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Halton Regional Police budget up 112 per cent Although the Halton Regional Police reduced their Regionally funded budget by this year some councillors say the cut was not a serious attempt at budget- reduction This year s police budget is ap proved at 5 million an per cent increase over the 1988 figure of 8 million About 85 per cent of the total budget pays the force s uniformed officers and 134 civilians This years increase will help pay for staff to be added Jo the Halton police force this year Half that number will work in the Oakvillearea But the police budget was not a true attempt at a serious budget reduction said Oakville Coun Peter Arch He was joined in his criticisms by Burlington Coun Rob Forbes The police budget does not seem to be receptive to the fact that there are other burdens on the Region as well said Coun Forbes He said the police budget has in creased well beyond the rate of inflation But several regional councillors stood behind the police force in eluding Milton BUI Johnson and Burlington Mayor Bird I not really here to defend the police budget I ve always just accepted it said Mayor Bird He pointed to other budget increases approved by the Region that were higher than the force s 2 per cent hike Mayor Bird said business development was approved at 5 per cent culture and special grants increased by 30 per cent and day care funds jumped by 25 per cent Oakville Coun John Graham said this is the first year the police have cooperated with the Region by reducing their budget I tremendously object to what I consider to be a cheap shot at police said Coun James Grieve past chairman of the police commission He said that Halton s force is a role model for police and its costs are among the lowest in the province Police chief James Harding agreed with Coun Gneve He said the police force has one of the lowest percapita costs for policing But he added that he wasn t prised councillors criticized the police budget It is never wrong to scrutinize the police That s what keeps our society democratic he said But the request for increased budget funding have just kept us up with population growth and nothing more he said If councillors don want the force to grow stop the com from growing OPEN 10 DAILY Fendley Florists Cash Carry Alstroemena Bouquet long lasting 21 SI Georgetown on I NORTH VIEW CENTRE IP UI s Mixed reactions to Watchtower expansion By DONNA KELL Herald Staff There were mixed reactions Monday to proposed additions to the acre Bible and Tract Society property in Georgetown Several residents living near the Highway Trafalgar Road loca tion spoke at a public meeting Tuesday night in the Town of Hills council chambers Some called a good neighbor while others complain ed about smells and noises coming from the property Watchtower is requesting a zoo bylaw change to allow for the construction of a second residence to be threestoreys high and a new administration building The society would also like to expand an existing residence two service buildings and an existing printing and distribution building All these changes would be to the eastern half of the property which covers acres Under the present zoning bylaw Watchtower could not make these changes representative Glen Howe said the proposed changes would have no serious impact on the community What were doing is very in fluential and helpful on the site It isnt going to hurt the municipal The facility is already here and the facility is very well kept It is a credit to the municipality he said But some neighbors disagreed Richard Knoepfli who lives on Highland Avenue opposite the Wat chtower site says a horrible smell is coining rom the property It seems like someone open ing a valve and the smell comes right over he said at the public meeting Mr Knoepfli said that although the proposed expansion is a very noble under taking the sewer facilities are not in good shape Watchtower has its own sewer treatment plant on the premises which it will expand if rezorang is approved for reconstruction and additions Mr Howe said that the health department is satisfied with Wat s system and has taken tours throughout the grounds We have not been receiving complaints he said He told Mr that would like to be informed when there are problems concerning the Wat chtower property Nearby resident Marian Mid dleburg said she is in favor of the Watchtower expansions I felt more secure because there s not any crime or vandalism coming from there she said They have been a good neighbor said Bob Tate who lives on Wildwood Road on Wat chtowers eastern boundary I have a beautiful view of the barn on the property and it is kept in good shape he said But the view from Gabrielle Voros home is of a junkyard says the resident who lives north of the Watchtower property It us ed to be bush there but now they cut everything down now it looks like a junkyard she said Mrs Voros said she just wants privacy and to stop the noise of machinery that continues from morning to night Mrs son John said there is a heavy machinery sitting on the property Residents also expressed con cerns about the local water supply engineer Archie buckle said if approved for expan sion Watchtower will be putting in a 350mm water main This main would improve water service to outlaying areas The water pressure would also be increased for the area at Wat chtower s cost he said Mr Arbuckle said there is ade quate water available to service this site but its the towns responsibility to allocate water Its in the book The Women Is holding a book sale at these t took of the to scan the titles Knox Presbyterian Church Mali Church Streets on Front row left to right Ruth Steiniuck age Michael Saturday between a and Women and Back Craig I organizers were bus sorting books last week and and Ian Herald photo Crazy boaters raise 10000 for MS Crazy boaters who raced down the Credit River last weekend brought In over 200 for multiple sclerosis Lions Club crazy boat race chair man Bob Gordon said the figure for Saturdays event is up significant from last years race although the number of participants was about the same With more than already In the Club is still expecting more money to come in from Almost crazy boats and 12 canoeists braved the frigid Credit River in the 23rd annual event We had good success consider the weather prior to the race It was colder than last year said Mr Gordon The Lions Club floated 200 rub ber ducks down the Credit River as an additional fundraiser this year Each duck was sponsored by a company and the company whose duck came across the finish line first had money donated to the charity of its choice The first crazy boat across the line in Class B was the big white canoe entered by Robert Miller and David Ehvood The best presented crazy boat to cross the finish line that is the craziest boat to cross the finish line the best condition was the Refugees entered by Rich man Ian Neve Jim Brewster Pete Allan and Judy Brewster In the Commercial category the Seaman II crossed the line first That entry was guided by Jeff Atkinson Dean Campbell David Campbell and Dan Atwell In the Commercial D class the Mold MastersMFI entry guided by Denis Babin Mario Vettor Thomas Schuster Bennett and Colonico took top honors And the first boat across the line was entered by Keith MacDonald Derek Mac- Donald Scott Walker and John The first canoe across the line in Class A was entered by Andre and Tun RASPERS OPENING en soon ASS CORNED OF MOUNTAIN VIEW GEORGETOWN 8772418 BANQUET Poll BtacFiMCrUrtnm PI 112 Main St S Realty of Distinction Inc Realtor MEMBER BROKER Comer Church Main 8731881