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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-01-30, Page 22Bridal & Fashion Show Sun. Feb. 10 Noon to 4 p.m. Lucknow & District Community Centre • Refreshments • Door Prizes for Brides Admission $2 (Brides Free) Sponsored by the Lucknow and District Chamber of Commerce Carlson Wagonlit Ellison Travel Watch for our Gigantic Sale the whole month of February Gait-Exeter Jenny - Exeter Sarah-Exeter Helen-Goderich Tracy-Godertch 1101.0-• • 2 Locations to Serve You Better! GODERICH (519) 524-8692 OR 1-877-847-1272 EXETER (519) 235-2000 OR 1-800-265-7022 Goderich Office OPEN Sat 9 am - 1 pm Log on for the BEST VACATION DEALS www.ettraveLcom/hotdeals www.ettravel.com/cruises good in case one of the other two can't attend. Helen Rintoul was elected as treasurer. PHYSICIAN RECRUITMENT Board member Verna Steffler said now is the time to try and get new physicians to come to Wingham. She indicated that something should be done, but it should be more than every September. A letter should be sent now to all medical students who are graduating in June 2002. She recommended a mass mailing be done this year. AMBULANCE PROTOCOL Dr. Marie Gear indicated that all acute stroke patients would be diverted to either Stratford or Owen Sound for treatment. She said the decision would be up to the paramedics answering the call. It would only be on ambulance- answered calls and would only involve people with advanced stoke symptoms. Dr. Gear said the procedure would be re-evaluated in a few months PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 30, 2002. Councillors discuss economic impact of school closure By David Blaney Citizen staff The council of Huron East found school closing and business develop- ment coming together at their regular meeting of Jan. 23. Fourteen busi- ness owners, supporting the Seaforth BIA, appeared before council asking for help in "rekindling" public sup- port for the Seaforth District High School. Their report, presented by Susan Arts, said in part, "We sense the pub- lic is apathetic or they have given up the hope of keeping the high school open" The report went on to detail the possible short-and long-term effects of school closing. The BIA suggested that the results of school closing range from store closing and job losses in the short term to an inability to attract doctors and other professionals in the long term. They went on to ask if people realized the amount of money that would leave the community every day with the students. Councillors explained that all of the reporti's suggestions for support- ing the school had been undertaken without success. The council had issued press releases, appeared at board meetings and lobbied trustees and the local MPP. Deputy-Mayor Bernie MacLellan reported a conversation with Huron Perth MPP Helen Johns. According to MacLellan, Johns claimed she fought tooth and nail against closing the first time around, but that people had then turned around and voted for trustees they knew were in favour of closing schools. MacLellan said he felt Johns had basically washed her hands of the whole thing. Both the council and the business representatives expressed frustration with the manner in which the board deals with the public. Later in the evening the subject of business again appeared before council when Mayor Lin Steffler presented a 2002 work plan from the Huron East community development committee. In her presentation Steffler said, "I would like to get a commitment from council that economic community development is a priority. The best way to do that is to accept this report." The plan included the controver- sial recommendation to hire an eco- nomic development co-ordinator. This suggestion had caused negative comments fronti several councillors at earlier Meetings. The discussion that followed the presentation seemed to indicate that the opinion of some councillors had changed. Worries about the effect of the high school closing and the fact that both Brussels and Seaforth had lost business recently were men- tioned by councillors. Councillor Bill DeJong asked if anyone had contacted a community with a development officer to see if they had been successful. Steffler mention St. Marys and commented that they had not had a tax increase in several years because expanding business had provided a larger tax base. Councillor Sharon McClure remained unconvinced however ask- ing, "Would an economic develop- ment officer have stopped the recent store closing?" The report suggested a budget of $75,000 for the work of the commit- tee and would include $25,000 not spent from last year's funding as well as new money. This amount would include the cost of the co- ordinator. With the co-ordinator's expertise the committee intends to continue the development of the Huron East web page, develop a prospectus on the municipality, visit all businesses in Huron East and identify economic opportunities within the community. After discussion the report was adopted on a recorded vote with Councillors Alvin McLellan, Greg Wilson and McClure voting against. 1 Huron East council briefs Council endorses resolution from Grey County Wawanosh to have legislation project with the money to come from changed to allow property owners to the transition grant. make applications to amend their *** farmland property class for the cur- Clerk-Administrator , Jack rent taxation year. McLachlan reported to council that *** the Avon Maitland District School A motion was passed in support of Board had forwarded information the OPP establishing a community with regard to their 1999-2000 and policing office in Brussels at the 2000-2001 budgets. Its recent arrival Brussels Medical Centre building. meant that he was unable to say whether it answered council's ques- tions. Council endorsed a motion from Chatsworth Twp. in Grey County that the Ministry of the Environme'it br the Province of Ontario provide addition financial support for the users of small communal water sys- tems. The resolution says the added sup- port is needed to allow them to cope with the cost associated with new regulations regarding testing, report- ing and associated capital improve- ments. *** Council indicated its support for a motion by Ashfield-Colborne- *** A request by the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority for authori- zation to update the Brussels flood plain map was approved. The munic- ipality will contribute $4,800 for the *** Huron East would appear to be having a problem with its insurance company. The municipality locked in its insurance coverage for three years last year in an attempt to save money. According to the Clerk- Administrator the company is now attempting to change the terms of the agreement. *** The Town of Huron East announced on Monday that its offer to purchase the Seaforth Post Office building had been accepted. The offer is subject to several conditions including a satisfactory engineer's report on the building's condition and a lease agreement being signed between the municipality and the Canada Post Corporation. The current owner had asked the post office to vacate the premises and council felt that it was important to ensure that the post office remain in its current location. PrIt is expected that the town would use a portion of the building if the sale closes. It is intended to use a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Seaforth's former PUC to make the purchase. *** Accounts in the amount of $394,426.50 were approved. Prov. announces grants for North and Central Huron By David Blaney Citizen staff The provincial government recently announced another round of SuperBuild grants for local munici- palities. These grants under the OSTAR program are directed towards improvements to local water and sewage systems. A spokesman for Huron Perth MPP Helen Johns described them as the first installment of the province's portion of the total cost of the proj- ects. The complete cost of the projects is usually borne equally by federal, provincial and municipal govern- ments. In this case the provincial govern- ment has not followed the usual procedure for jointly-funded proj- ects. Projects of this nature are usually suggested by the municipal level, and if accepted by the province, nominated for federal funding. A spokesperson in the office of MP Paul Steckle said that some of the current round of provincial announcements are appearing prior to the federal government receiving official notice of their acceptance. He stressed that municipalities would be prudent to avoid large spending commitments based on these grants until they have signed agreements. Johns' office acknowledged that notice of the province's interim grants was provided prior to the complete cost of the projects being determined. The nature and terms of the contracts between the province and the municipality will need to be negotiated in theluture. In a press release Johns said, "This advance payment ... is intended to make life easier for the municipali- ties as they do their budget planning for 2002." North Huron received $180,898 to be used for upgrading the Humphrey, Blyth and Wingham well supply and the Municipality of Morris-Turnberry received $88,851 for work on the Belgrave and McCrae wells. Central Huron's grant was $231,595 and will be used to upgrade the seven water systems in that community. Huron East received $94,900 to assist with work on its five water systems. All the grants are aimed at allow- ing the municipalities to undertake planning and engineering work to bring water systems into compliance with drinking water protection regu- lations. Taylor resigns from Wingham hospital board By Jim Brown Wingham Advance Times Two letters of resignation were dealt with at the January meeting of the Wingham and District Hospital board. Board Chairman Judith Gaunt said the letter received by Jack Stafford has since been retracted. She noted Arnold Taylor has resigned for personal reasons. She added the Twp. of North Huron council will not appoint another councillor as the municipality already has three representatives. Because of the resignation the board had to appoint a representative and an alternate to the Joint Executive Committee. Howick Twp. representative Norm Fairies was appointed as the board's representa- tive. He will take the position until the end of June. While an alternate was not appointed Gaunt noted it should be someone who is going to be around for a while. A minimum of two people are required to attend from each board. As board chairman, Gaunt is auto- matically a member of the JEC. Having a third member attend is