Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes Advocate, 1995-10-04, Page 1SEIP 'S valu-mart 4 & 83 Exeter 235-0262 • ifte NEW Garlic .21,1 Pifrra "3'ry One Today sulr.t1h7.i S IP'S valu-mart rt____t_IMP , IttsiseRtwe • II If you aren't subscribing to The' 1 Times -Advocate, you're missing out. Use tsIbe t day! and ubscr 1 Name: 1 Address City 1 Prov 1 1 1 1 Postal Code auaSCRIPTION RATES: Canada Within 40 miles - (65 km) addressed to non letter carrier addresses $33.00 plus $2.31 G.S.T. I Outside 40 miles - (65 km) or any letter carrier address $63.00 + $4.41 G.S.T. Outside Canada -$99.00 tna sae 10 ooa.e.r 1 USE YOUR CREDIT CARD 00000000 1 00000000 Card No. I Expiry Date U Yee Q Master Card 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ❑ Cheque enclosed Return to; TIMES ADVOCATE 1 L4ss NIMMN24 Main St. Exeter, Ont. NOM 1S6� rte ass ss nside Hayter Turkey Farm Turkey - not just for Thanksgiving See Crossroads Second front Classifieds pages 19-22 Experts page 23 Announcements pages 24-25 Tories leak rumors of hospital closings Heather Mir T -A staff EXETER - Despite rumors of government cutbacks, South Huron Hospital Administrator, Don Cur- rell remains optimistic Premier Mike Harris' Tories will honor their commitment to excellence in health care. "I firmly believe this hospital is not going to close. It is very, very viable. I think we can put the evidence in front of the movers and shakers to demonstrate that," said Currell. Among the headlines last week was the announcement 38 hospitals could close, beginning as soon as April 1996. Speculation of a 10 per cent slash to hospital funding and reducing the number of district' health councils and their funding were also discussed. Currell said he does not think it is wise to manage by rumors and finds warnings from. Harris of massive cuts are a kind of "mental terrorism" to health care workers. "It is creating the illusion there are major problems and there are radical things that have to be done. I am getting mixed messages. I hear that the total global budget of $17 billion is not being cut but there are going to be changes within the sys- tem. But nobody has really de- fined what those changes are," said Currell. Currell said the efforts for rationalization, re- gionalization and downsizing in health care have been at work for some time in a planned rather than a "scorch and burn" fashion. The Huron -Perth District Health Coun- cil is in the process of defining who would sit on a study committee, what the terms of reference for that committee would be and setting up timetables. Currell emphasized hospitals in "I firmly believe this hospital is not going to close. It is very, very viable." Huron have always shared re- sources. Hospitals share a library service, inter -hospital lab service and put on educational programs together. However, South Huron does stand alone as an independent system. In last Wednesday's Throne Speech from Queen's Park there was no direct mention of closing hospitals or funding cutbacks. The speech reaffirmed the government's priority of providing strong lead- ership by eliminating waste and du- plication to find the savings nec- essary to ensure the future of health care and education. Lieutenant Governor Henry Jack- man read from the speech that the government will work with hos- pitals, providers and private sector partners to manage the health care system efficiently, work within re- sources, prevent duplication, elim- inate waste and combat fraud. The speech outlined government plans to "reinvest savings in improved di- alysis treatments for kidney pa - Board of Education predicts 1.(1 per cent mill rate increase Budget estimated forecast a 9.69 per cent increase for '96 Heather Mir T -A staff CLINTON - While the Huron County Board of Education is •re- ducing expenditures, the mill rate for 1996 is expected to increase nearly 10 per cent due to down- loading from the provincial govern- ment. "We are moving into a hor- rendous financial exercise for 1996," Director Paul Carroll told board members at Monday's meet- ing. Historically the province has brought in a six percent Standard Mill Rate increase annually. Huron County is in year two of an in- crease in property assessment val- Exeter places first for scope and effort The town ranks second in overall Communities in Bloom competition EXETER - Exeter essentially placed second in the overall Com- munities in Bloom competition for municipalities with a population of under 5,000. The winning community of Osoyoos, British Columbia narrowly defeated Exeter by only 6 out of a possible 1,000 points. Mayor Ben Hoogenboom, who attended the ceremony held in Ottawa over the weekend, said this competition put Exeter on the map. The town's industries and businesses were featured on a display table at the cer- emony . "There is certainly no shame in placing second if you saw the slides that were from British Columbia," said Hoogenboom. "It was tremendous exposure for Exeter." Exeter placed first in de category of scope, variety and effort, a credit to the work of many residents who contributed in beautifying Exeter. Exeter was judged in July for the new national awards program. The goal of Communities in Bloom is to int ;, •;Irl;; courage, support and promote na- tionwide programs of beautification. Judges viewed MacNaughton Park, the Scenic Garden, Exeter Cemetery, Victoria Park, the Com- munity Centre Park, Main Street and various pri- vate gardens. Leaf burning policy continues • GRAND BEND - At its Oct. 4 meeting, council decided to issue leaf burning permits on similar conditions as last year, including a $15 fee for people eligible for such premits. The Public Services Committee recommended at its Sept. 26 meeting that council clarify the policy. which ended March 31 and was based on lot size and distance of burning from houses or structures. Councillor Bob Mann opposed the motion, stating excessive burning of leaves would make the atmosphere intolerable. "1 think you're going to open up the door to everybody and his brother throwing other things on the fire," he said. "It's not like we're burning garbage." replied Councillor Barb Wheel - don. "It's just leaves," adding, "I don't thiak that's fair that some of us can burn and some can't." "I'm not convinced (the policy) worked all that badly in the past," said Mayor Cam Ivey. The motion was passed with only Mann opposed. 4 ues for education tax purposes. The 20.7 per cent increase introduced in 1994 has already added five to six per cent on the tax rates and will do so for at least three more years. Carroll explained to trustees un- less the government changes the way education is financed, there will be another increase for local property taxpayers. The impact could be an additional five per cent. Based on 1996 budget estimates, the mill rate in- crease for 1996 has been estimated at 9.69 per cent. The estimated budget reflects the $8 per pupil reductions imple- mented in September and the fur- ther $8 per pupil reduction being implemented from January through March. It also takes into account historic six per cent increases in the Standard Mill Rate and the in- creased assessment values. Municipalities have been told to be prepared for a 20 per cent re- duction in transfer payments and the HCBE might be subject to a 10 per cent decrease. With current provincial revenues of approximately $30 million dol- lars, this would require a $3 million expenditure reduction. Anticipating a funding reduction, the board approved a recommenda- tion to bring budget planning up- dates forward at each meeting until the 1996 mill rates are set. Carroll provided trustees with a "shopping list" of measures which should be investigated in order to re- duce spending. "To find the kind of money we are talking about, we need to be look- ing at six digit numbers. It is big money and we have to look at it in a big way," said Carroll. Trustee Don McDonald agreed with many of the items on the list of suggested measures to reduce expenditures. "I think a lot of these items are taking nothing out of the classroom...that's our main purpose. I think we have to get on with the show," said McDonald. There were over 30 items to be explored on the list of possible cost- cutting measuring including initiating an Early Retirement In- centive Plan, placing an annual credit limit on secondary school students, planning for amalgama- tion and reducing the number of trustees. "We are moving into a horrendous financial exercise for 1996." tients, improved access to care for northern and rural Ontarians, better integrated delivery of cancer care, and targeted public health meas- ures." Currell said Ontario has been re- ducing cost efficiently and ef- fectively for some time. This in- formation has been documented and presented to the government. For example, based on March 31, 1993 figures show the days spent in the hospital for acute care per thou- sand population in Ontario was 751 patient days. Despite cuts, Alberta had 1,033 patient days and Sas- katchewan 1,243. New Brunswick, which recently took over all the hospitals (private corporation), came in at 14,080. "In fact we have been far more efficient and effective at it than the slash and burn policies of Alberta, Saskatchewan and New Bruns- wick," said Currell. lir Continued on page 2 Warm room gets major boost from Lions and Lioness EXETER- The warm room project at the South Huron Rec Centre is re- ceiving a major boost upward from the Exeter Lions and Lioness Clubs in the form of donations which could climb as high as $17,500. The Lions club has offered to match any funds raised up to a maximum of $12,500 while the Lioness Club has pledged receipts from the sale of their Nevada tickets from Sept. Ito Dec. 31. This amount could be as much as $5,000 according to president Mary Lou Becker. "Early estimates put construction of the warm room at around $25,000 which means our donation will take care of half the cost," said Lions Club president Larry Eveland. "Building a warm room has certainly captured the support of the com- munity," South Huron Rec Board chariman Mike Soldan told the T -A. He said construction could start in late October or early NoJember. "Three quarters of the money is already in place which means we can actually go ahead with the project," Soldan said. The Rec Board Chairman stated there are many people who want to make personal donations. "They're tax deductible and can be made at the Rec Centre or the Town Office." Soldan said the plans have already been drawn and are available for viewing at the Rec Centre office. A warm room has been in the planning stage for years but it was not until more attention was fo- cused on the immediate need by Tom McCann in a letter to the editor earlier this year that things start- ed to happen. The Warm Room Committee is chaired by Dep uty Reeve Dave Urlin. Other metbers ie`. Tim McCann, Mike Soldan, Mac MacDougall, Chan Livingstone, Mary Lou Bilcke, Don Richardson, Gary MacLean, Doug Geoffrey Cam Stewardson and John Pryde. Soldan said the warm room will make watching on -ice activities more enjoyable for many people who would normally attend events at the Rec Centre but who were unable to endure the cold. "I expect more seniors and grandparents will be able to enjoy events such as figure skating, hockey, ringette, etc." Soldan said. Construction of the warm room will be co-ordinated by local builder Doug Geoffrey who will be taking advantage of as much volunteer labor as possible. SHRC facility manager Cam Stewardson said official approval must be obtained from the town before construction can actually start. "Once we get the go-ahead the warm room could be completed in a week," he said. The warm room is the latest in seveal community projects to benefit from the sale of Nevada tickets according to Larry Eveland. "We've also committed $12,000 to re -surface the asphalt on the tennis courts this year with an additional $7,000 to $8,000 in improvements in 1996," he said. The club recently donated $7,500 to Exeter Minor Base- ball which will go toward the new Nabisco diamond. "Building a warm room has certainly captured the support of the community" oPatterson entrepreneur she was' offe�� he was spotted f�otIn � $4.15 Exeter on had�no soldno� yiet�� hamsters from her neighborhood cor- ner.