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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1997-11-19, Page 1Opinion The story of Conn Smythe, a colourful, controversial character in hockey history. See page 5 �i lbwn Council Bill Bennett steps down after 24 years of local politics. See page 3 Sports Results from the . Peter Flanagan Memorial Novice Hockey Tournament. See page 7 r Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 — Seaforth, Ontario Briefly Main Street to be resurfaced Seaforth will have its Main Street resurfaced in 1998, Reeve Bill Bennett, the town's representative on Huron County Council, reported to Seaforth Council last Tuesday night. No DHC office here Seaforth "is not central enough" and "not likely to be considered as a new location for the amalgamated DHC for Bruce, Grey, Huron and Perth Counties," Kelly Gillis of the Huron Perth District Health Council informed town council in correspon- dence noted and filed at last Tuesday night's regular meet- ing. Logistics problem with tax collection Seaforth "may have to consider amending the tax bylaw and delay the collec- tion of pre -levy taxes," clerk/administrator Jim Crocker reported to town council last Tuesday night. The problem, as he described it, is logistics and the Ontario government. "The assessment office has advised the clerks that our preliminary tax tape, which is used to calculate and print interim tax bills, may not be available until the end of January," the administrator's report states. "Considering that these tapes will contain entirely new assessment informa- tion, and the tape must go to auto administrator for downloading to our system and then be delivered to Seaforth for processing the tax rates and printing the preliminary tax bill before Feb. 6, we have a definite time problem!" Crocker said details on new municipal tax rates (rather than mill rates) and tax ratios, among other numbers to be crunched, haven't been forwarded by the provincial government yet which "is proposing making dramatic changes to the assessment and property tax system in Ontario through Bills 106 and 149 called the Fair Municipal Finance Act." Less than half cast ballots in election Roughly 42 per cent of the eligible voters in Seaforth cast ballots in a week ago Monday's municipal election for mayor. Share maintenance Seaforth Council carried a motion at its Nov. 4 meeting requesting Huron County share maintenance of the connecting. link with this town "by plowing and sand- ing Highway 8 in Seaforth on weekends and after regular Seaforth Public Works day shifts during the week." New door okayed At tact Tuesday night's 'reg- ular meeting, Seaforth Council okayed a new metal door for an old wood one for 47 Main St. S, to be followed by LACAC review. Seaforth Jewellers is at that address. a November 19, 1997 — $1.00 includes GST PHOTO BY DAVID SCOTT CRAFTS FOR ROOF - A craft sale and penny sale was held Saturday and Sunday at the Seaforth Community Centre hall to raise money for a new roof for the Van Egmond house. Fred Harkers of Blyth, right, had a display featuring Raggedy Anne dolls and other custom -sewing, knitting and crocheting. `Municipalities need to speak up' Lack of details from province on changes BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff "Teflon Mike" is what deputy -reeve Bill Teall called Ontario Premier Mike Harris after Seaforth Council heard depressing reports at last Tuesday night's regular meeting from Huron County planner Gary Davidson and town clerk/administrator Jim Crocker. Davidson commented Huron County has to find about $11 -million in six weeks, by the start of the New Year, because of provincial downloading and restructuring. Crocker reported lack of details from the Ontario government on proposed "dramatic changes to the assessment and property taxation system" will have a "financial impact" on the town, which might have to "delay the collection of pre - levy taxes." "We can't speak out enough because we are going to get blamed," Teall said, before council approved the report from its administrator. "Municipalities need to speak up." The deputy -reeve said nothing seems to stick to -"Teflon Mike," whose gov- ernment seems particularly adept at three things - removing power, removing money and making oppo- nent's voices "very distant." Mall said, other than rais- ing taxes, municipalities like Seaforth have little they can do. "We've already cut to the bone," he said. "Now we've got two options - people will have to be fired or we will have to cut services. "We are being manipulat- ed by the provincial govern- ment." Teall observed about 40 per cent of Seaforth ratepay- ers had turned out to vote in the municipal election the night before, but predicted this town will be getting calls from more like 60 per cent of them when the provincial government's changes come into effect. RisMiness retention' & eXtAftltl Framework for taking shape program healthy environment," said BY DAVID SCOTT town clerk/administrator Jim Expositor Editor Crocker, who co-chaired the meeting with Joe Sterner. Existing Firms Important Existing firms are impor- tant to the local economy. Some studies estimate the percentage of new jobs creat- ed by existing businesses as high as 80 per cent. According to the BR & E video, a lot of people think economic development is going out, snagging an industry and bringing it in for more jobs. But the impor- tance of local job creation by existing firms can't be over- looked. "Many communities have pursued policies designed to attract outside firms to move into the arca. However, such a strategy is not likely to be effective if existing business. es are not happy with the local business climate," according to program litera- ture, 'hoods to be Identified Muegge says questionnaires designed for the interviews in the seven communities in viewing them, in strict confi- dence, about their business. The visitation program is at the heart of this project. From the interviews business con- cerns can be identified, needs of the owners looked at, so that solutions can be found that help all local businesses to become more successful. In total about 40 volunteers will be needed to conduct these interviews, or more depending on how many businesses are involved. Area to. Involve The question of the number of businesses to he inter- viewed and the boundary from which to draw upon was discussed at length. It was agreed that the area encompassed by the Seaforth Fire Area would be a good starting point. The next step is to identify all businesses in the area, including agricul- ture, create a data base, and contact them by mail to explain the program and invite them to participate in the interview process. "It's a proactive + ram," says Catalan the media c "it raises t WOW The framework for a three. year project by local volun- teers to help revitalize Seaforth and arca businesses and industries is being put into place. A team from Seaforth, com- ed of Gwen Devereaux, sed Nichol, Cathy Garrick Ir Jane Muegge of AFRA, attended a recent ning session in Guelph on business retention and ansion (BR & E) program shared their information h a group of local volun- rs Thursday night at forth Town Hall. caforth is one of seven mmunities chosen in tarso for a pilot BR & E ect. The ministry of agri- lure (OMAFRA) is help - to design the process and n volunteers. The Huron loess Development ration will help deter - the resources needed. c group watched a video ut a BR & E program in rtncsota which showed rs of volunteers visiting d inter - questions so cross -proven trends can be identified wh the data is conipiled. Some of the other comm nities chosen are Orangevill the Township of Woolwic and Ncw Tecumseh. "Why was Seafort picked," said Devereauit "Because Jane sent in A application. They looked 14 different municipal but we already had a g place." Devereaux say's can't see anything negati about this project and ad the it is the first of its kind Canada. The first six m program will Ing businesses, tion wi Cher can �.! Corns Charged with obstructing justice Man remains in custody following bail hearing SCOTT HILGENDORFF SSP News Staff A 50 -year-old London man will remain in custody while his wife and an 18 -year-old woman have been released after appearing in Goderich court Wednesday in connec- tion with evidence given for last spring's second degree murder trial of Steve Murray. The three were in court for a bail hearing after being charged earlier this month through a joint investigation between the Goderich Police Service and OPP. Robert Maness, 50 and his wife, Robin have been charged with obstructing jus- tice by giving false informa- tion on a sworn affidavit in relation to Murray's trial. In addition, an 18 -year-old London woman has been charged with obstructing jus- tice and perjury for testimony she gave during the trial. The woman, who cannot be identified because she was 17 at the time and is protected by the Young Offenders Act, gave testimony that she met Mistie in London and that the Mistie stayed for two days and one night in her home, after she was alleged to have been murdered. Her father, Steve, was found not guilty of the charge of the second degree murder of Mistie, who has been missing since May 31, 1995. CONTINUED on page 2 Seaforth not happy about fee increase for. plumbing BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff At last Tuesday night's council meeting, Seaforth added its name to the list of municipalities that have seri- ous concerns about the fee schedule, among other things, of a Huron County planning and development committee report on inspec- tion services for plumbing and on-site sewage programs circulated "for comment." It is a "user pay" proposal. The cost of an installation permit, under this fee sched- ule, rises to $296.36 from its current rate of $22, and there is no differentiation in the rates between installing a faucet or plumbing an entire new house. Council asked Huron County planner Gary Davidson to attend last week's meeting to explain the changes. He said the intent was to streamline inspection ser- vices in the county which arc currently carried out indepen- dently of one another by the health unit and department of planning and development, and that whereas the province has been paying 75 per cent of the service through grants, because of downsizing municipalities will have to bear 100 per cent of this cost as of Jan. 1, which is where CONTINUED on page 2