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The Citizen, 1991-01-23, Page 22PAGE 22. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1991. County Council briefs Financial crunch may hurt groups seeking grants The tightening of county purse strings could hurt some organiza­ tions hoping for funding from the county. The Seaforth District High School All Girls Marching Band was the first organization to feel the pinch when its request for a donation to help with expenses for performing in the county and representing the county at competi­ tions from Calgary to the U.S. was turned down at the January 6 meeting of county council. The county’s executive commit­ tee also added to the motion that in light of the economic conditions the 1991 budget be prepared limiting grants to those organizations that received grants in 1990, unless there are exceptional circum­ stances. The executive committee also notified the University of Western Ontario that it will not be offering a bursary to a student from the county in 1991. ***** Attendance at the Huron County Museum reached 28,000 this past Province announces Land Stewardship II The provincial government af­ firmed its commitment to soil and water conservation in agriculture when Minister of Agriculture and Food Elmer Buchanan announced the official launch of Land Steward­ ship II. Speaking at a banquet celebrat­ ing the 50th anniversary of the Norfolk Soil and Crop Improvement Association, Mr. Buchanan noted that the ministry has a history of helping farmers with environmen­ tal sustainability in areas such as erosion control, manure manage­ ment, soil conservation, cropping practices and pesticide manage­ ment. To build on the success of these efforts, the government is imple­ menting the $38-million Land Ste­ wardship Il program, Mr. Buchan­ an announced. "Ontario will have to encourage people to adopt the concept of sustainable agriculture to be ready for the market and environmental demands of the future,” he said. Land Stewardship II combines the flagship Land Stewardship Program with the Ontario Soil Conservation and Environmental Protection Program II (OSCEPAP II). Over the three years of the program, nearly $19 million will be provided to farmers for soil conser­ vation initiatives. This includes maintaining residue and cover crops and strip cropping; buying, renting or modifying conservation equipment; and building soil con­ servation structures to control ero­ sion. Approximately another $10 mil­ lion will go to farmers for the key environmental part of the program, which includes manure manage­ ment, milkhouse systems and pes­ ticide handling. One of the most important elements of the new program, which distinguishes it from its predecessors, is the conservation farm plan. Every farmer will have to complete a plan to qualify. "The conservation farm plan is a positive move. Preparing it will make producers more aware of the total stewardship issues on their farms,” said Jim Yungblut, presi­ dent of the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association (OSCIA). The OSCIA recently signed an agreement with the ministry to administer the program, as it has year putting it far ahead of projec­ tions, museum Director/Curator Claus Breede told council. The attendance was up from 23,276 in 1989. The attendance was now at the level that had been projected for the third year of the new museum program, Mr. Breede said. Meanwhile the GST will mean higher ticket prices at the museum. The old admission rate of $2 per adult would, with GST have in­ creased to $2.14 but because of the awkwardness of handling so much small change, council approved an increase to $2.25, with $2.10 going to the museum and 15 cents for GST. Student rates will go to $1.75 from $1.50; children to $1.25 from $1.00 and family rates to $5.50 from $5. * Museum memberships will in­ crease to $20 single and $30 family from $15 single and $25 family. ***** With the beginning of the new year new social assistance rates came into effect. There is a maximum 10 per cent increase in the basic shelter allowance with a for the preceding Land Steward­ ship program. About $3 million will be set aside for farm organizations to deliver the program to producers in Ontario communities. Nearly $5 million will cover staffing and administration. Mr. Buchanan praised the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association for the work it has done in developing land stewardship practices at the county level. "I have a lot of respect for this organization and its commitment to making conservation farming work,” he said. Mr. Yungblut said, "The OSCIA is pleased to continue working with the ministry on a program we consider essential for the future prosperity of agriculture in Ontario.” Brochures on the program will be available at OMAF field offices next week. The ministry and the association will be holding local information meetings and special workshops on conservation farm planning in the near future. For details, pontact your OMAF field office or your local Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association chapter. I Howto be a Local Hero Ask . When you want to make your community a better place, but don’t know where to start, ask your friends. Chances are, many of them arc already Local Heroes, giving their time and money to causes that you can help too. Be a Local Hero. I A new spirit of giving A national program co encourage giving and volunteering. seven per cent increase in mini­ mum and maximum boarding al­ lowances. Monthly foster child rates in­ crease by seven per cent from $192 per month for the first child to $206, and $157 to $168 for each additional child. The winter cloth­ ing allowance increases to $102 from $95. A back-to-school allow­ ance each August pays $66 (up from $61) for each dependent child from 4-12 years of age and $123 (up from $115) for each child over 13. Meanwhile the number of people needing welfare help continues to increase. In November there was 30 per cent increase in the number of cases, to 235, up from 180 in 1989. If Y ou Advertise On TV, Meet Your Fiercest When it comes down to watching commercials on JV or visiting the refrigerator for a snack, the refrigerator usually wins out. Your expensive TV spot is wasted on an empty chair - while potential customers are out in the kitchen grabbing a drink or some munchies. Advertise in The Citizen. The medium where people respond to your advertising - instead of avoiding it. For advertising information, call 887-9114 or 523-4792. The Citizen. ***** Warden James Robinson and councillors Garry Baker and Grant Stirling were appointed the coun­ ty’s representatives on the new Community Committee Project Steering Committee. The Commit­ tee is a joint project of the county and the federal government and sees separate committees set up in the southern, central, northern and western areas of the county with representatives from each on the steering committee. The Central committee representative is Don Colquhoun and the southern repre­ sentative Gary Eagleson. No repre­ sentatives have yet been named from the northern or western committees. The committees will Competition. look at ways of sharing facilities and efforts to stimulate growth in the communities of their areas.***** The Road Committee and county council approved undertaking a needs study for the county roads department at a cost of $5,850. Bob Blay, P. Eng. was hired to do the work. County Engineer Denis Merrall warned councillors that the needs of the county road system are "way up” from earlier estimates. The past study had been based on five or six year old figures, he said. Much of the increased cost is due to repairs needed to county bridges. They promised more detailed in­ formation in upcoming meetings.