Review-Mirror

By Margaret Brand The Review Mirror The Westport and Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce needs volun- teers in the business com- munity to step up and become active board members before a Mon- day, December 7 deadline. Only 12 of the 19 peo- ple attending the group's Annual General Meeting last Thursday evening at The Cove were chamber members. The chamber needs a minimum of eight people to serve on the group's board of directors to enable the group to contin- ue to provide services to its members and to operate the welcome centre on Spring Street. Three members have volunteered to serve on the board including Lake Effects owner Ken Rose, Village Pharmacy owner Tracey Phillips and acting president Georgia Ferrell who has agreed to another term. She's disappointed there hasn't been more of a response to the urgent call for volunteers which, if not answered, will be the end of the local cham- ber. "Surely, though, of the current 40 plus members you would think that six more of you would con- sider giving three or so hours per month to allow the chamber to continue," wrote Ferrell in an e-mail to members last weekend. The chamber is on the low end of what has been By Howie Crichton The Review Mirror If 2014 was a vintage of Westport wine, the village would probably like to dump the batch. It was a bad year for the Village of Westport, as they finally had to face the costly consequences of their long-neglected wastewater treatment sys- tem. The numbers were laid out by new village auditor Howard Allan at the com- mittee of the whole meet- ing Nov. 24 as he present- ed the draft 2014 financial statements. Westport's debt level, by the end of 2014, had risen to the point where it is in the neighborhood of triple the level from what the province considers 'low risk'. In 2014, the village's financial liabilities rose to $1,715,501, up from $1,531,865 in 2013. At the same time, their assets dropped from $1,310,713 in 2013 to $866,580 last year. The bulk of that drop was the result of $495,609 in cash and short-term investments getting used up during the year. "What we need is a (long-term) plan rather than dealing with things crisis to crisis," Mayor Robin Jones said in an Justin Martin President 613-530-0773 RR 2 Westport, ON K0G 1X0 jtmartin@kingston.net 4 Septic Systems 4 Excavating 4 Landscaping 4 Road Work 4 Rock Excavating 4 Trucking 4 Residential & Commercial Snow Plowing & Sanding 4 Damp Proofing LTD. 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage Soho's Self Storage 75 units from 6'x6' to 12'x36' Easy year round access right in Westport 43 Bedford St., Westport 613-273-8848 soho@rideau.net Mirror The Review Thursday, December 3, 2015 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 123, No. 48 $1 incl. tax Westport in Bloom elves, from left, Delvalle Lewis, Debbie Bird and Donna Easter, prepare their float for the Westport Santa Claus parade Saturday, with some sage advice from Dr. Rob Roberts. New auditor feeds Westport a bitter pill u shot Get your Don't go viral eet (613) 273-2922 h Str c 3 Chur .A. estport Village I.D W u shot. Get your Don t go viral. Publi *Source: a a Agency of Canada c Health al.ca vir dontgo •Continued on page 3 •Continued on back page The initial draft 2016 budget for Township of Rideau Lakes would result in ratepayers shelling out just over 10 per cent more on the muncipal portion of their tax bill. Councilors got a look at the draft budget on Mon- day with presentations by Administration, Treasure, Community and Leisure and Fire and Rescue department heads. The draft budget calls for $9,070,884 in property tax revenue, up 13 per cent from the $8,008,983 in 2015. Draft Rideau Lakes budget call for 10 per cent tax increase Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES 30" Gallery Gas Range •One-Touch Quick Self-Clean •Continuous Corner to Corner Grates •Low Simmer Burner Model #FGGF3035RW Reg. 1299.00 $ 999 95 30" Gallery Ceran ® Top Range •One-Touch Quick Self-Clean •Fits-More™ Cooktop with Spacewise™ Expandable Elements •Precision Set™ Controls Model #CGEF3035PW Reg. 1199.00 $ 899 95 30" Gallery Ceran ® Top Range •Quick Clean •Express-Select® Controls •Hidden Bake Element Model #CGEF3030PW Reg. 1099.00 $ 799 95 CHRISTMAS BAKING MADE EASY WITH Fate of Chamber of Commerce depends on finding new board members fast Shop Local Check out pages 7-9 for our annual shop local, eat local feature. It also runs in the Dec. 10 and 17 issues. Review-Mirror Greetings Section Our annual Christmas Greetings Section runs in the Dec. 17 issue. Deadline to book space is Dec. 11. Holiday schedule The Dec. 17 issue of The Review-Mirror will be the last one for 2015. The next issue will be Jan. 7. Next year, we will return to publishing four issues in December. •Continued on page 2

• Cover