8 The South Marysburgh Mirror Municipal Council Update By Steve Ferguson, Councillor for South Marysburgh A very hec(cid:415)c month for council, all beginning with the well-a(cid:425)ended Mayor's Levee at MacAulay Church on January 8th. The highlights of January's general ac(cid:415)vi(cid:415)es included approving mo(cid:415)ons to place a moratorium on the closing of rural schools, an issue that is of great concern to council because our schools have been (and are) one of the founda(cid:415)ons of our communi(cid:415)es. Without them how will the municipality a(cid:425)ract or keep young people? Although Athol/South Marysburgh School is not affected, you can expect to hear much more about this issue in the coming weeks. We heard deputa(cid:415)ons from Andy LaCroix, the Execu(cid:415)ve Director of Stakeholder Rela(cid:415)ons at the newly opened Shorelines Casino in Belleville; Ken Howe represen(cid:415)ng the Emmanuel Affordable Seniors Co- housing Ini(cid:415)a(cid:415)ve was successful in receiving council's support to aid in securing funding from CMHC; the Save Picton Bay group represented by David MacKinnon, David MacKay and Victor Lind updated council of their concerns about Picton Terminals' business and its effect on the harbour; and Barbie and Bruce Cordick made a presenta(cid:415)on regarding their concerns about vehicular traffic and other issues on the Millennium Trail. In addi(cid:415)on, council was alerted by Councillor Jamie Forrester that Lion's Park in Cherry Valley was up for sale and that ac(cid:415)on should be taken to preserve this valuable public space. Concerning ma(cid:425)ers of decisions council had to make, appointments were made to the Healthcare Advisory Commi(cid:425)ee and our own South Marysburgh recrea(cid:415)on commi(cid:425)ee; and the Site Plan Control Agreement with the Sorbara Group for the Royal Hotel was passed. In spite of John Thompson's December deputa(cid:415)on and the comments of several farmers, council supported staff recommenda(cid:415)ons and voted in favour of maintaining the 25% farm tax ra(cid:415)o for 2017. An OFA proposal to reduce the ra(cid:415)o to 20% would have had the net effect of all residen(cid:415)al homeowners in PEC paying the difference. While all on council sympathize with farmers dealing with MPAC's higher assessment of farmland - par(cid:415)cularly younger farmers - it was felt by many councillors that more informa(cid:415)on was required about relief programs before a change could be decided upon and implemented. In addi(cid:415)on to those ac(cid:415)vi(cid:415)es, I was pleased to a(cid:425)end the Prince Edward County Memorial Hospital announcement along with Mayor Quaiff, MPP Todd Smith and other councillors and hear that we are that much closer to ge(cid:427)ng a new hospital in Picton. I was par(cid:415)cularly proud that two South Marysburgh residents play such important roles in this vital ini(cid:415)a(cid:415)ve: Doug McGregor, as Chair of the QHC Board of Directors, and Monica Alyea, as President of the PECMH Founda(cid:415)on. - BAKERY & VARIETY SHOP - All-Day Breakfast from 8:30 to 5:00 Fresh Baking All Day, Every Day Catering & Pre-Ordered Picnics Propane Ice Firewood Worms Bag Tags - BED & BREAKFAST - Private, fully-equipped 700 sq. ft. suite Open 7:30 to 6:00 Monday to Saturday Closed Sundays 3020 County Road 10, Milford, ON 613.476.3425 or 613.885.3510 Hot Coffee, Hot Lunch, Hot Gossip! Please patronize The Mirror's advertisers without whose support the paper couldn't be published. And please tell them you saw their ad! I also a(cid:425)ended the Chamber of Tourism's Mayor's Breakfast Briefing along with MP Neil Ellis and several other councillors. Flawlessly orchestrated and executed by South Marysburgh resident and chamber Execu(cid:415)ve Director, Emily Cowan, the breakfast was an opportunity for the mayor to brief the business community about his vision for the coming year as well as the accomplish- ments of 2016. On January 27th the wpd/White Pines Wind Project ERT reconvened in Wellington to hear final summaries from the lawyers represen(cid:415)ng APPEC, wpd Canada and the director of the MOECC. In addi(cid:415)on to their comments to the chair and co-chair of the tribunal, John Hirsch, rep- resen(cid:415)ng himself, gave an exemplary presenta(cid:415)on in de- fence of the south shore. Paula Peel of APPEC has wri(cid:425)en a report about the proceedings which is printed else- where in this month's Mirror. Finally, I a(cid:425)ended some of the events of this year's Winter Carnival including the pancake breakfast at the Town Hall. Si(cid:427)ng around the breakfast table or talking with local residents including Wilbur and Alice Miller, Randy York, Bill Cowan, Dick Jones and George and San- dra Emlaw, while suppor(cid:415)ng the Boy Scouts organiza(cid:415)on reminded me why I feel so lucky to live in such a commu- nity. Have a terrific February!