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The Times Advocate, 2005-01-26, Page 22 Exeter Times–Advocate Wednesday, January 26, 2005 Regional wrap up BIA faces questions ODERICH — The Goderich Business Improvement Area (BIA) plan to expand its boundaries is being questioned by local businesses. The Goderich Signal - Star reported last week a meeting was held and local business owners asked questions about the benefits they will receive for paying the new municipal levy. At least one Goderich business, the Maple Leaf Motel, will formal- ly object to the BIA expansion, according to co-owner Tom Elliott. Elliott said he expects to be charged an addi- tional $700 surtax. Flu outbreak SEAFORTH — Two cases of Influenza A have closed the Maplewood Manor in Seaforth to the public. As reported in the Huron Expositor, the cases are the first out- break this year in Huron County. Seaforth Community Hospital has seen some patients with flu-like symptoms, but there has not been "a rash of cases," according to site leader Mary Schalk. Nine people at Maplewood are experi- encing flu-like symp- toms.. Linda Stobo, of the health unit, said a good rate of participation in receiving flu shots is helping to reduce the number of cases of influenza. She added with the first confirmed cases, residents should take extra precautions to combat the spread of the influenza, and flushots are still avail- able. SH to consider water rates for apartment buildings By Scott Nixon TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF SOUTH HURON — Council is taking another look at its new water rates for Exeter, as it con- siders how to charge apartment buildings for water use. Council passed the first and sec- ond readings of the new South Huron water and sewer rates, but held back on the third and final reading Monday night after Coun. Pete Armstrong said he agrees with some members of the public who in the past have said charg- ing apartments more would lessen the water charge increases on those who live in homes. For example, the new water rates in Exeter for a home include a $75 quarterly charge plus a charge of 57 cents per cubic metre of water used. Armstrong said by billing apartment build- ings, that $75 quarterly fee for homeowners could come down and that way everybody pays fair- ly. As it stands now, apartment buildings have one water meter and a building receives one water bill as though there were one resi- dent. Chief administrative officer Larry Brown said the municipality can look at installing new rates for apartment buildings that would reflect the fact they are multi -residential units. Coun. George Robertson agreed with Armstrong's concerns and said new rates for apartment buildings would benefit the entire municipality. "Why didn't we think of this before?" Robertson asked, to which Brown replied there is an unlimited number of water rate options municipalities can look at. Operations manager Dennis Hockey said the municipality could look at charging apartment buildings on a "demand rate," depending on the size of connec- tion they use. Staff will look at different options and report back to coun- cil. Other council notes: UpperThames increase Upper Thames River Conservation Authority (UTRCA) general manager Ian Wilcox pre- sented the UTRCA's 2005 prelimi- nary budget to council Monday night, which includes some increases for South Huron. While South Huron is the largest municipal contributor to the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority's general levy, it is the smallest in the UTRCA. Municipalities pay based on assessment. The conservation authority is asking for $3,624 from South Huron in 2005, an increase of $467. The cost includes the gen- eral levy of $3,357 (up 6.3 per cent from last year's $3,158), a $63 charge for specific projects (a figure South Huron hasn't had to pay before) and a new 7.5 per cent surcharge on the general levy, which all 11 member munic- ipalities are being asked to pay. South Huron's portion comes out to $204. The latter fee is being charged, Wilcox explained, because for the past 10 years the UTRCA has deferred projects for repairs such as building upgrades and the con- servation has reached the point where some buildings are being condemned. The fee will raise $97,000 from the municipalities for the conservation authority to upgrade its existing infrastruc- ture, although Wilcox said over $1 million would be needed to make all the necessary upgrades. The UTRCA's total 2005 budget is $9.6 million, 33 per cent of which comes from its member municipalities, 45 per cent comes from direct revenue (things like campground fees and permits), the federal and provincial govern- ments kick in nine per cent each, while four per cent comes from Ministry of Natural Resources grants. The UTRCA board votes on the new budget Feb. 22. South Huron council, concerned about the per- centage increase the UTRCA is asking for, has asked the conser- vation authority to provide the municipality with information on what kind of increases the UTRCA has asked South Huron for over the past five years. As Mayor Rob Morley explained, the UTRCA is asking for a substantial percent- age increase, and South Huron has been tough with the ABCA in the past when it comes to increas- es. Wilcox agreed the increases are substantial, but said they are jus- tified. Wilcox added that the UTRCA is lobbying the province to pay the $13.8 million in funding it has promised conservation authorities across Ontario. "The bull's-eye isn't just on the Hensall unanimously picks pipeline By Pat Bolen TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF HENSALL — Hensall's water will be supplied by pipeline after a unanimous vote Jan. 20 in Hensall. All the 38 residents at the meet- ing with Hensall Ward Coun. Rod Parker voted in favour of the pipeline. The vote was discussed at Bluewater council Monday night, with a motion passed to proceed with talks with South Huron on joining with the municipality on a pipeline. At the meeting in Hensall, Parker gave an overview of the options available for residents to vote on, which were the pipeline option, dilution or nitrate treat- ment and the costs for each. Approximate costs of the options are $2.3 million for nitrate treat- ment, $2.1 million for dilution and $6.1 million for the pipeline. A questionnaire previously given to Hensall residents on the pre- ferred choice had been heavily in favour of the pipeline option with a 50 per cent subsidy. The vote Thursday night didn't take in account whether or not a subsidy was available. Asked what would happen if the dilution option was chosen and wells were drilled, Parker said he couldn't speculate what would happen when drilling started. "The problem has been around for years...it's gone away and come back." Parker added the engineers were confident they would find enough water when they drilled down to bedrock, but said he couldn't guarantee they wouldn't be back in five or ten years. Parker said the reason the meet- ing was held was to give people one more chance to make their feelings heard. "I want the problem to go away. I don't want it lingering. My chil- dren are here, too," he said. Asked what the status of the London pipeline application was, which would mean a 50 per cent subsidy on the Hensall pipeline, Coun. Jim Fergusson said the application went in before Christmas. Nothing has been heard since with governments on their Christmas break, Fergusson said. Replying to a question about the water quality that would be deliv- ered through the line, Fergusson said he could guarantee the quali- ty, quantity and reliability of the Lake Huron water supply system. At the council meeting Monday night Bluewater Mayor Bill Dowson said the next decision was how big the pipeline was going to be and whether the municipality was going to spend the money to oversize the pipeline for future use. Public works manager Ross Fisher said he would have infor- mation on oversizing the line for the next council meeting. Council then voted to proceed with talks with South Huron on joining the line from Grand Bend. municipal forehead," he said, adding the province is also requir- ing conservation authorities to do things without providing funding for them. 2004 fire report South Huron fire chief John Morgan presented his annual report for 2004, noting response calls were down in Exeter and in Huron Park, but were up 100 per cent in Dashwood. The Exeter station responded to 63 calls, down from 2003's 70. In Huron Park, the station respond- ed to 26 calls in 2004, down one from the previous year. The Dashwood department responded to 18 calls, up nine from 2003. Morgan explained the fire departments are being called out to more vehicle accidents because it is mandated by the province. In some cases, the dispatcher in London is calling the South Huron department out to accidents where they aren't needed. While they have to respond to the call, Morgan hasn't been sending out bills for the unnecessary calls because they aren't providing any service. Also of note was the Exeter Villa had eight false alarms in 2004 because of a malfunctioning alarm system. There is no charge for the first false alarm, but the Villa has received a bill of $3,707.50 for the other seven. Also, Morgan reported com- plaints of open fires in the munici- pality were down substantially to only five in 2004. He said that's because the public is becoming more knowledgeable of the municipality's burning bylaw. POLICE BRIEF Exeter windows damaged EXETER — On Jan. 19, the owner of Katch-A-Ray on Main Street reported proper- ty damage. Sometime through the night a person using what is believed to be a pellet gun shot the front windows of the business. The officer found two round holes about a cen- timetre in width through the windows with vertical cracks that had formed after the pellets had struck the win- dows. 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