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Huron Expositor, 2005-04-27, Page 1Doug Di CFP, B.Math Fran*/ Plane( Gems aid 411126, 2006 Mobs magi sower a, re Bsst Q.t.C. Rates 3.% 3:1a% 3361") •DUNDEE ►arwqa armaroaa noel • . . u •e"t. 014M46144I Isomer 1,:ij Hal 1 1� ii i! 26 Main St., Seaforth 527-2222 Huron' County budget heading for 17.4 per cent increase It looks like Huron County may be heading for a 17.4 per cent tax increase. County Council tentatively recommended the increase in an 11-7 recorded vote at the April 19 committee of the whole meeting, according to unofficial council minutes. The county's 2005 budget recommendation will then be voted upon at the May 3 regular council meeting. Voting in favour of the recommendation were councillors Seili, Van Diepenbeek, Urlin, Dykstra, Rintoul, Oke, Morley, Layton, Klopp, Scott and MacLellan. Voting against the recommendation were councillors Dowson, Kelly, Bezaire, Shewfelt, Fergusson, Connelly and Rognvaldson. Last year Huron County kept taxes down by dipping into reserve funds. This year the county faces "uncontrollable increases of 14.25 per cent," according to administration. Huron County will raise a total of $29 million through taxation if the recommendation is approved. Huron East councillor Mark Beaven expressed opposition to the increase at last Tuesday's council meeting in Seaforth. "Seventeen point four per cent is extremely hard to swallow. It was 20 per cent last year and what's next year?" he asked. Beaven suggested county council is going to have to make "serious staffing and program cuts," naming Road Watch and the county retirement homes as examples of services the county can no longer afford to offer. "Take the message back to the county that councillors should step aside and let someone else come forward with the intestinal fortitude to make the necessary cuts," said Beaven. But, Deputy -Mayor Bernie MacLellan defended the increase, saying it was originally planned as a 20 per cent increase for three years in a row. "Either we increase taxes or we don't pay our bills," agreed Mayor Joe Seili.. St. Thomas Anglican kicks off 150th anniversary... page 3 Nora and Steven Eckert recognized in broomball... . page 14 Wednesday, April 27, 2005 ,rs.a..t..^ti• $1 .25 includes GST ��► log° Joy Finlayson & Sharon Medd Mortgage Consultants "Futal) a c y that starts with a adownt" I 11 \I.uii (5 1'1) 3-_'7-117,61) Syron Medd, Maxine Broker M.V.A. Appraiser Visit: mla.ca for information or listings in Huron/Perth Alliance cuts hospital beds to balance budget in '06 By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor While Seaforth Community Hospital is losing close to half of its beds under the Huron Perth Healthcare Alliance's balanced budget plan, site administrator Mary Cardinal says the reduction from 34 to 18 beds is actually a smaller cut than originally planned. "It might look like a lot on paper but for the past five and a half years, we haven't used 34 beds. And, it's more than 15," she says, referring to the Alliance's original budget cutting plan last fall to reduce beds in Seaforth, Clinton and St. Marys to 15 each. The Alliance released a press release Monday announcing a "slight adjustments to its overall bed numbers," reducing Clinton Public Hospital's beds from 19 to 17 beds, St. Marys Memorial Hospital will move from 21 to 20 beds, and, Seaforth Community Hospital will move from 34 to 18 beds. The reductions will leave Seaforth with eight acute care beds and 10 continuing care beds, two of which will be transferred from the Clinton hospital. Clinton will be left with 17 acute care beds, two of which are obstetrical beds and St. Marys will have 15 acute care beds and five continuing care beds. The change will leave the Alliance with a total of 201 in- patient beds. "In making these adjustments, we looked at how many beds we needed to maintain current service levels," said Alliance Chief of Staff Dr. Fred Jewson in the press release. "As such, the I9 beds we are closing across the Alliance will not result in a reduction in service." Cardinal said the fact that St. Marys has 11 doctors and 20 beds at its hospital should indicate that 18 beds in Seaforth will not reduce Seaforth's chances of recruiting more doctors. "Eighteen beds should meet our needs. And, there's definitely room for more doctors in town," she said. Although not linked to the bed closures, the Alliance has See ALLIANCE, Page 2 Susan Hundertmark photo Where's the fire? Local firefighters Doug Fry, of the Seaforth Fire Department and Dan Dalton, of the Brucefield Fire Department, get ready to participate in a squirt gun event during the Second Corporate Challenge at the Vanastra Recreation Centre last Wednesday. Harold and Naomi Pryce receive a certificate from Huron East Mayor Joe Seili and REEP Huron -Bruce -Grey coordinator Lynda Bausinger. McKillop couple recognized for home energy savings By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Harold and Naomi Pryce have more than met their share of the One Tonne Challenge by saving 5,001 kilograms of carbon dioxide with energy savings from recent renovations to their home. "This house is really representative of what most people can do in their own Homes. Both small and Targe goals are achievable," said Residential Energy Efficiency Project (REEP) coordinator for Huron, Bruce and Grey Counties. Lynda Bausinger. The Pryces are one of the few families in Huron County that have so far taken advantage of the EnerGuide project. a federal initiative that is offering grants until 2007 to homeowners who improve the energy efficiency of their homes. "The grant is an incentive but the point is ongoing energy savings." said Bausinger. Harold Pryce found out about the EnerGuide grant when he was considering replacing a few windows in his 1895 farm house in McKillop. "1 wanted to be more efficient to save money and the environment. We were already talking about getting new windows because you could feel the air coming right through the big windows at the front," said See ENERGUIDF„ Page 3 Papple's Garden Centre rezoned By Susan Hundertmark Expositor Editor Papple's Garden Centre has been rezoned with a site plan agreement to allow its continued operation at 118 Main St. in Seaforth. Tyler Papple was informed by Huron East's building inspector last August that his business was out of compliance with the downtown's C4 zoning because he was selling farm produce a n d landscaping and garden supplies. At the time, he was told to stop doing business "immediately" after building inspector. Paul Josling discovered Papple's business was out of compliance after he received a complaint. Papple's Garden Centre and Produce Stand, located on the, property of John Turnbull. Papple's grandfather, has been located at the same place for at least 14 years. Huron East council agreed last Tuesday to a recommendation from Huron County planners to change the zoning on the property to C4-2 to allow a garden centre and farm produce sales outlet. "The proposed use does support the downtown core as it does have some pedestrian traffic, allows for comparison shopping and adds to the multi -functional environment," said a report from county planners Carol Leeming and Cindy Fisher. The only objection to the rezoning came from grocery store owner Steve Delchiaro, who wrote a letter to council and appeared at the public meeting last Tuesday. "I want to reinforce that this is a farm - b a s e d operation that d o e s n' t belong on Main Street. I don't feel that the amendment is in keeping with the official plan and a suitable commercial tax base should be an issue. It's not fair to all the ratepayers in the downtown core," said Delchiaro. Grey Coun. Mark Beaven, who said he felt it was unwise to go against the recommendations of the county planners, agreed with Delchiaro that the taxation issue should be discussed. "If its primary use is commercial, shouldn't it be assessed as commercial?" he asked. 'The proposed use does support the downtown core,' -- Huron County planner report See COUNCIL, Page 3