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Inside
Christmas
home tour
See page 5
Radar
mechanics
recognized
See Crossroads
Second front
Santa's
coming
to town
NORTH POLE - A press release
delivered to the Times -Advocate
this morning confirmed Santa
Claus will be appearing in Exeter
on Saturday, Nov. 30.
Of course, Santa will be the fea-
tured guest at the annual parade
sponsored by the Lions Club and
the Exeter Business Association.
Parade chairman Jon Dinney said
the parade will begin at noon with
floats lining up on Huron St. East
prior to the start.
Dinney said cash prizes will be
awarded for floats in three catego-
ries: $100 for best overall float; $50
for the best school float and $50 for
the best religious theme.
The parade will conclude at the
South Huron Rec Centre where ad-
ditional activities will make it a fun
afternoon for the children.
There will be free skating from 2
to 4 p.m.
The Optimist Club will be hold-
ing a Christmas party beginning at
1:30 p.m.
From 2 to 4 p.m. the Huron Chil-
dren's Aid Society will present a
clown show. There will also be
face painting and free balloons.
For additional information con-
tact Jon Dinney at 235-0173.
Newspapers
arrive late
Although the Times -Advocate
arrived at the Highbury sorting
station in London at its regular
time Tuesday night hundreds of
subscribers were wondering
where their newspaper was
Wednesday.
So was the Times -Advocate
staff who fielded dozens of calls
from people who missed their fa-
vorite local newspaper. Appar-
ently the staff at the sorting sta-
tion neglected to put the
newspapers into the usually ef-
ficient delivery system.
It wasn't long before the error
was brought to the attention of
the Post Office but by then it was
too late to take corrective action
in time for Wednesday delivery.
We were assured by postal of-
ficials our subscribers would have
the T -A on Thursday, one day lat-
er than usual.
The Times -Advocate apologizes
for this delay.
Derrick Thomson of Woodham helps plant a tree at Usbome Central Public School for
Tree Plan Canada, a recent program that Involved planting 50 white ash with the help
of grades 1 and 2 students and their grade. 6 and 7 big buddies. Trees were also
planted at McCurdy Public School and McGillivray Central Public School.
Apprehension
shared about
hospital future
By Brenda Burke
T -A Reporter
EXETER - Area residents at-
tended a hospital focus meeting last
Wednesday morning at the South
Huron Recreation Centre to discuss
the future of health care in Huron
and Perth Counties.
Key questions asking participants
what they thought of the system
were posed by Susan Wolnik, a
health and community services con-
sultant who was to take suggestions
back to the Huron Perth District
Health Council. The council had in-
itiated community talks as part of
its Hospital and Related Services
Study.
"The purpose of this meeting to-
day is not so much the facts and
figures," responded Wolnik to
questions she suggested be directed
to the DHC.
She explained the necessity to
"feed priorities" back to the council
was the main goal of the sessions.
"The wisdom of the community al-
ways exceeds the knowledge of the
professionals," she added.
Participants voiced concerns in-
cluding hospital reductions as well
as the importance of service access-
ibility and proximity. Some men-
tioned the challenges winter storms
pose on area transportation as well
as the potential for farm -related ac-
cidents and reliance of Grand Bend
seniors on South Huron Hospital.
If South Huron closes, stressed
one Grand Bend resident, nearly
half of Grand Bend residents would
move out of the area and "the tax
impact would be devastating."
Suggestions for hospital cost sav-
ings included paying for parking,
renting out hospital rooms for other
purposes, having a common card
for patients of Huron Perth hos-
pitals and eliminating hospital beds
as well as management.
"I think there's been too much
management," pointed out one par-
ticipant, "as has always been the
case with big business."
It was also suggested people who
rely on doctors should seek out oth-
er professionals such as nurse prac-
titioners. User fees were men-
tioned, with special exceptions to
be made for chronic or sudden, se-
vere cases.
It was also noted hospital al-
liances would be more beneficial
than closures. Within the group,
fears were expressed that perhaps
plans have already been made con-
cerning hospital closures.
"I suspect there could be a hidden
agenda," said one man.
Results of the 33 small group
community meetings allowing a
maximum of 10 to 12 people are to
be reported immediately to the
DHC.
Is the Board of Ed competing Hur , h Prk'
with the
for sale or not
for sale?
The Public Education Foundation
is involved in providing internet
service as well as computers
By Heather Mir
T -A Reporter
CLINTON - After trustees received a number of
calls regarding an allegation the Huron County
Board of Education is competing with local private
business, the board set a special meeting for No-
vember 19 at 7:30 p.m. Those concerned with the
fundraising activities initiated by the Huron Public
Education Foundation, soon to be renamed a cor-
poration, is invited to attend this meeting.
The debate about the foundation's initiatives cen-
tred around a partnership developed with HOME -
town, a community based Internet service provider
(ISP). An e-mail sent to Director Paul Carroll as-
serted the board is pressuring its customers to
switch to HOMEtown or risk having the provider
abolished. It also stated at least two independent
service providers offered access at a far more rea-
sonable rate than HOMEtown, with better per-
formance and reliability.
According to Carroll, these letters continued in
such a manner he sent the lot to the board's lawyer
after making several attempts to repond himself.
He added the fundraising activities of the founda-
tion are a reality of the current provincial cutbacks
and a mandate to make boards function in a more
"businesslike fashion."
"I can't accept criticism with groups in the private
sector because we have been having such a great
success," said Carroll. "We sell a lot of things in
this system - unfortunately."
An information report to the board stated the
foundation has attempted to establish working part-
nerships with two local ISPs however it was felt the
private businesses were looking only to sell their
services and not to create a mutually beneficial
partnership.
Concern was also raised by trustees about the sale
of computers by the foundation. In cooperation
with the Bank of Montreal, the foundation comput-
er store offered lower-cost computers to students
with extended purchase plans. This program was
set up with the idea of helping to achieve equity of
access for students in the Huron education system.
"I've had lots of calls," said Trustee Colleen
Schenk. "1 do think we should have drawn the line
at computers."
Some trustees are worried about activities the
or Continued on page 2
HURON PARK - Once again, Huron Park residences may be on the
selling block.
Director of Agency Relations Jim Orgill, with the Ministry of Econom-
ic Development and Trade, was reached at his office Monday morning.
The ministry oversees the Ontario Development Corporation, which leas-
es Huron Park residences. Orgill admitted the park is currently being re-
viewed as an asset.
"We're looking at options," he said.
When asked if the residences were for sale he replied, "The answer to
your question is - we don't know."
An employee at the Huron Park ODC office echoed that response.
"I don't think anyone really knows the answer to that question yet."
Last February, Brother James Steele, under the company name, Steele
Semper Fidelis Inc., claimed he would purchase the residential portion of
the park and improve the community with a separate PACS (Partnership
in Community Services) organization.
According to Huron Park residents, Brother James vacated his home in
the subdivision last summer.
KCMG recommends dual county model
This option provides the second best financial savings while allowing time to
negotiate service delivery and removing immediate threat to county finances
By Heather Mir
T -A Reporter
EXETER - The consultants hired to complete a feasibility
study for the amalgamation of a portion of Bosanquet, Grand
Bend, Exeter, Stephen and Usbome Township presented a fi-
nal draft last Wednesday night. Although a model that plac-
es the new municipality in Lambton County was proven to
create the most savings, the preferred option maintains par-
ticipation in both Lambton and Huron for a
period of at least three years.
"The creation of an amalgamated municipal-
ity that continues to receive services from
both counties provides the second lowest res-
idential tax rate and the lowest commercial
tax rate. It also provides both counties with
interim financial stability in relation to their
general levies," states the report.
In its final report, KPMG was asked to look
into the option of a dual county model. Al-
though the current legislation prohibits this
structure, informal discussion with the Ministry of Mu-
nicipal Affairs indicated the minister may "soften" his posi-
tion on this issue if a convincing argument is presented.
According to the report, the dual county scenario would
provide similar benefits as the Huron County model. All op-
tions would provide an initial annual savings of $777,000
"Quite
I don't
save
want
the s
plus an additional $200,000 annual savings achieved
through reengineering of services and further facility and
program consolidation. This model assumes the same level
of service will continue to be provided and savings would
be achieved through a reduced number of councillors and
staff as well as a consolidation of administrative facilities.
"The time period would allow the municipality to de-
termine how to deliver any services, including obtaining
competitive alternative service delivery quotations, that it
was considering taking over from, the
counties."
The current residential tax rate for a
$100,000 home including county levy is
$569. KPMG predicts a taxpayer in the amal-
gamated municipality under the dual county
model would save $148 on a $100,000 home.
The commercial savings on the same assess-
ment is calculated to be $173.
The study looked at the option of separating
from the county system but neither Huron or
Umbton was able to provide the information
requested for the report. Because the option will still be
available in three years, the study advises it would be ap-
propriate for the amalgamated municipality to remain with-
in a county system for an interim period.
Joining Lambton or Huron County was also considered as
an option. Depending on the scenario, either county would
frankly
want to
$148. I
to keep
ervices
intact "
}
lose assessment. If the Huron option were chosen, Lambton
County would lose approximately three per cent of its 1996
levy or $654,567. It the Lambton option were chosen, Huron
would lose nearly 18 per cent of its levy or $1,512,073.
Negative impacts
Among the key findings of the report, the estimated impact
to the portion of Bosanquet outside the study area would be
an increase of approximately 31 per cent or $320,630 to cur-
rent taxes. The loss to Hay Township translates to ap-
proximately a 7 per cent tax increase to those residents living
outside the study area.
Compensation
Although the report indicates compensation to a municipal-
ity negatively affected by amalgamation should only be used
as a last resort, the committee, minus Bosanquet, met to dis-
cuss the issue and has come up with a figure of $600,000
compensation for Bosanquet. Capital additions that remain in
the balance of the town will be deducted from the compensa-
tion with the minimum amount set at $400,000. This offer
will be taken to all municipal councils for their input, which
will be received at the next meeting on November 6.
)pectoral system
The ward structure issue held over from the last meeting was
again discussed. Exeter revisited a motion tabled at the July
17 meeting that created an electoral system of 11 members:
one from Usborne, three from Exeter, Stephen and Grand
ler Continued ea page 2