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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1991-02-13, Page 3IN TT -IF NFW' Small Increase in ABCA levy promised to municipalities HENSALL - A year ago the village of Hensall had to pay a 24 percent increase over their 1989 levy for the Ausable- Bayfield Conservation Authori- ty. Monday night they were told it would be much less for the up- coming year. Although the ABCA has yet to determine the amount of increase for the indi- vidual municipalities, overall it is only six percent. Rowena Wallace, Hensall's representative on the ABCA said the overall budget has been set at 42.19 million. "Because of the discussions last year, the board decided this years increase couldn't be over six per- cent," said Wallace. Many municipalities were up- set last year over their increases. Wallace said in order to keep it down in 1991, the ABCA would have to reduce services in their non -revenue areas such as Morri- son Dam. Times -Advocate, February 13,1991 Page 3 "They felt if they closed these areas we'd lose the dollar value we've already put in." This year municipalities will be be able to make two payments to the ABCA instead of in one lump, sum. Reeve Jim Robinson noted that in order to keep the levy down, the ABCA had to dip into their reserves. "It makes us (ABCA) look very good this year but it delays the problems another year," said Wallace. Huronview won't be downsized GODERICH - Exeter deputy - reeve Lossy Fuller wants to know why there are still 235 residents at Huron County's rest home. Thursday afternoon at Huron County Council, Fuller said she thought the number of residents at Huronview in Clinton would be decreasing since the county has decided to build new facilities. "Was it not a motion by council to be downsized at this date?", questioned Fuller. She understood, from her coun- cil minutes, that Huronview was to be down to 200 patients by De- cember 1990. "If the Huronview people changed that, should it not have come to county council?," asked Fuller. Huronview administrator Wayne Lester said the new facility will not be completed until late next year. "We felt there was not a necessity to downsize in 1991," said Lester. He said he did not tell council that they had decided not to down- size because the actual completion date of the new facility had to be delayed. "We should have brought it back to council to make that adjust- ment," admitted Lester. In a separate issue involving Hu- ronview, Exeter reeve Bill Mickle wanted to know why the medical director for Huronview was getting paid for care given to empty beds. The director is paid a certain amount per bed for medical care. It was $4.81 but Thursday was in- creased to $5.28 per designated bed per month. However he is still col- lecting for beds which are not occu- pied. "For over 10 years we've been overpaying this man," said a dis- gruntled Tom Tomes of Stephen Township. Huronview chairman Howard Armstrong of Stanley Township said there are many homes paying more than the $5.28 rate. "There's not enough money for a general practitioner to give up his practice," said Armstrong. Huronview submitted a prelimi- nary budget for 1991 of $6,774,500 compared to the 1990 budget of $6,390,300. Of the 1991 budget, county council's share would be $633,697. Choirfest promises something powerfuIfor Exeter audience By Adrian Harte EXETER - The power of a 180 -voice choir joined with a church organ with all the stops out is not a common sound in Ex- eter. Nevertheless, that is what an audience will be treated to on February 23 at the Exeter United Church as the New Huronia Singers cap off a day -long work- shop with members of 14 other district choirs. The event is to be called Choir - jest: In celebration of church mu- sic and will represent the first such program in this, area in a lopg time, The choirs and individual sing- ers who have signed up for the seminar have been sent copies of the music they are to rehearse for the program and which will be sung that evening. Ken Fleet, the highly respected conductor of the Faculty of Music Singers and London's Pro Musica, will be the clinician for the day to help the singers refine their skills. Susan Graham, the New Huro- nia director and one of the 12 choirfest organizers, said that while her choir is not restricted to religious music, its choice was logical for the seminar because of its wide appeal. Several of the visiting choirs will be presenting pieces of their own to add to the evening program. When the 180 singers have per- fected the pieces, they will treat Exeter to a free concert at 7:30 p.m. Seating, however, is ex- pected to be limited because the choir will take up the entire low- er level of the church. Only the balcony will be available to the audience. All proceeds from the offering at the concert will go to- wards the Canadian Foodgrains Bank.. "I think it's a fairly significant event for a small town," said Gra- ham, adding that it proves there is more interest in such work- shops than some had believed. Adult choir workshops are not that common. "This is the first time anything like this has happened for a long, long time," she said. Organizing the workshop around the 180 singers and the limitations of the Exeter United Church building will be difficult - there will'be 75 sopranos alone - but Graham said things are go- ing as smoothly as can be expect- ed. The final result that evening promises to be dramatic. The massed choir of 180 voices will likely be one of the most impres- sive heard in Exeter, says Gra- ham. One Mozart selection With the organ may garner rave re- views. "The whole place should come alive," she said. Does province still care about small business? GODERICH - The provincial government doesn't care about the little guy. That's the message several county councillors delivered Thursday at their regular meeting. They were responding to the re- cent county study committee re- port. In that report, Don Pullen, the former county agricultural repre- sentative has been retained to do a review of the agricultural econo- my. But councillors felt the review was not necessary since the pro- vincial government is only out to assist big business. "I think the writing is on the wall. The government is throwing a whole lot of money into big business. Once the government subsidies run out, the big business moves," said Usborne's Gerry Prout. Grant Stirling of Goderich said farms are going to get bigger and it will take less people to operate them and therefore the county won't have to do an agricultural re- view. "The sooner government wakes up and supports the smaller busi- ness the better it will be," said Prout. As far as the Huron County Study, which was authorized by the province in March, is concerned, warden Jim Robinson of Hensall doesn't think his county is getting treated fairly. "My concern is that although oth- er municipalities have funding or ministry personnel assisting them, we have neither." Robiusin said he has met with Ontario Minister of Municipal Af- fairs David Cooke and expressed his concerns. Five premiers at Blyth BLYTH - Blyth Festival Artis- tic Director Peter Smith recently announced his 1991 season with performances at Blyth Memorial Hall from June 11 to September 14, 1991. "The season offered for 1991 in- cludes connections to the Festi- val's past, new bridges and I be- lieve a cross-section of some of the most exciting talent that this country has produced" says Smith. Ted Johns, one of the fathers of the collective, has close ties with this Fetival and its early roots. Layne Coleman, interim Artis- tic Director of the Theatre Passe Muraille, is another adventurer from the collective who share his- tory with Blyth. Sean Dixon, a new voice and our 1991 Wtper-la Residence usesage in the traditions of Ondaatje� and Purdy. James W. Nichol has had two plays produced at Blyth, and con- tinues to inspire us with his(writ- ing. Margaret Laurence brings an important Canadian voice to our stage and what greater place to hear her voice than at the home of Canadian theatre - Blyth Festi- val. Kelly Rebar possesses a won- derful ability to pen stories for and about teal Canadians. In Cornflower Blue she continues her fascination with the small town and the larger than life peo- ple eaple who dwell there." fiz+vwith t�tt�ay 'y 9- am?t A&r /11'614? / h Spice ValartmeiSthe swept 7ruffles,mint srno ,almond just b)taame afew SUGAR 6 SPICE mvntawn miv %lay1255 Ken Fleet From General - Electric and Russell Electric Our Greatest Savings Event Ever! ;. 1; 4111.. A call for wage restraint HENSALL - Employees of the village of Hensall wont be getting a seven percent wage increase, after the reeve called for restraint. Monday night during its council me -cling, local politicians voted against acccepting the report of the property and finance committee, which recommended seven percent wage,increase for village staff. "1 have nothing against our staff I think they do a great job but there are some realities that should be re- alized. We should not be looking at a seven percent increase," said reeve Jim Robinson. The committee which included councillors Peter Groot and Cecil Pepper recommended the clerk - treasurer's salary be increased from 534,000 to 536,000; deputy -clerk from 518,300 to 519,500; road su- perintendent from 530,000 to 32,100; arena manager from $27,000 to 528,150 and assistant arena manager from 523,000 to 524,500. Robinson said there are too many unemployed, including high num- bers in Hensall, and it wouldn't be fair for them to have to pay more. "The average taxpayer will con- sider it a slap in the face," said Robinson. Councillor Jeff Reaburn wanted to give the local taxpayers a break by disagreeing to a recommended 5100 increase in remuneration for the reeve and councillors. When Robinson asked for the committee's report to be accepted, Pepper and councillor Butch Hoff- man said yes while Robinson and Reaburn said no. Groot was absent. Reaburn however felt the em- ployees salaries should be in- creased. 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