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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-08-11, Page 221 -TNS HURON (EXPOSITOR, Aug. 11, 2004 When It Comes To Protecting Your Assets..., Tum to the Professionals at GRAY INSURANCE BROKERS INC. Specializing in PENNY Farm — Commercial — Auto — Home 5 MAIN STREET, SOUTH SEAFORTH, ON (519)527-2500 OP*1 afoncleo to Friday S:X am. - 6:00 p.m. - OR by a poiMwM Hmobbed f ©0© IW E LJSTla SEANCE' WWW. MIS .ca Riii7r471tril Culligan REAL ESTATE LTD. Lida Dabbs Res 519.522.0221 8 Main Street, Seaforth 519-527-1577 office www- sc11 inch. scz-rforth-corm NEW LOAD HAS JUST ARRIVED! 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So far in 2004, Huron East has received $46, 380.25 in capital drain grants. While public meetings are planned to address the issue from Aug. 17 to 23, Knight pointed out that there are none in the mid -western Ontario area. "It appears another meeting will be scheduled in this area, but I would suggest that little will be accomplished at these meetings," he said. Drainage engineer Tom Pridham, who attended council to discuss an ongoing municipal drain project, told council he was still in shock from the provincial announcement. "It caught us all by tremendous surprise last week. ROMA (Rural Ontario Municipal Association) wasn't aware of it. It's difficult to believe the province would announce a huge infrastructure grant and then turn around and cut money to municipal drains since those grants are part of the infrastructure of rural Ontario," he said. "It won't be the first kick in the teeth rural Ontario has gotten from the province," answered Mayor Joe Seili. Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan commented that the province is saving less money than farmers will lose to flooded crops without the drainage program. Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath suggested that the province must actually be taking seriously a report by the Panel on the Role of Government that said "unsustainable rural areas in Canada's heartland be taken off life support and allowed to die a natural death." "It was not long ago that we read that report that said let rural Ontario die. While the province -said they were ignoring that report, it doesn't look like they're ignoring it now," he said. "Maybe we should let them go hungry in Toronto," added Seili. Mitchell to take municipal drain funding concerns to upcoming Stratford meeting By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell will take local concerns about the province discontinuing funding for municipal drains to a public information meeting being held in Stratford on Aug. 16. "I've received quite a few phone calls from both municipalities and farmers about the issue and cost is their main concern." she said during a phone interview on Monday. She declined an opinion about the provincial announcement until she can gather more information about the situation. "Let's bring it forward and get all the facts and more forward with it," she said. The Huron County Federation of Agriculture is encouraging farmers to contact Mitchell to protest the province's recent announcement to end the municipal outlet drain program. Farm groups are participating in numerous public consultations with the province during this summer, their busiest time of the year, but are wondering why there was no public consultation on the drain program, said a Huron County Federation of Agriculture press release. "Where was the current government's consultation on this decision?" wondered HFC president Neil Vincent in the press release. The federation participated in a consultation on drainage programs in 2000. At that time, fanners made it "very clear" to the government that the municipal outlet drain program was very much needed, and needed no changes, said the press release. The announcement of the program's demise suggests that the dollars being taken out of the program will be directed towards other infrastructure dollars, it said. "Municipal drains are infrastructure dollars - part of the rural infrastructure that has been key to the development of a competitive and efficient agriculture sector in Ontario," added Vincent. "There is no guarantee that these redirected dollars will be available to maintain this infrastructure." he added. Vice President Nic Whyte said in the press release "that by iNflysisANNIVWWW It's time again for the ever popular Seaforth. & Area Phone. Book If you have... • Moved • Changed Your Number • Are New to Seaforth • Have Your Number or Address Incorrectly Listed Please call our office to arrange any changes necessary to ensure your Phone Book is up to date and correct! Huron ' Ex � ositor I It1 I\i, I HI 1,11 1 I 1 I? I 111 Ht I I I \RI 1 11 Main St., Seaforth 527-0240 or fax us at...519-527-2858 AAAAAAN1/4 having the grant available, it encouraged farmers to pursue projects that have been a benefit to the productivity of their farms, and therefore benefits the entire ag sector in the province - which in tum supports many jobs and economic activity in rural Ontario." The government announced that they would be increasing the amount available to individual farmers for the tile loan program, and that it would be at a more competitive interest rate than currently being offered. In the press release, Whyte questioned this as a true benefit because "it doesn't offset the loss of the Municipal Outlet Drain program." The public information meeting will be held from 10 am. to noon at the Festival Inn in Stratford on Aug. 16. Gift from Giant Tiger employee replaces local theft From Page 1 cancer in March, had been planning to give three solar - powered fairy statues - which she'd bought at Giant Tiger - to her three children when she dies. The theft took one of those three gifts for her children and stole a symbol of hope and comfort from Cooper's life. Cooper said that while the fairy is not exactly like the one that was stolen, the gift has given her some peace about the situation. "It was a really, really nice thing to do and it's in my garden right now. Hopefully, it will stay there," she said. Cooper said the donated fairy will eventually be given Sharon Van Den Tempel to her eldest daughter Cheryl Taylor, who posted letters around Seaforth asking whomever stole the fairy to return it to her mother. "1 think that man and woman in Stratford deserve a lot of recognition for what they've done for my daughter," said Robson. BMG Centre needs • $32,860 for facility A Icttcr to Huron East council from the Brussels, Morris :and Grey Community Centres itemized $32.860 in renovations that are needed at the facility. "These are the things that do need to be done that we were going to put off," said Grey Coun. Alvin McLellan to council Aug. 3. The list of 10 projects included $10,560 to paint the roof, $4,500 for walking trails, $5,000 for a new air conditioner, $3,000 for a new counter top for the bar, $2,500 to paint the natural gas pipes, $2,300 for pool blankets and $2,200 for a new pool roof. As well, it included $1,200 for two new exit doors, $1,100 for a pool motor and $500 for a snow dumping pad. Council already approved the new air conditioner, leaving a balance of $27,860 in requested funding. The letter followed a meeting of the BMG board where the members "discussed their frustration with the decision by Huron East council to pay for capital improvements at the Seaforth arena," said minutes from the BMG hoard's July 14 meeting. "The BMGCC committee and the local volunteers have worked hard to maintain this arena and they are discouraged by thc new policy," said the minutes. Huron East recently derided to spend $100,000 to its 2004 budget to pay for inipm1 anent' 14) the Scaforth arena. Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath, who argued most vehemently for the Seaforth renovations, also supported the improvements for the Brussels arena. "The public owns this building. If this stuff needs to be done, let's quit procrastinating and do it. I don't see this as a wish list - I see these as things that have to be done," he told council. Brussels Coun. David Blaney said he was worried about the Brussels arena's roof if it is not painted soon. "There are a couple of places with really ugly rust spots. Theymight need to be replaced if we wait until next year," he said. Brussels Coun. Frank Stretton added that the motor at the Brussels pool "is shot" and might not last the season this summer. Mayor Joe Seili told council that he wants all of Huron East's recreation facilities to develop five-year plans so that council can plan financially for the future. "I want these knee-jerk responses to quit coming in so we can plan for the future, not jump from one fire to the next," he said. McGrath responded that ":99 per cent" of past councils have ignored five-year plans from the arenas. "That's in thc past - this is today," said Stili. Council agreed to get prices on painting the roof of the Brussels arena and bring them back to the next meeting. Ry Susan Hundertmark