Page 11 - Biz X Magazine - June, 2014 Issue

a budget variance on the bottom of the its 2014 budget projections. Windsor City red ink line. A fnance department budget Council members of the Authority, intent variance report afer the frst quarter of on delivering a sixth consecutive property 2014 projects a shortfall of $3,362,720 tax freeze, convinced skeptical county gross. Te net variance projection is members to direct Solid Waste General reduced to $882,720 by using an above Manager Eli Maodus to solicit 7,000 normal budget stabilization contingency more tonnes of Industrial, Commercial, of $2.5 million. Te contingency in past Institutional (ICI) waste to dump in the years has been $1.5 million. One notable regional landfll and create the freeze variance is occurring in the ofce space target of $330,000 in tipping fees. In May, rental the city pays to the owners of Maodus reported that he was coming up the Canderel Building, a long-time empty in attracting tonnage from regional money pit for taxpayers. A negative businesses who once delivered refuse to variance of $70,000 resulted in the city the Authority, but no longer do so because underpaying a CPI (Consumer Price they have closed or are utilizing disposal Index) increase caused by a calculation sites in Michigan and Chatham-Kent at far error. Further, one of the city’s sub- cheaper rates. A dogged Maodus, trying tenants vacated the premises early in 2013 to please his masters, has sent out surveys and a new tenant has yet to be found. If to 47 businesses to ask them why they the vacancy persists, an additional defcit are not giving the public authority their BRINGING YOU UP TO SPEED ON of $70,000 will result, jumping the year- business. It’s a good guess the letters will THE LATEST BUZZ AROUND TOWN! end defcit to $140,000. Many eyes will generate very little except a lot of paper be trained on the year-end fnancials to recycle. on the new downtown Windsor Less than a year ago, afer the Windsor International Aquatic and Training Utilities Commission (WUC) approved Centre/Adventure Bay. “Generally, the Te Keg & Barrel Custom Beer and water rate increases of 8% over two years, drop-in attendance and food revenues Wine store (119 Lesperance Road, Windsor Mayor Eddie Francis was quoted have been better than projected,” the Tecumseh; KegAndBarrel.ca) is up for as saying “we have the lowest water rates report states, vaguely. “Conversely, some sale afer seven years in business. Owners in the province.” Not quite, according expenses (largely related to utility costs) Lorraine Brennan and Pam Gignac are to comparator charts released by WUC are trending above previous projections.” entertaining ofers for the family owned that put Windsor’s average monthly Te original business plan for the aquatics and operated self-brewing operation in water bill to customers at $35.96 in 2013. centre forecasted a $481,000 annual order to devote their time and energy Tat rate placed Windsor 33 cents below surplus with a subsidy in the vicinity of to their other business, BEST Cleaning the average of $36.39 among 14 Ontario $1 million, ofset by operational saves Solutions. “Actually, I had started the municipalities, but six peer municipalities dependant on the closing of Windsor cleaning business with Pam because had lower rates on the chart provided Arena, Water World, the Adie Knox my family has always had a janitorial by WUC. Tey were Kitchener: $35.78 pool and a west-end community centre. business, so I decided I’d give it a try (2012), Ottawa: $35.42 (2013), Hamilton: Te Water World pool was closed in April myself,” says Brennan, who enjoys being $35.33 (2013), Collingwood: $32.83 while Adie Knox remains open under out with the public. She adds, “and our (2013), Oshawa: $31.94 (2013) and Orillia: pressure from mostly petitioning seniors (cleaning) business has really fourished.” $29.20 (2012). Te seven with higher rates, unaccepting of the frenetic aquatics Brennan and Gignac are exploring options including frontrunner Niagara Falls at centre alternative. for the sale of the Keg & Barrel business, $42.15, were Kingston, St. Catharines, including making it a turnkey operation. London, Chatham, Guelph and Sarnia. “I’ve got a great group of customers,” A cynic might ask why looming defcits Brennan says, “so it’s kind of sad to let pop up on election years? In addition to the that go, but it’s just time (to go). I have Afer posting a $3.8 million surplus in above examples comes word the Windsor- two businesses, we’re busy here and we’re 2013, the new Windsor City Council to Essex Solid Waste Authority is not likely busy with the cleaning business, so I had be elected in October could be staring at to realize $330,000 in revenues added to to make a choice.” BIZ X MAGAZINE • JUNE 2014 11 BizX2014June52.indd 11 2014-05-27 9:43 PM