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The Times Advocate, 2008-09-10, Page 22 Times–Advocate Wednesday, September 10, 2008 Habitat needs volunteers By Nina Van Lieshout TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — With the Habitat for Humanity Huron build coming to Exeter in spring 2009, fundraising efforts are getting under way and volunteers are needed to ensure another suc- cessful build. "Habitat for Humanity is an organization that draws on all community resources to build a house for a family that might never have the opportunity that we all take for granted. That is the opportunity to live in our own house," says Habitat for Humanity Exeter committee chairperson Arnold Mathers. Houses have been built by Habitat for Humanity Huron in Clinton, Wingham, Hensall and Goderich. "The national organization helps us with the purpose and the planning. The county organiza- tion helps us with the organiza- tion and the advertising, but it is up to the Exeter community to raise the money and build the house," says Mathers. On Oct. 22, the Exeter commit- tee, with the help of the Huron County committee is hosting a beef on a bun lunch. "Volunteers will be taking orders from places of business for delivered lunches," says Mathers, adding, "Only 750 tick- ets will be sold." The lunch tickets can be bought at Exeter Flowers for $8 and include a beef on a bun, coleslaw, baked beans, a roll and dessert. In November another fundrais- er hits the Exeter area, with the Exeter committee conducting a canvass of every business in the Exeter area, asking for monetary donations or gifts -in-kind dona- tions. "We hope that almost all of the materials will be donated by local businesses. We expect that almost all of the labour will be done by local volunteers," says Mathers, adding that donations made will include the proper tax receipt. A fundraiser for Christmas is also planned, where people in the community are able to buy a 2X4 for the house and have their names put on it. A family for the home will also be chosen in the near future, with the Huron County selection committee, chaired by Rev. Mary Beth Wilson of the Brucefield United Church receiving applica- tions. "Families who are eligible must have children, never owned a home and one of the adults must have an income sufficient to pay the interest free mortgage and utilities," says Mathers. The family must also do 500 hours of labour on the building. The Exeter committee will have a booth at the Trivitt Church cel- ebration, answering any ques- tions and signing up volunteers. In the meantime, if you are interested in becoming a volun- teer contact Mathers at 235- 1037, Bob Down at 235-2557, Jim Hayter at 235-3856 or Heather Beattie at 235-1594. For more information on Habitat for Humanity Huron visit www.habitatforhumanity.com "This is an opportunity for South Huron to give a hand up, not a hand out to a deserving family," says Mathers. Water rate structure altered Continued from front page consumption charge. All told, the new figures amount to $154 less annually than the previous pro- posed figures would have cost apartment residents. In Exeter a single family home will be charged the quarterly base fee of $60.70, a quarterly debt charge for the pipeline of $83.90 and a consumption rate of $1.76 per cubic metre of water used. Sewer charges will be a quarterly fee of $20.20 and a consumption rate of 68 cents per cubic metre. The new rates are about $11 annu- ally more than the previous new rates proposed for Exeter homes. In Stephen the new rates call for quarterly apartment charges of a $45.50 base charge, a $3.60 debt charge for the new pipeline and a consumption charge of $1.76 per cubic metre. Quarterly sewer charges are a $15.20 base charge and a consumption charge of 68 cents per cubic metre. Stephen homes will be charged quarterly fees of a $60.70 base charge, a $4.80 debt charge and the $1.76 per cubic metre con- sumption charges. Quarterly sewage fees are $20.20 plus a 68 cents per cubic metre consumption charge. Grunda said the new rates more appropriately recognize the smaller occupancy and lower water con- sumption of apartments compared to houses. Non-residential properties (indus- tries, farms, commercial and insti- tutional) will vary and will be charged based on their service size, from a low quarterly base charge of $60.70 and a debt charge of $83.90 for service sizes between 16-25 millimetres, to a high quar- terly base charge of $518.12 and a debt charge of $716.15 for a non- residential property with a service size of 200 millimetres. Consumption charges remain the same as for residences. Operations manager Don Giberson said there are only a handful of properties in the munici- pality with 200 -millimetre water services. Conn. Jim Dietrich pointed out higher water users will feel the impact of the new revised rates. Most farms, operations manager Don Giberson said, will fit into the smaller, graduated fee schedule; only the larger operations with larger water services will see the higher fees. There were other factors in the revised rates. Capital needs for the Grand Bend sewage system have been reduced over the next 10 years from $27 million to $18 mil- lion because of revised timing for the Grand Bend Sewage Treatment Plant. Construction on the plant is slated to start in 2011,with Oakwood Park servicing in 2012. The sewage extension to Dashwood won't happen in the 10 -year fore- cast period, Grunda's report said. Giberson said the less capital spent on the Grand Bend system actually means the sewage rates will increase because there will be fewer customers hooking up to the system. Exeter resident Robert Drummond urged council to hold another public meeting on the new proposed rates before making a decision. Principal joins South Huron DHS SOUTH HURON _UISTRI H G JL$Q pOL Meet the new boss — Kevin Mills is the new principal of South Huron District High School, recently joining the school after seven years as principal at St. Marys DCVI. (photo/Scott Nixon) By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF EXETER — While he admits it was tough to leave his former school, new South Huron District High School principal Kevin Mills is looking for- ward to new chal- lenges. Mills, who has seven years. He has before the school also taught in year started, so he Mitchell and was a said it has been a vice-principal in whirlwind of trying Seaforth and to catch up on worked as a com- things and learn puter consultant in about the school. the former Perth Mills said it was board. hard to leave St. Mills said South Marys, explaining, Huron is a well-run "You put your heart school and explains into a building." former principal He describes him - Jeff Reaburn left self as an open the school "in great leader who likes to shape," and the consult a lot with been in education staff and students his staff and the for 21 years, com- have been welcom- students' parents. pleted his first week as South Huron's principal last week and said it's been "going great." Mills moves to South Huron after being princi- pal of St. Marys District Collegiate and Vocational School for the last ing. While South Huron is a bigger school than St. Marys DCVI, Mills said the mix of stu- dents is proportion- ally similar. Mills only found out about his trans- fer from St. Marys to South Huron a couple of weeks He says he likes to receive feedback and calls himself "a big picture" person. "Right now it's a learning situation," Mills says of his new role at South Huron. "This will be fun. A challenge." Tenders approved, staff appointed Continued from front page Staff appointment Council officially appointed Michael Di Lullo as a corporate service manager -deputy clerk, effective Sept. 29. Di Lullo will replace clerk Sandra Strang, who is retiring at the end of the year, but additional responsibilities such as human resources and technology will be added to his portfolio. Originally from the London area, Di Lullo has been working as a legislative co-ordinator for the City of Brampton. Shipka Line culvert replacement Low bidder Robinson Farm Drainage was awarded the tender for Shipka Line culvert replacement for $167,023.50. South Huron received five bids on the project, ranging from the low Robinson bid, to a high bid of $211,525.67. The municipality had budgeted $189,000 for the work. Valve turner Council gave operations manager Don Giberson the go-ahead to buy a trailer mounted valve turner and vacuum unit for the water system at a cost of $53,750, plus GST. Giberson said it was recommended by the Ministry of the Environment that the municipali- ty buy the valve turner, which "will involve preventive maintenance activities such as inspec- tions, operational checks and valve exercising. The program will also include leak detection and the collection of GIS inventory data," Giberson's report stated. "Good valve maintenance will extend service life, minimize emergency repairs and will ensure that valves will function in an emergency." The new valve turner is electronically controlled, while the vacuum unit will allow cleaning of the valve box REGIONAL WRAP UP o The municipality had originally budgeted $45,000 for the equip- ment, but Giberson said the money can be found in other items that came under budget. New backhoe The municipality will buy a new Case 580 Super M-3 backhoe from CG Farm Supply after the company offered the lowest quote of four received. The roads department had budgeted $90,000, less $10,000 for the trade-in of the old backhoe. Listeriosis response SEAFORTH — A fast response by local stores, restaurants and healthcare facilities has removed the risk from the listeriosis outbreak, reports the Huron Expositor. Pam Scharfe of the Huron County Health Unit says public health inspectors visited close to 200 businesses to make sure they know about and have responded to the recalls of contaminated meat. Seaforth Manor administrator Cathie Schalk says as soon as they heard of the outbreak, the facility staff acted right away to remove of the products on the recall list. Restrictions may ease GODERICH — In what Goderich Mayor Deb Shewfelt called "a motion of goodwill," Goderich town council may ease development restrictions along Highway 8 says the Goderich Signal Star. In a meeting Aug. 20, the council discussed releasing some of the restrictions along the Highway 8 corridor to ease tensions between the town and Central Huron. New principal CLINTON — The new principal of St. Anne's Catholic Secondary School in Clinton is already familiar with the school, says the Clinton News Record. Jodi Kuran was at St. Marys for two and half years but was previously the vice-principal at St. Anne's for nearly three years as well as teaching drama at the school for five years. Kuran said she hopes to inspire the students to positively impact the world around them by fol- lowing the philosophy of Mahatma Ghandi. NOMINATION DEADLINE Huron MmafzcWrmg Excellence APPROACHING for the 3rd Annual Huron Manufacturing Excellence Awards. The Huron Manufacturing Association wants YOU to nominate a deserving individual or company. Nominations due September 19, 2008 for the following award categories: • Junior Manufacturer of the Year • Youth Integration and Training Award • Innovative Manufacturing Award • Innovative Product of the Year • Corporate Citizenship Award • Outstanding Associate Member • Green Leader Award • Employer of the Year Contact info @huronmanufacturing. on. ca to request a nomination form. ANY MANUFACTURER IN HURON COUNTY IS ELIGIBLE TO BE NOMINATED. ANYONE CAN NOMINATE A COMPANY. Visit www.huronmanufacturing.on.ca to nominate or find more information. Join us for our Gala Awards Celebration on Nov. 5th at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Goderich. 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