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THURSDAY, APRIL 26, 2007 THE NEW TANNER 13 Castles TeaBerry Cafe 111 Main St., Rockwood (519) 856-0188 Reservations Accepted Fully Licensed FRIDAY NIGHTS All-You-Can-Eat RIBS CONTINUES EVERY FRIDAY ALL SUMMER LONG!!!!! LADIES ONLY DINNER With Speaker Psychic Bonnie Ross Tune in to your Intuition Thursday, May 17 & 31 SATURDAY NIGHTS Special of the evening is Prime Rib of Beef w/ Yorkshire Pudding STARTING WEDNESDAY MAY 2ND All-You-Can-Eat Mussels Every Wednesday All Summer longBy Rebecca Ring A team of four Rockwood boys placed second among 32 teams in their division at the Third An- nual Ray Scapinello Road Hockey Tournament on April 14. visions: 9/10, 11/12, and 13/14. Organizer Ray Scapinello had a 33-year professional career in hockey as an NHL offi cial. He retired in 2004. Proceeds from the tourna- ment went to benefi t youth in the Guelph area through the Guelph Community Founda- tion. For more information, visit www.raysroadhockey. ca. Tanner Rodd, Tyler Barrand, Joey Shaw and Ethan Barrand made up the Rockwood Reb- els road hockey team and played in the intermediate 11/12-year-old division. They won four games to play in the championship game, which they lost 7-1. Seventy-three teams played in all at McNeil Consumer Healthcare in Guelph. There were three age group di- Rockwood team makes the fi nals Road hockey tourney ROAD HOCKEY RULES: The Rockwood Rebels Road Hockey team came in second at the 3rd Annual Ray Scapinello Road Hockey Tournament on April 14. From left are Tanner Rodd, Tyler Barrand, Ray Scapinello, Joey Shaw and Ethan Barrand. ROCKWOODThe Miller Proposed budget contains 1.9% tax hike By Rebecca Ring On Monday, April 23, Guelph/Eramosa Township held a public meeting to discuss its proposed 2007 Operating and Capital Budget. The tax rate is proposed to in- crease from 0.00260977 to 0.00265934, representing a 1.9% increase. Last years rate represented a de- crease compared to 2005, when it was 0.00287665. For a home with an as- sessed value of $350,000, the proposed 2007 increase would equal $17.35. Revenue from taxation is expected to be $3,620,982, with another $5,124,771 from other sources, totalling $8,745,753, which equal the total budgeted expendi- tures of $8,745,753. Budget highlights include updating fi re department equipment, such as bunker gear, breathing apparatus, and stadium lighting for the tanker ($44,000); Indian Trail bridge replacement and other road work, some in conjunction with Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Investment Fund, total $987,734.89 with grants totaling $595,676.60; replacement of a tandem dump/sander/plow ($145,000); right-of-way improvements on Pasmore St. to increase safety of children dropped off at school ($18,000); Rockwood Medi- cal Centre expansion ($85,000); new roof for Rockwood Library ($35,000); demolition of the old fi re hall on Alma St. ($25,000); expansion of municipal offi ces at Brucedale ($20,000 for 2007 plus $50,000 transferred to reserves for future); and cemetery repairs and main- tenance ($15,000). Each department head spoke on pro- posed expenditures and revenues for their area and questions and comments from the public were fi elded. EWAG secretary and Family Health Team Chair, Erik Sterne, thanked council and staff for as- sisting with the medical centre expansion. He said new facilities will attract much needed physicians. Keith Daniels asked if the old fi re hall could be used for municipal offices, rather than pay to tear it down and expand the Brucedale offi ce. Mayor Chris White said there has been no decision made on the old fi re hall yet. Manager of Finance Linda Cheyne said it is a proposed capital plan and no decision has been made on the expansion. She said the offi ces are overcrowded with staff working in the basement and a trailer. Daniels said that administration costs for nine staff members average $64,000 each. He asked, Does council know what the actual remuneration is for each employee? Clerk/CAO Janice Sheppard said that the Freedom of Information Act main- tains that hourly rates are confi dential, but there is a pay grid for the salary of each position. White added that the head of each department determines the employees salary, except for the CAO/clerk. Daniels then asked if council knows the clerks salary. White replied roughly, but not exactly. Daniels said that about 20.5% of the budget goes to administration costs and that municipalities of equal size average much less, such as North Dundas at 3.6%, with the municipal average at 2.9%. Cheyne said other municipalities might not include the same parameters as this one in their reports. White said, It is not necessarily comparing apples to apples. Daniels asked if the signifi cant difference is only because it is not reported in the same way. Past mayor Clint Martin said the town- ship is overstaffed. He quoted a 1999 formula that says a population of 12,000 needs fi ve full time staff and Guelph/Era- mosa has 11, with nine in administration. Staff salaries, wages and benefi ts are budgeted at $644,000 for 2007. A member of the Rockwood Eramosa Business Association asked about the ten recommendations they submitted. White answered that most will fall un- der the proposed budget for the Hwy. #7 Design Committee and thanked them for the list. Council will vote on the budget at their meeting on May 7.