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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2002-11-27, Page 1WE icOdqt /;131Y41-1,- E STA El.) 1877 ?i, aimareieria l;-• NORTH HURON PUE1LISHING COMPANY INC. I Inside this week Q Blyth Midgets win Pg. k7 Silver Stick B Carol sheet insert Pg. IJ begins ,„ Former drug addict i)g. hj delivers message to students Pg. 26 G"13' student signs as apprentice P g. 9-7 'Wizard' takes Grand stage By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor After months of waiting and having interest accumulate, it looks like the $780,000 Superbuild money towards the Blyth arena renovation should soon be in the bank. North Huron Clerk-Administrator John Stewart told council Nov. 19 that he had contacted the federal government to find out why the money was stalled and was told it had been sent to the province weeks earlier. Stewart said he had then contacted Minister of Agriculture Huron - Bruce MPP Helen Johns's office several times to ask them to try to find the money. The municipality has been paying e Citizen Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 18 No. 46 Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2002 75 Cents (70c + 5c GST) Santa comes to Brussels Saturday It will be a day for the entire family, filled with activities, fun, a !ittle shopping and a visit with St. Nick. The Brussels community is hosting an old-fashioned Christmas night. Nov. 30. The Santa Claus parade will begin at 5 p.m., beginning at the ball park, travelling up Mill Street to Turnberry then heading south to the Kerr Apartments then going down John Street to the arena. Anyone wishing to enter a float, walk along in seasonal costume or participate in the parade should be at the ball park between 4 p.m. and 4:30 p.m. Though most entrants have yet to confirm their participation, the Seaforth All-Girls Marching Band will .add music to the event. Immediately following the parade, everyone is invited to enjoy free skating at the arena from 6 p.m. to 7 p:m. There will be a roped-off area for the little tykes and a hotdog, pop and chip snack for $2. Santa will also stay for a visit after his arrival at the arena. Pictures can be taken with the jolly old elf. For those looking to do a little Christmas shopping while in town and also donate to a worthy cause, Walton's -Little School will be holding a One Stop Shop and Silent Auction. Early shoppers can stop by the reception room upstairs at BMG Community Centre prior to the parade, from 2 p.m. to 4'p.m. It will reopen following -the parade and bidding will continue until 8 p.m. with shopping until 8:30 p.m. Proceeds from the event will go towards purchasing playground equipment for the school. Huron E. revisits issues By David Blaney Special to The Citizen The council of Huron East revisited the issue of water and sewer costs at its Nov. 19 meeting. The issue arose after Councillor Larry McGrath had raised questions about rebates to' the owners of vacant apartments at a previous meeting. Treastifer -brad Knight explained that the current municipal practice is to rebate water and sewage charges for unoccupied apartments and commercial units. This rebate can be obtained by .providing the town with documentation. Knight reported that when the local PUCs were sold the water and sewage charges, which were previously attached to hydro bills, had been collected on the tax bills. Knight admitted that it was ' "an administrative headache" to constantly adjust. the tax bills to reflect the occupancy of stores and apartments. Deputy Mayor Bernie MacLellan objected to the policy on the grounds of equity. He commented, "We are not treating residential users the same way we are treating apartment owners." MacLellan noted that Knight had suggested in his report that if all commercial multi-residential properties were metered they would be on a similar footing. He suggested that the council should, "set a date when all rebates will stop." He admitted, however, that council would need to ensure that it had left owners of apartments and commercial buildings sufficient time to have meters installed. Knight also cautioned that '!there are logistic problems about connecting some commercial buildings in Seaforth and Brussels." Council had previously investigated the installation .of meters for all residences in Seaforth and Egmondville in April of this year. After being informed that such a project would cost $300,000 plus a Charge to have the meters read councillors had determined to shelve the idea. According to the minutes of the April meeting during which the proposal was discussed it was .the consensus of council that no additional capital costs should be incurred until the various water systems were up to ministry regulations. Knight's report also compared the cost of water in the yarious wards with town services: These ranged from $180 to.$132 for flat rates to a variety of metered rates based on a -price per 1000 gallons. The cost of sewage disposal was added in areas serviced by sanitary sewers. Councillor Dick Burgess asked, "To what extent are we impacted by the provincial requirement that water rates cover the actual cost of water?" McGrath said, "With all the new requirements the province has put on Continued on page 6 Kicking up their heels With a seasonal spin, and a look at the past, the entertainers featured in the tribute to Don Messer's Jubilee at Blyth Memorial Hall this past Saturday delighted the audience with their variety of song and dance. The event was sponsored by the Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary. (Vicky Bremner photo) North Huron hopes wait for Superbuild money over bills with borrowed money meaning that until the funding arrived, the interest that is accumulated means that more money would need to be raised through fundraising to pay off the balance. In a telephone interview Monday, Stewart said he had received assurances late last week that the money would be in the bank by . this Wednesday.