Green food program returning to South Dundas

The Williamsburg United Church has been conditionally sold.

On March 14th, Reverend Ralph Taylor confirmed that the church’s congregation had indeed accepted an offer made to purchase the building.

With things not quite finalized, Taylor felt it best not to pinpoint anything for certain. What he did say, however, is that the church has been ‘sold’ to a young couple who wish to turn the church into a home.

At the moment, he revealed, that the church officials are working with the township of South Dundas to change the current zoning for the lot to residential.

Taylor also indicated that they are “in the process of negotiating  with somebody who bought a former school within the general area” for a possible lease on a temporary worship center. He pointed out that a contract has not yet been signed.

Should things work out, “this is going to be our tabernacle while we work on our future.”

“There might be other churches in the Presbytery looking for some partnerships and rather than tie ourselves down, this (school) will be our interim kind of place.”

Taylor told his congregation: “we’re like the people with Moses; we’ve gone out in the wilderness.”

All decisions involved in the selling of the church went through the congregation for discussion and approval, said Taylor.

“In a way we were surprised, we thought we’d be listed for a long time.”

“There’s a sadness and a joy,” said Taylor, referring to the years of worship and memories attached to the church.

With that said, however, Taylor added, “we made the right decision. We’re on the right road to our future.”

[…]

While the public health department is concerned with threats to the overall health of the community, often the biggest threats to public health revolve around factors outside the realm of health care facilities.

Dr. Paul Roumeliotis, medical officer of health with the Eastern Ontario Health Unit, spoke with South Dundas council at the May 6 meeting about health data and trends across the province, Eastern Ontario and Dundas County.

According to the stats presented, this area has higher rates of chronic disease, more smokers, and more mental health issues.

Following his presentation, South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds asked the doctor to provide council with some advice about actions council can take to help improve the health of this community.

Roumeliotis explained that the bulk of the determinants of health relate to social and economic factors, and that council needs to do all they can to remove barriers to ensure that the children of South Dundas get the best possible start in life.

Roumeliotis explained that according to the data, this area has a significant percentage of single parent families (11-12%) and the prevalence of poverty is quite high.

These factors are known to have a negative impact on childhood development, which in turn is known to lead to poorer longterm health.

“We need to concentrate on our youth by offering support to these mothers and their kids. Kids need to have the best possible start in life. That can really make a big difference,” said Roumeliotis.

“We need to recognize that the community environment translates into health, both good and bad health. You as a council help determine the health of the environment,” he said suggesting that an environment with plenty of free recreational opportunities promotes active living in a community.

[…]

The Ministry of Finance has released the education rates for 2012. With this, the three numbers needed to decipher this year’s municipal taxes are complete and property owners can expect to pay a slight increase.

“By my speculation,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds on Tuesday, “it will be just over three per cent, but I can’t be 100 per cent positive without all the numbers.”

“There’s a small decrease from the South Dundas end.”

The Township of South Dundas completed their 2012 budget deliberations on March 12th while the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry completed their budget on March 19th. 

Byvelds pointed out that “the Counties had a 3.1 per cent increase and ours is 3.5 per cent.”

To determine the amount to be paid out by a residence for the education portion of the tax bill, South Dundas treasurer Shannon Geraghty provided a comparison example:

• A 2011 assessment at $149,090 equates to taxes of $344.40.

• A 2012 assessment with phase-in at $157,260 equates to taxes of $347.54.

The education rate, determined by the Ministry of Finance, is standard on all assessments regardless of school board, whether it be public, Catholic or French Catholic. 

As explained in the March 14th edition of The Leader, each home’s taxes are affected by the Municipal Property Assessments.

There has been a 5.48 per cent average increase on assessments due to the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation’s four-year phase in.

What all of this boils down to is an approximate overall increase of just over three percent in municipal taxes for South Dundas. 

[…]