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The Times Advocate, 2008-08-13, Page 22 Times -Advocate Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Liberals tour Huron -Bruce By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — A special advisor for Liberal leader Stephane Dion was in Exeter Aug. 8, one of sev- eral stops in the Huron - Bruce riding for the for- mer Ontario Minister of Education and Toronto business leader. Gerard Kennedy, along with Huron -Bruce Federal Liberal candidate and North Huron Coun. Greg McClinchey visited Wingham, Blyth, Clinton and Seaforth, as well as the Exeter Times - Advocate last Friday. Kennedy, who has "been around" the area before, was in Huron -Bruce con- ducting a "fact-finding tour." "I'm here to listen and learn and put it all togeth- er," says Kennedy, adding, he hopes the community can see that "the Liberal government can play a constructive role." Kennedy says he wants Huron -Bruce residents to know that the Liberal party can bring positive change to their communi- ties. "(Prime Minister Steven) Harper is not interested in the municipalities," says Kennedy, adding he hopes by stopping, meeting with residents and gathering information that the Huron -Bruce communities will see the Liberal party has a real interest in the rural areas. "You can only have a good result if you're pre- pared to involve the peo- ple," says Kennedy. While touring the coun- ty, Kennedy says he has found, "A lot of energetic people, with viability, who are really successful in their rural life. "I'm quite impressed with the innovation going "Fact-finding tour" — Gerard Kennedy, left, a special advisor to Liberal leader Stephane Dion and Huron -Bruce Federal Liberal candidate and North Huron Coun. Greg McClinchey, right, conducted a "fact-finding" tour in Huron Bruce Aug. 8, stopping in Exeter. Kennedy says he's "impressed" with the county. (photo/Nina Van Lieshout) into their work. They are local champions," adds Kennedy. McClinchey agrees, say- ing in a news release that, "I have often said that the communities in Huron and Bruce have a tremen- dously innovative spirit. Huron and Bruce already exhibit a leadership role in the region and it is my hope to help facilitate an expansion of this role on the national stage. Given Mr. Kennedy's experience on the national and provincial stages, both in business and in politics, I strongly believe that he can help carry our mes- sages back to Ottawa and to Mr. Dion directly, some- thing that can only be a positive for Huron -Bruce and for Canada." Both Kennedy and McClinchey say in order to have success, partner- ships need to be built and a constructive government needs to be put in place. Kennedy and McClinchey say some areas needing to be addressed in the county include economic develop- ment, infrastructure and the agricultural sector. Kennedy also spoke of the Liberal's Green Shift plan, proposing that the Liberal government increase taxes on pollu- tion, greenhouse gases and waste and decrease personal and business taxes. "This is a proposal everybody is talking about," says Kennedy, adding, "It's about a shift in attitude." Kennedy says Harper's environmental policy is ineffective, "Harper's say- ing `let's do nothing until 2050.' That's hardly a responsible thing for our children." Other Huron -Bruce stops included a luncheon with the Blyth Business Association, a tour of the Regional Equine and Agricultural Centre, a tour of the Gateway to Rural Research facility and par- ticipating in the inaugural meeting of the Mayor's Council. Although there is no way of telling when the next election will be called, both Kennedy and McClinchey say they are prepared. "This is an exciting time for the country," says Kennedy. Water rate proposals reviewed By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — The municipality continues to look at options for the new proposed water rates. At a meeting Aug. 5, council directed staff to look further into the rate structure and report back sometime in August, probably at the Aug. 18 coun- cil meeting. It isn't expected that a bylaw on new water rates will be passed until September. After a wide-ranging discussion on the water issue last week, staff was directed to review the proposed water and sewer base charge and debt charge for apartments "on the basis of average per capita occupancy, average consumption and other definable benefits." The municipality also decided to treat all other multi -unit permanent dwellings the same as single dwelling homes and charge the same rates. Those multi -unit dwellings include fourplexes, triplexes, duplexes, semi-detached, townhomes, modular homes, mobile homes, condominiums and convert- ed residential dwellings. Commercial, industrial and institutional proper- ties will also be treated and charged the same as single family dwellings. The proposed new water rates have been a hot topic since the municipality proposed them a cou- ple of months ago. If the proposed rates are passed, the average annual water/wastewater bill in Exeter would jump from the current $758 annually to $1,123 per year, mostly to pay for the $13.5 million Lake Huron water line. The new proposed water rates for Exeter per connection are a quarterly base charge of $60, an $82 per quarter charge for the pipeline debt and a water rate of $1.53 per cubic metre used, jumping to $1.76 per cubic metre in 2009. Current quarter- ly 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 cubic metre of water. One controversial item has been the municipali- ty's proposal to charge the base charge and debt charge to each apartment unit; up until now, apart- ment buildings have only counted as one connec- tion and would therefore only pay one connection charge. Under current proposals, connection charges would apply to each apartment unit, a proposal the municipality is now reviewing. "Excellent" results for South Huron water systems By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — "Overall, inspection results were excellent." That's how South Huron's operations manager Don Giberson describes annual drinking water inspections from the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) on the Huron Park and Stephen water systems. Giberson updated council on the reports at South Huron's Aug. 5 meeting. Annual inspections of the Huron Park and Stephen distribution systems took place April 25, with the municipality receiving the reports July 14. Giberson said there was one non-compliance issue in the Huron Park system. "During the month of March 2008, all required micro- biological samples (E. coli and total coliforms) were taken, however the prescribed 25 per cent of required HPC (heterotrophic plate count) samples were not col- lected or tested, due to a misunderstanding by the oper- ator." Giberson said South Huron received a warning to be more diligent. Also, it was recommended a valve maintenance pro- gram be implemented and updates be done to the maintenance manual. There was also a non-compliance issue with the Stephen system, according to Giberson's report. "On two occasions the recording of the chlorine resid- ual readings from the distribution system were not properly transposed into the log book at the metering building. This was immediately corrected to the satis- faction of the MOE inspector." Like in the Huron Park system, it was recommended a valve maintenance program be implemented in the Stephen system. Copies of the full inspection reports are available at the South Huron municipal office. Giberson said the results "are an indication of well run water systems." Other council notes: New truck for the chief Council approved the purchase of a 2009 GMC truck for South Huron fire chief John Morgan to replace his 1999 Ford Explorer, which has been tentatively sold for $5,000. The new GMC truck, from Huron Motor Products, will cost $27,677.10. Of four quotes for new vehicles, Morgan recommend- ed the municipality go ahead with the slightly more expensive 2008 Toyota Tundra for $29,062.35. Morgan said the Toyota has more safety features than the GMC and has a "heavier build." Council, though decided to go with the GMC as it was the lowest price the municipality received. Coun. Jim Dietrich also noted the GMC is brand new, while the Toyota has more than 3,000 miles on it. South Huron had budgeted $30,000 for the new vehi- cle. Storage building Council approved a contract to Eveleigh Construction to build a storage building and outside covered pipe storage rack at 82 Nelson St. for $39,750, plus GST. The price was the lowest of four bids the municipality received for the work, with two bids coming in at more than $90,000. Giberson's report said construction of the building and pipe rack at the Water/Sewer Operations Building on Nelson Street was approved in the 2008 budget as part of a plan to consolidate the water and sewer operations "due to the disposal of the storage yard property north of the water tower." The building will store materials and clean up the yard at the site. Council approved the building, although Coun. Pete Armstrong voted against it, saying he thinks with water rates going up, the municipality needs to look at ways to save money. Coun. Cathy Seip, speaking in favour of the storage building, said if the municipality is asking others to keep their property clean, South Huron should do the same. Council thanked Council and staff received a letter of thanks from Centralia Faith Tabernacle Pastor Cathy Prout "for serving our community." Prout said the church recognizes that council has had "two very large and challenging issues that you have faced and are continuing to contend with. We thank you for the hours, seen and unseen, that you have spent in dealing with these matters." Coun. Tom Tomes also complimented Seip on her work on the Communities in Bloom committee and for hosting the judges when they recently visited Exeter. "I think she did a very good job," he said, with Oke agreeing.