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The Citizen, 2006-06-08, Page 6On May 31st, we'll all be able to breathe a little easier Smoking is the No.1 preventable cause of death in Ontario today. The Smoke-Free Ontario Act, which comes into force on May 315t, is part of a broad effort to improve public health by reducing Ontarians' exposure to and use of tobacco products. The legislation bans -smoking in all enclosed workplaces and enclosed public places to protect workers from second-hand smoke. The legislation also strengthens laws on tobacco sales to minors and restricts the display of tobacco products in retail outlets. If you smoke, now is a good time to consider quitting. For help and a plan to quit, call Smokers' Helpline at 1-877-513-5333. Or visit www.smokershelpline.ca for tips, tools and support. For more information on the 'Smoke Free Ontario Act, contact your Public Health Unit or call 1-866-39-1760. TTY: 1-800-387-5559. Or visit www.ontario.ca/smokefree I,- Ontario Paid for by the Government of Ontario. PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JUNE 8, 2006. NH Belgrave people hear worst-case scenario By Carol Burns Citizen staff The new water supply system is a hot topic for North Huron Belgrave residents. Forty people plus council members and staff attended the May 31 meeting in the Belgrave Community Centre. Most were from the 44 residences impacted by the construction of the new well. A few were from homes on Queen Street which will not he benefitting from the construction. The meeting, held by North Huron council, attempted to provide information to the residents, and to obtain information from them regarding the preferred method of paying for the capital cost construction. Residents were more interested in being heard than in receiving information. During the meeting Ralph Campbell public works superintendent, tried to explain to the residents that the problem with their current well is that it uses groundwater, as did the well that was involved in the deaths in Walkerton. The Ministry of the Environment will not continue to grant permission to operate a system that uses groundwater. Council took the lowest tender for the construction, but the cost is double that forecast by the project engineer. Campbell stated "Contractors are in high demand. They can ask what they want." One of the reasons for the increased cost is the apparent withdrawal of the federal government from the Continued form page 1 clerk-administrator Kriss Snell. Councillor Archie Mac- C;owan said that council had the opinion from Ministry intormation that they could not put any money into costs .for water and sewer. "If that's not the case we certainly need to look into it. It's certainly news to me." Asked why the costs had continued to rise, Snell said that once the funding for overages from the federal began to look a little • uncertain council decided to present a worst-case scenario. "We took the line we'd be up front. That's -what we thought was fair." Deputy-reeve Murray Scott said that council certainly sympathized and that if council could do anything they would. Tim Grant wondered why if there is one water system that the payment was to be different for Mord s- Turnberry residents than North Huron. "If it's one system it should be the same for everyone.' Grant said that the two councils need to • work together so that it's one water system with a charge per lot. Such said part of the reason agreement to provide a one- third share of the cost over- runs. Donna White, treasurer stated that although the province has paid its share of the funding, there has been no word from the federal goVernment, despite constant attempts to obtain verification that the federal government is paying its share. Campbell pointed out that council is required by the provincial government to provide the deeper well. Provincial legislation prohibits council from carrying any debt for the water system. If the federal government does not pay its share of the over-run, that $133,000 has to be paid by the owners of the serviced lots. Although carrying the loan over 20 years rather than five years requires paying an additional $4,000 interest, residents supported paying the costs over a 20-year period. This agreement was reached only after residents expressed their opinions about the new well, increased costs, and the lack of concrete information about final costs. Many residents expressed anger at having to pay for the construction of a new well, when they have a well that is only 15 years old. Residents cannot understand how their costs for the project have gone from $400,000 to $800,000. Residents also expregsed anger at having to pay capital costs for empty lots. One stated, "We have an extra lot. We can't even get what we paid for it 15 years ago." at this point would be M-T's interpretation of municipal contribution, and the fact that they have not factored in the loss of the federal funds for overages if it doesn't materialize. Angelo Ippolito asked council to at least offer some hope. "I can't understand why Morris-Tumberry can do this and you can't." Snell noted that the most recent public meeting was never intended to have been the last. "We are going to continue working hard to get this figure down if we can." "Hopefully, you will have all the numbers at -the next public meeting," said Ippolito. "We ask to be treated with fairness and Justice as valued citizens." "This is certainly a priority," said Scott. After the group left, council expressed some puzzlement over how Morris- Turnberry was .able to come up with the figures they had. "They have more work to do than we do. How can they do it for less?" wondered councillor James Campbell. "I am sure that they are still factoring in the federal portion," said Snell. "That's a dangerous thing," said MacGowan. Another added (in speaking of the capital costs) , "You're telling me that the tax will be $11,000 on an empty lot?" Residents currently pay a monthly charge of $82.00 a month. If the new estimated capital costs are carried over 20 years, the quarterly cost added to the tax bill would be $181. Operating costs will be in addition to the capital costs, and will likely be billed monthly. In an interview Monday. White said said that the federal government is paying- one-third of the original estimate, but still has not responded to repeated requests about the cost over- runs. "This is the only new information," she said "It is not certain that the federal government will not pay its share of the over-runs, but we wanted to prepare the residents in case it doesn't." • Campbell assured residents that the operating costs would not be as high as their current charges, but could give no assurance about what they would be. White said "North Huron will be putting out the tender for five other systems, as well as the Belgrave one. This should keep our operating costs lower than if we were only tendering the Belgrave system." White stated Monday that Construction began last week on Belgrave's new water system, Ralph Campbell, public works superintendent stated May 31 that North Huron and Morris-Turnberry residents who will be on the new system have received a boil water advisory and notice of operating costs include the cost of testing, hydro to run the pumps and chlorine. With more users on the system is is hoped that there will be a decrease in operating costs. Operating costs are usually billed monthly. Residents . want to know what the final cost will be. White pointed out that until construction is finished in December, the final construction cost will not be known, and until the watering restrictions. The water restrictions are necessary because one well is providing all of Belgrave's water, including to those residents residing in the M-T section. Residents with even house numbers can water on even days. Residents with odd operating costs have been contracted, council will not know how much the operating costs will be: White stated Monday, "I hope there will be at least one other meeting with Belgrave residents to discusss payment options." At the meeting, residents decided to write to Paul Steckle, Huron-Bruce MP and individually urge that Belgrave receive funding for the vost over-runs. numbers can water on odd numbered days. Watering of gardens, flowerbeds and lawns is limited to 7:30 and 9:30 p.m. Both the watering restrictions and the boil water advisory are expected to last until the well upgrades are completed in December. More meetings to come They're boiling in Belgrave