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Home My WebLink AboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-02-11, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, February 11, 2004 Regional wrap up Medical clin- ic GODERICH — Plans to construct a permanent medical clinic in Goderich took a giant step forward Feb. 2 as town councillors unani- mously approved a tri - party agreement that will see a new clinic built on lands adjacent to the hospital. The Goderich Signal - Star reported council's third and final reading of the agreement came on the heels of similar votes of support from both the Alexandra Marine and General Hospital (AMGH) board and the AMGH founda- tion. Meeting BLYTH — The meet- ing intended to decide the fate of the Moncrieff Hall quickly turned sour Jan. 27 and became what many present referred to an "a good old-fash- ioned lynching," The Citizen reported Grey Ward councillor Alvin McLellan found himself "caught off guard" by the hostility, agreeing that this was "probably one of the worst" meetings he has been involved with in his political history. Although many expressed genuine interest in seeing the town hall revitalized, it soon became evident that discord within the community of Moncrieff might stand in the way of any suc- cess. Tax relief CLINTON — A capac- ity crowd packed the town hall auditorium Feb. 2 to plead for tax relief on late -arriving tax assessments on properties parked in area campgrounds for the 2003 year. The Clinton News - Record reported Gerd Keller, owner of the Old Homestead Campground, and Bob Szusz, owner of the Kitchigami Family Campground, man- aged to pitch success- ful pleas for council's show of support. UpperThames presents budget to SH By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Council received a presentation from the Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) Monday night. Corporate community relations co-ordi- nator Theresa Hollingsworth spoke to council and presented the UTRCA's 2004 budget and municipal levy schedule. While South Huron is the largest municipal part- ner in the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, its chunk in the UTRCA is minor and the municipality will only pay $3,157 to the authority in 2004. That fig- ure is up $272, or 9.4 per cent, over last year. The UTRCA has an $11.1 million budget in 2004, up from last year's $9.59 million. The reason for the jump is a Superbuild grant it received. On average, the 17 member municipalities will pay an addi- tional 3.7 per cent to the UTRCA this year. Percentage is based on current value assessment, Hollingsworth said. She explained the UTRCA's five major jobs are to: protect life and property from floods and erosion; ensure a sustainable water supply; protect and enhance water quality; preserve and manage natural areas; and provide recreation opportuni- ties. UTRCA general manager Ian Wilcox will speak at a future meeting to fill council in on the authority. While South Huron's payment to the UTRCA is small, Middlesex and Perth counties will each pay $140,000 in 2004. South Huron had already accepted the UTRCA budget at an earlier meeting. Other notes from Monday's meeting: "Common sense" Road superintendent Mike Alcock didn't exactly get from council what he was look- ing for Monday night. As previously reported, Alcock expressed concern about on-call municipal staff get- ting unnecessary calls during weekends that lead to increased municipal costs. An example he used was the OPP reporting a pothole on Hwy. 4 in front of KFC on a weekend when Alcock felt the matter could have waited until a normal week- day. When on-call staff are called out for a job, it is automatically billed as a four- hour job. Alcock, in his report to council, said he was "asking for council support and direc- tion to help us reduce unnecessary call outs by urging police and others to call only when necessary." Alcock, though, was told by council it's up to him to decide what problems need repaired immediately and what can wait until Monday. He said if council adopted a "minimum standards" bylaw, it would state in black and white how quickly problems such as potholes, traffic light malfunctions and icy conditions should be looked after. Concerning the pothole in front of KFC, Alcock saw it before the OPP reported it on a Saturday and felt it could have wait- ed to be fixed. He said the hole wasn't very big and wasn't in a spot that would interfere with driving. Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin, though, said the pothole "was big enough (that) Saturday to swallow a car." He said there was an accident at that spot earlier in the day and the OPP were simply reporting a problem with the road. "That's your responsibility to have the common sense to know if it needs to be fixed," Urlin said. "It's your responsibility, you were hired." Alcock said the problem is until a staffer sees a pothole, he doesn't really know if it should be fixed. And once he's gone out to see the pothole, he might as well fix it. Councillors Ken Oke, George Robertson and Mayor Rob Morley also said it's up to Alcock to decide what jobs need immedi- ate attention and what jobs can wait. "You're the guy that's in charge," Morley said. "It's your budget." Alcock admitted he doesn't get many calls from the OPP about potholes but said the municipality receives occasional emer- gency calls that aren't necessary. Lobby time In light of Dr. Lam's announcement she is leaving, Morley said he has been invited to a meeting with local MPPs at the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre to lobby for additional funding. Morley said the health centre is prepared to take on Lam's patients, but it needs the additional funding. He said Lam has 3,500 patient files. "At least we're trying to do something," he said. Meter readers Council accepted a low tender of $9,032 a year from Canadian Water Services of London to perform water meter reading duties in the municipality. The contract is for three years. Tenders varied greatly in price, from Canadian Water Services' low bid up to a high bid of $20,165 per year. Goderich's legal aid and clinic open house GODERICH — An open house was held Jan. 22 to commemorate the grand opening of the Legal Aid office and the Huron Perth Community Legal Clinic at 44 North St. in Goderich. Last summer an addi- tion was made to the office to accommodate the office of the Huron Perth Community Legal Clinic. Legal Aid has been providing legal services in Huron County for over 35 years. The purpose of legal aid is to make sure people who do not have money to pay a lawyer can still get the legal help they need. Services include assis- tance for individuals in the areas of family mat- ters, dealing with the Children's Aid Society, criminal charges, immi- gration matters and some civil cases. The individuals must meet the financial eligi- bility criteria. You may contact the Legal Aid office at 524-9612 for more information. The Legal Clinic has been providing legal ser- vices in Huron and Perth counties since 2002 and also has an office in Stratford. Until last November, the clinic was using temporary space on East Street in Goderich. The Legal Clinic pro- vides a full range of legal assistance in specified areas of law. In some cases this will involve representation before courts or tribunals. At other times the assis- tance may consist of summary advice. The appropriate level and type of service will be determined by the clinic on a case by case basis. Some of the areas of law that the clinic can assist with include advice and representa- tion for tenants, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program appeals, work- ers' compensation and employment law. As well as providing traditional legal assis- tance, the clinic is also involved with providing public legal education and community outreach activities. These activities will help find longer term solutions for systemic problems faced by the poor. To qualify for free legal services with the Legal Clinic you must meet the financial eligibility crite- ria. The clinic is funded through legal Aid Ontario to help low income individuals and families. Staff at the clinic are comprised of an execu- tive director, staff lawyers, a community legal worker and an office manager. The staff are responsible for cov- erage of both the Goderich and Stratford offices as well as out- reach locations in Exeter and Wingham. Gord Strang receives appreciation from council Continued from front page ed. Council decided in 2003 to have a council member represent the municipality on the ABCA instead of someone appointed from the general public. Coun. Pete Armstrong will represent South Huron on the board. The clinic can be con- tacted in Goderich at 524-4406 or toll free at 1-866-867-1027. 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