Conservation authority passes budget despite townships objection

Wellington North Councillor Dan Yake said he is “disappointed” the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) passed its 2012 budget after council here rejected it because it would have seen the township levy rise by nine per cent.

Council rejected the budget at its meeting in mid-February when it met with SVCA representatives. At the council meeting, the representatives reported the SVCA board was to decide on the budget in a few days.

What council rejected at the time was an increase in the levy charged to the township of $54,580, about $4,200 over last year.

The authority’s board proposed a combined increase of $123,639 in levies paid by its 15 member municipalities – to a total of $1,497,081 in 2012.

Yake said “[Considering]their unwillingness to take into account what we have said, I’d like a letter coming from this council acknowledging our disappointment.”

Council agreed to send that letter.

Community exchange

A group of volunteers from Mitchell is expected to make a report to Wellington North on its first impression of a visit to Arthur.

The visit was part of a first impressions program where volunteers from one community visit another and report on what they thought as first time visitors.

Mayor Ray Tout said business economic manager Dale Small got the community involved in the program and the Mitchell delegation is expected to present its findings to council on April 2.

“It will give us an outsider’s look at how our community is doing and the positives we have,” Tout told reporters after Monday evening’s council meeting. “You have a group of volunteers with very neutral eyes.”

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