HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 1999-05-12, Page 3News
Seaforth,McKillop
chosen by Tuckersmith
But he. said there is the
Township council pulls out threat the ..provincial
government will step in and
of talks with group to west direct the township on which
direction to take and they are•
after controversial meeting solution than haying' to
better off making their own
By Scott Hilgendorff
Expositor Editor
After selecting a fifth
member to Tuckersmith
council by lottery, council
voted four to cmc to, pull out
of the Municipal'
Restructuring Committee
and hcgin .developing n
- restructuring plan wish
Seaforth and. McKillop
Township.
Brucefield United Church
was packed with mire than
300 people May. -4. who
• came to voice their concerns
about restructuring. debating
which; direction - "their
township should take.- .
'-1 think you Netter_ start
looking at what the people
want." said a Vanastra
w, ()man during -a question
period from the public.. .
The meeting was called to
giye everyone a chance to
have speak about' the issue
and ,formal prescntationzl
Were made by members of
Council and Member. of the
public -representing each of.
the._ . two - possible
restructuring directions.
Until that- meeting. council
had been itiaolved :in
restructuring talks. with Hay
Township:. Stands'
Township. Zurich. Bayfield
-and Hcnsall (The Nlunrcipal
Restructuring Committee--
MRCI sincc'as.:early as
1996:` That group. was
prepare last' rn(inth to.
. submit a restructuring plan
to Huron Count y Council -for
ib support before it would be
sent for pro. instal approval.
After 'a presentation to
council riy•a'gr6op` 6f
Egmondville area rate payers
asking for council to hold a
public meeting and present
dear information about both
possible. scenarios,.
Tuckersmith Township
council- asked. the 'MRC
group for an extension. That
was to give them time to
look mine... closely - at
Seaforth- and. McKillop•
Township. hold a public
Meeting and decide which
direction it wanted to take.
• While the restructuring
process coyld. have lett,
Tuckersmith Township.tied
.into'that proposal. the MRC"
group supported an
extension which gave
council time to .hold. the
public meeting and vote, on'
which direction to go..
Until. then,_ the tour-
Member -Council had been
.deadlocked on-
direction
n direction it wanted to take. •
At the meeting rate payers
raised issues lig w h or Why -
!WI itiuncll should go in
either direction.
Administrator • Jack
'4tel.achlan had determined
Icule difference in the :tax-
tnt;rease'of•about Stitt per -
s1(N),Ot O assessment
-ratepayers' would -see in •
either scenario. The figures
evolved by looking at 1998
budget.. policing costs and --
urban service charge
situations in each scenario.
McLachlan cautioned that
those figure. are based on
tnlorination available today
hut. by next scar. those
"figure's cinild. all he different
depending on government
nillucncc and downloading.
Residents - debated , the
•.i. ur.r.y of the formulas
used to tunic up with the •
tigure•. including former .
:der!, Inn McIntosh They
,into expressed tunterns new
.t'uuc11s vcold vflange the
rules
Residents in support of the
\1R(' group said the
township would gain Irons
the -growth of ti+urisni along
the lakeshtirc and yet see its
.igriv ultural • • industry
supported Is the more rural
.cuing and "the agriculture -
related serv•ces in Hensall
• Others in support of
Seaforth •said tourism would
hurt the farm-locu.sed
township:with cottager% from
accept of proyinctally
the'cities fighting farming appointed one. .
operations over issues like Hc- told, the .group not to
pollution. - worry about the strength of
`'I'm afraid they will look the community no matter
at us as polluters. said -ail - which direction it took. He
Egmondville arca farmer. said .community heel'
township: he said., adding
:there is much potential for
drawing industry to the area. •
i.believe we need a long-
term, plan -'to develop
industry and growth:''
He said he hadn't heard.
• any . commenp from the
MRC 'side " of industrial
growth.
In the ,public question
periotf, a resident asked why
not divide the township since
it is logical for,Egtnondville
• "I, can sec these people nbt suppers will continue; to a'nd' Harpurhey to join
understanding the farmer's our . Seaforth...
way of life." said another -Our spirit. of community Broadfoot didn't explain
resident who was visiting•a will forge on.- he said, ._: , why,hut said council has
peach in the MRC side He supported linking with: Only looked at the whole
where a cottager was.trying Seaforth saying the urban tax - township. -
to organize support -against a • Kase and developments are Another irate payer in
p pp I group
manure. ith the town hosier than a ;ked how many -industries
Residents -said Seaforth is ever.. he .sold there' is- a have located' in Seaforth in
an agriculture -supportive greater chance of attracting :