ward and Uptigrove told council
that the balance sheet, which shows
a surplus for 1997 of $107,455,
gives "a picture of the municipali
ty's health."
In presenting the audited finan
cial statements to council, Loree
highlighted several areas. He noted
that tax arrears per person are $48,
which is more than in the past.
"This is similar to what I've seen in
other municipalities, however. It's
been a little tougher to get the
money in."
Cash in account is $289,141 up
from $197,309 in 1995. Taxes
receivable are $54,149, up about
nine per cent from the previous
year. Loree said he didn't sec any
problem with this figure in that
none of the taxes due were out
standing business taxes.
Grants and user charges were
down over $30,000 to $33,986, pri
marily because the money from the
province for roads did not exist this
year for the first time.
Transactions with the Ontario
Clean Water Agency were not
shown in the statements. The bal
ance owing to the sewage reserve
fund of $119,141 as of Dec. 31,
1996 was shown on the balance
sheet as an account receivable and
represents the balance of funds
owing the property owners.
The recreation board had a sub
stantial surplus, $35,272, because
of increased fundraising and capital
Continued on page 2
Vol. 13 No 10 Wednesday, March 12, 1997
County not being honest
saysHullett Twp. reeve
Huron County is misleading tax
payers by not making it plain
money originally intended for capi
tal projects is now being used for
operating expenses, two county
councillors told the March 6 meet
ing of council.
Tom Cunningham, reeve of Hul-
lett, told council that it's "simply by
good luck we happen to be in a
good position.” He noted the coun
ty had raised the mill rate in 1986
to raise money for the building of
the homes for the aged. Later, most
of this money ($1.25 million a
year) was transferred to a fund for
developing a county landfill site, a
plan since abandoned. "
If we didn't have that $1.25 mil
lion we would be raising our mill
rate to cover increased costs," he
said. The county is saying that the
money will still be used for capiLal
costs on roads, he said, but in the
past capital expenses for roads had
always been included in the operat
ing budget of the highways depart
ment.
Bill Mickle, reeve of Exeter,
warned that the capital money was
likely raised for specific purposes
under a bylaw. "I think it would be
wise to go back and look at the
bylaw."
Morris gets word on dump’s future
Morris Twp. council has received
word from the Ministry of Environ
ment and Energy regarding the
future use of its landfill site.
In response to a 1995 Plan of
Development and Operation report
filed by the township, the MOEE
issued a draft of proposed amend
ments to the existing provisional
certificate of approval, with condi
tions included.
The most notable condition, said
Morris Twp. Reeve Bert Elliott in a
press release, was the necessity to
drill at least one exploratory bore
hole in the western portion of the
site, before beginning operations in
the Stage 1 area. The borehole
would verify the depth and charac
ter of the till and allow a sample to
be taken of the ground water.
The township will proceed with
the borehole as soon as a formal
amendment is issued, he said.
The current amendment deals
with the first two stages of the four-
stage plan of operation. The work
ing life of Stage 1 and Stage 2 is 20
years and 17 years, respectively.
Further hydrogeologic work will
be required before approval is
received for the final two stages.
The issuance of an amended cer
tificate of approval will secure the
long-term waste disposal capacity
for the landfill's service area.
As part of the plan of develop
ment and operation, monitoring
sites were established for ground
water and surface water testing to
ensure no negative impacts on
neighbouring land.
Information regarding the Morris
Twp. Landfill Site Plan of Devel
opment and Operation report is
available at the township office.
A valiant fight
Members of the Blyth and Brussels Fire Departments spent hours battling a blaze in Morris
Twp. on March 5, shortly after 1 p.m. Fire broke out in the basement of the farm owned of
Tom Miller at Cone. 6, South Half Lot 27. Firefighters arrived at the scene to find the house
totally involved. "There was smoke coming out of every window when we got there," said
Blyth's Fire Chief Paul Josling. "It was well underway by the time Brussels got here. They
could see the smoke from the county road ." Estimate of damage is $50-60,000 The cause
is undetermined. Blyth's Deputy Chief Bill Burkholder and auxiliary firefighter Mike
McDonald were working at the south east corner of the house.