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The Citizen, 2003-06-11, Page 1The Citizen _______________________Serving the communities of Blyth and Brussels and northern Huron County Volume 19 No. 23 Wednesday, June 11, 2003 75 Cents (70c + 5c gst) Inside this week MADD states case on legislation County faces budget dilemma Lawn bowlers compete in tourney Locals brings home athletic awards Couple marks 60 years of marriage NH | NORTH HURON PUBLISHING COMPANY INC? Tragedies elaim 2 lives Two Colborn ? residents lost their lives this past weekend in separate incidents. A single vehicle crash on Nile Rd. took the life 17-year-old Jared Douglas Fisher of Colbome in the early morning hours of June 7. Huron OPP were called after a motorist came upon the crash scene at approximately 3 a.m. Fisher had been westbound on Nile Rd. near Loyal Line in a 1990 Volvo sedan when he lost control. The vehicle entered the south ditch and rolled several times, ejecting Fisher who was not wearing a seatbelt. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The Technical Traffic Collision Investigators are assisting and reconstructing the collision. The investigation continues. Rollerblading home from work turned deadly for 26-year-old Vincentzo Salamone, June 6 when he was struck by a car and killed. According to Huron OPP, Salamone of Colbome, had decided to rollerblade home from work in Goderich Friday evening. He was northbound on the west side of Hwy. 21 between Airport Rd and Blyth Rd. when he was hit from behind. A black 2001 Pontiac Sunfire, Continued on page 6 Locals win medals Two Blyth residents and F. E Madill Secondary School students exhibited their athletic prowess recently, bringing home silver and bronze medals from the OFSAA track and field meet held in St. Catharines from June 5 to 7. Meagan Campbell captured second in the junior women’s triple jump with a leap of 10.82 metres. Teammate Kerissa VanAmersfoort earned the bronze in midget women’s discus with a toss of 30.22 metres. Health Unit to use larvicide By Keith Roulston Citizen publisher Huron County’s health unit has adopted a new plan for battling West Nile Virus after the provincial government ordered all municipalities to use larvacides to control mosquitoes that spread the disease to humans. Originally Huron did not qualify for using larvacide. Penny Nelligan, director of the health unit explained to county councillors, June 5 but with a new directive issued May 13, “It’s clear from the Ministry they are expecting larvaciding and monitoring to identify (mosquito) sources to be larvacided.” The abrupt change in government policy left Huron officials flatfooted. “It’s a little late in the season,” Nelligan said, though the cool weather this spring has helped. Normally Huron would be at the peak of the second generation of mosquitoes by now, she said. A special meeting of the health and planning committee had to be held May 26 to adopt a new program. The health unit will request proposals from companies with expertise to monitor mosquitoes and use larvacide where they are found. “We’re negotiating with the company that is doing work in Stratford and Perth,” Nelligan said. The larvacide favoured is a bacteria that attacks the larvae of the mosquito as it develops in standing pools of water, Nelligan said. It doesn’t seem to be harmful to the environment. There are chemical larvacides which are of more concern, she said. The county will also set up an advisory group made up of representatives from each lower tier municipalities and county departments involved. Among other activities, the group will help identify catchbasins and other places where mosquitoes could breed. Nelligan said when she met with municipal staff to discuss the issue they told her they had been receiving calls from the public wanting to know where they could get larvacides. Madill’s mens ambulatory team also took the top ranking for overall points, tallying a total of 29 points compared to just four points for the second place finishers. The four men, including area competitors Deric Kruse (third) and Craig Folkard (fourth), placed first to fourth in the 100-metre dash. Kristyn Gerth placed 10th in the senior women’s discus throw. Jamie Lewis of Central Huron Secondary School placed 11th in the senior women’s 100-metre dash and 14th in the 200-metre dash. In memory Members of Blyth’s Royal Canadian Legion branch and its Ladies Auxiliary paraded into Blyth Union Cemetery led by piper Dean Elliott for the annual Decoration Day service. (Vicky Bremner photo) Politicians protest PC proposal By Janice Becker Citizen staff When Premier Ernie Eves announced his election policy paper The Road Ahead, at the end of May, some municipal leaders were taken aback by at least one inclusion. “The province would really tie the hands of local politicians,” said North Huron Reeve Doug Layton, referring to a clause in The Fair Deal for Municipalities, which would require municipalities to hold a referendum prior to any tax increase, thereby seeking voter approval. AMO has prepared a resolution regarding the campaign plan and it is currently being considered by municipal councils. In a phone interview Monday afternoon, Huron-Bruce MPP Helen Johns stressed that the policy paper refers to campaign promises for the next election and would be formalized only after the Progressive Conservatives were re­ elected. The specific circumstances and mitigating factors are still to be worked out with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) the Rural Ontario Municipal Association (ROMA) and municipal governments, she said. Noting there is currently a taxpayer protection act for provincial taxes, the government believes there should be one for municipal taxpayers as well. “I am not very happy with (the policy),” said Layton, “and I have voiced my displeasure to Johns.” “No one wants to raise taxes, but we do it because we have to. (Councils) will never get anything done because there will always be someone who is against what you want to do. They will be able to stop improvements.” Central Huron Reeve Carol Mitchell was equally displeased with the suggested policy change. “It infuriates me,” she said. “We are the closest to the people. We have enough checkmarks in place and elections that judge our performance. There is no credit given that we are sound managers.” Mitchell also pointed out that the public is invited to attend budget discussion meetings and copies of draft budgets are available to residents. Huron East Treasurer Brad Knight said he was disappointed with the suggestion, saying there is ample opportunity for the public to get involved in the process without going to referendums. His council is expected to discuss its position at the next meeting, June 17. The suggested policy would also require a majority of the population to agree to the referendum question. With municipal issues, Mitchell questions whether there would be enough voters to reach the needed number because even municipal elections are notorious for poor turnout. It also will be difficult for councils to predict monetary needs for the future as referendum questions to be held in conjunction with November elections must be submitted months earlier, she suggested. Council would have to predict now for 2004 needs, said Mitchell. “How can we know the projections if downloading continues? It is unworkable.” Mitchell fears a continued erosion of local services. The Central Huron reeve also suggests that the cost to run a referendum in a non-election year could in itself elicit a tax increase. “It would cost Central Huron about $25,000, the same as an election,” said Mitchell. That is a one per cent tax hike just to ask the question.” North Huron Clerk-Administrator John Stewart said an election cost in that municipality would be $9,000 to $10,000 while Clerk-Treasurer Nancy Michie of Morris-Turnberry estimated an election cost of $12,000. For Huron County to hold a referendum. Mitchell believes the cost to be approximately $200,000. When Mitchell introduced a motion to protest the proposal, at the June 5 county council session, it passed without further discussion.