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The Citizen, 2007-02-15, Page 18THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2007. PAGE 19. The county is hoping gas-service stations will sign up for a new initiative designed to aid the region’s physically challenged residents. Councillor Dorothy Kelly of Morris-Turnberry told county councillors, Feb. 7, that gas stations are being offered special signage to alert passing motorists to the fact full service is available to those in need. Kelly, chairwoman of the county’s advisory accessibility committee, says committee representatives will be approaching service stations in the county to see how many are willing to participate in the In- Vehicle Incentive Program. The county approved the tender of the Goderich Print Shop for both the signage and educational brochures designed to outline the needs and challenges faced by the disabled. The county learned the committee is updating its 2006 accessibility plan and is also continuing its work in getting area sites up to standard, including Huron-Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell’s constituency office in Clinton. A written report by the committee shows a county employee contacted the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario to find out what can or should be done with regard to the MPP’s inaccessible office. After being redirected several times, the Directorate responded by indicating enforcement is the municipality's responsibility. Since then, the employee contacted Central Huron clerk Richard Harding and a meeting is to be arranged with all interested parties. An addition in the report showed there were similar problems at one of Huron-Bruce MP Paul Steckle’s constituency offices, but they were remediated as soon as the staff learned of them. Seeking a way to enforce its property standards bylaw, Morris- Turnberry council interviewed a municipal law enforcement officer at its Feb. 6 meeting. Lorna VanderPloeg, of Listowel, is bylaw enforcement officer for Huron East, Central Huron, Bluewater and Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh, among others. She explained that she has been certified in municipal law enforcement for seven or eight years. She has been doing property standards work for four years. Councillors were concerned about the clause in their property standards bylaw that requires a written complaint about a messy property before the municipality will intervene. “We have a lot of telephone calls,” said administrator, clerk-treasurer Nancy Michie, “but people don’t want to put it (their complaint) in writing.” “We’ve never had much success getting written complaints,” said councillor Lynn Hoy. He wondered if VanderPloeg might tour the municipality looking for properties that didn’t meet the bylaw’s standards. VanderPloeg said she had been asked to do that by Central Huron todrive the roads looking for problemproperties. Still, she seemed tofavour written complaints. “It’s a good thing to have,” she said. “It gives us a reason to go on the property.” “There are a lot of ways to get around (the fear of) written complaints,” VanderPloeg said. “We try to assure people that their written complaint won’t be made public.” “We can get around it (people who won’t sign a complaint against a neighbour) by a councillor looking at the property and signing a complaint,” suggested councillor Mark Beaven. Once a complaint has been received, VanderPloeg said, she inspects the property and if there are problems, she sends a written letter outlining the deficiencies. “I find a lot of the time when a letter goes out they’re willing to work with you,” she said. “But with a big mess, it takes a while.” People are given 14 days to provide a written schedule of when things will be cleaned up. If people don’t clean up the problem in the required time, the enforcement officer has the legal right to send in someone to clean up the property and add the costs to the taxes. Generally though, she said, she gives 21 days and then sends a letter giving a further 14 days. If the workisn’t carried out, she sends a lettergiving a date and time when theobjects causing the problem will be removed. Because the cost will be added to the taxes, she notifies the property’s owner in the case of a rented property, or the holder of the mortgage. VanderPloeg told council she normally works under a retainer with each municipality which guarantees her so many hours a week at an hourly rate of $27. Councillors promised to consider hiring VanderPloeg when they are formulating their budget for the year. County hopes for service station co-operation An optimistic lunch The Belgrave Optimists held a soup and sandwich lunch on Feb. 10 at Belgrave’s WI Hall. The event was well-attended, as they usually are, despite the freezing temperature that day. (Shawn Loughlin photo) Going into the budgeting process for 2007, treasurer Brad Knight gave a presentation to Huron East council at their Feb. 6 meeting. Knight’s presentation had three main points: The Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), area- rating policing costs, and assessment growth. Knight cited that this funding is significant in the budgeting process because it provides Huron East with its top income, approximately $500,000 more than the year’s taxation revenue. Knight pointed out that the “one- time” funding that the municipality had received in 2005 was coming in for the third year now and that it seems that it is going to be a regular funding point. The “one-time” funding that Huron East is projected to receive in 2007 is in excess of $430,000. With these points on the table, Knight proposed a zero per cent tax increase due to these facts in addition to the water and sewage rate increases that taxpayers are currently experiencing. The majority of the councillors were not in favour of the idea, saying that this move could lead to significant increases in the future. A compromise that some councillors voiced was to at least raise taxes between one and a half and two per cent to cover inflation. “Zero sounds nice now, you’re a hero. In five years, it’s zero and you’re still a hero,” said councillor Larry McGrath. “But in six years, it goes up 15 per cent, you’re an idiot.” After the idea of a zero per cent tax rate increase was defeated, mayor Joe Seili reminded council that “there are some hefty items coming up this year” as far as money was concerned. However he did not get into specifics as to what these hefty items are. The budget will be discussed at a meeting in the near future that has not yet been set. Happy 70th Birthday Shirley Dale “Come & Go” Saturday, Feb. 24 2 - 4 p.m. Blyth Legion The Brubachers of Ethel Restaurant & Bakery Real Home Cooking Try our Cinnamon Buns 519-887-8659 Mon. - Fri. 7-6:30; Sat. 8-6:30, Sunday Closed Buck & Doe for Steve Haak & Amanda McClory Saturday, February 17 Seaforth Community Centre Age of majority Tickets: $5.00 Contact: Theresa Hugill 519-233-7467 or Dan Haak 519-482-8691 Open House 40th Anniversary of Tony and Roely Verburg February 24, 2007 2~4 pm at Blyth Christian Reformed Church Best Wishes Only EEllvviiss (Dan Granger) February 17 Blyth Memorial Community Hall Tickets: $15.00 or $25.00 a couple Happy Hour 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm Show 8:00 pm to 12:00 am ** Lunch provided ** Cash Bar ** Door Prizes ** Prizes for best 50s & 60s Attire Sponsored by: Legion Ladies Auxiliary and Blyth Legion Branch 420 Tickets available at Blyth Legion, Blyth General Store, Grand View Restaurant Morris-Turnberry councilinterviews enforcement officerBy Keith RoulstonThe Citizen By Cheryl Heath Clinton News Record HE budget process underway By Shawn Loughlin The Citizen When it comes to cancer, most people don’t know the half of it. Fact: 50% of all cancers are preventable. Learn more about healthy lifestyle choices. Call the Canadian Cancer Society Cancer Information Service at 1 888 939-3333 or visit www.cancer.ca.