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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2006-02-22, Page 1JOHN DEERE (519)235-1115 www.hurontractor.com W HURON TRACTOR Exeter EXETER R.`D' r HAWKS vs LUCAN PLAYOFFS FRI., FEB. 24 8:30 p.m. South Huron Rec Centre TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, February 22, 2006 x.25 (includes GST) Old Man Winter made an unwelcome return to the area late last week, but that only meant more fun for Kaitlyn Masse, left, and Angel Pedlar of Zurich. (photo/Scott Nixon) Lucan Biddulph draft budget forecasts slight tax increase By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN BIDDULPH — The 2006 proposed draft budget for Lucan Biddulph is expect- ed to bring less than a one per cent overall tax increase. This is partly due to the County of Middlesex receiv- ing $3.14 million unexpect- edly from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. It is also the result of a provincewide reassessment in 2005 — the school board tax rate is dropping from 0.29 per cent to .264 per cent for residential proper- ties. Proposed budget docu- ments presented to Lucan Biddulph council last week stated municipal spending is set to increase three per cent this year. There are some major pro- jects in and around the Lucan Community Memorial Centre proposed in the 2006 budget including replacing the condenser and ice resur- facer, adding safety netting around the ice surface, con- structing a new skate park, replacing the arena lawn mower and renovating the Leprechaun Hall washroom to accommodate handi- capped individuals. Other major projects in the budget are road related ren- ovations including the reconstructing of Lucan's Main Street, depending on MTO funding approval, the reconstructing of Saintsbury Line (Fallon Drive to Maguire's Gravel Pit), com- pleting the Kent Street reconstruction, doing some reconstructing of Porte and Chriselle Streets in Clandeboye, adding another lift of asphalt on Whalen Line (Highway 4 to Coursey Line and Highway 23 to Saintsbury Line) and adding another lift of asphalt on Clandeboye Drive (Highway 4 to Denfield Road). The budget is expected to be formally passed in the spring. South Huron scraps large garbage pickup By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Abuse by residents has led the municipality to decide to scrap its annual fall large garbage pickup. Instead, South Huron residents will be allowed to drop off those previously picked -up large items at the landfill site for free. Such items include chairs, tables, sofas, mattresses, TVs, computers and appliances (which must be certified freon-free). Council approved the changes Feb. 13 after a report from road superin- tendent Ken Bettles. "It's simply straight abuse that has caused the problem," Mayor Rob Morley said, noting that abuse previously caused the municipality to stop accepting brush at the works building in Exeter. "It's tough to get everybody on board," he noted. Coun. Ken Oke said council had to do something about the problems sur- rounding the large garbage pickup, which he said was not going smoothly. Morley said there was still large garbage at the curbside last fall during the Exeter Fall Fair parade. Bettles said in his report that many items were left at the curbside last fall because they were not part of the list of pickup items Problems included: • regular household garbage being put out with the large garbage; • items placed in a pile and not separated; • some large items placed at the curb two or three weeks before pickup was scheduled; • some residents complained their piles were separated before scavengers rooted through them to remove scrap metal and other items; • in some cases, it took a long time for residents to remove items left behind by the municipality. Cost was also a large factor in the municipality's decision to end the pro- gram: "A total of 616 man hours (equivalent of 77 days) were used in this pickup with a gross cost of $18,480, as well as a total of 536 equipment hours (67 days) with a gross cost of $14,650," Betties' report stated. Total tonnage collected amounted to 176.16 tonnes, resulting in a munici- pal cost at the landfill of $13,212. Tonnage in 2005 increased 19.5 per cent over 2004. Of the area municipalities contacted by South Huron, the only one still col- lecting large items is Bluewater, with Bettles stating they are also looking to cancel the program. The fall leaf and spring brush pickups will continue. Other council notes: Grader savings The purchase of a new grader/snow plow came in much cheaper than the municipality budgeted for. Champion Road Machinery Sales came in with a low bid of $203,900 See COUNTY page 2 ABCA finalizes budget By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — A chairperson and vice -chairperson were chosen for 2006 at the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's (ABCA) Annual Meeting Feb. 16. Bill Weber, former vice -chairperson for the ABCA will assume the role of chairperson. His predecessor, Teresa Ondrejicka held the position for two years. Lawrence McLachlan was appointed vice -chairperson. The 2006 proposed project and general levy and the 2006 overall pro- posed budget were approved after the ABCA didn't receive any ques- tions or comments from member municipalities. The ABCA's general levy has increased 3.3 per cent, totalling $487,983 which is paid by the member municipalities. The project levy proposal for 2006 is $291,430. Some major projects included in the budget are the year-long 60th anniversary celebration, costing about $5,000. The erosion control project and the flood control project in Port Franks are also in the budget, costing about $1.3 million combined. The ABCA will spend $8,000 on a managed forest plan for the forests owned by the ABCA and $12,500 to support Rock Glen activities. See ABCA page 2