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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1998-10-28, Page 170o + 5a GST 750 Wednesday, Oct. 28, 1998 Vol. 14 No 42 Cosmetic surgery A little paint and elbow grease was used by members of Blyth Guiding this past Saturday to give a facelift to the school's playground equipment. Lisa Kelly was definitely on top of the job. The paint for the project was supplied by school secretary, Morag Watt, Gore's Home Hardware and Manning's. (Ashley Gropp photo) CAS honours Auburn woman By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Fifteen years of volunteer work with the Children's Aid Society has brought one Auburn area woman far more than appreciation from the agency which named her volunteer of the year, last week. For Geuies Bos, the opportunity to help those in need is what has made her many years with the society speciaL She began when her own children were, in high school and university, as a volunteer driver making trips ID doctors appointments and social workers. After 11 years she was asked to take over office duties. Now driver co-ordinator, Bos works two mornings a week filling social workers' requests for client transportation, calling , drivers and ensuring the driver is close to the destination required. "I like to work with the kids," she says, "and I like to get out of the house. I go to a couple workshops each year and I help them to learn while they are helping me." Having worked on the family farm most of her life, Bos laughs, saying it is great to have an office and her own phone. "I really enjoy what I am doing and the people are super." As in true volunteer style, Bos says she does not do the work for the recognition, but for the other rewards. Gerrie Bos -ea Parish nurse heals mind, body, soul See page 7 Education Belgrave woman returns from teaching in Japan See page 1.0 Government Citizen survey seeks input from residents on restructuring See page 23 The North Huron itizen Blyth teen in hospital after being hit by car A 19-year-old Blyth girl was taken to hospital after being struck by a car in London, shortly after 3 p.m., Friday, Oct. 23. According to Sgt. John O'Flaher- ty, of London City Police media relations department, Jody Button was in serious condition when taken to London Health Sciences Centre's South Street Campus. The hospital would not offer any infor- mation regarding her condition when called Monday. An accident reconstruction team was called in to assist with the investigation. He said it appears that Button walked out into traffic at the intersection of Wellington Road and Bradley Avenue. Though the investigation is not complete, and therefore nothing is certain, O'Flaherty said after look- ing at the information in all the reports, he believed there would be no charges laid. Jody is the daughter of Jim and Jetta Button of Blyth. She is attend- ing Westervelt College in London. Eves comments rankle local reeves By Janice Becker Citizen staff "He's all wet." Brussels Reeve Ralph Watson dripped criticism on Ontario Finance Minister Ernie Eves after last weeks announcement regarding legislation to limit large property tax increases for small business. "The province sets the assess- ment. They change the ratings and groupings. They took off the Busi- ness tax and they set the tax rate," said Watson. "And we have to raise the money." "Watson was refer-ring to an announcement Oct. 23 from Eves which stated that legislation will be introduced to limit commercial and industrial property tax increases to 10 per cent in 1998, five per cent in 1999 and 2000. Reforms to the assessment sys- tem included tools such as optional property classes, 2.5 per cent cap, phase-ins, rebates and gradated tax rates, Eves said. 'Municipalities now need to take responsibility to ensure that the tools are applied to the full advantage to protect busi- nesses from unmanageable increas- es." However, Watson said the phas- ing-in of increases over a number of years will not work because the municipalities need the money now. "We will run a deficit if he does- n't allow (the tax increase). Costs have increased significantly. We have to cover the deficit from last year and increase taxes so we don't have a deficit this year." Though the affect on Grey Twp. may be less due to a smaller com- mercial base and budgeting for a surplus, Reeve Robin Dunbar said the provincial government seems to have "contempt for municipal gov- ernments." "They are making it hard to gov- ern with announcements after the fact. It is the end of October and now they are telling us the com- mercial rate. It smells of incompe- tence," he said. Dunbar points the finger at Municipal Affairs Minister Al Leach for the chaos he has wit- nessed in the municipal world. "He should resign or be replaced." With only a few business owners in Blyth facing large increases, Blyth Reeve Mason Bailey believes such legislation will have more impact in cities than here. "We didn't have to increase taxes 10 per cent," he said. "With proper- ty assessments down, taxes went down for some." Though Bailey said the govern- ment still has a long way to go to reform the tax system, he said the move shows they are at least think- ing about it. Further to the proposed legisla- tion, Eves said the residential prop- erty owners will not be affected as the government "will work with municipalities to facilitate adjust- ments in the 1998 tax bills for com- mercial and industrial taxes." To enable municipalities to limit the tax increase to 10 per cent, Eves said the decrease afforded others would be limited to fund the limit on increases.