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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-10-28, Page 25CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 28, 1987 ---Page 5A Urban municipalities face reduction in road rebates Following a test run during the regular October session of Huron County Council, the hot issue of proposed cutbacks in the level of urban rebates has been handed back to the county roads committee for further study. Urban rebates are considered to be the county's contribution toward road work in its towns and villages. Although the Public Transportation and Highway Improvement Act sets the minimum rebate at 25 per cent of the amount levied on the urban municipality for county road purposes, Huron County has set the urban rebate level at 45 per cent. The maximum under the act is 50 per dent. The. roads committee recommended the level of urban rebates be decreased to the statutory minimum 25 per cent. The com- mittee's rationale for the move is that it would provide approximately $170,000 in 1988 which the county could use to increase the work on its road system. Reductions in provincial funding for municipal roadwork over the past decade have resulted in a substantial backlog in roads requiring improvement, County Engineer Dennis Merrall pointed out in a report which accompanied the committee's recommendation. Throughout that report, however, Mr. Merrall avoided making any clear cut recommendation for the county to reduce the urban rebates. Several times in .his report he makes it clear that the urban rebate level is not an engineering issue, but a political one. Mr. Merral's report suggests any addi- tional funding for the county road program would help reduce the backlog faced by his department, however, "whether county council increases the road budget through a general increase in the county levy, or through a reduction in urban rebates should not be a concern to the county engineer." Colborne Township Reeve, J. R. Ker- nighan, roads committee chairman, called for some "good honest discussion" on the issue rather than confrontation. He said the committee's intention in making the recom- mendation was merely to provoke such a discussion. "I'm not a confrontation type of person," Reeve Kernighan said. "Those of you who want to make it into a confrontation go ahead." However, he told council the engineer's report is the most comprehen- sive ever presented on the issue and outlined several options from which the county could choose. The committee chose this recom- mendation because it was the one most like- ly to encourage debate. If council were to reduce the urban rebates to the statutory minimum, the move would result in higher taxation at the local level for the five towns and five villages. For the Village of Zurich at least, it would mean a possible five -mill increase, Reeve Bob Fisher said, something the village would he hard-pressed to justify to its ratepayers. Statistics handed out to members of coun- cd by h;xeter Reeve Bill Mickle gave a )o:eakdown of the increase in taxation which Abe towns and villages would experience in 1988 should the rebates be reduced to 25 per cent Goderich would appear to be the greatest loser, strictly in terms of total dollars lost, with $58,653 shaved from a rebate of $131,970 at the present level. At the proposed 25 per cent, the Goderich rebate 1lnuld be $73,316. For the other towns, the iliffcrcnce in rebates between the present 45 per c nt and the proposed 25 per cent would be: Exeter, $28,595; Wingham, $18,216; Clin- ton,$14,849; Seaforth, $12,649. For the \ 'es, the differences would be: Hensall, .l267: Hayfield, $7,602; Blyth, $4,601; itrussels, $4.493; Zurich, $3,316. Every year, each municipality in the at is assessed for its contribution to the county read levy. At present, however, the urban municipalities receive a 45 per cent abate on that levy since most have no coun- t \ roads - or very few - within their hr 11ndar1es. This means, as Mr. Mickle's handout s the towns and villages are con- tributing 55 per cent of their apportionate ,hare toward county roads. If the rebate is reduced. however, the urban municipalities It ill be faced with paying 75 per cent of their ,ipportionate share to the county road tern in addition to a 100 per cent respon- ihibty for their own street program. \ survey of 10 nearby counties, including 11111 -on. shows that four - Wellington, Mid - Il rev, 1,amhtonrand Elgin - have set their DRYSDALE MAJOR APPLIANCE CENTRE LTD. SALES WITH SERVICE the plot• to Suv Appllonc.s" NEW AND USED HENSALL 262-2723 CLOSED MONDAYS IITMIW!1W 482-7103 PECK APPLIANCES "IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN VARNA" If you Wish to secure a lifetime income from un RRSP or are interested in other RRSP in- vestments at very competitive rates, call Arnold J. Stinnissen 527-0410 Tony Arts 527-0794 Income from an RRSP is no .longer restricted to the minimum age of 60. Su nLife OF CANADA urban rebate level at the statutory minimum of 25 per cent, while just one, Perth, is at the statutory maximum of 50 per cent. Both Kent and Essex Counties have set their level at 40 per cent, while Grey County's urban rebate level stands at 35 per cent. In Bruce, the level is at 30 per cent, although Kincardine is allowed a 50 per cent rebate since its main street has been assum- ed by the county. Bayfield Reeve Dave Johnston said a reduction in the rebates at this time would be inappropriate. He urged the road com- mittee to at least consider phasing in any reduction over a period of several years to avoid economic hardship to some of the municipalities. In the past few years, Reeve Johnston said, more than $2.3 million in ex- tra provincial funding has gone into the county road system. "It seems to me that if this amount of money is not enough to allow us to maintain our roads, then a mere $170,000 is not going to do it," he added. In reply to questions, Mr. Merrall admit- ted that there had been an increase in pro- vincial funding in the past three years, but in general, the funding directed to county and regional roads has been decreasing over the longer term. Although Reeve Johnston and Reeve Fisher were the only two village represen- tatives to express their opposition, at least to any immediate or sharp drop, each of the towns' representatives at the meeting rose to speak against the proposal. "I strongly believe it should stay as the bylaw now stipulates (25 per cent)," Seaforth Reeve Bill Bennett said. His municipality depends on the rebate to help pay for equipment used in maintaining its main street, a county road, he added. Wingham Reeve Bruce Machan, Clinton Reeve Bee Cooke and Exeter Deputy Reeve Lossy Fuller also called on fellow members of council to consider maintaining the status quo. Mr. Mickle called the five -to -six -mill in- crease Exeter would face "unacceptable". While the provincial government has been generous in grants for the county, he said, that generosity is not being shown in turn to the towns and villages. In 1981, when the county was getting less in provincial grants, county council set the urban rebate at 45 per cent, Mr. Mickle said. "Now that the grants have increased, you want to cut this back to 25 per cent." Hullett Township Reeve Tom Cunningham said that although the current urban rebate bylaw was passed in 1981, the 45 per cent rate was actually established much earlier, "as long as I can remember." Goderich Township Reeve Grant Stirling agreed and said the 45 per cent rate could have been set as early as 1960. Goderich Reeve Harry Worsell called on council to "take a hard look at this." The proposed reduction is a "slap in the face" for the county's towns and villages, he add- ed. Goderich has no county roads within its boundaries, Mr. Worsell said, yet the town pays $118,000 to the county road system. To a claim that some of the townships have more miles of urban roads than some of the towns, Mr. Worsell "challenged any township" to match the more than 60 miles of roadway in Goderich. Hay Township Reeve Lionel Wilder, a member of the roads committee, said he made the motion in committee to bring the issue to council and that this particular recommendation was the one which would create the most controversy. Mr. Wilder claimed that of all unsubsidiz- ed expenditures made by Huron County on its roads, only 17 per cent comes from urban municipalities, leaving the townships to pay the remaining 83 per cent. "This is the reason we thought you should look at this," Tuckersmith Township Reeve Bob Bell questioned the wisdom of reducing the rebate from 45 to 25 per cent and suggested sending the issue back to the committee. "Perhaps they can bring it back to 35 or 40 per cent, and phase it in over two or three years," he said. Although at least two of the "rural" reevr'c mentioned n "rural-urhon" split dur- ing their discussion on the issue, Mr. Johnston took objection to the reference. Issues often come before council which will appear on the surface to "favor one side or the other", he said. "There should be no suggestion, however, that this should be considered an urban -rural split." According to Reeve Cunningham, differences on the issue come about because "the 'urbans' and 'rurals' don't understand the problems of each other." All things considered, he said, "I think that things do balance out." It was Reeve Cunningham who said Stephen Township had more miles of urban roadway within its boundaries than some of the towns and villages. He also pointed out that the on ly access to the Village of Brussels is by county roadway. Stephen Township Reeve Tom Tomes said he would favor a reduction in the urban rebates if it ultimately meant a reduction in taxes for residents of his municipality. "We do have more traffic on some of our roads than most county roads," Reeve Tomes said, referring specifically to the Centralia area. "However, I would hate to see it i the reduction create an urban -rural split." At the end of more than an hour of discus- sion, council decided to send the recommen- dation back to the road committee for fur- ther consideration. Facts on AIDS being distributed to schools The Ministry of Education's resource document Education about AIDS, which will assist in the mandatory teaching of AIDS education beginning this fall in Ontario schools, is now being distributed to elemen- tary and secondary school teachers, Educa- tion Minister Chris Ward and Health Minister Elinor Caplan announced. "The factual way in which information is presented in Education About AIDS, is one of the most effective ways we have of sup- porting school boards and teachers in educating our children about the threat of AIDS," said Mr. Ward. "The input and advice we have received from parents, health officials and educators has resulted in a resource document that is not only accurate and quite detailed, but also flexible enough to meet the needs of all teachers across the province," Mr. Ward added. "My ministry, through the Ontario Public Education Panel on AIDS (OPEPA), has been very involved in alerting people about the growing threat of AIDS," Ms. Caplan said. "It's important that people of all ages have access to accurate and understandable health information on AIDS," Ms. Caplan added. Education About AIDS was released in June in draft form and circulated widely throughout the educational community. More than 80 groups and individuals responded to the draft, including organiza- tions representing the two publicly -funded school systems, teachers, parents, and health organizations. The five-part resource document includes both facts about AIDS, as well as suggested teaching strategies. AIDS education will be mandatory for students in Grades 7 or 8 and for those secondary school students taking the compulsory physical and health educa- tion credit. Parents or guardians of students, or students who are 18 years of age or miler who believe any component of a physical or health education program is in conflict with their religious beliefs, may apply in writing to the school principal for an exemption from such a component and it will be granted. A French -language version of the docu- ment is scheduled to be released later this fall. Centralia College celebrates 20 years CENTRALIA - On Nov. 4, from 12 noon - 9 p.m., there will be an open house, free to the public at Centralia College of Agricultural Technology. Attractions included in this fun filled, educational day, will be: tours of the cam- pus areas and residence; competitions bet- ween students; demonstrations and skits performed by the students; and a celebra- tion of Centralia's 20th anniversary, plus a great way to end the evening - an open house pub, beginning at 9:30 p.m. Throughout the day spent at Centralia, you will be able to meet the students in the diploma courses of : agricultural business management, animal health technology and food service management. The faculty and staff of Centralia College will also answer any questions you may have on admission and course objectives. If you were previously a member of the college, why not come back to renew friend- ships with old classmates? Lunch and din- ner will also be served for your convenience. Other events happening will be speaking and skits in the evening; canine obedience, hamster races and a petting zoo as well as class exhibits. Centralia College's annual open house is a co-operative student, faculty and staff, campus -wide function. Centralia College is located approxiately 40 kilometres north of London in the com- munity of Huron Park. Bring your family and friends and be part of the celebration. For further information, call Centralia College of Agricultural Technology at (519) 228-6691, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. di ATTENTION CANADIANS VACATIONING IN THE SUN BELT! Qctc"41?,,11 VTURas d(iE W..1n mane cn1fl8, OPEN Nous,Ea News • Ottawa accused iam of fiscal flimflam Puppets At Summit ..... : �.. �.. tern dropping N.B. flood waters . _ .. Postal strike talk called `Posturing lite cart see page }0 Subscribe NOW for newt Year win aA?�ger slat Great reading to keep in touch with home Canada News is the largest Canadian newspaper published in the Sun Belt - weekly from Nov. 1 to April 30 - 26 WEEKS! 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