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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.