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The Times-Advocate, 2002-10-23, Page 8By Scott Nixon TIMES-ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — While a re-evaluation of South Huron’s 2001 financial statement still shows a deficit, it’s much smaller than was believed a cou- ple of months ago. The 2001 financial state- ment showed a $251,000 deficit for the municipality of South Huron, when in fact a surplus was fore- cast. Treasurer Jane McPherson appeared at council’s Oct. 15 meeting with auditor Gerry Mills to explain how the original $251,000 deficit was in fact a deficit of only $54,000. The answer lies in the education portion of com- mercial payments-in-lieu taxes. The municipality passed along that money, $197,000, to the two school boards instead of keeping it. McPherson told council the mistake hap- pened because the Ministry of Municipal Affairs didn’t inform the municipality of the change. She said treasur- ers in other municipalities did the same thing South Huron did. Mills said the education portion of com- mercial payments-in-lieu is a huge number in South Huron because of the water pumping station in Port Blake. He said in many other municipalities the number is insignifi- cant. McPherson said when the pumping station was owned by OCWA, its taxes weren’t billed the educa- tion portion. Since the City of London bought the sta- tion, the building is now fully taxable. Because of the huge dis- crepancy in numbers, Mills said it was decided the 2001 financial state- ments for South Huron should be re-done, show- ing the smaller $54,000 deficit instead. McPherson said the deficit will be reduced year-by-year by the municipality’s water rates. “I believe things are on track,” McPherson said of the municipality’s finances. Mills, though, said to council the important thing from a budgeting standpoint is the $54,000 deficit, not the fact it shrunk $197,000. Mayor Rob Morley said the change makes South Huron’s finances “a little better, but doesn’t do any- thing to help our budget.” He said the $197,000 windfall “saved our butts this time.” Other council notes: Main Street expansion Council gave permission to Exeter financial planner Mark McLlwain to join three properties on Main Street just north of the Saan store. The expansion will see two buildings joined, with an expansion for a living area and garage. McLlwain told the Times-Advocate the expansion will be for resi- dential use, although there may be commercial use expansion in the future. McLlwain and building and development manager Wayne Dale presented the issue to council which would see lots 536, 535 and 534 join along with part of lot 569. Dale called it a significant develop- ment. Complicating matters somewhat is the fact stormwater management has been a problem in the area. To deal with stormwater, a 50’ by 40’ gravel area two feet deep to hold water is being pro- posed which will retain water and allow it to slow- ly seep into the soil. Council allowed the three lots to join and gave Dale the permission to sign the deal on behalf of the municipality when the stormwater management proposal is finalized. Bridge assessments Council will budget next year for assessment work on South Huron’s bridges. Operations manager Dennis Hockey said he has some concerns about the municipality’s bridges. The province requires South Huron look at its bridges regularly. Hockey said he had an engineer look at South Huron’s bridges for free to see what improvements are needed. Hockey said he feels most of the future assessment can be done by the municipality. The bridges mentioned in Hockey’s report include: • McCurdy Bridge on Huron Street between Plugtown and Union. The bridge is described as in “very poor condition” and will need replacement in the next five years. Hockey recommended a bylaw to establish a 10 tonne load limit on the bridge; • Jack Bell’s Bridge on Hurondale Road at Elimville Line. Structurally the bridge is OK, but “appears very bad,” according to Hockey’s report. Guard rails need replacing; • The bridge over Mud Creek on Goshen Line south of South Line and the bridge over Mud Creek on South Road both are structurally OK and have reduced load limits posted. Hockey suggested all bridge decks be water- proofed to slow down water damage. Arena hiring Council allowed Hockey to hire one more full-time employee for recreation and turn a current part- time worker into full-time. He said one of the full- timers will work at South Huron Rec Centre and the other will be at Stephen Twp. Arena in Huron Park. He said the munici- pality is still within its amalgamation staffing goal and staff is definitely shorthanded now. Responding to a question from Coun. Pete Armstrong, Hockey said there is definitely enough workload for the increased staff. 10 Wednesday, October 23, 2002Exeter Times–Advocate Dr. J. Jadd and Dr. K. Fatum 469 William St. S. FLU SHOT CLINIC Wed. Oct. 30 9 a.m. - 12 noon In October, the Flu Vaccine is available to all who were eligible last year. THESE HIGH PRIORITY GROUPS INCLUDE: 1. Persons over 65 years 2. All staff, volunteers, residents of long term care facilities 3. Adults and children with chronic lung and heart problems 4. Adults and children with chronic medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, renal disease , anemias, transplant recipients 5. Children (6 mo. - 18 years) treated with ASA and prednisone for long periods 6. Staff, students and volunteers in hospitals 7. Anyone who have significant contact with the above 8 All emergency service workers (NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY) The vaccine will be available to all other persons over 6 months of age - free of charge in November. Day care house zoning topic of Lucan Biddulph council By Sandra Forster TIMES-ADVOCATE STAFF LUCAN – Exactly what activities are carried out on which properties was up for discussion at the Monday night meet- ing of Lucan Biddulph council. It approved a request by Todd Leclair for a commercial tax rebate on a day care house zoned residential/commercial at 213 Main St. for 2002 only. Administrator Ron Reymer said some other homes of ratepayers who take chil- dren in to babysit are zoned residential. The house in question was previously used as a paint shop and antique store. Reymer said the assessment tax rate based on $100,000 for residential is $1,400 compared to $3,200 for commer- cial. Under the category of home occupa- tion, some businesses are allowed if oper- ated by the people who live there, not if outside employees work there. Council suggested the bylaw enforce- ment officer investigate a property being operated as a towing business on Fallon Dr. and another property on Coursey Line with derelict vehicles. Reymer said only one unlicensed vehi- cle per property is allowed unless it is kept out of sight in a garage or is parked in a licensed salvage yard. Public works manager Barry Mills said the property standards or the zoning bylaw could apply to these cases. With the advice of a fire inspector, the windows on the 6311 William St. house will be boarded up and the neighbour’s insurance costs will be up to the individ- ual. Hydro increases Deputy Mayor Bev Bumstead, acting as mayor in Earl French’s absence, reported hydro costs for the Lucan arena are $20,000 higher than last year. Current rates of 5.9 cents per kw/hr could be considered reasonable, since hydro is projected to cost 10 cents per kw/hr by Christmas. “That blows the budget right out of the water,” Bumstead said. The loss of the goalie school to Strathroy arena at $45 per hour also hurt the arena use figures. Council confirmed an agreement with Enershare to reduce energy consumption in all municipal buildings, including the arena. Mills reported the arena parking lot is paved and a streetlight will be installed at the north-east corner. Coun. Leroy Maguire suggested an on- site meeting to look into hooking into the hydro system for the tennis courts. Official plan Reymer is hopeful the Lucan Biddulph Official Plan will be ready soon, but admitted it’s a large package with lots of issues and the “county council makes the final decision.” Maguire said the six years it’s already taken to write the plan is “unbelievable.” Recycling/garbage Coun. Andy VanGeel reported on the Bluewater Recycling Association whose revenue is up, thanks to commodity sales. The BRA plans to shut down for a month next summer to increase the plant’s handling capacity. As the only municipality charging $3 per bag tag, council will re-assess if the cost is decreasing the amount of garbage disposed of in workplace dumpsters or on the roadside. Maguire suggested a $100 per house- hold charge and $1 per tag. Reymer said BRA charges the munici- pality on a per-house basis whether the homeowner sets garbage out or not. Van Geel reported a hazardous waste day is not in the budget since it costs $50,000 to run. Queen Elizabeth Reymer said he received one phone call protesting the municipality subsidizing Mayor Earl French’s trip to Toronto for Queen Elizabeth’s jubilee tour. It cost the regular $175 per diem plus mileage. He explained since the mayor repre- sented the municipality, it paid his expenses. French was one of 12,000 guests invited to the reception. Other business Jason Hodgins was welcomed as a new equipment operator with training in water chlorination and confined spaces equipment for making inspections to wells, etc. The municipal office will be closed for 2 and a half days between Christmas and New Year’s. Bills can still be paid through the mail slot and emergency numbers will be provided on an answering machine. The roads department will be on duty. On the recommendation of Treasurer Cherie Mahoney and Deputy Clerk Joan Goddard, council approved a tender of $20,400 from Keystone Computer Resources for new computer software which will consolidate four programs and upgrade the 10-year-old tax system. The supplier will provide free support for one year, then at a rate of $4,255 per year Reymer said the computers have been “limping along since amalgamation.” Mahoney said the new computers should be up and running by Jan. 1. South Huron’s 2001 deficit shrinks significantly Stop for school buses - a child’s life may depend on it! HURON – Over the last month, Huron OPP officers provided training to area schools on bus safety and bus evacuations in cases of emergency on our roads and highways. Unfortunately, it appears many drivers are negligent. Reports of school buses being passed while stopped either loading or unloading students are still a common occurrence. Drivers must stop for school buses with lights flashing and stop arm extended. The most common reasons given for not stopping are inattention, excessive speeds and ignorance of the law on multiple lane highways and in town near schools. Students on buses have reported seeing people having a heated argument on a cell phone, trying to eat breakfast and drink coffee while driving, reading books or newspapers, talking to passengers and not watching the road while overtaking a school bus. Some drivers pass the bus on the left or on the right side. Excessive speed while being inattentive is the cause, with simply no time to get stopped in time. Multi-lane situations require vehicles in both directions to stop unless the highway is divided by a median strip. There are no such roadways in Huron. Huron OPP urges drivers to pay attention and watch for school buses.