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HomeMy WebLinkAboutHuron Expositor, 2005-10-26, Page 6•:1r.1,-:.ew_.wwq ., �tM"+r.�.':�bFt-?i"•^.it�s4:e.!t: :: Page 6 October 26, 2005 • The Huron Expositor of -wilt iwfoslmtit7ive artlus on mews, events, sports, business & ente>tnlin anf Subscrh a today to =theme*. Y for the law �' ` cost; of d aof over 40% olrl.niatt6nd priori r 527-0240 • www.se forthhttonezpositor.com l Church Services You are invited to attend these area churches St. Thomas Anglican Church A Corgregatice of the Palish of The Holy Spirit Jarvis St. Seaforth 527-1522 Rector. The Rev'd Sue Malpus. M. Div .SUNDAY, OCTOBER 30TH Worship at Trinity, Mitchell at 11 a.m. 'Requiem Eucharist for All Souls' Call 527-0812 la arrange a ride Rector's Coffee Hour - Drop in to the vestry Thurs., Oct. 27" From 10 a.m. to Noon Bethel Bible Church An Associated Gospel Church 126 Main St. Seaforth 527-0982 Sunday School - 9:45 a.m. Sunday Worship - 11:00 a.m. YOUTH ACTIVITIES Wed. 7 p.m. B&G CLUB - Wed. 7 p.m. YOUTH DROP IN CENTRE Open Fri. 7:00 - 10:00 p.m. EVERYONE WELCOME NORTHSIDE UNITED CHURCH 54 Goderich St. W. Rev. John Gould Sunday, October 30'" Worship at 11 a.m. Nursery during Worship Adutt & Teen Bible Discussion 9:30 a m. Sermon: What kind of Spirtual Leader are you? St. James Roman Catholic Church Welcomes you 14 Victoria Street, Seaforth 527-0142 Weekend Masses: Sat 5:15 pm Sun. 11:00 am Fr. Chris Gillespie Egmondville United Church Sun., Oct., 30" Worship 11:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. Sunday School Sugar Plum Tea & Bazaar Sat. November 12 - 9am-1pm Steve Hildebrand Lay Pastoral - Minister in Training First Presbyterian Church Goderich St. W., Seaforth Rev. Henry Huberts Sunday, October 30" Worship at 11:15 a.m. EVERYONE WELCOME Sunday School & Nursery Provided News Bluewater, province looking to each other to take first step on de -amalgamation Crystal S t P a` I.. The Municipality of Bluewater and the Ministry of Municipal Affairs can't seem to agree on who should be responsible for taking the first step in de -amalgamation talks with Hensall. While the ministry says Hensall must first get support for their business plan from coun- cil, council says they won't hear the plan until the ministry passes legislation allowing new municipalities. There is currently a regulation "that says restructuring can't result in an increase in the number of local municipalities," said Ralph Walton, a director with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. Deputy Mayor Paul Klopp made his feelings clear at last week's council meeting, saying the ministry is putting the responsibility on the municipality to deal with de -amalgama- tion, when it was they (the province) who forced amalgamation in the first place. "You're in charge before, you're in charge now... don't dump it on us," said Klopp. Bluewater council turned down a request by the Committee for the New Village of Hensall, to present a business plan for the new village at a meeting Nov. 21. Explaining his reasons for the decision, Mayor Bill Dowson said, "We would be giving a lot of false hope for something we cannot accommodate." He said by discussing the plan, council would be doing just that, but they are willing to "accommodate them with the issues they have on services." But according to the minister's office, coun- cil will have to hear and agree to the plan before Hensall can take it any further. "The groups can approach council as often as they wish," said Melanie Francis, commu- nications assistant with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. "But on our end any sort of submission would have to come from local council." Francis said the minister would be willing to consider a restructuring proposal that meets certain criteria, the first of which is approval and submission to the ministry by local council. "The council would have to...adopt that business proposal as their own and submit it to us." The second and third criteria are demon- strated property tax fairness for all residents and demonstrated fiscal self -sustainability for all proposed new municipalities. So with their business plan in place, the Hensall committee has found themselves at the same crossroads that has stalled every other group — adoption by council. As for the ministry allowing new municipal- ities, it would only be considered after all cri- teria are met. In that case "the minister and government would have to contemplate regulatory change," said Walton." Until council or the ministry budges, Hensall committee members are in for a long ride. Dowson said no matter what happens in the end, it is going to have a huge impact on everyone involved. "It's going to be long, it's going to be costly, it's going to be emotional," he said. Huron East's arenas in better shape with budgets, council told Susan H u n d e r t m a r k A look at how 2005's budget is shaping up for Huron East at council last Tuesday showed the municipality's three recreation centres are getting closer to a deficit -free budget, reported Deputy - Clerk Brad Knight. "Without buying a furnace this year, the deficit in Seaforth would be fully addressed. When you start making $11,000 a month, you're got things going the right way," said Knight. Knight said later in a phone interview that the blocked ice agreements made with user groups at the Seaforth arena have helped justify ice being made earlier. "The early ice seems to be making the money," he said. Council agreed recently to spend $48,000 on a new com- mercial -sized furnace to replace a 25 -year-old unit. Knight pointed to a few concerns at both the Brussels arena and the Vanastra Recreation Centre with a few areas where revenue is decreasing. He said Brussels has lost. some ice rental revenue when Senior A Hockey moved and some Seaforth recreational hockey teams deckled to rent, ice in Seaforth rather than Brussels this year. "There's ice time they have to sell yet and I hope they can still do it. I'm a little con- cerned that ice rentals are not as strong this year," he said. As well, he said pool rev- enue at Vanastra was "run- ning a little bit behind last year" but that new programs being offered at the rec centre looked promising. "The recreation facilities are definitely in better shape than they have been. Council made it very clear than the arena hoard's needed to fol- low a budget and they seem to be living up to the agree- ment," said Knight.