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Township budget talks turn heated By Liz Dadson |
Huron-Kinloss council To Comment on this article Click Here |
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The Huron-Kinloss budget talks Thursday night turned heated when council began debating the needs and wants of the Ripley Fire Department. During the budget meeting in February, council decided to put $30,000 into reserves for a new fire truck in Ripley, but pulled $20,000 from the fire department budget and said fire chief Doug Martyn would have to decide what is needed most - air bags or uniforms. It was noted, at that time, that the Lucknow Fire Department does not use air bags and the firefighters wear white shirts and ties, not uniforms. Thursday night, councillor Jim Hanna said the fire chief was given a total of $50,000 - $30,000 into reserves and $20,000 to use for air bags or uniforms. "We have three new firefighters who need bunker gear," said Martyn. "If I take $12,000 out of that ($20,000), there's not much left." "We're looking for cost-savings here," said Hanna. "We've been requesting these (uniforms) for 15 years," argued Martyn. "I get the feeling that our municipality doesn't want us to have uniforms." He said his department wanted the air bags and the uniforms, but if it's not in the budget, then the department would do without. Administrator Mary Rose Walden explained that the requested amount from the fire department was $73,000 - $30,000 for reserves, $12,000 for bunker gear, $21,000 for air bags, and $10,000 for uniforms. Council approved the reserve money, the bunker gear and another $11,000, leaving it to the fire chief's discretion where to spend that money. "So, we get half the money for the air bags and no uniforms," said Martyn. "We have another fire department in this municipality that doesn't value air bags," said Hanna. "Are we always going to be compared to Lucknow?" asked Martyn, angrily. "Likely," said Hanna. "So, if Lucknow has an air compressor, then we get one?" asked Martyn. "Either we have it and they don't, or they have it and we don't." He said the department can get along fine without air bags. It just borrows one when needed. "But if we want to handle a tractor roll-over, for example, or a transport truck or feed truck roll-over, we have to wait for someone else to come in." Councillor Lillian Abbott asked if the department could fund-raise for uniforms. "We did that for the winter jackets we wear," said Martyn, asking if council would have the fire department fund-raise for equipment next? "We're not asking you to fund-raise for equipment," said Abbott. Martyn said that the Kincardine and Paisley fire departments have uniforms, and in many cases, the firefighters keep the uniforms when they retire or give them back to the department. "I can buy the air bags over time, I guess," said Martyn. "You run a good ship," said councillor Carl Sloetjes, "but we can't have you coming in here and getting mad about things like this. Then, I tend to go against you." "If I have $11,000 for the air bags, I can live with that," said Martyn. Treasurer Jodi MacArthur said the 2011 draft budget includes a 2.33-per-cent increase in the residential tax rate. Combined with the Bruce County levy and the education taxes, the total tax rate actually decreased by 1.9 per cent. Based on the average property assessment increase, homeowners can expect an overall increase of about 4.5 per cent. This means a homeowner with an average residential assessment of $233,000 will pay $109 more this year in taxes.
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MacArthur noted some positive developments for 2011:
However, on the expense side:
The rain gauge project in Lucknow is required to act as an early warning system in the event of flooding. The three-year project includes $10,200 to purchase and install a cellular model to be used by the entire system, and install one rain gauge and radio. Year two and three will see the addition of two rain gauges and radios each year, at a cost of $9,400 per year. Staff is investigating the feasibility of getting funding for this project through the Joint Emergency Preparedness Program (JEPP). "It's appalling that the (Ontario) Ministry of Natural Resources is not picking up the cost of this project," said mayor Mitch Twolan, "but it's a safety issue and it's the right thing to do." Council agreed to authorize public works director Hugh Nichol to proceed with paving projects and equipment purchases, including two road graders and a loader. Nichol said asphalt prices have decreased so more paving can be done this year through Lavis Contracting. He also told council that the quotes for a new pick-up truck favoured Dennis Pierson Chevrolet of Kincardine, at $27,000, compared to Leslie Motors of Wingham at $29,000, and Montgomery Ford of Lucknow and Kincardine at $31,000. And finally, Abbott informed council that a committee has been appointed to study the possibility of bringing natural gas to this area. The committee includes representatives from Kincardine, Huron-Kinloss and Arran-Elderslie. The study would cost about $100,000, with Kincardine paying half, and the two townships splitting the remainder. This means Huron-Kinloss would be on the hook for about $15,000 to $20,000, said Abbott. She said connecting to natural gas would benefit a lot of businesses and industry in the township. The 2011 budget was approved at the special council meeting last night (April 25). Scrolling stops when you move your mouse inside the scroll area. You can click on the ads for more
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