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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-07-08, Page 5Farmers watching for bug BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor Staff Farming is so high-tech these days that farmers should pay close attention to their systems to ensure the millennium bug doesn't adversely affect their operations. So says Bob Humphries of OMFRA at Clinton, who adds most farms have been advised of the potential for problems, through the farm press or on the internet. Smart fanners are on top of it. Micro -chips with date function are all over the place in the farming industry now, he says, particularly in the new high-tech barns, or with things like ventilation and milking systems. The Avon Maitland District School Board is also taking the millennium bug seriously. Janet Baird Jackson, superintendent of corporate operations and information technology, says the last thing the board wants is to be stuck in elevators, or to have too much heat or not enough in schools after New Year's eve entering the year 2000. She has noticed the millennium bug being increasingly addressed by suppliers in the last six weeks. Baird Jackson says the board has been working on the bug in depth since April, and that some employees whose specialty is technology have been at it far longer. "Analysis is as important as coming up with solutions, she says. "It is not just an information, high-tech issue." Outside of the computers, hardware and software, in the classrooms and used for administration, the board relies on computer chips for all manner of purposes. For instance, for heat control, security, in hydro and phones, and for such things as video -conferencing. The superintendent estimates the expenditure of $70,000 would be in order to find hardware and software solutions for the board. "We have a fairly extensive technological plant," sho says. "We are taking it seriously but I don't want to overstate the potential for crisis. Baird Jackson says the board is part of a consortium dealing with the millennium bug problem." "As we get into it, the more we recognize how extensive our reliance on high-tech information is." Pacemakers, bank vaults... so many things rely on computer chips now, she observes. "We are constantly re-evaluating the possibility of problems." New water tower built to handle millennium bug FROM Page 1 an inventory of all systems and equipment that could be affected by the millennium bug, identified equipment critical to its operation, checking that it is year 2000 compatible ,where possible, changing those things that it can, ensuring suppliers are doing likewise and devising contingency plans. All members of the Ontario Hospital Association are doing the same thing and an extensive data base is being shared and constantly updated by them They are trying to leave no stone unturned. NON-PRODUCTIVE Halfpenny says the process is extremely time consuming and doesn't show up on traditional measures of productivity. As members of the wider community, the hospital hopes everybody else, such as power suppliers, are working the bugs out of the millennium. Ontario Hydro has about 600 people working solely on potential millennium bug glitches, the local lab director notes. Computer programmers are in high demand everywhere and working on their nest eggs, getting up to $500 an hour. "It is an interesting problem," Halfpenny notes. "The federal government has put aside something like $30 -million to deal with it." "There are no extensions," he says. "We must be year 2000 compliant or face the consequences." "It is a fire that better be out." Seaforth deputy -clerk Garrick elaborated on the problem to council last month in her report on the municipal clerks' meeting she attended. She has told council "that municipalities should conduct an analysis of their data systems and place funds in the budget for this work. Any equipment being purchased or replaced should be year 2000 compliant, and the manufacturer's warranty that it complies should be double-checked. All purchase contracts should have a clause to ensure year 2000 compliance and there should also be a dispute mechanism incorporated. The provincial government will be forwarding more information, she added "however, there will be no financial assistance for preparing our systems for the changeover on January 1, 2000." Seaforth's business improvement association (BIA) has also been appraised of the millennium bug situation by various information bulletins for members. PUC/PUBLIC WORKS The manager of Seaforth's Public Utilities Commission , Tom Phillips, says they are "on top of it and forsees no problem at this time." He says the Municipal Electrical Association and the PUC's insurance company have kept the local utility "well informed" of potential problems "so that we are not caught idle." Our PUC has been looking at the millennium bug issue "for more than a year." "So far we feel we will not be affected," Phillips says. The control system for Seaforth's new water tower is millennium compatible, the PUC manager says, and the utility's billing is done by Stratford which is likewise on top of the potential for problems. Superintendent John Forrest can't see where Seaforth's Public Works operations will be affected by the millennium bug in any way. His department is not computerized, save what little goes through Town Hall, for instance payroll. The water treatment plant is the Ontario Clean Water Association's responsibility, but Forrest thinks they will certainly be aware of the situation and have any bug well in hand. The superintendent says he gets the feeling from talking to others that perhaps the millennium issue has been blown out of proportion by the media. Recreation director Marty Bedard forsees no millennium bug problems in the equipment he is using, which was recently upgraded. County releases its tax rates BY BLAKE PATTERSON Signal -Star Staff The tax collector will soon come knocking. Amid a confusion of new provincial legislation, Huron County finally released its tax rates and ratios last Thursday (July 2) at a meeting of County Council. The release of the rates by the county will give municipalities what they need to complete local tax calculations. The rates this year arc higher than in past years, but since the province is in the process of taking responsibility for funding education, the over-all tax burden on rate -payers is not expected to increase dramatically this year. The tax rate will be used to calculate the taxes owing on each piece of property in the county. To make the calculation, the assessed total market value of each property will be multiplied by the tax rate. A $100,000 residential property, for example, will be multiplied by a tax rate of .00590936 -- and will owe the county about $590 in taxes this year. The balance of each rate payer's tax bill will reflect the tax amount needed by the local municipality. The county needs about $51 -million to operate in 1998. Provincial money will cover part of that cost along with grants and other supports such as the Community Reinvestment Fund, but almost $18 -million will have to be paid for by taxes. The county has provided each municipality with a tax bill, and the municipalities will now add their own amounts to that bill before turning to residents to collect the money. The amount of tax owed by each municipality varies with its population and the class of property it includes. The people in Goderich, for example, will pay a total of $2,392,280 whereas the residents of West Wawanosh Township will pay a total of $264,063. More information is still needed from the province concerning things such as school taxes and policing costs, but for the most part, County Treasurer Ken Nix expects county tax bills to remain consistent with last year's overall total. Tractor unit stolen from McKillop Township A tractor unit was reported stolen from a residence on Conc. 4 of McKillop Township on Saturday. Ontario Provincial Police say the 1985 Freightliner had been stored at this farm in the barn for future use of the owner. OPP believe the truck was stolen in the previous two days. It is yellow and had Ontario plate #FN9 696 on it. Also on Saturday, the theft of a Targe number of tools and stcrco equipment from a truck parkcd overnight in Brussels, with a total estimated value of $1,500 was reported. The unlocked pick up was parked overnight in the front parking lot at Maple Villa Apartments on Alexander Street. Among the items taken were a Millwright tool box with "Cooper Crane rentals" sticker on top and two sets of combination wrenches (3/.8 ratchet and 1/2 socket), labeled in black paint with the name "T Mitch." Kenwood stcrco equipment, including amplifiers and speakers, were also taken. The model number on the stolen stereo is KAC626. Anyone with information on either the McKillop or Brussels occurences is asked to call the Huron OPP at 524- 8314, or Crimc Stoppers at 1- 800 -265 -TIPS. A Former fire chief dies Former Seaforth fire chief Harry Hak died after a heart attack Saturday. He was 67. Hak also served one term on Seaforth Council, from 1985 to 1988, and had been a member of the town's planning advisory committee since then. He was also a popular custodian at St. James School in Seaforth for 25 years prior to his retirement. Harry Hak THE HURON EXPOSITOR, JULY 8, 1998-3 Coupon Expires July 31, 1998 CUT & SAVE $dim ■ 00OFFWITH THIS COUPON SAVE (Ex Cental Keating's Pharmacy 6/ Main St. Seaforth 527-1990 The Health Services Restructuring Commission is starting work in rural and northern communities, induding your region. The Commission's goal is to make Ontario's health system better, more efficient and effective for the people it serves. The Commission was created by the Ontario government and is made up of medical professionals, academic health science professionals, former hospital board members and other experts. Over its four-year mandate, the Commission is visiting all Ontario communities. Our aim is to preserve and enhance the accessibility, quality and cost-effectiveness of our health system, locally and across the province. Networks for Rural and Northern Hospitals The Commission's primary goal in rural and northern communities is to ensure that the strongest possible linkages are established among hospitals so that patients are best served with high quality care and easy access to services. This exercise is about improving relationships - hospital closings are not expected. The proposed network for your region is made up of hospitals in Clinton, Wingham, Exeter, Goderich, Seaforth, Listowel, St. Marys, Palmerston, and Stratford. The Commission has established a comment period for opinions about the proposed networks. To make your views known, please submit your comments to the Commission at 56 Wellesley Street West, 12th Floor, Toronto, Ontario, M5S 253. For submission guidelines, call 1-800-565-4453. Submissions must be received by August 14, 1998. BUILDING A BETTER HEALTH SYSTEM HEALTH SERVICES RESTRUCTURING COMMISSION r.,"Le 1: tT k , i ` R;S:„4 b ti`Ckl - v V, ' =C� i .f1; e-4'R� `c'.L.if.- "..;../.4, •�f f :.c o� rta . fps Ail:-1.::!� ill Off 10 ` . Rit 1111 VOil BS We at the Huron Expositor would like to introduce a new feature in our community paper. ' We are depending on you for its success. It's called "HATS OFF TO OUR i VOLUNTEERS" and in it we will publish the names of volunteers and what 1 they've accomplished. We will publish fundraising accomplishments as well. S0, GIVE USA CALL: ■ 527 0240 We will do our best to recognize the many volunteers who do their best to keep our community working. �-:I , 1 , : t . itikana Your Community Newspaper"