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The Wingham Advance Times, 1995-01-25, Page 9• • • • latinair. rrwwurrrs, INS M i paY Staff cuts real possibility: service at conservation authority rather than pay its portion of the operating cost. She noted the actu- al' cost for the township was $468.74. Morris Township resi- dents comprised 1.33 per cent of the total Wheels Away ridership. Council decided at its meeting last Tuesday to pay its portion of' the operating cost in 1994, and also agreed to extend the Wheels Away agreement for 1995. Piluke told council that the ma- jority of the 13 municipalities in- volved with the North Huron Transportation Authority have signed the agreement. She noted that 30 per cent of the operation costs is picked up by the Ministry of Transportation. She said the board of directors is a very active group of volun- teers. Piluke said as well as receiv- ing funds from the government and municipalities, Wheels Away does receive individual donations. Piluke said that the overall rid- ership has increased since the ser- vice began in 1991. "Ridership was up 51 per cent in 1994," she said. She noted that Wheels Away is not a conventional service, be- cause the van has a chair lift. • She noted that municipalities who do not sign the agreement will put the service in jeopardy. "Users in municipalities with no agreement will have to pay the full cost of the ride," said Piluke. She said that a similar service is beginning this year in central Hu- ron, which will benefit Morris Township residents. Piluke stated that a couple of Seaforth doctors have opened up an office in Brus- sels, which will enable township residents to visit the offices there. Bev Brown of the central Huron group said that although funding is available from the MTO, the ser- vices are also receives grants from the Ministry of Health, the Minis - a try of Education and the Ministry of Community and Social Servic- es. She pointed out this type of transportation service is being en- coirraaged throughout fie province. "This was the only program not cut by the NDP government," said Brown. This could become a county- wide service which could be oper- ated for less than $250,000 a year, said Piluke. "We are working towards be- coming less dependent on tax dol- lars," she said. Piluke said Wheels Away is try- ing to encourage community ser- vice groups to help out by holding one fund-raiser per year for Wheels Away. Brown said there is no age re- striction for the service. Those us- ing the service are approved by an eligibility committee. Station douses fire GORRIE--Firefighters . from the Wingham-Gorrie station were called to the trailer home of Bob Bahineau, RR 2, Wroxeter, at 9 a.m. on the morning of Tuesday, Jan. 16. The trailer is located three miles west of Molesworth on Highway 86 at the McCreary Auto Wreckers. It is reported the fire started near the chimeny and spread through the wall, Firefighters were able to ex- tinguish the blaze, but the wall was extensively damaged. The fire first was noticed by peo- ple driving by on the highway. Store broken into By HELEN HEWITT Special to the Advance -Times Partnerships, fund raising, user fees, joint projects, marketing and even staff and program cuts were among proposals the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority board (MVCA) will consider in its efforts to make ends meet. The board heard the proposals at its Jan. 18 annual meeting, when Fred Galloway, of F.J. Galloway Associates of London, presented his Project Rationalization Study. The board commissioned the study in response to falling gov- ernment support levels and in- creasing needs for conservation programs and services. • In 1994 Ontario reduced fund- ing by 12 per cent and may reduce it further in '95. In 1994 the MVCA's total approved budget, including money from all sources, was $2,207,000. This year information about both funding and approved MVCA projects will reach the Au- thority no sooner than May or June, according to Pad Weiten- dorf, communications co-ordinator for MVCA. Weitendorf said municipalities submit proposals to the MVCA, which in turn submits them to the Ministry of Natural Resources. He explained that although On- tario may support some projects, such as the Listowel conduit or the Goderich Bluffs stabilization, with funding as high as 85 per cent, oth- er projects may receive much less support. For maintenance and local con- servation areas, the MCVA re- ceives no provincial money. Galloway offered several propo- sals to increase income, reduce costs and create stability, He rec- ognized the MVCA's hope that ec- ological concerns not suffer more than necessary in any restructur- ing. Galloway said the Authority can react to lower cash flows by down- sizing every year. He added this approach could result in an MCVA that no longer could pro- vide its services effectively or effi- ciently. He suggested the Authority can instead seek income opportunities through the Maitland Conservation Foundation, a registered charita- ble, non-profit organization estab- lished in 1975 and working to fur- ther conservation in the Maitland River Watershed. Galloway also asked the board to examine alternate land uses and aggressive marketing, and I.o check details such as the accurady of municipal taxation assessments to the Authority. He cautioned that increases in user fees must reflect market value and not discourage use of the Au- thority's facilities at Falls Reserve or Wawanosh Conservation Areas. (Fees for an overnight campsite with hydro at Falls Reserve were $18 in 1994; day use was $5 per vehicle.) Selling some land holdings, working with school boards and other authorities as partners, using an extensive mailing list and be- ginning a sponsorship program to generate funds were also among Galloway's recommendations. He suggested contracting out mainte- nance and other work , to private companiesand undertaking special joint projects for which federal grants may be available. Dividing the MVCA structure into operations, administration and community service and develop- ment components, Galloway sug- gested this three -department mod- el, with a better distribution of staff and a team approach, would increase efficiency and effective- ness. t He said the community service and development group will have the biggest budget and will contin- ue to grow through its education programs and watershed strate- gies. STAFF REDUCTIONS If staff reductions are necessary because of decreased funding, Gal- lowaj, offered several possibili- ties—linking the field services su- pervisor position with another job and redefining other' jobs; reduc- ing the operations group by one person through attrition, job shar- ing or early retirement, and remov- ing the equivalent of one full-time position from corporate services by using computer programs to generate accounting and other in- formation. He recommended staff reduc- tions be consistent with the priori- jies of the organization and sug- gested any cuts be made over two to four years, with time, therefore, to look at other options. He noted that 75-80 per cent of costs are labor costs in many non- profit organizations, but he noted, loo, that the MVCA is third from the bottom of the province's 38 conservation authorities in em- ployee compensation rates. If staff is reduced, Galloway concluded, the MVCA should ac- knowledge increased workloads of remaining employees. Chairman George Wick thanked Galloway for his work and said, "You got deep into the organiza- tion. We were hoping you would find a well of gold, but you didn't." The MVCA accepted in princi- ple Galloway's report and formed a steering committee to investigate its recommendations before report- ing back to the board. The committee includes Wick, Vice Chair Ivan Suggitt, both of whom were returned in a board election for another term of office, and General Manager Ross Dun- can. nlEMEM Aor rMEs 11.81)1111 Sunday Rmaerged Tlcitets Campbell's Photography, Badwater Office Bfjtk Festiva! presents 1923885 235-1252 I lialtitICDIP GOES TO WAR e —R • LYTH MEMORIAL COMMUNITY HALL 19 February 1995 - 2:30 p.m. Tickets $15 each available at: Blyth Festival Boa Office 5234300 000ERICti 524-7592 Crossroads Odle, CLINTON Equipment, WINOHAY 357-1584 Something Spacial, EXETER BUY NOW AND SAVE- AVE-vouchers for the 1995 Season Vouchers are available from all ticket outlets Nature centre activities The recent warm temperatures experienced in midwestern Onta- rio might have the skiers worried, but at the Wawanosh Nature Cen- tre winter activities are in full swing. Despite the lack of snow a va- riety of activities ranging from wildlife studies to Inuit games are being enjoyed by students of all ages. The winter session at the Na- ture Centre runs until March 3, 1995. Located at the Wawanosh Val- ley Conservation Area southwest of Wingham, the Wawanosh Na- ture Centre is operated by the Maitland Valley Conservation Au- thority (MVCA). The Centre has been providing conservation edu- cation experiences for students and community groups since 1984. Winter is a terrific time of year to see signs of wildlife so it's not surprising that Animal Adaptions is one of the most popular activi- ties offered at the Centre. This ac- tivity encourages students to be nature detectives and solve the wildlife mysteries presented by the forest. This includes figuring out who has been chewing on the ap- ple boughs, guessing who piled up the pine cones at the bottom of the tree and investigating how the mushroom got wedged irat.o the fork of a tree branch. Throughout this activity children explore the strategics wildlife use to survive the winter season. Fine Feathered Friends, an ac- tivity for Grades 2 through 6, in- volves the bird feeders that are scattered through the conservation arca. Juncos, blue jays, chicka- dees, cardinals, and nuthatches have all been visiting the feeders GORRIE--Stone's Radio and TV, now owned by David and Lynn Yull, was broken into last Sunday night, Jan. 15. with video -cassette recorders. televisions and electrical equipment stolen. Goods have been valued at approximately $10,000. The bowling lanes at Moles- worth, owned by Gordon and Brad Matheson, were hmkcn into last Monday night with a television set, lottery tickets and cigarettes among the items taken. regularly over the past several weeks. The chickadees at the Cen- tre are fearless! With a little pa- tience visitors are often able to have one feed out of their hands. Students participating in the Fine Feathered Friends activity learn to identify common birdspecies us- ing visual and sound clues. They also investigate bird adaptions to cold weather. Each participant has a chance to make a simple feeder to take home. When the snow does arrive, snowshoes become the best way to get around the conservation area. Thanks to a generous donation from the West Wawanosh Mutual Insurance Company, primary class- es as well as older students are now able to participate in snowshoeing activities. For young children a snowshoe hike through the frozen cedar swamp to the shore of the Maitland River is often the high- light of a visit to the Centre. While on their hike, classes stop to exam- ine what's happening under the snow. Children often have the mis- conception that at ground level everything is brown and dead. Dur- ing Snow Walk, Snow Talk, an ac- tivity for Grades 1 and 2, students dig down to examine life under the snow. They are amazed to discover the bright green colors of moss, an intricate maze of vole tunnels and even the occasional spider scurry- • ing along. Many small mammals, insects, and plants spend the winter months insulated by the blanket of snow, protected from predators. Activities at the Wawanosh na- ture Centre are available to both 'school classes and community groups. It is necessary to book in advance. Activity information and booking dates are available by con - Blyth Snow Travellers tacting the MVCA at 519-335- 3557. Over the next few weeks the staff at the Centre are looking for- ward to hosting classes from Sacred Heart School in Wingham, Luck - now Centre School and Howick Central School to name just a few. In addition a number of community groups have also planned visits in- cluding the Brussels Beavers and Cubs, the Blyth Cubs, and the Wingham Guides. The general, public is also wel- come to visit. The conservation area is open throughout the week during daylight hours. McNeil's Auto Body Antique & Classic Car Appraisals Collision, Refinishing Antique Car Restoration Brussels Bus. Res., 887-6833 887-9216 SAVE $12. The current Newstand price for The Wingham Advance -Times is .75e. Published 52 weeks a year for a total of $39.00. The current One Year Subscription rate is $27.00 for a total savings of $12.00 (plus G.S.T.) 5 Diagonal Road P.O. Box 390 Wingham, Ontario $Ije leingbain Abtanct8einteo 357E -a 900 357-2320 Attention Advertisers!!! "It's For You,,.' Poker Rally Saturday, January 28 (Ram date one wee Leaves fro t EO G 14C/0-‘; N° �,` FURS �-1� VN er hand The 1995 Edition of the Wingham Advance -Times Phone Book will be arriving soon. Now is the time to get your high visibility spot in the most used publicatipn in the area. To Book your spot in the Phone book call Norma or Audrey: Phone: 357-2320 Fax Or Drop in to our office 5 Diagonal Road Wingham Ontario NOG 2W0 SCE 0.00 for 3 hands eht cr,in$bttm lthberniCtreinteti