The Times Advocate, 2004-01-07, Page 1JOHN DEERE
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INHURON
TRACTOR
TIMES-ADVOCXT
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
EXETER JR.'D'
HAWKS
vs THAMESFORD
FRI. JAN. 9 8:30 p.m.
South Huron Rec Centre
School Night: Exeter PS
Wednesday, January 7, 2004
1.25 (includes GST)
PUC property options
under consideration
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — The committee
that oversees the Exeter Community
Development Fund is looking at
options on how to deal with the for-
mer PUC building on Main Street.
In addition to the main building,
the property includes a parkette to
the south, a storage building behind
the former PUC building and some
parking. Committee member and
South Huron Coun. Pete Armstrong
presented the committee's ideas to
council Monday night. The commit-
tee's discussions come
from a letter by the BIA.
One idea is to sell the
PUC building with the
funds going back to the
Development Fund,
which consists of money
garnered from the sale of
Exeter Hydro. The par-
kette, storage building,
parking and road access would then
be donated to the municipality. The
storage building would then be
demolished and the extra space
would be used for public parking.
Armstrong said the additional park-
ing is in preparation to future
growth in the municipality. Fellow
committee member and Coun.
George Robertson said it's in the
best interest of the business area to
have additional parking.
Of issue was who will pay for the
demolition of the storage building.
Council made no decisions Monday
night and the Development Fund
committee will have further talks
with the BIA.
Coun. Harvey Ratz noted that ser-
vice businesses are increasing on
Main Street as opposed to retail
businesses. He wondered if it is nec-
essary to provide parking for busi-
nesses such as lawyers, accountants
and real estate offices.
Speaking of the possibility of the
municipality paying for demolition
of the storage building, Mayor Rob
Morley wondered if a business
owner in Centralia would be happy
to see his tax dollars used to pay for
a parking lot in Exeter for his com-
petitors.
"We have
at the wh
municipali
MUNIC
SOUTH HUR
Ro
"We have to look at the whole
municipality," he said.
In other community development
fund news, the committee has
agreed to loan to the MacNaughton
Morrison trail committee the
remaining $55,000 to $60,000 need-
ed for a bridge to span the Ausable
River. Armstrong noted fundraising
is going well for the committee and
the loan will only be used if the
committee needs
Other notes from Monday's meet-
ing:
Assessment changes
Changes in property assessment
for the 2004 tax year in
South Huron were minor
compared with some other
municipalities in Huron
County.
From 2002 to 2003,
assessment in South Huron
rose an average of 6.1 per
cent, compared with the
highest increase in Bluewater of
12.5 per cent.
The assessment takes into consid-
eration commercial, exempt, farm,
industrial, multi -residential,
pipeline and residential properties.
The only decrease in assessment
was in industrial property, which
dropped 0.8 per cent. In Bluewater,
industrial property dropped a whop-
ping 18.1 per cent. Residential prop-
erty assessment in Bluewater
jumped a sizable 15.5 per cent in
Bluewater, compared to 5.2 per cent
in South Huron.
Chief administrative officer Larry
Brown said the assessment changes
in South Huron are small and there
will be a slight shift in taxes towards
farm properties, which will relieve
residential properties somewhat.
As a result of the assessment,
fewer county taxes will be collected
in South Huron.
Voters' list old
The municipality will send a letter
to Elections Canada to note the
municipality's voters' list is old and
needs updating.
Morley said during the last munici-
pal election, many ballots were
returned to the municipality by
See VOTER'S LIST page 2
to look
ole
ty
IPALITY OF
ON MAYOR
B MORLEY
JANUARY
WiTh]
J J
Brad Greaves of the Lucan Area Heritage Association, draws the first batch of
prize winners from the cash calendar Dec. 31 . The winner of the $500 prize
was Judy White of Lucan. Les Williams of Lucan, Don Eedy of Lucan and Glen
Hall of Strathroy each won $25. Draws will take place every Friday. Calendars
are still available with proceeds towards the building of a new
museum.(photo/Mary Simmons)
Strategic Plan moves ahead
By Pat Bolen
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
VARNA — The Municipality of
Bluewater's strategic plan moved ahead
Monday night with a decision to include
$15,000 for it in this years budget.
The decision came after Coun. Jim
Fergusson submitted a letter to council
outlining his proposals and goals for the
Strategic Plan.
Fergusson said his request to council
was to allow him to research the strate-
gic planning process as it has been con-
ducted by other area municipalities.
It was also to report back to council
with a recommended action plan, and to
be prepared to commit funds for con-
sideration in the 2004 budget for prepa-
ration of a strategic plan.
Fergusson said work on the plan could
be approached different ways and done
by either staff or by consultants but he
See STRATEGIC PLAN page 2
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