News

 

The Friends of the South Mountain Library have donated $1100 to the SD&G County Library. Earmarked specifically for collections, this money will go towards book purchases that will benefit the entire SD&G County Library system. 

“The Friends of the South Mountain Library are very pleased to partner with the SD&G Library on behalf of our community to enhance the collection and support local authors”, said Shelley Lyall, Chair of the Friends. 

The Friends of the South Mountain Library is a registered charity dedicated to the enhancement of Library services, increasing community awareness of Library services and working with other community organizations. The Friends regularly fundraise in support of the Library through memberships, donations, and special events including an annual Canada Day Used Book Sale at the Agricultural Hall, the Fall Book Sale at Mountain Orchards, the Gingerbread Workshop every December and various Trivia Challenge Nights at Sandy Row Golf Club.

Each book purchased with this money will be recognized with an inscribed silver bookplate. “We’re pleased to be able to appropriately recognize this contribution to our Library collections”, said Karen Franklin. “We are very grateful to our community members for their generous gift”. 

All monetary donations to the Library are used to further the mission and purposes of the Library, and may be designated for specific collections, equipment, furniture or Library programs. 

Donations over $500 are recognized at bronze, silver, and gold levels. 

If you would like to make a donation to the SD&G County Library, please contact your local branch or call 613-936-8777. 

[…]

 

The cost of eating healthy in the United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry and Prescott-Russell (SDG & PR) has increased by 52% over the last 10 years. 

In 2003, it cost a bit over $125 per week to feed a family of four consisting of two parents and two children. 

By 2012, a survey on the cost of a nutritious food basket conducted by the Eastern Ontario Health Unit (EOHU) determined that it cost about $190 a week, or $823 per month.

This amount does not include convenience food items, eating out, or the additional cost of inviting company to share a meal. 

The results of the Nutritious Food Basket survey show that households with limited income struggle to pay rent, bills, and eat healthy. 

Limited accessibility and insufficient income to purchase nutritious food is therefore threatening the health and well-being of many families and individuals in our communities.

In light of the rising cost of food, the EOHU is launching an online Directory of Local Food Programs and Services. 

The resource, which can be found at www.eohu.ca, enables residents of the five counties to easily find resources and programs where they can access nutritious food in their neighbourhood. 

Food banks, the Green Food Box program, Meals on Wheels and community kitchens are a few examples of programs and services listed in the directory.

The Green Food Box is a non-profit program available in the five counties that gives clients access to a box or bag of fresh fruits and vegetables at a fair price on a monthly basis. 

To find out more about the Green Food Box program in your community, call 613-933-1375 or 1 800 267-7120 and ask for Health Line. You can also visit www.allthingsfoodbouffe360.ca or the Green Food Box page on the EOHU’s website at www.eohu.ca. 

The page can be found by clicking on the Community Health tab on the homepage and then selecting the topic of Nutrition.

Every year, the EOHU completes the costing of 67 food items designed to reflect an eating pattern that meets the guidelines established in Eating Well with Canada’s Food Guide. 

The data collected in the Nutritious Food Basket survey helps to determine the average cost of eating healthy for families and individuals.

 

For more information about the directory and the Green Food Box program, visit the Community Health section of the Eastern Ontario Health Unit’s website at www.eohu.ca and click on the topic of Nutrition.

[…]

 

Has a County employee gone above and beyond to give you excellent service? 

The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry is pleased to announce their new Staff Recognition Awards initiative – and is looking for nominations from both staff and the public.

Recognizing those that go “Above the Crowd”, the County Staff Recognition Awards provide an opportunity for County employees to be recognized for any actions or undertakings that are above and beyond the expectations of their regular job responsibilities. 

“We sometimes receive letters and emails telling us about the good work that our employees are doing in the community,” said Counties CAO Tim Simpson. 

“Our staff also recognize the achievements of their co-workers and colleagues. These awards give us the opportunity to recognize these employees for their dedication and leadership”.

Three new awards will be handed out on an annual basis: the Customer Service Excellence award, the Safety Smart award, and the Innovation, Sustainability and Leadership award.

Employees who are a recipient of a County Staff Recognition Award will be recognized at the June 17th County Council meeting. 

County staff who have achieved specified years of service or are retiring in 2013 will also be recognized at this time. 

To nominate a County employee for an award, the public is asked to fill out a nomination form, available online at www.sdgcounties.ca. Further details on these awards can also be found on the County website. 

The deadline for submissions is Friday, May 24th, 2013.

[…]

 

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.

[…]

 

Big changes are coming to local water and sewer bills.

Affected by the pending increases will be anyone connected to South Dundas municipal water or sewer.

In 2009, when metered billing came into effect, the council of the day ordered that a complete review of the fee structure be completed after five years.

Staff have been working on the review and presented their findings to South Dundas council at a March 11 meeting.

Since the implementation of consumption-based billing, water consumption has decreased significantly.

“The numbers have dropped significantly, and we don’t think they’ve bottomed out yet,” South Dundas chief administrative officer Steve McDonald told council. 

Basically, the water conservation efforts of Iroquois and Morrisburg residents and businesses served by the municipal water and sewer infrastructure, mean that the municipality doesn’t have $80,000-$90,000 worth of revenue that they thought they would to offset the costs of operating and maintaining the municipal infrastructure.

“We need a more stable revenue base and the only way to get that is with a fixed rate increase,” said McDonald.

According to staff, a rate increase of about 20 percent is needed.

Staff have suggested hiking the fixed portion of the bill and leaving the consumption rate the same.

The mayor disagreed with that thinking.

“I think both rates should go up somewhat,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds. 

His reasoning; by leaving the consumption charge the same and increasing only the fixed rate, the burden is being shifted away from the big water users. “The big users won’t be paying any more than the small users, even though they use more of the (water/sewer) plant,” he said.

“But if we up the consumption rates, they will probably use less water,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan. 

“There is certainly more stability in fixed charge increases,” said South Dundas treasurer Shannon Geraghty.

Following council discussions, staff were left to put together some options for council’s consideration at a future meeting, before final decisions are made.

The options may show a phased-in rate increase, an increase in the capital levy, increased connection fees and an increase in the proportion of sewer charges for Iroquois residents.

All these increases reflect the need to appropriately cover costs, and to ensure that those using each of the systems are paying to cover their portion of usage.

This long list of needed changes is a direct result of waiting so long for this type of comprehensive rate review.

“We need to do a rate review every year, that way the rates can be adjusted as needed,” said Geraghty.

“We have to review this every year,” agree Byvelds. “Now, we have to pay the price for waiting.”

Williamsburg residents and businesses connected to the municipal sewer system, will also see large increases in their annual fees, however, the fee structure is much less complicated. 

They presently pay $98 per year. Staff is proposing to increase that fee by $40 per year, for the next five years. 

[…]

 

The average residential ratepayer in South Dundas can expect to pay an additional $15.47 on the municipal portion of their property taxes.

The average residential home in South Dundas is valued at almost $160,000.

By the end of South Dundas council’s second meeting to deliberate the 2013 budget, the group’s decisions mean that an additional $241,400 is needed for the municipality’s operations and priority capital projects.

In the second day of budget deliberations council made some further cuts to their donations budget and cut the purchase of two pickup trucks. 

However, they also decided to add in funds for a major project in the Morrisburg (Industrial) Business Park, that will extend Campbell Street  north and east, opening up commercial land for development.

In this budget, council is setting aside funds for repaying the debt that will be incurred through the Morrisburg Collegiate Institute redevelopment project and funds for impending landfill expansion and closure costs.

“I think this is a reasonable budget,” said South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds at the conclusion of deliberations. “We did some long term planning.”

 

The Counties portion of the residential tax bill is also increasing. Last month counties budget deliberations resulted in a $16 increase to the average residential ratepayer.

[…]

 

 Francis Henderson of Terrdale Farms in Brinston, did it again at the Dundas Seed, Forage and Agricultural Show, and this year his family also did some winning of their own.

The show held, Friday March 8, at Matilda Hall in Dixon’s Corners attracted a large crowd, who enjoyed agriculture industry related exhibits that filled the hall and the parking lot.

Henderson, who is the perennial winner of the show, was able to accumulate enough points to be named the show’s Premier Exhibitor for 2013. 

He was also Premier Seed Exhibitor and  Reserve Forage Exhibitor, only one point behind the Premier  Forage Exhibitor.

Ian and Tracy Porteous of Ayrporte Farm were named Premier Forage Exhibitor. 

Tracy is Henderson’s daughter. The Porteous’ were Reserve Premier Exhibitors, had the Champion Forage Exhibit and Champion Dry Hay Exhibit.  

Henderson also had the show’s Champion Haylage Exhibit and Champion Soybean Exhibit.

Doreen Henderson, Francis’ wife, won the Champion Baker award for her oatmeal cookies, which were judged the best of 12 entries by South Dundas mayor Steven Byvelds and North Dundas mayor Eric Duncan. 

The recipe, was a new one she tried and liked. The judges liked it too.

Bruce Porteous, son of Tracy and Ian and grandson of Francis and Doreen Henderson, won the Premier 4-H Exhibitor award.

Paul Ropars took home the Premier First Time Exhibitor award.

John and Jeannette Devries of Toyes Hill Farm took home multiple awards as well. They were Reserve Forage Exhibitor, had the Champion Corn Silage Exhibit, Champion Cereal Exhibit, won first place in the Wheat in Field Crop Classes and Champion Special Shelled Corn Bin Class.

Tibben Farms Inc. won for Champion Shelled Corn and Champion Ear Corn.

[…]

 

Almost a year and a half after the Dunbar Recreation Centre was lost to fire, the project to rebuild it received its final approvals.

The Dunbar Recreation Centre burned to the ground October 8, 2011, likely due to a wayward cigarette butt. 

March 5, 2013, South Dundas council accepted the $235,236 tender for the reconstruction of the Dunbar Recreation Centre. It was awarded to Wells & Son Construction Ltd.

The building was insured, so the net cost of the reconstruction to taxpayers is about $33,000.

The first round of tenders far exceeded the insurance payout, so staff worked with a committee of Dunbar Recreation Centre users to find cost savings in the project. 

With the new specifications which included changes to the heating system, roof and building’s aesthetics, the lowest bidders were asked to re-submit bids based on the proposed changes.

Of those bids, Wells was the lowest, by about $10,000.

“I support this reconstruction,” said South Dundas councillor Archie Mellan. “They deserve a hall, it was unfortunate that they lost theirs.”

“I do not agree,” said South Dundas councillor Evonne Delegarde. “One of council’s goals was to reduce the number of buildings. This was an opportunity we could have used to do that.”

Councillor Jim Graham did not agree with Delegarde. He pointed out that the value of the new building, which belongs to South Dundas, will far exceed the $33,000 cost to taxpayers.

Deputy Mayor Jim Locke congratulated staff on the tremendous work they had done on this project. “I’m well satisfied with the bottom line,” he said.

“I apologize to the committee for the length of time this has taken,” said South Dundas Mayor Steven Byvelds. 

“This will be a new asset for South Dundas. Dunbar is part of South Dundas.”

[…]

 

In the interest of clarity and legibility, the proposed new design for South Dundas municipal signs will have a more streamlined appearance.

Gone from the signs area the pictorial displays, the township logo, and any other extra information that at speeds of 100 km/h are little more than just a blur to the 1,000 motorists an hour who pass by the signs on the 401.

Even left off the sign was the municipal website information.

“It’s 2013,” said Tom Graham of TD Graham and Associates, the consultant hired to complete the sign design. 

He explained that while it was once trendy for municipalities to boast about their websites, everywhere, including on their signs, now people understand that all you need to find a website is a name. 

“What we need is for people to remember the name South Dundas,” he said.

With that, the focus of the process was also to implement the Upper Canada Region name, which is being shared by South Dundas and South Stormont.

“That’s where all of our marketing is being shifted,” said South Dundas economic development officer Nicole Sullivan.

The new sign design is a key piece of promoting South Dundas and the Upper Canada Region.

 

South Dundas council was presented the new design at the March 5 council meeting. 

The names Iroquois and Morrisburg will be replaced on the 401 signs with the name South Dundas. 

South Dundas councillor Evonne Delegarde questioned that change. 

Graham indicated that the Iroquois and Morrisburg names are already clearly marked along the 401 on the MTO signs and that those will always say Iroquois and Morrisburg. “Those signs will never say South Dundas.”

Informal discussions at the meeting even brought up the possibility of moving the location of the Morrisburg South Dundas sign to the Upper Canada Road exit. 

“We are promoting the whole area,” said Sullivan.

Of the picture of the boat on the existing signs Delegarde said, “I think that boat said a lot.”

Graham suggested that it might mean something to those who live here, and already have a knowledge of the area, but it means very little to those driving by at speed.

“This work represents a shift in thinking for the sake of promoting the township,” said Graham.

“This is a big change from the decorative signs we have now, with the boats and the apples,” said South Dundas councillor Jim Graham.

Tom Graham mentioned that roadside signs are the wrong place to tell a long story. “At speed, simpler is better. What you need to do with your signs is claim your identity.”

This simple sign design is meant to be uniform across the region and across the township, including town and hamlet signs, park signs and facility signs. 

Those signs will carry the name of the location along with the South Dundas name and the Upper Canada Region name. 

The pictorial of the McIntosh apple will no longer be included on those signs.

[…]

 

One could say that Morrisburg Public School teacher Jim Lamoureux went the extra mile to bring the world to his grade 3-4 class.

In fact, Lamoureux delivered Japan to his class via an Art Miles Mural Project which linked his students to elementary students in Takasago, Japan.

The project began with an exchange of information on each of the students in the two classes.

“Throughout the project, we shared a lot of things about our schools and about our countries,” says Lamoureux. “We started with an exchange of pictures and information about ourselves and communities.”

The Art Miles Mural Project, is an international movement promoting global peace and harmony through mural art.

It was started to bring people closer together, to create an environment that fosters communication and understanding between cultures, promote literacy and to ultimately, through their own experiences, learn respect for one another.

The project began last September with the information exchange. After the decision was made between the two schools to have a cultural and nature symbols theme, collaboration was carried out on the mural layout.

It was decided the mural would include four large central circles, with smaller circles around the outside edges.

To these circles the students in the two countries would showpiece their cultural/nature artwork.

The mural was started last fall by the students in Japan who filled in every other outer circle with their artwork which includes their country flag, their animals, birds, fish and famous buildings. 

In the two central circles the two countries join hands in friendship…the MPS students selecting the late Terry Fox as their ambassador.

After the Japanese students completed their half of the artwork, the mural was shipped to Morrisburg Public School where Lamoureux’ students set to work to finish it.

The MPS artwork features native Canadian animals…the polar bear, the beaver, the moose, our native birds and fish…the parliament buildings in Ottawa, Niagara Falls, the Canadian Flag.

Along the way, the students in the two countries kept in touch. The highlight was a video conference on January 23.

The Morrisburg students returned to their classroom at 6 p.m., on January 23, which was 8 a.m. in Japan.

“The students introduced themselves during the video conference, songs were sung and information was exchanged.”

The MPS artwork continued on the mural until two weeks ago, when it was declared complete and showcased at a school assembly on Thursday, February 28.

Following the presentation, the mural was packed for return shipment to Japan. It is destined to become part of a children’s exhibit that will be travelling and displayed around the world.

“They did a wonderful job, and they are really proud of it,” says Lamoureux, who recorded the students as they worked  and posted it to a private YouTube channel. It’s an incredible video.

Many of the students were eager to speak about their contributions to the mural as it was being prepared for shipment.

“I worked on the Niagara Falls part,” explained Lilly Lewis. “We were supposed to make cars, so I drew the limo to make it really cool.”

Kayla Gillard, who provided her artistic talent to help paint the Mountie, said, “the best part of the project was the web conference. That was really neat.” And Airreanna Brown, who contributed to the fish painting, said “everybody getting to get to work together was the best part.” Leah Barkley agreed, adding that it was also neat to hear and then spell some of the Japanese words.

Breanna Kirkwood, whose artwork created the polar bear, thought it was great to have pictures and to learn about the Japanese children.

[…]