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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 1999-06-30, Page 5News Adult Day Centre confused, upset by $65,�oo bill from Huron County Ministry of Health receives bill for what appears to be a huge increase. in day centre's rent . By Carl Stavros Clinton News -Record Staff The Ministry of Health has received a hill for $65,000 - for The Huron Adult Day Centre (HADC) from Huron County which could hring its 20 -year history of helping county seniors, to a close. A few weeks ago, the HADC was informed by the Ministry of Health (MOH) that it had received a bill from Huron County for 365.000 for costs incurred by the occupants of the/ Jacob Memorial Building, according to a revised 'funding formula for the Clinton -arca huilding. "i was absolutely speechless," said Rosemary Armstrong. Executive Director of HADC. She is confused about why the Ministry of Health received the bill. and not the Day Centre which controls its own budget and. operates independently:. .of the i •tihinistry. come hack. County Warden Caroll According to Armstrong, Mitchell declined comment however; the saga goes until county council has had . much further hack into the a chance to discuss the issue history of hath the HADC's, at its July 8 meeting. county's and provincial The HADC provides a1 governme.nt's involvement place for seniors to stay with the Jacotb Memorial during the day. They are Building. i . able to partake in both socihl In March 1993, / an and physical activities, such as lunches and water therapy. • "We try to keep seniors of. Huron County living . independently," said • Armstrong. The centre also. provides care for seniors who have alzheimer's and other forms of dementia. The . first and only independent day program in the province has proved to he so successful, said Armstrong. that they have expanded to Grand Bend and Exeter. ' "We arc a non-profit organization. Most of our funding does come form the (MOH). but the rest comes from the community:" said Armstrong. 'We arc a non- profit organization, how can we pay (the increase)?" Although user fees arc being collected, Armstrong fears that if they rise due to the increase in occupancy cost, many seniors who currently attend the program will not be able to afford to Council- concerned bill is 'cash grab' by Huron County By Scott H1lgendorff Expositor Editor Seaforth council is wondering if the county's recent 565,000 rent bill to the Huron Adult Day Centre (HADC) near Clinton might be a cash grab to maker up for funding cuts from the province. "I find this very disturbing," said Mayor Dave Scott. Reeve Lin Steff)pr, who sits on county. council, said, "I'm not sure what's going on here either." They were respondingto a letter from the day centre expressing concern that it's rent will be increased from 517,000 to about $85,000 per year. At the same time, the Ministry of Health has been sent a bill. for $65,000 making the rent increase retroactive. However, the executive - director of the facilitydoes hdt know why the province was sent the bill when the HADC operates independently from the province and sets its own bill. Steffler fold council at its June 22 meeting she had been trying to reach Rosemary Armstrong, the executive director of the HADC, to find out more but did not have a chance to talk with her before the meeting. '`There's something that doesn't sit right on this," she said, adding it needs Further investigation. . "It's certainly not an argument in favour of -single -tier government," said Dave Scott, linking this issue with• another relating to a current' push to have county council support having all of Huron County amalgamate into one municipality with one council leading it. The Huron Adult. Day Centre, provides programs for seniors across the county and has volunteers and seniors from the Seaforth area taking part in those programs such as water therapy and care for those with alzheimers. Scott wanted to know why the issue' did not come through county's Health and Seniors Committee first. Steffler said she didn't'know anyihing about this and wants to know what has changed that warrants such a large increase Deputy Reeve William Teal) would like to know if the provincial courts in the Huron County building have also received a 400 to 500 percent rent increase, -`-=oris this just a money grab to balance their budget?" 1 -Ie suggested the county could be expecting the province will just pay the extra rent. - "Or they want them to vacate the building," said Coun. Heather Robinet. Scott suggested it could be where the OPP want to relocates after the police indicated earlier this year they wanted to move their detachment headquarters to a more centrll location than the one on Highway 21 near Goderich. Coun. Michael Hak said they should write a letter to the county and ask for an explanation while expressing their concerns. A motion was carried to write a letter to MPP Helen Johns and to county council. Public invited to meeting From Pogo 4 so. it is precisely that support we are seeking. Interested persons are invited to attend our next meeting. scheduled for Tuesday, July 6, 8:00 p.m., to be held at the Clinton Town Hall auditorium. Ken Campbell Seaforth For the Concerned Citizens for the Promotion and Implementation of a Single Tier Government in Huron. agreement between the county and the HADC was established that stated the centre will pay $1,400 per month (approximately 517.000 per annum) for costs.associatcd with the operation and maintenance of the huilding, such as hydro, small repairs and snow .removal. reassessment of county properties was made in 1997. at which time the county re-evaluated Rhes building at $8.50 per square foot. This figure translates to a total occupancy cost of over $80,000 o'er Scar. The hill was retroactive to Jan. 1. 1998./ l In 1976, the CIADC moved .. into the huilding as part of the Huronview Home for the Aged. When Huronview was downsized in 199/2793, a 'Major portion of the building was demolished. but the structure housing the HADC was spared for their sake, explained Armstrong. "No • one wante4••thc building," stated Armstrong. "They were going._ to demolish it. "As far as we •are concerned. the huilding way_ epnstructed'fof us. this is where /the day ; dentre is supposed to be." In fact. said Armstrong, the HADC was rrncopraged to take as much of the building as possible. ,With money provided by the provincial government' and the county, the HADC renovated the building to help survive the iainputation process for the rest:of the old Huronview complex. However. prior to the renovations,/ a proposal was forwarded to the HADC suggesting that the building would become the property of the HADC for a fee of $1, once the renovations were complete. while the THERAPY BARBRA ELLIOTT R.M.T. Registered Massage Therapist For an appointment Call 527-1242 Seaforth Chiropractic Clinic Complete Automotive Repair "Class A. Mechanic" TIRE SALES, SERVICE & REPAIR ARCHIE'S' Se eee &sate tin) 527-0881 24 Goderich St. .land would remain in the possession of the county. • According to Armstrong. both .the county and the ministry acknowledged the existence of the the proposal with letters from their respective offices. However, before there was any official confirmation in 'the form of leases or titles. the new county administration had a ,hangs of heart.. "They then started saying that we would not own the huilding." Armstrong. said. - Shc also•indicated some confusion as to why the hill was sent to the MOH rather than the HADC themselves, as they arc a completely independent incorporated, non-profit organisation. Although Armstrong has consulted legal counsel regarding ownership. that is not the centre's ultimate goal. "We just want to stay here at the cost we're pad Ing now: We are interested in the: day 'centre remaining where it is," she said. While Mitchell did not wish to comment,. in a reply sent to Armstrong she has indicated • •'the . county believes -the MOH • is/ responsible for the situation. "As'you can see, ,both •the H1uron Adult Day Centre and the County have been severely impacted by the Ministry of Health funding decisions ... I suggest that rather than having disputes between the County and/ the Day Centre. that we join forces to_work on the,real problcpi. which is arbitrary decisions by the- Ministry. of Health. .which affect both the County and the HADC In their goal 'of dcl•iccring • needed services to _the' • seniors of Huron County. - said Mitchell in the letter. GRAY INSURANCE BROKERS INC. Allan Carter, Broker • Home • Auto • Commercial • Farm 522-0399 Seaforth 1-800-265-0959 Strathroy kR1E • . Open 9 am to 6 pm...ALL WEEK! 4 I wows% SALE EMMA'S oorp CONTINUES! ...ON LARGE SELECTION OF SHRUBS! Cho Perennial Gardens a.must to see :..as it is forever changing! J Reaunfid tourer Plants Sao Amiable J 1)nn't forget TED'S TASTY TOMATOES! 1 9A.N -6PM1 RR+1 Boyyfiekl, (fru. NOM 1130 (519) 4923020 • silt' .. CLASSICS cM • 527-059 DRiVE NOW SEWINGE DONUTS •B.. 4i 1 , Y ALL -YOU -CAN -EAT HOT BUFFET & SOUP & SALAD BAR Every. 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