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TIMES-ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada
Wednesday, June 9, 2004
1 .25 (includes GST)
Bluewater arena officially opens its doors
By Mary Simmons
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
ZURICH — The
Municipality of Bluewater
celebrated the grand
opening of its new com-
munity centre in Zurich
June 5.
At a ribbon cutting cere-
mony Mayor Bill Dowson
said it was a long process,
but he was glad to see the
day arrive when the new
arena was officially open
for business.
"This facility is for
everyone and we hope
everyone uses it," he said.
Although many motions
were entertained by
council about the com-
plex, Dowson said there
was never a motion not to
build a community centre
to service the needs of the
whole municipality.
At the final vote to go
ahead with construction,
he said only three out of
25 did not support the
project.
"It wasn't an easy task,"
he said, adding, "We
should be very proud of
what's here."
Huron -Bruce MP Paul
Steckle said he has fond
memories of times spent
in the Zurich arena and is
sure current and future
generations, including his
own grandchildren, will
build similar memories at
this facility.
"Together this commu-
nity has shown what com-
munity effort can be," he
said.
Huron -Bruce MPP Carol
Mitchell also offered her
congratulations on the
new building.
"Hats off to the commu-
nity for coming together
on this project," she said.
Dowson thanked coun-
cil, the building commit-
tee and the funding com-
mittee for all their hard
work.
Thanks were also
extended to the Zurich
Agricultural Society,
which donated the land,
the Zurich Lions Club and
the Regier family, who
provided funding for the
dressing rooms, and the
Masse family.
Cutting the ribbon at the grand opening of the Bluewater Community Centre and Arena Zurich Complex
June 5 are Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle, Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell, Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson,
Mavis Govier, Marg Diechert and Bluewater Community Development Foundation president Brian Brooks.
(photo/Mary Simmons)
South Huron water charge increase cut in half
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
SOUTH HURON — The public has spoken and
council has listened.
After much public opposition to a proposal from
South Huron to add a $20/month developmental
charge to Exeter water bills to pay off $300,000 of
the system's nearly $600,000 debt, that charge will
be cut in half to a $10 monthly increase. The charge
will be added to the $3.58 monthly charge Exeter
water customers already pay. As bills are mailed out
quarterly, the quarterly development charge on
water bills will be $40.74. Customers also pay 66
cents/cubic metre for water.
The increase will raise $150,000 to pay off the
debt. The remaining $150,000, after much discus-
sion at Monday night's council meeting, will come
from the Exeter Community Development Fund,
which consists of money from the sale of the former
Exeter PUC.
About 25 members of the public attended Monday's
meeting, with several speaking in opposition to the
municipality's proposed $20 per month increase.
Council provided background for the public,
explaining that in the aftermath of Walkerton,
provincial water regulations have dramatically
increased the cost of running a municipal water sys-
tem. Water rates, implemented in 2001, were too
low to cover the increased costs. New rates, now
being determined by engineering firm Dillon, will be
implemented in 2005.
Exeter's Pete Connon was the first member of the
audience to raise the issue of using the money from
the Exeter Community Development Fund to pay
down the water debt, something later echoed by sev-
eral people.
Hugh Davis, who managed Exeter's PUC for 36
years, pointed out people on fixed incomes would be
hurt by South Huron's proposed increase and rate
increases should have been implemented in 2003. He
said the increase (a flat rate) is unfair because it
means customers who use little water will pay as
much as those who use lots of water.
Mayor Rob Morley pointed out to the audience that
the province isn't concerned with how much money
it costs for municipalities to run a water system.
He said a meeting he had with the Ministry of the
Environment last week informed him the current
parasite tests done on the water at $650 a month
will at least double and the municipality will need a
$250,000 ultra -violet filtration light for its water sys-
tem, which will only be good until the planned new
pipeline is installed.
According to the province, Morley said, "the cost of
water means nothing. The quality means every-
thing."
Robert Drummond of Exeter also said the money
from the PUC sale should go towards the water debt.
He added it isn't fair for a single elderly woman to
pay the same charge as a house full of people.
Another topic of discussion was that under the pro-
posal, apartment buildings will only count as one
water hookup no matter how many units are in the
building. Several members of the public spoke out
against this, saying each apartment should pay the
charge.
As Morley explained, the municipality has decided
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