Stewart trust helps Dundas agencies

“This was our first year collecting in Iroquois,” said Dundas Food Bank secretary, Celeste Guse, “and the people here have been incredibly generous. We’ve received all kinds of food, and many people have given cash donations as well.”

“We’ve had an excellent turn-out here in Morrisburg,” said OPP Constable Theresa Lauzon. “People have really been getting into the spirit of giving, and it’s been great for the Food Bank. We’ve already filled three cruisers.”

Stuff-a-Cruiser was the initiated by Auxiliary Staff Sergeant, Alan Jodoin. The event represents a joint effort by the OPP and the OPP Auxiliary to help Food Banks ensure that shelves are well stocked during the Christmas season. This year the campaign brought in 1,000 items of food. “We also received $1,500 in donations from the Morrisburg/Iroquois locations,” said Donna Quesnel, on the board of the Dundas Food Bank.

 Pictured above, taking donations and groceries outside Foodland in Iroquois, (l-r), are Auxiliary Sergeant Jason Flaro, Celeste Guse and Jim Wilson, a member of the Dundas Food Bank. Below, set up outside of valu-mart in Morrisburg, (l-r), are Auxiliary Constable Tyler Kelly, volunteer Sage Barkley, the Reverend Sue McCullough, board member, OPP Constable Theresa Lauzon and volunteer Chris Plant.

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A Community Satisfaction Survey is scheduled to start in January in East Region to solicit public opinions about the services the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) detachments deliver to communities throughout the region. 

The Community Satisfaction Survey is a telephone survey that randomly selects members of the public (16 years or older) who live in Ontario.  

The survey takes about five to seven minutes to complete and is strictly voluntary.  

Those contacted and willing to participate are asked about issues such as community security, perceptions of crime and youth issues in the community, OPP presence in the community, service delivery and even how the OPP investigates crime and enforces the law.

The information provided by those surveyed is being collected by a research consultant, R.A. Malatest & Associates Ltd. that has been retained by the Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services.  

The information is treated confidentially and the names, telephone numbers, and addresses of those surveyed will not be included in the survey results provided to the OPP.

Once the survey is complete, the results will be used in the OPP Business Plan and Annual Report.  The information will be useful in helping the OPP set out goals and objectives to improve on the services it delivers to communities throughout Ontario.

These surveys are done throughout the province on a rolling three year schedule.

The East Region detachment surveys will start in early or mid-January and are expected to be completed by March 15, 2013.   

The Ontario Provincial Police would like to thank those who participate in the Community Satisfaction Survey and who take the time to help the OPP in its vision of Safe Communities…..A Secure Ontario.

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South Dundas council promised library space in Williamsburg, but the unexpected $200,000 price tag now attached to the project has left them all with sticker shock.

“We didn’t expect the costs to come in at that level,” said South Dundas chief administrative officer Steve McDonald, at the May 20 council meeting.

The recent tender for an addition to and renovation of the North Williamsburg Recreation building to accommodate the Williamsburg library branch attracted four bids. 

The bids ranged in price from the low bid by Wells & Son Construction of Morrisburg at $209,841 to a high of $372,900. The Wells bid was $80,000 less than the next lowest bidder.

Council deferred acceptance of the bid, instead directing staff to meet with Wells to determine if together they can identify any potential cost savings. 

No member of council was willing to accept the tender price until after the value exercise takes place.  

“It’s costly, but we fought to get here,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan. “If there’s a cost savings to be realized we need to look at that. But, I don’t want this to drag on. We’ve got to get this wrapped up at the next meeting.”

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