Dogs Lookin’ For Forever Homes

 Since October 2013, South Dundas council and staff have been working on revising a tough new sewer use bylaw.

This bylaw has been the subject of previous special meetings of council earlier this year, and of two public meetings in June, where the public was invited to review the bylaw and provide feedback.

Last week, at a special meeting to once again review the latest draft of the bylaw, council suggested more changes. 

The latest changes will give homeowners longer to face compliance.

At the August 13 meeting, council decided that they would like to see tiered implementation, with industrial and commercial properties within the villages needing to ensure their compliance within about a year of the bylaw enactment, with a possible grace period.

Because commercial and industrial sewer use has the most potential to upset the balance of the sewage treatment plants, council decided that would be an important place to start with the bylaw.

“We’re not here to drive anyone out of business,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. 

The bylaw is designed to regulate what can and can’t be put into the sanitary sewer system, and deals with improper connections that result in extraneous flow of rainwater into the sanitary system, such as roof downspout connections.

Council foresees a final draft of this bylaw, for commercial and industrial sewer use being tabled for approval late in September.

South Dundas staff have been asked to explore the possibility of a municipal funding program designed to encourage voluntary compliance.

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South Nation Conservation is working with the Port of Johnstown to complete a fish habitat creation project along the St. Lawrence River. Work is underway to expand a wetland in Johnstown Bay into a larger, more beneficial area for fish.

“The Port is drawing on our expertise from similar fish habitat projects to ensure the project is successful and cost effective,” says Michelle Cavanagh, SNC Fish and Wildlife Resource Technician.

The 1 acre wetland will include a variety of shoreline structures to create diverse habitat. Two deep pools will support large, game fish species and shallow, weedy areas are suited for small fish.

“After months of planning, we’re excited to begin construction” says Cavanagh, adding SNC will monitor the wetland while work is being carried out and every spring and fall for the next three years to see which fish species are using the new habitat.

This spring, SNC is creating a buffer of trees, shrubs, and wildflowers around the wetland that extends along the warf. This will improve water quality and prevent erosion and surface runoff. Adding aquatic plants in the wetlands, including water lilies, pickerel weed, and wild rice, will oxygenate the water which improves habitat.

Installation of root wads and log clusters will also provide additional areas of cover and spawning habitat. These woody structures will help keep the vegetation from clogging up the wetland.

SNC, in partnership with the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne, developed a Fish Habitat Compensation Plan to satisfy the federal Fisheries Act requirements for the construction of the Port’s new wharf. This is the first of two compensation projects that SNC will complete under the Plan.

Excavation will begin this month with the entire project wrapping up in May.

[…]

For about two years, the Optimist Club of South Dundas has been working towards the mission of Optimist International.

The Optimist mission: By providing hope and positive vision, Optimists bring out the best in kids.

The service organization, which calls itself a friend of youth, has 2,600 clubs around the world, including one in South Dundas.

The club which meets monthly at the Dixon’s Corners Community Centre (the building which formerly housed the public school).

Club representatives, Hugo Desrochers (president), Audrey Ortwein and Ben Luimes, spoke about their club and some of the work they have been doing, after a recent donation made at Iroquois Public School.

“Optimists are friends of youth, and work to help bring out the best of youth,” said Desrochers. 

They have about 30 members, who meet regularly on the last Monday of the month. Although the club is relatively new, they have already been involved in many activities in the community and plan to be involved in many more.

“We are a fairly young club,” said Desrochers.

The South Dundas Optimists organized a bike rodeo last year and Dixon’s Corners, and this year will host another, this time in Morrisburg. 

They support two youth groups weekly, with an average of about 20 kids in total attending weekly. The older members of those two groups are building a fishing shack at the community centre that will be sold as a fund raiser.

This year, the Optimists are working to raise awareness of their organization in the community.

Last week, they donated almost $500 to Iroquois Public School for books. February 17, they are hosting a Family Day Skate at the Dundela outdoor rink, where they will serve hotdogs and hot chocolate from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. They also plan to particpate in summer festivities.

Adult volunteers join Optimist Clubs to conduct positive service projects in their communities aimed at providing a helping hand to youth. 

Each club determines the needs of people in its community and conducts programs to meet those needs.

The South Dundas Optimists are always interested in welcoming new members to the club. Anyone interested can contact Desrochers by email (hdesrochers@live.ca).

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