Reports from department managers reviewed by Whitewater Region council at last Wednesday’s meeting.
Reeve’s Report – Councillor Chris Olmstead noted in Reeve Terry Millar’s report that he stated the minister of municipal affairs and housing is hiring a third party service to have conversations with municipalities regarding growth planning for Eastern Ontario.
“I would think that we would be very interested in that as it pertains to the official plan that we are looking at,” he said. “Can we keep a close eye on that?”
Reeve Millar agreed.
“I don’t know a lot about it, but I will keep an eye on that and see just how that fits in, if we want to be part of that,” he said.
Public Works— public works manager Bill Misener reported: Terry O’Malley has accepted the mechanic’s position and will start in mid-to-late February. Crews were out sanding and plowing 16 times in January, compared to 24 times last year. Crews removed snow twice in Westmeath, Beachburg, Foresters Falls and Cobden. Grubbing of a stretch of Fletcher Road was worked on with the stumps and brush and ditching hauled to the sand pit on Government Road.
Building and Bylaw Enforcement—chief building official Doug Schultz reported: three parties are interested in industrial properties; the water use agreement for the industrial park is being reviewed; five building permits were issued in January with a construction value of $70,500 – one hunt camp, two septic permits and two accessory buildings.
Fire— Chief Wayne Heubner reported: Haley’s attended to a brush and unknown fire on Garden Lake Trail; Cobden responded to a Co2 call on Ross Street; Foresters Falls responded to a vehicle fire in Foresters Falls and smoke in a home; Beachburg attended to a chimney fire; locked door on La Passe Road; an MVC at the intersection of Beachburg and Anderson Road and a chimney fire on Beachburg Road; Westmeath attended to a locked door on La Passe Road.
