Township of South Dundas is the ‘Brunt’ of excellence

The Municipality of South Dundas is restructuring its water and sewer operations, and that is not without fallout. This restructuring has resulted in the elimination of the supervisor of water and wastewater operations. South Dundas […]

Two weeks after first deliberating the bids received on the renovation project that will bring library space back to Williamsburg, council decided to accept the $209,841 bid by Wells and Son Construction to go ahead with the project.  

The decision came at the June 3 council meeting, here in Morrisburg.

Council was first presented the recommendation to accept the Wells bid at the May 20, council meeting, but balked at accepting the tender that, although the lowest of those received, was more than council had expected to pay for the project.

They asked staff to meet with the lowest bidder to go over the costs associated with the project to determine if any savings could be found.

South Dundas manager of planning and enforcement Donald Lewis reported that the $20,000 in savings they had hoped to find didn’t materialize in meeting with the contractor.

The Wells bid was already $82,000 less than the next lowest bid.

Council agreed that the small amount of savings ($8,500) identified through meeting with the contractor did not warrant any changes to the project.

Because a portion of the project involves upgrading an existing recreation facility, the North Williamsburg Recreation Centre, staff proposed that the project be financed partially through the accessibility budget, the park fund and the sale of assets reserve fund. 

Financing the project in this manner means that the project will have no impact on the tax rate, a fact that pleased council.

“We’re replacing reserves with an asset,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.

The dozen library supporters who attended the June 3 council meeting to witness the decision regarding the fate of the project applauded council voting to approve the tender.

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Funds from the John Stewart Estate Memorial Trust were delivered to Dundas County recipients Friday at the Dundas County Food Bank’s Winchester location.

The Dundas County Food Bank received $1,200. Meals on Wheels, which serves Morrisburg and Iroquois, and the J.W. MacIntosh Seniors Support Centre in Williamsburg each received $490 from the estate.

All were very grateful to receive the contributions in support of each of their programs.

“The board looks most at need,” said Estella Rose, advisory board member. Contributions are made to other groups throughout the United Counties and the City of Cornwall. In total, $8,505.91 worth of grants were made through the program to 13 organizations. The grants ranged in size from $490 to $1,200.

The money for the annual grants is investment income derived from the sale in 1991 of the John Stewart Home, once located in Cornwall. The home was opened in 1930 as a modest facility to provide housing for poor and indigent persons. 

To date, over $192,000 in income has been distributed to appropriate agencies. This is the 110th anniversary of John Stewart’s death.

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