Council donates to fish and game club

The Northeast Town council reviewed a request from the Little Current Fish and Game Club (LCFGC) for a donation towards enhancing the viewing stand that overlooks Bass Lake stream in Sheguiandah.

“The new display boards will illustrate the club’s walleye program from egg collecting through to harvesting the fingerlings from the rearing ponds,” explained LCFGC President Bill Strain in his letter to council. “Beacon Images will be preparing the illustrations and the estimated cost is approximately $1,000.”

Council carried a motion to donate $200 to the LCFGC for the project.

Council supports cycling

Council donated $200 to the Manitoulin Island Cycling Advocates (MICA). The organization sent a request to council seeking funds to send representatives for MICA and Manitoulin as a whole to the International Bicycling Show in Toronto in March.

Hotel granted permission to thin waterfront trees

Council reviewed a letter from the manager of the Manitoulin Hotel and Conference Centre Jennifer Sansford asking permission to thin the trees on the waterfront side of the hotel to enhance the view for guests. “We believe this will showcase our beautiful Island and North Channel better and at the same time will increase guest satisfaction,” said Ms. Sansford.

Councillor Laurie Cook expressed that she had “a real problem” with the request.

“There is a beautiful trail that runs along the waterfront there (in front of the hotel) and a lot of birders and residents use the trail,” said Councillor Cook. “It would also set a bad precedent for anyone that wants to thin the waterfront (tree line) in front of their property.”

Northeast Town CAO Dave Williamson suggested that if council was to grant the work that it would be under the supervision of the town’s public works manager.

Mayor Al MacNevin added that removing and thinning trees was done to create the trail in the first place and that if done properly it would have no ill affects on the trail.

Council carried a motion to authorize the hotel to remove some of the trees between the hotel and waters edge under the supervision of the public works manager and the guidance of a qualified arborist.

Sale of 65 Meredith Street

The Northeast Town authorized the sale of 65 Meredith Street (across from 3 Cows and a Cone, next to the water treatment plant) to Sheppard Custom Builders for $222,000.

Financial statements

Town Treasurer Sheryl Wilkin reviewed the accounts receivable for water and sewer and taxes with council.

Ms. Wilkin said she was happy to report that the number of outstanding accounts for taxes had come down considerably since the fall. Of the 77 properties as of October 2015 that were outstanding, 48 of those properties had been paid in full or paid down, 10 of the owners had made payments and another 10 saw staff working with the owners of the properties.

Ms. Wilkin attributed development to the advertisement the town placed in The Expositor and to the hard work of staff reaching out to taxpayers with outstanding balances. She also said that there had been $280,109.11 in payments made in December.

For water and sewer, Ms. Wilkin report that there were currently 12 accounts over $500, five of which had been disconnected, four were due to penalty applied for December and three account holders had made arrangements with the municipality. She added that there had been $25,997.66 in payments made in December.

New librarian

Councillor Laurie Cook, who is one of the Northeast Town council representatives on the Little Current Public Library board, reported to council last week that the board had hired a new librarian, Jake Marion of Ottawa. “He has a masters of library science and his wife is at Cambrian (College) and they are looking to move to Manitoulin,” shared Ms. Cook.

Little Current Yacht Club donation

Council reviewed a letter from Little Current Yacht Club (LCYC) rear commodore Kevin McKee requesting free dockage for the annual North Channel Race Week in Little Current.

Town CAO Dave Williamson told council that last year the dockage used equaled $800.

Councillor Michael Erskine explained to council that the annual race raises funds to subsidize the youth sailing program and that he would support the donation request.

Councillor Marcel Gauthier said he would also support the donation request as it is good for economic development.

Mayor Al MacNevin and Councillor Bill Koehler also voiced that they would support the request as the funds raised go to help run a program for Island youth.

Councillor Cook said she felt that yachters should pay for their own dockage.

In a recorded vote, Councillors Cook, Paul Skippen and Bruce Wood voted against the motion to donate dockage for the race up to $1,300 from the 2016 budget, while the motion was carried by Councillors Erskine, Marcel Gauthier, Bill Koehler, Dawn Orr, Melissa Peters and Mayor MacNevin.

Request to amend animal control bylaw

The Northeast Town council received a letter from Dan Clark requesting that council amend the animal control bylaw to deal with disturbances caused by barking dogs, the number of dogs and cats per household and registering cats and cats running at large.

Council directed staff to look at cleaning up some of the wording in the animal controls bylaw and the possible addition of some of the suggested changes.

Mayor MacNevin reminded council that they had previously explored looking at having cats regulated that council had decided not too due to the large expense.

Curling club renewal

Council carried a motion authorizing the mayor and CAO to enter into a three-year user agreement with the Little Current Curling Club.

Council donates to hockey fundraiser

The Northeast Town donated $360 in ice time for the Alumni Hockey Game on behalf of Wyatt Kennedy on Wednesday, December 23 at the Northeast Town recreation centre.

Further, at the community services and public works committee meeting, the committee carried a motion to recommend to council the donation of $200 to the Wyatt Kennedy fundraising campaign.

Rehabilitation of Highway 540 and Highway 6

Council received a letter from D.M Willis Associates Limited, which has been retained by the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) managing the rehabilitation of Highway 540 from 1 km west of Highway 6 westerly for 17.6 km, the rehabilitation of Highway 540 from 14.8 km west of Highway 551 easterly for 26.7 km to 17.6 km west of Little Current west limits and the rehabilitation of Highway 6 from 17.5 km south of Highway 540 northerly for 16.7 km to Little  Current south limits, and from the Little Current Swing Bridge northerly for 2.4 km.

Council carried a motion directing staff to contact D.M. Willis in regard to making improvements to the safety of the corner at Highway 540 and McLean’s Mountain and to lobby for bike lanes at the time of repaving Highway 6 and 540.

Fire report

Northeast Town Fire Department Chief Darren Bailey presented council with the December department report. He was pleased to report that there had been zero calls for service since his last report.

“This year in total, we have had 56 calls for service,” said Fire Chief Bailey.

“Also the new digital communications system has been installed and is in operation,” added Fire Chief Bailey.

Community services/public works and building controls

Reid Taylor reported that the recreation centre ice is being used well and that user groups are continuing their programs at the recreation centre including ballet, martial arts, sea cadets and fitness classes.

“This month at the rec centre we have hockey, figure skating programs, winter walking and Christmas break skating and events,” said Mr. Taylor. “The docks are secured at Spider Bay Marina and being monitored until freeze up.”

Gary May presented the public works report. He said that regular maintenance is being done on roads as required. He also reported that several staff members took the snow plow operators course recently.

Staff reviewed the building controls report with council. The report noted that there have been a total of 62 permits issued to date with a total construction value of $5,672,032 and a total building permit revenue of $74,237.24.