Review-Mirror

February 1, 2018

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By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Rideau Lakes council is considering a 2.7 per cent increase in taxation for 2018, cutting in half the proposed increase by staff. The budget presented by staff saw an increase in their budget that would have seen a 5.5 per cent increase. At a budget meeting on Monday. Mayor Ron Hol- man reminded council to not blame the messenger. "It's staff's responsibil- ity to bring this to us but it's our decision to deter- mine what we can afford," he said. A survey around the table didn't find much appetite for following through with the 5.5 per cent increase. The proposed budget included $4.8 million in capital expenditures, a $2.6 million increase from 2017. The township would also need to borrow $2.4 million to cover all of the projects in the proposed budget. A major part of that capital budget is improve- ments to Elgin's Main Street, a $500,000 to $600,000 project. A rebuild of the street by the counties this summer includes responsibility by the township to replace the sidewalks and an opportu- nity to improve the streetscape in other ways. A failed proposal by the Association of Municipal- ities of Ontario (AMO) for municipalities to receive part of a proposed one per cent increase to the HST wasn't far from Mayor Holman's mind. The proposal by the municipalities' association would have given the township an extra $1.6 million a year. "If we had that one per- cent how far would that go in solving the discussions we are going to have?" he said. Councillors gave staff direction to find items to eliminate from the budget and to bring those direc- tions back to a further meeting. The township ended up with a projected $200,000 surplus for 2017. While council made no firm plans on larger items they did manage to make decisions on 'Grants to Others'. A list of requests for community grants got pre- liminary approvals by Council at Monday's bud- get meeting. Community Grant requests totalled $111,000 Thursday, February 1, 2018 Serving North Leeds and area since 1893 Vol. 127, No. 4 $1incl. tax By Margaret Brand The Review-Mirror Last week, Township of Rideau Lakes councilors voted six to four against the inclusion of a ballot question asking the public if they would like a change in the size of council. The results of a ballot question are not binding on a council unless 50 per cent plus one of the elec- torate votes and 50 per cent plus one vote in favor of the question. The issue of a referen- dum question on this fall's ballot resulted from a request from residents who had taken their case for a smaller council to the OMB last summer. A 2016 public consulta- tion with residents on a change to the size and rep- resentation of council, and a recommendation from consultants, suggested a six person council with four regional representa- tives and two at-large councilors was the pre- ferred option. Councillors did choose to shrink to an eight-per- son council with Newboro ward folded into the two North Crosby councillors' duties while the represen- tation of the three other wards remains the same at two councilors each. Councillors voting against having a ballot question included Coun- cillors Linda Carr, Claire Gunnewiek, Bob Lavoie, Cathy Livingston, Cathy Monck and Ron Pollard, members of council who last year had voted for the eight-member option which council has adopted Councillors reject ballot question on size of council 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 Rideau Lakes proposed budget has 2.7% increase Canada Post Contract No. 40021501 Kim Bonner, left, and Westport Mayor Robin Jones bring in the haggis during Rob- bie Burns festivities last Thursday at The Cove, with the help of Seamus Cowan, bot- tom left, M.C. Dave Balfor and piper David Swindon (not shown). The event, spon- sored by the Friends of Lockwood Park and The Cove, raised over $2700 for further improvements to Lockwood Park. Photo by Joel Kimmel January Special NO PAYMENTS FOR 6 MONTHS... Plus, Scratch & Win up to $2500 pre-paid Visa card Town & Country Kerry Ryan 613-464-1460 Athens at Westport Friday, Feb. 2, 8 p.m. Continuing a 30 year tradition serving North Leeds - Delivery & Set Up Available LAUNDRY SAVINGS 5.1 cu. ft. Washer •Smart Boost™ •Stain Soak™ •15 Minute Fast Wash •Tier III E-Star •Reversible Door Model #EFLS617SIW 8.0 cu. ft. Dryer •Perfect Steam™ •15 Minute Fast Dry •Instant Refresh™ •Extended Tumble •9 Dry Cycles Model #EFMC617SIW Regular $3,198.00 Pair Price $ 2298 00 Duncan ' s APPLIANCE SALES & SERVICE Call 359-5660 53 Main St., Elgin Rideau Lakes Building Centre YOUR TRUSTED BUILDING SUPPLY PARTNER 7719 Hwy. 42, Crosby 613-272-0209 www.RideauLakesBuildingCentre.com Special Offer Ambiance 100% Hardwood Pellets $ 5. 89 per bag when purchasing a skid of 75. *Delivery available The movement of tankers of effluent from Westport to Smiths Falls for treatment should be ending soon with the new system fully on line. The trucking will con- tinue until there is an open capacity of 4,000 cubic meters in the two sewage lagoons, said Mayor Robin Jones. The two lagoons have a combined capacity of 85,000 cubic meters. Anything less than the 4,000 cubic meters of headroom has been estab- lished by the village as the trigger to haul she said. Over the last weeks effluent has been treated in the new wastewater sys- tem, a kind of large scale septic system which has a series of cells which have been coming on line as the system is being complet- ed. The installation of automatic valves is one of the last steps for the sys- tem to become fully oper- ational as designed. The village's public work staff has been open- ing and closing the valves during their working hours. "All of the beds are working manually and they continue to trou- bleshoot. They need to be Hauling to end soon as filter beds coming fully on line •Continued on back page •Continued on page 3 •Continued on back page

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