Cold Weather Alert...Don't Get Drunk And Fall Asleep Outside!

SEVERE COLD WEATHER WARNING ISSUED

Oxford County Public Health & Emergency Services has issued a cold weather alert for the Oxford County area effective tonight. A Cold Alert is issued when current or anticipated weather conditions are at or below minus 15 degrees Celsius or minus 20 with wind chill, or extreme weather conditions, such as a blizzard or ice storm.

This alert will remain in effect until a cancellation notice is issued.

Residents of Oxford County are reminded to take precautions to protect themselves from the cold. Extreme cold weather conditions can affect anyone, depending on the length of time spent outside and the level of exertion while outdoors. Those particularly at risk include:
Older adults
Infants and young children
Outdoor workers
Those who like outdoor sports such as skiing and hiking
Homeless persons and those who do not have shelter, proper clothing and/or food

Over-exposure to cold may lead to complications such as frost-bite, particularly of the extremities or any exposed skin, and hypothermia, when the body temperature drops below 35˚C. If you suspect hypothermia, call 911.

Inn Out of the Cold offers shelter to homeless adults during the winter months between 7:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. at Old St. Paul's Anglican Church, 723 Dundas Street, Woodstock. Inn Out of the Cold can be contacted through Operation Sharing at 519 539-3361. The Salvation Army’s Emergency Housing also provides temporary housing to single adults and families for a period of up to six weeks. This program can be contacted at 519 539-6166 during daytime hours and at 519 539-7235 after hours.

Woodstock Hydro..In Bill Downings' Words

SHOULD THIS BE LOOKED AT BY SOMEONE SIMILAR TO THE AUDITOR GENERAL...OR MAYBE A FORENSIC AUDITOR?

The Woodstock Public Utility Commission operated Woodstock’s hydroelectric distribution system until the year 2000. In July of that year, the hydroelectric distribution system was taken over by a newly formed company Woodstock Hydro Services Inc.

The former utility was wholly owned by the City of Woodstock. The new hydro services corporation is likewise wholly owned by the City.

With the change in organization of Woodstock’s hydro distribution system in 2000, opportunity was presented for the city to refinance the utility and take out $10.9 million in cash. That money could have been used for any municipal purpose as decided by the city council.

The refinancing of the hydro utility was to have been accomplished by borrowing the $10.9 million from a bank or other lending institution and paying that money over to the city. The sources for the utility to borrow that much outside capital-debt in year 2000 did not exist. The City therefore decided that the utility would give the city an “accommodating” promissory note and pay interest to the city until the money market changed.

The City of Woodstock did not ever loan the Woodstock hydro utility any money. The interim arrangement simply provided a means for the utility to legally pay an annual amount to the city until such time as the utility was able to refinance.

According to the recent announcement reported by the Sentinel Review, the hydro utility has now been able to borrow $10.9 million dollars from a “private-sector bank”. That money in turn, has reportedly been turned over to the City.

The result of the transactions is that the utility has taken on a $10.9 million debt obligation. The hydro utility is wholly owned by the City of Woodstock. Consequently, the city has itself effectively borrowed the $10.9 million dollars on the credit of the utility. Presumably, all of the funds required for the annual interest payments and the repayment of the $10.9 bank loan will be charged to and paid by Woodstock Hydro’s rate paying customers.

The hydro utility has changed its capitalization to about 50% share capital and 50% debt. The city still owns the utility. That was the city’s original objective as set back in year 2000 when the hydro system was first reorganized. In the meantime, the utility has paid the city 6.756% interest each year on the accommodating $10.9 million note. The funds having been collected from Woodstock hydro rates and used for city purposes.

The Utility’s value has been reduced by $10.9 million.

As submitted by Bill Downing

(Here is the material . You may use it as you wish. I have much more information which has not been made public which, for the time being at least, I am unwilling to publish.)