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The Citizen, 2017-02-02, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 201711 . M -T Council eyes10per cent tax increase By Denny Scott The Citizen Morris-Turnberry Council is considering a 10.04 per cent tax levy increase for the 2017 budget, which, due to increasing assessment, will represent a 1.38 per cent decrease to the tax rate. During a special meeting on Jan. 24, the budget was presented to council and, from several different options, council chose the decreased tax rate/increased tax levy option and set their next budget meetings for Feb. 23 and March 21. The presented budget reflected a 2.3 per cent decreased tax rate, which would have seen the average residential property owner in the municipality pay $36.29 less per year in taxes. However, with the change to a 10.04 per cent increase for the levy, that amount will be less. Senior staff made several presentations were at the meeting explaining the changes in their budgets. Note that all information is in draft form and has not been finalized by council. Fire Prevention Officer James Marshall presented a fire budget with an increase of 4.99 per cent, or approximately $15,000 which included more mileage, education costs and $2,000 for smoke alarms. An $11,000 decrease in revenue, primarily from sharing services with neighbouring municipalities, was also part of the budget. An increase of nearly $60,000 is proposed for the building department budget which Chief Building Official Kirk Livingston, who serves North Huron, Morris- Turnberry and Howick, presented at the meeting. The increase would be split between North Huron and Morris- Turnberry based on the shared services formula. Major increases for the department include labour and benefits which increased $90,000 over 2016. Maintenance costs for roads in Morris-Turnberry are proposed to increase more than $30,000 from the 2016 budget. Increases are forecast for bridge and culvert maintenance ($10,000 more than 2016's budget), grass mowing ($6,000 more), grading ($7,000 more), dust laying ($15,000 more), gravel resurfacing $29,000 more) and snow removal ($35,000 more). Maintenance overhead was expected to drop by approximately $75,000. Bridge work is also expected to increase in 2017, with $299,000 being budgeted, $49,000 more than in 2016. Road construction is estimated to cost $1,501,000 in 2017, which represents a $288,500 increase from 2016, however less than half of what was budgeted in 2016 was actually spent according to the prepared draft budget. The municipality's landfill budget operation budget, including recycling programs, dropped $44,000 from 2016. Actual costs in 2016 were approximately $3,000 less than budgeted. The landfill capital budget increased $30,000 with increased monitoring and engineering costs. The curbside collection budget also dropped from $365,350 in the 2016 budget to $358,750. Drainage costs are forecast to increase $76,763 from the 2016 budget. The increases are a result of higher drainage superintendent salaries (an increase from $12,739.65 to $45,000), benefits and increased capital costs. Obituaries The general government and administration budget will drop approximately 12 per cent in the 2017 budget due to completed projects in 2016 like the roof upgrade on the Morris-Turnberry municipal building, the asset management plan, shared services and property standards being eliminated from the planning budget. Shared service implementation costs were removed from several different places throughout the budget and a special update of the total costs was presented to council as part of the budget. The total cost for shared services in the Morris- Turnberry budget, based upon information earlier this month, was $226,436. Had Morris-Turnberry not participated in sthe shared services project, the costs would have been $43,061 lower, or $183,375. Continued on page 18 Bluevale United Church Teeswater Minor Ball appreciated as expressions sympathy. or are of LLOYD HENRY WHEELER Lloyd Henry Wheeler, a resident of Pinecrest Manor in Lucknow and formerly of Teeswater and Bluevale, passed away at Pinecrest Manor on Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2017. He was 82. Born in Wingham on July 7, 1934 to the late Henry and Rifa (nee Jenkins) Wheeler, Lloyd was the beloved husband of Patricia Gamble -Wheeler (nee Mulcaster) of Teeswater and the late Isabel Wheeler (nee Cameron) who predeceased him in May 1994. Lloyd was the dear father of David Wheeler and his wife Maureen, Erinsville and Heather Montgomery and her husband Doug, Peterborough. He will be missed by his grandchildren, Michela and Ashley Montgomery and Zack and Maddi Wheeler. Lloyd will be fondly remembered by Pat's family, Donna and Dennis Thompson, RR 3, Walkerton; David and Bonnie Gamble, Teeswater; Doug and Vickie Gamble, Paris; Derrick and Shirley Gamble, Formosa and Darlene and Don McCall, Teeswater and their families. Lloyd was predeceased by his infant brother Bruce. Visitation was held at the Tiffin Funeral Home, Teeswater on Friday. The funeral service to celebrate Lloyd's life was conducted from Knox Presbyterian Church, Teeswater, on Saturday, Jan. 28. Rev. Owen Kim officiated. Spring interment will be in Wingham Cemetery. Floral tributes were carried by Lloyd's grandchildren, Michela, Ashley, Zack and Maddi. Pallbearers were Bluevale neighbours, Paul Johnston, Kevin Bishop, Jamie Nicholson, Brad Wright, Dean Nicholson and Murray Snell. Memorial donations to Knox Presbyterian Church, Teeswater, NINA BELLE LITT Nina Belle Litt of Seaforth, formerly of Hanover and Blyth, passed away at Seaforth Manor on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. She was 91. Nina was born on Dec. 15, 1925 in Stilesville, New Brunswick, daughter of the late Duncan and Edna (nee West) Kelly. Nina married Norman Litt on Christmas Day, 1943. Nina was the much -loved mother of Gordon (Catherine) Litt, St. Thomas; Edna (deceased 2014); Wayne (Jean) Litt, Stratford; Dianne Litt (Greg Abell), London and Deborah (Carl) Stevenson, Blyth. She was the loving grandmother of 10 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Nina is also survived by several nieces, nephews and Faye Litt. She was predeceased by her husband Norman Litt (1964), sisters Bertha (Percy) Sweet, Beulah (Jimmy) Phillips and brother Henry (Pearl) Kelly. Visitation was held at the Mighton Funeral Home, Hanover on Wednesday. A private family funeral service will be held Thursday, Feb. 2. Rev. John Polacok will officiate. Interment will be held in Hanover Cemetery. Memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society of Huron County, Diabetes Association or the Heart and Stroke Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.mightonfuneral home.ca A celebration of Jack's life will be held at the Durham Presbyterian Church on Saturday, Feb. 11 at 11 a.m. Inurnment will be in Hanover Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations to the Chesley Hospital Foundation would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to Rhody Family Funeral Home, Chesley. GEOFFREY "GEOFF" PEACH Geoffrey "Geoff' Harding Peach of Blyth passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, at his home on Saturday, Jan. 28, 2017. He was 56. Geoff was the loving husband of Cheryl, and adoring father of Laura and Kathryn, Blyth. He was the dear brother of Margery and Jim Wilson, Terry and Susan Peach and Barb and Bill Jones. Geoff was the son-in-law of Marjorie Leitch, London and the brother-in-law of Mark and Carol Leitch and Tina Sanders and Chris Leitch. Geoff was predeceased by his parents, The Rev'd Canon H.E. Arthur Peach and Marian Peach. He will be missed by many nieces, nephews and their families. Visitation will be held at St. Jude's Anglican Church, 1537 Adelaide Street North, London on Saturday, Feb. 4 from 10 until 11 a.m. with a celebration of life to follow at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Geoff Peach Coastal Scholarship Fund through the Lake Huron Centre for Coastal Conservation would be appreciated. Donations can be made online at www.lakehuron.ca JOHN "JACK" FRANKLIN TYREMAN John "Jack" Franklin Tyreman of RR 1, Elmwood, passed away at South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Chesley on Friday, Jan. 20, 2017 in his 79th year. Beloved partner and best friend of Dorothy Oberle, Jack was the loving father of Hugh (Jenny), Calgary, Shelagh (Rob), Toronto and John (Kathy), Lethbridge and grandfather of Allyssa, Andrea, Emma, Marilyn and Raphael. Jack will be missed by his sister Carol (Jim) Rean, Goderich as well as three nieces, one great-niece and five great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, Audrey and Frank Tyreman. MRS. GRIETJE "GRACE" DATEMA Mrs. Grietje "Grace" Frouktje Datema of Brampton, and formerly of Auburn passed away after a brief battle with cancer at Brampton Civic Hospital on Sunday, Jan. 29, 2017. She was in her 88th year. Grace was the beloved wife of Writzer "Fritz" Datema for 63 years and the loving mother of Margerita and Carl Mount, Queensville; Mathilda Tisseur, Cambridge; Ralph and Pat Datema, Clinton; Anita Wilson, Sardis, British Columbia and Frank and Boni Datema, Aldergrove, British Columbia. She was cherished by 14 grandchildren and 18 great-grandchildren. Grace was the dear sister of Jan and Ina de Vries, Chatham, Truus and Hilko Rozema, the Netherlands and Cees and Ity de Vries, the Netherlands. Grace was predeceased by her brother Ekke de Vries. A memorial service was held at the Holland Christian Homes, Brampton, in the Heritage Hall on Wednesday, Feb. 1. A graveside service will be held at Ball's Cemetery, Hullett Township, in the spring. Memorial donations to The Lighthouse, Toronto or World Renew would be appreciated as expressions of sympathy. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to the Falconer Funeral Homes, Clinton Chapel. Condolences for the family may be placed through www.falconer funeralhomes.com BUY? SELL? TRY CLASSIFIED et/6a /[e9 4P//re000 Do you have fond memories that you'd like to share of someone whose obituary has been published recently in The Citizen. Send us a few lines or paragraphs with your story. E-mail editor@northhuron.on.ca, Fax 519-523-9140 or mail to: The Citizen, P.O. Box 429, Blyth, NOM 1H0 or P.O. 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