The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutThe Huron Expositor, 1998-11-04, Page 3z Church k.. Services Nuisance crimes could be targetted Statistics for Seaforth indicate "a plan should be developed to reduce 'nuisance crimes', such as petty thefts, thefts from cars, theft of bicycles, etc.," OPP Staff Sgt. George Lonsbury reported to the most recent meeting of the Seaforth police services board (PSB). He is to contact community services officer Don Shropsall about presenting a school program for skateboards, hikes and in-line skates. They still appear to be a problem on the town's downtown core sidewalks," minutes of the Sept. 28 meeting state. Andrea Grainger's resignation was accepted "with regret" at the Oct. 19 meeting of Scaforth's local architectural conservation advisory committee (LACAC), because she has moved from town. By Gregor Campbell As part of the Zone C! Annual Veterans Dinner at Seaforth Legion Branch 156, the 1st annual fashion show and Zone C1 Beauty Queen contest was held with four competitors. SCOTT PHOTO Amalgamation of PUCs now in hands of municipalities BY TIM CUMMING Mitchell Advocate Staff The potential amalgamation of public utilities commissions in Huron and Perth County is now in the hands of local municipalities. Even if local councils decide not _ to amalgamate hydroelectric service, the way hydro is delivered will change dramatically in Perth over the next two years. "Nothing will be the same again," said David.McFadd.en, a lawyer and consultant who spoke to the Huron and Perth Hydro Restructuring Committee meeting on Thursday night. • A new Ontario law separates. Ontario Hydro's debt from the rest of its operations. All power providers in the province, including Ontario Hydro. will now have to compete for consumer business. Public Utilities Commissions (PUCs) will he a thing of the past. replaced by new municipal corporations with Boards of Directors. The new law, called Bill 35 or the Energy Competition Act. forces each public utility to create two separate companies. One would he a monopoly "wires" company and the other would be a competitive for-profit "service" company. "The wire connected to the house hack to the substation Will be run as a regulated monopoly," said consultant Jan Carr. The sale of electricity. however. would he a marketable commodity, consumers could buy from the supplier of their choice: The engineering firm of Acres International recommended the Perth •PUCs amalgamate to provide cost savings and to compete with other hydro deliverers. Huron County would also form its own county -wide utility. -' Ainalgamation is technologically feasible and financially beneficial," said Neill Winger, senior consultant. • Some of the savings in amalgamation would come from staff reductions but no 'employee would be terminated involuntarily,, he said. An incentive program • for employees to leave or retire was recommended. There would be an annual savings of $348.000 through such things as eliminating seven positions in Perth County, according to the consultants. In Huron County there would be a savings of $268,000including the elimination of five positions. The restructuring would also save Money with a reduction in the number of work centres in the county, they said. The consultants recommended head office be in Stratford with work centres retained in Mitchell, St. Marys and Listowel. A work centre in Milverton would be closed, according to the proposal. The work centres would not 4 be full-service facilities. For instance, customers couldn't pay their bills there. There would be about three to five field staff and some service field vehicles located at the sites. Under amalgamation there would be fewer service trucks needed. Existing service trucks would be retained to prevent the need for early acquisitions of new trucks. Eventually, however. there would be a reduction in the number of trucks needed. If the report is implemented, current hydro rates would not change or be "harmonized" within the county at first. The area PUCs arc basically debt -free and have an excess of working capital, Carr said. The new corporations may' eventually pay dividends to local councils. Unlike PUCs, the new utilities will have to pay income taxes. The changes to hydro services will take place over the next two years. PUCs will disband, a transitional board will he formed followed by the appointment of citizens to a new .board. The hoard members, unlike current commissioners. will each be exposed to potential personal financial liability. according to the consultants. • As part of the changes to energy delivery, Ontario Hydro will give up its role as a regulator of small. utilities. The Ontario Energy Board will assume a larger regulatory role, said Carr. The consultant recommend that existing PUCs reduce their working capital prior to amalgamation. St. Marys Mayor Jamie Hahn expressed concern that, with competition. Marge local industries will purchase hydro from outside suppliers, reducing income for the local facility. Carr said that problem will affect the new corporate utility whether it is a St. Marys company or a Perth County -wide corporation. "I think the concern is legitimate and real whether you're part of an amalgamated (company) or you're on your own." Other representatives at Thursday's meeting said they wouldn't be able to compete with their main supplier of hydro service. Ontario Hydro. Carr said municipalities will have to look at their business strengths • and weaknesses. For instance, a municipal corporation may have a higher price but could win customers with better service. Longtime Stratford PI(' commissioner Keith Culliton was skeptical. "The tremendous savings will be a Tim Horton's cup of coffee a Month," he said. "I hope the members move very slowly to get into bed with each other ... The PUC commissions are doing a hell of a job, I don't think we should close them down and amalgamate too quickly." Carr replied that on an individual customer basis the savings might be small but as a percentage of the entire system is substantial. Some representatives wondered why the Perth and Huron operations had been run debt -free wile Ontario Hydro had amassed a multi- billion dollar debt which will be absorbed by taxpayers. There are still unanswered questions about how changes. in the system- will he implemented. "It's not clear how the hilling.witl he done." said lawyer David McFadden. • "There are some borderline cases like meters.' said consultant Carr. For instance. meters and billing could be part of the monopoly operation or part of the commercial side. The changes to the system of hydroelectric delivery could open the way for niche energy vendors. For instance. subscribers could purchase from a company that only buys energy from non-nuclear sources. Carr argues that cost MASSAGE THERAPY BARBRA ELLIOTT R.M.T. Registered Massage Therapist For an appointment Call 527-1242. Se.itorth Chiropractic Clinic McLaughlin Chev-Olds Ltd. 13 Main St. Seaforth. 527.1140 •Service 'Selection•Savings *Satisfaction *Leasing •Complete BODY SHOP Service savings from a more efficient. county -system would 'more than offset any potential increases in hoard members' salaries or non-union workers - having their wages increased. For instance. an amalgamated energy provider wouldn't need as many line trucks, which cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. "There probably will he • some cost increases but in the aggregate we anticipate savings," he said. The decision to amalgamate or not to amalgamate now goes to municipal councils. - "This committee. is finished." said restructuring committee co-chair Terry Martin. "We're waiting for the word fr(tm" Count il; tet"s find out what council wants us to do." THE HURON EXPOSITOR, NOVEMBER 4, 198-3 Purse stolen from salon The owner reported the theft of S475 from a purse behind the counter of a hair salon on Seaforth's Main Street at 5:45 p.m. Friday night. Ontario Provincial Police say the money was inside an envelope that was' later found lying on the floor with the money gone. A 52 -year-old Brucefield- area man from Stanley Township was "looking at items in the dish soap area" at the Wal-Mart mall on the outskirts of Goderich last Tuesday afternoon "when he placed an envelope on a shelf that contained $2,416 cash." Ontario Provincial Police OPP report say he "walked to another location inside the mall before realizing he had left the envelope behind." He returned "within a few minutes" and found the envelope missing. "Store security Was contacted and the area searched but no money was found." say police, who add the theft is believed to have happened around 3 p.m. and urge anyone who has .any knowledge of • the disappearance to call them . or Crimestoppers. '"'nom►'" ."r„ 1111111111111111H II1I Il1ill" II1 111 i STOP CHRISTMAS SHOPPING EVERYTHING 'THEY' NEED SATO NOVO 7 9 o4P M OPEN NOUSE 130 JAMES ST., SEAFORTH 5274401 TUPPERWARE - JOCUS TOYS - PLEASE MUM PAMPERED CHEF - OPTION L - PARTY LITE BETTER -B -BASKETS - ARCTIC SWEATERS EADS & TAILS - INDISPOSABLES & KIDS BOOK UNIQUE COUNTRY & WOOD CRAFTS Cash & Carry, Refreshments & Door Prizes Dr. Ken Rodney will be away on holidays Nov. llth to Nov. 25th Dr. Robert Ghali will be covering Dr. Rodney's Clinic hours 9:00 AM to 5:30 PM daily. Evenings and weekends will also be covered in the usual manner. JR. D[VWLOPMaWT MOCK[Y CLUB fk Lacan at CEMTEMAIRES Fri., Nov. 6th 8:30 p.m. Port Stanley at CEMTEMAIRES Sat., Nov 7th 8:30 p.m. Visit the BLUE LINE CLUB UPSTAIRS j You are lrwited to atteru these area churches St. Thomas Anglican Church Jarvis St. Seaforth Rev. Robert Hiscox 482-7861 Sunday Nov. 8' 'REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY• Service of Morning Prayer at 930a.m CAVAN UNITED CHURCH Winthrop 9:30 a m d NORTHSIDE (Goderich St., Seaforth) 11 00 a m. UNITED CHURCHES Minister Rev Jane Kuepfer 527-2635 Sunday School dunnq semus. nun/ Korea First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W. Seaforth 11:15 AM Sunday School during church Minister: Rev. Nicholas Vandermey To advertise your Church Services... Call 527-0240 Bethel Bible Church Meeting at Seaforth High 9:45 a.m. SundaySehool 7:00 p.m. 11:00 Worship Evening Bible Study Small Group meetings Weekly An Associated Gospel Church St. James Catholic Church Victoria St., Seaforth Saturday - 5:15 pm St. James Parish, Seaforth Saturday - 7:15 pm St. Joseph's Parish, Clinton Sunday - 9:00 am St. Michael's Perish, Myth Sunday • 11:00 am St. James Parish, Seaforth Father Dino Salvador A DONUTS BAKED DAILY ALL -YOU -CAN -EAT HOT BUFFET & SOUP & SALAD BAR Every Thursday, Friday & Sunday! 5 - 8 p.m. . Kids 12 & Under are 1 /2 Price All you can eat THURSDAY BUH h 1 • Rapt Park • Seuvge & rouaismt • Various Vegeta/4es • Soup & Salad Bar • Dessert & Beverage All you can eat FRIDAY BUFFET • Meattoa( • various Vegetables • Soup &Salad Bar • Des.ert & Beverage SUNDAY BRUNCH All you can eat 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. $7.99 Seniors '5.99 l(idruncle 12rtte All you can eat SUNDAY BUFFET • Roast ' • Hawa to Meatbath • various Vegetables • Soup & Salad Bar • tkssett & Beverage BUFFET & BRUNCH $7 99 SENIORS $5.99 WEDNESDAY IS SENIORS' DAY - 20% DISCOUNT Congratulations fo Mike Sheardown, Octobers' WINNER - Dinner for two! SEAFORTH MANOR Retirement Home Seaforth Manor Retirement Home is pleased to announce- the appointment of Tracy Gerber to the position of Retirement Home Director. TRACY GERBER RN Tracy is a Registered Nurse and has been employed in the nursing home for the past 3 years. She lives in Seaforth with her husband Stephen, and their two children Joshua and Allyson. • Cindy DeGroof, former Director is moving to the southern United States with her family. Residents and staff wish her well. Tracy is very happy to report that renovations in the retire- ment home are progressing well, and she looks forward to inviting the community in for a look at an upcoming open house. Please drop in for a peak and to say hello, or call 527-0030 to arrange a tour. SEAFORTH MANOR 100 James St., Seaforth 527-0030