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The Citizen, 2006-03-16, Page 20By Heather Crawford Citizen staff Huron East will increase the levy given to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority by 43 per cent, a decision that has been disputed by several council members in recent meetings. Grey ward councillor Mark Beaven who also serves as chair of the Maitland Valley Conservation lAuthority Board, made a presentation at the March 7 meeting, outlining the current financial state of the MVCA as well as the significant • projects and contributions the authority has made to the area. "If your decision is to cut the levy to 10 per cent then I will represent Looking for local heroes There are so many people out there who do so much to improve their community. Now you have a chance to say thanks. Nominate that special person for the 21st Annual Citizen Citizenship Awards. Each year a committee chooses an outstanding citizen from each of the Blyth and area and Brussels and area communities to receive an award for contribution to the community. If you know someone you think should be honoured, please fill in the ballot and send it in. You may attach a longer explanation pf why you think your nominee should win, if you like. If you have nominated someone before and he or she didn't win, please feel free to try again. I nominate as Citizen of the year for q Blyth 1:1 Brussels & area & area I feel she/he deserves this award because Nomination Deadline April 28, 2006. Name and phone number of nominator PAGE 20. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, MARCH 16, 2006. Huron East approves MVCA levy increase council and bring that back to the the Feb. 28 meeting)." miles from here," he said referring to a good dog and pony show" but board," he said going on to explain "You must have had an awful time Queen's Park. asked how Beaven could be fighting that in order to cut the levy to 10 per operating before now," MacKillop Beaven responded that if the for a flat line budget yet also looking cent the programs that would be ward councillor Fergus Kelly said to municipalities won't support the for a 43 per cent increase in the levy dropped would have a significant Beaven. conservation authorities then the to the MVCA. • impact on the area. Beaven explained that in the past province won't support them either. Beaven explained that the increase "I want you to know that, this is the MVCA has been able to continue The turning point in several had already been factored into the all sarcastic," he explained to operations through special project councillors' opinions seemed to budget which did not show an the press and community members funding from the provincial come when Beaven explained that increase in taxes. present as he went on to government. "At the same time, the the one car owned by the MVCA "I brought this issue [about the suggest programs to cut including province was cutting its funding and had to be taken home on the conservation authorities being the Maitland Watershed [regulations] for funding for special weekends and repaired by downloaded to the municipalities] Partnerships, projects to help protect projects is getting more strict." employees themselves. up to John Tory when I met with him rural water wells, conservation Tuckersmith councillor Larry "If people are taking the car home on Saturday," mayor Joe Seili said. education centres, administration McGrath said he believed providing on the weekends to do body work on "Then I had dinner with Paul Steckle salaries. and the communications money to the conservation it, then we should do whatever we and Carol Mitchell and:I mentioned department. authorities should be the have to in order to bring [the it to them as well. They both got the "If we cut all of this then we will responsibility of the provincial conservation authority] up to snuff," message," he said. bring the leyy down to 10 per cent government. deputy-mayor Bernie MacLellan Council voted in favour of the (which is what was suggested by "I hear what you're saying but you said. increase with one vote against from Seaforth councillor Joe Steffler at should be directing this about 200 Steffler said the presentation was " councillor McGrath. Council asked to take active role on health team By Heather Crawford Citizen staff Physician recruiter for the Seaforth area, Gwen Devereaux and Dr. Dan Rooyakkers asked Huron East council to take an active role in the Family Health. Team project in Seaforth. At the March 7 council meeting, Devereaux informed council of the progress of the project and made an appeal for local politicians to become involved in the project. "If Seaforth does, want the Family Health team then they need to get to the table and help Dr. Rooyalckers," she said. "He cannot do this without your support." The team would consist of a medical doctor, a pharmacist, 'a nurse practitioner and a mental health or social worker, with more team members added as funding and program development occurs. Devereaux said Seaforth was considered one of the models for the province for Family Health Teams. - "We were to be the incubator site. The Family Health Team with HealthKick [was] the vehicle to attract a wealth of funding and support." She urged council members to lake an active role in the project. "We need more structure and support from the municipality," she said. "As the largest stakeholders, you need to be around the tables?" Devereaux said she was looking for direct representation from council. Rooyakkers said he wished for local politicians- to help guide governance. think it would be a good idea to have community involvement and having a politician [present] would bring the community's interests to the table," he said. Grey ward councillor Mark Beaven said he was pleased to, be asked to be involved. "I am very pleased to hear this group wants us there." He said his experience in the past has been that council hasn't been able to actively participate in healthcare meetings. Mayor Joe Seili said although he hopes other people on council would be interested in getting involved he would not be volunteering. "I can tell you now, I'm not taking any more time off of my work to clean up the province's mess;' he said. Seili advised any council members interested in getting involved in health care that it is a large time commitment. "You are banging your head against the wall trying to figure everything out and you're getting different answers from everybody," he said. He informed Devqreaux and Rooyakkers that council will be reviewing the information presented and coming out with a decision shortly. Huron East says no to Brussels school request By Heather Crawford Citizen staff Downloading from the school board was the reason Huron East council gave at their March 7 meeting not to donate any money to the - Brussels Public School playground committee. .Diana Dolmage and Dawn Hastings from the committee along with school principal Heather Beattie wrote a letter to council asking for money to help reach their goal of $9,000. "To date we are in need of $1,500 to reach our goal," the letter stated. Tuckersmith councillor Larry McGrath was the first to speak against the proposal stating that the proposal was an example of "back door downloading by the school board. The bigger organization takes [school equipment] out of the budget and they put it on the volunteers selling hotdogs," he said. Brussels ward councillor Frank Stretton who is also the principal of East Wawanosh Public School, said the school boards passed a policy years ago not to pay for equipment. "I don't necessarily think our tax dollars belong in the school boards instead of our own parks right here," he said. Mayor Joe Seili brought it to SPRING SAFETY FALLING INTO COLD WATER CAN RESULT IN HYPOTHERMIA. KNOW THE SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS AND WHAT YOU CAN DO TO HELP. IIIII Canadian Red Cross council's attention that the school "Not •this year," Grey ward playground is also used by the rest councillor Mark Beaven who is also of the community for soccer in the on the minor soccer board said. summer. "They won't let us play there this year." Brussels ward councillor David Blaney offered the suggestion that council lend the money to the committee to be paid back eventually. Council did not make a motion to donate money.