Wednesday, November 1, 2006 · Page 8 TOWN OF TECUMSEH NOTICE TO RESIDENTS 2006 MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS VOTE BY MAIL PROCESS 2006 Voters' Kits have been mailed to registered electors. Persons not receiving Voters' Kits are asked to contact the Tecumseh Town Hall at 519-735-2184. COMPLETED BALLOT KITS ARE TO BE: · · · Mailed on or before November 4, 2006; or Deposited in the mail slot, located at the front of the Town Hall, during and/or after business hours, before November 13, 2006; or Delivered to the Town Hall between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. weekdays, or on Election Day, Monday, November 13, 2006, until the close of the election at 8:00 p.m. WARD 2 (One to be elected) JAMIE SHEPLEY (Photo unavailable) Jamie Shepley, 40, owns Impressive Flooring in Essex. He considers his 20plus years as a business owner as one of his major assets. "I'd like to see some change - a new direction," he said. "The whole idea of amalgamation was to downsize but they're increasing. Business people should be running the businesses of the town." Shepley said it's important for the next council not to take the town further into debt without a plan to pay it off. Spending should come with an increasing tax base so not to become a burden for tax payers, he said. He said Essex missed a residential boom in the past few years because of an unprepared council. "Realistically, it doesn't look like we'll be building homes," he said. "In the last two years, there could've been 50-70 homes built. It's a shame." Shepley also advocates the use of more local businesses for work being done inside the municipality. He is not a fan of the arena project. "I don't understand why we need it with the (Ice Track) coming," he said. Shepley suggests council look at repairing Memorial Arena first. "I've worked around construction and have helped build houses," he said. "I don't understand why that one can't be repaired." If a new arena is built, Shepley says it is important that it is operated by someone with a solid background in running a business. "I think the town should serve and not own businesses," he said. Next Week: Responses from candidates for Wards 3 and 4 council. Please ensure that the Voter Declaration Form is signed and enclosed in the Return Envelope (yellow) with the sealed Ballot Secrecy Envelope (white). O N TA R I O G O V E R N M E N T N O T I C E Laura Moy, A.M.C.T. Chief Election Official/Clerk Town of Tecumseh 917 Lesperance Road Tecumseh, ON N8N 1W9 Phone: (519) 735-2184 NOTICE OF STUDY COMMENCEMENT MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION, ONTARIO (MTO) CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT AND DETAIL DESIGN HIGHWAY 3 RECONSTRUCTION AND WIDENING (G.W.P. 315-98-00) THE STUDY The Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO) has retained Delcan Corporation to conduct the detail design for Highway 3 from 0.5 km west of Essex County Road 34 (Talbot Road), easterly 6.9 km to 0.6 km east of Essex County Road 8. The study area is located within the Township of Sandwich South and Maidstone Township, Essex County. RE-ELECT RANDY VOAKES COUNCILLOR WARD #1 Representing you with a STRONG VOICE and a PROVEN TRACK RECORD Financial points of interest as found in Municipal Debt report. . . * Property tax supported debt has decreased by $2.0 million, since this council took office in 2003. * Per household debt will be $368 at the end of 2006, 41% less than it was in 2003, since this council took office. * Debt load per person is $147, down from $264 per person in 2003, since this council took office. * No new property tax supported debt, since this council took office. The design for Highway 3 is based on improvements identified in the Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) and Preliminary Design Report prepared for MTO by Earth Tech Canada Inc. during preliminary design. The TESR completed its public review in February 2006. During Detail Design, the study team will address the first phase of improvements to the Highway 3 corridor as noted above, including widening Highway 3 from two (2) to four (4) lanes; a new pavement structure; drainage improvements; signal and illumination upgrades; intersection improvements and landscaping. THE PROCESS This project is following the planning process for Group "B" projects under the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities (MTO 2000), with the opportunity for public input throughout. One Public Information Centre (PIC) will be held in association with this study. The PIC is tentatively scheduled for January 2007. Upon completion of this study, a Design and Construction Report (DCR) will be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for information purposes and will be released for a 30-day public review period. Notification of the PIC and submission of the DCR will be published in this newspaper. COMMENTS We are interested in hearing any comments that you may have about this study. Comments and information regarding this study are being collected to assist the study team in meeting the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record. Please send any comments or requests to either of the following: Mr. Dennis Regan Senior Project Manager Ministry of Transportation Southwestern Region 659 Exeter Road London, Ontario, N6E 1L3 Tel.: 519-873-4548 Fax: 519-873-4600 E-mail: dennis.regan@ontario.ca Mr. Henry Huotari, P.Eng. Consultant Project Manager Delcan Corporation 214-1069 Wellington Road South London, Ontario, N6E 2H6 Tel.: 519-681-8771, ext. 247 Fax: 519-681-4995 E-mail: h.huotari@delcan.com Note...the financial report supporting this financial position can be found on the town website at townofessex.on.ca under quick links found on the main page or a copy can be obtained at the town hall for your viewing * Proven track record of municipal growth and enhancement while not increasing taxes. * Determined advocate of the new Essex Arena. * Will pursue municipal involvement in auto strategies for municipal economic stability. * Understands the need for industrial zoning which will relieve tax strain and create jobs. * Advocate of quarterly town hall meetings to let taxpayers have their say. * As chairperson of the economic development committee, will continue to pursue enhancement and revitalization of our downtown * Continue my commitment to deal with day by day concerns of the taxpayer. Once again I seek your support on Nov. 13th, 2006. Thanku... yo RANDY VOAKES Councillor Ward #1 Town of Essex