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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-11-22, Page 5Opinion Public input needed on town hall Seaforth's Town Hall could be a good old-fashioned "hot potato". Heritage matters have been a lively focus of debate here on Seaforth's Main Street before. Opinions weren't difficult to come by then, and are still often strongly -held. One voter's "heritage" is "just an old buil- ding" for another. And my vote is just as im- portant as yours! Our local politicians are proceeding cautiously on the possibility of a feasibility study on Town Hall for good reason. These things generally cost money, sometimes lots of it. Council ended up earmarking more municipal funds than expected and dipping into reserves to finance the current Main Street library improvements, and even then plans had to be scaled down. Council wants the "public" to lead the dance on this latest issue. A number of official possible uses for vacant Town Hall space have been suggested. Another idea overheard on the street is that the location would be ideal for the local youth group which has been raising money and looking for a Main Street home for about a year now. There is another good notion afoot in the community,' which may soon surface, to use accessible Town Hall space to to good advantage. It might be prove hard to say no to this latter idea, even if anybody wanted to. A commandment of current long-term planning, which has increasingly occupied council's attention in recent months, is the politics. "The planning process must be community -led and consensus -based because the central issue is will, not expertise." That's how Couns. Michael Hak and Brian Fer- guson and Administrator Jim Crocker phrased it in their draft report to Council earlier this month. In other words: It won't work unless the "public" wants it and is willing to work. • And exactly who is this "public" anyway? Is it non- elected special interest groups such as the Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Com- mittee (LACAC), who some feel already have too much power and influence? Or does "public" also include those local taxpayers working in the shops and fields or on an as- sembly line somewhere, knowing their paychecks don't buy what they used to, and wondering why their labour through taxes ends up paying for things they don't give two hoots about? Electorates are tending towards the conservative these days and platforms of "no more tax" and "less government" get politicians and parties elected. Is heritage a frill? Has it become more so in the past decade, with far less grant money floating around these days? And, should public money, no matter what level of government yqu are talking about, be spent on priorities more pressing, such as hungry people or our aging population and costly and some say deteriorating health care, social and education systems? But is not the "health" of a "people", like us, not also somehow intimately tied up with our heritage and the com- munities in which we live? Meanwhile budget time fast approaches, and Seaforth Coun- cil continues in a fiscal never- never land at least until later this month when the provincial government says it will release details of its previously an- nounced 20 per cent reduction in grants to all municipalities. The latest guess .is it will knock all our socks off, a leaked figure of $3.5 -billion, which would be the largest cut in this province's history. The axe is about to fall and this is bound to have an effect on taxes and services or both here, as it will everywhere else in Ontario. But it is also us, the elec- torate and taxpayers, who demanded our provincial government balance the books and cut taxes. Our Harris government is doing so as it promised, meanwhile increasing in popularity. It all comes back to oursel- ves, as it should. What do we need? What can we do without? What are our priorities? We can't have our cake and eat it to. Seaforth sometimes seems apathetic. It is where almost everyone got in by acclamation last civic election, until the last minute when some other races surfaced. But it is also the same community that impres- sively built and financed a new arena and community centre in the wink of an eye when the need was perceived and the political will was there. "Hot potato" or not, you've got to give Seaforth Council credit for wanting all the public input it can get into the future of our Town Hall. Don't be shy. Speak up. If you can't walk up to the coun- cil chambers, write a letter to us. Vent you spleen. Com- munity newspapers are in' the idea and information exchange business. The Web isn't about to put us out of work. We've been around longer than Town Hall. "I have come to the conclusion that politics are too serious a matter to be left to the politicians," as General Charles De Gaulle once put it. He was right, even if he was French. We live in a most interesting time in an interesting place. Seaforth property owners get assessments Property owners in Seaforth got assessment notices adjusted to 1992 market values in the mail last week. An adjustment equalizes assessment on updated property values every four years. These new values, compared to the 1988 figures, indicate a shift of the tax burden in this town from commercial and business to residential properties, Ad- ministrator Jim Crocker told Seaforth Council last Tuesday. "An important thing to remember is the municipality stays the same," he said. "There is no revenue benefit to the town because of this." It is revenue neutral, Homecoming News producing no more tax than was already coming in. The residential tax burden in Seaforth has risen on average about 9.5 per cent since the last adjustment," Crocker said. The commercial and business as- sessment has been adjusted in the range of 15 to 20 per -cent, based on the change in proper- ty values for the same four- year period. Crocker said the relative assessments are now propor- tionally back to where they were about eight years ago, when a larger burden shifted to commercial, industrial and farm. He said adjustments started swinging back to residential four years ago, and the pendulum has now gone' back to about 1984. Local municipalities don't have the power to change assessments, but they can be appealed until next Jan. 9 through an independent tribunal of the Ontario Ministry of the Attomey General. Property owners can discuss concerns with assessors at an open house. Seaforth's is scheduled for .the upstairs auditorium at the Clinton Town Hall on Nov. 27 and 28 from 1 to 8 p.m. Crocker attached a property class tax impact study for Seaforth to last week's report to council, indicating how assessment among classes have been adjusted here since 1988, and the overall change for the past three updates (brackets denote minus): Residential, less than seven units, $111,979; multi -residen- tial, more than seven units ($5,097); commercial change, ($57,082); industrial change, ($27,927); farm change, ($282); pipeline change, ($2,168); railroad change, $119. Updated change 1996, $19,542; 1292 update change, $15,051; 1988 update change, ($53,456); net change, three updates, ($18,863). Profits of event donated to Bill Pinder bursary BY JEAN ROSS On Aug. 19, 1992, the first meeting of the Homecoming '95 Committee was held at the firehall, when Bill Pinder expressed his thoughts to Jim Sills and Don Pletsch regarding a reunion. On Nov. 15, 1995, the final meeting (we think!) was held at the Community Centre. Bill's dream has come true! Along with the very successful weekend, many positive facts evolved from the Homecoming. The organizations who actively involved themselves reaped (through hard work) some financial rewards; and it brought not only the friends and relatives home, it brought us all together as community - minded Seaforth and area fans. Bravo folks! A bouquet to you all! Thanks to the people and the weather, our worst fears of `going into the hole' didn't happen. After the bills are paid and the loan from the town repaid, the committee has made a decision to donate $1000 to the Lions Club (Park and Pool Fund); $1000 to the Library (this includes their share of the 50/50 Letters to the Editor Christmas dinner for those alone at holidays Dear Editor, For whatever reason, there arc people in Seaforth and arca who will be spending Christmas alone this year. Unfortunately, some prefer it that way. A traditional family favourite in my hous? and others I'm sure, was to go to church on Chrisunas Eve. Sometimes I took part in presenting the traditional Christmas classics that told of a 'baby born in a stable' and sometimes I sat enchanted as I listened to the 'Christmas Story'. The next day we celebrated by sharing gifts with loved ones delivered by jolly old St. Nick himself. Of course there was that wonderful aroma of the traditional turkey dinner cooking in the oven for later in the day. These are memories that will stay with 4 me forever! Bethel Bible Church would like to invite anyone who is going to be alone, away from loved ones, whatever . the reason, to come and share in some lasting memories this holiday season! There will be a hot turkey dinner served followed by entertainment provided by our Sunday School children. We hope that no one will be alone this Christmas. Please call Laura at 345-2408 and let her know you are coming so enough food can be prepared. Transportation will be provided if needed. If you are aware of anyone who will not sec this paper or other flyers posted around town, please invite them along. Merry Christmas to all! Laura Crawford Bethel Bible Church draw); and the balance (we expect over $2000) to the Bill Pinder bursary at Seaforth District High School. Any royalties from the videos will also be contributed to the bursary. By mid-December, there will be a financial statement available for information purposes at the town hall or from Marty Bedard at the Recreation Department. The videos are proving to be a very popular item. They are sold out at present, but will be available again soon at Stedmans and The Expositor, for $15. Can't have some Canadians more equal than others Dear Editor, Canada is a great nation founded on the principles of freedom and equality. Now, more than ever, we Canadians must re -affirm our commitment to these principles. Now, more than ever, Prime Minister Chretien must re- affirm his belief in these principles. Instead, he plans to give Quebec the special status of a 'distinct society'. Chretien is tragically wrong. Canadians cannot be equal if some Canadians are more equal than others. Distinct society status for Quebec undermines the equality of all other Canadians. Canadians must not and will not abandon their commitment to freedom and equality to appease anyone. Distinct society status for Quebec will neither leave Canada whole nor leave us with our cherished principles. Sincerely, David Somerville President, National Citizens' Coalition The Homecoming Committee will be presented with an award at the B.I.A. Christmas Party on Nov. 25 from the Town of Seaforth for their contribution to the success of the reunion. Carolanne Doig and Joe Steffler will represent the committee. The committee is most appreciative of this honour and we are happy to have been part of the good feeling that was spilling over into the community. Good luck to Homecoming 2005 Committee! 27th inaugural meeting Dec. 4 The Huron County Board of Education is having its 27th Inaugural Meeting on Mon., Dec. 4 at 3 p.m. in Clinton. THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Norombor 22, 1995-5 1,1•1 • Look for details in next week's Huron Expositor Special Shopping Night for Seniors (11111ifif111 11Hk CANADIAN TIR SEAFORTH 527-135 MID -WESTERN ONTARIO Farm Toys, Dolls, Miniatures, Crafts, & Sports Cards .. SHOW & SALE tod • and Seaforth Agriplex, High School & Arena Seaforth. Ontario Admission - 10 & over - $3.00 Free Skating for Everyone The organizers of the Peter Flanagan Memorial Novice Hockey Tournament acknowledge and thank the following for Liu.... generous support of the tournament Whitney-Ribey Funeral Home Seaforth Veterinary Clinic John H. McUwain Construction McKillop Mutual Insurance Co. Ron, Karen & Scott Driscoll Seaforth Grocery Winthrop General Store Hildebrand Flowers Hildebrand Paint & Paper Box Furniture Store Egmondville Store McConnell, Stewart & Devereaux Archie's Service Centre Tremeer Commercial Printers Seaforth Chiropractic Centre Seaforth Automotive & Industrial Supply All Styles II Seaforth Insurance Broker Ltd. Watt's Maintenance Culligan Real Estate Ltd. Seaforth Beavers Oldtiiners Elligsen Electric Ltd. Huron Expositor Cardno's Men's Wear Geo. A. Sills & Sons Seaforth Jewellers Ltd. L. McGrath Plumbing & Heating Sparky's Place D. Myles Retail Store (Stedmans) Seaforth Golf Course Ltd. Anna's Dress Shoppe Bistro Restaurant New Orleans Pizza Intermodal Transport Pizza Train Specials thanks to Undsay Devereaux & Sarah Noakes! We can make it easier to help you mu get through the winter! Stay With Us During The Winter Months.,. For As Low As .r.i.0 per day Call Cindy DeGroof at SEAFORTH MANOR RETIREMENT HOME 527-0030 100 James Street, Seaforth 11