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The Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) is a huge
benefit to Huron-Kinloss and the township has agreed to support
the agency's 2009 budget.
At the Jan. 19 council meeting, councillor Anne Eadie said the
recent SVCA meeting turned a little ugly because of the
eight-per-cent increase to the municipal levy. "That's what
happens when money gets scarce," she said. "It gets tougher each
year. We have to keep lobbying the province to have the SVCA's
operational funding restored."
She said the major portion of the budget is the wage hike
implemented two years ago. "We were losing ground to our
competitors and losing staff," she said. "The average salary had
to increase."
Eadie said the SVCA drew from reserves to keep the hike at eight
per cent. Overall, the budget increase was only 1.17 per cent,
she said.
"The SVCA has directed more grant money toward Huron-Kinloss, to
the tune of about $240,000," said Eadie. "And they're helping us
to get more tree cover in the Pine River watershed."
For Huron-Kinloss, the increase puts the township's levy at
$75,111.12, up from $68,554.75 last year. "The SVCA had to make
some difficult choices," said Eadie. "Unless they get the
provincial funding back, they'll continue to drain their
reserves. Otherwise, they'll have to cut back on staff, programs
and services if municipalities can't pay the levy."
"We're not questioning what the SVCA provides," said councillor
Jim Hanna. "It's an entity we can't live without."
"I wish the federal and provincial governments would realize
what we have," said Eadie. "We need to preserve what we have -
good air quality and good water quality."
She noted that the cost of the SVCA levy equals about $16 per
capita in the township. That's about three to four times what it
costs in the urban centres, she said.
Council supported the budget, and Eadie will take that back when
the SVCA directors vote February 12. (next column)
02/02/2009 04:01 PM
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In other business ...
*The township has approved an exemption to the purchasing policy and
given pre-budget approval for the purchase of a used 54-inch, heavy-duty
blower attachment for the Gravely mower, at a cost of $2,500 plus GST,
from Hackett's Farm Equipment, Lucknow.
At the general committee meeting Jan. 12, facilities and recreation
director Mike Fair said the unit will be used for snow removal at the
Ripley-Huron Community Centre and will be particularly useful during
heavy weekend snowfall when the facility is virtually not accessible
until the roads are cleared. Staff has tested the unit and believes it
will meet the needs for parking lot access. It will also be used to
clear the eight building accesses on a regular basis, said Fair, and
will be easier than shovelling around emergency exits, during excessive
snowfall and blowing snow.
*Council has granted pre-budget approval to the hiring of B.M. Ross and
Associates to prepare the annual Lucknow sewage performance report, at a
cost of $4,000.
*The township has sold its 1990 pumper truck, declared surplus to the
Ripley-Huron Fire Department, to the Municipality of Markstay-Warren,
for $12,500. This is the same municipality that purchased the 1992
Lucknow truck.
*Council has approved the purchase of an Olympia ice-resurfacing machine
for the Ripley-Huron Arena.
In general committee Jan. 12, Fair said the existing machine could soon
get costly to run, requiring about $12,000 in major repairs. "We don't
want to get into a rental situation," he said. "We are in pretty good
shape to purchase a new machine, but it'll take six to eight months
delivery time to get it."
He prefers the Olympia machine because staff is familiar with that make,
and it's a Canadian company.
The new machine comes with a laser-levelling system which keeps the ice
at a constant thickness, said Fair. "It saves on hydro, and wear and
tear on equipment. It's expensive but it will pay for itself in three to
four years."
*Council approved the payment of accounts in the amount of $2,606,713.07
for December, 2008.
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