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Home My WebLink AboutThe Citizen, 2001-12-24, Page 39Ashley Taylor Paul Greenwood Sharon Miller Jenny Ritchie Debbie Cook TIRING OF OOD IDINGS Chris Sanders Diana Doerr Renee Bjorkman Season's Greetings Jackie Falconer r , ;,,re Brent Scrimgeour PAGE 40. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2001. Huron E. treasurer delivers finance report By David Blaney Citizen staff Huron East council held its year ending meeting on Dec. 18 and one of the main items on the agenda was a financial report from treasurer Brad Knight. The report was for the first 11 months of the year. Knight said that with 92 per cent of the year gone he was generally "Not everybody loves me," Bob Trick, animal control officer for North Huron said tongue firmly in cheek, as he gave his annual report to council Dec. 17. Trick responded to 121 complaints in the township, saying police accompanied him on seven of these. He took 15 dogs and five cats to_ the vet. A total of eight dog owners received warnings. Five cases of dog bites were inves- tigated and Trick has testified in court a total of three times. Seven tickets have been issued, four are paid, three are not, he said. He has done one kennel inspection. With regards to other animals, Trick said he has dealt with three skunks, four raccoons and one pos- sum. Trick also noted that there have been complaints received regarding horses on the trails in Wingham and Blyth. *** Council accepted the quote for rental of farmland at the Wingham Municipal Airport from Glen Warwick in the amount of $135 per acre for a total of 230 acres. *** - The quote of Cowan's for munici- pal insurance in the amount of $93,722 plus taxes was accepted on recommendation of staff. *** Director of Recreation and Facilities Dan Cousins discussed several items with council. He received approval for North Huron Recreation Up to Speed proj- ect, the purchase of a software pack- age. Total cost is $30,035.99 with $15,000 coming from the municipal- ity as budgetted. Council also gave approval to the placement of up to 50 trailers in the complex parking lot during the-coun- try singing contest this summer. Cousins mentioned that the boiler in the old post office which houses the Wingham Day Care and the museum is in need of repairs. Council approved the work up to a cost of $1,000. *** Council approved an application for severance for Conc. 14, Lot 29 in East Wawanosh- with several condi- tions. The barn will be rezoned to limit Walton woman A Walton women is one of five Huron-Perth residents who were grand prize winners in the Canadian Cancer Society's first lottery. Karen Hoegy won a 2002 Volvo S40 (val- ued at $37,571). Others winners were: Marcia Campbell, 2002 Toyota Sienna CE (valued at $36,828); Arthur Eglinton, $25,000; Jane Moore, $10,000; Toni Van Ravenzwaaij, 2002 Lincoln LS V8 (valued at $59,938). The Canadian Canc,er Society lot- tery has been very successful, with 97 per cent of the tickets sold at a cost of $100 each. A total of 9,952 cash prizes and 50 vehicles prizes have been awarded. It is estimated that millions of dol- lars will be added to the fight against pleased with the financial position of the municipality. With several signif- icant items not yet received or post- ed the municipality had generated over 87 per cent of its expected rev- enues. When the final figures are in Knight expects the actual figures to be very close to the budget projec- tions. Expenditures in the first 11 months are generally at or below where they capacity. Council wants compliance of the nutrient management plan for the severed lands and signed agree- ments for any additional lands required for manure disposal. Also, they request a revision of the existing NMP for the landowner. *** An engineer's report shows that while Wingham currently has enough water to supply Belgrave, this could change should any further development in the town occur. *** Council granted a one-time re- imbursement in taxes for a Blyth- area landowner. According to Clerk- Administrator John _Stewart, OMAFRA said they did not receive the papers qualifying the individual for the 25 per cent taxation. "This has happened with others across the county and they are han- dling it -two ways. They either say it's not the municipality's problem, which it's not, or they write the taxes off." Stewart added, "I don't know who's to blame. I just know that what was supposed to happen didn't." The man, he said, had documenta- tion to show he had applied and while OMAFRA "feels bad", there is no appeal process in place to change it. *** Council rejected a recommenda- tion from the North Huron Wescast Community Complex committee asking for ice time for the Wescast employees after the 11 p.m. shift ends. The fee would be $5 per per- son, like the morning shinny hockey, rather than the regular rate of $95 per hour. Councillor Archie MacGowan said that Cousins had recommended to the committee that they not go-ahead with this as it would require staff coming in for overtime. Though the request had been for a one-month trial basis, Councillor James Campbell noted, "It's easier not to start it, then it is to stop it after a month." *** Accounts in the amount of $945,830.64 were approved for pay- ment. *** An OCCOPS hearing, to discuss policing for the township, will be wins Volvo cancer because of the lottery. Final results are to be released once all prizes have been claimed and final expenses paid. A final list of all winners will be released Dec. 29 in The Toronto Star and posted at www.ontario.cancer.ca <http://www.ontario.cancer.ca>. The final three $1 million Grand Prize winners were drawn at the CTV studios at 2 p.m. on Dec. 19. The Canadian Cancer Society funds research on all types of cancer which is the most comprehensive source of credible information on cancer, treatment, and risk reduction and provides support for people liv- ing with cancer, family members and friends. should- lie, with the notable excep- tion of all the water systems. Administration costs for general government, which are 66 per cent wages and benefits, will probably come in at or slightly under budget according to Knight. There are no significant over expenditures in this area because where they do occur the budget item was not large to begin with. held Tuesday, Feb. 5 at 1 p.m. in council chambers. Spending on council itself may be slightly over budget projections. This would appear to be due mainly to the complexity of 'amalgamating the five municipalities. This required many more committee and council meetings than the four each month that were originally suggested for each councillor. As one councillor wryly observed, "It's easy to do that in a week some months." This may be partially offset by the fact that money set aside for conven- tion expenses is currently signifi- cantly underspent. The only dark note in an otherwise bright financial expenditure summa- ry is supplied by the costs of operat- ing the five waterworks in Huron East. The systems in Brussels and Seaforth are near 100 per cent of their projected cost and Vanastra, Egmondville and Brucefield are already over their projected costs for the year. Much of this is due to the increased cost of the new testing regime required by the province. There have also been increased engi- neering costs associated with ensur- ing new standards are being met. Both Knight and the council appeared pleased with the munici- palities financial position in its first year of operation. North Huron council briefs ACO gives annual report