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The Huron Expositor, 1983-04-27, Page 1,rn"Fr:b V 41. Incorporaung O Bir :ssels Post 60. pet coPy xnnsi}or SEAFO.RT.H, ONTARIO WEDNESDAY, APRIL 27, 1983 — 20 PAGES Town has $49,350 de The Town of Seaforth ended 1982 with a 9.350 deficit, according to the financial statement presented at a special council meeting Monday night. Cost over runs 1n several areas caused the problem, with revenue of 51,083,164, about 511,000 more . than was expected. Archie Leach of the town's accounting firm, Atkinson, Leach and Neill, • who presented the 1982 financial statement, said "the deficit arose from costs that were really not controllable by council." But, he added, "coUncil will have to do long range planning to future". because the town faces more capital expenditures. What the deficit will do to 1983 taxes isn't known yet as council is still working on this year's budget. After more than an hour in open session, council moved into commit- tee of the whole to go over the budget again in detail. "We need a chance to look it over and plan." said Mayor Alf Ross. The budget will be released at council's May 10 meeting. "The bottom lint is we are starting 1983 with a $49,350 deficit we have to make up," asked councillor Henry Mero, and the accountant answered in the affirmative. Mr. Leach said the deficit comes from four major areas. Interest rates in 1982 were high for council's short term borrowing; the many owners of homes in Seaforth insulated with urea formaldehyde foam appealed their assessments and paid less in taxes than was budgeted for; engineering fees for the town's proposed new landfill site were all paid in 1982 and extra charges were levied for treating the ground water that continues to infiltrate into Seaforth's sewage system. December's mild weather, clerk Jim Crocker explained. actually cost the town money. Rain made its way into the sewers where it "cost us more than it would have to remove it (if it had been) snow." The usual December sewage treatment bill of 55,700 more than doubled to 512,000. Sewage infiltration has been a continuing problem in town and the clerk said a report on the problem, from engineer Burns Ross, is now with the Ministry of the Environment. Council will be meeting with the ministry to decide whether to repair or rebuild the sewers or expand the lagoon to take the extra New conflict explained to BY SUSAN HUNDERTMARK report the member The new municipal conflict-of-interest weeks.. legislation that came into effect March I, is A councillor can conic into conflict- if he or nothing to be "hysterial about" or she was a direct or indirect pecuniary "ashamed of", 'London lawyer, John Judson (financial) interest in a matter concerning told close to 70 elected officials from Huron council. If the matter involves a, financial County last week. Mr. Judson was the interest of his spouse, parents. child, a chairman of the Association of Municipalities, business partner, or an em 'oyer, the in Ontario (AMO) when it reviewed the, legislation before it was passed. "The act is not intended to expose you as connected with some insidious involvement in the community," he said. "if you're honest and frank, nobody can condemn you. But; if you act guilty. the press will sec you act guilty and you'll find it in the paper the next day. 1 think it's a self-fulfilling • prophecy." Mr. Judson and Charlies Godkin, of the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, held their third in a series of seven meetings in Western Ontario, last Tuesday at Huron - view to educate municipal politicians about the revision of the act and to clear up any concerns or misconceptions. The act, which was first passed in 1972, has now been revised so that a municipal politician must explain the nature of any conflict in addition to declaring it in the first place. And. any citizen who suspects a ' council member of not declaring a conflict can water "ormaybe a combination of both," the clerk said. General government ' expenses were 522.000 over last year's, reflecting the urea insulation tax write offs, higher interest costs, a $3,000 unbudgeted grant to the Vanastra Recreation Centre and extra office expenses related to •the new arena, for a total- of 5233,450. Protection to persons and property costs were 5218.979, compared to 1981 s 5189,073 and a budget of 521. .603. Mr. Leach said fire call expenses were up $4,0000nd uniform costs decreased by 52,000. j' Transportation services were $23..000 over budget and 556,000 over 1981's because of an extra 510,000 paid to former arena employees who went on public works staff, the Market St. reconstruction going 56,000 over budget and 56,000 in unexpected equipment repairs. Environment services expenses were 518,000 over budget when revenue is taken into account, Mr. Leach explained, 512,000 in water infiltration costs and 56,000 for the landfill site Environmental Assessment Act studies. 0 Recreation and cultural services were under budget, reflecting a 510.000 saving in arena wages and 58,000 for tennis court improvements which were not made. The actual expenditure here was 5155.882, compared to 5194,793 in 1981 and a budget of 5180.216. Planning exenses too were less than expected. 57,572 versus 1981 spending of 53,132 and a budget of 59,530. The official plan wasn't completed in 1982. On the revenue sid4, fees and service charges declined from a budgeted figure of $$60,60.8 to an actual 5245,545 reflecting the lack of revenue from the arena in 1982. The town ended 1981 with a deficit of $7.404. The last deficit occurred in 1978 when it was 520.000 and in 1977, Seaforth ended the year with a deficit of 522.000. In 1980 the town had a surplus of $36,000 and in ,1979. a surplus of 538,000. Clerk Crocker commented that the deficit points up the need for more long range planning. In future, he said. ,the town will have to bring in "a budget Tor this year. plus an indication of capital expenditures for the next few years." of interest law is local councillors to a judge within six Some exceptions to the conflict-of-interest act include members who have a financial interest that is in common with the rest of the electors and members who have an intgrest in land affected by work under the Drainage Act or the Local Improvement Act. "1 think the exception from the Drainage p Act is an important relief especially in rural councillor is in conflict. Also, if the council ' areas," Mr. Judson said. member is a member of a body or has a The act states that the elected official controlling interest or is a senior officer of a himself is responsible for declaring his corporation in which the council is concerned, interest and its nature, keeping out of any - he or she is in conflict.. discussion or voting on the matter, and "The act does not care if you are voting for refraining from trying to influence the voting. It's nothing to be "hysterical about" or against your interest or even if you don't affect the outcome; it only cares that you have a pecuniary interest." said .Mr. Judson. Even if the councillor is a member of a local group that wants a grant from the govern- ment for a charitable cause, he is in conflict. "If you're the recreation director of the local Optimist Club and also sitting on council. you'll have a conflict of interest if you ask council for a grant for hockey equipment for the boys. 1t doesn't matter if you're not going to benefit personally." "it's a useful symbolic gesture to mous back from the council table when you declare a conflict of interest." said Mr. Judson. If the meeting is closed to the public, the councillor is responsible to declare' the conflict .and leave the room while the matter is discussed. When the meeting is again open to the public. he or she must then decliire the conflict and its nature once again. This section of the act does not cover the committee meetings of Huron county council which are never open to the public. The way the act now stads. a conflict declared during the closed meeting would never be known to voters since the meeting is always closed. There are three penalties for councillors who do not mention their conflicts. They are removed from office and either disqualified from running for office for seven years or regdtred to pay restitution if they received personal gain. However, if the judge determines that the council member made an error in judgement. was ignorant of the law, or received bad legal .advice. the penalty could be waived. Policing is done only by citizens and other oliticians even though AMO recommended hat the Attorney Gener,,al be given some of t ' responsibility. , • •The odds of you being caught in a conflict of iftgrest are the same odds of being bit by a car tonight when you leave," said Mr. Judson, he A In theory and in practise, the Hon. Eugene Whelan supports his fellow Liberal MP Ralph Ferguson s controversial bill C653. Speaking to over 350 Liberal party supporters from the federal ridings of Perth and Huron -Bruce in Mitchell on April 21, the federal agriculture minister said his office has dealt with -farmers facing financial difficulty on a steady basis for the past two years and this proposed bill will assist them. The bill, currently before the House of Commons agriculture standing committee, is ARMY"ddOMES TO TOWN=The flat ROA' C'afiradiiin Regiment stath:hied'9n' dridon, stopped in Seaforth Monday before continuing to Camp Borden near Barrie. Heidi Dale of Seaforth was thrilled to sit in the driver's seat of an armoured carrier. Following exercises at Barrie, the regiment will return to home base. .(Wassink photo) Ian supports Ferguson farm bill the re -introduction of an act passed in the 1930s to assist not only farmers, but small businessmen in financial difficulty. One aspect of the proposed bill that Mr. Whelan spoke of, is mediation. He pointed to a system in Saskatchewan which has lending institutions giving three -months' notice before foreclosures are made. The agriculture minister disagrees that passage of a bill will curtail the lending activities of the banks to farmers and small businessmen. The bill, said Mr. Whelan, does not say banks shall forgive loans, rather a court hearing is held where foregiveness or partial foregiveness of debt is considered. "i say that is not so wrong," commented Mr. Whelan. The federal MP also praised the Liberal government's recently introduced 1983 bud- get. "It means concern for the people,• small businesses, big business, construction and agriculture," said the cabinet minister. Please turn to page 3 Rabies worries local veterinarian. CLOSE CALL—Damage has been estimated at $10,000 in a two vehicle accident, Monday, April 25 at 12:30 p.m. A 1982 Chev pickup driven by Gail Campbell, 40, of RR1 Seaforth and a 1982 Oldsmobile operated by Dorothy Dalton, 49, of RR2, Londesboro, collided at the intersection of County Road 12 and concession six and seven. McKillop township. The Campbell pickup was heading west and the Dalton vehicle was travelling south towards Seaforth. The two drivers and a passenger in the Dalton vehicle, Ro ert Dalton, were admitted to Seaforth Community Hospital wit\ minor. injuries. Constable T.W. Jansen of the Goderich OPP investlg'ated: (Wassink photo) BY RON WASSINK A major outbreak of rabies this summer is a prime concern of Dr. -Brian Nuhn, owner of the Seaforth Veterinary Clinic, Friday morning was spent with Dr. Nuhn, travelling to various area farms. Vets are the last of the medical profession who still make "house calls". Three vets work out of the clinic. They average 18 calls per day and when busy, 25 to 30 calls. Somebody is on call seven days a week, 24 hours per day. Spring is the busy season, says Brian, because cows are calving and the animals have been tied up in barns too long, resulting in little exercise. A major sickness following calving is milk fever, caused by low blood calcium. The calcium level drops from the sudden letdown in milk which is high in calcium. 'A common symptom is that the cow will not be able to stand. "it's an emergenry call. We try to get to the farm within an hour." Dairy ca E fA4pond quickly to treatment. •' A epwat out, responds to intravenous calcium. The success rate is high," Dr. Nuhn says. A cow which is prone to low calcium levels can be injected with Vitamin D as a precaution. says Brian. The first call of the day was at the dairy farm of Jack van Miltenburg of RR4, Seaforth, for a herd health visit. "1 do a lot of dairy in our herd health program. It constitutes the g?eatest amount of work." The purpose of herd health is to examine cows which have calved, and cows which have been re -bred. Brian explained the examination entails checking a cow 's uterus and ovaries to make sure she is cycling normally and to look for infection. The examination entails inserting a gloved hand into the rectum. a not too pleasant job when - 80 cows have to be checked in a two hour period. Throughout the examination of the 50 cows at the van Miltenburg farm, Brian questioned Jack on the health of other . calves and cows. Of the 50 calves born. Jack said they were in perfect health. "We only lost three." A loss of five per cent is considered normal. said Brian. Death often results from scours or pneumonia. "This cow had a calf the day before yesterday and she's clean as a whistle," said Jack. Brian confirmed that the cow had cleaned (no after -birth remained). Involved in the program four years, Jack said it has improved the health of his herd. Jack, like other dairy producers. hopes for heifer calves. "One Sunday, we have five newborn calves and they were all heifers." At first, the dairy cows were not used to rectal examinations, said Brian. They are now used to me and are fairly quiet." The herd is quietbecause a cane is never used to strike the cows, says .lack. Sweat glistening on his forehead. Brian said he injured his shoulder seven years ago playing ball. "My arm gets sore checking cows. especially 80 in two hours." Before he had a shoulder operation. a cow would only have to shift to dislocate his shoulder. "I would have to prate a solid object and walk L away from it to put it back in place. The shoulder is the most used joint in large animal vets.'' Before leaving. Jack told Brian that recently born twin calves "are healthy s fish• "The calves shine and I haven't hear any coughing. Let's keep our fingers crossed,' said Brian. RABIES The largest problem farmers and veteri- narians will face this year is rabies. The increase is due to an increase in wildlife population in the county. The mild winter could have promoted more wildlife, "There have been seven rabies cases in the area in March. The rabies was found in wild `animals and one cat", said the veterinarian. Dairy cows and cattle are very susceptible to rabies because, of their curious nature. "Cows investigate anything strange with their noses and are very prone to wild . animal bites. "Rabies scares veterinarians. We are in a high risk category. If we see a cow with any signs which could be related to the disease. -we automatically assume it's rabies until proven otherwise.-' The implications of the disease are drilled into vet Students at university. says Brian. If ' the signs are seen in humans, it's fatal. No vets have died from rabies in the past few years, but it has happened." Please turn to page 15 150 years ago this summer two Scotts and Dicksons came to Roxboro. This summer they'll celebrate /A8 All the SPS students from grades 5 - 8 have contributed to this week's production - of Tom Sawyer / A 3 A medal from a Brucefield native has come back to Seaforth DHS° /A13 linden Births /A9 Brussels news /A6, 7 Classified /A16, 17, 18 Dublin news /A4, 5 Entertainment /A10 Family ;48, 9 Farm/A14, 15 Hensall news /A13 Kids /420 Obituaries /45 People /A10 Smiley /A2 Something to Say /A2 Sports /411, 12 Walton, Londesboro, /A18 1