The Times Advocate, 2008-06-25, Page 1E
TIMES ADVOCATE
Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, June 25, 2008
1.25 (includes GST)
www.hurontractor.com JOHN DEERE
WHAT'S
INSIDE
Graduation day
Kids at Tinker Tots
celebrate
their graduation
PAGE 17
Top honour
Former Exeter resident
receives top award
at Lambton College
PAGE 31
INDEX
Editorial 4
Sports 12
Announcements 22
Classifieds 25
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EXETER, ONTARIO
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South Huron Hospital shows off new ER
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — South Huron Hospital's brand
new emergency department was unveiled
with an official ribbon cutting and ceremony
Monday morning.
The celebration of the new ER marked a
new era for the hospital, which hadn't seen
a major renovation since the 1970s. Hospital
staff, volunteers, politicians and donors to
the project attended Monday's festivities,
which included guest speakers and tours of
the new facility.
South Huron's fundraising campaign saw
donations exceed the goal of $1 6 million,
with $1.3 million going towards a new
Picture Archiving Communications System
(PACS), a program that allows patient x-rays
and ultrasounds to be viewed by other med-
ical professionals at other hospitals. The
remaining $300,000 went towards new
equipment, while the Ministry of Health pro-
vided a grant of $1 million for the emer-
gency department renovation and upgrades.
The ER has been completely overhauled
and includes a new lobby and waiting room,
six patient rooms, an increase over the pre-
vious three, a new gift shop with windows, a
new emergency department, new diagnostic
imaging department and barrier free wash-
rooms. A new negative pressure ventilation
system will protect staff and patients from
any pandemics, fevers or other outbreaks.
A new era — An official ribbon cutting was made Monday morning to mark the opening
of South Huron Hospital's newly -renovated emergency department. From left are donor
Emily Hayter, Don Smith of Ellis Don, hospital CEO Deb Hunt, Chuck Erb of the Hospital
Foundation, donor Gary Bean, chief of staff Dr. Ming Lam and hospital board chairperson
John Hanson. (photo/Scott Nixon)
"Small community hospitals are impor-
tant," master of ceremonies Bruce Shaw
said Monday.
Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell said she
was impressed with how the community
came together to raise and exceed the funds
required for the project.
"I am so proud of what you have accom-
plished," she said, adding that renovations at
the hospital means it will be able to meet the
community's needs for many years.
Huron -Bruce MP Paul Steckle noted it's
hard to believe so much money can be
raised in such a small community.
South Huron Mayor Ken Oke congratulated
the hospital's board, foundation and staff.
"Community spirit is alive and well at
South Huron," he said, adding the communi-
ty has a "top notch hospital."
Bluewater Coun. John Becker referred to
the nurses at South Huron as "angels," and
offered Bluewater's congratulations.
See SOUTH HURON page 3
Proposed water rates anger Exeter residents
By Scott Nixon
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — The municipality received more than an earful at a
public meeting last Wednesday to discuss new proposed water rates.
As previously reported in the Times -Advocate, the average
water/sewage bill hi Exeter is slated to jump from the current $758
annually to $1,123 per year, mostly to pay for the $13.5 million Lake
Huron water line. Most of the concerns raised at last week's meeting
at South Huron Rec Centre were from apartment landlords and ten-
ants, who will be faced with dramatically increased water costs. Up
until now, multi -dwelling buildings such as apartment buildings only
counted as one connection and only paid one connection fee. Now
each unit in the building will count as a connection and will be
charged accordingly.
The new proposed water rates for Exeter per connection are a
quarterly base charge of $60, an $82 per quarter charge for the
pipeline and a water rate of $1.53 per cubic metre used, jumping to
$1.76 per cubic metre in 2009. Current quarterly charges are $75
per connection and 57 cents per cubic metre.
On the sewage side of the bill, there will be a quarterly charge of
$20 and a consumption charge of 57 cents per square metre of
water.
Rates were slated to take effect July 1, although council has not
officially adopted them.
The meeting began with a presentation from economist Andrew
Grunda of Watson and Associates who went through the new rates
and explained the reasons for them. He said the "Water and
Wastewater Rate Study" looked at capital needs, projected popula-
tion growth, future projected operating costs and took into account
increased government regulations in the wake of the Walkerton
tragedy.
Grunda said the new rates are an attempt to come up with a fman-
cially sustainable water system, explaining that the new Lake Huron
pipeline will be paid by the benefiting customers, meaning Exeter
residents will pay 95 per cent of the cost, with those in Stephen pay-
ing the remaining five per cent.
Grunda said there are certain fixed costs in a water system, such
as maintenance, administration and debt, that exist regardless of
how much water is used.
There were boos and shouting from some members of the crowd
when Grunda announced the new rates. Noting that a comparison
among many other municipalities shows Exeter residents will be
paying the most for water/sewage, Grunda said many other munici-
palities will see increases in their rates over the next 10 years and
will move up to Exeter levels.
See EXETER page 2
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