Quinte West mayor Jim Harrison (L) presents a cheque from the City for its 2016 funding support for $50,000 to Loyalist College at the council meeting on April 18, 2016. College president Maureen Piercy (C) and Board chair June Hagerman (R). (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
A new 50,000 square foot egg hatchery will now call Quinte West home.
Monday night, the municipality approved the purchase of land in the North Murray Industrial Park by Archer’s Poultry Farm Limited.
Mayor Jim Harrison says Archer’s has a similar operation in Brighton and he imagines the new build will be a more modern expansion.
“You wouldn’t even know it was a hatchery. Everything is in and out, eggs in, chickens out,” said Harrison.
The meeting was comprised of numerous delegations and presentations.
Benjamin Bacic (L) and Quinte West mayor Jim Harrison (R) (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Moira Secondary School student Benjamin Bacic was recognized for his recent Horatio Alger Scholarship.
Only 85 deserving students across Canada receive the need-based scholarship.
It is awarded to students who have demonstrated integrity and perseverance in overcoming adversity, a commitment to pursue a post-secondary education, a desire to contribute to society, and a good academic record.
Also at the meeting council was given an update on the new $71 million Trenton wastewater treatment plant that Manager of Water and Wastewater Matt Tracey says is currently operating at 77 percent capacity.
The horseshoe heard how the next phase of the work with a remaining price tag of $50 million is nearing its final stages and expected to be complete by early summer.
“It’s expensive,” Harrison said. “But we are doing what we have to do. We are doing better than we have to do and we are not dumping wastewater into the Bay of Quinte or anywhere else for that matter. We are exceeding our requirements.”
Amy Russell, Compliance Coordinator, also filled council in on results from the three drinking water compliance inspections completed by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Control in March 2015.
She says Bayside received a Gold Star 100 percent inspection rating, Frankford and Batawa ranked 91 percent and Trenton 97.2 percent. Russell explained Frankford and Batawa scored a 91 due to a shipping error with a set of their samples.
The president of the Trenton Memorial Hospital Foundation Phil Wild addressed council explaining how continued changes at TMH by Quinte Healthcare are making creating fundraising hardships.
Wild provided a list of hospital equipment purchased for TMH in 2015-16 totaling $104,763, with another $440,000 still needed.
When councillor Duncan Armstrong asked him about the difficulties, Wild admitted it is difficult for people to feel comfortable when they don’t see a long term commitment from QHC.
Wild pointed to a recent visit by Dr. Eric Hoskins where the Minister of Health and Long Term Care said there is a real funding formula problem with QHC and across the province.
Wild also took the time to promote a new Fund the Future initiative where the foundation will not only be fundraising for equipment but any future healthcare needs that may arise.
President and CEO of the YMCA of Central East Ontario Dave Allen makes presentation to council. (Photo: Nicole Kleinsteuber / Quinte News)
Finally David Allen, acting president and CEO of the YMCA of Central East Ontario gave an update on the Quinte West YMCA.
He said through a mutual partnership with City the Y has been able to allocate $2,200,000 in assistance for Quinte West families since it opened its doors.
Allen told the crowd how the Y has over 5,800 members, 1,100 kids’ swim lessons with over 700 youth programs.
“It is truly a partnership,” said Allen. “We work together to improve and make this a better place for the City of Quinte West.”
