COBDEN – Whitewater Region Mayor Hal Johnson officially introduced Robert Tremblay, the municipality’s new Chief Administrative Officer to council last night.
“It’s been a busy three days,” said Mr. Tremblay, who started on Monday, Dec. 19.
He had an informal tour of the township with Mayor Johnson and has met with most of the staff. He’s hopeful of meeting all staff and council in an informal way to find out what their goals are.
“We will achieve great things,” Mr. Tremblay said.
Mayor Johnson said he and Mr. Tremblay have already discussed various things and there will be changes coming.
“We are modernizing are meeting system, streamlining it,” he said.
However, all this will be revealed in the new year, the mayor added.
Streetstrut Committee
The official planning for the 150 celebration in Whitewater Region will now begin in earnest as a committee has been struck.
Councillor Chris Olmstead and Reeve Terry Millar will co-chair the committee and other members are Councillor Daryl McLaughlin and Carmen Miller.
While there had been a request for $30,000 in start-up costs, council decided not to agree to that until the committee had a chance to meet and come up with a budget.
A concern is where to hold the event. There was discussion of it being on Main Street, however, that is a county road and council was advised no alcohol would be allowed on the Main Street. In a letter to council several conditions had to be met: time of day for the closure; nature and type of objects which will occupy the road allowance; alcohol is prohibited and proof of insurance not less than $5 million.
Reviewing past street dances, it was noted when they were taken off Main Street they died out. Council agreed it’s almost imperative the street dance be held on Main Street.
“It’s crucial it stays on Main Street and that the businesses be involved,” said Councillor Chris Olmstead. “I believe insurance is just an excuse.”
Reeve Millar will discuss the issue with county operations manager Steve Boland and see if an agreement can be reached regarding the no-alcohol policy prior to finding another place to hold the event.
Department Reports:
Public works: Manager Bill Misener advised council that the one-ton truck purchased in 2008 is out of commission.
“The one-ton truck failed catastrophically,” he said, noting the frame broke on both sides. He suggested there may be a request in the new year to purchase a new truck as soon as possible.
In his report Mr. Misener said cold-patching is ongoing; crews have opened culverts blocked by beavers and putting up signs that failed reflectivity testing. Winter sand was delivered to the Westmeath patrol yard and docks were taken out at Cobden, Westmeath and La Passe.
He noted the road crews were out seven times in November for snow/freezing rain events and removed snow from all the villages once. Last year, they responded to one winter event in November.
Environmental services: manager Steve Hodson reported that the new diesel generator set for the Cobden Lift Station has arrived and is on the formed concrete pad.
Five members of the public attended the second public consultation meeting regarding the Cobden Wastewater Treatment Plan. The deadline for public to offer comments was Dec. 21.
Fire Department: Chief Wayne Heubner reported all stations responded to a call-out to Country Haven Retirement Home. Eventually all residents were relocated to Pembroke. Other calls included a CO2 alarm activation on the Queens Line, a plane crash at the Champlain Air Field (very minor); a hydro transformer fire on Hwy. 17 and an outdoor furnace fire.
Building and Bylaw enforcement: Chief Building Official Doug Schultz reported 14 building permits were issued in November with a construction value of $1,152,200. These permits were for three houses, one house addition, three demolitions, two commercial, three septic and two garages.
He noted a meeting has been scheduled for early January with the boards from the Cobden Agricultural Society, Astrolabe Arena and BEI.
Note
• The first Wednesday meetings of the month for January, February and March will begin at 1 p.m. as opposed to the current 6 p.m.
