SERVING MAPLETON AND MINTO
THE
COMMUNITY NEWS VOLUME 52 ISSUE 02
1 Year GIC - 3.00% 3 Year GIC - 3.27% 5 Year GIC - 3.60% Daily Interest 1.50%
638-3328
THURSDAY, JANUARY 10, 2019
www.jackfinancial.ca
Mayor, finance director critical of past councils’ budget decisions By Aryn Strickland
Ringing in the new year in Minto Family fun - Hundreds attended the third annual Minto Fire and Ice Family New Year’s Celebration at the Palmerston arena on Dec. 31. While rain forced cancellation of most outdoor events, fireworks went ahead as scheduled and there were plenty of indoor activities. ABOVE: Enjoying some free ice time were, from left: Graham, Laura and Leah Baillie and Elija Kaufman. BELOW: From left: Beth, Chloe and Mike Dobson tried out some of the games in the auditorium. BOTTOM: The event wrapped up with an impressive fireworks display. Photos by Patrick Raftis
MAPLETON - During a Jan. 3 budget meeting Mapleton council discussed placing the minimum 2019 tax rate increase at zero per cent and the tax levy increase at 7.8%. If the draft is accepted, it will mark the first time in the last four years Mapleton will not have a double-digit levy increase, according to councillor Michael Martin. Adjusting the levy increase to 7.8% from the 3.75% originally proposed by finance director John Morrison, means raising an additional $298,000 in taxes. Council agreed that money should be used to increase reserve funds if the draft budget is approved. “In order to fund the capital budget over the next 10 years, we are going to see or must see an average increase in the reserves of about 9.3% per year,� Morrison said. “Otherwise we may not be able to fund the capital projects as we move forward.� The capital budget for 2019 is projected at $6,015,315. However, it includes projects carried over from the 2018 budget, which was set at $13.6 million.
“You didn’t have $13.6 million in the reserve, you didn’t go out and fund it, you didn’t get grants, you didn’t properly account for it,� said Morrison. He added current staff had to revise the previous budget and finish the projects the township could afford before looking at projects for 2019. Given Morrison’s explana-
ing sources. So yes, it’s in the budget ‌ in reality we didn’t have the money for it but we weren’t going to spend it unless we got the money anyway,â€? Martin said. CAO Manny Baron added that the previous council was at times working with flawed reports that included the wastewater rate study. “That is why in 2019 we
‘The way I look at it ... council was given a rainbow and a pot of gold ... In reality, they were given quicksand and we all sunk.’
- Mapleton Mayor Gregg Davidson
tion, Mayor Gregg Davidson said, “The way I look at it, last term of council, council was given a rainbow and a pot of gold ‌ In reality they were given quicksand and we all sunk to the bottom.â€? One of three returning councillors, Martin attempted to shed some light on the 2018 budget. “To be fair to the 2018 staff and council, over $7 million dollars of that was water and wastewater which is included in that $13 million capital budget which was always contingent on fund-
are re-doing the asset management plan, we are re-doing the roads needs study, we are re-doing the wastewater rate study,� he said. “We are trying to find new ways of financing; we are progressively seeking grants to try to reset ourselves and give us a new starting point where we can properly plan over the 10 years, and properly set tax rates.� Based on current budget projections, the largest share of township expenditures goes towards roads and sidewalks: about $3.1 million, or
52% of the total budget. Wastewater and sewers is the next largest item, at just over $1 million or 17.8% of the capital budget. “Salary and wages currently represents about a third of our budget,� said Morrison. It was also one of the items with the largest variances from 2018 to 2019. The main reason for the variance is the two new staff positions added this year: a deputy clerk and a planning clerk. It is projected salaries and wages will account for $3.5 million in the 2019 budget. Council and staff then discussed the draft capital budget item by item looking for areas to reduce costs. One area identified was Christmas street lights for Glen Allan and Rothsay, which came in at $35,000 on the budget. Council agreed to remove this item from the draft budget as neither of the areas have main streets or a lot of businesses. The draft budget was to be presented during another public meeting on Jan. 10 at 7pm in the municipal building at 7275 Sideroad 16. The budget is expected to be approved by the end of January.
2018: The Year in Review By Patrick Raftis MAPLETON The Community News would like to wish everyone a safe and happy 2019, as we take a look back on an eventful year in 2018. The following is just a small sample of the news that made headlines in Mapleton Township in the past 12 months. January Recently-released 2016 census data revealed Mapleton had the lowest unemployment rate in Wellington County. Mapleton had the lowest unemployment rate (2.6%) and GuelphEramosa had the highest at 5.1%. All municipalities were under the provincial unemployment rate of 7.4% and federal unemployment rate of 7.7%. Mapleton stats: - 2.6% unemployment rate;
RATED PG
AQUAMAN
143 MINS
Friday and Saturday 8pm & Sunday 7pm
BIG FILM FEST: Monday, January 21 at 7pm, Featuring “At Eternity’s Gate� $10
MAIN ST. W. PALMERSTON 519.343.3640 www.norgantheatre.com
WEEKLY WAG
‘‘
SHOWING JANUARY 11-13
- 6.4% unemployment rate among people 15 to 24; - 26.4% self employed; - 28.7% of workforce working part time; and - 49.2% working full time. Mapleton Township announced the hiring of Manny Baron as its new chief administrative officer at a special meeting on Jan. 3. Baron, who was CAO/clerk for the Town of Petrolia for the previous five-plus years, replaced acting CAO Murray Clarke, who was appointed on Nov. 7, 2017. Clarke was appointed to fill in after previous CAO Brad McRoberts resigned in October of 2017 to take a position with another municipality. Township council passed a 2018 budget with a 3.2 per cent increase in the local tax rate. When blended with projected county and education taxes, the increase totals 1.27 per cent, explained finance
“There is nothing which we receive with so much reluctance as advice.� - Joseph Addison
director Karman Krueger at the Jan. 9 meeting. The Mapleton budget calls for local expenditures of about $11.6 million, compared to just over $10.8 million budgeted in 2017. After factoring in revenues of about $4.25 million, the projected 2018 tax levy of $7.36 million is up by about $697,000 or 10.4% from the budgeted 2017 levy of roughly $6,661,000. Jacobus (Jim) de Bock was one of 11 Ontarians to receive the Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship in a ceremony in Toronto on Jan. 17. De Bock, 74, was heralded by the province as “a dedicated member of the Alma Optimist Club and a former public school teacher, who uses creative recreational activities to promote youth development and the importance of healthy, active lifestyles.�
February Tin can curling, one of the first events organized by the Moorefield Optimists 49 years ago, returned to the community on Feb. 3. The 2018 Moorefield Optimist Tin Can Curling Bonspiel was held at the club’s outdoor rink in Moorefield. Members of the community worked hard making ice for the bonspiel. Ten teams competed, with proceeds supporting children’s activities. Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Wellington (BBBSNW) kicked off its largest annual fundraising event, Bowl for Kids Sake, on Feb. 11. The Minto and Mapleton community bowling day coincided with the kickoff at the Mount Forest Bowling Centre. Campaign co-ordinator Teri Dykeman said 178 bowlers raised a total of $11,302 at the event. SEE 2018  3
'5$<7216725$*( FRP ,QGLYLGXDO 6WRUDJH 8QLWV Individual Storage Units [ [ [ [ 5x10 10x10 10x15 10x20 6HDVRQDO ERDWV FDUV 59V ODZQ WUDFWRUV Seasonal VXPPHU ZLQWHU WLUH VWRUDJH boats, cars, RVs, lawn tractors, summer/winter tire storage