Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2004-05-19, Page 1JOHN DEERE (519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com INHURON TRACTOR 1 vAfkiiJ jir)ocp ci4 Atft TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, May 19, 2004 1.25 (includes GST) Grand opening of South Huron medical centre By Mary Simmons TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — The South Huron medical centre is offi- cially open to service the health care needs of patients. At the grand opening Sunday board member Matt Clarke welcomed everyone to the new facility and thanked the Municipality of South Huron, the South Huron Hospital Foundation, the Hospital Auxiliary, staff physicians and community members for making the opening possible. Clarke said the board of directors put the plan for the facility in place, but it was the work of the staff and physicians which makes it work. "This clinic is a needed piece in the plan for health care in this area," he said. Servicing approximately 600 patients a month, Clarke said the clinic will ease the strain on the hospital emer- gency room. Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle said he was happy to be there to share the enthusiasm of all the people who made the centre possible. Steckle acknowledged that centres such as this one are needed to attract new doctors to communities. He said new doctors should be encouraged to stay in Canada for at least five years before they can even con- sider looking for work outside the country. "When they are trained here, they have a responsibil- ity to stay here," he said. "We all have an obligation to provide quality health care." South Huron Mayor Rob Morley congratulated the board of directors for taking the initiative and following through on the project. "It's been a long old go," he said, referring to the municipality's efforts to establish a medical centre. "We Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle, South Huron Mayor Rob Morley, Huron County Warden Bill Dowson and hospital board chairperson Matt Clarke cut the ribbon at the grand opening of the South Huron medical centre Sunday. (photo/Mary Simmons) found out the hard way we couldn't do it alone." Chief of staff Peter Englert said times have changed Huron County Warden Bill Dowson said the need for and new doctors are no longer setting up their own medical facilities like these is acknowledged by the fact practices. they are cropping up all across the county. "They want existing facilities and group practices," He said the county is committed to providing the best he said. emergency medical services for the area as possible. Englert also invited people to come out to Grand "It takes a dedicated board to pull off what you have," Bend May 29 for the grand opening of that communi- he said. ty's new medical clinic. Exeter water meeting date set By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Council will hold a public meeting on its pro- posed Exeter water charge increase during a regular council meeting June 7. As reported last week, the munici- pality intends to increase its $3.58 monthly charge on Exeter water bills to $23.58 a month. The increase is in reaction to the fact the water system is nearly $600,000 in debt due to inadequate water rates. The municipality has faced higher water operational charges in light of the increased provincial regulations after Walkerton. Mayor Rob Morley said at Monday night's council meeting municipal staff have received much negative feedback from the public on the pro- posed increase. He said people are upset, although when he explained the reason for the increase, they seem to understand. "They just don't want to pay," he said. Exeter resident Jim Chapman attended Monday's meeting and expressed his concern about the proposed increase. Other council notes: Library loan Reacting to current interest rates, the municipality has decided to lock in $500,000 of its $1 million bank loan for the Exeter library for a two year period with a 3.66 per cent interest rate. The other $500,000 will remain under the floating inter- est rates. The move was made because of the current low interest rates. The municipality still anticipates a lump sum settlement from its bond com- pany concerning the increased costs due to the delay of the library's con- struction after the original contrac- tor went into receivership. PUC building South Huron is moving closer to selling the former PUC building on Main Street after it officially declared the property surplus and severed the building portion and the parkette beside it from the rest of the property. The building and par- kette will be sold by public tender. The rear of the property will be kept by the municipality and used as a public parking lot. Zoning for the property was changed from retail commercial - general to retail commercial - spe- cial provision. See EBA NEWS page 2 Letter campaign starts to keep Dr. Lam By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF DASHWOOD — Dr. Ming Lam's patients want her to stay. As previously reported, the Dashwood doctor has decided to close her practice, citing an excessive workload. She intends to take a leave of absence starting the first week of July. A press release from the Grand Bend Area Community Health Centre (GBACHC) states it will take Lam onto its physician roster if funding is made available from the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care. If that funding becomes available, Lam's office would become a satellite of the health centre and a nurse practitioner and medical office assistant would be added to provide assistance. See DR LAM page 2 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •'• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 1 • • • • • • X11/ Sunrise GARDEN CENTRE LONG WEEKEND SUPER SPECIALS SEED IMPATIENS LARGE SELECTION GERANIUMS OF HANGING BASKETS, PATIO ■ 99� t � POTS f3 HOSTA Hwy. #4, minutes North of Lucan at Clandeboye (follow the signs) 227-1879 •••••••••••••••••••••