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Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1997-01-08, Page 3local government in Ontario, and Seaforth have already Most significant) ,the ane) decided to conduct an unbi- y, p ased amalgamation study to Managing county forests BY BLAKE PATTERSON SSP News Staff News and Views TIN SIMMON EXPOSITOR, January 11, 1007-3 I)1 k\O 11 \1.\( •• KHEPAIRS • REBUILDING f KEYS RECOVERED f • OAMPP CHASERS no.• REGULATING •BENCHES IMF BRUOE PULSIFEl1 • SEAFORTH INSURANCE BROKER LTD. 527-1610 'Insuring Your Business Is Our Business' • Home • Commercial • Auto • Farm • Life • Out of Province Travel Insurance Call Your Representative Today • Ken Cardno • Lynn Pletsch • Barb Watt • Joanne Williamson NEW YEAR'S BABY - The first baby of 1997 arrived at Seaforth Community Hospital Friday, Januaryi0142r/ PHOTO at DAVID SCOTT Pictured here, parents Terri and Darcy Vanneste of Exeter hold their new baby girl, Madisson, who wighed in at1.m. 7 p.m. 15 ounces. The baby was delivered by midwife Susan Wilts, left, of Blyth. p.m. Rural hospitals working on plan BYDAVID �•w.a.. .,, DAVID EMSLIE SSP News Staff Representatives of the hos- pitals in Huron and Perth Counties are working togeth- er to form a proposal that could ensure that none of the eight hospitals arc forced to close. The Hospital and Related Health Services Task Force of the Huron Perth District Health Council (DHC) was scheduled to release its pre- He explained that the tion for the pro- posalmust be signed by the board chairs or executive directors of the eight hospi- tals, and that the proposal must also meet the financial target of 18 per cent savings. The proposal must also address the complete Huron Perth area. midnight on Jan. 14, 1997. Allan Halls, executive Last week executive. direc- director for Clinton Public tors and directors of finance Hospital (CPR) said that there of the eight hospitals met at appears to be a spirit of coop - CPU on Jan. 2 with a health oration among"the eight hos- planner working as facilitator, pitals . in coming up with a to begin the task of develop- proposal for the two counties. ing a plan with costing. That "There seems to be a willing - same evening representatives ncss to work together as a of the eight hospital boards group." He added, "they were met at CPH with another all quite up front...and willing facilitator to develop some to attend." initial principles that will be Support was expressed by incorporated into the district all of the hospitals, he contin- plan ued, for an "essential services model" which would ensure that all eight of the hospitals The hospital representatives in the counties would, at a will be gathering again on minimum, offer 24-hour Jan. 9 to review their plans emergency care with radioli- with representatives from the medical staffs of the county, - and thc proposal will go to each hoard before Jan. 13, prior to being presented to the task force on Jan. 14. ferred option c restruc turing of hospitals in the two counties on Dec. 19, but that deadline was extended to Jan. 21. Along with the extension of the deadline, the task force requested that an option be created by the boards of the counties' eight hospitals by ist clinics. By including those essential services, Halls said, the hos- pitals are working to ensure that they arc offering the ser- vices people feel most strong- ly about - emergency care and hospital keds. Next, the hospital represen- tatives will begin looking at particular aspects of medical care for the two counties, including obstetrics, surgery, mental health and other out- patient services. With Mycogen's Totally Managed Feedstuffs` (TMF) program, you can make both your cropping program and feeding operation more efficient. You grow more of what you feed on your own farm, and your animals utilitze it more completely. For more information on TMF silage hybrids and high-quality TMF alfalfas, see or call: LORNE GLANVILLE 527-1943 Bringing You Agriculture's Futures" ro 6„ 21,}{.5, rout MN 55171-III8 IAM-MYCLKEN • fl#AevlMbl �t?- BI fi VJv g • o (e Grooming Salon 81 Main Street South, Seaforth 527-0319 Tues. to Fri. 8:30 to 5:00 Sat 8:30 to 1:30 by appointment Closed Mondays Flea Baths and Moisturizers Reasonable Rates Christine Craven Over 6 years experience County wants to be BY BLAKE PATTERSON SSP News Staff recommended reducing the number of area municipalities by amalgamation -- a move which many Huron County Council docs feel would hamper the members mors not intend to let thc province ratic process. silence its rural voice. Bailey expressed his con - In fact, the council is rally- cern that any move by the ing support to ensure their province to amalgamate rural voice is heard. municipalities would mean "When enough people make taxes will go up while tax enough noise in the right payers' control over their gov- placc, things do happen," said cmment gocs down. Coun. Mason Bailey of Blyth. If the county allows the At the monthly meeting of number of municipalities to be •County Council on Jan. 2, thc reduced, he said, "We would council agreed to petition the be responsible for opening the province to ensure adequate doors for the mandarins and municipal input and consufta- dictators of the future." tion prior to any forced amal- Coun. Tom Cunningham of gamation of county munici- Hullett Twvp. said it would be • palities. premature for the province to L The petition was issued in impose amalgamation until it the light of recommendations has been proven, one way or recently made public by the the other, that such a move t the province's Who Does would save tax payers money. w What Panel. m If enacted, the panel's roc He said Colborne, Hullett, p McKillop and Goderich town- c ommendations could com- ships and the towns of Clinton pletely change the face of gy and emergency support; a minimum number of rural hospital beds (ie acute/chron- ic), possibly up to 20; physio- therapy; and visiting special - heard by province prove or disprove the econo is need for amalgamation. study is expected to he com pleted by the end of the year. Coun. Bill Clifford Goderich was the only voic of discord. r'Iifford said he hates t speak against such a "mother hood" issue, but he wanted t point out that the provincia government is doing just wha it said it would do when it was elected. He said the Harris govern- ment based its election plat- form on a master plan to get the province out of debt, and that is just what they arc doing. He added that despite the depth of the cuts, a majori- y of voters still agree with hat plan. He said it is understandable hat the members of council ant to be a territorial and rotcct thc identity of their ommunitics, but asked them to be realistic. With downloading from the province weighing hard on the m- county budget, restructuring The of some form may be needed. And if so, Clifford wants the �f county to control it's own fate rather than just standing firm on the status quo. "We still need a made -in- ° Huron plan," said Clifford. TIME RUNNING OUT 1 The province has indicated that the legislature will be t recalled early, on Jan. 13, to dcal with thc proposed legisla- tion. The province has also said that it intends to release restructuring legislation before Christmas. forestry services. The letter also said that the • Ministry's 'new business plan' hopes to "provide our Last September, Huronners ter role in County Council decided to setting new d recwith ag�tiaons and in send a letter to the Ministry of carrying out the management" Natural Resources requesting of the forests. information on how the Years ago, the county Ministry intends to manage entered into an agreement Huron County forest proper- which said the province would tics in thc wake of cutbacks manage 14 properties which have left forestry acquired by the county for offices without any staff. management forest purposes. At the Jan.2 meeting of What the county is now County Council, the'answer most concemed with, howev- arrived. er, is the possibility that the According to a letter from province may not have suffi- the Ministry's Wingham cient resources to care for the office (one of the offices forests properly until the which no longer has forestry agreement expires March 31, staff) the county was told it 2000. should probably 'seek' private Call with your news tips at 527-0240 NOTICE All Open Houses scheduled for January, 1997 have been cancelled. At the request of the Hospital and Related Health Services Study Task Force, the Huron Perth District Health Council is seeking a 60 day extension from the Ministry of Health. BENEFITS OF REFLEXOLOGY *Relieves tension Circulation *Improves *Kelps to normalize e body Allan Carter, Broker • Home • Auto • Commeretal • Farm 522-0399 Seaforth 1.800-265-0959 Strathroy TOWNSEND TIR E 1 Mile East on Cty. 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