milton canadian champion

Milton Police Blotter – February 17 2011

Mike Cluett

Milton Police Blotter – February 17, 2011

Tools stolen from vehicles

Three commercial vehicles were broken into overnight last Thursday at Ridley Windows and Doors on Reid Sideroad.  It’s estimated more than $3,000 worth of tools were taken.

Computer equipment stolen

About $2,200 worth of computer equipment and accessories were stolen from The Source on Steeles Avenue.  Police are still investigating the incident, which occurred during business hours last Thursday.

Milton’s liquor stores targeted

Thieves targeted both of Milton’s LCBO stores recently.  The first incident was last Thursday at 8 p.m. at the Main Street and Thompson Road location, where about $3,000 worth of liqueur was stolen.

In the next incident Friday at the downtown location, which occurred shortly after 2 p.m., more than $500 worth of alcohol was taken.

Laundromat broken into

The offices of the Mill Street Coin Laundry on Mill Street were broken into between 6 and 7 a.m. Sunday.  Clothing was stolen.

Motorist taken to hospital

A woman was taken to hospital for observation after her car hit a hydro pole at Main Street and Tremaine Road.  The incident occurred Saturday at about 1:20 a.m.

Keep your eyes open

Mike Cluett

Reported today in the Milton Canadian Champion.

House ransacked in break-in – Crime Stoppers of Halton

Halton Regional Police are investigating a break-in at a Menefy Place home. 

Sometime after 2:30 p.m. January 27, a Milton resident arrived home and noticed the front door had been pried open.

An investigation by police revealed the unknown suspect(s) entered the house and searched through the kitchen cupboards, closets and the upstairs bedrooms.

Numerous items were stolen, however the total loss is unknown at this time. 

Anyone with information on this or any other crime is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or go to the website, www.haltoncrimestoppers.com, or text ‘Tip201’ with your message to 274637 (crimes).

Even More Feedback on Milton Budget & Tax Levy

Mike Cluett

Continuing with some of the feedback I posted earlier last week, here is another letter to the editor of the Milton Canadian Champion in todays paper.

A re-do needed on Town budget

Dear Editor:

Milton council appears to be out of touch with the reality of today’s economy.

The country is in a recession, thousands of Canadians are unemployed, and citizens are still reeling from the introduction of the HST and hydro cost increases. And still Milton council feels increasing our property taxes at twice the rate of inflation represents good government. It doesn’t.

The Bank of Canada is projecting a 2 per cent inflation rate for 2011, which should represent the absolute limit for property tax increases this year. Town council needs to get back to work and have Town staff provide them with spending reductions that will keep the tax increases within the 2 per cent target.

These reductions should include, at a minimum, a freeze on the hiring of new employees, unfilled positions being left vacant and capital projects being reduced, as they eventually create ongoing operations and maintenance expenses. The Town should also be looking to contract out any services that it performs that can be more cost-effectively provided by the private sector.

The 1 per cent hospital tax levy should be rescinded. Ontario residents are already burdened with high Provincial taxes to support health care. The Town shouldn’t be creating a ‘stealth’ health-care tax  through our property taxes.

One of the more pleasant surprises I experienced when I moved to Milton over a decade ago was reasonable property taxes. To keep these taxes reasonable, council needs to recognize that prudent management of our tax dollars is expected of our elected members of council.

The budget for 2011 needs to be re-opened and spending reductions introduced to lower the Town portion of property taxes to a maximum 2 per cent increase.

Sean McCafferty, Milton

Feedback About 1% Tax Levy

Mike Cluett

From The Milton Canadian Champion – Letters to the Editor

Hospital levy should be rescinded; taxpayers engaged in discussion

Dear Editor:I read with interest the article in the January 20 Champion entitled ‘Hospital levy increases tax hike by 1%.’

Reporter Christina Commisso wrote that in a 6-5 vote Milton council approved a 3.58 per cent tax increase, plus an unprecedented 1 per cent tax surcharge to help fund the possible future expansion of Milton District Hospital.

Any 6-5 decision is a bad decision, and this one is no exception.

It’s little wonder that Mayor Gord Krantz and councillors Mike Cluett, Tony Lambert, Greg Nelson and Rick Malboeuf didn’t support the 2011 budget. The 4.58 per cent tax hike is more than twice the 2 per cent inflation rate estimated for 2011 by the Bank of Canada. The 2010 inflation rate was 1.7 per cent.

Worse, monies will be set aside for a hospital expansion that isn’t even in the Province of Ontario’s current health infrastructure plan.

Our community’s ability to absorb a 3.58 per cent tax hike, let alone a 4.58 per cent tax increase with a hospital surcharge, is doubtful.

We’re in tough economic times and seniors on fixed incomes, young families with mortgages and local manufacturers and retailers that create jobs and drive municipal assessment revenues are all at risk.

Very few will see business revenues or personal incomes rise 3.58 or 4.58 per cent this year.

A re-do is in order.

Re-open the operating budget and reduce it to inflationary levels.

It’s time to rescind the unprecedented hospital surcharge and engage taxpayers in an open discussion about its future.

Council should also request Queen’s Park to immediately include the hospital expansion in its health infrastructure planning and require  it be funded through a public-private partnership, rather than using municipal property taxes.

John Challinor, Milton

Also…

Hospital tax levy tough to swallow

Dear Editor:This letter is in response to the 1 per cent tax levy approved by council for the hospital expansion.

At the time of planning for growth, where on the list of priorities was the expansion of Milton District Hospital? This should have been a top priority. How is the hospital supposed to cope with this new growth?

We already pay taxes to the Province for hospitals. Could money the Town gets from the Mohawk slots not go toward the hospital fund?

To me, there has been some poor planning shown by our governments.

Cecilia Thorpe, Milton

Milton Police Blotter – February 3 2011

Mike Cluett

From the Milton Canadian Champion

Trucks, wire stolen

Between 7:45 a.m. and 5:26 p.m. Monday, the Hydro One site was broken into by thieves who climbed the firm’s Lower Baseline fence.

F250 pick-up truck with 2366 RW plates and a Ford Ecoline truck with 161 MF plates were taken.  Also stolen was about 1,000 pounds of copper wire.  The estimated value of the property is $40,000.

 Wire stolen from scrapyard

 Overnight Sunday, 43,000 pounds of copper wire was taken from a First Line scrap recycling site.  The estimated value of the goods is $5,000.

Man charged in break-in

The Rock Universe shop on Main Street was broken into Saturday at 11:45 p.m.  The front door was smashed.  Loose change was stolen.

Later in the evening, a man was arrested by plain-clothes officers in the area and charged with break and enter and breach of probation.

House broken into

A home on Nassagaweya Puslinch Town Line was broken into sometime between 4 p.m. Friday and 11 a.m. Saturday.  Entry was gained by forcing open the door to the home, which was under construction.

Stolen was 50 to 60 pounds of copper wire worth an estimated $225.   

Cars broken into

Between 8 a.m. and 6:40 p.m. Tuesday, three cars were broken into at Glen Eden Ski and Snowboard Centre on Kelso Road.  In the first incident a wallet was stolen containing identification.

The second break-in resulted in a wallet containing ID and credit cards being taken.  In the third incident, a purse containing ID was stolen.

Police are investigating.

UPDATE Snow Storm Info

Mike Cluett

UPDATE 4:50PM WHAT IS OPEN TOMORROW – From the Town of Milton

Facilities, Recreation and Rentals During Winter Storm: Feb 2nd

All Town of Milton facilities will be open for business as usual on February 2, 2011. For specific inquiries about the status of program cancellations or rentals due to the winter storm, please call the Milton Leisure Centre at 905-878-7946, Milton Sports Centre/Memorial Arena/John Tonelli Sports Centre at 905-878-7252, ext. 2601, Milton Seniors’ Activity Centre at 905-875-1681 or Town Hall at 905-878-7211. The Town of Milton’s Staff Inclement Weather Policy will take effect should the snow event limit municipal services at Town facilities. Please visit www.milton.ca again for further updates.

From the Region of Halton

Winter Storms – Emergency Preparedness

What to do during a Winter Storm

  • When a winter storm watch is in effect, listen to the radio or television for information or instructions. When a winter storm hits, stay indoors and make sure you have enough heating fuel.
  • During winter storms, icy roads challenge even the most experienced drivers.  If you must travel during a winter storm, do so during the day and let someone know your route and expected arrival time. Where possible, stay on cleared routes. More about Driving in the Winter.
  • Power outages are often caused by winter storms which damage power lines and equipment. During a power outage, you may be left without heating, lighting, water, or phone. You can greatly lessen the impact of a power outage by taking the time to prepare in advance. You and your family should have a Family Emergency Survival Kit to cope on your own during a power outage for at least 72 hours.    
  • Farmers should take the necessary precautions to safeguard animals and livestock.
  • If you must go outside, dress for the weather.
  • If you must travel during a snowstorm, do so during the day and let someone know your route and arrival time.

Recognizing cold-related injuries

  • The risk of cold-related injury varies depending on:
    • the temperature
    • wind speed
    • length of time outdoors
    • age
    • physical conditions
    • whether clothing is wet or dry
  • Frostbite, or the freezing of body tissue exposed to the cold, is a common cold-related injury and has a numbing effect so you may not be aware you are frostbitten.

Warning signs include

  • A stinging or aching feeling, followed by numbness.
  • Skin that feels waxy and cold; and skin that turns red, then gray, white, yellow or blue.

How to treat frostbite

  • Move the person to a warm place and call for professional emergency medical help.
  • Don’t let the person walk if his or her feet are frostbitten.
  • Handle the frostbitten area gently; never rub it. Wait for professional emergency medical help to arrive.
  • Do not try to rewarm the frostbitten area.

How to treat hypothermia

  • Gently move the person to a warm place and immediately call for professional emergency medical help.
  • Remove the person’s wet clothing. Slowly warm the person by wrapping them in blankets or putting on dry clothing. If the person is conscious, offer a warm, non-alcoholic drink and avoid caffeine.
  • Hypothermia occurs when your body loses heat faster than it can produce it. Heat loss occurs more rapidly when you are wet. Warning signs of hypothermia include increased shivering, slurred speech, impaired judgement, and poor muscle coordination.

UPDATE 4:17pm PARKING CONSIDERATIONS SUSPENDED DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER

From the Town of Milton website:  Due to inclement weather conditions forecasted for the next few days, parking considerations have been suspended until further notice. Please remember to Allow the Plow and keep streets clear of parked cars for snow clearing operations.

Who said winter was over eh?  You would have to be hidden under a rock, or on vacation in some exotic country NOT to know there is apparently a pretty big storm heading our way in the next 2 days.  From Environment Canada…15-30 cm of snow in the nexxt 48 hours.

This begs the obvious question…are my kids going to have a snow day (or am I going to have a snow day) 🙂

All indications show this will hit us pretty hard every precaution needs to be taken.  Stay tuned to the stations listed below on radio & TV to find out if the schools are closed for the day, if the school buses are running and any other emergency information you might need.  If you need to drive, please drive carefully and if you dont need to be on the roads, stay at home.

As for our area, a reminder to everyone that plows will be out as soon as possible and to drive with care.  If at all possible do not leave your vehicle parked on the road so the plows can get through as easily as possible.

From the Milton Canadian Champion

On the buses (or not?).

Due to the current weather forecast, the two Halton school boards are reminding parents and staff of the bus cancellations and school closure procedures relating to inclement weather.

In the event of inclement weather, the Halton District School Board Director of Education, in consultation with the Director of Education of the Halton Catholic District School Board, consult with the Halton Student Transportation Services to determine whether to cancel school transportation and/or close schools. This decision is made prior to 6 a.m. and communicated by 6:30 a.m.

The decision to cancel buses and/or close schools is communicated by the following methods: 

AM Radio Stations: CFRB (1010 AM), CJOY (1460 AM), CHML (900 AM), CKOC (ll50 AM), CHWO (740 AM), CFTR (680 AM).

FM Radio Stations: CHFI (98.1 FM), WAVE (94.7 FM), Y108 (l07.9 FM),~CING (95.3 FM), CKFM Virgin Radio (99.9), KLITE (102.9 FM), CBC (99.1 FM), CIMJ (106.1 FM), CHBM Boom (97.3 FM), Classical (96.3 FM).

Television Stations: CHCH TV Morning Show; CITY TV (Breakfast Television)

Websites: www.haltonbus.ca or www.hdsb.ca

Switchboard: A message will be provided through the Halton District School Board’s main telephone number- 905 335-3665. Please follow the prompts to access school bus information. A message is also recorded on the Catholic Board’s main telephone number: 905-632-6300.

Home Notification System: An automated email or telephone message will be sent to notify parents/guardians of school closures only (not transportation cancellations). Only parents who have opted for this service will receive the message.