Huron Expositor, 2007-03-14, Page 5The Huron Expositor • March 14, 2007 Page 5
Opinion
Interests of residents should be priority
From Page 4
savings from the municipality run-
ning the building.
After putting a total of $200,000
- $100,000 of property tax by the
municipality and $100,000 of earn-
ings by Seaforth residents from
the sale of the Seaforth PUC - into
the clinic and its improvements
over the past two years, both the
municipality and the community
trust are not happy that they don't
know how the hospital trust is
spending public money and
whether the projects they were
supposedly funding - such as a
new roof and computer equipment
- have been completed.
They say the municipality and
the community trust running the
FHT building will also make the
finances far more public and
accountable since neither the hos-
pital foundation nor the hospital
trust has any obligation - or appar-
ently any desire - to report their
financial statements to the public.
But, the hospital trust is not
happy with the idea of a 99 -year
lease for $1 of the clinic to the
municipality.
They say a 99 -year lease is
essentially the same as selling the
building - something they're not
permitted to do unless they dis-
solve.
And, because the hospital trust's
and foundation's financial state-
ments are not open to the public,
it's impossible to know whether
the municipality's arguments that
they can run the clinic cheaper
and save money for the residents
of Seaforth are correct.
Listening to the circular argu-
ments of the hospital trust and the
lack of willingness to reveal finan-
cial information that could help
the community understand the
whole story, it's understandable
why the town is throwing up its
collective hands and planning a
separate building. The Who's on
First routine is only funny for so
long.
What is in the best interests of
the residents of Seaforth and their
continuing healthcare needs? That
should be the question at the fore-
front of this dispute - the clarify-
ing, fog -clearing, riddle -solving
essential question.
And, that question should be the
mantra of every person involved in
the dispute
Brodhagen Community Centre looking
for past and present members
Dear Editor:
We are honouring our founding, past
and present members along with their
spouses, Sunday, April 29, 2007 with a
brunch at 12:30 p.m. at the Brodhagen
Community Centre. We are celebrating
50 years of community service and are
recognizing everyone's support over
the years.
Because we don't have current
addresses for everyone, we are asking
the public's assistance. 1f you know
someone who was a member here,
please pass this message on and have
them contact Joan Beuermann 519-
345-2209 or Diana Rapien 519-347-
4127. If we have missed someone
please accept our apologies.
Thank you,
Don Beuermann
President
Five area municipalities reach
agreement to build new arena in 1982
MARCH 10, 1882
Saturday afternoon a fire origi-
nated in John Wright's oatmeal
mill. Part of the roof was
de troyed, together with a quantity
of dats.
The fire was caused by oats in
the kiln that were in the process of
drying catching fire through over-
heating.
The concert held at Elimvale on
Tuesday evening of last week,
under the auspices of the Usborne
Plowing Association, was a decided
success. Not withstanding the
inclement weather and
unfavourable state of the roads,
the attendance was large.
Daniel Moran of McKillop frac-
tured the cap of his knee, and
before it got well, ventured out to
chop. His companion felled an elm
tree against a large stub which
stood in the midst of the brush
heap. The tree loosened the stub,
but held it up by its forks. Mr.
Moran cut one of the forks, when
the stub fell and shaving his shoul-
ders, fell beside and partially on
him, crushing the heap flat. He
had a narrow excape.
Sec. and Robert Hall, of the 8th
Concession of Grey, sawed a cord of
elm stove bolts in 16 minutes, with
a lance tooth saw.
MARCH 15, 1907
The regular meeting of town
council was held in Monday
evening last. A motion was adopted
for the amendment of the dog tax
bylaw, fixing the tax at one dollar
for male dogs and three dollars for
females. Owners are required to
purchase a dog tag and display it
on the animals.
Billy Routledge says he saw a
robin a few days ago as the sun
was rising, which he says is a sure
sign of an early spring.
A number of farmers in Morris
lbwnship have had grain stolen
from their granaries.
Wright Martin of Goderich has
gathered 778 eggs from his hens
during February, which he consid-
ers a good record for so cold a sea-
son.
MARCH 4, 1932
The South Huron Agricultural
Society held a most successful Seed
Fair at the Tbwn Hall, Hensall on
Friday of last week. The list of
entries was large, the quality
exceptionally good, and the compe-
tition keen enough in some cases to
make judging difficult.
Trapped inhis motor car as it
was struck by a CNR passenger
train at the Lucan main crossing of
the Stratford to Sarnia line, Bryan
E. Hicks, aged 55, well known
Centralia cattle buyer, was
instantly killed at 5:10 p.m.
Thursday. He was always active in
the cattle trade of the district and
was widely known in both Huron
and Middlesex Counties.
Stewart Plant was successful in
winning the playoff at the bowling
alley on Monday evening for the
February contest. Gordon
McKellar was runner up. 185
points "made by C.A. Barber result-
ed in his wining a chicken the
same evening.
MARCH 22, 1957
More than nine million eggs -
9,311,400 to be exact - were han-
dled by the Seaforth Farmers
Cooperatives in 1956, it was
revealed in the annual report
which went forward to members
this week. Value of egg sales was
$413,172.
Fire completely destroyed a large
barn on the farm of Borden Riehl,
Lot 6, Concession 13, McKillop,
Wednesday morning. Loss was
estimated at $10,000 by Fire Chief
John F. Scott. Lost in addition to
the buildings and calves, was a
large quantity of hay and grain, as
well as a milking machine.
John Henry, formerly of Dublin
and now residing with his sister,
Mrs. Jean Fortune, RR 4 Seaforth
will celebrate his 90th birthday on
Friday, March 22. He was born in
Logan Township on No. 8 highway,
a mile east of Dublin.
MARCH 17, 1982
The Seaforth and District
Community Centres Committee
and the five area municipalities it
is responsible to reached agree-
ment on a $1.3 million project that
will take the place of a condemned
and now closed Seaforth arena in a
closed meeting at town hall last
Wednesday night. The atmosphere
that prevailed was far more ami-
able than when the groups first got
together to discuss the proposal
the Wednesday before.
Seaforth council approved a
$10,000 budget, as proposed by the
board of management of the town's
recently established business
improvement area (BIA), at last
Thursday night's regular meeting
at town hall. Coun. Alf Ross noted
$10,000 seems "a reasonable figure
to promote business in Seaforth,"
but Coun. Gerald Groothius also
noted some local businessmen
would like to see the BIA get
involved in more than just promo-
tion, for instance beautification.
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