Deficit 2008 & Sécurité Publique

Update le 6 avril: The Municipality of Lac Simon announces in "ordre du jour" that the long term capital expenditures requests for "l'agrandisement de la caserne" have been reduced from $850,000 (December) -> $550,000 (March) -> $460,000 (April).

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M. Jacques P. Dupuis
Ministère de la Sécurité publique
2525, boulevard Laurier, 5e étage
Tour des Laurentides
Québec (Québec) G1V 2L2


RE: 2008 financial results and sécurité publique

M. Jacques P. Dupuis,

On December 22, 2008 the Municipality of Lac Simon had a special council meeting to present their “budget 2009” and their “financial review of 2008”.

The municipality of Lac Simon 2008 operating deficit was $175,500. The 2008 net deficit was reported as $75,500 because of the $100,0000 the municipality took from the previous years’ surplus.

Gross revenues for 2009 are estimated at $2,583,539. Net revenues for 2009 $2,507,989 = ($2,583,539 - $75,500).

Revenues have grown from $1,450,000 (2004), $1,585,651 (2005), $1,692,792 (6.8% increase in 2006), $2,009,820 (10% increase in 2007), $2,388,520 (18.8% increase in 2008).

The $175,000 operating deficit in 2008 was 7.3% of the 2008 budget ($2,388,520).

We suspect that much of the $175,500 operating deficit in 2008 relates to the expenses that fall under the portfolio of the Ministère de la Sécurité publique.

We would argue the following:

1. Equipment: Far too many unnecessary fire trucks. (see 2 photos)
2. Labor: Excess staff
3. Maintenance & training: As a result of initial buying of equipment (2) & hiring of staff (3), there is a corresponding increase in expenses for equipment “maintenance” and labor “training” and hours of work.
4. “premier repondeur” program: In 2008 the Municipality of Lac Simon introduced their premier repondeur. The maire & council estimated that total costs would be $20,000.
5. Garage expansion: The Municipality of Lac Simon wants to expand the current 6-door firehouse/garage at a projected additional cost of $850,000. 254-10-2008 Règlement ayant pour objet de décréter des travaux d’agrandissement de la caserne incendie, des travaux de construction d’un entrepôt, incluant des travaux de terrassement, l’achat d’un camion citerne et d’un véhicule multi-usage et autorisant un emprunt de 850 000$ pour en payer les coûts.

“Premier repondeur” program: Since day one, citizens have repeatedly asked questions at council meetings. Questions included: Is there not a provincial subsidy for premier repondeur? If yes, why has the municipality not made a request to provincial authorities? Should not the projected cost of premier repondeur be over $100,000? All inquiries and questions were dismissed by council.

We would argue that the Ministère de la Sécurité publique:

1. review the Municipality of Lac Simon financial statements of 2008 that relate to Sécurité publique;
2. question the necessity of the Municipality of Lac Simon $850,000 long term capital cost plans.
3. structure a long term Sécurité publique plan for the Municipality of Lac Simon.
   

Looking forward to a safe and prosperous 2009.

Thanking you in advance.

Paul Malouf

Financials 2008 and Forecasted Budget 2009

Ministre Nathalie Normandeau
Affaires municipales et des Régions
10, rue Pierre-Olivier-Chauveau
Québec (Québec)
G1R 4J3


RE: Municipality of Lac Simon: financials 2008 and forecasted budget 2009

Ministre Nathalie Normandeau,

On December 22, 2008 the Municipality of Lac Simon had a special council meeting to present their “budget 2009” and their “financial review of 2008”. Here are the highlights:

Actual Budget 2008
The municipality of Lac Simon 2008 operating deficit was $175,500. The 2008 net deficit was reported as $75,500. The actual deficit for 2008 would have been $175,500, had it not been for the $100,0000 the municipality took from the previous years’ surplus.

Moreover the $175,000 operating deficit in 2008 was 7.3% of the 2008 budget ($2,388,520).

Budget Forecast 2009

• Gross revenues for 2009 are estimated at $2,583,539. Net revenues for 2009 $2,507,989 = ($2,583,539 - $75,500).
• Revenues have grown from $1,450,000 (2004), $1,585,651 (2005), $1,692,792 (6.8% increase in 2006), $2,009,820 (10% increase in 2007), $2,388,520 (18.8% increase in 2008).
  

Property taxes 2009

• Evaluations 2009 = $197,243,700 a 4.2% ($7,973,700) increase from $189,270,000 (2008).
• Mill rate 2009 = 0.90423 / $100.00 a 11.97% (0.09673) increase from 0.8075 / $100.00 (2008).
  

The spending is out of control. The forecasts are deficient. As a result, taxes are increasing 12% (in a recession), even though evaluations are up over 4%. Furthermore, unpaid taxes are approximately $180,000.

Moreover, the Municipality of Lac Simon is projecting future capital costs that include:

1. firehouse expansion, at a projected cost of $850,000; and a
   
2. new town hall, at a projected cost of approximately $2,000,000.
   

Please help us stop the over-spending and place some financial oversight on our municipal officials.

We would argue that the Affaires municipales et des Régions review the Municipality of Lac Simon:

1. 2008 financial statements;
2. 2009 forecasted budget;
3. projected future capital costs.
   

Looking forward to a sound financial future.

Thanking you in advance.

Paul Malouf

A Very Merry Christmas & a Happy New Year

We have accomplished much in 2008!

Thanks to your generous support in 2008, we celebrated some great conservation commitments and were able to put more energy than ever before into conservation programs and projects.

Together we have

• protected the marshes, forests and beaches of Ile Canard Blanc. It seems there will be no cement ramps on the beach and the development has stopped;
• restricted the travels of the "barge" with the help of Transport Canada;
• protected the very special Lac des Etoiles with our 100 signature petition of Ile Canard Blanc residents;
• conserved several key freshwater streams into Baie L'ours, Lac Barriere and Lac Simon with the help of Environment Quebec;
• reversed the "halte" project parking lot along chemin tour-de-lac with the help of Environment Quebec after Municipality damaged a stream;
• exposed various incidents of e-coli, blue-green algae and pollution in 2007 and 2008;
• publicized various activities such as the July "poker run" with the Minister of Public Security and exposed the August "depotoir" incident with the help of Environment Quebec;
  
• thanks to the over 800 petition signatures in spring 2008, l’auberge “Evasion” is no longer a "une maison de réinsertion". "Alliance/Cap Espoir" vacated in November!
  
• helped secure the right to vote for hundreds of cottagers by getting their names on our electoral list for the 2007 referendum & monitored November 2008 by-election.
  

With your continued support, we will continue to tackle Lac Simon's most pressing conservation challenges, ensuring we protect it for the next generation.

There is much to accomplish in 2009!

From me and everyone that provides pictures, articles and tips that helps put this blog together, we wish you and your family a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

For our Lac Simon.

Rave on!

Paul Malouf
Lac Simon "One Lake - One Chance"

P.S. Have a happy, and green, New Year!

~ Financial Update 2008 & 2009 ~

~ Financial Update 2008 & 2009 ~

Actual Budget 2008

• Net Deficit 2008 = $75,500
• Operating Deficit 2008 = $175,500.
  

- Actual deficit for 2008 would have been $175,500, $100,0000 greater if the municipality had not used $100,000 from the previous years’ surplus.
- The $175,000 operating deficit in 2008 is 7.3% of the 2008 budget ($2,388,520).

Budget Forecast 2009

• Gross revenues 2009 are $2,583,539.
• Net Revenues 2009 $ 2,507,989 = ($2,583,539 - $75,500)
  

- Revenue growth: Revenues have grown from $1,450,000 (2004), $1,585,651 (2005), $1,692,792 (6.8% increase in 2006), $2,009,820 (10% increase in 2007), $2,388,520 (18.8% increase in 2008)
- Operating Surplus/Deficit: surplus $35,597 (2005), surplus $103,200 (2006), surplus $55,695 (2007), deficit $175,500 (2008)
- Cumulative Surplus (as of December 2007): $383,185


Property taxes 2009

• Evaluations 2009 = $197,243,700 a 4.2% ($7,973,700) increase from $189,270,000 (2008).
• Mill rate 2009 = 0.90423 / $100.00 a 11.97% (0.09673) increase from 0.8075 / $100.00 (2008).
  

~ special council meeting for Budget 2009 ~
Municipalite de Lac Simon
~ December 22, 2008 ~

Photo Gallery: L'hélicoptère Sortis de L'eau

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Merci pour les photos / Thank you for the photos

L'hélicoptère & Les Corps Sont Sortis de L'eau

Deux morts au lac Simon
L'hélicoptère et les corps sont sortis de l'eau
Louis-Denis Ebacher
Le Droit

L'hélicoptère qui s'est abîmé dans le lac Simon avec quatre personnes à bord, mercredi soir, a été sorti de l'eau, hier, en fin de journée.

Le petit aéronef Robinson 2007 R-44 de couleur jaune a été retiré des eaux glaciales du lac vers 17h.

Quelques heures plus tôt, vers 13h15, les corps des deux disparus ont été sortis par les plongeurs de la Sûreté du Québec (SQ), à 150 mètres de la berge.

Serge Louis-Seize, propriétaire et pilote de l'hélicoptère, 49 ans, et Léo Blanchet, 63 ans, sont morts noyés en tentant de rejoindre la terre ferme après leur sortie de l'appareil. (...)

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LAC SIMON
Two men die after copter crashes in frigid Quebec lake
Rotor hit water, survivor says
ANDY BLATCHFORD
The Canadian Press
December 5, 2008
Globe & Mail

MONTREAL -- Their helicopter had just plunged through the darkness into a lake when its four occupants had to endure the sudden shock of hitting the frigid water after their jump from the wreckage.

But only two survived the frantic swim. The two other men perished trying to make it to shore 150 metres away.

The bodies of pilot Serge Louis-Seize, 49, and Leo Blanchet, 63, were recovered by Quebec provincial police divers from the depths of Lac Simon yesterday.

The chopper's two other passengers fought off the sting of one-degree water after Wednesday evening's accident in Quebec cottage country northeast of Ottawa.

"The four of them got out of the helicopter and they swam for the side of the lake, but just two [of them] arrived on shore," said provincial police spokeswoman Melanie Larouche. (...)

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Photos from 2007 & 2008

Helicopter & floating dock, summer 2007

Flying above floating dock, summer 2007


Flying along shoreline (just left of red roof) spring 2008

Flying along shoreline spring 2008

Flying over municipal quai, summer 2008

Un hélicoptère s’abîme dans le lac Simon

Breaking News

Un hélicoptère s’abîme dans le lac Simon
December 3, 2008

LCN
Un hélicoptère s'est écrasé dans le lac Simon, en Outaouais, en début de soirée.
Deux personnes qui se trouvaient à bord de l'appareil seraient portées manquantes.
Deux autres passagers auraient été rescapés.
On ignore, pour l'instant, les causes de cet accident.

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Two missing after Que. helicopter crash
Canwest News Service
Published: Thursday, December 04, 2008

CHENEVILLE, Que. - Two people are missing after a helicopter crashed in a Quebec lake outside Ottawa Wednesday night.

Another two passengers safely made it to shore after the helicopter crashed at about 7:40 p.m. Wednesday into Lac Simon, about 95 kilometres northeast of Ottawa, near the Quebec community of Cheneville.

The search is ongoing, with police marine units and aerial searchers working to locate the two missing passengers from the Robinson 44 helicopter.

"A Griffin helicopter from CFB Trenton arrived on scene, but unfortunately the weather deteriorated and they were unable to participate Wednesday night, but we're getting them back up there (Thursday) morning," said Capt. Paul Spaleta of the rescue co-ordination centre at CFB Trenton.

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2 missing after Que. helicopter crash
Last Updated: Thursday, December 4, 2008 | 7:43 AM ET
CBC

Two people are missing after a helicopter crashed into a lake in Western Quebec Wednesday night.

Quebec provincial police said the helicopter, carrying four people, crashed into Lac Simon, about 75 kilometres northeast of Ottawa.

Two people managed to swim to shore and were taken to hospital suffering from hypothermia, but two others are still missing.

Police divers were expected to search the lake on Thursday.

A Griffon helicopter from CFB Trenton in eastern Ontario has joined the search for the two others.

Lac Simon is the site of plane crash 50 years ago that killed four hunters. The aircraft and the bodies of the hunters were recovered from the bottom of the lake in May.

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Outaouais: un hélicoptère s'est écrasé dans le lac Simon, mercredi
Il y a 3 heures
La Presse

MONTREAL — Un hélicoptère est tombé en début de soirée dans le lac Simon, en Outaouais, à quelques centaines de mètres de la rive à la hauteur du chemin de la baie Yelle, près de la municipalité de Chénéville.

Deux personnes qui étaient à bord ont été rescapées, mais deux autres manquent toujours à l'appel.

Les services d'urgence ont été appelés par un témoin qui a vu l'appareil s'abimer dans le lac. Les deux rescapés ont pu regagner la rive à la nage et ont été aidés par des personnes qui se trouvaient à proximité. Ils ont été transportés à l'hôpital, souffrant d'hypothermie.

La Sûreté du Québec a précisé que le secteur a été survolé par un appareil des Forces armées canadiennes après l'accident mercredi soir, mais qu'on est toujours sans nouvelle des deux personnes manquantes.

Des plongeurs de la SQ sont sur les lieux ce jeudi matin afin de poursuivre les recherches. Un appareil des Forces armées canadiennes a également été dépêché pour survoler de nouveau le secteur.

C'est au lac Simon qu'en juin dernier des plongeurs ont ramené à la surface un hydravion qui y était tombé en novembre 1957. Les restes des corps des trois occupants, Tony Chivazza, Philippe Ouimet et Louis Hamel, ont été remontés.

Deux personnes ont possiblement perdu la vie dans un accident d'hélicoptère, hier, dans le lac Simon.

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Un hélicoptère s'abîme dans le lac Simon
Louis-Denis Ebacher
Publié le 04 décembre 2008 à 08h33
Le Droit

La Sûreté du Québec (SQ) a reçu un appel concernant l'aéronef vers 18 h 15, hier. Un témoin a aperçu l'hélicoptère descendre de façon inhabituelle jusque dans les eaux du lac Simon, dans la Petite-Nation. «Deux personnes manquent toujours à l'appel, a indiqué en fin de soirée la porte-parole de la SQ, Joyce Kemp. On parle aussi de deux rescapés.»

Les informations tombaient au compte-gouttes, quelques heures après le drame. Les familles des victimes n'avaient pas toutes été informées de ce qui venait de se passer.

Le lac Simon est déjà connu pour une tragédie semblable survenue le 21 novembre 1957. Ce jour-là, un hydravion de type SeeBee sombrait au fond du même lac avec quatre personnes à bord.

Les victimes avaient toutes perdu la vie en revenant d'un voyage de chasse. L'épave a été repêchée en mai dernier par la SQ, aidée par des plongeurs amateurs ayant découvert la carcasse de l'appareil.

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Les plongeurs recherchent l’hélicoptère à Lac-Simon
Deux hommes rescapés et deux autres disparus
le 4 décembre 2008 à 11:28
le Petite Nation

Les plongeurs recherchent toujours l’hélicoptère provenant de Sainte-Anne-des-Plaines qui a plongé dans le lac Simon hier soir vers 18h.

Deux corps manquent toujours à l’appel. Lors de l’écrasement, les quatre passagers sont sortis de l’appareil et ont tenté d’atteindre la rive.

Deux d’entre eux ont réussi à sortir de l’eau. L’un a été aidé par des témoins de l’accident. Ces deux hommes âgés de 33 ans et 48 ans ont été transportés d’urgence à l’hôpital de Buckingham. L’un d’entre eux a obtenu son congé alors que l’autre se trouve dans un état stable. (...)

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A Robinson R44 helicopter similar to this one crashed in Lac-Simon, Que., Wednesday night. Two people survived the crash and two are still missing.

Photograph by : AFP/ Getty Images

Two missing after helicopter crash on Lac Simon
DECEMBER 4, 2008
Ottawa Citizen

OTTAWA — Surete du Quebec divers started the search Thursday morning for two people from the Montreal area who have been missing since their helicopter crashed into Lac Simon Wednesday night.

Two others swam to safety after the crash, which was reported around 6 p.m. Wednesday.

Police say the missing includes the 50-year-old pilot, who owned the Robinson R44 helicopter and had a cottage in the area. A 63-year-old passenger has also not been seen.

Surete du Quebec say the four people in the helicopter were returning to the cottage from Sainte Anne des Plaines, north of Montreal, which they had left at around 5:30 p.m. (...)

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Divers pull 2 bodies from Quebec lake after helicopter crash
Last Updated: Thursday, December 4, 2008 | 1:32 PM ET
CBC

Police have recovered the bodies of two Montreal-area men missing after a helicopter carrying four people crashed into a lake in western Quebec on Wednesday night.

Quebec provincial police divers from Montreal pulled the bodies of the 49-year-old pilot, Serge Louis-Seize, and a 63-year-old Montreal man from Lac Simon, about 75 kilometres northeast of Ottawa, Thursday morning. A 33-year-old man from Blainville and the pilot's brother, 48-year-old Mario Louis-Seize survived the crash.

The aircraft went down at about 6 p.m. Wednesday, entering the lake about 50 metres from shore, where the water was about 12 metres deep, police said. (...)

Mario Louis-Seize continued and managed to crawl up onto the shore. A witness brought him to a nearby cottage and put him in a warm bath, he said. Another cottager took his boat out onto the water and rescued the 33-year-old contractor who had come along to help work on the cottage owned by Serge Louis-Seize. The contractor's 63-year-old father-in-law did not make it.

The two survivors were sent to hospital in Buckingham to be treated for hypothermia, police said.

Police investigators did not yet know whether the snowy, windy weather or a mechanical problem was to blame for the crash, Quebec provincial police officer Melanie Larouche said Thursday.

On Thursday morning, relatives of the missing men huddled on the shore in the cold rain, weeping as divers took to the water. (...)

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Two men die, two survive Quebec helicopter crash
Andy Blatchford
The Canadian Press
December 4, 2008 at 5:53 PM EST
Globe & Mail

MONTREAL — Their helicopter had just plunged through the darkness into a lake when its four occupants had to endure the sudden shock of hitting the frigid water after their jump from the wreckage.

But only two survived the frantic swim. The two other men perished in their attempt to make it to shore 150 metres away.

The bodies of pilot Serge Louis-Seize, 49, and Leo Blanchet, 63, were recovered by Quebec provincial police divers from the frosty depths of Lac Simon on Thursday. (...)