Belleville Fire Chief Mark MacDonald at city council, September 10, 2018 (Photo: Mary Thomas/Quinte News)
Belleville is working toward having an evacuation-reception centre in the event of an emergency in the future.
In past emergency events, including flooding in 2008 and 2014, and a Union Gas natural gas leak in 2016, residents were displaced and sheltered at local hotels and at the Quinte Sports and Wellness Centre.
Monday night, city council approved entering an agreement with Loyalist College to act as the city’s primary evacuation/reception centre in the event of an emergency.
The college will have one or more members of its staff on the premises at all times to assist the city with the operation and maintenance of the facility while the city is at the college.
The city will reimburse the college for any extra costs.
City staff is being asked to prepare a by-law for the agreement.
Grants for community groups
Belleville city council made a turn-around at its meeting this week, and it was all good news for three community groups.
The three groups, Quinte Humane Society, the Terry Fox Foundation, and Food for Thought Quinte, had lost out on city grants because they missed the 120-day deadline for applications.
Councillor Jack Miller pointed to the fact this deadline had not been changed when the Grant Committee meetings had increased to once a month.
Committee Chair Mitch Panciuk tells Quinte News he’s “confident” the new council will change the deadline.
Council approved $500 for the Quinte Humane Society, city facility and equipment for the Terry Fox Foundation, and waived rental fees and agreed to provide equipment for Food for Thought Quinte.
Medals for volunteers
Mayor Taso Christopher presented the Sovereign’s Medal for Volunteers to Lawrence Allen and David Little on behalf of the province. Timothy Begley, who also received the medal, was unable to attend city council on Monday.
Allen was recognized for his extensive work with cadet organizations, notably the Navy League Cadet Corp in Trenton, while Little received the medal for his work on the O’Hara Mills Homestead, connecting the city to the rural community and its pioneer history.
