2017 tax-supported budget
Council of the Township of Whitewater Region approved the 2017 Tax-Supported Budget at the April 19 council meeting. The budget represents a municipal levy increase of 3.75 percent compared to 2016. The actual tax rates will be calculated in May and will factor in changes to the county and education levies.
The budget includes strategic investments in infrastructure including the following road resurfacing projects:
· Snake River Line
· Turcotte Road
· Industrial Park Road
· Kholsmith Road (from Mansel Hill to Mineview)
· Portions of Cedar Haven, Westross and Hydro Bay roads
· Completion of a portion of Kerr Line and Cornerview Road commenced in 2016.
The budget also includes a 50 percent funding increase for gravel (to $150,000) and culverts (to $30,000).
Detailed design and engineering work will be undertaken for the reconstruction of Truelove Street (Crawford to Wren), including Crawford Street (Main to Cowley) and John Street (Main to Truelove). This will ensure the project (road, sidewalks, and water/sewer) is deemed “shovel ready” for construction in 2018.
Funding was also set aside to undertake a Fire Master Plan and fire stations assessment, and building and space needs assessments for both the Cobden Astrolabe and Beachburg arenas.
“The 2017 budget is an aggressive one and reflective of council’s commitment to sustainable funding for infrastructure,” said Mayor Hal Johnson.
Logo to be revised
The new logo for the Township of Whitewater Region is closer to becoming a reality.
Syntax Strategies provided council with five options of a logo it prepared for council pro bono.
Jennifer Madigan attended the council meeting, advising council the company has been in business for seven years in public affairs. It is now going into web design and is reaching out to the public for business. She noted she had been a journalist, working at CHRO in Pembroke for four years many years ago.
She was hopeful council would review the five designs sent to them and narrow it down to the two they like to go to the public for voting.
Ms. Madigan spoke briefly about the five options.
Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay stressed that the current crest, “which is quite lovely and has a lot of meaning,” would continue to be used. The idea for a logo is about “driving home Whitewater in terms of name recognition” and that the citizens are coming together as one municipality.
Councillor Charlene Jackson and Mayor Hal Johnson were involved with the company in preparing the various designs, he noted.
“Thank you so much,” said Coun. Jackson. “We do not get pro bono work that often and it’s very much appreciated.
“You’ve done a great job with all of the logos presented.”
She noted her preference would be not to use a logo with cursive letters because cursive writing is no longer taught in schools and students, who will become adults, won’t be able to understand what is written.
“The only issue I have with written font, is so many people have gone away from a written word, the cursive word,” she said, “I don’t know if they even teach cursive writing in school. Kids will not be able to read this, because they won’t know what it is.”
Most council members preferred the word Whitewater printed out on top with Region beneath it. However, the example they were leaning towards had Region set inside a black border and they would prefer the border be removed.
After much discussion, it was agreed Ms. Madigan would revise two logos to what council discussed and send them back.
CAO Tremblay said once they are returned and council gives the okay, the residents can vote via an online survey for the logo they like the best.
Tourist booth and park to be under care of summer students
The tourist booth and campground at Veterans Memorial Park could be operating on a pilot project with summer students providing most of the service under the guidance of community services manager Jordan Durocher.
At last Wednesday’s community services committee meeting, Mr. Durocher noted the township lost long-time tourist booth volunteer Art Cobb, and park operator Elmer Winters. Mr. Cobb was in charge of the operation of the tourist booth, including scheduling volunteers while Mr. Winters collected camping fees and looked after the park.
However, with Mr. Durocher new to the position, and Chief Administrative Officer Robert Tremblay starting his position with the township after the summer season, it was suggested that a review of the two operations be completed so both are familiar with the end results.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin noted collecting fees usually happened in the evening. He questioned if a summer student would be working evenings or if someone from the community should be hired to do this evening work.
Mr. Durocher said Emily Johnson, who is returning as a summer student, will be working with a variety of tourism related tasks and act as tourism ambassador, similar to what she did last year.
Other summer students can be utilized to work in the park and that may include some evening and weekend work. He also suggested that signs could be posted that campers, during the week, could go to the municipal office and pay for their camping.
CAO Tremblay said the idea of working with summer students is to “really get a sense of the operation.”
He noted the campground is not bringing in a lot of money. He said the camping fees totalled $2,460 and just under $1,900 was paid to the park operator. He suggested following this camping season, to check and see if camping should continue at the park or just keep it for picnics, etc.
“The camping sites aren’t marked and the fees have not been looked at for a number of years,” he said. “Before committing to a third party or tendering out or other options, let’s get through the summer and look at the data usage, how many people are coming for camping.”
There was also discussion of putting a locked box with a slot in the top so campers could put their fee in the box, because it was felt not many would go to the township office to pay, especially if they were leaving prior to the office opening.
Councillor Charlene Jackson said leaving a locked box in a park was asking for vandalism.
“There are several places that have been vandalized over the last few years within the former village of Cobden and whether it’s a lock box or a box with just a lock, it’s going to increase vandalism and there’s the added cost of replacing it,” she said. “I’m not in favour of any kind of a box down there.”
CAO Tremblay also questioned if the township wasn’t competing with the private sector, that has “wonderful campgrounds that exist along Highway 17.” Once the season has completed, a recommendation can be brought back to council in the fall, he added.
CAO Tremblay said the parks student can also help with a number of other initiatives, such as parks inventory, special events, the upcoming Streetstrut event.
“The summer student will be a park attendant and be fully utilized,” he said. “The cost is $5,000 for the summer student and he can help us get caught up in parks and recreation.”
Mr. Durocher will be working with Ms. Johnson and other summer students in regards to recreation and tourism.
