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The Huron Expositor, 1997-04-09, Page 1waste management to alt orchestra leader who create the music but backs away when the music begins. Coun. Jack Coleman o' Stanley Twp. did not think 1 county should have to pay t engineering costs and askc Janes why Stanley 'lwp. rate payers should be expected t pay for an Exeter site t may not need for anoth or 40 years? <4;40421114AJFI) ompass,3 Sports Dave McLlwaln nets 100th NHL career goal. See page 6 House League House league S hockey final results. See page 7 Your Community Newspaper Since 1860 -r Seaforth, Ontario Briefly Early golf start The record-setting balmy weather on the weekend was a boon for golfers eager w get at it. The Seaforth Golf & Country Club obliged. It was open. "the earliest we can remember by a week," says Cam Doig. He says lots of wind helped the local links drain and dry out beforehand, and between150 to 200 golfers took advantage of thc 20 C+ weather this weekend to work out the kinks in their game. Cancer month April is Cancer Month. Daffodil Days in connec- tion with the annual fundras- ing promotion took place from Thursday to Sunday last week. The goal of Canadian Cancer. Society volunteer canvassers during the month "in the Huron -Perth Unit is to raise about $205,000 from this residential canvass, con- tributing to the $I1 -million goal for Ontario." The Society's press release states "one in three Canadians will develop some form of cancer during his or her lifetime." Fire set in bin Local firefighters answered an alarm about about 9:30 p.m. Friday night. There was a fire in the newspaper recy- cling bin at the Tuckersmith shed on Conc. 2 of the town- ship. Repairs needed Seaforth recreation director Marty Bedard reported on the "Optimist Park" situation at the recreation and parks com- mittee's March meeting. "He noted that the play- ground equipment is in des- perate need of repair, or replacement," minutes of the meeting state. "Discussion was also held about the pos- sible construction of a second ball diamond at the Optimist Park. This will fill the demand for more diamond space due to the increase of slo-pitch popularity, and it could pay for itself with increased rental for tourna- ments." Bedard said he would con- tact the ministry to see if funding is available. Palliative care month April is Palliative Care Month. The director of the Palliative Care Network of Southwestern Ontario, Nancy Kest, comments in a press release "that most people think palliative care -is caring for the aged, when, in fact, it's for people of all ages: for example, a teenager who tests positive for HIV, or a person in their 30's or 40's who may be diagnosed with ALS, or Lou Gehrig's Disease." The regional network, .which serves among others the counties of Huron and Perth, provides information on the numerous local ser- vices available for physical, emotional and spiritual care." it can be reached at 685- 4086 or 1-800-399-0284. April 9, 1997 — $1.00 includes GST PHOTO BY GREGOR CAMPBELL TABLE TALK - Grade 8 students from Seaforth Public School took a trip downtown to Seaforth Branch 156 of the Royal Canadian Legion last Thursday moming where they picked up some pointers on euchre from some sharp seniors in the packed .hall. Town budget calls for zero increase BY GREGOR CAMPALL Expdsitor Staff Seaforth Council polished the budget at last week's meeting, in preparation for its expected passage at last night's (Tuesday) second reg- ular monthly session. It calls for a zero per cent increase in municipal taxes this year. Both projected revenues and expenditures are down exactly $199,023. Revenues for 1997 .of $966,929 are expected from last budget's corresponding figure of $1,214,472. Expenditures of $1,866,934 are projected this budget, against $2,065,957 in 1996. That leaves $840,354 to be raised by Seaforth taxes this year,- compared to $838,860 last year, which works out to Speed limits BY BLAKE PATTERSON SSP News Staff The speed limit on Highways 83, 84 and 87 has been increased from 80 to 90 kilometres per hour by Huron County. As of April 1, the province 'downloaded' responsibility for the roads to Huron County, a miniscule tax increase of 0.023 per cent. Clerk Jim Crocker com- ments council has decided to "maintain hard services and hold capital expenditures" until the financial and struc- tural rearrangement between. the province and all munici- palities of the last couple of years, for instance restructur- ing, work themselves out and become clearer. "We don't even know if there will be a Town Hall here in two years," he says. CAPITAL SPENDING Among the Major capital expenditures council has bud- geted for in 1997 are: • $124,880 for roadways. This includes paving the Railway Street extension by Sun North and Huron .Ice; "pave top lift of asphalt" on John St., from Main to High increased on and in preparation for the transfer, Huron County Council made some adminis- trative changes March 27 for the new roads to be consistent with the majority of county roads in Huron. The roads were renamed County Roads 83, 84 and 87, the speeds limits were increased, and the county pol- icy for fire calls was con - Streets; and, "total recon- struction of John Street, High to Louisa Streets. • $60,000 for replacing san- itary sewers on Huron and Main Streets. In addition, $4,000 has been budgeted for sidewalks in Seaforth - West to Wilson St. and West William to Duke St.; and another $4,000 for land acquisition (from "Schoonderwoerd"). REVENUES Functional revenue for this fiscal year is budgeted at $47,500, compared to the 1996 actual figure of $84,815. Capital fund rev- enue is budgeted for $225,970, against the 1996 actual of $272,824. "Other revenue" is expected to be $641,751 in 1997, compared to $754,352 last year, and thc "other tax revenue" category is $51,708 in this year's bud- get, against the 1996 figure of $57,462. EXPENDITURES Seaforth expects to spend $37,932 less for police ser- vices this year, $368,405 compared to the 1996 actual of $406,337. Recreational facilities are budgeted at $8,380 for the town compared to last year's figure of $14,306, reflecting increased efficiencies at the local arena. Protective inspection cost $40,316 in 1996 but has only $6,600 earmarked this fiscal year, as Seaforth's public works superintendent has assumed morc of the inspec- tion role. Economic development is budgeted at $8,000 for 1997, the same as for last year, although $2,145 was actually spent in this category in 1996. Huron's 'new' highways firmed. The council also agreed to continue the Adopt - a -Highway program on the roads. Coun. Bill Weber of Stephen Twp. expressed con- cern about raising the speed limit, particularly on County Road 83, which he said is in poor repair and could make for unsafe driving at the high- er speed. He said the speed limit should not be increased until construction and resurfacing was done on the road. County Engineer Sandra Lawson responded to Weber's concern by stating drivers are already driving at excess speeds on the road and the county would not be liable for an accident whether or not the speed limit was raised. oats ski m Yng or. was e m mire fico iY BLAKE PATTERSON SP News Staff Huron County may have lived money abandoning a tanned landfill site in ahfield Twp., hut costs for astc management are still owning. ng. On March 27, Huron unty Council agreed to pay ineering costs of $20,000 Exeter and Morris townships for the work and certification needed to prepare their land- fill sites to become 'zone' landfill sites. As north and south `zone landfill sites, all waste in the county would be directed to either Exeter or Morris as smaller municipal landfills reached capacity. County Waste consultant Steve Janes was cin hand at tions about the need and bene- fits of the two-yonc approach. Janes said h is "far wiser" for the county to create zones than to deal with waste man- agement alternatives such as mining or exponing. And he added that once the zones are in place, the county should allow the municipalities to arrange their own agreements regarding compensation and user -fees at the sites. He s :.^ rale in Election office At old Stewart store Enumeration begins tomorrow What officials hope will be the final federal election enu- meration in Canada, and the first ever initiated outside of an election, begins Thursday and runs to next Wednesday, April 16. Elections Canada has opened an office on Seaforth's Main Street, in the old Stewart Brothers store, as part of this. "Information collected dur- ing this final enumeration will provide the foundation for -.a ncw, automated perma- nent voters list - the National Register of Electors," notes an Elections Canada news release. Returning officers in 271 ridings across the country have opened offices and are appointing and training 99,000 enumerators, every- where but in Alberta and Prince Edward Island where voters lists used in recent provincial elections will be used. SAVES MONEY "The National register of Electors is an automated data base of qualified electors that will include the name, address, gender and date of birth of Canadian citizens 18 or older," the press release continues. "Some of this data will be used to produce pre- liminary lists of electors for every general election, by- election and referendum." Officials estimate that at the federal level alone "the total cost reduction resulting from the Register is projected to be $138 -million for the next six federal general elections, an average saving of $30 -mil- lion for each election. Chief Electoral Officer for Canada, Jean-Pierre Kingsley, said by law the information enumerators col- lect may be used for electoral purposes only. "i should point out that the privacy commissioner has reviewed our efforts and has graded them with an A+," he said in a press release. "You should know that it is not mandatory to have one's name on thc register to main- tain the right to vote." March Break program loses This year's March break program put on by the Seaforth recreation depart- ment lost approximately $300, according to the figures presented to council at last Tuesday night's meeting by recreation director Marty Bedard. Expenses. were 8886.76, the majority of which went in wages to the two leaders, a total of 8479.50. Registrations for 25 differ- ent children over the one week brought in $590, leav- ing a loss of 8296.76. The recreation director added hall rental and bus charges were approximates because he hadn't yet received invoices. In his report to council Bedard said at last month's' meeting'the recreation and CONTINUED on page 3