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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1989-12-27, Page 1f - INDEX Statfa — A8 Sports — A8 Births — A8 St. Columban — A14 ' Y � .. - ... a Areas offer skiing ® See page A5 _. Ace it) 1I See Serving the communities and areas of Seatorth, Brussels, Dublin. Hensel) and Walton xpositor Seaforth, Ontario HURON EXPOSITOR, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1989 50 cents a copy Sills elected PUC chairman At its monthly meeting held on December 13, the Seaforth Public Utilities Commission was informed that the Seaforth Hydro rate will be raised by 6.4% for all consumption used on and after January 1, 1990. Tf 'ease follows a 6.5% in- crease ry nolesale rate charged to the Utilities ...omissions. The wholesale rate was increased in 1989 by 5.7%, and the, Seaforth PUC subsequently raised the town rates by 5.69%. In addition, the flat rate for water will be raised from nine dollars to $11 effective January 1, 1990. The increase will show up on the February 1st billings. The increase in the water rate is the continuation of a 'plan whereby the flat rate is raised by one dollar every third year to fund the capital reserve. The extra dollar in the two dollar increase for 1990 will go towards refunding .the maintenance reserve. Last year's maintenance reserve went towards replac- ing the pump at the Chalk St. well. A schedule of the rates and increases for both water and hydro- has been drawn up by the PUC and can be found elsewhere in this paper. NEW CHAIRMAN Jim Sills has been elected as the Chair- man for the Public Utilities Commission for 1990. He will serve a one-year term in this position. EMERGENCY STICKERS Don't file your February 1st PUC bills in the circular file folder. Emergency stickers for the telephotl, listing the telephone numbers for hospital, ambulance, fire department, police, PUC and Union Gas will be distributed to the public in their January bills, sent out at the beginning of February. A large supply of the neon green stickers was discovered at the Seaforth District Hospital, and the PUC' was approached as a distribution source. PAY EQUITY ACTION The Municipal Electrical Association and associated Utilities commissions have been approached with regards to Pay Equity implementation, and the M.E.A. reports that they will be taking action on this issue in the immediate future. All Seaforth PUC employees have filled out job descriptions which have been sent to the M.E.A. and the unions for review. The C anmiesion will be unable to meet the January 1, 1990 posting date for Pay Equity implementa- tion, but is acting "in the spirit of the thing," assures PUC Manager Tom Philips. Action is expected to take place within the first quarter of the year, and any propos- ed changes will be retroactive to January 1, 1990. WEIGHTY M.E.A. DUES The Public Utilities Commission review- ed and approved the statement of; dues Educators look BY NEIL CORBETT Reaching the end of a decade, educators look back at how education has evolved, and to what the future holds. "We are truly educating kids for the world," -Says the Huron County Board of Education's director of education Bob Allan. He says in the future students may be working. in other countries, or for in- ternational corporations, and the job market is changing. "You're not just talking about Huron County, you're not talking Ontario and you're not talking Canada." More than ever Allan says the board is living up to its motto "Opening up the World." Children in schools today learn cotn- petency in more than one language. They learn about global concerns such as en- vironmental issues, and their teachers foster concern. And most issues in their education have broadened. Allan Says 1989 was a challenging year for the Huron County board of education, with controversial principal transfers, dif- ficult labor negotiations, and stresses be - sent out by the Municipal Electrical Association. Commission members express- ed xpres sc ed concern over the sizeable increase in the dues, which have been raised to $3,473 for 1990. The M.E.A. is 'considering the possibility of having the smaller Commis- sions spread their due payments out over the year instead of paying the weighty lump sum. The Municipal Electrical Association pro- vid 'uch services as training, public rela- tioi..,, nudgeting deficit reviews, office fur- niture and staffing services to its member commissions, as well as consultants and lower liability insurance coverage rates. Currently, the PUC is paying a hydro liability insurance rate of $750 per annum through the M.E.A. One utility commission commenting on the increased membership rates, concluded that it has saved more than its annual dues on Pay Equity alone. All of these areas were reviewed by the Seaforth commission before the payment was approved. INTEREST RATE IIID Due to amendments to the Power Cor- poration Act, Ontario Hydro has raised the interest rate on overdue bills from the municipalities from 9% to 12% This rate hike effects municipalities who' are par- ticipating in 'the Municipal • Cash Flow Assistance program, a plan which offers Tann to page 8A back at education evolution ing created for classroom space. In the financial realm the trend of depleting provincial funding continued. "There's nothing new, it's tough to get the kind of money together to meet the needs and demands,' says Allan. Joan Van Den Broeek, as a trustee and the new chairman of the board, is equal- ly frustrated by the lack of provincial funding for education. "A declining resource base and increas- ing demands don't mix well," says the chairman, and she expects to' see this continue into the new year. "Financially it could be a very difficult year." "It's going to be a tough year economically," predicts Allan, He points to enrollment increases, pressures in pro- viding accommodations for students, a down turn in the economy, inflation, and of course provincial cat backs of grants, combining to create "one of the most dif- ficult years the board has had for some time." There are some difficult issues, trends in education that will ripple out to Huron County, that educators are readying for in 1990. The teachers shortage may cause dif- ficulty recruiting teachers. Preparation vu1 ,begin for the phasing in of junior kindergarten. The :CST will affect the budgeting process anti stiending, ,.And changes in curriculum: and programming, such as the establishment'of a>continuing program of courses for grades seven through nine, will create stress on the system. "And those are just the issues surfac- ing now. Each one is significant in itself, but just as significant in the chain reac- tion it has through the system," points out Van Den Broeck. For positive points about the system, both educators go back to the kids. "The child in schools today is a very capable person," says Allan. "With adult education we now educate everyone," says Van Den Broeck, poin- ting out that there were more than 400 adults educated in Huron county in 1989. "And that's very new. We're looking at lifelong education for everyone." A FRISK IN THE FROST - Temperatures dropped to the deep unidentified driver took his horse for a spin around the Seaforth freeze level, but that was no reason to pack up the sulky. An Fairgrounds track on Thursday, defying the cold. Elliott photo. NDRED' STUDENTS - Brother and sister, David and Martha Hook were both reci- lents of a bursary from Huron County Council, for their scholastic performance Western University last year. Robinet photo. Brother and sister win bursaries A brother and sister duo from Seaforth have been awarded bursaries from Huron County Council, for their scholastic perfor- mance at Western University last year. David and Martha Hook have been notified that they will each be receiving a $200 bursary from the County of Huron for the marks they' attained during last year's studies. They were named the top students from Huron County, in any year at Western. The awards were given based on a recommendation from Western University. Now into her second year of the univer- sity's Honors Math program, Martha scored an average of 90 per cent while in her first year. Brother David, now in his fourth and final year of the Honors Chemistry program, scored an average of 83 per cent as a third year student. This year marked the second time David had received the Huron County Council bur- sary. Two years ago he was rewarded for the high grades he received in his first year. I did not expect to win again, and was a little surprised," said David. "But it was a nice surprise." "It (the letter) came right when we were studying for finals, and was a real pick me up, a nice Christmas gift," add- ed Martha. In addition to working hard to keep their marks up, the siblings also enjoy extra- curricular sports activities - soccer, floor hockey and tennis for Martha, and squash for David. "We both work hard in the programs we're in, but you can't just have school," explained David. We're both in very heavy programs, and you need to take time off to keep your sanity. But if you want to get the marks we try for, you have to be pret- ty dedicated, We're always trying to get on the Dean's Honor List (80 per cent or bet- ter)." David and Martha are the children of Fran and Steve Hook of Seaforth. Vanastra project steps forward The Village of Vanastra is one step closer to being the site of luxury condominiums. Ian Matthews of Bowling Green Developments, Toronto, appeared before Tuckersmith Council on Tuesday evening when a public meeting was held with regards to his holdings in Vanastra. The lands owned by Mr. Matthews and Bowling Green are lots 4,5,6 and 9 in Vanastra Park, the property and existing buildings on Crescent Drive and 7th Avenue. Mr. Matthews plans to convert the buildings into condominium apartments, and is looking into marketing them as either condos or rental accommodation. The structures would be completely renovated and brick -faced. Mr. Matthews told Council that he has been running advertisements for the property for three days, and the response has been "very good." He would like to begin construction on the property as soon as possible, he added. Wayne Caldwell, Senior Planner for Huron County, was also on hand at the meeting to address some of his concerns regarding the proposed development and zoning considerations. Before zoning by- laws can be passed by Tuckersmith Coun- cil, Huron County Council must approve the site plan developments and amend- ments. Lot 4 is currently zoned High Den- sity Residential, but a zoning by-law will have to be passed which would allow the zoning on Lots 5,6 and 9 to be changed from Commercial/Industrial to High Den- sity Residential. In addition, certain open space and parking space criteria must be met, and Mr. Matthews informed Mr. Caldwell and Council that a conditional agreement has been struck with the owner of agricultural land directly to the north of the proposed developments. If acquired, the zoning of this land would have to be changed from Restricted Agricultural to Open Space. Mr. Caldwell and some members of Council expressed their fears that the development Lots 5,6 and 9 would be an in- trusion into the industrial sector of Vanastra, and the suitability of construc- ting high density residences in these areas was questioned. Mr. Matthews quelled their fears, however, informing them that he is not seeking rezoning approval for the more erucial Lots 6 and 9 at the present time. "We're concentrating our efforts on Lots 4 and 5 right now," he advised Council. Mr. Caldwell and Council had discussed earlier the amount of open space that should be designated in the area for park- ing and public park space. Each of the buildings would contain 30 units, with one-, two- and three-bedroom condominiums. • The County Planner noted that open space is critical for play areas .and parking. "It's ,pot Crftieal...," :replied Mr. Mat= thews. "I think that it would enhance the Turn to ►urge OA . 1