News

From Junior Kindergarten to grade 12 teens, all area young people are invited to take part in a very special Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Youth Day, on February 22, at St. James Anglican Church in Morrisburg, 8:30 a.m. to 3:15 p.m.

Ash Wednesday traditionally marks the beginning of Lent for many Christians, and the start of the weeks leading up to Easter. It is a time of reflection, a time of good will and a time to find ways to grow closer to God.

Organized and run by the Lutheran and Anglican churches in South Dundas, the 2012 Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Youth Day will feature many interesting, exciting and fun-filled activities. Participants are divided into age groups when they arrive at St. James at 8:30 a.m. for registration. Older participants will spend some time at the Food Bank, learning how the community is helped by this organization. Throughout the day, all young people will enjoy crafts, outdoor events, games, music,  interesting learning activities and the chance to share ideas about this year’s theme, “Lord, Teach Me to Pray.”

Some of the special outreach activities planned for the day will revolve around the missionary work in Madagascar of Mary Sherwood, and the work of Chris Marshall and Shayna Campbell who are attempting to complete a maternity hospital in the heart of Uganda. Primary participants will be creating cards and messages that will be delivered to Sherwood’s orphanage in Madagascar in the spring. Junior and senior participants will hear and see a presentation by Chris’s mother, Karen Marshall, about efforts to open the much-needed hospital outside Mbiko in Uganda.

There is no cost or fee for the Youth Day. All organizers ask is that participants bring a non-perishable donation for the Food Bank. Lunch, snacks and drinks will all be provided. There will be adult supervision of participants and activities throughout the day. 

Registration forms are available at area churches, by calling 543-3904, or by simply coming out to St. James for 8:30 a.m. on February 22.

The annual Ecumenical Ash Wednesday Youth Day is open to all young people. It promises to be a day to remember.  

[…]

the 2012 Darts For Hearts at Iroquois Legion, Branch 370, held on behalf of the Heart & Stroke Foundation. The Tournament raised $3,097 for the Foundation on Saturday, February 11.

Included in that total was $1,345 raised on February 5 at the Gerry Sypes Memorial Tournament. His family made a special presentation to Cindy Rowe, area manager for Heart & Stroke. Left to right, below, are Rowe, Amanda Baker, Brenda Sypes and Diane Baker.

Cindy Rowe also took the opportunity on Saturday to present the Iroquois Legion with a special award for its 20 years of supporting Heart & Stroke.

“This award recognizes the Legion’s loyalty and commitment and contributions to the success of community based programs,”  Rowe said.

Darlene Riddell (above right) accepted the plaque on behalf of the Tournament organizers and the Legion, saying that “we are glad to accept this award, and we will display it proudly.”

Participants in the Darts Tournament enjoyed a full day which included food and 130 prizes generously donated by merchants in Iroquois, Morrisburg, Cardinal and Winchester. 

Organizers for the event were Wayne and Linda Bellinger, Randy Markell, Glen,  Caralee and Tony Easter, Carol-Lee Pemberton and Shelley Morrow, aided by Earl Nesbitt.

[…]

“The chief has done a great job for us,” said South Dundas Councillor Jim Graham.

While South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services (SDFES) Fire Chief Chris McDonough was unable to attend the February 7th South Dundas council meeting, that didn’t stop council from approving the Automatic Aid Fire Agreement between the township of North Dundas and SDFES.

In McDonough’s written report, he explained that “providing timely fire protection services in the far reaches of our community can be challenging and so in some areas the initial response for emergencies is provided by neighbouring fire departments.”

He confirmed that South Dundas currently has fire protection agreements in place with both Edwardsburgh/Cardinal and South Stormont municipalities.

The annual stand-by fee for North Dundas has been set at $8,000 with additional charges for equipment use. North Dundas will provide first response in designated areas of South Dundas, acting on behalf of South Dundas Fire and Emergency Services until such time as SDFES is on-scene.

Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke said, “it’s great to finally see it get finalized.”

[…]

“The construction of the Iroquois Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP) upgrades is anticipated to commence on or about February 15, 2012 and be completed by September 16, 2013,” reads a South Dundas public notice.

At the February 7th South Dundas council meeting, Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald recommended that council accept the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) report and “proceed with the Iroquois sewage collection system rehabilitation work.”

According to OCWA’s report, they “were able to secure a tender price less than the estimated project cost” for the WWTP rehabilitation project. And so, “this project budget analysis would help to allocate additional dollars to the secondary project (sewage collection system rehabilitation.)”

Originally, South Dundas was granted $18 million from Infrastructure Canada (INFC) for the WWTP upgrades. According to a letter from OCWA, “we obtained approval to use any savings from the $18 million to conduct rehabilitation work on the sewage collection system.”

“The plan,” they reported, “is to conduct the sewer rehabilitation work alongside the Iroquois WWTP upgrade so both projects may be completed by the funding deadline of March 31, 2014.”

Council agreed with McDonald’s recommendation with Mayor Steven Byvelds pointing out that the subject “is pretty straight forward.”

[…]

This issue of flooding in the villages of Morrisburg and Williamsburg was raised at the February 7th South Dundas council meeting.

Asked for an update on the flooding situation, Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald reported that AECOM is plotting “all the problems.” The study, he continued, “provides a really good shot of where the significant issues are with blockages and seeping through pipes.”

“Once Morrisburg and Williamsburg are done, they’ll show council and the public,” he said, referring to AECOM’s study of the drainage systems.

In response to concern over how much money is being spent on the study versus the work to be done, McDonald assured council that “most of the money is going to be spent where it should be spent – on the bricks and mortar.”

[…]

The Canada Day Organizing Committee has been hard at work raising funds for this year’s Canada Day festivities. A Valentine’s Day draw, just one of the group’s fundraising initiatives, took place on February 11th. The draw raised approximately $1,400. The first place prize, donated by the McIntosh Country Inn and Conference Centre, included accommodations and dinner for two. Bill and Beverley Aleck were the lucky winners of the first place prize. Carolyn Abrams won the second place prize, a $150 gift basket from Riley’s Valu-Mart. Bill Tupper took home the third place prize, a Valentine’s dinner for two at the Upper Canada Grill. The winners gathered on February 13th to collect their prizes. Hatherall, owner of Riley’s Valu-Mart, said, “we’re thankful for everyone’s contribution towards the fireworks and we’re hoping for another great celebration this year.”

[…]

“I do not recommend that we get involved with the snow plowing on these two plots,” said South Dundas Manager of Public Works, Hugh Garlough.

Garlough addressed council at the February 7th meeting where he lobbied against a request made by South Nation Conservation’s (SNC) Josée Brizard for help in maintaining the parking lots for two SNC conservation areas within South Dundas. 

In her letter to council, Brizard wrote, “it has come to our attention that many residents use both trails at Bob Graham and Two Creeks during the winter months. To facilitate the usage of these trails, SNC is inquiring about the possibility for the township of South Dundas to assist with the plowing of these two parking lots.”

She emphasized that “SNC will inspect the trails on a weekly basis and also will be grooming the trails when needed.”

According to Garlough, “there is a cost involved and the road department does not have time to send a truck or backhoe to these remote locations.”

He went on to say that he and his crew “worked with South Nation this summer. It went okay, but South Nation  didn’t really consider my time or my men’s time. They just called at the last minute.”

As Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke pointed out, however, Two Creeks “has become quite a recreational spot and it’s going to grow.”

In response to not plowing the parking lot, he added, “I guess it’ll mean parking on the highway.”

Debate ensued, revolving around two opposing facts: the importance of recreational opportunities for South Dundas residents and the inconvenience and cost of having to plow the parking lots.

Mayor Steven Byvelds reminded everyone that these are trails within South Dundas, saying, “I thought it was a great idea. It’s an opportunity where we can partner with them (SNC).”

“People are interested in it,” he added.

Locke suggested moving the topic to budget time. It was agreed that plowing could be covered in the recreation budget since, as Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald pointed out, “Ben (Macpherson) may have plans for recreation there in winter as well.” Macpherson is the South Dundas Recreation Program Coordinator.

Council inevitably agreed to refer the topic to budget.

[…]

“The motion is lost,” said South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds at the February 7th council meeting.

He was referring to Councillor Evonne Delegarde’s motion  that South Dundas “be responsible for road maintenance from this point on” at Doran Creek Estates, near Iroquois.

 While Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke once again spoke in favour of the motion, it was not enough. 

Mayor Steven Byvelds said, “one of the challenges that Swanks didn’t consider is that this is normal business. In talking to other municipalities, they do not do maintenance until final construction is done.”

[…]

South Dundas Economic Development Officer Nicole Sullivan is looking to complete an update to the South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan.

At the February 7th South Dundas council meeting, council agreed with Sullivan’s request and granted approval for a funding application to the Eastern Ontario Development Program (EODP). 

Sullivan had reminded council that the South Dundas Strategic Economic Development Plan, adopted in 2005, recommended periodic updates. However, she pointed out, “the township of South Dundas is now over half way through the ten year planning period and there has yet to be formal review of the plan.”

She submitted the project “for consideration as a 2012 capital budget item,” pointing out that “if EODP funding for the project is approved, it would offset the associated costs.”

“The timing is right,” agreed Deputy-Mayor Jim Locke.

[…]

At the February 7th South Dundas meeting, council passed a by-law to enter into an agreement with Brockville for fire dispatch and paging services.

Chief Administrative Officer Stephen McDonald reported that “it will probably be the end of March before we’re up and running. We’re waiting for some equipment to be delivered.” 

“There will probably be a two to four week period where we’re running duplicate systems, where there’s an overlap,” he added.

[…]