The Township of Whitewater Region’s Finance and Administration Committee will be meeting to review the 2012 Budget in the Township’s Council Chambers on Wednesday, June 6th, 2012 following the Council meeting to be held at 1:00 P.M.

ADOPTION OF ANNUAL BUDGET

The Council of the Township of Whitewater Region intends to adopt its 2012 Municipal Budget in accordance with Section 290 of the Municipal Act, 2001 during the Council Meeting to be held at the Cobden Municipal Office, Cobden on Wednesday, June 20th, 2012 at 7:00 P.M.

Annette Mantifel, AMCT
Treasurer/Deputy CAO

Please bring your unwanted Agricultural Plastic & Bale Wrap for free disposal to Renfrew County Recycling on Saturday, May 26th, 2012 from 9am to 2pm.

For further information, please click here.

Ontario Regulation 453/07 requires all municipalities to complete a Financial Plan for their drinking water systems.  The Water Financial Plan for the Township of Whitewater Region was approved by Council on April 18th, 2012.

The Township retained the services of Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. to prepare a water financial plan as part of the five submission requirements for the purposes of obtaining a municipal drinking water license as per the Safe Drinking Water Act, 2002.  The Financial Plan provides an in-depth analysis of capital and operating needs, a review of current and future demand verse supply and consideration of available funding sources.

According to Section 295(1) of the Municipal Act 2001, notice is hereby given that the Township of Whitewater Region’s 2011 Consolidated Financial Statements and Auditor’s Report are now available.

The 2011 Financial Statements can be found on this web site under:
Administration/Finance-Financial Statements

Annette Mantifel, AMCT
Treasurer/Deputy CAO

The Township of Whitewater Region was invited by the Ministry of Natural Resources to attend a meeting at its offices on March 19, 2012 concerning the Muskrat Lake water quality issue. In attendance at the meeting were representatives from the Ministries of Natural Resources, Environment, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and the Renfrew County and District Heath Unit. All groups in attendance had the opportunity to exchange dialogue and identify their concerns.

CLICK HERE to view the notes from this meeting.

Council will continue to keep residents informed of any future developments on its website.

Due to the unseasonably warm weather we have experienced recently, the snow received this winter is melting quickly.  This could cause the water levels in local rivers, streams and lakes to rise which could result in localized minor flooding.  For further information, residents can monitor the water levels along the Ottawa River by visiting the Ottawa River Regulation Planning Board’s website (www.ottawariver.ca).  The Ministry of Natural Resources also provides updates on potential flood conditions and offers advice on how to prepare against flooding on their website (www.mnr.gov.on.ca).

All residents are reminded that as the snow melts and water levels rise, rivers, lakes and streams become very dangerous.  All persons, including pets, should safely stay away from riverbanks and all bodies of water.

At the Council Meeting held on Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 By-Law Number 12-03-531 was passed adopting new water and sewer rates for the residents of Cobden, Beachburg and Haley Townsite.

Over a year ago, the Township of Whitewater Region engaged the services of Watson and Associates to help address the financial needs of the water and sewer systems.  Information was collected and used to develop a forecast of water and sewer rates that will pay for current and future operating, financing and capital costs.

The new water rates adopted by Council are based on shared operating costs with capital costs separated by area.  Cobden, Beachburg and Haley Townsite each have different water rates and Cobden sewer has its own separate rate.

As part of this process, a thorough review of the existing rate structure was also completed.  Under the old system, the rate structure was different between the three locations.  In an effort to standardize the rate structure across all water and sewer systems, the following rate categories were created:

RESIDENTIAL
SMALL COMMERCIAL
MEDIUM COMMERCIAL
HIGH COMMERCIAL
MULTI RESIDENTIAL (second and subsequent units)

These rate categories have now been applied to all water and sewer accounts based on definitions established during the review process.    

Please click on the links below to view additional information:

• BY-LAW 12-03-531
• RATE CATEGORIES and DEFINITIONS
• 2012 WATER and SEWER RATES
• UTILITY BILLING INFORMATION SHEET

Ontario Water Regulations 170/03 requires that annual reports for water systems be made available to the Public.  The annual reports for 2011 are available at the Whitewater Region Municipal Office during normal working hours at 44 Main Street, Cobden.

CLICK HERE FOR THE 2011 ANNUAL WATER REPORTS

At the Council Meeting being held at the Cobden Municipal Office on March 7th at 7:00pm, Council will be considering three water rate structure options that were presented by Gary Scandlan from Watson & Associates Economists Ltd. at a Water & Sewer Committee meeting on February 14th, 2012. 

Please CLICK HERE to view some of the information that will be considered by Council when selecting a water rate structure  option.  Water rates for 2012 will be based on the option selected and it is anticipated that the first water billing to be sent out in March 2012, for the billing period January 1st to March 31st, will incorporate these changes.

April 9 – April 13, 2012 – will be regular pick up                
May 21 – May 25, 2012 – will be shifted back one day
July 2 – July 6, 2012 – will be shifted back one day
August 6 – August 10, 2012 – will be regular pick up
September 3 – September 7, 2012 – will be shifted back one day
October 8 – October 12, 2012 – will be shifted back one day
December 24, 2012 – will be regular pick up
December 25 – December 28, 2012 – will be shifted back one day
December 31, 2012 – will be regular pick up
January 1 – January 4, 2013 – will be shifted back one day

Please make sure:

1. Your bag is not over 20kg (44lbs) in weight
2. Your bag is properly tied
3. All garbage is placed inside Township bags
4. Your bag is unbroken
5. Your bag is at curbside by 7a.m.

Council for the Township of Whitewater Region was pleased to accept the proposal submitted by Municipal Law Enforcement Services for by-law enforcement services and the sale of dog tags at the Council meeting held on February 1st, 2012.  James McBain, President of Municipal Law Enforcement Services attended the meeting to introduce himself to Council and answer any questions members may have concerning his services.

Municipal Law Enforcement Services was established in May 2004 and provides full by-law services and animal control services to various local municipalities.  Mr. McBain has over 35 years of law enforcement experience and over 30 years of by-law enforcement experience.

The Township of Whitewater Region looks forward to working with Mr. McBain and Municipal Law Enforcement Services as part of the services provided to the residents of Whitewater Region.

The 2012 Dog licenses applications are now on-line for your downlaoding

Please click here for your 2012 license application

The Foresters Falls Recreation Association has been approved for a grant that will see new playground equipment and outdoor hockey rink boards installed in Foresters Falls.

All of this is being made possible thanks to a $9,600 grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF).

The Foresters Falls Recreation Association is a dedicated group of approximately 30 individuals who volunteer year-round in the delivery of recreational programming for the residents of Foresters Falls and surrounding area.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is a leading grant maker in Canada strengthening the activities of the volunteer sector through investments in community-based initiatives.  An agency of the Government of Canada, OTF builds healthy and vibrant communities.  For further information about the Ontario Trillium Foundation, visit www.otf.ca.

The Township of Whitewater Region has joined the Upper Ottawa Valley Medical Recruitment Committee (UOVMRC) in a search for Family Physicians.  This group which consist of the City of Pembroke, Townships of Laurentian Valley, North Algona/ Wilberforce, Bonnechere Valley, the Township of Whitewater Region and the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan. They have taken the lead in developing a process to track individuals who are without a family physician and wish to be on a waiting list for a family physician. The form is for use by people living in the catchments area of the Upper Ottawa Valley Medical as listed above. If you are in search of a family physician please fill out the attached form

DEAN SAURIOL
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER
Township of Whitewater Region
(613) 646 2282