Morrisburg waterfront design firm is selected, local connection tips scales

Ontario is helping high school students eat more nutritious meals to improve their health and help them learn more effectively.

Through the province's new Healthy Eating in Secondary Schools program, high schools and school boards can apply for one-time grants of up to $50,000 to support innovative projects that encourage students to eat healthier. Projects will begin rolling out this September and can include partnerships with postsecondary institutions or non-profit organizations that promote healthy eating.

Examples of projects that could be eligible for funding include:

• A training program run by a chef school to help cafeteria staff create healthier food options.
• A healthy eating club for students.  
• A partnership with farmers to provide healthy, local Ontario foods to students.
• An updated cafeteria space that incorporates healthy eating information or an urban garden.

Improving student health and well-being is part of the Ontario government's economic plan to invest in people, one of the three pillars of the province's plan to build modern infrastructure and support a dynamic and innovative business climate. The province is investing a total of $2.2 million in the Healthy Eating in Secondary Schools Grants.

 

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Almost $140,000 will be spent on consultants this year.

During recent budget deliberations, South Dundas council was presented with a number of different projects for which professional, expert, third party advice of consultants was deemed important.

Studies that were given budget approval were $57,000 for the expansion of the Williamsburg landfill site, and $40,000 for South Dundas’ asset management plan. Both of these studies are necessary, to meet provincial requirements.

Council chose to allocate funds of $30,000 towards a new Fire Master Plan.

This study, is a follow up on the study several years ago that resulted in South Dundas deciding to amalgamate its fire departments and to hire a full time fire chief. 

The purpose of this study is to project where South Dundas should focus its training for delivery of service. It too will focus on the distribution of equipment between the three stations.

“We are biased if we do this ourselves,” said Fire Chief Chris McDonough. “We really need a third party to come in and do this properly.”

This plan will also provide third party advice on future equipment purchases, a key component that prompted council to decide to allocate funds for this study in this year’s budget.

Another study that received budget approval is hoped to alleviate long time parking and traffic issues at the Morrisburg waterfront. Council decided to set aside $30,000 for a professional traffic study of the area. Another $20,000 was earmarked for that project for potential early implementation measures. 

Horticultural consulting, based on recommendations from the community strategic plan, was also approved by council, so $10,000 was set aside for the study and another $10,000 was set aside for the implementation of some of its recommendations.

Not all of the consulting recommendations made the cut at budget time.

A $25,000 study for the recreation programming department proposed to examine the feasibility, content and potential location for a multi-use recreation facility was cut.

Realistically, the bricks and mortar stage of such a project would not be realized for about five years, according to the mayor and CAO.

“I don’t want to spend the money now, and then have the next council put it on a shelf,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds at the March 11, budget meeting. “We should not do the study until the project is realistically within our sights,” agreed South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

Council agreed to wait a year to go ahead with the study to allow time to search for funding opportunities.

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South Dundas council is officially requesting that the SD&G Library Board reverse their decision to close the Williamsburg branch of the library.

South Dundas considered the resolution at the May 21 regular council meeting and unanimously agreed that they want the board to reverse their decision and find a way to provide alternate service of more than just a book drop to for Williamsburg. 

The request also states that the group who have been working to save the library, the library board and the township work together in the endeavour to continue to provide library service in Williamsburg.

“We need to put the books in the kids hands,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan.

This resolution is only one step in a process to save the library. 

With the township signing a lease agreement with TR Leger for the municipal building in Williamsburg, the municipality will have to find an alternate location for a Williamsburg library.

The library board, which operates independently from the municipalities, will have to discuss how this request will be handled at an upcoming board meeting. 

It will be up to them to decide whether or not they are willing to reconsider their decision.

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