The Citizen, 1998-07-29, Page 3Duly christened
Blyth Festival's Artistic Director Anne Chislett christens
the revitalized Garage Theatre , Friday night, prior to the
opening of Hot Flashes, which runs there until Aug. 15.
Also premiering at the Garage this summer is the Extra
Edge series, which begins with Kicked, Aug. 18-22,
Necessary Risks, Aug. 24 and 25 and the goat show,
Aug. 27, 28 and 29.
GLAD TEA
Sponsored by:
Blyth Legion Ladies Auxiliary
Proceeds to: Epilepsy
SOUP & SANDWICH LUNCH:
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tea: 2 p.m. - 4 p.m.
Bake Table & Glads
Date: August 13
Time: 10 am - 4 pm
Place: Blyth Legion Hall
DOCTORS & STAFF
of the
SEAFORTH, BRUSSELS, BLYTH
MEDICAL CLINICS
Welcome
Dr. Jane Martin
Dr. John Yee
Joining our staff August 4, 1998
Dr. Ken Rodney Dr. Shawn Edwards
Dr. Mark Woldnik
Dr. Dan Rooyakkers
Dr. Heather Percival
Dr. Janet Zettel
CALL FOR APPOINTMENT:
Seaforth - 519-527-1770
Brussels - 519-887-9952
Blyth - 519-523-4567
New patients welcome
Office Hours
Seaforth: Brussels: Blyth:
Mon. 8:30-5:00 Mon. 2:00-8:00
Tues. 8:30-5:00 Tues. 9:00-12:00 Tues. 2:00-5:00
Wed. 9:00-12:00
Thurs. 8:30-5:00 Thurs. 9:00-12:00 Thurs. 2:00-5:00
Fri.: 8:30-5:00 Fri. 9:00-12:00 Fri. 9:00-12:00
Amen
*0. .... S. •. • •
We're closing for I'
holidays •
•
will be closed from
August 7 to 17
There will be no paper
published on August 12 so if
you want to advertise anything
for that week it should
be in the
August 5 paper.
THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 29, 1998. PAGE 3.
Council picks restructuring option
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
After debate, accusations and
reconsiderations, Blyth councillors
upheld their original decision
regarding assessment payments for
the Cummings Drain.
Councillors Doug Scrimgeour
and Rob Lawrie reaffirmed their
stance, at the July 21 meeting, that
the village would pay assessments
for all properties assessed into the
drain and that the action shall not
be considered as precedent setting
and that future situations will be
dealt with on an individual basis.
Councillor Jeff Howson declared
a pecuniary interest due to future
plans and did not voice an opinion.
Councillor Murray Nesbitt had
asked for a motion rescinding the
. authorization for payment but was
defeated when there was no secon-
der.
Though Reeve Mason Bailey
said he did not disagree with the
payment authorization, on a per-
sonal level, he and his wife had
decided to pay their assessment
into the Cummings Drain.
The issue has been boiling since
the original motion was passed at
the June 1 session, causing some
ratepayers to question both the con-
flict of interest situations and the
fairness of paying these assess-
ments when they believed other vil-
lage residents had had to pay
assessment for municipal drains.
Tax rolls set
Continued from page 1
homes decreased while on larger,
newer ones, it rose.
The commercial rate, which had
been below one in the ratio, jumps
to 1.1. However, with the elimina-
tion of the business tax, there could
be a break for some property own-
ers.
On a property with a commercial
value of $214,600, residential
assessment of $36,400 and a busi-
ness value of $64,380, 1997 taxes
would have totalled $6,489.11.
This year, those numbers have
dropped to $182,965 for commer-
cial and $31,035 for residential, for
a tax levy of $5,875.15.
By Janice Becker
Citizen staff
In noting a request from Huron
County that an all-councils strate-
gic planning day be held Sept. 29
to discuss restructuring, Blyth
council confirmed its selection
which will be sent to all municipal-
ities.
The Map B or Colborne model, is
a two-tiered proposal. Its Northeast
Huron ward would consist of
McKillop, Hullett, Grey, Morris,
East Wawanosh, Turnberry and
Howick Twps. and Seaforth, Wing-
ham, Blyth and Brussels. The tax
base would be the lowest of the
three Huron County wards with
$1,074.79 million in assessment,
though the population would be the
largest.
This division of area was very
similar to the Blyth suggestion pre-
sented at consultation meetings ear-
lier this summer, although Seaforth
was not in the Northeast Huron
ward.
With reference to the Sept. 29
meeting, Reeve Mason Bailey said
he wants to make sure everything is
done democratically and in a table-
authorization which stated that "no
property owner within the village
boundary would be financially
responsible for upgrading, expan-
sion, installation or maintenance of
any drain with two or more users in
or around the village, but rather
with the costs paid from general
funds. A refund without interest
would be paid to property owners
with proof of payment for munici-
pal, code or any other class of drain
other than private basement
drains."
After considerable discussion,
councillors tabled the motion.
With Reinink's motion not going
to a vote; council returned to con-
sideration of the payment autho-
rization motion.
The issue of conflict of interest
then arose after Bailey indicated his
payment ,of the assessment.
Ratepayer Chuck Krieger com-
mended Bailey on his gesture and
questioned how two businessmen
such as Scrimgeour and Lawrie had
not declared a conflict.
The discussion then turned to the
Municipal Act and exactly where a
Continued on page 6
top manner.
According to what Bailey has
heard from other councils, consul-
tation meetings held earlier this
summer indicated overwhelming
support for a two-tiered system.
However, in county council min-
utes, it indicated a significant
minority in favour of one-tier.
Councillor Doug Scrimgeour said
councillors had to continue to fight
hard for what they wanted.
"If having Seaforth in Northeast
Huron is the only compromise, it is
a small one."
Councillors agreed it was time to
work together with others' ideas,
while still fighting for two-tier.
The Northwest Huron ward
would have $1,187.54 million in
assessment in an area which would
include Goderich, Colborne, Ash-
field and West Wawanosh Twps.,
and Goderich and Clinton.
The South Huron ward would
encompass Stephen, Hay, Usbome,
Stanley and Tuckersmith Twps.
and Exeter, Zurich, Hensall and
Bayfield. The tax assessment
would be $1,443.31 million.
Clerk-Treasurer John Stewart had
a comment about the assessment
rolls, saying the numbers were 10
years old and if a study is being
done, the latest figures should be
used.
In further research, Clerk-Trea-
surer John Stewart had not been
able to find any examples where
Blyth property owners had paid on
municipal works before.
The difficulty arises in dissemi-
nating the issue because of the vari-
ous types of drains. Village works
are paid from general funds, munic-
ipal drains, normally found in
townships, are assessed to property
owners and some agreement drains
are completed by three or more
landowners without village
involvement.
Councillor Lawrie backed the
payment authorization because
other drains within the village had
always been paid from general
funds so he believed it unfair for
landowners in this situation to pay
the assessments.
However, George Reinink, who
first brought the protest to council,
said the separate landowners should
pay for the drain as with other
municipal drains or all drain work
within the village should be paid
from general funds.
Reinink presented council with a
draft motion to replace the payment
Cummings Drain issue flows on
cph About Your
Hospital
CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL
MATERNAL/CHILD PROGRAM
"BABY AND I"
NO FEE NO PRE-REGISTRATION
PROGRAM DAYS - WEDNESDAYS 10 - 11:30 a.m.
WHERE - CLINTON PUBLIC HOSPITAL LOUNGE
(Entrance off John St.)
PROGRAM TOPICS: August 5/98 - Babysitters & You!
(Newborns'- 3 months) August 12/98 - Doula Support - Their Rule!
Speakers - Jacquie McGregor - Labour Birth Doula
Janine Small man - Post Partum Doula
August 19/98 - Behaviour Management in
Toddlers - Speaker - Chris deBoer
Parent Education Coordinator for Huron County
August 26/98 - Romance After Baby -
Sexuality & Birth Control Issues
Watch for further dates in your "About Your Hospital" article
Inquiries: Veronica Farquhar - 482-3440 Ext. 304