Briefs and notes from the Dec. 16 Township of Whitewater Region council meeting.
Sidewalks need to be repaired
Rita Patterson was presented with a ‘With Gratitude’ certificate from Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson. She was the volunteer on duty at the Cobden Tourist Booth when the Mystery Shopper came in to do an appraisal of the booth and its worker. The booth received a 99 per cent rating, which was close enough to 100 per cent for Mayor Johnson. The one percentage point was lost because there was no toilet paper in the women’s washroom.
Public works manager Bill Misener noted while there weren’t many water breaks last year, the freezing pipes took up any surplus.
Councillor Daryl McLaughlin said one side of Acres Road is a “big improvement” and he can’t wait for the other side to be completed. Mr. Misener said a rock hammer needs to be used now.
Chief Administrative Officer Christine FitzSimons received an email from Pat Leech at Scotiabank advising the sidewalks in front of the bank need to be repaired. When they were patched with the coldpatch, the tar-like substance was tracked into the bank, making a mess.
As well, Ms. Leech advised that several people have fallen in front of the bank due to the poor condition of the sidewalk. CAO FitzSimons said Mr. Misener attended a meeting with the county since it will be rehabilitating the street through Cobden next year. He has requested pricing to replace the sidewalk, hoping it can be done when the road work in Cobden is being done.
She noted if council wants a delegation to any minister/deputy-minister at the Ontario Good Roads Association convention next year, to let her know by Jan. 8, 2016.
Councillor Charlene Jackson said Muskrat Lake is a top priority, water and sewer costs and cycling trails are some issues she can think of.
“These are just some of the highlights our municipality is facing and there are challenges to those issues,” she said.
Councillor Chris Olmstead questioned whose responsibility the gutters were. Mr. Misener said he will have to find that out. Mr. Misener said, “It’s a bone of contention. It’s sort of no man’s land.”
Coun. Olmstead suggested Reeve Terry Moore discuss this concern with someone at the county, and he agreed, advising he will speak with Steve Boland in the public works department.
Committee never disbanded: Councillor
Donna Burns sent an email to council advising she would like to sit on the property standards committee.
However, Councillor Daryl McLaughlin believes she is already on that committee since it was never disbanded. He noted John Cull and Ms. Burns sat on that committee.
CAO FitzSimons said she knows nothing about this committee. She will talk to Bylaw Officer Doug Schultz about the committee.
Councillor Chris Olmstead noted this is a committee that hasn’t met in three years.
Coun. McLaughlin said it would not meet unless there was an issue with someone’s property.
Councillor Cathy Regier said in 2010 there was an issue and that committee was busy.
Reeve Terry Millar said he had someone bring concerns to him but was advised there’s no way to enforce property standards.
CAO FitzSimons said if there is a complaint, it has to be in writing.
Councillor Dave Mackay said he has received complaints, brought them to staff’s attention and the situations were cleared up.
It was agreed the issue would be discussed when Mr. Schultz is present at a meeting.
Bylaw and lease agreement
will set out terms
Cobden Arena manager Jerry McIntyre sent a letter to council with concerns he has about the arena grounds. One concern is the pavement cracking and heaving at the front entrance. He’s concerned someone could fall and hurt themselves. Also, there is an area at the back entrance that needs to be paved, he suggested.
Coun. McLaughlin recalled when the parking lot was paved, it was split between the township, Cobden rec association, curling club and agricultural society.
Coun. Jackson suggested it be investigated to see who is responsible for the cost to repair those two areas.
CAO FitzSimons said the lease agreement and bylaw regarding the Cobden rec association and the township are being reviewed and this situation could be included in the documents.
Who pays for what will be part of the documents, she said.
Surplus equipment purchased
Council was happy to note that all surplus equipment was purchased following a tender process.
Ben Snyder was the successful bidder for five of the eight items.
He purchased a 1989 Pumper Truck GMC ($1,429.45); 1981 Tanker Truck Chevrolet C70 ($508.50); 1999 Volvo Tandem ($1,254.30); 2002 Ford F140 4×4 ($231.65); and the Kuhn 5 disc mower ($525.45).
John Rutledge purchased the 1984 Fire Rescue Ambulance Ford Econoline 350 for $452; Chris Martin purchased the 1991 GMC Safari van for $84.75; and Taylor Broadhurst purchased the 2004 Chevrolet Silverado truck ($649.75)
*The Mennonite School on Snake River Line is one step closer to being a reality.
Council gave approval for a zoning amendment at the meeting, which will allow for the school to be built.
* Council has until Jan. 25, 2016 to nominate a young person from the municipality for an Ontario Medal for Young Volunteers.
Mayor Johnson is impressed with the number of young people who volunteer in the community. He noted if you look around, it’s the same young volunteers who are working throughout the community.
It was suggested that a list of awards be collected so council will have more time to consider who to nominate. It was noted these awards come up each year but there isn’t always a lot of notice.
* The County of Renfrew provided a list of which county councillors are sitting on various committees. Whitewater Region Reeve Terry Millar is the representative on the Ministry of Natural Resources Regional Advisory Committee and the Renfrew County Agricultural Economic Development Committee.
