The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2004-01-21, Page 3News Mayor Seili setting up office hours at Seaforth's town hall every Friday By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor While he hasn't found a room or a desk of his own yet, Huron East Mayor Joe Seili is setting up office hours at town hall in Seaforth every Friday. "Right now, I'm using a corner of Jack's (Clerk - Administrator McLachlan's) desk - that's where all the information I need is stored," says Seili. Seili will be spending several hours each Friday morning or afternoon during his term as mayor. The idea to do so came to him during last fall's municipal election campaign when the Brussels business owner was asked if he'd have enough time to be mayor. "It was handy for (former Huron East Mayor) Lilt (Steffler). Living in Seaforth, she could just drop in to town hall before and after work. I stop in when I'm going through town on business several times a week but I wanted to make sure I'd be accessible," he says. McLachlan says that while other mayors have always Susan Hundertmark photo Huron East Mayor Joe Seili uses a corner of Clerk -Administrator Jack Mclachlan's desk last Friday, the day he hopes to be available to ratepayers at town hall each week. come to town hall and made themselves accessilble to ratepayers, Seili is the first he's known to have "official" office hours. "Other mayors have probably lived closer and didn't need office hours. But, we can always find a nook or cranny for him (Seili)," he says. While the office hours make Seili available for ratepayers in Seaforth, McKillop and Tuckersmith, Seili says he remains available on the streets and at his business in Brussels for ratepayers in Grey and Brussels. While Seili hasn't received many visitors yet during his office hours, he wants ratepayers to know he's available to talk about any municipal issue. "Everyone's welcome - they pay the bills for this building," says Seili. Rising property assessments bother rural ratepayers, Beaven tells council By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Rising property assessments in Grey compared to small decreases in Seaforth and McKillop met with complaint from Grey Coun. Mark Beaven at Huron East's Jan. 6 meeting. "It's hard to understand why assessments are going up and services are not. It's a real hard pill to swallow," said Beaven. "We're going to get hit doubliy hard in Grey on our taxes and we're not seeing an increase in value of services," he said. Beaven added that his own property assessment went up by 45 per cent but admitted it was probably underassessed in the past. "I don't have a leg to stand on because I'm probably where I should be now," he said. While property assessment determines each ratepayer's municipal taxes, that actual assessment is done by the province, not the municipality. In a report to council Deputy -Clerk Brad Knight said Grey has had assessment rates "rise at a higher rate in comparison with other wards." While Grey paid 21.4 per cent of the general levy in 2003, it will pay 22.5 per cent of it in 2004. In contrast, Seaforth paid 20.4 per cent in 2003 but will pay 19.8 per cent in 2004 while McKillop paid 19.6 per cent in 2003 and will pay 18.9 per cent in 2004. Knight told Beaven that assessments are driven by market value and real estate sales. "There's a fair demand for farms up there and that's driven the prices higher," added Clerk -Administrator Jack McLachlan. McKillop Coun. Sharon McClure said that she and fellow McKillop Coun. Ferg Kelly were in the same boat last year when property assessments for farms in McKillop increased significantly. "Ferg and I took quite a bit of flack last year because it costs the same as it ever did to plow roads but just because the •assessment was higher, they had to pay more," she said. When she complained that urban areas like Seaforth have decreased assessment, Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan said the demand for property in small towns is less than the demand for farmland. "There's no demand to move into small towns but every time farmers want to expand, they're willing to pay more and more," he said. Steffler asks council to push MPPs for Highway 8 improvements By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler wants Huron East council to begin lobbying for improvements to Highway 8. "I hear a lot of reports about the shape it's in and now that we have new MPPs all along Highway 8, I'd like to see Huron East take the lead and get something done," he told council at its Jan. 6 meeting. "Highway 8 has been on the drawing board and taken off so many times it'd scare you. You might as well throw gravel in the ditch than put more patches on it," he said. Mayor Joe Seili agreed with the poor condition of Highway 8 saying, "It's easier to drive on a plowed ditch on the side of the road." Huron East will contact the municipalities of Central Huron and West Perth to gain their support in a letter to Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell and Perth -Middlesex MPP John Wilkinson. Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler said he's glad his assessment went up in Seaforth because his house will be worth more when it's time to sell it. "I don't think it's too high - it's a catch-up deal," he said. Mayor Joe Seili said property owners who aren't happy with the assessment can easily appeal the amount with either the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation or the Assessment Review Board before the end of March. "The first thing they'll ask you, though, is what would you take for it if you sold it," he warned. 4C"..**'t••.4••'s :4 100:00. ig •* •* ge WINTER SALES EVENT Thursday -Sunday January 22-25 ey. •* ;76. o ft:• ANYTHING NOT ON SALE INCLUDES BOTH TAXES; • if 1111111111111110 • Dublin •'* ;i. Mercantile (Across from G.G. Goettler Furniture) * 59 Mill St., Dublin (519) 345-9922 •* Alt•. PAV•Ie • • • 1 •e• •• '*4411.* . ALL PRINTS 20% TO 50 oFF REMAINING CHRISTMAS MERCHANDISE 40�'°OFF ALL BEDDING c 20'�OFF PINE CALENDAR FRAME $19.99 ALL LIGHTING 25%OFF ALL CALENDARS $14.99 LG. COUNTRY HOME CANDLES '17.39 FRAMED NOSTALGIA HOCKEY '14.99 ALL CLOCKS 25°'0OFF THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Jam. 21, 2004-3 li ,/d4Cared ea rite a it VlY Viet€4'V.•''�/.�auaN iR iERT STREET DENTUREC IC Denture Specialist Dean R. McTaggart D.D. Complete and Partial Dentures Denture Repairs Relines - Additions 482-1195 50 ALBERT STREET CLINTON (cntario's Furniture village HUNDREDS OF FLOOR MODEL SETS REDUCED NO G$T NPT NO PAY ENTS UNTIL Thursday - Jan. 22 9-8 F�day Jan,23 _ 9-9 Saturday Jan.24 94 Sunday Jan. 25 1 -4 GG GQETTLER ot ZubL4n FINE FURNITURE ( ..urronhrook Furniture Halfway between Stratford and Goderich on Hwy. 8 1-800-265-6584 • www.goettiersofdublin.com Hours: Weekdays 9-6 Friday 9-9 Saturday 9-6 Sunday 12-4 Important New Facts about the Veterans Independence Program (VIP) The Government of Canada is extending theVIP housekeeping and/or , grounds maintenance services for life to qualifying survivors of dec Veterans.Where there was no survivor at the time of death, another primary care giver may be considered. These services are provided toVeterans and their survivors or other primary care givers to help them live independently in their own homes. You may be eligible if: • You are a survivor or another primary care giver of aVeteran who has died since September 1, 1990; and • The Veteran was receiving these benefits at the time of death or the Veteran was receiving these benefits and died within a year of being admitted to a health care facility. FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO APPLY, call the toll-free number 1800 443-0382. Veterans Affairs Anciens Combattants Canada Canada Caiiada