Review-Mirror

Village of Westport Council has backed off on their proposal to pay off their $161,000 water and sewer debt from 2016 with a one-time levy on all property taxpayers. The move would have meant all property owners, including 30 to 40 not con- nected to the system, would pay just $330 for every $200,000 of proper- ty value. On Monday night, Council did not make a decision on how they would cover all of the 2016 water/wastewater deficit. Council did decide that the portion shortfall attrib- uted to operations – $33,000 - would be charged to users, meaning just over $100 each. The remaining $128,000 shortfall from capital expenditures would be dealt with separately. Some of that dates from 2014 when funds were borrowed to pay for the extra costs related to the failure of the wastewater treatment. Mayor Robin Jones said there was potential for the capital portion to be rolled into financing the village will have to undertake to pay for the $200,000 por- tion of the first $1.98 mil- lion 2015 OCIF grant. Council also made an exception to their procure- ment bylaw Monday, hir- ing consultants JL Richards to complete a current Asset Management Plan. The plan is a new requirement for munici- palities seeking infrastruc- ture funding. "In the last 24 months the government has ramped up their expecta- tions about asset manage- ment plans," said Mayor Robin Jones. The project needs to be completed quickly, so the municipality can apply for a second $1.98 million OCIF funding application due in mid-October. The consultant working on the project, Steve Sax- ton, is familiar with West- port's assets from previous consultation work on the wastewater treatment plan. "We've spent last week and previous weeks mak- ing sure we gathered all the research to put forward a successful application," she said. The renewal of the wastewater treatment plant is estimated to be between $3.5 and $3.8 million. In 2015 the village received $1.98 million grant from the first intake of the Ontario Communi- ties Infrastructure Fund for the wastewater treatment plant. Last weekend's Festi- val of Small Halls brought professional musicians to local community halls across Eastern Ontario including Morton, See- ley's Bay and Maberly. Of the nine perfor- mances between Thursday night and Sunday after- noon seven were sold out, said Small Halls producer Kelly Symes. On Thursday local per- formances kicked off in Chaffey's Lock where a sold-out Friday night per- formance of Ottawa Val- ley fiddler, stepdancer, and singer April Verch had prompted the addi- tional Thursday's opening performance. "It reinforces it that we can host that level of event and we can do it well. It gives a very positive feed- back to the community and visitors for the poten- tial of other events. It showcases the hall and introduces the community to people who haven't been here," said Anne Marie Forcier. Forcier said the event introduces halls and show- cases the community to those outside the area coming for the perfor- mance. "This year with the community development angle we added onto the website. We tried to inspire them to come early and visit communities in the surrounding area," said Forcier. "It's absolutely amaz- ing the feedback we are getting. For the first full weekend things went extremely well," said Symes who expanded the program last year to new places, including North Leeds, and Tay Valley and this year even farther. Some local events, including those in Delta and Lyndhurst have paired a supper or other fundrais- ers with the event. Local organizers get a percent- age but aren't selling tick- ets, which are available at www.thefestivalofsmall- halls.com. Performances continue until October 2. Mirror The Review Thursday, September 22, 2016 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 125, No. 38 $1 incl. tax Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 Festival of Small Halls expands with community development model Archbishop Brendan O'Brien and Fr. Louis Di Rocco and a group of Congregation of Notre Dame Sisters were on hand as the new monument celebrating the sisters' contribution to St. Edward was blessed in Westport Sunday. The Sisters arrived in Westport on September 23, 1886, and taught at the school until 1987. Photo by Trish Irwin Village shelves plan to charge all users for 2016 water and sewer deficit Jones Falls Fine Dining 613-359-5500 Reservations Recommended HOTEL KENNEY Since 1877 Now Accepting Thanksgiving Reservations 12-8 pm 24 Family Lane, Smiths Falls Hwy. 15 S. & Bay Rd. 613-205-1212 streetmotorsales@cogeco.net streetmotorsales.com Charlie Franklin Sales Representative 2013 Dodge Ram Diesel Outdoorsman Crew Cab 4x4, 49,304kms $44,987 Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES 30" Range •Manual Celan Oven •Ready-Select® Controls •Large Window Regular $ 579 00 Model #CFEF3012PW 15 cu. ft. Refrigerator •Store-More™ Humidity Controlled Crisper Drawers •Store-More™ Gallon Door Shelf •Reversible Door Regular $ 799 95 Model #FFTR1521RW Pair Price $ 1349 00 FALL FEATURE Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available FRIDAY SEPT. 23 AT 7:30PM Hat Fitz and Cara with Steve Curtis and Pat Johnson at Delta Old Town Hall SATURDAY SEPT. 24 AT 7:30PM Elliott Brood with Rocky High & the Northern Lights at Joshua Bates Centre, Athens SUNDAY SEPT. 25 AT 3:00PM Tomato Tomato with Alex and Sean Price at Red Brick School, Elgin FRIDAY SEPT. 30 AT 7:30PM Devin Cuddy Band with Amanda Jordan at Lyndhurst Legion SATURDAY OCT. 1 AT 7:30PM Jim Bryson with Kevin Head at the Firehall Theatre, Gananoque SUNDAY OCT. 2 AT 3:00PM Devin Cuddy Band with Keegan Carr at ABC Hall, Bolingbroke Fall Home Improvement Supplement Pages 7-14

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