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HomeMy WebLinkAboutLakeshore Advance, 2013-02-13, Page 12Huron County council wants budget increase reduced Three per cent is goal for now Paul Clutf OMI Agency The first draft of the 2013 budget pre- sented to Huron County council shows a 4.83 per cent increase, a figure that needs to be trimmed, councillors agreed at their Ian. 30 committee of the whole meeting. The increase of $1,653,250 year -over - year doesn't include $100,000 ear- marked for economic development. With that factored in, the increase would be 5.12 per cent, said Nancy Ren - nick, deputy treasurer. In her budget highlight package, Ren - nick noted corporate -level changes including a decrease in OMPF funding of $150,100 and $200,000 to be added to the Levy stabilization reserves. Surplus cash and insurance reserve money helped bring the 2012 budget down. The 2012 budget was a one per cent increase of the previous year. A motion was passed to accept the con- solidated budget report and ask staff to come back with a three per cent increase. Surpluses will help achieve that, said Coun. Deb Shewfelt (Goderich). "I think by sending it back to see if they can round it out at three, then we get our surplus. Then, maybe council 4.DAYS.ONLY • •• 2.Oi1124SERT►A MA!_ RE. LA -Z --BOY COMFORT STUDIO & MENNONITE FURNITURE 1845 London Line • 519-541-1342 • www.foreverfurniture.ca can work on that to bring it down even farther. 1 think trying to hit zero these days with expenses going up is very hard. I think you need to take a long-term look at things and make sure you have some surpluses in the reserves," he said. Shewfelt said the 25 -page draft budget prepared for councillors would simplify the review process for council. The package details changes in assessment year - over -year and they are bro- ken down for each of the lower tiers, as well tis the levy that needs to be raised in each of those lower tiers. 'There is a section that explains where tax dollars are spent within the county, with roads, bridges and cul- verts taking up a fair sized chunk. '1'Ile county 111t1111ta11)5 7.15 kilometres of roads and some 462 bridges. The budget for capital projects is $15,111 i ,053. "What stands (1111 every time is our bridge and road construction," tibewfeIt said. "1 mean there is a lot of dol- lars in $15 million on capital projects. It is huge and maybe there is a dal' when we have to balance that with sante of the environmental concerns that we have in the water- shed. It will be a good discussion" STATUS Q1IO 1:()R EMERGENCY MF.1)l(:AI. SERVICES 1 iuron County council nar- rowly agreed to keep the sta- tus quo for EMS service in the county. The status quo means a compliment of 10 active vehicles - six ambulances and four Rapid Response Vehicles (1lRVs). The bottom line for Dave Lew, chief, emergency serv- ices, is that that the ItltVs, which are spread throughout the county, have brought clown response tittles. The RRVs are half tonne vehicles with the entire patient care equipment of an ambulance, minus a stretcher, Lew said. Only one paramedic is aboard the RRVs, though. They arrive faster than ambu- lances and cut down on costs, Lew told council. Coun. Bernie MacLellan (Huron East) reminded councillors that they have tried to find the best choice between RRVs and ambu- lances in the past. There are pros and cons to both, he said. MacLellan said Lew was asked by the province to bring response levels (times) down and he has done as much. IiMS is responding faster ant getting people to hospi- tal faster, added Art Versteeg (I lowick). Council needed to reach a decision, and MacLellan sug- gested it would he a "gut decision." Council voted 0-7 in favour of the current model. Patel Klopp (Mummer) was absent from the sleeting. "here tlrl' a 111t of llifferell.) ideas on how to do things," said (:nun. Deb Shewfelt. "Input is good. As fa as 1 an concerned, I ala going to go with the recommendations 0f the person that is the man- ager. In the past that has served us well." "it make's no difference in MV mind what vehicle 15 going there," Lew said after the investing. "11'e need to have someone on the scene wbetiler they are cunning in IM R11\' or allnbulance. 1'011 need someone to start assesssllnent, to start treatment." "Our staff ale all pinioned ics in either vehicle," said Lew. VF.It11AI. WARNINGS 1:011 EMS S l'AFFl 1(S ('nun. nen Van 1)it'prnbrrk (Ashfield Colborn' Wawanl►sI) suggested slow ing down the pace when 11 cone's to the consent agenda. Generally filled with items 11111 have all eaty been addressed by council, Van 1)lepenbeek said some them need mole discussit Councillors agreed to roll through them and if issues came up, they could be discussed. Among the items pulled wets an EMS report with details about "Fe0der benders;' When asked for details by Van I)iepenheek, Le \%, explained that an occident occurred when an 811)1)11 - 1(11)11' driver hacked up into a cement pillar near the salt mine. A spotter on tht' scene was assisting, not an EMS employee, 115 required. I)isclpllnory action was given vitt a verbal warning. In another incident, an EMS vehicle rolled back words into another EMS vehicle when the driver thought it was in park. A verbal warning was also given, Lew said.