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Huron Expositor, 2006-10-25, Page 12Poge 12 October 25, 2006 • The Huron Expositor News Farm income crisis rising to top of Huron East's most pressing issues, United Way told Susan Hundertmark The farm income crisis has risen to the top of Huron East's most pressing issues, community mem- bers said_ during the second year of Community Matters meetings by McTaggart Wettlaufer INSURANCE BROKERS INC. • AUTO • HOME • FARM • TRAVEL • COMMERCIAL BROKERS Paul Wettlaufer • Amy Siemon Suzanne Zehr • Leigh Crawford Ken Hutchison 68 Ontario Rd. 519-348-9150 Mitchell 1-800-561-0183 www.excalibur-insurance.ca the Huron United Way. "People felt that the situation wasn't as bad in 2005 but that farm. families are in more of a crisis this year," said facilitator Leigh Anne Van Aaken. "There was also the feeling that if farms aren't doing well, the revenue isn't coming into the community and the community isn't doing well either," she said. The meeting at Seaforth's town hall was held Thursday to consult with the public about whether or not the Huron United Way is fund- ing the right agencies that address the social and economic services needed in. Huron County. Huron United Way is one of 17 United Way groups that received Trillium Foundation funding to dis- cover whether there are gaps in ser- vices that need to be funded. During its first round of public meetings last year, the Huron United Way heard from Huron East that employment opportunities, access to health- November 13t11 Re-elect JOE SEILI Huron East Mayor thinKiny outside the box ROTH DRAINAGE :LIMITED Quality Workmanship Since 1948 • Farm Drainage • Excavator & Backhoe Service • Municipal Drainage • No Obligation Quotes • We Install Bruce Tile Call Dennis or Gerald for our 2006 Booking Program. Gads Hill Clinton 519-656-2618 519-482-5950 1.800.494.2618 1.800.641.4857 /WiNeR 111.4 cfober 2 1 -spm een Party Games • Haunted House ostume Contest • Swimming s Cost 1 P er Family plus one small, bag of candy. Everyone is welcome. Carving Contest - Bring Your Carved Pumpklnl will be your last chance to get arley Davidson tickets by 4:00. 26 Toronto St. Vanastra AMIE .• A. t care services and transportation were the top three issues in the community. This year, agriculture, transporta- tion and youth issues were identi- fied by the community members at the meeting. Van Aaken said Huron East is the only community so far to stress agriculture as a pressing local issue. She said the group of community members suggested the United Way could help by going to local farm organizations and asking what sup- port it can provide them. Under transportation, community members complained that existing volunteer drivers are aging and will soon need help getting around themselves. As well, there is no mobility bus service within Huron East. "It's sort of a dream but I'd love to see free transportation to Vanastra three times a week," said Egmondville Pastor Steve Hildebrand. Huron East Mayor Joe Seili said that while federal gas tax grants can be spent on transportation ,ser- vices, he'd be afraid that the money would be discontinued after the ser- vice was offered for a few years. "And, once you start a service you can't discontinue it," he said, adding that then the municipality would be left paying for the whole amount. Community members also pointed to unsupervised youth and youth mental health as pressing issues locally. "The facilities are not here within the county if a youth has an acute mental health crisis," said Kay Mailloux. McKillop Coun. Sharon McClure said that losing Seaforth's high school naturally led to youth issues. Other youth issues identified were a decline in after-school job opportu- nities and a gap in communication between youth and various service clubs that could offer them a chance to fill the required 40 hours of com- munity service for a high school diploma. Huron United Way executive director Kim Payne said that while Trillium, funding runs out next June, the United Way is already working towards three more years of funding to continue the project. "There has been a lot of collabora- tion between groups in Huron County through this project and we want to keep the process going," she said. Steffler baffled, unsatisfied by response on Highway 8 concerns from Huron -Bruce MPP Susan H u n d e r t m a r k A letter from Huron -Bruce MPP Carol Mitchell outlining the provincial and federal transfer payments to municipalities has left Seaforth Coun. Joe Steffler unsatisfied and a little bit baffled. Dated Sept. 27, 2006, the letter responds to Steffler's concerns raised at an Oct. 3 council meeting about the bad shape of Highway 8 between Seaforth and Mitchell. And, the letter says it responds to his "recent letter outlining your suggestion for provincial input to municipalities on behalf of the transportation system in Ontario." "I didn't write to her and her reply didn't console me about fixing up our roads," he told Huron East council at its Oct. 17 meeting. Steffler says he's also upset that the response points out provincial and federal funding levels towards municipalities. Steffler also complained about Perth- Middlesex MPP John Wilkinson who said Huron East's concerns would be put on a list of infrastructure work that needed to be done."Highway 8 is a provincial road. We don't fix Highway 8. Obviously our members of parliament aren't listening to us. I'm not very happy about Carol or Mr. Wilkinson," he said. Mitchell's letter pointed out that municipal- ities are receiving up to $300,000 on a five- year basis from the federal government for transit projects and that Huron East gets over $3 million in transfer payments from the province's Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund. "Meanwhile we have all this heavy traffic on our municipal and county roads because they won't drive on Highway 8," said Steffler, pointing out the number of heavy trucks that travel through Seaforth to Goderich indus- tries. "I think this was a letter to tell the to shut up and carry on. The date of the letter is very annoying," he said. "I wonder what road she takes when she goes to Toronto," mused McKillop Coun. Sharon McClure. Tuckersmith Coun. Larry McGrath said Mitchell's reference to federal gas tax money makes it sound like municipalities should expect less from the province because of the gas tax money, which was designed to pay for transit systems in the city. "I think she's totally out of touch. It's a provincial hiihwaa;" he said.