Is Morris-Turnberry Getting A $114,000/Year Free Ride?

North Huron currently provides water and sewer to numerous
properties in Morris-Turnberry.  North Huron does not receive
any property tax revenue from those properties serviced. 
Normally Municipalities have an agreement in place to ensure their
is no unjust enrichment and that those involved are treated
fairly.  Without an agreement in place, investors are less
likely to build factories, sub-divisions or start a business in the
area.  If someone is going to invest millions of dollars in our
area, they want guarantees that the water and sewer won’t be
disconnected and that the two Council’s they are forced to deal
with, work well together.

Businesses that set up shop at the edge of Wingham, have to deal
with two local governments.  What really scares business
investment away, is when our two council’s can’t get along. 
The two councils are in charge of zoning and providing fire, water
& sewer services.  It is essential that both councils
co-operate and have fair service agreements in place. 

WFP would like to thank Morris-Turnberry for providing the data we
requested, and in a timely fashion.

Question:  Assessed value of properties in M-T, that are
serviced by North Huron water and sewer.

Answer: $17,451,400  assessment – which is  3.95%
of the total assessment.

Question: Amount of taxes generated by those properties.

Answer: Municipal Share  approx  $114,197.

WFP believes in order for our two municipalities to move forward,
several conditions must exist.

1. Complete transparency. 

2. Public awareness of issues.

3. Councillors must realize they are Representatives, and
their job can not be accomplished without regular communication with
those they are paid to represent.  Increased public input and
participation will result in better solutions to our problems.

4.  M-T and NH Councillors need to treat each other as
friends, not adversaries.

5. Spending priorities must be examined and adjusted. 
NH has spent thousands on pens, $29,000 on a sign for the complex,
yet we don’t have a few thousand for the dugouts in Blyth.

6. Accountability.  Council has the ability to tax us,
and sell our homes if we don’t pay what they demand.  Council
controls the police force, as they sign the cheque book.  When
someone has that much control over society, they must be held to a
higher standard.  WFP would like to see the abandoned Code of
Conduct brought back and adopted.

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