Huron Expositor, 2006-09-27, Page 6Page 6 September 27, 2006 • The Huron Expositor
News
Seaforth Community Development Trust assets of
$633,859 rise to over $2 million with real estate
Suaan Hundertmark
OINEIENIIM
While a financial statement from
Dec. 31, 2005 shows the Seaforth
Community Development Trust
standing at assets of $633,869,
chair Joe Steffler says the trust's
real estate purchases increase that
amount by over $2 million.
"We have been very focussed on
the mandate of investing for the
betterment of the community. Our
trust can't support our community
enough," says Steffler.
The Seaforth Community.
Development Trust was formed to
administer the $1.4 million earned
by the sale of the Seaforth PUC to
Festival Hydro in 2002.
During itsfirst year and a half in
operation, the trust bought the
Seaforth post office building for
$250,000 and built a facility for the
Community Care Access Centre
(CCAC) for $700,000. The total
insured value of the buildings is
$2.1 million and the
the Seaforth Medical Centre and
$1,358.89 towards advertising costs
of the Seaforth hospital focus
trust earns $9,338.20 I.
in rent from both
buildings each month.
"We invested $1 mil-
lion on real estate and
what's that worth
now?" says Steffler,
adding that both build-
ings have the security
of long-term ,leases
from their tenants.
During the past
three years, the trust
has supported a num-
ber of projects, many of
them related to health-
care, children and eco-
nomic development in
Seaforth.
Medical Centre
Health and Wellness Centre of Excellence
Owned and Managed by
Seaforth Community Hospital Trust
28 Centennial Drive, Seaforth NOK 1 WO
519-527-1770
C-Wela co M. 5.,
Dr. Bill Milne
Clinic Houi,s :
Monday 8:30 - 5 p.m.
Tuesday 8:30 - 5 p.m.
Tuesday 2:00 - 7:00 p.m.
(by appointment ONLY for patients and orphan patients
of the Seaforth Community Medical Centre.)
Wednesdays 8:30 - 5 p.m.
Thursday 8:30 - 5 p.m.
Friday 8:30 - 5 p.m.
Joining our team :
Dr. Heather Percival
Dr. Dan Rooyakkers
Dr. Helen Frye
Dr. Jason Datema
Seaforth Community Medical Centre
welcomes new patients
Please call to book an appointment
519-527-1770
Q114 t4 41
'We have been
very focusse
on the
mandate o
investing for
the betterment
of the
community,'--
Seaforth trust chair
Joe Steffler
In
2004., the trust
gave $30,000
towards the new
Seaforth Co-oper-
ative Children's
Centre, $3,000
towards develop-
ment of a Huron
East website
design, $3,000
towards a
Seaforth
skatepark,
$20,000 towards
the Come Home
to the Country
Festival in
Seaforth,
$100,000 towards
renovations at
group.
As . well, the trust
spent $4,000 towards a
signage - study for
Huron East and $1263
for the hanging bas-
kets on Main Street in
2004.
In 2005, the trust
spent $4,000 towards
metal plant hangers
created by Jim Dawe
for Seaforth's Main
Street, $2,000 towards
the Seaforth Doors
Open project,
$1,085.40 on Main
Street flowers and
$1,611.36 on Seaforth
signs.
The trust also donat-
ed $9,245 towards new equipment
at the Seaforth Lawn' Bowling Club
and $50,000 as the first installment
of a three-year commitment to the
Healthkick project.
So far in 2006, the trust has spent
$3,000 towards the construction
and placement of the Visitor
Information booth in Seaforth,
$20,205.72 towards extrication
equipment for the Seaforth Fire
Department, $2,122,20 towards
hanging flowers for Main Street and
close to $6,000 in wages for the
nurse practitioner hired for the
Seaforth family health team.
As well, $1,100 has been spent on
rent for the registered practical
nurses' course offered by Georgian
College on Seaforth's Main Street.
Brussels Agri
Services Ltd. &
Cowboy Loft
1 km East of Brussels on Newry Rd.
519-887-9391 Toll Free: 1-877-887-9391
Every year for the past three
years, the trust has also contributed
$300 towards the doctors' recruit-
ment gala held by the Huron -Perth
Healthcare -Alliance.
Steffler says investment .in local
healthcare, particularly involving
the family health team, is "really
good for the future of Seaforth."
"I heard some comments that we
shouldn't be involved in the family
health team because it's outsideour
mandate but I disagree. It's nice to
have it (the FHT) located for the
county in Seaforth, not Goderich:
And, how much employment. will it
create?" he says.
"I think we're putting our
resources and energy behind the.
FHT to make sure we retain doctors
and attract some more," says
Steffler.
Steffler says any investments the
trust is making have been "as
secure as you can get, not risky
mutual funds."
"There is no one investment larg-
er than $100,000. I don't believe
public money should have any risks
attached," he says, adding that
banks only insure investments up
to $100,000.
As the end of the term of the cur-
rent council approaches with the
November municipal election, the
trust will be seeing some changing
faces this January.
While Seaforth councillors auto-
matically get seats on the Seaforth
trust, appointments will be made to
replace anyone coming to the end of
their term on the trust.
Those names will be announced
soon and ads will be run to invite
others to apply to sit on the trust by
December, says Steffler.
He says the trust hears very little
from the public about whether or
not Seaforth residents agree with
the investments and donations
made by the trust.
"We're taking that as no news is
good news," -he says.
• He says all the trust meetings,
held the first Thursday of every
month on the second floor of the
Seaforth post office building, are
open to the public.
"Anyone can just show up and
watch a meeting," he says.
Story idea?
Call Susan
or Jeff
at 527-0240