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The Huron Expositor, 1997-02-19, Page 1ltingettc Local teams win two divisions int tournament. See page () It.ntortahunent Seaforth native Clare Westcott to speak in town Ser page ll Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 -- Seaforth, Ontario Briefly Town enters into restructuring project Seaforth Council_ signed a bylaw test Tuesday authoris- ing a letter -'of intent to enter into a restructuring project with six other area munici- palities - Clinton. Goderich and the townships-McKillop,- Huliett. Colborne and Goderich. - This Central Huron Municipalities Restructuring Project will share 50 percent of costs according to each municipality's current total assessment as- a ratio of • the total for the seven, -with Seaforth's apportionment cal- culated at 7.605 per cent. • The remaining 50 per cent of project costs are io be dis- tributed equally among all. Cfnton'has agreed to pay the consultant's fee and any other -expenditures `as required on behalf of the restructuring committee, and member municipalities agree to forward 50 per cent of their share of the agreed upon consultant's fee by the begin- ning of March. Snowmobile stolen in Vail astiv A special snowmobile with an estimated value of $8,000 was stolen early Saturday morning outside of Tops Bar and Restaurant in Vanastra. The Huron County detach- ment of the Ontario Provincial Police says the. "1996 -Arctic Cat, model 600ZRF " was taken between 1:30 a.m. and 2:15 .a.m. Police describe the snow machine as having "a second person style seat (two up seat) with backrest,. a black cowling with orange/green checkered flags .with licence number 693 466." Photo explained Seaforth Mayor Irwin Johnston told council last Tuesday thc reason p romo- tional material for the big trade show in town this June features a photograph of the Goderich harbour is because thc event is put on by Huron County road superintendents. with an emphasis on the word "county," and the Sifto and Champion Roads compa- nies, both important Huron suppliers, arc based there. Last month Reeve Bill Bennett wondered out loud if a picture of something "more ,Seaforth" would have been nicer. Surfing for swine Producers who could get into some swine surfing on the Internet can .do so tomor- row afternoon (Feb. 20) at the OMAFRA office in Clinton. The Internet session focussing on areas of interest to swine producers gets underway at 1:30 p.m. An agriculture ministry press release notes Martin Vanderloo from Odyssey will talk about the Internet and how it works, and swine spe- cialist Janice Murphy will demonstrate how to visit dif- ferent swine sites and other areas of interest to producers. _ .! 3. -L d4 . 1--e...t • February 19, 1997 — $1.00 includes GST PHOTO BY GREGOR CAMPBELL COOKIE MISTER - Seaforth Community Hospital CEO 8i11 Thibert was dishing out sweets and goodies Friday, surrounded by teddy bears and:big red hearts, at Total image 11, who were running a promotion to help raise funds -for the local hospital on Valentines Day. Bingo . revenue .down more : khan $20,000 council Feb. 4.. The groups take turns run- ning the fundraiser. Bedard said attendance was down, prizes and license fee were up, and the 1996 bingo figures include expenses of $6,137 for a photocopy machine the sports council purchased last- year that its members now share. From Dec. 17, 1995 to Dec. Monday night bingo -brought in $22,856.55 less in 1996 in Seaforth- than it did the year betorc, making it far less profitable for the various minor sports groups involved in its operation.. • The share per group works out to $589 this time around. compared to approximately $1,500.the year before, recre- ation Marty Bedard told 8. 1996 the local bingo made a total profit of $5,651„ down $15,130 from the Jan. I to Dec. 16, 1995 profit of $20,781 that was split. Total income for the most recent period was $212,405.57. compared to $235,262.12 in 1995. Prizes increased to $144,031.96 from $ (41,596. ckersmith invkwed !,BY CALE COWAN SSP News Staff A decision as to whether a .study of possible amalgama- tion among six South Huron municipalities will continue is now in the hands of the individual councils. Recently the councils of Zurich, Hcnsall, Bayfield and the townships of Hay, Stanley and Tuckersmith gathered to hear the final report of their Municipal Reform 1 t:ontminee. Nine weeks in the making,, lite study outlined the advan- tages and disadvantages of shared services, amatQatna- dtion and holding the status lyuo. After a two-hour meeting ftfilled with questions it was decided the decision of hiring ka consultant to work out the mails and financial impact ad to go back to the individ- Otal councils for ratification, 3' It is estimated a consultant's jrteport would cuss $7,500 to 1$10,000, although the recom- j nendation is for each of the ,six municipalities to chip in 'LT 1e. prespnl I structure has served our com- munities well for decades," the MRC stated in the report's conclusion. "The present municipal structure or any restructuring must be able to serve our community long into the future. This means it must be stable enough to strengthen the community concept but flexi- ble enough to meet changing social trends wjth integrity." The thorough report broke down the needs of the six municipalities into six areas: general government; trans- portation/public works; waste managetnent; tire protection; planning and zoning/commu- nity development; protection to persons and property (chief building official, bylaw enforceinent); family and social services; culture and recreation; public utili- ties; reserve and capital assets; outstanding debts; and the Bayfield harbor. "I know there were a lot of questions tonight that cuuidn't be answered but I feel the committee's mandate was fulfilled," said Tuckersmith Reeve Bill Carnochan, chairman of the +„„C. study Arena budget approved Seaforth's share down dramatically BY GREGOR CAMPBELL Expositor. Staff Seaforth approved this year's arena and fire area board budgets at last Tuesday night's council meeting. Seaforth's share (43.3 per cent) of the arena and com- munity centres budget appears down dramatically • again, half of what it was two years ago. This year-Seaforth's portion is $10,710. "with the excep- tion of wages which will be - considered at the February meeting following considera- tion of a report from thc negotiating subcommittee.," according -ten the arena Man- agement board's January meeting minutes. - Last'year "Seaforth's actual portion was $•16,026 and in 1995 it was $21,097. • The district- community -eeM es -total -budget this yuar decreased by $6 644 to 'There was some question as to whether those outstanding questions had to be answered before. proceeding. However, it was successfully argued that the fine;detaits couldn't be .presented until dollar fig-, ures were provided. The MRC is hoping to have an answer from the six coun- cils by the end of February. If a consensus is reached and a consultant is hired, it. isn't until that study is com- plete that this will go to the public. "It has to go to thc public, but not until we have all the answers," said MRC member Jack Coleman, reeve of Stanley. "We have to •ask a consul- tant if it's workable and then put the numbers to it." Council members in atte dance raised some co that if they were too s in their directions they wo simply get the same: re back without an unbiased opinion as to its feasibility. "We need someone to tear:, this (report) apart and p back ,together," sugg hayfield Deputy Reeve viAgg• $349.625 from last year's actual of $337,532. ARENA EFFICIENCIES. Coun. John Ball asked - where the1996 surplus of roughly $9,000 came from, $6,000 of which was trans- ferred : to a reserve fund (capped a couple of years ago at $20,000) with the .remain- der to be dispersed -by the board amongst ,staff by a for- mula not yet finalized. Coun. Michael Hak, who is coun- cil's representative on the arena committee, said the better figures were because of increased revenues and various efficiencies, for .instance job -sharing with staff. This town's portion of the fire Committee's" 1997 budget _of $113,570 is up.$2,898, to $28,540 from last year's. actual of $25,642. ' -The fire board's total bud- get increased $3,003 this year, from "last .year's .actual of $25,642. ' - . No town employees paid $100,000 in 1996 • No municipal employees in Seaforth-were paid a salary of $100,000 or -more in 1996. according to a confirmation statement made public at last Tuesday night's meeting of counci 1 under -the public sec- tor salary disclosure act. The seven members of Seaforth Council were paid a total of $18,739.41 for duties last year, and the three mem- bers of the town's Police Services Board were paid an - additional $2,715.91. - The statement of remunera- tion and expenses for 1996 was reported under the Municipal Act . at last • Tuesday night's council Meeting. Most of council's remuner- ation was stipend. with only $249.41 of its total for ence registration and lodging. The three categories accounted fur $625.91 and a higher percentage of the police board's total. Individual payments for council. were: Mayor Irwin Johnston, $4,072: Reeve William Bennett, $2,362.48; Deputy -Reeve Bill Teal!. $2,671.50; Couns. John Ball, $2,100; Brian Ferguson $2,043.4.3; Michael Hak, $2,880; Heather Robinet, $2,610. Individual payments for police board members in 1996 were: Chair Bob Dinsmore, . $962.58; and committee. Lin Steffler $915.09 (sec.) and Cam. Bill Teal!, $838.24. March Break program shortened - The March break program in Seaforth has been short- ened to one week. from two. on the recommendation of recreation director Marty Bedard. "The two-week program didn't -work out as 1 thought it would." he reported to the Feb. 4 meeting of council. The director also proposed a 1997 recreation budget.with expenditures and revenues considerably in excess of last year's actual figures, but not quite up to,what was spent in 1995. He is budgeting for expen- ditures of $32,630 against icvcnttes of $34,750 this year, compared to respective actuals of $23,456 and $27,912 in 1996,.but fire- works that haven't yet been ,invoiced and arc estimated to cost about $6,000 would alter the balance, creating an approximate shortfall of $1,544. SCALED DOWN Two years ago. in 1995, the Seaforth's recreationdepart- ment actually spent $33,257, against revenues of $25,512. Last week's two-week March break program cost $1,740 and only brought in $1,263, whereas Bedard esti- mates $1,000 on both sides of the equation for the one-week program near the end of win- ter. The programs covered expense/revenue calculations the rec director presented to council ,were fitness/step/hoe dance,, wood refinishing. bas- ketball, volleyball, wood working, sign language, first aid, dog Obedience, teanis lessons. power skating, com- puter camp, March break, "Summer Fun," Canada Day, conditioning camp, hockey skills camp, basketball camp. Early gement accepted At last Tuesday night's .with a Seaforth Public Works meeting, council confirmed Department employee. acceptance of an early retire- Don Dupec will retire.at the rncnt incentive ,agreement end of May.