Issue link: http://read.uberflip.com/i/909889
•Continued form page 1 Merkley has had to brave lots of weather to get the tree lit up and to keep it lit during the Christmas season. A cable equipped with a timer runs from a pole at the base of the mountain to the tree. This month Merkley found the meter on the pole broken off and the timer missing, a problem which Rideau St. Lawrence remedied. On Christmas Eve the tree goes out and is replaced with a five foot star. On Christmas night the star and the tree appear together. After his mother died in 1999 Merkley decided to do a Christmas Eve remembrance of those who had died that year. "I started to do a roll call of everyone who passes away to let every- one know there are a lot of people who aren't going to have a pretty Christmas. Hug your people closer and realize that some people don't have a great Christmas," said Merkley. Township of Rideau Lakes council has agreed to hire Dillon Consulting to complete the Commu- nity Characterization report for the Delta Ser- vicing Innovation Pro- ject-Phase 2. The township is inter- ested in examining alter- natives to large scale water and sewer servic- ing by looking at the needs of Delta. Phase 1 of the project involved identifying reg- ulatory obstacles faced in small rural communities to develop affordable solutions for the needs of businesses and resi- dences in higher density rural communities. The development of Delta's Jubilee block has been hampered by the building's lack of servic- ing. The building's units have holding tanks. The Phase 2 project will develop an inventory of existing data including mapping aquifer types, locations, productivity, vulnerability and in gen- eral identify an area con- ducive to servicing alter- natives. The funding for the $29,985 project is $10,000 less than the anticipated budget reported CAO Mike Dwyer who noted the funds will come from grants. With the on-the- ground data the munici- pality will undertake a third phase to identify a suitable technical alterna- tive for servicing. "There are new tech- nological solutions," said Dwyer who noted many did not have the approval for use in the province, including some made-in- Ontario technologies. The Review-Mirror November 30, 2017 – 3 The volunteer crew who placed the lights on the Dick Ready Memorial Christmas Tree a top Spy Rock recently included, from left, Dan Lindsay, Tracy Prevost, Robb Merkley and Brent Drysdale. Photo by Brian Judge An online survey by the Township of Rideau Lakes to seek public input on the 2017 budget drew 150 responses after being available for 20 days online. "The quantity of responses is a positive thing. The caution you have to have is there is no way to verify the signifi- cance of the sample. It can't be held as represen- tative of the community as a whole," said CAO Mike Dwyer. The results were pre- sented to council at a spe- cial budget meeting earli- er this month. Respondents had the opportunity to read a consultation document before completing the survey which included some of the facts of prop- erty taxation, including an explanation of the division of the bill. In the survey 58.67 percent of respondents said yes, they believed the township provided you with adequate ser- vice levels, services and facilities. Negative responses cited waterfront owners pay high taxes with less or no service on private roads, community centre upgrades needed in Port- land and more sports, recreation and social facilities and programs needed. Some respon- dents felt road mainte- nance both gravel Respondents were almost evenly split on the need for more services with 48.2 per cent wanti- ng additional services and 51.80 satisfied. Suggestions for addi- tional services included recreation, social contact, health promotion and transportation, in-water hazard markers for the Big Rideau and environ- mental programs focus- ing on lake health. Twenty five per cent indicated there were ser- vices which were no longer necessary with responses which includ- ed waste collection, con- tinued hard surfacing of gravel roads and libraries and library services. The question of what currently provided ser- vices offered by local government should not be offered by govern- ment brought the responses by 21 percent of waste collection, edu- cation, healthcare and Conservation Authori- ties. Most respondents were satisfied with pay- ing between $400 and $500 per $100,000 for the local portion of taxes with around 42 per cent choosing that range. Around 15 per cent were agreeable to even more with around 11 per cent choosing a $500 to $600 range and another three per cent choosing $600 to $700. Dwyer was pleased to get some feedback despite the limited scope of the response. "It gives an indication of the issues people are passionate about. They' are likely more engaged in municipal affairs and what the township is doing," he said. Online budget feedback for Rideau Lakes Council Tree in memory of many who passed MARKHALES 613-273-9173 •Excavating •Bulldozing •Road Construction •Landscaping •Road Grading & Mowing •Haulage •Aggregates, sand, fill, etc. •Floating halesexcavation-trucking@live.com LTD. A & B FORD COLLISION CENTRE Telephone 613-267-5749 Fax: 613-264-1099 collision2@abford.com A&B Ford Sales Ltd. 37 Lanark Rd., Perth The Review Mirror continues our CHRISTMAS SHOP, DINE AND PLAY LOCALLY CAMPAIGN for the next three weeks through until Wednesday, Dec. 20. Take this opportunity to let our readers discover the benefits of supporting our local economy. Advertising deadline for the each week of the campaign is Monday, at 5 p.m. Please contact us at 613-273-8000 or 1-800-387-0796 or advertising@review-mirror.com 43 Bedford St., Westport ON K0G 1X0 Mirror The Review Plans for future servicing of Delta properties moves forward