All things pork, the basis of a new event

It was a sad day on October 7th when the Dunbar Recreation Hall was devastated by fire.

With sighs of relief and several shout-outs of “thank you,” the South Dundas council decided on December 6th that the hall will be rebuilt.

Until that meeting, local residents had been very concerned about the fate of the former hall. So much so, in fact, that they came out in droves to the December 6th council meeting to hear the council’s verdict. 

Clerk Brenda Brunt recommended to council that they choose one of four options to determine the fate of the former hall. The first option was also the only one that allowed for the hall to be rebuilt on the same spot.

Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke quickly chose option one saying, “prior to the fire the building was not slated to close. We have full replacement cost insurance. We have a committed community group. I believe it’s an asset in that part of the township.”

Councillor Evonne Delegarde suggested council consider option two, “use the depreciated value of the building and put towards an existing building.”

Delegarde pointed out that while the building hadn’t been slated to close, it was also not being used very much. She suggested that the township building in Williamsburg would be available in the near future and could possibly become a replacement for the lost hall.

Councillor Archie Mellan, choosing option one, said, “these little communities make South Dundas great. They rally around their communities. They rally around South Dundas, and I think we should rally around them.”

Mayor Steven Byvelds also chose option one, pointing out that “it gives us our asset back and it is covered by insurance.”

He also pointed out that the well and the sewer on the site would need to be investigated. Should either require a lot of work and financing to bring to code, then “we’d have to come back to this because that could change things.”

However, at this time, Byvelds wanted to make it clear to the inhabitants of the hall’s community that “they are part of South Dundas, not part of Chesterville, and we want them to know they’re part of South Dundas.”

He concluded: “let’s take the opportunity and rebuild it.”

[…]

Morrisburg and Iroquois will get new welcome gardens this fall.

South Dundas council awarded the tender to Create It! Garden Design and Installation at their last regular council meeting.

The cost for the design and installation work is $5,550.

The welcome garden in Iroquois will be located on the island in front of the Iroquois Plaza near the buoys. 

The Morrisburg welcome garden will be located on the south-west side of the intersection of County Roads 2 and 31.

The design phase of the gardens is now underway. “The gardens are being designed to be visually appealing year round,” said South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan.

The actual planting is expected to take place in early September.

These welcome gardens came about as a result of directions outlined in the community strategic plan, which specifically mentioned beautification projects such as this one to enhance community gateways. 

[…]

Tuesday, contractors were putting the finishing touches on the second and third floors of the South Dundas Municipal Centre.

Moving to the new offices in Morrisburg starts today, August 21. Next week, the Municipality of South Dundas will be open for business, on the second floor of the newly renovated former high school building.

When the Municipal Centre opens for business August 28, Don Lewis, South Dundas manager of buildings and recreation, expects that the alternate entrance, being the south entrance to the building, will have to be used until the addition, which houses the main lobby and elevator, are complete. 

The first regular council meeting after the move is scheduled for September 3. It may not take place in the new council chambers, that are located on the third floor of the SDMC.

The room is ready, and furniture is expected to be delivered on time, but if the front entrance and elevator are not ready in time for the meeting, they will have to hold the meeting in an alternate, accessible location, according to South Dundas clerk Brenda Brunt. Many alternate, accessible options are available including the Iroquois Civic Centre, Matilda Hall and the Morrisburg Arena.

The first floor of the South Dundas Municipal Centre building, which will house the Morrisburg location of the St. Lawrence Medical Clinic, is not yet complete, but the SLMC plans to be open and operational in its new home early in September.

[…]