Month: April 2012

 

“Good for the body and good for the soul” was this year’s theme for Curves International’s 14th annual month-long food drive. 

Once again, Curves of Morrisburg took part in the March event. According to owner Kelly Keeler, “this was the best year ever.” 

On April 2nd, Keeler revealed that the gym collected 2,565 pounds of food and supplies for the Dundas County Food Bank, easily exceeding their original goal of 2,000 pounds. In fact, they doubled their 2011 haul of 1,230 pounds.

Keeler pointed out that “most of the groceries that were purchased, were purchased locally.”

To motivate members, Keeler drafted an incentive plan for the members of the Morrisburg gym: for every 20 pounds of food donated, they received five ballots. 

Winning ballots will be drawn sometime next week. An Avon gift basket, a Curves gift basket,  and a bracelet are just a few of the prizes available. The first place prize is a pair of Upper Canada Playhouse tickets, donated by the Playhouse.

“Kelly does a lot. She really motivates everybody,” said Curves member and former chair of the Dundas County Food Bank, Brenda Millard. “Our community is hugely generous.”

In addition to the in-house prizes for members, there was an incentive for those who wanted to join the gym during the month of March. Rather than pay the membership fee, new members had the option of donating two bags of groceries or $30 to the food bank. Morrisburg had 15 new members join the club during their March food drive.

In addition to Keeler’s in-house incentives, Curves International had some incentives of their own.

In a February press release, Curves founder Diane Heavin stated: “With a theme of ‘Good for your body and your soul,’ this year’s drive encourages Curves members to feel doubly good about themselves as they make time to exercise for good health and take time to help others in the community with a donation of nutritious food.”

“Local Curves clubs may also qualify to win cash prizes for their local food banks. Curves International will award cash prizes to the clubs that collect the most food, the clubs that show the greatest increase in donations over the 2011 food drive, and to two additional clubs randomly selected from all the clubs who enter the contest.”

According to Keeler, Curves International is expected to announce these award winners sometime in late April or early May. The prizes, all monetary, will go to the food bank associated with the winning Curves club. There is one $1,000 prize as well as several $500 prizes.

Keeler has high hopes for the final awards and said, “anything we win will go directly to the food bank.” 

“I think that my club may be in the top five or earn one of the other prizes for the food bank… I’m hoping anyway,” said Keeler.

The Dundas County Food Bank is currently looking for empty containers: juice or Ensure bottles; 250 and 500 ml containers; 2 liter containers; water bottles; and, baby food jars.

[…]

 

At the March 20th South Dundas council meeting, Hugh Garlough, manager of public works, presented council with a list of quotations for outsourcing, including equipment rental and various repair jobs for 2012 and 2013. 

Garlough recommended that council “accept all quotations submitted and that the public works and recreation departments use the low bids. Low bids will be used unless the contractor cannot supply the equipment on the required date. Then, we will select the next low bid to hire the required equipment.”

“We put a quotation system out in the three papers and on the website,” he continued, “this year we had 19 people respond and this is a two-year term.” 

Deputy-mayor Jim Locke commented, “there are lots of people looking for work. Prices aren’t inflated from  last year.”

Councillor Jim Graham agreed, saying, “it’s nice to see lots of people bidding on it.”

Council accepted Garlough’s recommendation.

[…]

 

In a report for South Dundas council’s March 20th meeting, manager of public works Hugh Garlough submitted a report stating: “Tentative start date at the Iroquois Sewer Plant is scheduled for March 19, 2012. The out fall pipe is the part of the project to get done first.”

As per his report, it was confirmed by chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald on March 27th that the work did start last week with the out fall pipe.

“They’re working their way from the water to the plant,” said McDonald.

[…]

 

At the March 20th South Dundas council meeting, economic development officer Nicole Sullivan recommended “that council retain the services of McSweeney & Associates to complete an update to the 2005 South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan for a cost of $10,000.”

As reported earlier this year, Sullivan, with permission from council, submitted a completed application to the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP) for funding to complete the project to update the 2005 economic plan.

“As part of that application,” she said, “we were required to have two quotes with it.”

“Quotes were obtained from Dillon Consulting and McSweeney & Associates whose services were retained to complete the South Dundas Community Strategic Plan and the SD&G Strategic Economic Development Action Plan respectively.”

Project objectives include:

• “Provide a realistic and strategic approach to economic development for the next five years;

• Align local economic development efforts with those of the community and region, identifying complementary and mutually supportive activities; and,

• Encourage advancement and accountability in local economic development.”

Sullivan’s recommendation for McSweeney & Associates was based on a group decision following a review and discussion period. The group included mayor Steven Byvelds, chief administrative officer Stephen  McDonald, chair of the economic development advisory committee Mark Prost, and Sullivan herself.

Following Sullivan’s recommendation and council’s approval, mayor Steven Byvelds said, “McSweeney & Associates can certainly bring us some useful information.”

“Funding was allocated under the 2012 capital budget,” reported Sullivan, “if our application to the EODP is successful that will offset our costs.”

[…]

 

South Dundas manager of public works Hugh Garlough submitted the department’s monthly activity summary for the March 20th South Dundas council meeting.

In the summary, he reported that “Robinson Consultants have been asked to give us a life expectancy for both landfills.” 

The current South Dundas landfill sites are the Church Road Landfill and the Matilda Landfill.

During the March 5th budget meeting, Garlough introduced the landfill life expectancy into the discussion. It was suggested that a new garbage policy may be necessary depending upon the “life” left in each of the landfills.

On March 27th, Garlough reported that Robinson Consultants Inc. are currently “completing the 2011 year-end report. In that report, we will get a projected life expectancy for each of the two landfills.”

“The residents will be affected as we will have to transport our household and any other garbage to an approved landfill site, as well as a tipping fee.”

“The planning will begin when we know for sure what our life expectancy numbers are,” continued Garlough. “Options we have already considered are having our household garbage contractor dispose of the garbage as part of the contract.”

“More options will be considered as we get closer to the end of landfill site life,” he added.

Chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald reported that another possible solution to a short landfill life expectancy is a “100,000 cubic meter expansion in Matilda.”

He said, “we don’t have any other sites once those are filled to capacity.” In that case, McDonald pointed out that the township would have to look outside South Dundas for disposal options.

Once the Robinson report is in, McDonald said the township will have “a better handle on where we need to go in terms of restrictions.” Until then the garbage policy remains the same.

[…]

 

On March 26th, South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services’ Williamsburg station was dispatched to a chimney fire on County Road 18 at approximately 7:03 p.m. 

Chief Chris McDonough reported that “upon arrival, fire crews found the roof to be fully involved with flames visible and exposures due to the windy conditions.”

“At this time, Morrisburg was called in to assist, along with a tanker from Chesterville.”

“Due to the cold and windy weather conditions it was difficult to bring the fire under control. Consequently, the 10 year old home was destroyed.”

“Although not confirmed, after speaking with the home owner, the fire was first noticed in the basement adjacent to the chimney area.”

“Fire crews did not clear the scene until 2:30 the following morning, March 27th. No injuries were reported.”

[…]

 

On the afternoon of March 27th, fire broke out at Iroquois Enterprises in the dust collector.

“Crews arrived to find flames coming from the side hatch and from the lower portion of the collector,” reported South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services chief Chris McDonough.

“Iroquois requested Morrisburg to assist and the flames were quickly extinguished. It took,” he continued, “three hours to remove the excess sawdust and ensure there were no other ‘hot spots’ in the collector.”

Owners of the company were “put on notice” and were made “aware of the maintenance that is required and of the fire code regulations surrounding the operation of the facility.”

Iroquois Enterprises manufactures new hardwood or softwood pallets and industrial wood products. The company is located at 32 Dundas Street in Iroquois.

[…]