HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-12-06, Page 17THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 2000. PAGE 17.
Gay Lea declares dividend once again
More than 400 members and
guests attending the Zone l annual
meetingun Brussels, Monday heard
that Gay Lea Foods Co-operative
Limited has declared a membership
dividend for the 24th straight year.
Though net earnings for the year
were down to $2,344,000 in 2000
from $3,402,000 in 1999, the co-op
will still pay a $788,500 membership
dividend and $477,500 patronage
dividend.
Membership equity in the compa
ny also increased by 10.5 per cent
this year and some 125 people were
honoured for joining the 100-share
club, adding $1.4 million to the
shareholder equity of the co-op.
With the increase in both equity and
retained earnings, the company now
has 58 per cent of its $75 million
assets in shareholder investment,
said Tom McGee, outgoing chairman
of the board of directors.
The company’s sales increased to
$232,286,000 for the year but higher
expenses for utilities and transporta
tion brought about by increased
energy costs, plus absorption of
some one-time costs associated with
a move to an expanded warehouse in
Weston, reduced the profit level.
The shortage of butter fat
increased the amount of butter solids
the company had to purchase to
maintain Gay Lea’s first place posi
tion in butter sales and this cut mar
gins.
A shortage of milk, due to a 1.6 per
cent decline in Ontario’s milk pro
duction, also hurt powdered milk
production at the company’s Guelph
plant. Cottage cheese sales increased
from 10.8 to 11.3 million kilos and
the company’s Nordica brand is far
and away the number one brand, said
Paul McGowan, vice-president of
production.
Sour cream saw a huge increase in
sales from 6.7 to 11.1 million
litres.
Gay Lea has also recorded strong
sales as far away as California for its
non-dairy whipped topping, sold in
Canada and the U.S. under the brand
names of various retail chains.
The company plans on spending
$39 million in building a new milk
drying plant in Guelph on the site of
the former Growmark feed mill next
to the current Gay Lea facility.
Company president Charles McDaid
said members would be asked to take
part in that investment, though he
couldn’t say at this point how much
member investment would be sought
and in what form.
John Ellison of Listowel was re
elected as a director of the co-op by
acclamation.
Acclaimed as delegates to the con
vention from the local area were
Eldon Bowman of RR1, Gorrie, Fred
Meier Jr. of RR4, Brussels, Margaret
Hem, and Rowena Wallace.
Blyth still waits for word
on Hydro One takeover
There’s still no word when Hydro
One will be able to take over the
Blyth electrical service, Clerk-
Treasurer John Stewart told village
council Monday night.
The takeover must be approved by
the Ontario Energy Board and the
board is bogged down with requests,
Stewart said. It has been averaging
about five approvals a week and as
of two weeks ago, there was a back
log of 85 applications. “Where ours
is in that pile we don’t know.”
Faced with possible delays Hydro
One has asked the local Public
Utilities Commission to staff the
Blyth village office into January,
though the changeover was to be
completed by year-end. But with
municipal restructuring, finding the
staff could be a problem. “I don’t
think we can afford to staff the office
very long,” Stewart said. “I think for
January we can probably live with
it.”
Meanwhile, chlorination of the
water supply has also brought com
plaints to the village office. The
Ministry of Environment has a
required level of chlonne it wants at
the outskirts of the village but in
order to get that level so far from the
pump, the level must be boosted
higher at the pumphouse, said Bill
Bromley, public works foreman.
That means people close to the
pumphouse complain of the chlorine
smell.
On the subject of water safety,
Councillor Doug Scrimgeour won
dered if there was any record of
abandoned wells in the village.
Abandoned wells, particularly deep
ones, can be a route for contamina
tion to make its way into the under
ground water supply. Environmental
officials urge all abandoned wells to
be properly plugged to prevent the
problem.
After some discussion it was sug
gested this is an area the municipali
ty should be aware for future action.
Top citizen
Blyth and area’s Citizen of the Year, Murray Siertsema, second from right, accepts his award
from last year’s recipients, from left: Robb Finch, Dave Cook, Brent Scrimgeour and Doug
Walker prior to the Dec. 4 Blyth council meeting. Siertsema was selected by the committee for
his enthusiasm and hard work for the community as well as for his cheerful personality. This
award is sponsored annually by The Citizen.
THE 10 METRE
SAFETY
ZONE
WIRES CAN BE
LIVE
Always remember the rule - keep 10 metres away from any fallen
power line. Storms, high winds or fallen trees may cause power
lines to touch the ground. But even lines that look dead could in
fact be live and very dangerous. If you come upon a fallen power
line, call your local hydro or the police as soon as possible.
Visit www.HydroOne.com
CONNECTING AT
THE SPEED OF LIFE"
Keep 10 metres away and warn others. Fallen wires that look
dead could be very dangerous. Always call your local hydro or the
police to report the hazard. If there's a fallen wire touching your
vehicle, stay inside until a hydro crew removes the wire. If you
must get out, jump ciear without touching the car and the ground
at the same time. Then shuffle or hop away 10 metres keeping
both feet tight together.
Visit www.HydroOne.com
CONNECTING AT /xJ
THE SPEED OF LIFE" liyUl O
1 one
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