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STEVE NEWMAN steve.newman@metroland.com
It’s not what the Renfrew Industrial Commission had committed to the local physician-recruitment campaign, but it’s still a lot of money. In a reiteration of its support for the doctor recruitment campaign led by the Renfrew and Area Health Service’s Village, Renfrew Industrial Commission executive director Dave Lemkay notified the health services village last week that RIC will commit $900,000 to recruiting doctors to the area. In a news release yesterday, Lemkay said the commission “commends the Health Services Village for its successes to date and trusts that this contribution will assist further constructive progress in its effort at physician recruitment in our community.” With the recent hiring of Dr. Susan Krajewski, as the general surgeon at Renfrew Victoria Hospital, the recruitment campaign has netted six of the 14 doctors the Village hopes to bring to the area over a 10-year period that began in 2010. Enticements for physicians coming to the area include $25,000 over each of the doctor’s first six year, upon signing. This
includes financial commitments from Renfrew, and the townships of Greater Madawaska, Horton and AdmastonBromley. “We’re prepared to go $900,000 so we can honour that commitment,” to help bring doctors to the area, said Lemkay. He said the commission’s resources “are not infinite,” but rather directed to serving as a support for existing businesses and to attract new businesses. Lemkay acknowledged that discussions with a notable international business could result in a significant announcement this spring. “RIC’s mainstay activities have always been, and continue to be focused on supporting the business and industrial climate in the town and working to grow the platform to attract new industry,” said Lemkay. “In that vein, RIC is in negotiations with two international companies that are looking seriously at locating new operations in Renfrew. Much of the preliminary work, to have serious discussions with such prospects, has been done over the course of this past year. “Of course, these events happen behind the scenes, but we’re excited with the progress that’s been made … an important element of attracting manufac-
turing companies to consider locating in our area is the preparatory work required to set that stage. This sort of ac-
Information Corner TOWNSHIP OF HORTON Website: www.hortonrecreation.com
HORTON RINK FRIDAY NIGHT FAMILY SKATE 6 – 8 P.M. February 17, 2012 SPONSORED BY R.G.T. CLOUTHIER CONSTRUCTION LTD OUR CANTEEN WILL BE OPENED Warm up with some Hot Chocolate or Hot dogs before or after your skate!
NOTICE FOR PUBLIC MEETING RE CHANGES TO FEES AND CHARGES A public meeting will be held on Tuesday, March 6, 2012 at 7:00 p.m. in the Horton Council Chambers 2253 Johnston Road, RR#5 Renfrew, Ontario to consider a recommendation of the Finance Committee that Council enact a new Fees and Charges By-law. A copy of the proposed by-law is available for review at the Municipal Office during regular Office Hours. Mackie J. McLaren CAO/Clerk
More than $90,000 in council remuneration, expenses last year steve.newman@metroland.com
Remuneration and expenses for Horton council members exceeded $90,000 in 2011. The finance manager’s statement of remuneration and expenses, which was released at the Feb. 7 meeting of Horton council, shows Mayor Don Eady receiving $21,076.84 in remuneration and benefits. With an additional $2,888.54 in mileage for conferences and other council business, Eady received a total of $23,964.38. Eady noted his conference expenses were higher than normal, partly because he used his credit card to pay expenses of three council members (including himself) during last fall’s waste management tour to the Barrie area. In 2011, Coun. Bob Kingsbury received $18,655.29 in total remuneration and expenses, including $1,488 in mileage. Coun. Jamey Larone received a total of $18,637.01, with $825.37 in mileage and $17,811.64 in remuneration and benefits. Coun. Margaret White received $14,718.52 in total payments. Her mileage expenses amounted to $1,244.97; her remuneration and benefits to $13,473.55.
Coun. Glen Campbell’s total remuneration and benefits reached $14,144.95. He had the second-highest payout for mileage, of $1,985.28, while his remuneration and benefits amounted to $12,159.67. Horton passed a remuneration bylaw in September 2010 that bumped annual salaries up to $7,000 for councillors and $11,000 for the mayor. The bylaw was recommended by the township’s remuneration committee. There is no extra remuneration for the month’s first two meetings for each council member. For subsequent meetings each month, no payment is made for meetings lasting less than 30 minutes. Payment is $50 for meetings lasting less than two hours; $70 for meetings of two to four hours; and $140 for meetings lasting more than four hours. Mileage is paid at the same level as county councillors. Using the rate established by the federal Treasury Board, the rate recently jumped from 52 to 53 cents per kilometre. Horton’s total payment for council members’ remuneration and expenses in 2012 was $90,121.15.
Horton taxes in arrears improving STEVE NEWMAN steve.newman@metroland.com
Horton Township continues to face an unsatisfactory level of taxes in arrears, but the amount is much improved from a year ago. On Jan. 31, 2011, the township’s total taxes in arrears stood at $484,375.63. Over the past year, ratepayers have whittled that down by more than $100,000, to $379,691.78. “It’s improved tax flow. We still have a way to go, but there is progression,” said Horton finance manager Jennifer Barr. “Oh, it’s still a concern,” said Horton chief administrative officer Mackie McLaren while noting the improved rate of payment of owed taxes in the past year. “We’d like to have taxes in arrears at zero, because we have to pay school board and county taxes when they’re due (quarterly). So we’re carrying those payments.” When the township has high taxes in arrears, it must access its own reserves and borrow on its own line of credit to
facilitate township operations. Recent payments have been made by Horton ratepayers in lump sums and/or with payment plans. This month, the township has 20 letters going out to ratepayers who face potential tax sale proceedings. This means their property could be sold if they don’t start to pay owed taxes. The current total of taxes in arrears of $379,691 involves about 180 ratepayers. In Horton there are about 1,300 households, but multiple-property ownership bumps the number of property tax bills to 2,000. Two years ago, Horton’s taxes in arrears were similar, at $378,941.17, but still well above the Jan. 31, 2009 amount of $166,948 plus interest charges. The current taxes in arrears consist of $216,618 for 2011, $78,191 for 2010, and $52,241 for 2009 or earlier. Horton’s oldest owed tax bills date back to 2007. The remaining amount of $32,640 is interest penalties, based on a charge of 1.25 per cent per month. Horton’s portion of the tax levy last year was $1.4 million.
February 18 Castleford Charity Fishing Derby Registration at 2014 Thomson Rd. Breakfast at 6 A.M. - Horton Community Centre Entertainment by Rick & Bailey Rogers February 20 – Kids Corp chili fundraiser family day 11 - 2 (Skating 12-2) 2-8 All day free public skate 8-10 Available to rent February 25 – Horton Winter Carnival
SURPLUS EQUIPMENT SALE BY TENDER 1. 1- ICE RE-SURFACER TENDER NO. REC 2012-01 3 PT Hitch, Ice Re-Surfacer, 84” Wide. Shaves and Floods. Twin-Bin Snow Dump. 2. 1 - 1982 CASE TRACTOR 2290 TENDER NO. PW 2012-01 6,766 Hours; 130 HP, 2WD, Duals Clutch Pack Needs Repairing 3. 1- GRAVEL-PRO TENDER NO. PW 2012-02 Roadside gravel re-claimer with an 8’ carbide tooth rotor, 10’ grader blade attachment. Like new, used very little. Can be viewed on line at www.handyhitch.com 4. 1 – 2000 BUSH HOG SM-60 TENDER NO. PW 2012-03 Side Mount Rotary Cutter with 5 foot cut, new hydraulic pump. 5. 1 - 4” INTAKE WATER PUMP TENDER NO. FIRE 2012-01 4 Cylinder Gas Engine Pump, Only 16 Hours on Unit, Dual 3” High Pressure Discharge. TENDERS CLOSE MARCH 6th at 3:00 P.M. All tenders must be submitted on a tender form available at the Horton Township Office, 2253 Johnston Rd., Renfrew, Ont. sealed in an envelope clearly marked with the appropriate Tender Specific Information, addressed and delivered to Mackie McLaren, CAO/Clerk, not later than 3:00 pm March 6, 2012.
GOALIE CAMP With RICHARD BARR HORTON RINK WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 22, 2012 7:00 PM PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED Limited to 12 Participants $15.00 per person Contact Kathleen at the Horton Township Office 613 432 6271 R0431123291
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STEVE NEWMAN
tivity is what makes up the mission and main activities of RIC and it’s with this focus that the corporation operates.”
The family physicians who belong to the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team are moving from their current offices into a single clinic location at 95 Spring Street (the renovated first floor of the former Fairview Manor building). The physicians moving are Dr. Heather Abramenko, Dr. William Blaine, Dr. Christiane Deschenes, Dr. Mike Dolan, Dr. Franz Ferraris, Dr. Melissa Forbes, Dr. Ursula McGarry, Dr. Graeme McKillop, Dr. Jody Murray, Dr. Anne Oldfield, and Dr. Cecil Rytwinski. The office moves will begin in late February 2012 and continue over a period of at least five weeks. Once each physician’s move is complete, patients will see their physician at 95 Spring Street, not at that physician’s former office. During the relocation period, your physician’s office will contact you in advance of a scheduled appointment to confirm the appointment location. For current information about the status of each physician’s move, please visit www.ovfht.ca or, after February 21, 2012, call 613-256-9370. Thank you for your patience during our move.
February 16, 2012 - The Renfrew Mercury - EMC
$900,000 campaign commitment by industrial commission