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The Goderich Signal-Star, 2009-10-07, Page 5Goderich Signal -Star, Wednesday, October 7, 2009 - Page 5 Goderich cabs seek fair compensation Police nab three Oerardl Cruces signal -star staff What's fare for patrons is not necessarily fair for Goderich's taxi drivers. Last Friday, representatives from two of Goderich's three taxi - companies were at Town Hall to hash out the details of a poten- tial rate increase - the first of its kind in more than six years. Heading the charge is John Colombe, owner and operator of Anytime Taxi, who brought a deputation before council early in the New Year. He said cost of living increases, pricier insurance and wildly fluctuating gas prices were the reason he wrote to council for the increase. He also noted, it is the first of its kind since he started in the business. "We haven't had one in six years," he said. "It would be around 10-11 per cent." The starting rate of $3.20 would remain, however, the standard $1.80 per kilometre. would rise to $2 - a minimal change, accord- ing to Colombe. For out of town drops, the wait -time fee would rise from $25 to $30 for drivers who have to stick around for their fares when heading out of town for appointments. With no buses and no rail transit in the area, Colombe said the increases were nec- essary to keep with the increasing business Goderich's taxi companies face. "A lot of people are dependent on taxis to get to London or even to Clinton," said Any- time accountant Debra Tigwell. "For people who have to see specialists in London or To- ronto, this is the only way to get there." Photo by Gerard Creces Anytime Taxi owner John Colombe has been mustering support for the first cost of living increase for cab drivers in Goderich in more than six years. In proposing the fee increase, Colombe also consulted with other cab companies in town, as well as studied rate increases for nearby cities like London and Kitchener. "I don't think I went overboard asking what I'm asking," he said. "We think one raise in six years is pretty reasonable. Last year, when gas prices shot up to more than one dollar, Colombe found cities were quickly approving fee hikes for cabs, though in Goderich, they remained the same. Pat Smith, owner of Goderich' Taxi, said she feels the rate increase is a good thing, as their last increase was seven years ago. "It's not huge, it's around a dollar per call," she said. "A $7 call would end up anywhere from $8 to $8.50 depending on how many stops they make." Goderich has the cheapest taxis in the province, she said, adding city prices are much more than even what they are cur- rently asking for. She said the public may have reservations at first, however the increase is necessary for :,ost of living. "There will be some people upset over it at first," she said. "Maybe for the first month they will complain but after that, they'll just pay it." The town has the final say in how much of an increase will be implemented. They met. with the cab company reps October 2, with a bylaw to be tabled Oct. 13. In the meantime, Colombe expressed his thanks to all taxi patrons in Goderich for their continued support. in drug bust Police have seized an estimated $260,500 in controlled substances following a search of an Exeter -area home. - On September 29, OPP executed a Con- trolled Drug and Substances Act Search Warrant at a residence in the Municipality of South Huron. The investigation resulted in the seizure of processed marijuana and mari- juana plants. Charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance for the Purpose of Trafficking are a 52 -year-old woman and 29 -year-old man, along with a 48 -year-old man, all of the Mu- nicipality of S©uth Huron. All three accused persons have been released from custody and are to appear before the Ontario Court of Jus- tice in Goderich on November 26 to answer to their charges. STOP YIELDS NARCOTICS The odour of fresh marijuana wafting from a vehicle stopped on Airport Line near Blue - water has landed one 19 -year-old Bluewater resident in the hot seat. On Sept. 28 at approximately 9:45 p.m., a. Huron OPP officer stopped a slow-moving vehicle. During the stop, maiihuana came into plain sight and was seized from the driver. A further search of the vehicle and the occupants produced a quantity of suspected cocaine. The driver now faces one count of Posses- sion of a Controlled Substance Marijuana and one count of Possession of a Controlled Substance — Cocaine. 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