Review-Mirror

By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror The opportunity for public input into the Rideau Lakes Council and Ward Structure review comes to an end Dec. 6. Council will be voting on a new ward structure at their Jan. 3 council meet- ing. Alternative proposals to the five options present- ed by the consultant's report, which meet the test of effective representation will also be considered. Alternate proposals, vetted by the consultants, need to meet criteria in the report, including represen- tation by population, com- munities of interest, geog- raphy and quality of repre- sentation. A ranked ballot vote at the Jan. 3 meeting will be used to determine the pro- posal with the most sup- port. After each round of voting the option with the least support will be elim- inated. A public meeting just after the release of the consultant's report drew around 20 people to the By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror On Monday Township of Rideau Lakes politi- cians were once again dis- appointed with MTO's proposed options to improve the Hwy. 15 inter- section at Crosby. The changes, which MTO would make by 2019, include line marking and signage, a project esti- mated to cost $680,000. More than a decade ago an initial MTO proposal for the reconstruction of Hwy. 15 included straight- ening the curve approach- ing the intersection, allow- ing a 90° intersection with Cty. Rd. 42. The old proposal solu- tion included improving the sightlines for motorists crossing Hwy. 15 and eliminated the incline of the road to engineer the 70° curve. Straightening the curve meant moving the road east in an initial design which required the demo- lition of Crosby Hall. A later design, which moved the highway west, was close enough to the settle- ment area as to restrict fur- ther commercial develop- ment. Mayor Ron Holman expressed his disappoint- ment that while the public expressed safety concerns about the intersection, a position once shared by the MTO, the change in plans is based on traffic counts and accident reports. "Either they (MTO) were wrong then or they are wrong now. Their assessment was incorrect at that point or their assessment today does not address the issues which were a concern in the early 2000's – which does not A United Counties war- den will be elected Dec. 14 from among Leeds county mayors that may include Front of Yonge Mayor Roger Haley and Westport Mayor Robin Jones. The position has tradi- tionally rotated between Leeds and Grenville coun- ties on what has become a two year term. North Grenville Mayor Dave Gordon chaired his last county council meeting last week. Both mayors have indi- cated their interest in run- ning for the office, voted on by their fellow mayors. Current Leeds mayors Herb Scott in Athens, Eliz- abethtown-Kitley's Jim Pickard and Rideau Lakes' Ron Holman have already held the position. For Holman, the time as warden also meant many hours on the road back and forth from his home south of Rideau Ferry to Brockville meetings and others even farther away. "With the United Coun- ties as large it is, the travel time is sometimes longer than the meeting. For those living on the out- skirts it can sometimes be two hours one-way to get to an hour-long meeting," said Holman. "It's a major commit- ment in time and work on the basis you aren't only warden. You have to repre- sent the county at many functions," said Holman who served as warden in 2006 when it was a one- year term and in 2013- 2014 after the term had been extended to two years. The term was changed after the Eastern Ontario Wardens' Caucus became another element of the job said Holman, who said a one-year term made it more difficult to become familiar with the issues. Mirror The Review Thursday, December 1, 2016 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 125, No. 48 $1 incl. tax Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 MTO says Crosby intersection changes decades away Westport mayor may run for United Counties Warden •Continued on page 3 Jamie Edwards and his son Lane enjoyed the ride around town on Saturday after- noon as part of Westport's Santa Claus parade on Saturday 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 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. Public Health *Source: a a Agency of Canada c Health al.ca vir dontgo •Continued on page 3 Christine Jennings, Owner 20 Whelan St., Westport, Ontario 613-273-9800 Full Service Dog Grooming Salon Rideau Lakes to make ward decision January 3 Shop, Spend and Eat Local See pages 8-9 Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin duncan s TV & APPLIANCES 24" Built-in Dishwasher •Orbit Clean® •Sahara Dry™ •34-Minute Quick Wash Model #FGID2466QW $ 599 00 24" Built-in Dishwasher •Orbit Clean® Wash Arm •Effortless™ Dry •Floor Beam Done Indicator •30-Minute Quick Wash •Delicate-Care™ Soft Grips Reg. $999.95 Model #FGID2474QT $ 799 00 Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds Cash & Carry - Delivery & Set Up Available Dishwashers

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