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Home My WebLink AboutHuron Expositor, 2007-04-25, Page 11The Huron Expositor • April 25, 2007 Page 11 News Huron County approves 3.95 per cent levy hike Councillors turn down $1 million request for CT scanner at Goderich hospital Cheryl Heath Huron County residents will see a 3.95 per cent hike on their levies for 2007. That news was delivered Tuesday following a special county council meeting wherein councillors debat- ed the merits of the draft budget, which proposed a 7.68 per cent levy increase. The decision means a residential property assessed at $100,000 will see a $25.60 increase. On that same scale farmland will go up $3.60, multi -residential increases by $2.65, commercial by $30.35, and industrial by $37.52. In the end, the majority of coun- cillors voted in favour of ousting some of. the draft's more controver- sial proposals, including a plan to allocate $1 million to the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital for the purchase of a Computerized Tomography (CT) Scanner. Bill Thibert, chief executive officer and president of the Goderich hospital, said the news "was extremely disappoint- ing," especially given that hospital represen- tatives made two well- received pitches to county officials in both January and March. "We were feeling quite positive that we would be receiving some financial assis- tance," said Thibert, who noted the Town of Goderich has come on board with a $1 -mil- lion pledge over the next five years. The Municipality of Ashfield Colborne Wawanosh (ACW) is also anteing up with a $100,000 commitment over five years, while the Municipality of Bluewater is ponder- ing a $50,000 dona- tion. Despite the unwel- come news via the county, Thibert said the fundraising cam- paign will go on. "We will be continu- ing with our cam- paign," he said. "We will continue to move forward." County Warden Deb Shewfelt (Goderich), who has been a strong proponent of the scanner purchase, said county council's decision was "disappointing," but heis nonethe- less hopeful the Goderich hospital foundation will move forward with other avenues, including fundrais- ing, to purchase the scanner. "I don't think there's anybody against the scanner," said Shewfelt, noting it would be ideal for the county to have its own stroke clinic. Shewfelt said some councillors were opposed to the idea of the equipment going onto the property tax bill, while others saw it as a geographic issue since Goderich would house the equipment. "Maybe the big picture wasn't explained well enough. I don't know," said Shewfelt. Ultimately, two votes, one with a motion for a $300,000 donation to the cause by Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East), and one for a $500,00 donation, moved by Coun. Bill Dowson (Bluewater), failed to pass. Coun. Bert Dykstra (Central Huron) was one of 11 councillors who remained opposed to helping to fund the CT scanner through coun- ty dollars. "It's not that I'm opposed to the CT scanner. It's an excellent piece of equipment," said Dykstra. The concern, he said, is setting the dangerous precedent of using county money for something the provincial government should be paying for. "Our tax dollars are stretched to the limit," said Dykstra. "It could open the floodgates." He added he received about six calls on the issue, with each resi- dent backing Dykstra and John Bezaire (Central Huron)'s stated stand of opposing the $1 -million donation. County council did approve the creation of a $20,000 heritage fund, designed to help repair and promote the county's heritage sites and buildings. The heritage fund, said Shewfelt, is a step in the right direction. "I think it's really important," he said, noting in the past heritage - related questions, like who should pay for the restoration of Tiger Dunlop's Tomb, have proved con- tentious. Ultimately, said Shewfelt, pre- serving heritage buildings and sites will benefit the county as a whole. "I think it's a big part of Huron County and it should be," he said. The warden added praise for trea- surer Dave Carey on a well -present- ed report, which featured options where councillors could see fit to cut. "We didn't cut any services," said Shewfelt, noting three lower -tier boundary bridges are also in the budget. "I think it was a fair budget all the way around," he added. tu� {BLUEWATE (MIKE BOVEN' R1 INTERIORS INC. 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