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THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2004 THE NEW TANNER i Council in-camera for fee schedule After accusing the previous council of "not being able to do arithmetic" the new Guelph/ Eramosa council has produced a heftier tax hike in one year than the old council did over three, and put less into munici- pal reserves, a Rockwood resident said Monday. Former councillor Doug Breen said between 2001 and 2003 his council raised taxes a total of 35 cents on the aver- age and were denounced for ignoring residents' (in)ability to pay that much. Yet the new council has upped the cost $18.94 in one year. Despite that increase, this budget puts $53,000 less into municipal reserves than the previous budget. \ Breen also questioned the calling of a special public meeting on April 26 to hear residents' concerns about the proposed budget when there was no public notices about the meeting. "There was absolutely no public consultation until seven days before the budget was passed," Breen said. "The meeting was announced no- where, posted nowhere. It was called Thursday (April 18)." Despite the shortcomings Breen applauded the budget as doing what the municipality needs to get done. Mayor Clint Martin admitted he telephone the Guelph Eramosa Taxpayers Associa- tion to invite them to the meeting. He questioned whose responsibility it is to notify the press of special meetings and how the Daily Mercury knew about the meeting when neither the Wellington Advertiser nor The New Tanner was told about it. He also questioned whether the press represents the public. Martin made a point of prais- ing GETA past chair Wally ~ Mays and Eddie Thompson for their remarks at the public _ budget meeting and credited them with prompting whatever tightening did occur in the budget. Council positive about plans for condominiums Guelph/Eramosa council will send a positive motion to Wellington County concern- ing plans for condominiums in a new section of the Rockwood Ridge subdivi- sion at the south end of Rockwood. The plan calls for 39 free- hold condominium units backing onto a common laneway to the north of the existing homes. Fourteen of the units will be bungalow/ bungaloft units and the rest will be regular street condo- miniums. All will have their garages to the rear. Fire strikes Four D's Pets , in old Schneider . The plan also includes a new exit for the adjacent house which had a right-of- way across the subdivision for its existing laneway. Developer Jeremy Grant told council if an agreement can't be concluded with the home's owner before work begins, then the plan will have to change to accommo- date the old lane. While the municipality hosted the public meeting on the plan, Wellington County is the planning authority with the authority to approve con- dominiums. ste SPRING CLEANING: Guelph Township Ho led reconstruction of the flowerbed in front 0 members from the left are Phil Sweet, Ruby Thompson, = yee Robinson. -- Maggie Petrushevsky photo Torch Run in Wellington June 4 Ontario Special Olympics helps people with a mental disability become more ac- tive and involved members of society, through positive experiences in sport. There are 140 countries around the world, with over 2 million athletes, and Ontario alone has 11,000 Special Olympics Athletes. The Law Enforcement Torch Run and events is the largest grass roots fundraiser and public awareness vehi- cle that helps make participation at the games possible for these athletes. In fact, since 1987, the Ontario Association of Chiefs of Po- lice has recognized Special Olympics as their charity of choice. The 2004 Law Enforce- ment Torch Run in Wellington County will take place on Friday, June 4 and the athletes along with OPP building - puppies, kittens victims of smoke -- TRAGIC FIRE: A fire Tuesday evening at Four D's Pets on Main St., Rockwood, was a great loss to owner Dwayne Hitchcock. Rockwood/Eramosa firefighters who took them to the Veterinary Clinic up the street where Dr. Roberts, left, and his assistant Jill tried their best to save them. - Ted Tyler photo Fire struck the Four D's Pet Store in Rockwood on Tuesday night. The pet store is located in the 110 year old Schneider Sweets building across from the river. Owner, Dwayne Hitchcock, who opened the store two years ago, arrived at his Rockwood residence around 8 p.m., within minutes he re- ceived a telephone call informing him his pet store was on fire. The Rockwood Fire Department responded to the call with several trucks on hand and along with Hitchcock, found the building engulfed in black smoke. Rescuers worked to save the ani- mals that Hitchock had at the store. However, all of the larger animals, in- cluding several dogs, cats and puppies were victims to smoke inhalation and did not survive. Staff of the Rockwood Veterinary Clinic and other area residents raced many of the smaller ani- mals to the clinic for treatment. At press time, the smaller animals, such as rabbits, turtles and guinea pigs were show- ing signs of improvement. The building also housed two other busi- nesses; Rockwood Convenience Store and -- Rockwood Laundromat. All business in the build- ing are closed currently as aresult of smoke damage. rticultural Society members recently tack- f the township office at Brucedale. Group OWNSHIP OF GUELPH \g ERAMOSA Pat es Alberta Auger and Ruth officers will run through Mr. Forest, Arthur, Drayton, Harriston and Palmerston in the morning and Elora, Fergus, Erin and Rockwood in the afternoon. The times will be sent out in a future release. Should you wish to pledge arunner or purchase a T-shirt please attend your local OPP Detach ment Monday -Fri- day from 8:30 to 4:30 Rockwood man charged with theft of pick-up A 20-year-old Rockwood man was arrested by Welling- ton OPP and faces charges of Theft Under $5,000 (2 counts) and Possession of Property Obtained by Crime following the report of a stolen vehicle in Guelph Twp. on Thursday, May 6 at 8:19 p.m. An officer responded to a report of a missing pick-up on Mill Road in Guelph Twp. and was able to locate the Chev pick-up at a Rockwood resi- dence later Thursday evening. The accused was held in custody until hearing the next morning in Guelph Court. Speeder of the Week Constable Theodore Oderkirk of the Guelph De- tachment of the Wellington OPP was conducting speed enforcement exercises on the 10" Line of Erin Twp. on Fri- day, May 7 when he observed a 1997 Grand Am travelling at a high rate of speed south- bound on the 10" Line of Erin Township. He activated his moving radar and the vehicle entered the beam and recorded a speed of 111-km/h in a posted 40 km/h zone. A 16-year-old Georgetown girl faces a charge of speed- ing and is scheduled to appear in Guelph POA Court June 2. = ckwo qptoy G Intemationally recognized, traditional Japanese Karate skills Beginner classes are starting now Register for New Classes. For information call __ Dojo Instructor "~ Donna MacDonald at: Sy Tel: 519-856-2058