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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-06-05, Page 20Achievement Barb Black presents the Canada Cord to Nicole Meier. Also pictured are 'graduating' Belgrave Pathfinder Karrin Marks and leader Sandra Dorsch. (Vicky Bremner photo) "Planting season doesn't stop when June arrives" There's still a wonderful selection of plants all grown in our own greenhouses in one acre of beautiful surroundings. Everything you need to colour up your garden and patio in many shapes and sizes. We're been Beautifyingfluron County one plant at a tune since 1981! • Water Plants • Perennials • Geraniums • Potted Containers • Hanging Baskets • Nursery Stock Ted's Tasty Tomatoes the tomato that tastes like a tomato Gardener's Paradise R.R. #1 Bayfield, ON NOM 100 519.482-3020 Hours...Mon.-Fri. 8-8, Sat. & Sun. 9-6 PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 2002. Huron East approves 10% increase in levy By David Blaney Citizen staff The 2002 budget was the subject of a presentation by Huron East Treasurer Brad Knight at the May 28' meeting of council. Knight has final- ized tax rates in preparation for the audit of the municipalities 2001 financial activities. The council approved a 2002 gen- eral tax levy increased from $1,154,000 to $1,274,00 at its April 16 meeting. This 10 per cent increase in the municipal levy has subsequently been influenced by three significant developments. The Hensall fire area will be pur- chasing a new truck, which increas- es the Huron East fire levy for that area by $55.000. This has been par- By Stew Slater Special to The Citizen Following a meeting in late May, the Avon Maitland District School Board hopes to'build on a fairly new practice of sitting down once per year with representatives from municipal councils within its territo- rY- The board hosted its third annual meeting with municipal politicians May 21, and Chair Colleen Schenk provided a brief report about the event at a regular board meeting Tuesday, May 28. And while discus- sions at previous such gatherings have either been aimed at least part- ly at issues around potential school closure, or have tended to progress in that direction; discussion at this meeting reportedly ranged beyond that issue. Stev6 Howe, Avon Maitland com- munications manager, said in an interview that student accommoda- tion - was one issue which came under examination May 21, includ- _ ing discussions of what constitutes a community school. "A number of (municipal) repre- sentatives talked about how they feel about community schools and how they'd like schools to remain open in their communities." Howe said. HPHP CEO Bonnie Adamson, president and CEO of the Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership (HPHP), has announced her resignation, effective Aug. 16, as she has accepted a new position as president and CEO of North York General Hospital in Toronto. In an announcement sent May 31 to all hospital staff, medical staff, board members and volunteers, Rev. Dr. Rick Horst, Chair of the joint executive committee board for HPHP, expressed his thanks for Adamson's "profound leadership abilities since the establishment of the partnership in 1998." In addition, Horst noted that, "Mrs. Adamson has worked in col- laboration with health care stake- holders throughout Huron Perth, and beyond, to establish many positive outcomes in developing a hospital network for improving patient care." Major accomplishments during Adamson's tenure include the inte- gration of administration and sup- port services, securing new funding from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, as well as develop- ing strong linkages with The University of Western Ontario, the London teaching hospitals, and other health care alliances. tially offset by two other develop- ments. The municipality will be receiving a rebate of $24,327 on their 2001 policing contract from the OPP. The insurer for the town has also agreed to honour the three-year contract signed in 2001 with an increase in premiums of approximately $3,500. The council had budgeted for a $22,000 increase in case the contract could not be enforced. This means that the effects of the increase in the fire levy will be sig- nificantly reduced. The increase in the municipal por- tion of the tax leN y ranges from a high of .12.9 per cent in the Tuckersmith ward to a decrease of 4.3 per cent in Brussels. The Seaforth levy will increase by 4.2 But he also says some politicians were eager to discuss ways in which the school board and municipalities can work together to save money and resources. He likened it to the discussions which have already taken place at . the so-called "Common Cause" series of meet- ings, another Avon Maitland initia- tive which has seen leaders from various community, education and political stakeholder groups gather on several occasions. In her report on the meeting, Schenk explained there was discus- sion about co-operating on the costs and materials for such things as paving, especially if a municipal council plans to resurface roadways in the vicinity of a school. She noted that paving decisions are often made prior to late May by most municipalities, so next year's meeting will likely take place earli- er, perhaps in April. She also said there was enthusi- asm among those in attendance for making the municipallschool board discussion a twice-yearly event, per- haps scheduling another meeting in October. Asked to offer his analysis, South Huron Trustee Randy Wagler con- curred, saying "it was a good, open meeting. We need to do it more often." moves on "This is an excellent career oppor- tunity, and I look forward to the challenges that lie ahead," said Adamson. "However, I will also miss the wonderful colleagues and friends that I have worked with over the past four years. I wish the Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership all the success for the future." North York General Hospital is a multi-site hospital in north central Toronto that offers a wide range of clinical services. Police find stolen car On June 1, at 9 a.m. Huron OPP were advised of a 1997 Pontiac Firebird in the ditch just off of Scott Line in East Wawanosh. The officer discovered that the owner of the vehicle had attended a house party on West Street in Morris-Turnberry that night and sometime after 3:30 a.m. the car was stolen. The vehicle received a large amount of damage. Any person who can supply information on the theft of the vehi- cle is asked to call the Huron OPP or Crime Stoppers. per cent and Grey and McKillop increased by 10.1 per cent and 11.4 percent respectively. When the county and educational portion of the levy is added, taxes in Brussels are reduced by one half per cent. Under the new rates Seaforth taxes go up by 2.9 per cent, Grey by 4.1 per cent, McKillop by 4.4 per cent and Tuckersmith by 4.7 per cent. A family owning a $100,000 house in Brussels will pay $1,478 in 2002 composed of $537 for munici- pal taxes, $568 for County taxes and $373 for education. This compares to $1,485 in 2001. Similar figures for Grey are municipal $380, county $568 and education $373 with the combined total being $1,321. The municipal tax-bite is different for each ward due to the existence of area rated services. These services such as sewer, water and street light- ing are only available within certain portions of Huron East. Only those portiOns of the town which receive benefits from area rated services are charged for them on their tax bills. Knight said that the percentage increases for Huron East are in line with those that he is aware of in other municipalities. AMDSB meets with politicians