Month: February 2012

On February 11th, the Morrisburg and District Leos held a food drive at Riley’s Valu-Mart in the Morrisburg Plaza. The Leos, a youth division of the local Lions Club, “has been a group for almost two years now,” said Katie Prevost (right), President of the Leos. Both Prevost and Leos Secretary Sheldon Dunkley (left) arrived at the store before 8 a.m. in the hopes of collecting as much money and food for the Dundas County Food Bank, as possible. “People have been donating a lot,” said Prevost, “they’ve been really generous.” Someone even donated $100, said Dunkley. In total, the Leos collected 203 items and $447 for the food bank. According to Prevost and Dunkley, the Leos keep very busy fundraising, doing clean-ups and helping out wherever they can. Their next big project? A talent show in March. Prevost said the group is looking for anyone between the ages of 7 and 18 to sign-up for the talent show. Contact the Morrisburg and District Lions Club for more information.

[…]

At the February 7th South Dundas council meeting, Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke inquired as to the status of Dunbar Hall. 

Clerk Brenda Brunt revealed that staff is still waiting to meet with Aviva. The insurance agent, she reported, was currently away. Upon return, staff will meet with the agent and move forward from there.

Locke expressed concern over the length of the process.

[…]

At the February 7th South Dundas meeting, council passed a by-law to enter into an agreement with Brockville for fire dispatch and paging services.

Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald reported that “it will probably be the end of March before we’re up and running. We’re waiting for some equipment to be delivered.” 

“There will probably be a two to four week period where we’re running duplicate systems, where there’s an overlap,” he added.

[…]

South Dundas Economic Development Officer Nicole Sullivan is looking to complete an update to the South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan.

At the February 7th South Dundas council meeting, council agreed with Sullivan’s request and granted approval for a funding application to the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP). 

Sullivan had reminded council that the South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan, adopted in 2005, recommended periodic updates. However, she pointed out, “the township of South Dundas is now over half way through the ten year planning period and there has yet to be formal review of the plan.”

She submitted the project “for consideration as a 2012 capital budget item,” pointing out that “if EODP funding for the project is approved, it would offset the associated costs.”

“The timing is right,” agreed Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke.

[…]

“The motion is lost,” said South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds at the February 7th council meeting.

He was referring to Councillor Evonne Delegarde’s motion  that South Dundas “be responsible for road maintenance from this point on” at Doran Creek Estates, near Iroquois.

 While Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke once again spoke in favour of the motion, it was not enough. 

Mayor Steven Byvelds said, “one of the challenges that Swanks didn’t consider is that this is normal business. In talking to other municipalities, they do not do maintenance until final construction is done.”

[…]

“I do not recommend that we get involved with the snow plowing on these two plots,” said South Dundas Manager of Public Works, Hugh Garlough.

Garlough addressed council at the February 7th meeting where he lobbied against a request made by South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) Josée Brizard for help in maintaining the parking lots for two SNC conservation areas within South Dundas. 

In her letter to council, Brizard wrote, “it has come to our attention that many residents use both trails at Bob Graham and Two Creeks during the winter months. To facilitate the usage of these trails, SNC is inquiring about the possibility for the township of South Dundas to assist with the plowing of these two parking lots.”

She emphasized that “SNC will inspect the trails on a weekly basis and also will be grooming the trails when needed.”

According to Garlough, “there is a cost involved and the road department does not have time to send a truck or backhoe to these remote locations.”

He went on to say that he and his crew “worked with South Nation this summer. It went okay, but South Nation  didn’t really consider my time or my men’s time. They just called at the last minute.”

As Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke pointed out, however, Two Creeks “has become quite a recreational spot and it’s going to grow.”

In response to not plowing the parking lot, he added, “I guess it’ll mean parking on the highway.”

Debate ensued, revolving around two opposing facts: the importance of recreational opportunities for South Dundas residents and the inconvenience and cost of having to plow the parking lots.

Mayor Steven Byvelds reminded everyone that these are trails within South Dundas, saying, “I thought it was a great idea. It’s an opportunity where we can partner with them (SNC).”

“People are interested in it,” he added.

Locke suggested moving the topic to budget time. It was agreed that plowing could be covered in the recreation budget since, as Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald pointed out, “Ben (Macpherson) may have plans for recreation there in winter as well.” Macpherson is the South Dundas Recreation Program Coordinator.

Council inevitably agreed to refer the topic to budget.

[…]

The Canada Day Organizing Committee has been hard at work raising funds for this year’s Canada Day festivities. A Valentine’s Day draw, just one of the group’s fundraising initiatives, took place on February 11th. The draw raised approximately $1,400. The first place prize, donated by the McIntosh Country Inn and Conference Centre, included accommodations and dinner for two. Bill and Beverley Aleck were the lucky winners of the first place prize. Carolyn Abrams won the second place prize, a $150 gift basket from Riley’s Valu-Mart. Bill Tupper took home the third place prize, a Valentine’s dinner for two at the Upper Canada Grill. The winners gathered on February 13th to collect their prizes. Hatherall, owner of Riley’s Valu-Mart, said, “we’re thankful for everyone’s contribution towards the fireworks and we’re hoping for another great celebration this year.”

[…]

This issue of flooding in the villages of Morrisburg and Williamsburg was raised at the February 7th South Dundas council meeting.

Asked for an update on the flooding situation, Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald reported that AECOM is plotting “all the problems.” The study, he continued, “provides a really good shot of where the significant issues are with blockages and seeping through pipes.”

“Once Morrisburg and Williamsburg are done, they’ll show council and the public,” he said, referring to AECOM’s study of the drainage systems.

In response to concern over how much money is being spent on the study versus the work to be done, McDonald assured council that “most of the money is going to be spent where it should be spent – on the bricks and mortar.”

[…]

“The construction of the Iroquois Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) upgrades is anticipated to commence on or about February 15, 2012 and be completed by September 16, 2013,” reads a South Dundas public notice.

At the February 7th South Dundas council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald recommended that council accept the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) report and “proceed with the Iroquois sewage collection system rehabilitation work.”

According to OCWA’s report, they “were able to secure a tender price less than the estimated project cost” for the WWTP rehabilitation project. And so, “this project budget analysis would help to allocate additional dollars to the secondary project (sewage collection system rehabilitation.)”

Originally, South Dundas was granted $18 million from Infrastructure Canada (INFC) for the WWTP upgrades. According to a letter from OCWA, “we obtained approval to use any savings from the $18 million to conduct rehabilitation work on the sewage collection system.”

“The plan,” they reported, “is to conduct the sewer rehabilitation work alongside the Iroquois WWTP upgrade so both projects may be completed by the funding deadline of March 31, 2014.”

Council agreed with McDonald’s recommendation with Mayor Steven Byvelds pointing out that the subject “is pretty straight forward.”

[…]

“The chief has done a great job for us,” said South Dundas Councillor Jim Graham.

While South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services (SDFES) Fire Chief Chris McDonough was unable to attend the February 7th South Dundas council meeting, that didn’t stop council from approving the Automatic Aid Fire Agreement between the township of North Dundas and SDFES.

In McDonough’s written report, he explained that “providing timely fire protection services in the far reaches of our community can be challenging and so in some areas the initial response for emergencies is provided by neighbouring fire departments.”

He confirmed that South Dundas currently has fire protection agreements in place with both Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and South Stormont municipalities.

The annual stand-by fee for North Dundas has been set at $8,000 with additional charges for equipment use. North Dundas will provide first response in designated areas of South Dundas, acting on behalf of South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services until such time as SDFES is on-scene.

Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke said, “it’s great to finally see it get finalized.”

[…]