For a moment, everybody in the county council chambers thought Southgate Mayor Don Lewis was serious.

Early in county council's meeting last Tuesday morning, Lewis rose and informed Warden Kevin Eccles and the rest of council that he was planning to bring forward a resolution calling for a 15-per-cent tax increase in 2008.

Several members of county council shifted uncomfortably in their chairs when Lewis announced his notice of motion.

"We would solve a lot of problems with the extra money," Lewis said, with a straight face.

It was an April Fools joke that just about worked!

"Considering the date - April 1 - I will withdraw my notice of motion," Lewis said with a chuckle a short time later.

Warden Eccles later told Lewis that Southgate ratepayers would fund the 15-per-cent increase is his proposed resolution passed.

Although he was joking, Councillor Lewis turned out to be partially correct. Later in the meeting county council approved the 2008 budget. The budget's tax increase has been set at 1.5 per cent.
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County council is looking for a new representative to join the Niagara Escarpment Commission.

With the resignation of Meaford Mayor Wally Reif, the county's NEC slot also becomes vacant.

Warden Kevin Eccles at Tuesday's regular meeting asked members of county council to think about the NEC position. The county would like to select a new NEC representative at its May meeting in order to give the NEC time to approve the new member before its summer break.

At the time, Reif was selected councillors Ellen Anderson (The Blue Mountains), Dwight Burley (Georgian Bluffs) and Brian Mullin (Grey Highlands) were also nominated. Eccles asked those members of council to consider if they were still interested in the NEC appointment and said other councillors were welcome to come forward.

The county's Planning Committee will discuss the appointment at an upcoming meeting and will forward a list of names to county council for a decision.

Grey Highlands Mayor Brian Mullin said he would be interested in serving on the NEC.
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The rubberized asphalt program pioneered by Grey County may be about to go provincewide.

Chatsworth Councillor Howard Greig announced at Tuesday's council meeting that provincial officials had studied the rubberized asphalt program and would be using it on provincial highways in the near future.

"The MTO has sent people to look at our roads and they have agreed there is merit in using rubber on their roads. I'd like to congratulate Gary Shaw," said Greig.

County Transportation Director Gary Shaw invented the rubberized asphalt program in 1992. He has travelled around the world promoting the process in various other countries. Hundreds of kilometres of roads in the county have been paved with asphalt that includes granulized rubber material.