(Photo: Quinte News)
COUNTY ENTERS INTO AGREEMENTS OVER PROJECT GRANTS
Prince Edward County has signed a pair of government grant agreements with the hopes they will be approved so two rehabilitation projects can get off the ground.
The first is a grant application to the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program worth $133,200 that will go toward the $400,000 revitalization of Picton’s Benson Park. The second grant is for $25,000 towards renovations at the Ameliasburgh Heritage Village.
Tuesday night, Mayor Robert Quaiff and the clerk signed CIP contribution agreements between the County and the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) and the Federal Enabling Accessibility Fund.
Mayor Quaiff said once the agreements are signed they will wait to hear whether or not the grants are approved.
The Benson Park project links the new parking lot on King Street through the revitalized park, there will be new public washrooms, a refurbished multi-sport tennis court and an accessible rehabilitated pathway to Main Street near the Sir John A Macdonald sculpture.
The project is to be partially completed by July 1 for Canada’s 150 celebration with full completion prior to March 31, 2018.
The County had applied for 33.3% of the estimated $400,000 cost of the project through the grant program. The project had also been endorsed by several community groups with financial commitments and fundraising of $80,000 towards the project. The municipal share of $186,800 was approved through the 2017 capital budget pending approval of the funding request.
The Ameliasburgh capital project includes building an accessible entrance and washrooms to an estimated cost of $40,000.
COMMITTEE APPOINTMENTS
Tuesday night’s Prince Edward County council meeting saw a few new committee appointments.
Picton Councillor Lenny Epstein was acclaimed as the chairman of the Prince Edward-Lennox and Addington Social Services Committee for 2017.
Hallowell Ward Councillor Gordon Fox was appointed chairman of the Prince Edward-Lennox and Addington Housing Advisory Committee for 2017. He will be the County representative on the committee until the term of council. Councillor Dianne O’brien also sits on the committee.
Fox acknowledged housing is a very important issue in the County.
Councillor Fox was also appointed as the County representative to the Hastings Prince Edward Health Board for the term of council following Councillor Kevin Gale’s resignation.
Fox sat on the board during his previous term on council from 2000 to 2006. He said he looks forward to sitting on the board again researching today’s issues and bringing himself up to speed.
LIVESTOCK EVALUATORS APPOINTED
A trio of farmers have been appointed as livestock evaluators for the County of Prince Edward.
Tuesday, council approved Maurice Miller, Cody Vader and Drew Dick to the positions.
If an animal has been killed, the evaluator goes to the farm, decides its market value and the cost is usually reimbursed by the County or the province. They also determine whether the livestock was killed by a coyote or a dog.
Councillor David Harrison said there have been a lot sheep killed in the County by coyotes that are still posing a big problem for farmers.
