Zurich Citizens News, 1977-12-15, Page 12Page 12
Citizens News, December 15, 1977
What does business tax pay for?
Through much of the debate at
Hensall council's meeting this
week, there was a recurring
question of the reason for
assessing a business tax.
The debates ranged from snow
removal and parking to use of the
village dump, and in each of
those discussions there was a
suggestion that some businesses
weren't getting anything in
return for their business tax.
Monday's meeting started off
with a discussion with Eric
Campbell of Hensall Motors over
a complaint aired by neighboring
property owners that the firm
parked vehicles near their
property and on occasions
blocked driveways.
Mid -way through the
discussion, Councillor Homer
Campbell suggested that the firm
paid as much business tax as
business on main street and they
should therefore have the same
parking privileges.
The council member then
suggested that council should pay
for snow removal around Hensall
Motors because they pay for
snow removal in the downtown
area.
However, Reeve Harold Knight
said the snow was not removed
from the downtown area for the
benefit of the businessmen, but
rather for convenience of
motorists.
"Just think how much it would
cost us," Knight said in reference
to the suggestion that snow
should be removed from all
businesses in the village.
"I don't care if it costs us a
fortune," Campbell replied.
"Now, now be reasonable,"
Knight replied.
The Reeve said council plans
to look at the overall situation of
snow removal and also to con-
sider a bylaw prohibiting the
dumping of snow on village
property.
He said that discussion would
probably take place at the next
meeting, adding that it was a
very complex matter.
Councillor Harry Klungel
suggested that the discussion on
snow removal should be held
some time in July.
"We could be more objective
then," commented Councillor
Paul Neilands.
Before leaving Monday's
meeting, Eric Campbell said his
firm would try and police their
parking as best they could,
although it was suggested that
satisfying one neighbor would
probably be an impossibility.
Members of council tended to
agree with that contention.
Wants key
The discussion about the dump
arose when Bill Taylor of Traylor
Industries asked council for a key
to the site.
He said he had been told
previously that it would cost the
firm from $75 to $100 to have a
key and he questioned what value
they received for the $700 they
paid annually in business tax.
Knight said that paying a
business tax does not entitle
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people to industrial waste
disposal.
"Where does the business tax
go?" asked Councillor Campbell.
Clerk Betty Oke said it was just
another form of taxation, while
Councillor Bevan Bonthron
suggested it was a means of
draining off businesses to help
residential taxpayers. •
"There's no advantage in
paying a business tax," Campbell
said.
"There's no advantage in
paying any tax," Councillor Paul
Neilands quickly added.
Taylor said that people should
get something in return for the
extra tax levy.
He said' his firm had a pickup
load of refuse each week and
would like access to the dump at
their convenience, although they
didn't think they should have to
pay for that privilege.
However, Knight said the fee
paid by businesses which now
have a key goes towards main-
taining the dump and he opined
that council would lose control of
the facility if too many people
ended up with keys.
He said council would review
the situation and advise Taylor of
what fee they would have to pay
for a key.
Will lay charges
In a reference to the dump later
in the meeting, Neilands reported
that a juvenile had been ap-
prehended attempting to break
into the site.
In view of the fact the youth
had never been in trouble with
the law before and had agreed to
pay the $60 damage caused to the
gate;, no charges were laid.
However, Neilands said that "if
anyone else is caught, they will
be charged and prosecuted to the
full extent of the law". He
suggested this action . was
necessary in view of the in-
creased problem being ex-
perienced with people damaging
the dump gate and locks.
In other business, Monday,
council:
Learned from Herman Van-
wieren that three building per-
mits had been issued to a value of
$26,000. Approval was given to
Eileen Rannie to remove a small
shed on her property, and repairs
and alterations were approved
for the Queensway Nursing Home
and Cecil Kipfer.
Granted a Christmas bonus of
$100 to Gary Maxwell and $50 to
clerk Betty Oke, the difference
being the fact that Mrs. Oke had
not worked a full year for the
village.
Decided to meet with the PUC
on December 29 to discuss the
sewer surcharge on water bills.
Some concern has been ex-
pressed over the fact that people
who turn off their water and head
south for the winter do not pay for
sewer availability during that
time.
Were advised that the bill for B.
M. Ross and Associates to
represent them in the hearing
over the Black Creek drain was
$1,004.88. It was opined that
Hay's bill for engineering and
lawyer fees would be twice as
high as that.
Paid accounts amounting to
$178,284.65. These included the
final installment of the county
and school board levies, as well
as an interim payment to the
arena contractors. The salaries
TEAM
New Comers
D.J. 's
Flyers
Blue Boys
Family Affair
Rockets
Wild Bunch
Bendix #2
ZURICH MEN'S BOWLING LEAGUE
HIGH
TRIPLE
Pat Bedard 608
Ken Clark 699
John Geiger 584
Doug Debus 651
Don Beauchamp 678
Jim Bedard 652
Cecil Fields 615
Dan Durand 590
WEEKLY TEAM
POINTS STANDINGS
2
7
5
4
5
2
0
3
46
34
32
44
34
58
33
27
, High Single — Ken Clark & Tony Bedard — 337
High Triple — Tony Bedard — 799 High Average — Jim Bedard — 206
THE ASSESSMENT ACT
for the firemen were also in-
cluded, amounting to $4,960.70 for
the past year.
Approved purchase of a new
typewriter for the clerk's office
at a cost of $836.55.
Learned that • effective
December 31, Canadian National
Railways (express division) will
provide pickup and delivery
services directly to the door of
customers in the Hensall area
and will discontinue the service
of the present facility.
Christmas Wishes
from
Sheridan Villa and
Oakville
Thomas and Cealiea
Meyers would like to
say a Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year to
all our relatives, friends
and neighbours around
Zurich, also a touching
thank -you for phone
calls, cards, letters and
visits.
NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS
AND TENANTS
As a result of a delay in th passage of recent amendments to
The Assessment Act, the normal return of the assessment rolls in
municipalities and localities in Ontario will be delayed.
The Honourable Margaret Scrivener, Minister of Revenue, h
therefore extended to January 19, 1978, the date upon which the an-
nual assessment roll is returned in all municipalities and localities in
Ontario, EXCEPT those municipalities located in The Regional
Municipality of Waterloo where the day upon which the assessment
roll is returned will be extended to March 16, 1978.
This extension affects the time period during which owners and
tenants may appeal their, assessments. As a result, the final date for
lodging a complaint with the Assessment Review Court: in respect of
any assessment contained in the assessment rolls is extended from
January 19, 1978 to February 9, 1978. In The Regional Municipality
of Waterloo the date for lodging a complaint has 'been extended to
April 7, 1978.
Ontario
Margaret Scrivener
MINISTRY Minister of Revenue
OF
REVENUE
T.M. Russell
Deputy Minister
1