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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-04-24, Page 1Pg. 16 Pg. 27 2002 spring car care issue Four-year-old wins dance competition Business helps fire dept. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor NEI [NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC Inside this week pa 9 More pics from 1 8' Slice of Huron Pg 11 A salute to our . volunteers Bullett gets minor Pg. 12 hockey award e CitizenYJss Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 18 No. 16 Wednesday, April 24, 2002 75 Cents (70c + 5c GST) Hands-on learning Kourtney Pfeiler, a student at Grey Central Public School, enjoyed a brief cuddle with a piglet before the animal took to some ambitious wriggling and squealing. Area students got a first-hand look at various aspects of farming last week A local business has seen the benefit to life and community of a thermal imaging camera, and has done what it can to try and help Blyth and Area Fire Department get one. Sparring's have purchased a pair of tickets for each Leafs game until the end of their season, to be auctioned Off on CKNX radio. Profit from the tickets, which are valued at $380 will be donated to the camera. A resident as well, has donated $1,250 towards its purchase while smaller donations have come in from individuals in Central Huron and Blyth. There have also been contributions from local organizations for a total of about $2,500-$3,000 said Fire Chief Paul Josling. While the councils of North. Huron, Huron East and Ashfield- Colborne-Wawanosh have together approved at least 50 per cent of the total $25,000 cost, both Morris- Turnberry and Central Huron have stated they won't contribute causing a larger shortfall than hoped. Josling said the two municipalities are concerned because they feel they would have to also contribute towards the purchase of cameras for the other fire departments which serve them. However, Josling said, "It would be worth it. It's a necessary piece of equipment for every department." Currently there are none in Huron, though South Huron is getting one, Josling said. A thermal imaging camera allows firefighters to see through smoke and in the dark. "The biggest asset is that a firefighter can find the root of the fire more quickly. They don't need to ' crawl around on the floor." As well,- the camera helps firefighters find any people that may be in the building. And while Josling agrees that the cost is considerable, it's "not a piece that's going to break the bank. It's a , lot of money,- but I feel residents deserve the best." By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor With 125 years behind it, Blyth has something to celebrate. But with just over three months left until the Homecoming weekend, committee planners are concerned that some events may have to be cancelled if volunteers can't be found. At the last meeting of the group only six people showed up. With events running from Friday night until 6 p.m. Sunday of the Civic weekend in August, organizers Bev Blair and Donna Longman are appealing to residents to get involved even if only for a few hours. "If we can get enough people who would give just a little time it 'could all pull together," said Longman. "We need everyone to chip in," said Blair, "or we aren't going to be able to continue with plans as they are." Some events, such as the bed races and dunk tank would have to be eliminated, while others would be down-sized. The committee also needs assistance with registration. The next meeting for the committee is May 8 in the Legion at 7 p.m. They encourage anyone interested in helping to make the Homecoming a success to contact them or Ken Stewart before the meeting or better yet attend. There are several events which are on track, said Blair. Also the cash calendars are still available at the bank. There are draws each month for $100 while the grand priie for $1,000 will be made at the Homecoming. Any profit left after coverigig costs will go to the arena. By David Blaney Citizen staff The formal budget debate ended at the April 16 council meeting with a motion to accept the draft budget as amended. The result came after three hours of discussion, which saw everything from the relative merits of subsidizing daycare and arenas, to council per diems talked about at length. Eventually increased revenue projections and cuts to budgets reduced the deficit by $133,000. The result left taxpayers with a 10 per cent municipal increase and about a four per cent overall tax hike. Administrative costs were trimmed by $14,500. This left them 5.4 per cent higher than in 2001 Transportation services and road maintenance were cut by $27,759. This left road maintenance $52,000 short of where it stood last year. Treasurer Brad Knight cautioned, "You are just delaying things that will need to be done." Councillors agreed to cut their own expenses and per diems by $5,000. During the discussion Deputy-Mayor Bernie MacLellan reminded council they were either one of the lowest or the lowest paid councillors in Huron County. Councillor Dick Burgess said, "The last time I got a comparable rate (per hour) to what I am getting on council I was 15 and getting 15 cents a basket for picking tomatoes." The Seaforth Fire Department had a $5,000 contribution to reserves removed and Grey Fire Department had its miscellaneous capital budget reduced by $6,000. Cuts came in the area of pension contributions, grass cutting contracts, grants to organizations and cleaning and supplies. The most controversial cut proved to be the $10,000 removed from the economic development budget. Mayor Lin Steffler went to some length to ensure that council realized The Avon Maitland District School Board's Feb. 27 decision to close Seaforth District High School (SDHS) will be challenged in court on May 23 in Toronto. But based on the outcome of a hearing before Stratford's Mr. Justice R.J. Flinn on Thursday, April 18, Seaforth-area trustee Charles Smith finds himself — formally, at least — on the exact opposite side of the case from where he wants to be. At the very least, Thursday's hearing provided a chance for Flinn to tell the participants when and where they should take the case before a three-judge panel of Ontario's Divisional Court. The Stratford judge made that order, pushing the case to Toronto because all available upcoming Divisional Court openings in London are full. But he also was forced to deal with two motions which had been added to the case since the original that hiring for economic development would be for a full year. She told council that removing it this year simply meant that they would have to place it in next year's budget. Revenue projections were increased in several areas. Council added $15,000 to the anticipated income from building permits and it was felt that $6,000 could be realized from grants to hire students. The water and sewer budget, which is area rated, had another $15,000 added to cover a 25 per cent share of the public works co-ordinator's Salary. This removes the money from the general tax rate. Councillor Larry McGrath commented, "This is still a tax increase. It doesn't show up on the tax bill but it does show up on the water rates." By far the most discussed budget item was a proposal to raise daycare fees to generate another $10,000. Although it was never clearly stated, council appeared to be assuming this would raise the daily rate to $25. Councillor Dick Burgess reminded council that daycare was a "price sensitive situation." He cautioned that since a Clinton facility was readily available fee increases might cause a drop in use, thus less revenue. Other members of council appeared to question whether the daycare centre should be subsidized at all. It was noted the service was not practical for residents in the north section of Huron East. Councillor Sharon McClure asked if the other two daycare facilities received any funding from government. When informed that they didn't she wondered out loud why.Walton Little School was able to offer competitive rates with no subsidy. Councillor Joe Seili was blunter saying, "It is unfair to ask ratepayers of Huron East to fund a service largely used by another municipality (Central Huron)." Councillor Continued on page 6 application for review was made in late March. First, in reaction to the fact that the application included an affidavit from Smith, the board sought to prevent the trustee from appearing as a witness for those challenging the decision. Smith, hoping to remain a part of the legal proceedings even if the board was successful, then applied to join the list of the review's applicants, which currently includes five Seaforth residents and the municipality of Huron East. Smith's lawyer, Hugh McDonald. informed Flinn that Smith would only seek to join the applicants it the board successfully prevented him from appearing as a It didn't take Flinn long, .howe to explain why he wouldn't allow Smith to be either a Witness or an applicant. "In my view, he cannot he a party and be a trustee," the :udge said. calling such a notion "Intpr(,per - and Continued on p'ai;e 6 HE accepts draft budget or 125th anniversary Sp By Stew ecial to The Slater Citizen Challenge proceeds during A Slice of Huron held at the Seaforth fairgrounds. (Bonnie Gropp photo) Committee needs help without Smith