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The Citizen, 2006-06-08, Page 1AWWW••• Clifford the Big Red Dog got some love from a young fan when he visited Walton Little School on Saturday for the family carnival. Until a thunderstorm and heavy rain dampened the fun, it was a great day with animals, games and books for the youngsters to enjoy. (Vicky Bremner photo) Resident must take it outside The Citizen EsTAliostAD tai S • • / ;it '7,••• e +.4 Volume 22 No. 23 Thursday, June 8, 2006 $1 (93c + 7c GST) NORTH HURON PUSUSFIING COMPANY rNC Inside this week Thunder wins first Pg• 8 game of season AmBoCmDD girls to play pg. 10 D„. 2 1 Cross border rg• billing woes still on Pg. 23 Roy guest speaker at opening night /. Local St. Anne's D g. L't students at OFSSA People want answers from NH By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor After hearing information presented at two meetings last week, Belgrave residents on the North Huron side believe the grass is greener across the street. A delegation of some 40 residents attending the Monday night meeting of North Huron council to express frustration regarding the payment of costs for the new water system in the village. Jamie Robinson said that following the special meeting on May 31, many people were upset. "But even more so after the meeting with Morris-Turnberry the next night." (See stories on page 6 and 7) Robinson said that the residents wanted an accounting from council that would show among other things a breakdown of the capital costs for those -living in the Humphrey subdivision. Steve Delisle said that the Morris- Turnberry council had "been generous'. and had presented a proposal that would give people an opportunity to develop lots. "I feel this council is not looking ahead.." Delisle also stated that he felt residents had been "kept in the dark. We want to see some prices knocked down and some contribution by this council" The contribution to which he is referring is based on M-T's statement that the municipality could contribute to capital costs. North Huron administration and council, however, said this was news to them. "I have always understood that water and sewer must come from the user. In the pervious municipality I was with.that was the interpretation of legal counsel," said Continued on page 6 By Bonnie Gropp Citizen editor Only one Huronlea resident will be affected by county council's decision that the controlled smoking area at the County Homes for the Aged be closed. There are only two people in long- term care at Huronview south of Clinton who will be affected. Homes administrator Barb Springall said that the rooms had been established to meet the regulations of the Tobacco Control Act. However with the new Smoke . Free Ontario Act there are specific requirements to be followed, particularly with regards to ventilation. "We had an architect come in and look at what was needed," said Springall. "He told us it would be $133,000 to upgrade the two smoking areas." This figure, she added, did not take into consideration the cost of extra staffing required for such things as monitoring and maintenance of the ventilation. What the regulation requires, as stated in a report to county council last week, is the development of "negative pressure vestibules of specific size with two sets of doors with electronic operators and door sweeps and with exhaust to maintain air pressure and air supply while doors are in operation. Other structural requirements will seal off the area and prevent escape of any smoke into the LTC home or .Thousing setting" The report went on to explain that "such a requirement could be a backdoor way of ending smoking in many of these exempted locations by virtue of the extraordinary and unfunded costs... (with a minimum cost of) $50,000 for a small unit seating 15 people or less and an annual administrative cost of inspection and monitoring of (designated smoking rooms) of approximately $150,000 annually." The resident at Huronlea will now be taken outside to smoke in an area nine metres from the opening to the building. "The charge nurses will have the smoking materials to be given out when requested or required," said Springall. The administrator said that all the family members have been contacted regarding the decision. "They were all fairly aware it was coming. None seemed too concerned." While the residents of the apartments at the home would not normally be affected, the shared ductwork means that they must be smoke-free as well. "We currently have no one in the apartments who smokes so it's a good time for this." The health unit is offering cessation assistance as are the site doctors, Dr. Salter and Dr. Bokhout. "We also have social workers. Every little bit helps," said Springall. Director of care for Huronlea, Joanne Riehl said that cessation programs will be offered to any new residents who smoke. "Out of 62 residents it only affects one right now and we're very very glad of that. We'll do everything we can to help this person." The old smoking areas will be refurbished and will be opened as lounges for the residents and their families. Kids will still get Best Start in Huron By Keith Roulson Citizen publisher Despite the federal government's change of direction on day care, Huron County will proceed with creating 50 more day care spaces at a cost of $750,000. County councillors approved the expenditure at their June 1 meeting. Larry Adams, chief administrative officer, explained that the county already has money in the bank for the capital improvements from provincial and federal grants which allocated the county an additional 110 day care spaces. The projects approved involve $495,000 for an addition to Sacred Heart School in Wingham to provide 20 spaces; $155,000 for renovations to the Wingham Children's Centre which will create 100 spaces and $100,000 to renovate Goderich Municipal Day Care _ Centre to provide 20 spaces. Previously, 20 spaces were created at St. Mary's School in Goderich, said Eveleen McDonagh, children's service manager for the Huron County social services department. There were only 10 students registered when the facility opened but there liave been calls nearly daily since because the centre is attached to a school, she said. Some opponents of the program are still worried about the ongoing costs. Huron East councillor Joe Seili asked. where the money was coming from to operate the centres once they are built. McDonagh said provincial funding is guaranteed through 2010. She noted that only 35 per cent of the day care spaces in the county are subsidized so the ongoing costs will be limited. But Seili pointed out that most municipal day care centres are operating at a loss and asked McDonagh who picks up the cost. She admitted that municipalities shoulder the losses at the centres. Warden Rob Morley, however, said Seili was mixing up two issues between the current operating deficits of the centres and the province's funding for the additional spaces. Meanwhile, Ben Van Diepenbeek, councillor of Ashfield-Colborne- Wawanosh noted that all the spaces being created were in the northern part of the county. McDonagh explained that Wingham had a particular prob- lem with a lack of extended hours compared to Exeter and Goderich.