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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-01-16, Page 3Wednesday, January 16, 2008 Times—Advocate 3 South Huron meets with Honda, landowners By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Municipal staff were scheduled to hold a meeting Tuesday with owners of a proposed Exeter Honda dealership and the current landowners at the south end of town. The meeting took place after the Times -Advocate went to press. As reported in last week's T -A, concerns have been raised about the location of the proposed dealership (on Highway 4 south, across the road from Huron Motor Products). In light of flooding concerns on the property, staff suggested Honda move the proposed location of the dealership to a more northern section of the land, owned by Gerald and Jeanette McBride. Direct access to Highway 4 was another concern, with Exeter Honda co-owner Penny Wilson saying she must have direct access to Highway 4 or she won't build in Exeter. She is also facing a deadline from Honda and needs the project to move forward or she will take it to London. South Huron chief administrative officer Roy Hardy said Monday that Tuesday's meeting was going to be a chance for everyone to talk and discuss the options available to Honda. An update will appear in next week's T -A. More council notes: 'No' to ABCA increase Not satisfied with a proposed 13.5 per cent hike in the costs levied to member municipalities in the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's proposed 2008 bud- get, South Huron council has advised its representative on the board, Coun. David Frayne to vote against the budget at the ABCA's Jan. 24 meeting. As the second highest municipal stakeholder in the ABCA (behind Bluewater) South Huron is proposed to be charged $128,273 in the ABCA's 2008 general levy, an increase from $112,542 in 2007. Mandatory inspections supported By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson will support mandatory septic inspections when it comes to a vote at Huron County council, possibly at its next meeting, after being instructed to by Bluewater council. Dowson requested guidance from council Monday night after saying while he doesn't oppose the mandato- ry inspections, he doesn't feel they should be done with- out money available to help homeowners make the repairs. "I'll have trouble supporting it if you don't tell me to," said Dowson. "I have a lot of trouble telling someone `you're spending $25,000 or we're shutting you down.– Dowson noted Bluewater proposed a program in 2002 to help homeowners pay for the repairs and said it should be revived. Several of the councillors, including Tyler Hessel, George Irvin and Kay Wise told Dowson they would like him to support the inspections. Dowson replied he would be voting that way and said "if anyone asks I'll say I was directed that way." In other business, a report will be prepared by general manager of corporate services Terri Brandon for council on whether Bluewater should hire a temporary Public Sector Accounting Board (PSAB) project manager to ensure the municipality meets the provincial deadline of Jan. 1, 2009. Brandon told council the PSAB manager would ensure Bluewater meets the requirement of getting basic infor- mation on each asset; the date of acquisition; the histori- cal cost and the estimated useful life of the item. Brandon said staff members have attended workshops on the PSAB requirements but face time constraints to meet the deadlines. She estimated the PSAB manager would be required for a year and would cost between $49,000 to $61,000 in addition to the cost of paying to acquire information on the municipality held by companies such as B. M. Ross. Wise asked why the municipality is paying for its own Economic development meeting in Lucan LUCAN — The Lucan Community Memorial Centre will host a public open house Thursday night concerning Middlesex County's new Economic Development Strategy. The open house in Lucan, which takes place from 5-8 p.m., is one of four such meetings held by the county to hear the public's input on Middlesex's future. The county's new Economic Development Strategy is being done to ensure Middlesex remains competitive and maximizes its economic development potential. In addition to attending the public meetings, anyone interested can take a brief online survey at www. coun- ty. middlesex. on. ca From the public meetings, consultations with business leaders and focus groups, a draft report will be present- ed to Middlesex County councillors Feb. 19, with a final report by the end of March. Dr. Geoff Hann Accepting New Patients Chiropractic -Acupuncture -Orthotics 105 Main St., Exeter 519-235-1535 Anifiiiwww.DrHann.ca information. Dowson noted that a lot of records in municipalities were lost during amalgamation because it was thought they wouldn't be needed again. "Now it's needed," he said. Coun. Jim Fergusson asked if the PSAB work could be contracted out to an accounting firm. Brandon said it could be looked at but in the future Bluewater will need an asset accounting software package that she estimated would cost between $8,000 and $12,000. Coun. Dave Johnston asked if there is a threshold below which equipment doesn't have to be counted. Brandon said there is, "but if we don't capitalize it, we better have a reason because the auditor will want to know why." It was decided Brandon will look at the option of hiring the accounting company that South Huron has, as well as the possibility of hiring a PSAB manager and bring the reports to council. Municipal funding Brandon also told council the municipality has several projects eligible for provincial infrastructure funding announced recently. Brandon said $300 million is available for capital investments in construction -ready municipal infrastruc- ture and can be applied for between Jan. 11 and Feb. 15. Projects in Bluewater that could be covered by the funding are the Hensall Lagoon project, the Zurich Lagoon and the Bayfield water project although Bluewater can only apply for one. It was decided that a special council meeting will be held Monday at 7 p.m. with Matt Pearson from B. M. Ross to discuss which project should be applied for. POLICE BRIEF Festive RIDE update HURON — Huron OPP were busy throughout this holi- day season with the Festive RIDE checks. Over 150 RIDE checks were set up within the county since the program began Nov. 28. Thousands of vehicles were checked. In total nine drivers were charged with impaired driving or driving with over 80 milligrams of alcohol. Seven people were charged with various Liquor License Act violations like driving with open alcohol. Three 12 -hour suspen- sions were also issued to drivers. Voluntary Lead Testing Sites for Drinking Water Systems Exeter & Stephen Ward In order to comply with new Ministry of Environment regulations with respect to lead sampling in drinking water we are required to sample residences in the Municipality that are suspected of having lead plumbing or built prior to 1990. This sampling would be done on a voluntary basis and would commence after December 15, 2007 and would continue every 6 months after that. Please note that these samples would only be taken on a voluntary basis. Therefore we would ask that you consider being a participant in this sampling program. If you would like to take part, please contact Ange Ditchfield at the Municipal office at 519-235-0310 ext.230 to receive a consent form and information package. All results obtained from sampling will be posted on the Municipality of South Huron's website at www.town.southhuron.on.ca and will become public information. For more information on health issues related to lead and drinking water please contact the Huron County Health Unit at 519-482-3416 or visit their website at www.huroncounty.ca/health/ Mayor Ken Oke said the increase isn't reasonable and asked if taxpayers would be expected to accept a 13.5 per cent tax increase on the municipal budget. "No, it's not reasonable," he said. A report from the ABCA states that "the increase in (the) general levy is primarily attributed to pay equity and employment equity adjustments and the introduc- tion of an information technology management strategy program." UpperThames request The Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) is also proposing an increase in its 2008 draft budget, but the dollar figure involved is much smaller for South Huron. UTRCA general manager Ian Wilcox appeared at council's Jan. 7 meeting and said the conservation authority will vote on its budget Feb. 26. The UTRCA is proposing a 17.4 per cent increase from South Huron, for a total of $5,063, or $751 more than in 2007. On average the UTRCA is asking member munici- palities for a 14.8 per cent increase in 2008. Last year saw a 12.1 per cent increase. Wilcox said the increases are part of a four-year plan by the UTRCA to increase base funding — four per cent increases are slated for both 2009 and 2010. With 23.5 per cent of its budget funded by municipali- ties in 2007, Wilcox said the UTRCA is one of the lowest municipally -funded conservation authorities in the province. Oke told Wilcox South Huron will consider the request and direct its representative, Tony Jackson on how to vote at the UTRCA's general meeting in February. AIM Accident Injury Management Clinics 26 Thames Rd. E., Exeter Exeter 519-235-4892 Strathroy 519-245-1823 London 519-679-8739 Services Include: • Physiotherapy • Chiropractic • Acupuncture • Registered Massage Therapy • Custom Orthotics • Bracing Services provided by: Todd Russett Chiropractor LeeAnn Russett Registered Physiotherapist Demetre Boundikas Certified Pedorthist AIM welcomes CHERI MCDONALD Registered Massage Therapist. Cheri is NOW ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS CaII 519-235-4892 to book an appointment. 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