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•T he IFP• H alton H ills, Thursday, July 18, 2013 3 e-mail: hassellsauto@bellnet.ca www.hassellautomotive.com 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt LS Warranty 2008 Nissan Versa WarrantyWarranty 2008 Ford F150 XLT CALL 2008 Hyundai Accent Warranty During the height of the strike, with no elevator in her building, Magee moved out for a week and stayed with her daughter. Melissa Harbin, who lives on the sixth fl oor, said she cracked a bone in her back about four weeks ago when she fell down the stairs in the building while carrying her 17-month-old daughter. The little girl wasn't hurt. "When I hurt my back I couldn't do anything," she said. Her back is still sore and often at work she has to stop to take painkillers. When the elevator's down, to go out with her two kids, which she does often, she has to take them and lug the stroller and diaper bag down and back up the stairs. She's happy the elevator's fi nally working, but worries that it will break down again. Harbin said last year their balconies were repaired, and that the owners had a choice between replacing the elevator or the balconies. "I personally think it should have been the elevator," said Harbin. Harbin's mother Donna Gallant, who lives in another sixth fl oor apartment, is fed up with having to lug grocer- ies and laundry up and down the hot staircase. "My knees are just killing. I feel worse for the old peo- ple," she said. She said when she moved into the building there was a working elevator, and the tenants haven't been offered any compensation while it's been out of service. "We pay our rent, we do our part. Why can't they call someone else to get it going?" she said. Building superintendent Shirley Recchia declined to comment on the elevator issue, saying Deborah Mac- Donald of Atlantis Realty (property managers) should be contacted for comment. At press time MacDonald had not returned calls from the newspaper. Three Georgetown youths have been ar- rested in connection with several recent car break-ins in south Georgetown recently. The break-ins occurred early June 23 into unlocked cars. Stolen were portable electron- ic devices, sporting goods, money and per- sonal accessories. Through the aid of video surveillance and area residents three suspects were identifi ed and arrested by police. Most of the stolen property has been recovered and returned to the owners. A 16-year-old and two 17-year-old males, whose identities are protected under the pro- visions of the Youth Criminal Justice Act, have been referred to the Halton Regional Police Service's alternative measures program. Police encourage the public to minimize their chance of becoming a victim of this type of crime by locking their car doors and stor- ing desirable items left inside the vehicle out of sight. Anyone who witnesses a vehicle being un- lawfully entered is encouraged to dial 911 for immediate assistance. Anyone with informa- tion related to a past crime is encouraged to contact the One District Criminal Investiga- tions Bureau at 905 878-5511 ext. 2415, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477), through the web at www.haltoncrimestoppers.com or by texting 'Tip201' with your message to 274637(crimes). A 43-year-old man fell four feet to the ground from a ladder suffering a compound fracture to his arm at a Steeles Ave. address Friday afternoon. EMS and Halton Police responded to the scene at 13722 Steeles Ave. The man, an em- ployee of Pike's Awnings, was taken to Hamil- ton General Hospital. The Ministry of Labour is investigating the accident. Police blotter Teens arrested for car break-ins Worker falls from ladder Wonky elevator frustrates tenants Continued from pg. 1 Melissa Harbin (left), along with daughter Emily, mother Donna Gallant and son Liam, walk up the six fl oors of their 115 John St. apartment building Tuesday morning. Ten- ants say the building's elevator has been working sporadically since the middle of May and had been out of service for nearly a week until it began working again late Tuesday. One senior, who also lives on the sixth fl oor-- the building's top fl oor-- says she is unable to get out whenever the elevator is out of service. Photos by Ted Brown Halton Regional Council approved the Budget Directions Report last Wednesday for the preparation of the 2014 budget and business plan that includes a tax increase of 1.5 per cent or less. The Report sets out the guidelines and challenges that the Region faces in developing its tax and rate-sup- ported budgets. Achieving the 2014 Budget Directions will require a focus on continuous improvement and cost effi ciencies in all program areas. "Over the past seven years, Halton Region has enjoyed one of the best records in all of Canada for keeping taxes low," said Regional Chair Gary Carr. "We have had an average zero per cent tax increase for the past sev- en years and now staff will work to deliver a budget that meets the citi- zens' priorities while keeping taxes low." Region staff will spend the next few months preparing the 2014 bud- get and business plan which will be discussed at the Budget Review Com- mittee on December 9 and will go to Regional Council on December 11 for fi nal approval. Region sets sights on 1.5 per cent budget hike