Modest tax increase projected

In accordance with the operating regulations of the International St. Lawrence River Board of Control, Ontario Power Generation’s Ottawa/St. Lawrence Plant Group advises users of the St. Lawrence River, including recreational boaters and anglers, that gates at the Iroquois Control Dam are being lowered for an as-yet undetermined period.  

This is to assist with the management of water levels on Lake St. Lawrence.

Ontario Power Generation would like to remind all users of the river to take every precaution around its dams and generating stations across Ontario and to practice safety on Ontario’s waterways.

[…]

“It would be nice if people would just be a little considerate,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

He was referring to the recent unsightly dumping of a toilet and sink in the middle of a rural road in Hulbert, just in front of the Hulbert-Valley United Church.

Dumping along rural roads is one of Mellan’s pet peeves and an issue that he says is plaguing neighbouring townships as well.

Mellan, who had lobbied for dumping options for both tires and, eventually, electronic waste at both South Dundas landfills, was admittedly “frustrated” by the unauthorized dumping. 

“Spring is usually the worst time,” he said. “It’s the bigger stuff that gets thrown off on some of these side roads.”

Among some of the worst side roads “hit” in South Dundas, according to Mellan, are Waddell Road, Nine Mile Road and Fulton Road.

He said that people have thrown tires, televisions, refrigerators and bags of garbage into ditches, into people’s fields and even into some of the creeks and ponds. 

While the township does have a by-law against unauthorized dumping and littering, Mellan said it’s hard to enforce.

“Fortunately, we do have people out there who take pride in their community,” he continued. “We have people in the township who will go along and pick up garbage a couple of times a year.”

“If you didn’t have conscientious people like that it wouldn’t be long before you’re driving along and all you see is garbage.”

He pointed toward people coming into South Dundas who are considering buying homes and settling here and he said, “you don’t want that first impression to be of garbage in the ditches.”

“It’s just a frustrating thing,” he continued, “and the toilet just sent me over the edge.”

“Have a little more respect and a little more decency,” he pleaded. “It’s unfair to the people who try to keep their properties and roads cleaned up.”

Mellan pointed out that this issue is “a combination of things.” It isn’t just about dumping large items on purpose, but also about throwing things like cups and wrappers out of car windows.

In the case of the toilet and sink, Mellan believes the items weren’t dumped on purpose, but rather fell off an unsecured load. Unfortunately, the owners did not return to claim or clean up the mess.

So, in addition to not using rural roads and ditches as dumping zones, Mellan would also like to ask that people “secure your loads and don’t throw your stuff out the windows.”

[…]

WILLIAMSBURG – A funding request from the Morrisburg Business Improvement Area has been turned down by South Dundas council.

The BIA requested just over $11,000 to help fund the installation of an electronic sign on the north face of the clock tower, in the Morrisburg Plaza.

The sign would be used to promote area businesses and community events.

The funding request was made through the Dollar for Dollar matching funds program. However, staff and council agreed that this application did not fit the criteria of this program which is intended to match community fund raising efforts for capital recreation projects on township-owned lands.

South Dundas chief administrative officer Steve McDonald characterized this as a “quasi-commercial” endeavour.

“This is definitely not in the true spirit or intent of the program,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

“The project does have merit, but the businesses are the best funders of this project,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds.

South Dundas councillor Jim Graham, who is the council appointed member to the BIA, asked on behalf of the organization if council would instead consider short term financing of the project, for which the BIA has already set aside some of the funds.

Council will explore the idea of instead providing a loan to the project once a formal request is made to council. 

In the past, council has provided loans for capital projects to other committees of council, such as the marina committee.

[…]