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LANE il YY ESS 12 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, October 24, 2000 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" MUNICIPAL ELECTION 2000 By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Incumbent Ward | Councillor Jim McMillen is seeking another term on Scugog Township council. Mr. McMillen said the next council will have at the top of its agenda dealing with municipal restructuring; but he's not prepared to suggest what model might be best for Scugog until more information on the ramifications of amal- gamation scenarios is more complete. "You've got to have the facts and figures," said Mr. McMillen. "We don't have those. (Scugog's) tax rate is one of the lowest in the region," he said. "If we amalgamate with someone with a higher rate, then obviously our taxes will go up." The next council will alsp have to deal with mounting pressure from some sectors of the community who are demanding more municipal services. Primary among those are campaigns to have the township build a pool and a .second ice pad at the Scugog Arena. It has been suggest- ed that Scugog's share of revenues from slot machines at the local casino can pay for such projects - the first month- ly cheque was in excess of $60,000 - but Mr. McMillen said politicians must look beyond construction costs. "We may have the money to build a pool or a second ice pad, but do we have the money for upkeep?" he said, adding that councillors can't depend too much on casino revenues for budgeting purposes, because there's no guar- ? i ANS McMillen Ward | incumbent seeks reelection antee their level will remain con- stant. This past summer saw a host of water problems on the Island, with both contaminated wells and streams turning up. Mr. McMillen said a municipal council could take action by pressing the province to impose standards for 2 private wells, We homeowners with funding as incentive to make upgrades. "It is a lot cheaper to maintain and providing wells than it is to put municipal water out there," he said. And he wants council to keep on pursuing funds for studies and construction on an alternate route to Island Rd., the only thoroughfare on and off the Island. That process has begun, and will be an invaluable service to residents when it is completed, he said. Mr. McMillen would also like to see the township broad- en its tax base by attracting more industry. The township's industrial parks need to be made more attractive to investors, and the lone piece of serviced industrial land, south of Port Perry on Simcoe St., must be reserved for industry, he said. Dietlein seeking another term in Cartwright By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star Ward 4 incumbent David i Dietlein is seeking another term of Scugog council, declaring impending munici- pal restructuring the most I pressing issue in the coming term. Mr. Dietlein, who served as Cartwright councillor from 1991 to 1994 and was re- elected in 1997 after leaving politics to fight cancer, sug- gests that aligning with the s northern Durham municipal- Dietlein ern municipalities share similar geography, munici- {ities would be the best strat- legy for Scugog. He says opting out of Durham Region and pursu- ing an alliance with Uxbridge and Brock Townships can work. , "Break it off at the Oak 'Ridge Moraine," said Mr. Dietlein. He said the three north- | Protecting your health. pal structures, and philoso- phies. And opting out of Durham Region would mean tax money stays here, rather than flowing south, he contends. And combining the finances and resources of Scugog, Uxbridge and Brock can ensure the continuation of the kind of services peo- ple living in this part of the region have come to expect, he said: "I think it will work economically because we're used to a rural service stan- dard." There will no doubt be fewer politicians after restructuring occurs, said Mr. Dietlein; what matters to Scugog residents, however, is where they're serving. He said seeing Scugog and Durham lumped in with some kind of Greater Toronto government could mean our voice is not heard on a huge regional council. "That's the kind of thing that scares me in being lumped in with Toronto; how big are we going to be?" he said. "Your munici- pal councillor should still be a local person." Here at home, the pur- suit of well-managed devel- opment and protection of the environment are high on Mr, Dietlein"s agenda. He said that over the last term of council he's been disap- pointed that commercial proposals have been sent for study, rather than acted upon by the politicians. The primary concern in the immediate future for Ward 4 is protection of the environment, and the water supply, said Mr. Dietlein. He's been a vocal critic of the use of paper and human waste sludge on agricultural land. "We're vulnerable to this There hasn't been too much sludge spreading here, but that's people's choice, and that could change," said Mr. Dietlein. "You've got to prove to me it's safe, and that hasn't been done yet" Barbara Beattie works with her detector dog Rookie and her colleagues at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. They help stop forbidden items from entering Canada that could damage our plants and animals or contaminate our food supply. This is just one of many services aimed at protecting the health of all Canadians. To learn more about the hundreds of services available from the Government of Canada * Visit the Service Canada Access Centre nearest you * Visit www.canada.gc.ca Call 1800 O-Canada (1800 622-6232), TTY/TDD: 1800 465-7735 II IE IE EE LE PEE EE EE EEE EE EET EEE ROOOOEOOOONOUOIV YL OC OV 7) Council failed to address issues, says Robinson By Chris Hall Port Perry Star Dave Robinson feels Scugog Council has not addressed any of the important issues facing the township over the past three years, and he wants to see that changed. The candidate for the Ward 5 councillor's seat says council put forth a lackluster effort in the last term. "It's three years later, the issues are still the same and | haven't seen any solutions," said Mr. Robinson, who has spent the past 20 years working with Durham's education board. He lists amalgamation, recreational services, the environment, and tax relief as issues the current coun- cil has not acted on. "They haven't addressed any of these suf-. ficiently," he said. "All I've heard from them has been rhetoric." Mr. Robinson said he's running for council because, as a teacher, he has to practice what he preaches. "I'm teaching the new civics class, and basically its theme is about being a good citizen," he said. "Well, how can | teach these students to be good citizens if I don't take the opportunity to do it myself? "I'm always telling them to get involved in the com- munity, and |guess | should practice it myself." If elected, Mr. Robinson says he would bring an "assertive, strong voice" to Robinson the council table, as well as strong leadership skills. "The voice of Ward 5 would be heard, and heard often." Mr. Robinson also said he would like to see coun- cil meetings held in the evenings, instead of after- noons as they currently are. "How can council be accessible to everyone if they hold. their meetings in the afternoon when most people are at work?" he asked. Mr. Robinson said he would make the lack of municipal water and sewage services on Coulcliff Blvd. one of coun- cil's top priorities. "Council and Durham Region have lobbied that one back and forth," he said. "Both sides agree it has to be done, so they should quit talking and get it done. "They have to make it a priority" Also in the running for the Ward 5 seat are Martin Olenroot, Charlie Norris, Helen Newlove and Paul Michel