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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2004-09-15, Page 66 -THE HURON EXPOSITOR, Sept. 15, 2004 When It Comes To Protecting Your Assets.... 5 ri Tto the Prof sslonals at GRAYion INSURANCE BROKERS INC. II 1= Fi Specializing in PE Farm - Commercial -- Auto - Home MAIN STREET, SOUTH SEAFORTH, ON (519)527-2500 OR br.wal0o%rMnt # j Y ." -BOE li :::1---= Open Monday to Friday 8:30 am. - X00 am. • nNd:rd Cnr Oiling at Lee's Service Centre (formed), Dave's Car Offing) Hppd Dunk LId Inner Fenders Inner Fenders Underside Doors & Door Psns s Dog logs We use Hot, Acid Free. Nevi Oil CARS & LIGHT TRUCKS Hours: Mon. - Thurs. 1 pm - 9 pm; Fri. 1 pm - 6 pm; Sat. 8 am -12 noon (Weather permitting) 348 Dinsley St. E., Blyth 523-9151 aauEAr® LEAVE AN IMPRESSION. * SUPREME 2000 Receive • 1 free skate ng with t purchase of every pair of new skates. YOUTHJUNIORSENIOR 12995 $ 19995 $9995 Reg. $119.95. Reg. $149.95 Reg. $249.95 BAUER SUPREME PANTERA $ta� 6995 YOUTHS NEW JUNIOR SIZES NIKE QUEST V-8 & BAUER VAPOR V $ 10995 WE NEED YOUR GOOD SKATE TRADE-INS NOW! Open: Mon. Thurs. 9-5:30 Friday 9-7:30 Sat. 9-5:00 ME ®ft 28 Ontario Rd., Mitchell 348-9951$ '�"7`7.3�'!"'7�'4'ifTSTB , i.•�r .+!vizi tT "a'S �''L`'d ./S` %•T.L News Huron East plans ratepayer meeting for "disgruntled" Grey residents By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Huron East will hold ratepayer meetings throughout the municipality, beginning Sept. 28 in Grey ward, in response to a group of Grey citizens who held a recent meeting to discuss de -amalgamation. Mayor Joe Seili told council Sept. 7 that he "busted in" on a meeting the previous Thursday of "disgruntled ratepayers who felt they were being mistreated in the Molesworth area." Both Grey councillors Mark Beaven and Alvin McLellan had been invited to the meeting of a dozen ratepayers but Seili had not. "This group would like to take Grey ward back," Stili said, adding that Kay Wise, of Hensall, who's leading the fight to separate Hensall from Bluewater, was in attendance. Stili said had, unkempt roads, a decrease in road construction and the lack of a sign calling Molesworth a part of Huron East were all among the complaints at the amalgamation. "We could end up with quite a crowd if you're talking about de -amalgamation," he said, suggesting that the Brussels arena might be a more appropriate location than Ethel or Cranbrook for the meeting. But Brussels Coun. David Blaney responded that Grey ratepayers aren't going to like meeting outside their area. "I'd sooner end up with a crowded meeting. Let's at least give them the respect of holding it in Quoted 'We need a ratepayers' meeting so that everyone gets: the right story, the true story,' -- Huron East Mayor Joe WE meeting. "It's tough to communicate with some areas of Huron East and councillors aren't getting called about a lot of issues," said Seili. However, he added that he believes angry ratepayers have some misinformation about council's spending and the sharing of resources throughout Huron East. "We need a ratepayers' meeting so that everyone gets the right story. the true story," he said. "We have to do all five wards and take this show on the road so ratepayers have a chance to talk to councillors," said Seili. Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan wondered if there is a big enough facility in Grey to hold a meeting about de - CHRISTOPHER LEADERSHIP COURSE Take a Leadership Course in Effective Speaking. Build Self -Confidence & Speaking Skills. CLC 1- 11 Week Course Tuesday, Sept. 28, 2004 STRATFORD Limited Enrollment Toll Free 1-888-480-4992 h • ://www.thelumen.com "Keep Y�. let ip LEA%SES Paul and Brian highly reconinienci this truck! Only 4 left!!!; 2004 SILVERADO CREW CAB Super short box, 5 300 Vortec V8, steering wheel radio control,,, climate control air conditioning, tilt steering, and Ind! ( Loaded! All for 5469. ..del J Think outside the SUV! Now only 9 left!!! 2004 AVALANCHE 5300 Vortec V8, cruise , CD stereo, 17" aluminum wheels, tri -zone air conditioning, tilt steering, piece removable rigid cargo cover, power locks, power windows and door locks, removeable rear window and more. All for 399 ♦ per month. T.r" G am Ic.ve 5268940 due on drily r.. ,.�I•,r r t.ix SeCUritV deposit, admin • , or,,tr.iticn .md first month ollimw 74 Kingston rs nRx--® S t . Goderich 524-7314 their own ward," said Blaney. Grey Coun. Mark Beaven said he agreed with the Grey ratepayers that some of their concerns were "very legitimate." "There's a feeling in Grey that when they think of Huron East, they think of Seaforth," he said. But, Beaven added that the ratepayers didn't realize that the municipality of Howick, which did not amalgamate with any other municipalities, is paying more taxes while all of Huron East is paying less than before amalgamation. "We had the woman from Hensall admitting that she couldn't see what the problems were compared to Bluewater," said Beaven. "I believe that once the facts are known, they won't be thinking of de -amalgamation. We'll be proud members of Huron East," he said. Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath said deamalgamation is unlikely anywhere in Ontario since the province isn't listening to those in Hensall or Chatham - Kent who want to deamalgamate. "We've been told there's no money for deamalgamation. The writing is on the wall for anyone listening - they're going to legislate us into one -tier eventually. And, if you start to divide now, they'll run you over," agreed Seili. A dozen Grey residents explore de -amalgamation By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor While they've got no ill feelings towards the rest of Huron East. a dozen Grey ward residents are looking into the prospect of de - amalgamating from the rest of the municipality. "The feeling is we've lost our identity. People were always so proud of the township but you don't see that now. We liked it the way it was," says Dianne Diehl. one of the organizers of two informal de -amalgamation meetings held recently in Grey. "This isn't a vendetta against any other communities. This is just how we feel," she said. Calvin Semple, another organizer of the de -amalgamation meetings. said a dozen or more taxpayers from Grey are researching separating from Huron East because they're "unhappy with the way money is being spent." "We don't feel like we're getting a bang for our buck. We're seeing them spend money in the southern part of Huron East and we're seeing government that is top-heavy with administration," he says. citing a full-time fire chief and an economic development officer as new positions on the municipal payroll since amalgamation. As well, Semple says Grey residents arc not happy about paying for services. such as the Seaforth arcna and the Vanastra daycare centre, that they don't use. And, he says it's unfair for the rest of the municipality to pay for services. like the new Grey fire truck, that they don't use. Both Diehl and Semple say they see a decline in community spirit since amalgamation. "People are paying more taxes so they figure why should they do anything for free." says Semple. Diehl says the people in the northern end of Grey, like Molesworth, are feeling left out of Huron Eat. "Molesworth had to push to be included in the municipality's webpage and they were asked by town hall if they were sure they were part of Huron East. They've been left out of numerous things," she says. So far, Semple says the group is "just a bunch of coffee drinkers sitting around and figuring out if de -amalgamation will work." But, he says a public meeting, still unscheduled, is planned to gauge whether other Grey residents share the same feeling. "If the public supports it, we'll push for it. If not, we'll drop it," says Semple. . The group has already met with Kay Wise, of Hensall, who is actively seeking deamalgamation for Hensall from Bluewater. "She gave us some ideas but their situation is a little different. We're all rural here and what's good for a town isn't necessarily good for a rural area," says Semple. While Semple acknowledges that the province gave local municipalities no choice but to amalgamate, he says drumming up public support to resist amalgamation four years ago might have made more sense. "We didn't even get a vote on this. Maybe we need to start saying no to the province. if enough people start screaming. they'll have to listen," he says. Egmondville woman waits to hear from family after hurricane Ivan hits Jamaica From Page 1 before i went to bed last night Monday afternoon. While the Category 5 storm near the capital city Kingston just below 225 kilometres per hour, Lammcrant is confident that her family, who live 100 miles away from Kingston near Montego Bay, is safe. "i heard my family was prepared and I'm sure i would have heard if anything really had had happened," she "Not knowing is worse but you just have to trust in the Lord - He will bring us through. He always docs." Lammerant, who has lived in Canada since 1986, said she returned to Jamaica after hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and was shocked by the damage. "I cmuld not believe the damage. There were well-built cement houses with the roofs blown off and some houses that just weren't there anymore. My mom's home was partially damaged and i went back she said hit Jamaica with winds and helped to rebuild," she said. She also vaguely remembers a hurricane hitting Jamaica when she was three and lived with her grandmother. "The house was just blown away." she recalled. Lammcrant has been calling cousins in Ontario to find out if they've heard anything about their relatives in Jamaica. A cousin, who works every summer in Exeter as a seasonal worker, told her he'd gotten through to family briefly Sunday morning. "Some of the farm workers could he going home to nothing," she said. As well, she heard from a cousit'i in Toronto that there was lots of rain and washed out roads. "You get a lot of conflicting reports and the news doesn't have that much detail. Just sit back and wait - that's all I can do." "We have an old saying back home - if it doesn't cost your life, it costs nothing because roofs and windows and houses can be replaced," she said. Quoted 'We have an old saying back home - if it doesn't cost your life, it costs nothing,' - Joyce Luun l*rOnt of Egmondv*.