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Listowel Banner Thursday, December 2, 2021
Quality Farm Drainage Systems
Dine-in or Take ouT available DailY 11aM-12aM 110 MAIN ST. W. LISTOWEL 519-291-1010
Possibility of 4.7 per cent levy increase
What’s Inside Feature...........................page 2 Opinion.....................pages 4-5 Business........................page 8
MIKE WILSON mwilson@midwesternnewspapers.com
Listowel BIA Scott Patterson presented the proposed Listowel BIA budget. The BIA chair said the group is asking for a budget of $119,300, the same as 2021. “We are not asking for an increase as our board felt that the impact of COVID-19 has had a significant impact on our businesses and it didn’t Continued on page 20
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Council gets first look at 2022 operating budget
NORTH PERTH – Councillors got their first look at the proposed 2022 operating budget on Nov. 24. The proposed operating budget for 2022 is $33,714,613. Revenues are projected to be $16,986,912, leaving a projected budget levy for all departments of $16,727,700, about $750,000 – or 4.7 per cent – higher than 2021. The proposed levy is the amount needed to be raised by taxes after revenue (grants, user fees, etc.) is accounted for. Department heads were on hand during the virtual meeting to speak to their proposed budgets for the coming year, as well as to answer any questions from council. During the meeting, CAO Kriss Snell commented that the budget is one of the most important documents staff work on annually. “It guides us through the year, in both our operations and our projects, and is certainly vital to keeping the municipality fiscally sustainable and guiding us in our operations,” he said. Snell also noted that the proposed budget was created using the top job wage at each position. The CAO explained this “does not mean that each staff person is getting paid the top rate,” but rather it is a good practice for budgeting as it smooths out fluctuations in the wage portion of the budget. “For the most part, it didn’t have significant impacts on our budget,” said Snell.
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Local News...........pages 10-13 Dan McNee Photo
SEASON’S GREETINGS – Santa Claus was the main attraction at the North Perth Chamber of Commercehosted reverse parade held in Listowel Memorial Park on Saturday, Nov. 27. See page 14 for more coverage.
Sports...................pages 16-17 Classifieds............pages 18-19
Heartland Vet Services launches Elma TPS tenth annual pet food drive closed due Donations accepted until Dec. 20 to COVID outbreak DAN MCNEE
dmcnee@midwesternnewspapers.com
LISTOWEL – The holiday season can be a time of financial stress in many households, and sometimes not every member of the family wakes up to find something under the tree. For the past decade, Heartland Animal Hospital and Veterinary Services has ensured that every four-legged family member in the area gets their tail wagging on Christmas morning. Heartland’s annual pet food drive is underway for the tenth straight year, with its Listowel, Drayton and Mount Forest locations accepting donations of unopened pet food, treats, new toys and beds until Dec. 20. Contributors can drop off items outside each clinic in a contact-free donation bin inside business hours, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Donations will stay in the comDan McNee Photo
Heartland Animal Hospital and Veterinary Services’ annual pet food drive is underway for the tenth straight year, with its Listowel, Drayton and Mount Forest locations accepting donations of unopened pet food, treats, new toys and beds until Dec. 20. Listowel Heartland staff members are pictured decked out in some stylish holiday gear to help promote the initiative on Nov. 26.
munities they are contributed in, and will be re-allocated through the Listowel Salvation Army Food Bank, the Drayton Food Bank, and the Community Pantry in Mount Forest the week of Dec. 20. “I think there’s probably a lot of people that have maybe found themselves facing additional challenges this holiday season who may have not expected to be in that position, and I’m sure that COVID has extenuated that for a lot of people,” commented Heartland partner and veterinarian Dr. Emma Webster, adding that they were still able to conduct a pet food drive in 2020 despite the strict pandemic restrictions at the time. “Needless to say that there will be lots of people in these communities who will hopefully benefit from support through the food banks, and support for their pets as well.”
Heartland will also be accepting monetary donations from the community, which will be utilized to purchase further supplies for the drive. Additionally, Heartland will be matching each donation dollar for dollar and pound for pound at the conclusion of the drive. Those interested in making a financial contribution to the cause can do so via e-transfer, credit card or through a cash payment. Monetary donations can also be allocated towards creating a gift basket for either a cat or dog in need. To arrange a donation, contact Heartland’s Listowel office at 519-291-2060, Drayton at 519638-3391, or Mount Forest at 519-323-4422. “One of things that I like about the pet food drive is that it’s something that we as a business can participate in, but also the community,” said Webster. “It’s a shared event that we can all come together for during this season of giving.”
HPPH reports 14 student cases, Monday DAN MCNEE dmcnee@midwesternnewspapers.com
NEWRY – Elma Township Public School (ETPS), in conjunction with the Avon Maitland District School Board and Huron Perth Public Health (HPPH), has cancelled all inperson learning at the facility until at least Dec. 6 due to a COVID-19 outbreak. The decision was made effective Nov. 29, with HPPH reporting on Monday that 14 students are currently affected by the outbreak. The closure has been communicated to all ETPS households in a document circulated by school principal Catherine Lusk. “HPPH is responsible for following up with any student, school staff, or visitor who has tested positive for COVID-19, and for determining who are high-risk close contacts of a case,” wrote Lusk. “If you/ your child has been identified as a high-risk contact, you will have received a letter from HPPH with further guidance.” Lusk continued that all staff and students – whether or not they were identified as a highrisk contact and regardless if Continued on page 3