Month: July 2012

 

Skipping the typical summer jobs, local student Leah Wells became her own boss and started her own business this summer: Windfall Jewellery.

Wells, a resident of Morrisburg was just one of several students  chosen for the Ontario government’s Summer Company 2012 program.

Ontario students between the ages of 15 and 29 were eligible to apply for the program. Those who were accepted then became eligible to receive up to $3,000 as well as hands-on coaching and mentoring to help them start their own business.

Windfall Jewellery will offer a variety of different pieces, including earrings, bracelets and necklaces using an assortment of materials including beads, string and chain. 

Unique to Windfall Jewellery is that many of the pieces will be made with clay beads created by Wells herself using a kiln. 

“I can customize my designs to fit the request of my customers,” explained Wells. “I plan to make jewellery for various age groups and a variety of fashion statements.”

Windfall Jewellery will be sold at the Upper Canada Village gift shop, Winchester Hospital Gift Shop as well as at local Farmer’s Markets.

For more information please contact Leah Wells at 613-543-4453 or online at www.facebook.com/FallwindJewellery  or  www.etsy.com/shop/FallwindJewellery.

Wells was just one of seven students from the Cornwall, SD&G, and Akwesasne area who applied and was accepted for the Summer Company 2012 program.

Alain Therriault’s summer business, AT Carpentry, puts his carpentry and woodworking skills to good use creating a variety of handmade carpentry products including pens, platters, bowls, dog houses, tables, chairs and boxes. 

Jessica Smith started her company, Cuts ‘N Grows, from her home in St. Andrews. She provides customers with a variety of fresh organic produce as well as grass cutting services. 

JT Woodworking is Jamie Terrance’s Summer Company. She offers customers quality handmade outdoor furniture and decor, including Adirondack chairs. 

Darby Wheeler of Farmers Food is offering fresh eggs, pickled eggs, chicks as well as a variety of freshly grown produce including beans, potatoes and rhubarb. 

Sand Field Furniture’s Igor Vasilenko creates a range of products to choose from, including cedar patio coffee tables, Adirondack chairs, shaker style garden benches and planter boxes and stands. 

Kevin Aleinik started his own lawn cutting, hedge trimming, weeding and light landscaping business called Kevin’s Kutting and Landscaping. 

[…]

 

The South Williamsburg Recreation Association requested financial assistance from the Township of South Dundas under the Dollar for Dollar Capital Funding Program for the group’s outdoor rink at the Riverside Heights location.

At the June 26th council meeting, chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald said that “there are some concerns with this request,” which include the fact that it was submitted well after the November 30th deadline.

However, McDonald also pointed out that the request was for a “very limited amount of dollars” and the “test” rink they set up last year was well used. 

Councillor Jim Graham said, “it’s probably one of the most utilized recreational facilities in all of South Dundas” and councillor Archie Mellan agreed.

“Everybody uses it. I think it’s great. I’d support it 100 percent,” said Mellan.

Councillor Evonne Delegarde voiced concern with whether the request constituted an actual capital project. 

Either way, McDonald replied that the group would receive funding only the one time.

Delegarde highlighted the group’s assumption that the outdoor rink in Riverside Heights is necessary due to a shortage of rink space, pointing out that “there’s going to be an outdoor rink in Morrisburg this year.”

McDonald clarified that “if we can find a satisfactory location, it is certainly our intention to have an outdoor rink in Morrisburg this year.”

With deputy-mayor Jim Locke’s support for the request, mayor Steven Byvelds closed the discussion saying “if they can make it happen for that (amount of money), so be it.”

Council approved McDonald’s recommendation that the South Williamsburg Recreation Association be given 50 percent of eligible costs up to a maximum of $1,325.

[…]

 

On June 26th, at the South Dundas council meeting, councillor Jim Graham introduced an issue with lighting at the ball diamonds in Riverside Heights.

According to Graham, there are some lights that are not working and others that require the safety glass surrounding the bulbs.

“There’s a major ball tournament coming up  in the next week or so and it would be nice if lights were working,” he said.

Graham reminded council that Riverside Heights was meant to receive a transfer of lights from the Brinston ball diamonds. This, he said, hasn’t happened yet.

Deputy-mayor Jim Locke agreed, saying that “it’s been promised and promised.”

The matter was referred to the parks and recreation department.

[…]

 

At the June 26th council meeting, South Dundas council agreed to hire Pinchin Environmental Limited to complete Designated Substance Surveys for two township-owned properties.

Chief administrative officer Stephen McDonald reported that, in preparation for sale, the township intends to demolish buildings at each of the locations: 12960 County Road 2 and 5680 Duncan Street.

He reported that the Occupational Health and Safety Act requires the surveys to be done prior to the demolition, identifying any designated substances present in the demolition area.

The cost of the Duncan Street survey is $2,955 and the cost of the County Road 2 survey is $3,225. Both will be paid for from the Sale of Assets Reserve.

[…]

 

Having previously been granted permission to proceed with the purchase of a ‘super tanker’, South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services  chief Chris McDonough returned to council at the June 26th meeting to request budget approval for the purchase.

The tanker in question is a 2004 Western Star 3,000 gallon tanker from Eastway Emergency Vehicles. It will replace Williamsburg’s current 1985 Ford 1,500 gallon tanker.

While McDonough originally estimated the cost of the purchase to be about $130,000, the final tally actually came in a bit lower at $117,666.19. Included in the price, “this vehicle is currently having a new 3,000 imperial gallon tank installed with two porta-tanks mounted on each side of the vehicle and the installation of our dump valve,” reported McDonough.

He also pointed out, however, that further modifications will be needed, which are not covered in the purchase of the tanker: radio communication equipment, emergency lights and installation of an engine exhaust brake system.

McDonough believes these adjustments can be made for approximately $11,000, which would come from the Fleet Replacement Reserve.

Council approved the request. Mayor Steven Byvelds commented, “it’s an opportunity we need to take up.”

[…]

 

If all goes well, the fire station in Williamsburg will soon be fitted with a new sink and cleaning station.

At the June 26th South Dundas council meeting, South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services chief Chris McDonough brought the request before council.

The sink and cleaning station are necessary, he reported, “for the purpose of maintenance and cleaning of Self Contained Breathing apparatus and other equipment.”

He pointed out that although a tender was advertised in local newspapers and on the township website, no bids were submitted. 

In response to the situation, McDonough suggested that council allow the “purchase of the sink and installation utilizing the low bidder from our recurring service quotations.”

There was $10,000 allotted in the 2012 budget for the update.

With no objection or comment from council, mayor Steven Byvelds approved the request, saying, “you’ve tried. Go ahead.”

[…]

 

At the June 26th South Dundas council meeting, manager of public works Hugh Garlough made three presentations asking for permission to purchase some items and sell some items.

First on the docket was the request to purchase a single axle salter snow plow from Tallman Truck Centre in the amount of $171,703.09 plus HST.

According to Garlough, “this is a new 2013 model truck” and it is fully equipped.

As part of the request, Garlough explained that the new truck is over budget by $14,725.18 and he was, therefore, requesting approval for an increase to the 2012 budget allotment for the item. The extra money, he said, would come from the Fleet Replacement Reserve.

Up next, Garlough requested permission to purchase a backhoe loader from Nortrax in the amount of $82,650 plus HST.

This item came in under the budgeted amount of $100,000.

Tenders for both items were advertised in local newspapers as well as on the South Dundas website.

Following the approval of the new purchases, the question became what to do with the old truck and backhoe, which Garlough explained, are now surplus. He recommended that council approve the sale of the surplus items at Rideau Auctions in Winchester.

The surplus items for sale will include a 1993 IHC single axle snow plow salter and a 1994 backhoe loader. Proceeds from the sales will go to the Sale of Asset Reserve Fund.

All requests were approved, although not quite unanimously. Deputy-mayor Jim Locke, who hadn’t been on board with a new backhoe loader during budget talks, asked, “Did we decide on the backhoe?”

“Yes,” replied mayor Steven Byvelds, “you lost on that one.” 

[…]

 

With the recent retirement of long-time volunteer treasurers Gladys and Gordon Garlough, the Williamsburg Community Cemetery board searched, without success, for a replacement.

At the June 26th South Dundas council meeting, treasurer Shannon Geraghty formally requested “that council approve the transfer of all financial activities and reporting for the Williamsburg Community Cemetery to the Township of South Dundas at a fee of $1,750 annually.”

The request came after a previous discussion on the issue was raised at the June 5th council meeting by councillor Archie Mellan on behalf of the Williamsburg Community Cemetery board.

According to Geraghty, “the costs being proposed by staff would cover the preparation of annual financial statements by our current auditors in the amount of $750 to $1,000 along with staff time at 1 to 1.5 hours monthly.”

Mellan, who had discussed the proposal with cemetery board chair John Knier earlier that day, said, “$1,750 is way too much. Originally, they were getting it done for nothing.”

“They wish to keep what money they have coming in to go toward the cemetery.”

“If it’s too much of a financial strap,” continued Mellan, “they’ll have to fold up, in which case the township will have to take over.”

With that said, Mellan revealed that the board wasn’t prepared to pay more than $750 per year, if they had to pay anything at all.

Several council members expressed concern that they would be setting a  precedent whereby other cemetery boards could come forward looking to the township to provide similar services for free or for a discounted rate.

The main issue, it was revealed, lay with the auditor’s fee. On their own, the cemetery board doesn’t need an auditor’s report. The township, however, cannot take responsibility for the cemetery’s finances without one.

While some councillor’s argued in favour of the $1,750, others agreed that the cost should be dropped.

The final decision: the township agrees to take over management of the cemetery board’s financial activities for a fee of $1,000 per year. At the end of the first year, staff will report on the actual cost associated with the task and council will re-evaluate what the fee should be going forward.

[…]

 

This year’s Morrisburg Tubie Festival will take place on the weekend of August 4th and 5th.

The Township of South Dundas recently received a letter from the Morrisburg and District Lions Club with a list of requests for the 42nd annual Tubie weekend.

The requests included: 

• Use of the waterfront park and ball diamond area on August 4th for “parade staging, antique car show, hospitality tent, and an evening concert featuring Ambush.”

• Exception to the noise by-law to allow the Saturday night concert to proceed until midnight.

• Use of the Cruickshank Amphitheatre for children’s entertainment.

• Use of the dock and beach facilities for the Sunday Tubie Race.

Council, unanimously and without comment, agreed to all of the Lions Club requests at the June 26th council meeting. 

[…]

 

At the June 26th South Dundas council meeting, councillor Evonne Delegarde informed council of complaints she’d received from several Iroquois residents concerning use of the Iroquois Campsite dumping station.

According to Delegarde, Iroquois residents who had previously used the dumping station for free have now found that it is locked. To gain access they must pay a small fee.

“I’d like to propose that we remove the lock and eliminate the three dollar fee,” said Delegarde. 

“The people that I spoke to,” she continued, “use it only a handful of times.”

She proposed that council “in good faith allow residents to use the dumping station,” suggesting that Morrisburg and area residents have free access to the dumping station at Canadian Tire in Morrisburg and, therefore, Iroquois residents should have free access to the dumping station at the Iroquois Campsite. 

Clerk Brenda Brunt said, “the dumping station is for the campers. I’m not sure why residents who aren’t camping there, dump there.”

Deputy-mayor Jim Locke agreed with Brunt, saying, “I don’t know why they wouldn’t dump at the campground they’re coming from.”

In the end, mayor Steven Byvelds reminded that “there’s no free ride.” 

Delegarde’s proposal was voted down four to one.

[…]