Review-Mirror

By Howie Crichton The Review-Mirror The Village of Westport received some crushing news Friday that their $1.98 million grant appli- cation for sewage treat- ment upgrades had been turned down by the province Friday. The decision will leave the village scrambling to fund the complete con- struction of the new filter bed system, set to replace the fast-fading Snowfluent System. "It is difficult to com- prehend how the Village's application would not be reviewed, assessed and ranked at or near the top of the applicant list due to the significant potential risks to the environment posed by the aging Snowfluent system and the village's severely limited tax base," a village press release read. The Village, along with Leeds Grenville Steve Clark are seeking explana- tions for the decision on the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF) application. "I fail to understand how this critical work to bring the village's waste water treatment plant into compliance with the Min- istry of Environment and Climate Change was not considered a priority," Clark wrote to Minister Brad Duguid, in charge of the Ministry handling the grant applications. Clark has asked for a meeting with Duguid, along with Westport Mayor Robin Jones, at the Rural Ontario Municipali- ties of Ontario conference Feb. 21-24. "You and your ministry staff would have known the importance of this pro- ject through meetings with, and correspondence, from me and Westport Mayor Robin Jones," Clark wrote. The Village received a By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Township of Rideau Lakes residents in the coming months will be learning more about the options for potential changes to representation at the municipal council table. Council has included $20,000 in the budget to conduct public consulta- tion with residents in 2016 to determine if changes should be made before the 2018 election. Successive councilors since amalgamation in 1998 haven't had the taste for any change to the structure and have not ini- tiated any kind of public review of the nine-coun- cillor, one mayor struc- ture. "You can look at almost any one of the municipali- ties in Leeds Grenville or Lanark county and most of have five to seven. We have 10. That should tell you we have more elected officials than the average," said South Elmsley coun- cillor Arie Hoogenboom who found on the cam- paign trail it was an issue 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. Mirror The Review Thursday, February 11, 2016 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 125, No. 6 $1incl. tax Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 •Continued on page 3 NEW MOVIE RELEASES at the Old 'n' New General Store and Sandwich Shack Groceries, Snacks, Gifts, Antiques Hwy. 15 & Cty Rd. 42, Crosby 613-540-1812 Westport Village Pharmacy 3 Church St., Westport, ON 613-273-2922 westportvillagepharmacy@gmail.com Mon.-Fri.: 9-6 • Sat. & Sun.: 10-4 Even MODEST WEIGHT LOSS Can Have an Enormous Impact on Your Health Join us for an OPEN HOUSE AND PRODUCT TASTING Stop in and see us for more information. www.idealprotein.com Setback for Westport as $1.98 million grant turned down Proposed trail legislation causing havoc in Leeds Grenville already : Clark Rideau Lakes residents to get their say on council size Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES FEBRUARY VALUES Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available 24" Built-in Dishwashers •Orbit Clean™ Technology •Dish Sense™ Technology •Spacewise® Organization System Black or White Stainless Steel Model #FGID2466QW/QB Model #FGID2466QF $ 649 95 $ 699 95 Friends of the Arena appreciation night Friday Friday, Feb. 12 the Westport Winter Carnival Week- end kicks off with a special presentation to the Friends of the Arena on 'Fill the Rink' night. Winners of a $50,000 Aviva Community Fund prize in December, the group's supporters and volunteers will be officially recognized before the 8 p.m. game. Responding to con- cerns from property own- ers and trail groups alike, Leeds-Grenville MPP Steve Clark has called on the government to imme- diately withdraw Bill 100, the Supporting Ontario's Trails Act, 2015. Clark, who serves as Ontario PC Critic for Tourism, Culture and Sport, made the request today in a letter to Tourism, Culture and Sport Minister Michael Coteau. Bill 100 was tabled by the government on May 12, 2015 and has not been called for Second Reading. "While I appreciate the intention of this legislation was to promote and enhance trail usage within the province, you need to understand that it is hav- ing the opposite effect," wrote Clark. "My office is hearing from trail groups •Continued on back page •Continued on page 3 Last week's colder weather helped to save a Frostfest tradition – learning to skate on the bay. Photo by Liz Huff

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