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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-06-18, Page 66 Times–Advocate Wednesday, June 18, 2008 Opinion Forum News Eastern Star says thanks On behalf of the Order of the Eastern Star, the committee would like to thank all those who so willingly bought tickets on our quilt/duvet project over the past year. We raised $3,800; $1,500 went to our local hospital with the remaining donated to LHSC hospital in London to be used towards cancer screening work. People in our local area are so good and willing to help. We thank you for your support and generosity. The winner of the quilt/duvet was Crystal Baxter. Jean Ross won the $100. DONNA WEBSTER, Project co -coordinator Small water users punished New water rates for South Huron with the hook-up to the Lake Huron water pipeline have been expected. What was not was the amount of the increased cost to apartment owners and tenants. The per unit cost of water to the rental sector with the current rate structure is well above residential homes and high volume users. Current rental units have enjoyed a reduction in water rates and rental units need to carry their fair share but the one rate fits all approach is too simplistic to result in equitable water costs for all users. As a water cost comparison, my current rental property is a triplex: Current water use is estimated at 60 cubic metres, the last bill was 49 cubic metres, a residential home is estimated to use around 50 cubic metres and large water user is estimated to use 500 cubic metres. Water costs per cubic metre for the three types of users: new fixed costs =$60 + $82 = $142. 1. The triplex fixed costs — 3 x $142 = $426/60 = $7.10/ per cubic metre 2. Residential home — $142/50 = $2.84/per cubic metre 3. Large volume user — $142/500 = $.284/per cubic metre The current water rates utilizing high fixed costs results in small water users subsidizing the cost for high volume users. Who are the small volume users? Generally renters and home owners in small homes around 1,000 and 500 square feet use less water and many of these individuals will be on fixed incomes, low wage earners and individuals on assistance. The result, the individuals in our community who are least able to pay will have the highest cost per cubic metre of water used. In one small rental unit I am aware that the cost of the fixed costs for water are greater than the unit's monthly rent. High fixed costs for water do nothing to promote the conserva- tion of water and act as a barrier to undertaking expensive alter- native water strategies as they can not be reduced. I personally would rather see a reduction in the fixed costs for everyone with a corresponding increase in the cubic metre cost of water. We should as a community strive to reach a situation where no mat- ter what you use we all pay a very similar amount per cubic meter. This is about what we actually pay for a bottle of water. Clearly if you are a small volume user that glass of water will cost you more than someone who uses twice as much. The current rate structure actually punishes the person who does not wash their car or water their lawn with higher costs for water. I believe we can do better and I challenge the municipality to work with residents, building owners and high volume users to develop a rate structure that supports conservation, is equitable and allows the community to develop in an acceptable way. I would like to be able to say that my community has the lowest per capita use of water hi Canada rather than the most expensive water. FRED SIMMONS, Exeter Hold on to your wallet I would like to start by saying I am happy that the new pipeline is complete and ready for operation. However, I have huge con- cerns when it comes to the billing. My primary concern deals with the application of all of the pro- posed flat rate quarterly charges. By July we will owe $162/quar- ter ($54/month) per dwelling on water and sewage whether or not we use a drop of water or discharge an ounce of sewage. How exactly is that proportionate and fair? Providing essential services such as these should be done in a proportionate manner and provided to each individual equally and with fairness! The cost should be divided proportionally among those who use it. In other words, those who are high vol- ume users of water should pay more because of the volume they are consuming. Feel free to break down that bill as to how much of that pay- ment went to the new pipeline, how much was apportioned to admin. costs, how much was spent on purifying etc. but still bill on water/sewage usage. To simplify this mathematically, without the use of flat charges, one would take the amount of money needed to make a debt and operation payment divided by the amount of water consumed by each household, apartment com- plex, commercial outlet, industrial building or whatever it is that uses water. That way no one building would be subsidizing another. If we charge a single person household who uses next to nothing in water consumption the same charge as an individ- ual with a large family with a pool/hot tub and leaky toilets and faucets than in essence we are helping to subsidize the larger water user by charging the flat rate to the low water user. Not fair! This will affect the small families and the older generation and especially those on fixed incomes who use relatively modest amounts of water the most. I would strongly suggest those people who will be subject to this high flat rate system and disagree as I do go to the town council meeting June 18 at 7 p.m. at the South Huron Rec Center or June 24 at 7 p.m. at the Crediton Community Center. Sure the water might be softer, but depending on how much you use you may be hit hard in the wallet! ROBERT SERER, Exeter Principal's message EXETER — I would like to start this column by congratulating the South Huron Relay for Life team for another outstanding event. The participants persevered through hot, muggy temperatures and occasional heavy showers to complete the 12 -hour walk this past weekend. In the end, the group raised $55,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, bringing our five-year total to over $200,000. This is a truly amazing accomplishment and we should be very proud of it. Congratulations are due to the entire organizing team and to all the students, staff and community members who took part in this event. The end of the school year is rapidly approaching and hopeful- ly all our students are busily working on the completion of final assessments and getting ready for exams, which start Thursday of this week. As I mentioned last week, report cards will be available to be picked up in the main office from July 2 to July 4. Report cards not picked up by July 4 will be mailed out July 7. If any students have had an address change recently, it is important that they notify us of the change so their report cards will be mailed to the correct address. Students are reminded they need to ensure that all text- books and library books are returned and any outstanding fees or library fines are paid before they pick up their report cards. We would like them to start cleaning out their lockers this week so all lockers are emptied by the JEFF end of the exam period. We would like the custodians to REABURN be able to begin cleaning them as soon as possible. PRINCIPAL'S Students who may need to take summer school are MESSAGE reminded that summer school applications are now avail- able and they can now submit an application in the Guidance Office. If they think they might need to take a summer school course but are not sure, we recommend they apply anyway. Sometimes summer school classes fill up early, and it is always much easier to cancel an application than to get into summer school with a late application. Summer school applications can be downloaded and printed from the Avon Maitland District School Board web -site: www.yourschools.ca. The school office will be closed after July 9, and will not reopen until two weeks before the start of the new school year. Students who need transcripts are asked to let us know that now so we can have them ready when they come in to get their report cards. After July 9, no one will be available to print transcripts until the last two weeks of the summer Something that will be happening in the summer is an 'All 80s Reunion' for staff and students of SHDHS in the entire decade of the 1980s. A reunion dance has been planned for Aug. 2 at the South Huron Rec Centre, with music by Jane's Rehab. The doors will open at 6 p.m. for a "meet and greet," with the dance begin- ning at 8 p.m. Tickets are $25, with lunch provided and a cash bar. Tickets can be purchased at the Movie Gallery in Exeter or from Tim Rowcliffe, 123 Bentley Cresc., Barrie, Ont., L4N OZ1. Tim is also the person to contact if you have any questions about this event. The end of the school year brings mixed emotions to many of us. While we look forward to summer holidays, it is also time to say goodbye to students who are graduating and to staff who will not be returning in the fall. I would like to send my best wishes to all our graduating students and wish them the best of luck in their future endeavours. As I have said many times, the students at South Huron are really great, and they make my job very rewarding (though very challenging at times as well). We have had a difficult year in many ways and I have appreciated the support the students have shown to one another and to our staff as we worked our way through some tough times. I thank them for that. I would especially like to thank for all of their hard work and dedication several members of staff who will not be returning in the fall. Betty Janke and Deb McCann have both decided to retire after more than 30 years of service each to SHDHS, leaving a huge hole to be filled in the Guidance Department. We will certainly miss them, and we wish them healthy and happy retire- ments. I would also like to thank Tony Convay for his hard work for the past eight years. Marlan Siren is tak- ing a leave for next year and we look forward to her return the following year. Mandy Migchels will also be taking a leave for next year to experience the joys (and hard work) of first-time parenthood. We wish her the best of luck and look for- ward to lots of pictures. Nick Seebach will be heading to St. Marys DCVI after a semester here, and we wish him the best of luck as well. I would also like to thank Dan Mosurinjohn and Mike Wilhelm, who worked long-term occasional assignments at South Huron this year. They both did an excellent job and staff and students have greatly appreciated their efforts and involvement this semester. Finally, I would like to wish the students an enjoyable summer holiday and the staff a restful and relaxing vacation. I look for- ward to seeing everyone again in the fall. Start planning for work EXETER — You may already have some exciting plans for the summer, but have you thought about how you are going to pay for these plans? If not, consider finding a sum- mer job. You may think that looking for a job isn't easy, especially if you're not sure where to start. Well, we have the solution. The Service Canada Centre for Youth (SCCY) Exeter is here to help you with your job search. If you are looking for casual, part-time, or full-time summer employment, the SCCY is a great place to start. The Centre acts as a link between young people and employers looking for summer workers. Our offices post job vacancies from employers and provide young people with easy access to these jobs. All the employers who post jobs with our office are specifically looking to fill these positions with young people. A thorough job search means researching more than one source to find job openings. In addition to the SCCY, there are many other sources of potential summer jobs. Other possible sources to consider when you are looking for a job include: • Telling everyone you know that you are looking for a job. Tell friends, neighbours, teach- ers, relatives, former employers and anyone else you can think of. Many positions are filled through personal contacts; • Check the yellow pages in the telephone book. Make a list of businesses that might have the kind of job you are looking for and contact them yourself; • Read the want ads in newspa- pers. Many businesses and orga- nizations advertise in the news- paper, so check it often; • Positions may be posted on bulletin boards right at the place of business. Keep your eyes open; • Drop off your resume at places of interest to you. Many businesses and organizations don't advertise publicly. They want interested applicants to come to them; • Do some research on the Internet. You can access job postings right from your own computer for opportunities in your area or all over the country. Visit the Exeter SCCY Tuesdays and Thursdays between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 349 Main Street S., call 235-1711, fax 235-2716, or e-mail ashley.blake@service- canada.gc. ca Job postings are available online at www.jobbank.gc.ca under "Student Job Search", "Ontario," "London and Area," and then "Exeter." For information on the Government of Canada summer work experience programs, call the toll-free Youth Info Line at 1- 800-935-5555, the touch-tone phone or teletypewriter line (TTY) at 1-800-926-9105 or visit servicecanada.gc. ca ASHLEY BLAKE YOUTH SERVICES OFFICER