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The Canadian Champion, Tuesday, November 2, 2004-5 Pooî suî1ue 4wedhei impacts Park revenue By STEPHANIE THIESSEN Thte Champion Althougit weatiter is what's often dis- cussed ta avoid difficult topics, weatiter has been tite difficuit topic at recent Conservation Halton (CH) meetings because of ils tmpact on local conservatton aras. Conservatton Haltan's (CH) executtve committer met recenly and discussed thte poor wealher titis pasl spring and sumnmer, which inevitably led ta, a drop in revenue from lte parks il manages. "It jumps out that thte weatiter has been a big problemt for us aI Kelso," said Oakville and Regional Counciltor Allait Elgar. "One year ils SARS, titen tîs West Nule, lten ils lte weatiter." A 2004 forecast report issued by Mamie Piggot, directar of fmrancial and adminis- trative services, reports taI by te end of lte calendar year, revenue for CH's paeks, excluding Glen Eden, ts expectrd to be about 13 per cent brlow the amnount calcu- lated in ils 2004 budget. Theresa Maguire-Garber, CH's citief administrative officer, remarked thita titis is te second straigit year CH parks bave been up against a rainy, cold summier. "We thougit last year was bad. Tis year was phenomnenally worse," Ms Magutre- Garber said, adding. "Our parks are so weather dependent." T'Me executive commnittre recommended ta te board of directors ltaI lte maximum amouint of $50,000 from the revenue stabi- lization reserve be approved te, off set atic- tpated revenue shortfalis. The board of directors passed the recom- mendation. Thte 13 per cent forecasted revenue drop amounts ta about $369,235 less than what CH was expecttng ta take in from its parks titis year. A portion of that figure was off- set by Iess staff titat needed to be hired over the spring and somminer - a savings of $234,91 -l making for a forecasted toss of $134,324 from, the parks. CH aimis for its parks ta be seif-sustain- ing and ltrey normally bring in a surplus of about $140,000, Ms Piggot said. -But this year it looks like the surplus will be just $5,600. Kelso Conservation Area was the most severely impacted by thte weatiter, wilt a forecasted revenue drap for titis year of 22 per cent. "Because of the poor weatiter in the spring and surmmer, not as many people came out ta thte beach. Il (Kelso) didat fare well over the sommer," Ms Piggat said. Forlunately, titings are loaking up. Tite fali weather has been favaurable for most of the conservation areas. Ms Piggot said. "'Tiings have picked up in the fail, and we're hoapmg tl (tite situation) won't be as bad as we forecasted." Stephanie Thiessen c an be reac/ced at sthiessecn@miltonicanadianhampil.C-om. ,,Train whistles to be quieted Residents in Multon's east end long- awaiting a peaceful tsight's sleep free of train witling wilt soon be in luck as lte Town has ftatized an agreement wit the Canadian Paciftc Railway 10 resticl lte noise attitrer crossings. Town Director of Engineertng Services Paul Cripps reported la, council last week titat by mid-November. tite wititng sitoutd stop at te Fourtit. Fifth and Sixtit Line crossttîgs. The long process ta make lte noise stop startet int 2002 wben the Town recetved a pelitton fromn residents tn thte Bristol Survey developmenl area requesting Ihat train whistling be etiminaîrd. "Sirice receiving lte petitian, Town staff retaineti a consulling ftrm wiîth expertise in level railway crossing safrty," a report fromn Mr. Cripps said. "Safety assessment reports for cacit of the crossings were completrd. which indt- cated titat lte elimtnalion of train witstling at lte crosstngs wtll nat compromise safe- ty.'. He added titat lte crossings required somte road surface and visibilily improve- ments. witich have itee completed. if your I... explre between Nov. 101/04 & Julf 3VYOs, YOU may be elgible to trminete swty (maximum of3 peym.nts) tinthe purchase4an of .Iected new 20040 vwhicles. Se dealeer for ornWo datalis for eiby. Offr ends f4ov. 301 >4 2~t.5Ll iww OO*m5, "MaUi& rtm.,*e.I 0% + 18~99g 14 " eW*4 *W agfd»c & 0% mM*& 44W a»M*, 1a 140HP-UOWC $W 2"OMU pl tm1 MÇNt IW A W& r up togo mont Udc Sft 005 *'axe and attM!b*lRao t us wr.Sststrsteal GREAT DEALS ON CARS GREAT DEALS ON GAS h HE VRaO&E HWY. 25 S. AT DERRV RD., MILT04W 1 ] Servitg Milton For Over 3 Generations 1.n,",r m obî aa m t ______