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The Citizen, 2017-04-27, Page 1INSIDE THIS WEEK: IPM 2017 - Pg. 8 Countdown to IPM '17 continues with Dodds family CAR CARE - Pg. 13 The Citizen' presents annual car care guide BUDGET - Pg. 24 Fifth straight year for a tax rate decrease in CH Publications Mail Agreement No. 40050141 Return Undeliverable Items to North Huron Publishing Company Inc., P.O. Box 152, BRUSSELS, ON NOG 1H0 Citizen Volume 33 No. 17 WELCOME TO BLYTH $1 .25 GST included Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Thursday, April 27, 2017 What a country! Londesborough United Church's annual Songfest concert was held on Sunday night at the church and it featured a clearly Canadian theme. While the evening featured performances by Audibly Awesome, Kindred Spirit, Aaron Matthews, Cassie Elliott and Jeanette Sears, it was the Londesborough United Church Choir that kicked the show off and then closed the performance with its "Tribute to Canada" featuring a red and white wardrobe. (Vicky Bremner photo) County budget posts surplus to end 2016 By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Huron County is expected to end the fiscal year of 2016 with a surplus of nearly $350,000, despite several departments exceeding their budgets. Treasurer Michael Blumhagen spoke to council at its April 19 committee of the whole meeting, saying that the estimated surplus takes all figures into account, including operating, capital and reserve transactions. Blumhagen detailed the departments that went over their annual budget and explained to councillors why. Chief Administrative Officer Brenda Orchard said this is the first time council has received a report like this. The county's corporate costs were $503,406 over budget, Blumhagen said, which was due to high-level variances of interest in the amount of $379,000 being allocated to reserves and early retirement provisions of $236,000, although they were partially offset by reduced tax write-offs. The Public Works Department was over budget by just over $490,000, which Blumhagen said was due to "significant pressures" in the department, including exceeding the winter maintenance budget by nearly $570,000. Other departments that exceeded their 2016 budgets were the Huron County Health Unit by nearly $250,000 and the forest conservation department by $18,435. Blumhagen said that the department's legal fees have been $48,000 over budget due to ongoing court proceedings, but savings were found in other parts of the Planning and Development Department. While several departments were significantly over budget in 2016, Blumhagen said that those overages were offset by surpluses generated by other departments throughout the county. Some of the major surpluses came as the result of increased provincial funding for Emergency Medical Services and the Homes for the Aged departments. One area of great concern, Blumhagen said, is the county's reserves. The fiscal year of 2017 will be the second year in a row that includes a net draw -down on the reserves, which Blumhagen said is an unsustainable position. Reserves decreased in the 2016 budget by over $1.3 million and they are scheduled to be reduced even further in the 2017 budget. However, Blumhagen said that Continued on page 22 Morris-Turnberry looks to buy into Brussels fire dept. By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen Morris-Turnberry is looking to purchase an ownership interest in the Brussels fire station of the Huron East Fire Department. At Huron East Council's April 18 meeting, which was held at the Brussels, Morris and Grey Community Centre, a request from Morris-Turnberry Council was discussed. It stemmed from the resignation of James Marshall, joint fire prevention officer for both North Huron and Morris-Turnberry. At the meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Brad Knight advised that Morris-Turnberry had expressed an interest in purchasing an ownership interest in the Brussels station. He suggested that interest could be between 40 and 45 per cent based on the relative share of weighted assessment between the municipalities for the Brussels coverage area. Through this arrangement, Knight said, Morris- Turnberry, which has no fire department of its own, appeared to meet the requirements of the Ontario Fire Marshal's office in regards to vulnerable occupancy inspections, public education and fire prevention for the municipality. Further to Knight's recommendation, he suggested that the arrangement be a "clean" one, in that Morris-Turnberry would pay for 40 per cent of the division of the department up front and, if the municipality chose to dissolve the agreement, the municipality would receive its investment of 40 per cent back. While Morris-Turnberry currently pays 57 per cent of the operating costs of the Brussels fire station, based on the coverage area, Knight said that the job of Fire Chief Marty Bedard would change slightly as a result of the agreement. Huron East wouldn't cover any more of Morris-Turnberry than it already does, but the agreement would mean an increase in administrative work for Bedard by way of public education, inspections and outreach. If the agreement were to be approved, Knight said, Bedard would officially become the fire chief for Morris-Turnberry. "There should also be a realization that this is a different level of service and interaction than what is presently provided — our current service is to provide fire suppression only, with some limited reporting to Morris-Turnberry," Knight said in his report to council. "By assuming the position of fire chief, there is going to be more interaction with the public with respect to inspections and complaints and there will have to be protocols put in place with North Huron to deal with administrative issues that will arise in the areas that North Huron provides fire suppression services to and the increased interaction/ reporting to the Morris-Turnberry Council and administration." When questioned at the meeting, Bedard said that the arrangement would no doubt result in an increase to his workload, as well as some additional liability, but he said that both he and the municipality were prepared for it and felt it was a good deal for Huron East and Morris- Turnberry. Councillor John Lowe also spoke in favour of the deal, saying he felt it was neighbourly and a step in the Continued on page 22 Londesboro Lions mark 40th anniversary Next weekend, the Londesboro and District Lions Club is hosting a special celebration at the community hall to mark its 40th anniversary and everyone is invited. It was founded in the spring of 1977 by then -Blyth Lions Club member Brad Kennedy, who recruited 23 other men who would become charter members of the club. In the 40 years since, the club has undertaken many endeavours, including the wildly successful Back The Biter campaign of 1986, when the club raised $50,000 for an accessible van for member Ron Nesbitt. To this day, the club contributes funds or members' efforts to dozens of different events or causes over the course of a calendar year. The 40th anniversary event will run from 1-4 p.m. on Saturday, May 6 at the Londesborough Community Hall, with a free community barbecue throughout featuring hamburgers, hot dogs and juice. Over the course of the day, those attending will be able to view displays of the club's history, while door prizes will be handed out throughout the day. In addition, a time capsule will be created from photographs taken that day. At 2 p.m., comedian and magician Daniel Steep will perform, then Balloon Man Dan 2:30-3:30 p.m. Also at 2:30 p.m., the Dave Mounsey Memorial Fund will be donating an automatic external defibrillator to the community hall. The defibrillator will be presented to honour fallen World War I soldier Private Charles Edward Bromley of the 58th Battalion in the Canadian Infantry, who died on Oct. 26, 1917 at the age of 24. At 2:50 p.m., a number of dignitaries will bring greetings to those in attendance, including Huron -Bruce MP Ben Lobb, MPP Lisa Thompson, Huron County Warden and Central Huron Mayor Jim Ginn and Lions District A-9 Governor Gary Wood. That will be quickly followed by a special cake - cutting ceremony, featuring the club's four surviving charter members, Carl Nesbitt, Robert Shaddick, Allan Bosman and Ian Hulley, as well as Lions District A-9 Governor Gary Wood. From 3:20-4 p.m., winners of the day's door prizes will be announced and the socializing will continue. For more information on the special anniversary event, visit the club's Facebook page.