The Citizen, 1996-07-17, Page 3TclOgkROST GARDENS
FRESH GARDEN PRODUCE
Now READY
— Snow Peas
— Peas
— Beets
— Potatoes
— Beans
ALso — Hanging Baskets
VANAMERSFOORT'S
570 Queen St., Blyth
523-4202
Open Mon-Sat. 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Closed Sundays
U Pick Sweet
Cherries
Bring your own
containers
For more information
Call 523-9338 or
482-9371
Raspberries
coming soon!
BLYTHE BROOKE
ORCHARDS
1 mile west of Blyth on
County Rd. #25
Pizza, Pizza, Pizza
Buy one at regular
price and get a
second for
1/2 price
Eat in or Take Out
Thursday, Friday
& Saturday Only
5 p.m. - 12 midnight
at
Blyti)
523-9381
Final duties
As one of her last duties as student council president for
Blyth Public School, Ashley Howson accepted a cheque
from Ross Jewitt, representative of Edward Fuels,
Clinton, and Shell Canada. One of four cheques received
by the school from the Shell Environmental Fund,
Howson's $250 amount will go towards the rehabilitation
of Blyth Brook.Other amounts were: $370 for recycling,
$380 for wood duck boxes at HuIlett Wildlife Centre and
$210 for bluebird boxes.
FORMOSA SPRINGS DANCE
The cast of Barndance Live,
will be performing at
tbe ftlyti) inn
Blyth 523-9381
with Circle of Friends on
July 12 & 20
and with
Doug McNall & Company on
July 9 & 17
Time: 10:30 p.m.
Everyone Welcome
sponsored by:
BREWING COMPANY
What's On
at the Blyth Festival
BARNDANCE LIVE!
* Held over 'til Sept. 7th
MABELLE MABEL
a moving love story
runs 'fir Aug. 29th
VILLA EDEN
a zany comedy
Jul. 24th — Aug. 31st
FIREWORKS
a warm family drama
July 30th - Aug. 31st
Tickets for above
$6 - $20 each
YOUNG COMPANY PRODUCTION
August 13th -17th - The Garage Theatre
Pay what you can.
SUMMERWORKS
Be the first to see works in progress.
Aug. 19th-23rd. Call for details.
Blyth Festival Box Office
523-9300
Celebrates its 1St
Anniversary
The
Renovations
begin
Brs Cafe
as it is today
Come celebrate our 1st Anniversary with us
Monday, July 22/96
Enjoy our regular menu or go Italian! Lasagna, Fettuccini
Alfredo or Spaghetti and Meatballs are our specials.
All specials include dessert, salad and tea or coffee
for only $4.00. Children under 3 eat free.
We appreciate your business and we would like
to thank all of our loyal customers
Eat In or Take Out
Queen St., Blyth 523-9628
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 17, 1996 PAGE 3.
Municipal insurance costs rise
By Bonnie Gropp
Frivolous insurance claims are
driving up premium costs for
municipalities.
This was the message brought to
Blyth council, July 8, by Jeff Cole-
man of Cowan Insurance Compa-
ny. The village's policy, which is
due Aug. 1, will increase this year
by 26 per cent from $26,933 to
$33,935. Of this increase, Coleman
said, 85 per cent is due to liability
claims against other municipalities.
Coleman told council the
province is being lobbied for
immunity for municipalities on
frivolous claims. ''We are to the
point where something has to be
done through the courts. There are
decisions being made by judges
who are unfamiliar with each
municipality and how it works."
He said that to date 400 letters
Crave been sent to Municipal Affairs
Minister Al Leach's office asking
for change. "If someone drunk
dives into your pool from the roof,
tragic as this may be, why should
the municipality pay just because
they have the deepest pocket?"
Coleman asked.
Rick Elliott, of Elliott Insurance,
who was present as well, explained
that presently if a municipality is
found one per cent responsible for
an accident, it could pay 99 per
cent of the cost. "We're looking for
a better way."
"The thrust is that more and more
municipalities are. being run by
judges and lawyers," said Coleman.
"If (a municipality) is negligent
then they should pay. But if it's just
a nuisance claim, that's crazy."
"It is getting so the municipality
virtually has to guarantee every
nail, every screw that goes into a
house. We're hoping that once
immunity gets into place frivolous
claims will cease which will stabi-
lize liability costs."
Reeve Maosn Bailey asked if
there was any way to reduce the
premium, Coleman said that they
could assume another $5,000
deductible. However, this was the
route taken last year, and Coleman
said it would be difficult for a
municipality the size of Blyth to
carry much more.
By reducing liability coverage
from $15 million to $10 million
and by lowering property insurance
from $8,517,800 to $5 million the
premium would drop. Council
instructed Coleman to obtain a
price based on these reductions.
He urged council to lobby the
government reminding them that
the answer to the rising premiums
is municipal reform. "It doesn't
matter what vehicle you use to
drive your insurance. The bottom
line is claims drive premiums. We
have to stop nuisance claims."
Blyth
People
Tim and Marie Walden and baby
Ashley of Mississauga visited with
Tim's grandmother, Mary Walden
on Sunday.
• Children's consumption of fresh
produce is increasing. Of those who
purchase produce for children, 45
per cent say they are eating more
fresh produce compared to a year
earlier.