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HomeMy WebLinkAboutTimes-Advocate, 1996-05-01, Page 2Page 2 Times -Advocate, May 1, 1996 TNT [ -[F NF.WS Hospital balances budget CLINTON - Including a $138,000 funding cut from the Ministry. of Health. The Clinton Public Hospital Board has ap- proved a 1996/97 balanced bud- get, reported the Clinton News - Record. "The layoffs we implemented recently were the key reason we were able to adjust to the fund- ing reduction," CPH Executive Director Allan Hails told the Record. For the fiscal year that began on April 1, the hospital plans to operate with total revenues of $5,980,300 and total expenses of $5,980,110. Some disagree with fire trueprice CLINTON - The purchase of a new fire truck for the Clinton and Area Fire Department is put on hold because Tuckersmith and Stanley Townships are in opposition to the $250,000 price. According to the Clinton News -Record, the next step in the purchase of the truck in-. volves a presentation to the Fire Area Board by a firefighters' committee. "I'm glad they're concerned with the money they are spend- ing," Clinton Fire Chief Dean Reid told the Record. Landfill testing put on hold HURON COUNTY - The Mid -Huron Landfill Site is in- cluded among Ontario's land- fills, water treatment plants and municipalities that earn longer rely on free testing, reported the Huron Expositor. Due to closures of government -run laboratories across the province, the landfill may face a cost of about $23,000 each year for monitoring. Laurie Cox, manager of the water treatment plant in Gode- rich, suggested the plant, landfill and member municipalities who rely on ministry labs work on a block tender for private lab test- ing in an attempt to save taxpay- ers money. Beginning the end of April, government lab facilities in Lon- don, Thunder Bay, Kingston and Sudbury will be shut down and the government's main lab in Toronto will be reduced. Man leads police on high speed chase SEAFORTH - An 18 -year-old Kitchener • Nan is in hospital and faces several charges after lead- ing police on a 20 -minute high speed chase that went through Seaforth on the morning of April 22. According to the Huron Ex- positor, the chase continued for 55 kilometers up Highway 8 be- fore William Bowers, the driver, crashed into guard rails while slowing for a curxe in Goderich. The chase began when Se- bringville OPP saw a speeding vehicle that matched the descrip- tion of one stolen in the Water- loo area earlier that night as it travelled westbound near Mitch- ell. When Bowers refused to stop, officers from Clinton and Gode- rich OPP detachments joined the Going once, twice, sold! Rookie auctioneer Kevin McArter solicits bids during the live auction at the Conservation Dinner. The fundraiser netted $31,000 which will go towards watershed conservation pro- jects. Dinner raises funds for conservation areas .r Continued from front page cost covered before we opened the doors. That's why we had so much fun running this thing," he said adding donations came local- ly as well as from people across the Ausable watershed. For those who couldn't get tick- ets to the dinner, some of the prints will be available on an on- going basis. Those interested should contact the ABCA office. Godbolt said the conservation dinner has come to symbolize what can be done when the gen- erosity and goodwill of com- munity come together for a cause. With the ABCA celebrating 50 years promoting the value of our watersheds and the Exeter Lions Club working toward their 60th year of serving its community, it seems only natural these two or- ganizations would combine their efforts in this joint project that would have been overwhelming for either one to handle alone. "This has been a terrific partner- ship...we make a good team. It took a lot of volunteers to bring this together," said Godbolt. The meal, decorations, pro- fessional auctioneering and ce- lebrity master of ceremonies me- teorologist Jay Campbell gave the evening a ritzy appeal and the din- ner again earned its reputation for being a high class fundraiser. God - bolt feels this is the main reason they have sold out days ahead of time for seven consecutive years. "Our objective from the be- ginning was to make this a first class event so that we enjoyed do- ing it, and I feel we've achieved that." • Johns backs tax reduction TORONTO - Helen Johns, MPP, said recently, a tax cut is needed if jobs are to be created and Ontario is to compete. "Some people say we cannot af- ford to do it," said Johns. "Our gov- ernment believes we can't afford not to do it." She said high taxes kill jobs and slow economic growth. "Ontario has the second highest level of taxes in North America," noted Johns. "This makes it more expensive to establish or sustain a business here and to produce goods and services here. Simply put, that makes it harder to create jobs in Ontario." Johns said Michigan, our single largest export market, lowered tax- es 21 times in four years and now enjoys its lowest unemployment levels in 25 years. They are not alone. Other North American competitors and more than 50 countries around the world are cutting taxes. "What all of these jurisdictions have learned is that lower taxes help make them com- petitive," said Johns. She added "That is why we will be cutting provincial income taxes. Because it's good for the taxpayer. It is family friendly. It's good for job creation and the economy. It's good for our competitiveness." "We promised to cut taxes to create jobs and we will," stressed Johns. "By roughly $4 billion over three years. That means taking the total tax rate burden to where it was pre -1990, before the Bob Rae gov- ernment." "Job creation is the key," said Johns. "If we want jobs for our- selves and our children, we must be able to compete with the rest of the world. Auctioneer Bob Heywood acknowledges a bid from across the room during the Ausable Bayfield Conserva- tion Foundation and the Ex- eter Lions Club seventh an- nual conservation dinner held at the South Huron Recreation Centre Thurs- day night. Heywood was taking bids for the feature painting of the evening called "Sharing" from artist Peter Etril Snyder. The work depicting a family, farmers and anglers shar- ing the benefits of a con- servation lake fetched $8,000 when bidding was done. Bluewater Recycling Asscation wins Ontario Waste Minimization Award TORONTO - In ceremonies held creased productivity and improved on Thursday, April 25 in Toronto, the overall operating of the facility. Bluewater Recycling Association The variation in programs and pro - was presented with the the award jects was instigated to ensure that for Best Program Operator in Onta- rio. The Association was also runner- up in the category of Outstanding Municipality with a population of 50,000 and over. The awards, which are sponsored by the Recycling Council of On- tario recognize individu- als, businesses, governments and organizations whose efforts to minimize waste are contribut- ing to a cleaner, more sustainable environment. Accepting the award on behalf of the Association was Phil Maguire, Chairman of the Board of Direc- tors. This award recognizes the ac- complishments that were made dur- ing 1995, of which there were many. Overall, 1995 proved to be a busy and eventful year for the As- sociation, with many changes both in the plant, and in the diversity of programs offered. Modifications made within the plant were made largely to increase efficiency and overall operating ef- fectiveness. These changes have in - residents were kept up to date on programs offered through the Asso-. ciation. The calendar for example was ai new initiative, whose aim was td educate and inform residents not only about programs sponsored by the Association, but also about important environ- mental issues, and ways that they could make a difference through their actions. Other education- al programs launched in 1995 resulted from changes made within local munici- palities, particularly with regards to user pay programs. As municipalities moved towards this type of system, staff at the As- sociation worked in conjunction with these municipalities to devel- op advertising and provide educa tional support services. There are now 15 municipalities operating under a user pay garbage program within Bluewater's ser- vice area, representing almost a quarter of all user pay communities in Ontario. rN„i,•.,1„ Il, •.„lin_.\-•,q ,,I..... Meting addresses issues +- Continued from front page sion," he continued. "We don't Three residents volunteered to join want to be locked in...We don't the two councillors on the commit- want to rush into something we'll tee that will attend a municipal ur- regret...Maybe making no decision ban addressing seminar at the Clin- is a decision as well." tea Town,Hall on ltrlay.8. \ ' tt ; . "There was talk they wanted , to "We're'one of the last counti:.t6" `withdraw from the county," he add - go through (911 changes) "said ed, referring to the Amalgamation Pullen, adding the delay is partly Committee. due to the time it has taken the A woman in the audience sug- county's 26 municipalities to ap- gested it may be to Hensall's ad - prove the system. vantage to be tied to a larger eco - Amalgamation Doubts nomic base. Councillor Jeff Reaburn spoke to "The fact is," she said, "we're residents about amalgamation. losing businesses out of Hensall "It's a very confusing issue," he now." began, citing Bill 26's lack of clear Reaburn mentioned how within regulations for the confusion the is- an amalgamated community facili- sue has caused. ty costs such as building repairs There are still questions, he said, becomes everyone's responsibility. as to size recommendations for Perhaps there may be a savings, he amalgamated municipalities. pointed out, but what about service "We don't know what the rules and convenience? are because they haven't told us He also explained amalgamation what the rules are...We don't know may result in losing "the represen- what the principles are behind it tative who lives right in the com- all." munity," since amalgamation com- "Toronto usually gives us all the mittee representatives would not orders, said Pepper, adding this necessarily be from all smaller are - time there are no orders and that as such as Hensall. adds to the bewilderment. Pepper suggested eliminating the "Exeter, Stephen and Usbome concept of municipalities' and hay - have perhaps jumped the gun and ing one central area in Goderich. rushed into things," said Reaburn, "We want to hear what the peo- adding he feels a number of munic- ple have to say," he concluded. ipalities have quickly agreed to Waste Management Costs amalgamate due to fear of being When Councillor Dick Packham forced into the process. « discussed waste man - According to Reaburn, if Exeter, Ste- agement he praised the rate payers request a com- phen and Us- success of the village's mission be set up through- borne have bag tag system, which out the amalgamation pro- perhaps was put, into effect cess, this could result in a jumped the April 3. one-person committee ,% p Due to user pay gar - making restructuring deci- gun and bage systems in gener- sions. rushed into al, he said, "There's "We're no longer a com- than s." been quite a drastic in munity of interest," he g crease in the recycling said, referring to the Exet- - about 50 per cent." er-Stephen-Usbome-Grand Bend "It's important that we use that Amalgamation Committee. "We system," he continued, explaining have not made any firm plans...We using the blue boxes reduces the looked at the possibility of amalga- cost of the entire system. mation...We don't see a chance for According to Peckham, if it were to close, the Hensall landfill would any bit of savings there." "If there's no saving to the rate cost $400,000 to cap, plus $8,000 payers, then why do it?" enquired to $10,000 annually, including cov- Pepper. ening costs. Although the government sees "We are hoping to continue using amalgamation as a huge cost sav- the dump as long as possible," he ings for itself, Reaburn explained, said, adding it would be costly to that could result in the rising of mu- export the village's waste in the fu- nicipal costs, depending on how re- Lure. structuring is carried out. "I think we're getting to the end Even though Hensall told the of the life of our dump," he contin- Amalgamation Committee it did ued, referring to the landfill site not want to take part in talks, mem- that may only last another eight to bers of council sit in on some of its 10 years. "That dump could be in meetings. the position where it has to close." "We have not closed any doors," At it's April meeting, council de - said Reaburn, adding Hensall is not creased the site's hours to Wednea- "rushing into amalgamation, but is days from 1 to 3 p.m. and Fridays "exploring the concept of sharing from 10:30 to 11:30 p.m. Eliminat- services,'• ed were Saturday hours due to a "We weren't thrilled with being decrease in use. given two weeks to make a decd- According to Peckham, waste ex- penses, which include pick-up, site maintenance and consulting fees for 1995, totalled $48,496 whereas such costs are estimated at $64,919 for this year. Also, the dump is no longer collecting tipping fees from Osborne since the township, as of April 1, no longer uses it. Rehashing an issue raised at council's March meeting, some au- dience members mentioned the prospect of being double billed for garbage collection. "Right now we are paying double for bloody garbage...Will (the) mill rate come down to compensate?" enquired a man, referring to the new $2 per bag fee. "I don't know and I don't think council I knows either...The alloca- tion of those funds has not been set yet," Peckham replied, explaining figures will not be known until the budget is set. "The bag tag shouldn't have went in before the budget was set," the man replied. "You may be paying a little too much at the beginning but you'll get it all back," explained Pepper. "It'll all balance...It'll probably be another two months or more." "Sorry there's so many un- knowns about this but we don't have all the answers," said Peck- ham. When an audience member asked how council arrived at the $2 per bag figure, he replied council looked at bag tag prices of sur- rounding areas. "The experts tell us the proper fee should be three bucks," added Pepper. Other waste concerns voiced by the audience included packaging that is not recyclable, people taking their household garbage to dump- sters they shouldn't have access to, and the policy of placing garbage on one side of the street. "1 don't mind doing that, but I don't want to do it for a whole year," said a woman. Wendy Yamamoto, of Bluewater Recycling Association, was present at the meeting. She said she would take the con- cern back to the association, but added, 'There could be room for confusion by changing it because you would have to change the whole town." Yamamoto then gave a recycling presentation, informing the audi- ence about acceptable blue box items. She explained how Exeter imple- mented user pay garbage one and a half years ago, and since then, has ironed out minor problems. She as- sured Hensen residents they are ex- periencing "some kind of growing pains" that many communities en- counter with the implementation of user pay garbage.