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The Times Advocate, 2008-04-23, Page 1ME S ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, April 23, 2008 $ x.25 (includes GST) w HURON TRACTOR EXETER 519-235-1115 0 WHATwww.hurontractor.com JOHN DEERE 'S INSIDE Sports special Check out our salute to local athletes PAGE 12 Conservation Dinner Annual event raises record amount PAGE 19 INDEX Editorial 4 Sports 20 Announcements 26 Classifieds 29 TIMES ADVOCATE 424 MAIN ST. Box 850 EXETER, ONTARIO NOM 156 TEL: 519-235-1331 FAX: 519-235-0766 WWW.SOUTHHURON.COM Trac 11 Graphl Inc. A Printing Company 'M ■ Inline ORDERING 519.237.3838 www.track2l .ca SH passes budget By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The 2008 South Huron municipal budget, adopted by council Monday night, calls for a 4.9 per cent increase on municipal taxes. The $6.09 million operations budget calls for a municipal levy of $4.2 million, up from last year's figure of $3.99 million. The county portion of the taxes hasn't been determined yet and South Huron Mayor Ken Oke noted county councillors were to start work again on the county budget Tuesday. Oke noted council worked hard on the budget. "Things have been hammered out pretty well in the past two months," he noted, adding the municipality is setting aside money for the future while keeping taxes as low as possible. He said working on the budget is one of the toughest jobs for councils. Chief administrative officer Roy Hardy gave credit to munici- pal staff for doing a "wonderful" job throughout the budget process. He told the Times -Advocate after the meeting that the 2008 budget allows South Huron to maintain the same level of ser- vices, while putting cash aside for the future replacement of equipment such as snow plows. He added council is making efforts to promote South Huron through projects such as improving the municipal website in hopes of having a more informed and involved public. Other council notes: Road reconstruction Council awarded the tender for the reconstruction of Anne and Albert streets and the Rosemount Avenue watermain to low bidder Birnam Excavating at a cost of $1,268,007. The project will come in at $250,000 under the budget- ed amount. Road superintendent Ken Bettles noted the cost for painting and gravel was higher than anticipated, See SH SUPPORTS page 2 iP Kir %III t Gaiser Kneale Insurance Brokers MULTI -COMPANY AUTO Q UOTES 519-235-2420 1-888-235-2420 Serving Exeter, Grand Bend, Clinton Skating star — Canadian World Champion Silver Medalist Elizabeth Manley was in Hensall Saturday sharing a message of strength to a group of aspiring skaters from the Exeter Skating Club and area.Above from left are Manley, Exeter skater Lauren Moore and Mackenzie Ansems holding Manley's 1988 silver medal and Exeter Skating Club coach Kathy McLlwain who skated with Manley in the Ice Capades. See story on page 21. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) Hensall moving closer to pipeline water By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA — The Municipality of Bluewater took another step towards connecting Hensall to the new Lake Huron water pipeline with the approval Monday night for upgrades to Hensall's water control systems. Richard Anderson from B.M. Ross was at Monday night's council meeting and said his coming to council followed a meeting B.M. Ross had recently with GreenField Ethanol. Although Anderson said the meeting was to have been on how water used by GreenField will be metered, "It grew in scope," to include operating scenarios for pipeline use and what will be needed to hook up to the pipeline. Anderson said construction on the last sec- tion of the line will commence "anytime now," and after that it will be ready to sup- ply Hensall in a few weeks. He told council there are things that need to be done in Hensall, some specific to GreenField and some independent of the ethanol plant. Among the upgrades Anderson said need to be done are changes to the pipes at the Hensall reservoir to allow water to flow in and out as well as new valves and changes to the water system control software so it can talk to the pipeline. "Until the changes are made, we can't use pipeline water," said Anderson. He estimated the cost of the upgrades will be $100,000 plus $50,000 for a concrete roof on the reservoir building. Anderson said the time to complete the upgrades will be seven to eight months. "It needs to get going almost immediately." Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson asked if after the upgrades are done, "then you'll be ready to turn on the tap?" Anderson replied, "the water will flow." Anderson noted he had been before the council a year ago to brief it on the upgrades, but that he got no response from council. Deputy Mayor Dave Johnston asked if the costs were included in the original estimate. Anderson replied, "they were always there, there is nothing new." Coun. Kay Wise asked Anderson when a public meeting will be held to brief Hensall residents on the pipeline and Hensall water projects. Anderson replied, `there is nothing new that hasn't been on the table. That's a municipal decision to keep ratepayers informed." Coun. Bill MacDougall agreed with Wise, saying council was getting information piecemeal and B.M. Ross should make the process easier to understand. 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