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WHITBY FREE PRESS, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 1980, PAGE 21 New tri-commiuee co-chairman ..0. Emm has some reservations about impending water and sewer rate hikes By MICHAEL KNELL Free Press Staff As the new chairman of the regional public works committee, Whitby Coun- cillor Gerry Emm will be on the firing today as a special meeting of regional council will deal with a recommen- dation to raise the water and sewer rates by 27 per cent over two years. The -eport is the product of the council's special tri- committee composed of finance, public works and Ski-a -Thon The Ontario Humane Society has again organized a number of "Ski-a-Thons" to be held thoughout Ontario early in 1981 in which people interested in supporting the Society can "Ski for the Animals". The dates, registration times and locations of the Ski-a-Thons are as follows: January 17, 1981, 9:00 a.m. African Lion Safarie, Rockton. January 24, 1981 at 10:00 a.m., Shanty Bay Golf Club, Oro Twp., north of Barrie January 31, 1981 at 9:00 a.m. Metro Toronto Zoo February 21, 1981 at 9:00 a.m., African Lion Safari March 1, 1981 at 10:30 a.m. Kilbear Park, Parry Sound March 1, 1981 at 10:00 a.m. Strathcona Park, Thunder Bay. Ski trails, which will vary in length from five to ten kilometres, will be patrolled and a checkpoint will be established at the halfway mark. Skiers will obtain pledges based on the number of kilometres skied during the day. Pledge forms will then be brought by skiers to the Ski-a-Thon and presented at the registration desk before starting the course. Pledge forms are available at any sporting goods store, from the Head Office of the on- tario Humane Society, 8064 Yonge Street, Thornhill, On- tario L4J 1W3, or from the OHS animal shelter, on Thickson Road North, Whitby. planning committees. The report was originally submitted by Councillor John Aker (Oshawa), for- mer planning chairman Councillor Reg Rose (Scugog) and former public works chairinan Gary Herrama who is now the regional chairman. Rose did notseek re-election. When the tri-committee presents its report to coun- cil, Aker will be the only committee chairman left from when the report was originally drafted. However, Emm has been involved with the tri- committee because prior to his election as works chair- man, he was a member of the finance committee. Despite his involvement with the report, Emm said last week that he is not totally happy with it. It came about, he said, because of "a change in philosophy in.how they are proportioning the costs of water and sewer and my position is to spread them out more over a longer term." Emm said that he would like the rates increase over a "longer term that this coun- cil" has in office. The six-year veteran of regional council also believes that the increases should be "more in tune with the actual growth and not the forcast growth." If council accepts the tri- committee report, the average homeowner can ex- pect to pay about $62 a year more for the service. "It mustn't be forgotten that the proposed increase in up and above an additional increase to the large volume user." this he said would hit many industrial particularly hard. Emm said that there were several factors contributing to the recommendation. Firstly, there is the 10 per cent inflation rate, the closing of Whitby's Firestone and Oshawa's Houdaille plants and the region's share of the cost of the New York/Durham Sewer System. (This system only serves Ajax and Pickering). To other factors, Emm said, are the facts that there is a "lower volume use" of water and sewer and than there are "not as many houses being built." He said that all of these factors are being put strictly against the user rate. "The cost are there," he said, "the cost have to be supported by revenue and the aim of the exercise should be to trim the costs." The Ashburn resident and longtime municipal politician pointed out that there is a need to "streamline the system" and to "clamp down on those who abuse the system." Those who abuse the systenm, he said, cost the region more than they are fined because of the cost to the chemicals and man- power needed to cleanup the sewage treatment plants. Emm also said that abuses of the system are "happening more frequently and we have to work with the offenders." "If we can solve this problem, there is one an- swer in keeping costs down." He was also careful to stress that he was "not referring to nay one par- ticular industry, just referring to those who do." The answer for the average homeowner, Emm said, was conservation. One of his priorities as Give a gift of 26 TV channels or 26 FM stations for Christmas and save! 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Asked if he agreed with the report, Emm responded, "Not in the way it is presen- ted." "We have to look at the longer range rather than making a suden change to meet today's crisis." "We should look at a broader area," he added. One solution, Emm said would be to find out "why we are in this predictament and work out a formula that will stop the massive rate changes in the future. selection and convenience. For even more enjoyment, why not give them an extra TV outlet or the variety of 21 FM stations? Our complete home entertainment package - 26 TV channels, 21 FM stations and an extra TV outlet - makes a great gift especially for yourself. Order before December 19, 1980 and save on a gift for someone special. Call 579-2232 A Canadian Cablesystem Entertain SomeoneSpedal Give Cable for Christmas St. Pete's FLORIDA January 1981 from $299 per person 185 BROCK ST. N. esiey's WHITBY Corner of Brock & Mary orld of 668-7955 Travel i. Stay Young..Have Fun..Travel!