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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Times Advocate, 2008-12-03, Page 1TIMES -ADVOCATE Exeter, Ontario, Canada Wednesday, December 3, 2008 1.25 (includes GST) IJJ HURON TRACTOR EXETER 519-235-1115 www.hurontractor.com JOHN DEERE WHAT S INSIDE Tis the season Santa Claus and a merry band of others visit Exeter Page 13 C.A.S.E. Revolution South Huron students aim to make a difference Page 16 INDE Editorial 4 Sports 10 Announcements 18 Classifieds 21 TIMES—ADVOCATE 424 MAIN ST. BOX 850 EXETER, ONTARIO NOM 1S6 TEL: 519-235-1331 FAX: 519-235-0766 WWW.SOUTHHURON.COM SUN., vs MT. BRYDGES EC. 14 - 3 P.M. SPONSOR NIGHT. SERVICE CLUBS vs LAMBETH FRI., DEC. 19 - 8:3o P.M. SPONSOR NIGHT. EPS SOUTH HURON ROC CENTRE Church fundraiser Paige, Michael and Devan Ballagh (I -r) of theTeeswater- based Ballagh Bunch are seen here during a peformance Nov. 30 at Exeter United Church.The Ballagh Bunch is a musical and stepdancing group composed of siblings Paige, Michael, Devan and eight-year-old Michael, as well as their parents Gary and Janice Ballagh.Their performance in Exeter served as a fundraiser for the United Church s restoration committee.The money will be put toward the improvement of the church parking lot and repair of its steeple. (photo/Ben Forrest) More questions for ABCA By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF VARNA Ausable Bayfield Conserva- tion Authority (ABCA) general manager Tom Prout will be asked to come back to Bluewater coun- cil after several more questions were asked about the ABCA bud- get Monday night at council. Several of the ques- tions concerned the $6,000 in the budget designated for the Blue Flag education programs, with $2,000 each to be committed by Bluewater, South Huron and Lambton Shores. Bluewater Deputy Mayor Dave Johnston asked how the $6,000 was put into the budget and Coun. George Irvin agreed, saying he was looking for direction on the item. Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson said while it wasn t a large amount of money, it was the principal he was concerned about. Johnston added he didn t want to see a duplication of services, since it had been thought that Coun. Tyler Hessel would be going to local schools to provide informa- tion on the program. Irvin noted that it wouldn t look good if South Huron and Lambton Shores ap- proved the funding, while Dowson added that while the municipality needs the ABCA, its starting to take on a life of its own. Bluewater didn t. Hessel said he wanted it clear he would only be get- ting mileage and wouldn t be receiving the $6,000. Coun. Jim Fergusson said he was also concerned about the proposed needs assessment of the ABCA for its administration centre and wondered if it would be used to jus- tify a new building like the Upper Thames Valley Conservation Authority has asked for, at an estimated $12 million cost. Irvin said the questions should have been asked when Prout was at a previous council meeting and that while the staff at the ABCA building has grown and are packed in, the times are changing. See ABCA page 2 Godbolt, Ciufo Insurance & Financial Services Inc. Bus 519-235-2740 425 Main Street, Exeter NOM 156 © Sun Life Assurance Company of Canada. 2009. Sun Life Financial South Huron begins 2009 budget process By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON With 2008 nearing an end, the Municipality of South Hu- ron is getting ready for 2009 budget deliberations. To that end, council set aside time at Monday night s meeting for presen- tations from the public on what types of things council should consider during the budget process. Only one member of the public spoke, however Drew Robertson of Credi- ton, representing the Credi- ton Community Centre Improvement Committee. Robertson asked council to continue to pursue rec- reation grants for the proj- ect, to remain committed to the committee and to keep the lines of communication open. As previously reported in the Times -Advocate, with the old Crediton Hall slated to close Dec. 17, the commit- tee is looking to renovate the former Stephen Township municipal building and im- prove the playground area. The project is estimated at $400,000 and will be paid for through fundraising efforts and from reserves from the former Stephen Township. Robertson said the com- mittee has been in place for four or five years and is dedicated to an improved community centre which will provide an efficient re- placement for the old hall. He also reminded council- lors that an open house for the old Crediton Hall will be held Sunday afternoon and will include historical dis- plays and refreshments. Deputy Mayor George Robertson said council is "on board" for the project and added two members of council (Tom Tomes and Jim Dietrich) are on the Crediton committee and keep council informed. Drew Robertson said there have been communication problems in the past and he hopes they aren t repeated. Mayor Ken Oke said the new community centre is high on council s list of priorities and he described community centres as vital. He added he is happy to see people pulling together and working towards the com- munity centre. "This council is behind Crediton," he said. Asked by Robertson if the completion date for the new community centre will be in 2009, Oke said he doesn t know and added, "I won t speculate because every time I speculate I lose." Coun. Cathy Seip said she liked the committee s slo- gan "Working together piece by piece for a better community." South Huron chief admin- istrative officer Roy Hardy said this is the second year the municipality has had a public consultation meet- ing concerning the budget and he invites more public input as the process moves forward in the new year. Oke added that those un- comfortable speaking in public at council meetings can phone councillors or write letters to the munici- pality. In its 2009 budget sched- ule, the municipality has forecast adoption of the bud- get to take place in March, followed by passing of the bylaw at a future meeting. Council also deferred to the 2009 budget 26 projects from 2008 that weren t com- pleted. 1 FOUND ■ ■ Never-ending compliments. 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