The Huron Expositor, 1996-03-20, Page 8a -Tall[ HURON EXPOSITOR, March 20, 1996
Feature
Moving towards a new Huron County
BY BRUCE SHAW
Special to SSP News
All change of habits of life
atul thought is irksome. 11.e.
difference in this respect
bet►t•een the wealthy and the
common run of maitkind.lies
not so much itt the motive
which prompt, to conservatism
(is in the degree of exposure to'
the economic forces that urge
a change.'
This observation uttered a
hundred years ago speaks to
us today. Change must be -
made, and thc reason for that
change is driven -by our finan-
cial plight: we can no longer
afford to do things as we have
if we want to escape the
impending disaster of a major
depression or economic chaos.
As a result of seeing what is
so obvious, I offer this pro-
posal as an attempt to steer us
into the next century where
our municipalities will he
viable political and adminis-.
trative entities capable of
meeting ow -needs efficiently
and_ effectively. This proposal
is based on four assumptions:
i) the provincial government
is sincere about spending cuts
and will do everything possi-
ble to support local restructur-
ing and will oppose impedi-
ments that are based on poli-
tics rather than economics;
ii) the recognition that there is
an optimum size for local.
responsive government;
iii) the need for political
change is imperative and
immediate and geographic
boundaries, whether county or
Ictal may be.adjustcd; and
iv) there arc tor many politi-
cians and too many 'tiers' of
govctnmcnt.
This document looks specif-
ically at Huron (County, but
the model -could easily be.
replicated in other counties in
the province. In cxan.ining all
aspects of municipal res'ruc-
turing, it is ;mperativc that
artificial barriers such as •
county Iines'pot obstruct the
aim of providing meaningful
-local government.
As well, if local politicians
think that the time for action
ha passed and that it is now
time for endless bickering,'
those. politicians should he
side -lined by the Minister of
Municipal Affairs and, if nec-
essary. replaced by an arbitra-
tor. Now is the time for -
courage, imagination and
vision. all qualities that are
necessary in creating a better
Corm of local government.
'. THE PROPOSAL
Dissolve the political entity
known as Huron County and
re -organize the geographic
arca into four new political
'communities of interest' with
the.possihility of including
'parts of Lamhton, Perth.
Bruce arid Middlesex.
By the same token, if there
is a general testructuring
across the province, parts of
Huron may indeed join other
counties:
it is assumed the outset that
the composition of the follow-
ing four new areas of govern-
ment is flexible, and.some
border municipalities might
he better located with another
neighbor:
AREA I - the north -
Ashficld, Brussels, Grey, East
and West Wawanr.sh, Howick,
Morris, Wingham (and possi
hly Lucknow)
AREA 11. - west -central -
Baylield. Colborne, Godcrich,
Godcrich Township and
Stanley
AREA 1ii - central - Blyth,
Clinton. Hullett, McKillop,
Seaforth, Tuckcrsmith (and
possibly Hihhcrt. Dublin and
St. Colurnhan •
AREA iV- the south. - Exeter,
•Hay, Hensall, Stephen,
Usborne. Zurich (and possibly
(rand Bend, McGillivray.
Biddulph and Lucan)
THE RATIONALE
Thc•present number of:
municipalities in Huron
County. and probably most
counties in Ontario, is no
longer -viable during this -time
of reduced provincial gran:s. •
In fact. the present 'collective '
waste' in the financing of local
government is appalling! The
taxpayer bemoans the fact that
property •taxes arc so high but
accepts the explanation that
local government is already
the most efficient administra-
tion of services (and indeed_, it
is). BUT it is still wasteful
and expensive: Simply put._ •
there arc too many people rep-
resenting their municipalities
in public works. recreation.
administration, protective ser-
vices and public utilities. -
(This proposal,.in the interest
of timc, docs not touch on .•
education. social services and
-health care. but as we advance
in our ability to dcal with the
real costs of governing and• -
servicing our people, these
areas must he included as
.well).,
is duplication of ser-
vice and gross inefficiency of
operations it the total cost of
government in any of the lour
proposed areas is considered.
As well. there are close to 150
politicians and two tiers of
municipal government - that•
tast•ohservation should he
Dublin heifers s
The market at Brussels
_Livestock for the week end-
ing March 15: fed cattle, 729;
cows, 215: veal- calves. 248;
sheep and goats. 103: stock-
ers. 932; pigs, 49.
The market saw the top end
steers and heifers selling $I
lower with cows selling $2
higher. On Thursday veal -
sold $2-5•highcr. Lambs sold.
steady. On Friday stocker
calves were selling $5 higher'
with the yearlings selling $2
higher.
There were 529 steers on
offer selling from 76.00 to
80.00 to the high of 87.60.
Twelve steers consigned by
Jim Howatt; Londesborough,.
averaging 1478 Ihs sold'for
an average of 83.05 with
sales to, 87.60. One steer con-
signed by Randy Beuermart,
Brussels, weighing 118e Ihs
sold for 84.25. -Two steers
consigned by Josh Bcuennan.
Brussels, averaging 1213 Ihs
sold for an average of 80.4 I -
with sales to 83.75.
There were 187 heifers on
offer selling from 76.00 to
80.00 to the high of 84.00.
Five heifers consigned by
Gerald Vandewallc, Dublin,
averaging 1228 Ihs sold for.
an average Of 77.24 with
sales to 82.00. Three heifers
consigned by Murray Smith.
Dublin, averaging 1115 Ihs
sold for 78.50.
There were 215 cows on
offer selling from 35.00 to
50.0( to the high of 64.00.
Thcrc were 12 hulls on
offer selling from 48.50 to
old at Brussels
52:5( to the high of 71.00.
One Gold hull'consigned by
Abe Vanderveen, Brussels,
weighing 1530 Ihs sold for
57.58. -
- There were 248 veal on
offer: beef. 80.(x) to 115.00;
hol. 60.00 to 80.00; plain hol.
50.00 to 60.0).
•
Sales at . Brussels
Livestock•for the week end-
ing.March 8..1996: fed cattle,
550; cows. 220; veal calves,
332: sheep and goats. 40;
stockers. 1082.
Fed steers and heifers at
Brussels Livestock sold at
steady prices, with the cows
selling S2 higher. Om
Thursday veal sold on. a
steady trade. On Friday all
classes of stockers- sold
steady.
There were 182 heifers on
offer selling from 77.00 to
82.00 to the high of 85.75.
Two gold heifers consigned
by Tom Hern, Dublin. aver-
aging 11235 Ihs sold for
83.50. A heifer consigned by
Mel Lyons. Dublin. weighing
1175 Ihs sold for 83.25.
Twelve heifers consigned by
Russ Faber, Kippcn. av'erag-
ing 1124 lbs. sold for an aver-
age price of 79.08 to the high
of 82.(x).
There 'were 220 cows on
offer selling from 34.00 to
52.(X) to the high of 59.0). -
There were 332 veal on
offer selling: hol, 60.00 to
75.(0: beef. 75.00 to 95.00 to
the high of 105.(0; hol plain
veal, 45.(x) to 57.(0.
EXETER
HAY
HENSALL
STEPHEN
USBORNE
Local
Polticians
9
5
5
5
5
Local
Employees
20.5
t
12
f;
12
5
' Taxes to pay
County Levy •
$624,600
$478,600
$179,300
$786,300
$350,500
Part of County Levy
Roads. Planning
,
190,000 56,700
145,900 43,500
54,700 16,300
239,800 71,400
106,900 31,800
enough tot spark a revolution.
if we assume the present
-number of municipalities (26)
•is too many. then surely one is
totally unacceptable. Regional
government in other parts of
the Province has definite
problems, and County coun-
cils in the past and present
have demonstrated an inabili-
ty to meet local needs as they
try to balance too many politi-
cal agendas and centralize
decision-making. • -
in many eases it has become
a forum for thc 'rural -urban
split' syndrome and is present-
ly, through it administration,
attempting .to concentrate -
power in the hands of a few at
the expense of the kcal gov-
crnments - a process that runs
counter to all contemporary -
theories of shared decision-
making andleffective adminis-
tration.
As well, decisions arc made
with impunity as there is no -
political accountability to the
citizenry. (County Councillors
are elected indirectly as repre
sentatives of their local
municipalities. As a result
their.reliancc on county.staff -
is sign)ficent. Indeed, some
say; 'thc tail wags the dog'.)
'There must he kcal, direct
.accountability to the taxpayer.
The four areas are small
enough geographically to.
meet that need, and with a
modest population (prohahly
aro'ind 15,00) people) each •
wile he able to support respon-• •
sive, effective local govern -
mcnt. -
if weexamineone area, the
south, in detail, we can sec
specifically the financial
implications of a sensible
restructuring. (A similar study
should he conducted in each
of the other three areas.)
THE MODEL •
• The south's 'community of
interest' is larger than any
combination of two or three -
municip;tlitics. and the
economies are greater, of
course. with the entire south
forming one new municipali-
ty.
The chart above demon-
strates the present (1994 - the.
1995 figures for Huron are •
similar) human and financial -
cost of 'doing business' in the
south.
A cursory examination of -
the figures leads one to con-
clude .
a) there should be one -
CAO/Clerk-Treasurer, not 7
h) there should be one depart- .
ment head for each function. .
not many
c) there will he a sign)ficant
reduction in thc•numher Of • '
employees -
di there are far too many : Monday, March 25t"
•
-be 'contracted out' as partner-
ships are created between and
among other communities
• of interest (public health, .
social services, etc.)
IMPLEMENTATION
Negotiations among the
existing municipalities should
begin immediately to deter-
mine where the houndary
lines:;hould he drawn and
what communities (or what
parts of communities) are to
he included. Within a very
short period of time (prohahly
one. month). subsequent talks.
which are simple, straight -for-
ward and honest, should he
initiated with one fundamental
criterion established at the
outset: every municipality will
surrender its 'turf - there is
absolutely no timeor patience
for petty politics and mindless
• squabbling.
The issues to be resolved
are few: 0 the creation of a
mechanism for determining
exactly what services and
what staff are required, ii) the
establishment of'a protocol for
dealing with redundant staff -
with the aim of dealing with
staff humanely. if possible
there may have to be an early
retirement package create)(
and a re-training programme
initiated, iii) the selection of
an implementation team
(composed not necessarily of
politicians) that will deter-
mine the composition of the
new council and how itis
members will be elected in
1997.
CONCLUSION
John Dewey said, 'it is.
demonstrable that many of
the obstacles, to change which
have been attributed to
human nature are in fact due
to the inertia of institutions
and to the voluntary desire of
powerful -classes to maintain
the existing status.' Certainly'
in our region. one of greatest
obstacles will he the surren-
dering of power and control.
but there is no room or toler-
ance for the pettiness that is
all too frequently exhibited
by politicians.
Those involved in the
deliberations must come to
the realization that each day
of dithering costs thousands
of dollars! The taxpayer
should demand action! They
must also realize that people.
generally, could not care Tess
about some of the issues that
vex politicians; the taxpayer
14•06•11116•111t0•0111011111110••••1110600:
•
BRODHAGEN
•
S BASEBALL REGISTRATION S
•
Sunday, March 24t".
t 12:30-2:00 p.m.. _
politicians - 9 should he sufti-: •
7:00-9:00 pm
cicht •• i
c) there are obvious savings to : at the r • •••
he made in roads and plan-- Brodhagen
ning.at _ Community Centre •
least, since they can he pro •
-
vided locallyr •
1) the levy sent ty the County
•
will he eliminated as :
0 most services (roads. plan- ..
•
Hing. etc.) will be provided •
locally. anti i
ii) some services will have to . •
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in•a word, the prowess
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Reluctant politicians•who
cannot see the absolute neces-
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should not impede the
process or the investigation.`
at least, of doing .business dif-
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Let's get on with it!!
Bruce Shaw is a former
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and principal at Seaforth
District High Schrtol. He is
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Godcrich District Colle,rgiate
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...85921
'NOTICE -
Seaforth & District Minor Hockey'
Association
Requests that any proposed changes, additions. -and/or
deletions to the constitution be submitted to the undersigned
by 5 pm, March 29, 1996.
The format of these amendments to be a)- proposed
amendment b) current by-law reference c) reason for
amendment d) date e) name and signature.
The proposed amendment to be made public prior to their
review at the annual meeting on April 17, 1996.
Copies of the current constitution 'available at the Seaforth
recreation office.
Mail or drop off any changes to: •
'Seaforth Recreation Office
122 Duke St.; P.O. Box 885
Seaforth, Ont.
NOK 1 WO