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The Citizen, 2001-12-19, Page 23• It blows in the wind Shoppers and vendors were buying and selling at Walton this weekend for the annual craft show. Johanna Brink, right, shows her handiwork to Keri Orozco. (Vicky Bremner photo) Get Your Message AROUND. THE WORLD IMMEDIATELY If you have important papers that need to go somewhere FAST ... use the CITIZEN'S FAX MACHINE! Our Fax machine can contact any other Fax machine, in the world, Instantly. We offer this service for a cost of $4.00 per printed sheet for the first one and $1.00 per additional sheet. (And the long distance charges are free in North America) Our Fax Number, is also your number, so use it to receive your messages at $1.00 per sheet. _ HERE ARE OUR FAX NUMBERS . . . BLYTH 523-9140 BRUSSELS 887-9021 WE CAN RECEIVE 24 HRS. PER DAY! vow THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 19, 2001. PAGE 23. Physician By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Though clearly regretting things couldn't be different, Dr. Daniel Rooyakkers attended the North Huron council meeting to explain why, as of Jan. 2, the Seaforth Medical Clinic office in Blyth will close. This will mean anyone want- ing to see a doctor must now travel out of town. Rooyakkers presented a brief state- ment explaining the costs of running the clinic for two days a week. Rent, phone and a nurse's wages totalled roughly $1,104.85 a month. When the office originally opened the Seaforth clinic had six doctors on staff. Now they are down to three full-time and one part-time, as well as one that works two days a week. As 35 per cent of a doctor's billing goes to pay staff expenses, the doctor shortage has meant the medical cen- tre is in the red. Rooyakkers explained that a deci- sion had to be made, cut back on salaries for employees or close offices. "This is why we asked for help," he said adding that he could certainly appreciate council's posi- tion. "I can see you wouldn't think you should need to supplement a doctor's income." Though he said he was still dedi- cated to the patients in Blyth, they would now have to come to Seaforth to doctor with him. Rooyakkers twice expressed con- cern for several shut-ins who may not be able to find transportation and mentioned a community solution to this. Asked by Councillor James Campbell how many people he would see in the two days he was in Blyth, Rooyakkers estimated between 35-40 a week. His patient community in the village would be 200-250. Taking this into considera- tion Councillor Murray Nesbitt asked if there was any middle ground in the dollar figure that would help the clinic. "To be honest, as a group of doc- N. Huron must hire hydrologist at big cost By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor The water systems in Wingham and Blyth are going to cost North Huron some big money. Council learned at its Dec. 17 meeting that while it may be okay for the Humphrey Well in Belgrave, the systems in the other two wards must have a hydrologist's report completed. The cost could be between $25,000-$30,000 per well. The problem is that the Ministry of the Environment's Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch has given the systems a GUDI (Groundwater Under Direct Influence) classification, said Clerk Administrator John Stewart. While engineer Jeffrey Dickson of Maitland Engineering has submitted a letter to the Branch against the classification for the Humphrey well, he suggests that it won't help with the Blyth and Wingham ones., A second problem is that time is important. The deadline for comple- tion of a GUDI study is March 31. Qualified hydrologists are difficult to find, Stewart said; they needed to begin the process of hiring one. With reluctance, council passed the motion. "And hopefully, we will find out about Belgrave soon," said Stewart. Council also decided to cap the second well in Belgrave, which has been unused for a few years. explains tors we haven't thought of that." Yet, he stressed again that he understood council could not foot the bill. "I am hear to explain why this is happening. That's a huge amount of money. I know people are coming to you all the time (for money), I'm way down the list." The likelihood of building on the number of physicians is not to be counted on either. Rooyakkers explained that while Seaforth has historically been one of the best recruiters for getting physi- cians to the area, incentives in some places have made this difficult. Councillor Jeff Howson said he wanted time to "have a good discus- sion" with all of council on the sub- ject. However, there is no time. The Jan. 2 closing has not been an easy deci- sion said Rooyakkers. "It was a long haul to build that clinic, but we're down to the crunch."