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Home My WebLink AboutThe Wingham Advance-Times, 1989-06-13, Page 5,:•44tr••••,,titiv. • :•••••••••••:t•e•ttV.:::tmdddt.•••••,•••••t•••••••••t•tw Leaves of Grass• ::*•%•••,•:•.•;t•P:i•i•XM.,?:•:;;;W:::ZTV33x7:::•:1•:•:•••:•:•••••:.•:•*•N•.•:•.••4•:•:•••:••:•;,..:•••••••ts-t•t•••• : `Xt. ••••:;::•••••••:, • •,:•.•:•••••{...Ns• ....•:•:•:•:::,•:••:••••,,...:,•••:•:••••••••,....•••••••:,.....t:•:{tX•ig•••••::::,:i.....,..t*:••••:•:,•:•:•:•:•::.:,::....••,t•F•:•...•••:•:•:•••:•:•:•.••:•:•:••••:,•••:•:•:•:•:•:N•Xt••••••••-.:••:•:t.,:,:t..t.0.44••;•,tt.,:••:•••;X:••::••:•:•?•,•:•:•:•:td•::::•Xid..,e:••:••:::*,,, • •:•••••:t.,:•:•:•:::••t•••,,,s .:•:•:••••••:•• N•••:•:••••••:•Mttst:trt.t:t.t.,•.4t::•:•:•••••: :::•:•:•:•:•:••••••:•••:$,.:•:+:•.•:•• • • • • • ' ••••• •••••Xt:••• .JACK'S JOTTINGS by Huron MPP Jack Riddell, Agriculture and Food Minister Legislative business resumed at Queen's Park last week with a ser- ies of bold initiatives promoting equality of access and opportunity for the disabled people of the prov- ince. The Liberal government is com- mitted to encouraging the full par- ticipation of all citizens in the social and economic life of this province so that all Ontarians may reach their full potential. As a tribute to National Access Awareness Week, ministers made a series of significant announce- ments. Recognizing that disabled adults and children living in Ontario to- day have special housing needs, Remo Mancini, the minister respon- sible for disabled persons, an- nounced $10 million will be conn- Vkr,;./AW • • .4 ••••"-- REMEMBER WHEN • . from our files e` ;720,4:.-;" 7 (Continued from Page 4A) Opening ceremonies were held at the new Wingham .Bible Chapel. Over -300 persons attended the Open House and the official open- ing. The McKibbon Trophy for ath- letes of the year at E E. Madill Sec- ondary School went to Sandy Orien and Bruce Jermyn. Meanwhile, at a field day held at the Wingharn Pub- lic School, champions were Tim Bain, Phillip Rintoul, Bill Ohm, Don Eisenhofer, Susan Nixon, Kim McGregor, Janet Wood and Linda Taylor, • •••••:. • • • • • •• • • •• • •• ••.• • .,,,,,..;•.‹,:;.•,..!;•.%,..,:;:::,::•••:•:•:•:••.•:••••••.•:;:;;;;,:•:;.::;: ••••• • •••• t•••••••••• •••• mitted to the Ontario Home Re- newal for Persons with Disabilities program. This additional funding will make 1,000 more homes across the province accessible to the disabled by providing forgivable loans of up to $15,000 to install wheelchair ramps, stair glides and other per- manent fixtures. Recognizing that the key to full participation is access to education, the minister of colleges and univer- sities, Lyn McLeod, announced that $4 million will be provided to im- prove accessibility for people with disabilities to Ontario universities. The money will be used to open on -campus offices to assist the dis- abled and to provide special de- vices and equipment or attendant care. Building a better future for all our children requires that Ontario assist exceptional children in our province to gain the best possible education their abilities allow. Chris Ward, minister of educa- tion, will provide an additional $10 million annually -to Ontario boards of education for special education programs. Up to $425,000 will be provided in 1989 for the purchase of, specialized equipment to help disabled children participate more fully in the school setting. To provide leadership in the re- moval of barriers to the disabled, Minister of Government Services Richard Patten has pledged $38 million over five years to improve access for the disabled to older gov- ernment buildings, such as court- houses, registry offices, office build- ings and psychiatric hospitals. Serving the increasing proportion of elderly and the physically dis- abled who require additional health and social services requires a new approach in order to achieve a fun- damental change for Ontario citi- zens who may need long-terrn care. Group is pleased with council's prompt action Dear Editor: It must be easy for our town councillors to get the impression that everyone arid every group that ever approaches them is there to pretest or complain. Well, for once, that is not the case, At their May meeting, the River- side Ratepayers appealed to this council with regard to the sale of alcoholic beverages on our park- lands. Council quickly responded at its June meeting 'with a new policy rr bylaw of not endorsing such sales. This sensitivity to the heartfelt feel- ings of large numbers of ratepayers is both refreshing and laudable. Our hats are off to this council. On behalf of our children, our par- ents, our home owners, we say "thank yc;u". Sincerely, Dan Stuckey, President of the Riverside Ratepayers° Assoda- 4 !ti,r)1` Pitt"; tro'*; c'trr-Irti chr its finance and manage com- mittee, Wingham council will pro- ceed with a special policy area mas- ter plan Study for the flood -prone area at theisoutherri Inuits of town.. Ward Robertson finance management chairrnan, explained that the study will ,outline the parameters for development of the area and is absolutely necessary if development is to occur. -However, the recommendation to proceed with the study did, not go unchallenged at the June meeting of council. The town is one of Ai iandowit7 ers involved. It Would be idelal if the others were to agreed to Share the cost of the study, estimated at $30,000, Mr. Robertson said, but he added, "I feel it's very important to go ahead with the study with or without the support of the landowners — time to fish or to b trial base and that potential r deve srn continuc Schenk ec btbelt private la: 9p.S'-h°puirvatte -0":, fiiitqfuriar:gL councillor "agreed; "TOO. much has gone into developing this area to let. it slip through our fingers." ' • Deputy'ReeveBill_lfairts said the town as'a whole will benefit if the area were to be developed. • When MT. Schenk suggested a development agreement as one way that the town might recoup some of • the costs of the study; Mr. Robert - sop said that had never been con– sidered. But he agreed to look at the possibility. Howick taxpayers face increases. of 12 per cent GORRIE — After whopping increases in federal and provincial taxes Howick residents are once again asked to reach a little deeper into their pockets. This time it s the township, which raised its taxes to the tune Of 12 per cent. For 1989 the mill rate for Howick Township residents increase from 16.46 to 18.55, a 12.16 per cent increase. This means the average rate for a 200 acre dairy farm, assssed at $172,500 will jump from $2,839 to $3,181. The budget for money to be raised from taxpayers for township purposes, is set at $481,960, for the county at $281,809, and for educa- tion at $899,198. WHERE DOES IT GO? For 1989 the gross budget for township purposes is set at $1,840,434 compared to last year's $1,371,400. (includes all grants). The largest item by far is the road department which jumps from $720,200 to over $1.1 million. This increase, however, includes a $360,000 grant from the provincial government for the construction of a new bridge. Other large buitems in brief • • (last year's figu in brackets) are: council $44,900 (25,400), adminis- tration $231,690 ($245,600), protec- tion of persons and property $76,800 ($0,400), building inspec- tion $45,900 (24,800), and environ- mental (includes recycling) $57,800 ($28,300). The township's share of the money to be raised for the new budget is 29.42 per cent; while schools get the largest chunk, 53.73 per cent, the remaining 16.85 per cent goes to the county. Reasons for the tax hikes are manifold and were considered dur- ing council's budget meeting. While the provincial government has said transfer payments to municipalities will increase by 5.4 per cent, most of this increased funding will be for sewer and water treatment, transit, and child care funding — funding which does not affect Howick Township. GRANTS FROZEN Council discussed the impact of the province freezing unconditional funds at 1988 levels, Had these grants been increased by the rate of inflation clerk -treasurer Tom Miller said, the township would have had additional revenue of $7,750 to decrease its requirements. Additional costs to municipalities and new conditional grants increase the costs of program deliv- ery while reducin* the municipali- it VI 'Night+ td d to tikkai 1, rif W.'11,1,4),1"fi and demands. General township government expenses which include council remuneration and expenditures, office salaries (salaries for the road department, building inspector and others are not included) and office expenses increased from $271,000 in 1988 to $276,590. Big items are salary increases for the municipal office staff from $60,000 to $72,500 and an increase in council expenses from last year's budget of $5,700 to $15,500. Mr. Miller told this_paper the additional council expenses are due to several conventions attended by councillors. Also included under general township government are court costs for a soon to be introduced deeming bylaw aimed at deeming old plans of subdivision. This would then enable council to better guide future development in the township. Another $20,000 is needed to finance the aforementioned bridge. Although the township received a grant, the money from the province will not be received until construc- tion is completed. Road department expenses are up dramatically in the area of road construction. Repairs to the bound- ary will cost $164,000 while another $125,300 will be spent on streets in Fordwich. Last year construction costs were set at $131,100. REVENUES Major sources of revenue, exclud- ing taxation, are (with last year's figures in brackets): Ontario condi- tional grants $873,790 ($552;500), Ontario unconditional grants $155,012 (155,000). Other sources of revenue (with last year's figures in brackets) include income from the boundary account $83,000 (nil), fees and ser- vice charges $128,659 ($155,100) and revenue from licences and per- mits, fees and service charges and tile drainage revenue as well as interest on taxes $186,389 ($195,900). The budget also includes a $60,000 transfer to the township's reserve fund which will swell to approximately $365,000. ATTRACTIVE WINDOW The Wingham Times of May 26, 1899, noted that Morrow's Drug Store window was quite an attrac- tion for passersby. The window had been filled with sod and fixed, up as a football ground. All the players, in the shape of dummies, were in sitiopp, Evera the park cannon was • r 4,,