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Home My WebLink AboutLakeshore Advance, 2011-03-30, Page 1130, Councillors to eye peonaImiles Cheryl Heath OMI Agency Going to town at the county's expense is a politically 'charged notion for at least one Huron County Councillor. In addressing the issue at the March 23 committee -of - the -whole session in Goderich, Councillor Bernie MacLellan (Huron East) says a recent report, presented by the county's treasurer, left him wondering why some members of the county's Senior Management Team (SMT) are wracking up many kilometres of travel while others are not. At issue is a free vehicle program, created several years ago as an incentive package for the recruitment and retention of the county's Senior Management Team mem- bers. The program covers vehicle leases, insurance, maintenance and mileage. According to treasurer Dave Carey's stats, presented at a past committee session, the 2010 business use -related kilometers for the senior management team was 15,008 Exeter Legion gets federal funding for Legacy garden Lakeshore Advance Last week Ben Lobb, Member of Parliament for Huron - Bruce announced funding for the Royal Canadian Legion R.E. Pooley Branch 167 in Exeter. "Our Government is proud to support the Royal Canadian legion and the community of South Huron", said MP Lobb. "By partnering with communities to support activities that celebrate our shared history and our rich cultural diversity, we are fulfilling our commitment to strengthen our commu- nities and support arts, culture and heritage," The Royal Canadian Legion R,E, Pooley Branch 167 has received $17,000 to create a legacy Garden with a commem- orative metal sculpture and a refurbished War Memorial in the Town Hall courtyard of Exeter in conjunction with the 125th anniversary of the Olde 'ibwn flail being celebrated in 2012 by the Municipality of South Huron, "'she Iixeter'Lown Ball has been the cultural centre of this community since 1887. '!he new Legacy Garden will enhance the prestige of this beautiful heritage building and create a new outdoor venue for the enjoyment of the arts and culture for a whole new generation." Cathy Seip, Chair of the Com- munities in Bloom Committee. Vie Government of Canada created the Building Commu- nities Through Arts and I leritage program in September 2007. 'this program provides Canadians with more opportunities to take part in local activities that present arts and culture and celebrate local history and heritage. 'Ibis program will benefit many Community events and celebrations throughout Can- ada this year. ill The new Legacy Garden will enhance the prestige of this beautiful heritage building and create a new outdoor venue for the enjoyment of the arts and culture for a whole new generation." -- Cathy Seip, Chair of the Communities in Bloom Committee kilometres for CAO Larry Adams, 25,012 km for Carey, 8,754 km for Public Works Director Dave Laurie, 19,472 for Human Resources Direc- tor Darcy Michaud, 6,748 for Social Services Administrator Dave Over- boe, 7,987 km for Homes Administra- tor Barb Springall and 19,315 for county clerk Barb Wilson, In all, says Carey, the total cost of SMT vehicles is about $75,000, and since about $44,000 of that benefits the county's fleet, the net cost is about $30,000. Though the incentive program itself is not in question, says MacLel- lan, the concern is how much fuel for personal use is being covered by county dollars. Further, says MacLellan, though county council did approve the incentive program, councillors did not know many kilometres were involved or what gas costs would be when the decision was made. Perhaps the hest course of action, says MacLellan, is to set an "upper limit" on allowable fuel expenses. Pointing to the available stats, MacLellan notes while one county employee submitted for 7,000 kilo- metres at a $600 fuel cost, another one filed a claim for 8,000 kilometres at a fuel cost of $1,300. "There is quite a discrepancy there: says Maclellan, adding he is IIT (:.I.(. Rate 3.25% Z f a•_. i 135442. figculvroN Q.1ee1'o� Kneale tills. Seeker tali. Public Meeting Re: Access to Ausable River at Ausable Line, Municipality of Bluewater Hensall and District Community Centre Wednesday, April 6, 2011 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more Information call Ausable eoyMld Conservation Authority at 51f -23S-2610 a 14116.246.2610 of visit www.abca.on.ca uncomfortable with the notion of the county picking up the cost for leisure travel. Coun. Brian BarnIm (Central Huron) also expressed concern about the incentive program, noting while maintenance costs are now low, they will likely rise as the vehicles age. In praising the program, Count Warden Neil Vincent (North Huron says the county has to do something to attract top-notch SMT staff. He also notes Huron County used to pay overtime to SMT members, whereas now it does not. Noting he was "confused" by the warden's remarks, MacLellan asked the county treasurer to return before councillors with a further breakdown of available stats in order to ascertain how many personal kilometres are being wracked up by SMT members on county vehicles. "Maybe it only gets abused in the summer when you are on holidays," suggested MacLellan. In learning Carey could gauge that figure by dividing the business miles and gas costs on all the available receipts for SMT members, council- lors agreed to hear a further report at a future session. Councillors also learned changes to the present incen- tive program would require changes to the SMT employment agreement, which is a document they also plan to review. Two of the county's SMT, Cultural Services Director Beth Ross and Plan- ning Director Scott Tousaw, chose not to possess county vehicles and instead track their county business- related mileage, which is considered to be a tax-free expense. 41/4 Lake Huron Pt.••ary Water S.ppry System NOTICE OF STUDY COMPLETION CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR THE LAKE HURON PRIMARY WATER TRANSMISSION MAIN TWINNING Through the master planning process, the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System has identified that twinning of additional segments of the 1200 mm transmission main is required. This is in order to ensure the efficient long term operation of the Lake Huron Primary Water Supply System. This project is being planned under Schedule B of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment. Subject to comments received as a result of this Notice, and the receipt of the necessary approvals, the LHPWSS intends to proceed with the design and construction of this project. The twinning of the transmission pipeline of the Lake Huron Water Supply System is part of the HELP Clean Water Initiative, a regional infrastructure project funded through the Building Canada Fund (BCF). It will supply safe, dean drinking water to over 500,000 residents in Southwestern Ontario for generations to come. The total eligible cost of the HELP Clean Water initiative under the BCF is $150 million. The governments of Canada and Ontano are each contributing up to $50 million. with remaining costs the responsibility of the City of London, the lake Huron Primary Water Supply System and the Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System. The Project File that hes been completed for this project is available for review at the following locations Grand Bend Public Library 15 Gill Street Grand Bend, Ontario Telephone: (519) 238.2067 http / www.lambtononline.conutibraries Please visit the web site or call for branch hours Merton Public Library 40 Hentage Dove 'Merton, Ontario Telephone: (519) 666-1599 http:[/www. mild lesex.lrbrary. on. ca Please visit the web site or call for branch hours Ailsa Craig Public Library 147 Main Street Ailsa Craig, Ontano Telephone: (519) 293-3441 httpalwww.mrddiesex library on Ca Please visit the web site or call for branch hours Lake Huron Primary Water Supply 235 North Centre Road, Suite 200 London. Ontario Telephone' (519) 930-3505 http /Avww watersuuuly lon don ca The Project Elle is available on lino at: http:/Awww.watersupply.london.ca/tfuronl'ipelnoTwinning.html Interested persons should provide written comment to the undersigned within 30 calendar days from the date of the first published Notice (March 26, 2011). I1 concerns arise regarding this project, which cannot be resolved in discussion with the LHPWSS, a person or party may request that the Minister of the Environment make en order for the project to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act (retorted to as a Part I1 Order), which addresses individual environment assessments. Requests must be received by the Minister at the address below by April 24, 2011. Minister of the Environment 77 Wellesley Street West, 11'' Floor, Ferguson Block Toronto, ON M7A 2T5 A copy of the request must also be sent to one of the undersigned. 1f there is no request received by April 24, 2011, the transmission main twinning will proceed to design and construction as presented in the planning documentation. Laine Huron Primary Water Supply System Brian Lina, P. Eng Capital Projects Manager 235 North Centre Road Suite 200 London, ON N5X 4E7 Fax: (519) 474.0451 Email: DNrn*Olortdon.ce Stentec Consulting Ltd, Michele Oxhide, B.Sc., EMX Environmental Coordinator 800-171 Queens Avenue London, ON NSA SJ7 Fax: (519) 6454575 Ercall: mid»as.ordadaOstenlec.cem