Review-Mirror

The Friends of the Arena got a big boost last week when they were announced as one of the winning entries in this year's Aviva Community Fund. The $50,000 prize will help FOTA plan their next phase of upgrades to the Westport Arena. At the top of the list is the 1974 vin- tage 50 HP compressor. FOTA submitted a request for funds to the Community Fund compe- tition under the Category of Community Health (health, sport, active liv- ing and play) and Funding Level of Small Ideas - $50,000 and under. The request, for $50,000, received wide- spread support from the arena catchment area in the on-line voting compe- tition which extended over 17 days. Thanks to this support, the project made it to the finals – they were among the top five vote By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror The Township of Rideau Lakes will be seeking a $1 million loan from the Royal Bank for capital projects after their first choice lender, Infra- structure Ontario (IO), rejected them. The township was turned down, missing out on some interest savings from the competitive rates offered to municipalities by IO, despite their record of debt repayment for financing of capital pro- jects. A delegation from the agency came to council earlier this fall offering their services and all appeared positive. Treasurer Joe Whyte had explored borrowing from the corporation in previous years but passed when their rates were higher. This year its rate was lower than those of commercial lenders. Whyte said the com- mercial bank rate would cost the township around $3,500 more per year over the term of the loan. The township's current loans have been used for capital works including road improvements and, in the past, municipal halls as well as equipment. "That's the decision we made but we made one greater decision and that was to make a very fast payback so that we are paying very little interest on a lot of capital," he said. The municipality is under the provincially mandated capacity of debt repayment, that is less than 25 per cent of its annual revenue from the tax levy and user fees. Current revenue would put the annual repayment limit at around $2.5 million. The township is currently paying $1.8 million per year in payments on $8.8 million in debt. "That they came to us to sell us a product, one which we should be enti- tled to, and then to intro- 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 10, 2015 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 123, No. 49 $1 incl. tax Children decorated gingerbread cookies Saturday at the Old Town Hall during a Delta Mill Society event. Byron Staneland enjoyed some encouragement by volunteer Anna Greenland. See page 7 for more on Celebrate the Season Dec. 12 and 19. Provincial lender rejects township for $1 million loan A estport Village I D W Don't go viral. eet (613) 273-2922 h Str c 3 Chur .A. estport Village I.D W dontg al.ca vir go •Continued on page 3 By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror The Westport and Rideau Lakes Chamber of Commerce is going to continue now that more than a half dozen people have agreed to serve on the group's board of direc- tors. The group's latest rebirth begins Tuesday Dec. 15 with a Meet and Greet at The Cove begin- ning at 6:30 p.m. The chamber has been operating with a three- member board of directors for the last six months and a membership of 43, down from the last high of 140. After the chamber pres- ident Debi Stoness depart- ed for British Columbia this summer, vice presi- dent Georgia Ferrell has been running the chamber with treasurer Miriam Snider and Audrey Ogilvie as secretary. Westport resident Marty Hawkins is con- cerned about the future of the chamber enough to Chamber lives to see another day Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 Westport arena group wins $50,000 Aviva prize Shop Local Check out pages 7-9 for our annual shop local, eat local feature. It also runs in the Dec. 17 issue. 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 3 Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES • Microwaves • Telephones • Toasters • Blenders • Coffee Pots • Panini Grills • Vacuum Cleaners • Slow Cookers • and much, much more... CHRISTMAS GIFT IDEAS AT DUNCAN'S! •Continued on page 3

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