Review-Mirror

A plea by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture to reduce the percentage of value farmers pay on agri- cultural land didn't get much sympathy at United Counties Council last month. OFA representative Ben Lefort was seeking to change the current formula used to determine tax rates for agricultural land after their property values sky- rocketed with the latest MPAC assessments. Agricultural land is taxed at 25 per cent of the residential rate. The OFA wanted that reduced but Council deter- mined a drop to a 21 per cent would increase the residential portion of the tax levy by $57,935 in the first year, giving the aver- age residential homeowner a $16 increase in the coun- ty portion of their tax bill. While residential val- ues increased an average of seven per cent, agricul- ture values increased an average of 101 per cent in Leeds Grenville in the lat- est market value assess- ment by MPAC. The council left the ratio the way it was. Staff noted that water- front property owners experienced a sharp shift of values to them in the 2008 assessment but got no relief. Shifts in relative tax burdens are unavoid- able with a property tax system based on assessed market values. Since 1998, when the province dropped the rebate, legislation required municipalities to tax farm properties at a maximum of 25 per cent of the resi- dential tax rate. Prior to 1998 farm properties were taxed at 100 per cent by the municipality and received a 75 per cent rebate directly from the province. Township of Rideau Lakes councilors accepted three new projects to ben- efit from the Canada150 Parks and Recreation Fund's final intake. The grant will provide matching funds to the accepted projects which were submitted by the Portland on the Rideau Historical Society, Rideau District High School and the South Crosby Recre- ation Committee. Submissions from the Delta Agricultural Society for sound equipment for the main hall and from the Royal Canadian Legion for a backup generator weren't accepted. The Portland communi- ty project will see the con- struction of a new shelter on the government dock which will bring back the spirit of the awning which protected passengers who were travelling on the steamboats travelling the canal. The Portland group gets $13,000 so the community will need to raise the rest of the estimated $26,000 project. They already have $5,824 in the Portland waterfront park fund. The pavilion would be made of engineered truss- es with a ceiling of tongue and groove pine and a roof covered with cedar shin- gles. Two flag poles would adorn each end of the structure which will cover a two sided bench going down the full length of the shelter. RDHS ball diamond to get $17,626 in upgrades The Rideau District High School project will cost $17,626 to refurbish the school's baseball dia- mond with granular and an extended backstop, would replace aging soccer posts with posts equipped with football uprights and replace existing volleyball posts. The township grant is for 8,813. The South Crosby Recreation Committee is to receive $2500 for a $5,000 project which would provide a larger intake and stronger pump for flooding the rink as well as puck board to improve the aesthetics of the street-facing side of the rink boards. The Canada150 Parks and Recreation Fund was created this summer after the South Crosby Recre- ation Committee came to the township seeking matching funding to create a concrete pad at the Elgin Rink. The funds come from a $75,000 one-time alloca- tion for capital recreation projects, drawn from the township's parkland reserve fund, monies which are received as a portion of the value of some new development. Groups are responsible for funding the one half of the project cost for which they applied. A decision will be made this week on when to discontinue hauling effluent from the Westport waste treatment plant to be processed at Smiths Falls or Brockville. Hauling had halted late last month when both receiving facilities had their own systems on bypass after rising temper- atures brought rising flows beyond their plants' capacity. Trucks began moving the Westport effluent again last Friday when the lagoons were registering as having 8700 cubic meters of spare capacity. On Tuesday, Westport Mayor Robin Jones said a decision will be made in a day or two of when to dis- continue the hauling. Westport wastewater is being treated at the vil- lage's site but not in suffi- cient capacity to allow enough room to accom- modate a spring deluge. The lagoons filled up over the fall and winter before the new filter bed treatment system was under construction. The Portland on the Rideau Historical Society has initiated a project to put a heritage type shelter over the former government dock in Portland, similar to the shelter which offered protection long ago to passengers of the steam boat the Rideau King. Hauling Westport wastewater resumes Over $33,000 in township parks and grants support three projects United Counties won't reduce farm property tax ratio to offset 101% assessment increase The Review-Mirror March 1, 2018 – 3 Upper Rideau Branch 542 10099 Cty. Rd. 10, Westport 613-273-3615 St. Patrick's Sunday Matinee Sun., March 18, 2-6 p.m. with James Ryce & Top Shelf $10 per person • Light Luncheon Cribbage Wednesdays, 10 am Sunday Fun Darts , 12:45 p.m. Diva Sale Sat., April 21 If you have gently used jewelry, purses, footwear and clothing, contact Trish Fransen at 613-401-3537 Lounge hours Tues. 4-7•Wed 4-7•Thurs 4-7•Fri 4-7•Sat 3-6 Celebrate your special occasion with us... Weddings, receptions, anniversaries and parties. Full catering, kitchen & bar available with plenty of parking and full handicap accessibility. Call Juanita at 613-273-8455. Bingo 7 p.m. BONANZA $1450 • JACKPOT $500 PROGRESSIVE TOONIE POT • All 55#s or less MONDAY We are the Guardians of REMEMBRANCE Follow us on Facebook for the latest on Legion 542 events The Westport Area Outdoor Association would like to thank the following individuals and businesses for their support of our fishing derby: The Cove Cruickshank Construction Tangled Garden Restaurant Life is Good Village Green Westport Home Hardware Herlehy Home Building Centre Hometown Pest & Wildlife Control Charlie Jones and Marylou Traynor Rob Murphy Landscaping Norris Bait and Tackle Pinecone The Review-Mirror Scheuermann Vineyard & Winery Shangri-la Cottages and Campground The Wordsmith Owners of agricultural land won't be getting any kind of tax break this year after values went up an average of 101 per cent with the new assessment. 2018 ICE SHOW Come Together 3 pm - 4 pm Join in the fun and exciting ice show as our talented skaters represent love, peace and coming together. Tickets $10 adults; Kids 5-18 yrs. and Seniors $5; under 5 free

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