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TIMES -ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, May 12, 2004
x.25 (includes GST)
Brittany Cortes cuts wood to make a picture frame at St. Patrick's Separate
School in Lucan May 6. Cortes was just one of the Grades 7 and 8 students
participating in workshops through the Ontario Youth Apprenticeships
Program. Students were assisted by high school tech students from St. Mike's in
Stratford at stations introducing them to small engine repair, auto mechanics,
woodworking, plastic injection mouldings, and welding. (photo/Mary Simmons)
Exeter water charge
to jump dramatically
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — Exeter water cus-
tomers can soon expect a hefty increase
hi their water bills.
Council intends to increase the $3.58
monthly charge on water bills to $23.58
per month to deal with the nearly
$600,000 water system debt resulting
from inadequate water rates. Customers
also pay 66 cents/cubic metre for water.
That rate will not change.
Bills go out to customers quarterly,
meaning the previous quarterly fee of
$10.74 will jump to $70.74.
Council will set up a public meeting to
discuss the increases, which will include
the remaining eight months of 2004,
including May.
As chief administrative officer Larry
Brown explained to council Monday
night, the municipality has experienced
higher water operating costs resulting
from increased provincial water regula-
tions. South Huron has projected a
$328,750 water deficit in 2004, on top of
the 2003 debt of $260,500. The new
monthly charge of $23.58 will help eat
into those numbers.
Also as previously reported, the munic-
ipality has hired Dillon Engineering to
come up with new water and sewer
rates for the municipality. Those rates
should be finalized by the end of August
and will be implemented in 2005.
Mayor Rob Morley said the increased
costs are "the cost of having good
water."
Deputy Mayor Dave Urlin noted the
$3.58 monthly fee made sense five years
ago, before Walkerton changed every-
thing.
"Today, it isn't even a drop in the buck-
et," he said.
Coun. Pete Armstrong proposed the
idea of increasing the monthly fee by $30
instead of $20, but council decided to go
ahead with the $20 increase.
Even with the new increases, the
municipality will still have a water debt
of $300,000 at the end of the year.
The increases affect 1,860 customers.
Other council notes:
Financial statements
and library loan
Gerry Mills of Kime, Mills, Dunlop pre-
sented the municipality's 2003 financial
statements, declaring South Huron's bal-
ance sheet is "strong," although he said
the municipality's reserves of $4.6 mil-
lion are "just adequate."
Mills presented statements comparing
2003 figures with those of 2002. Long-
term liabilities increased in 2003 to $4.2
million, from the previous year's figure
of $2.4 million. Mills said the increase is
due to $1.8 million in loans relating to
the outstanding Exeter library branch
loan and sewer/water costs.
Brown told the Times -Advocate the
municipality's lawyer continues to nego-
tiate with bond company Guaranty over
a settlement regarding the year -and -a -
half delay on the library's opening.
Original library contractor Pegdon went
into receivership, causing delays and
added costs. Brown said South Huron's
claim with the bond company over the
excess costs are complicated because
sub -contractors also have claims.
Regarding the municipality's reserves,
Morley said provincial downloading has
"put a real stress on reserves." He noted
See LOAN page 2
South Huron Hospital president and CEO quits
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — South Huron Hospital's president and
chief executive officer has resigned.
The hospital's board of directors announced Monday
the resignation of John Sutherland, effective May 7.
Sutherland resigned "for personal reasons," with hospi-
tal board chairperson Matt Clarke explaining
Sutherland found his schedule too busy with his work at
South Huron plus other work he was doing.
Sutherland started at South Huron Hospital July 1,
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358 Main St. Exeter
519-235-1314
2003.
"It's a shame we're losing him," Clarke told the Times -
Advocate Monday. "He's been a big help." Sutherland
was CEO of the Huron Perth Hospitals Partnership and
moved over to South Huron when that network dis-
solved.
"We're going to miss him," Clarke said of Sutherland.
"Over the past year he's helped the hospital grow and
move forward."
The hospital's board is in preliminary negotiations
with St. Joseph's Health Care in London concerning a
management contract. In the interim, St. Joseph's
Health Care vice-president Michael Boucher will be act-
ing CEO for South Huron Hospital.
A press release from the hospital board stated the hos-
pital "will continue to be an independent organization
with its own board and foundation committed to meet-
ing the needs of all residents."
The press release also stated the board appreciates
"and gratefully acknowledge(s) the contribution of all
our staff and physicians. It is our intent to create a sta-
ble environment so that we will continue to provide
exemplary health care."
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