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Chapleau Town Council's putting off work for a few local bridges.
While this year's budget did account for the work, Mayor Michael Levesque says biannual inspections of the bridges suggested that plan could be delayed in favour of another project.
Levesque emphasizes the work on Dufferin Street is quite important.
Unfortunately, Mayor Levesque doesn't expect the Township to receive the funds for the Dufferin Street project until the fall, so the actual work likely won't happen until next year.
Wawa Municipal Council's approved the municipality's 2019 operating budget.
Council voted to pass the document during a special meeting last night, with no further discussion after it was presented June 6th - Council also made no comments when the budget was brought up last week.
The budget includes a 2.11% property tax increase, which CAO/Treasurer Maury O'Neill mostly attributes to lower provincial government funding.
O'Neill cites a reduction of the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund grant - which was reduced by about $50,000, the equivalent of a one percent property tax increase - though she also notes Council is putting more money into reserves to cover unfunded infrastructure that needs to be maintained.
She also emphasizes that staff have done their best to reduce costs, not filling some vacant positions and cutting down on travel and training costs.
Along with the operating budget was a new schedule of fees for various municipal services - some staying the same, others rising 2-55, mostly to meet inflation - with water rates rising 4.5%.
O'Neill says that's because the water system is currently operating at a $200,000 deficit - even though provincial law requires it to pay for itself through user fees - but the Municipality didn't want to immediately implement the "substantial" increase that would be needed to eliminate that deficit.
O'Neill also notes hopes to soon bring forward a proposal to Council to use the Mission for a pilot of water meter-based billing.
Wawa's Town Hall and Library are closed today, due to a sewage backup.
Citing "unforeseen circumstances", the Municipality of Wawa says the Municipal Town Office and the Wawa Library are both closed for emergency sewer repairs.
There is some good news for those with invoices or bills due today (Wednesday, June 26th): they are now due tomorrow (Thursday, June 27th).
Chapleau Council is being warned against reverting some streets to gravel surface.
Mayor Michael Levesque says he'd requested the Public Works Superintendent look into the idea, as some roads are seeing pavement deteriorating "very badly", which is "pretty hard" on vehicles.
Mayor Levesque says the report concluded that would not help.
While Levesque admits repaving would likely be a good idea, he says there is "no money for it".
Some work is planned for Chapleau's sidewalks.
Mayor Michael Levesque says Safesidewalks Canada assessed sidewalks in the community and quoted $10,000 for the "trip hazard removal work".
Mayor Levesque adds the Township's also "in the middle of reprioritizing sidewalks".
The mayor says he believes the trip hazard removal work being done will focus on the "most urgent" spots.
CHADWIC Home is getting some federal support.
The federal government's announced $250,000 over four years for CHADWIC Home.
Executive Director Paula Valois says the funds are intended to "build capacity" to support women and girls in North Algoma.
Valois notes the exploration of online communications is meant to address a shift in the way people want to access services.
The federal funding is part of $2,700,000 announced for seven women's and Indigenous organizations in Northern Ontario, including CHADWIC Home.
Wawa Municipal Council is expected to approve the municipality's 2019 operating budget tonight.
Council's holding a special meeting with several items on the agenda, almost all relating to the operating budget, particularly resolution to approve the operating budget that was presented to Council on June 6th.
It proposes a 2.11% property tax increase, mostly attributed to lower provincial government funding or grants.
Also on the agenda is a new schedule of fees for various municipal services - some fees will be staying the same, though others are set to rise 2-5%, mostly to meet inflation.
Water rates are set to rise 4.5%, a rise questioned by some councillors, though C-A-O-Treasurer Maury O'Neill explained that the water system is currently operating at a $200-thousand deficit - even though provincial law requires it to pay for itself through user fees - but a 10-20% rate increase would be needed to eliminate that deficit, a rise considered too harsh - instead, smaller but steady increases are planned to eliminate that deficit.
O'Neill also noted plans to use the Mission for a pilot of water meter-based billing, hoping a proposal for that project will be brought to Council in July.
Council's already approved this year's "capital budget", which covers infrastructure projects like the Waterfront Project and Toronto Avenue.
Tonight's meeting is open to the public, starting at 6:30 pm in Council Chambers.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police have a new boss - but a familiar face in Wawa.
The OPP North East Region says Richard - or "Rich" - Bordin has been promoted to Staff Sergeant and - effective July 1st - will be Detachment Commander for the Superior East detachment, which covers Wawa, Chapleau, White River, and Hornepayne.
Though Bordin was promoted to Sergeant when he was transferred to the Superior East Detachment in Wawa in October 2016, he's been "Acting Staff Sergeant" while serving as acting Superior East detachment commander since June 2018.
He's been an OPP officer since September 1996, starting in Killaloe before transferring to Thessalon in 1997, staying for eight years before transferring to his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie.
He was also seconded to the OPP Drug Enforcement Section from 2008 to 2010 and worked as part of the North East Regional Critical Incident Stress Response Team in 2016.
Bordin replaces Megan Cavanagh, who was just announced as the new Manitoulin Detachment Commander, even though the OPP say she was appointed to the role in mid-April - and promoted to Inspector at the same time.
Cavanagh was appointed Superior East Detachment Commander in 2015, but was seconded to serve as acting Detachment Commander for the James Bay and Manitoulin Detachments in 2018 and 2019.
New commanders were also announced for three other North East Region detachments on Monday: Almaguin Highlands; James Bay; and North Bay.
Local police have announced multiple charges against a Chapleau man after an incident outside of town.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they were called about an assault at Seven Mile Lake around 10 am Saturday, with investigation leading to the arrest of a 40-year-old on charges of assault causing bodily harm and uttering threats to cause death or bodily harm.
The man's been released from custody with a court date in mid-August.
A Chapleau resident's facing a mischief charge after a domestic dispute.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police say they responded to an incident in Chapleau around 9 pm Friday, leading to the arrest of a 34-year-old on a charge of "mischief - domestic".
The person - who is not identified, in order to protect the victim's identity - has been released with a court date in mid-August.
Superior East OPP emphasize victims in abusive relationships are not alone and there are local resources to help, such as Wawa and Area Victim Services and CHADWIC Home.
The local English Catholic school board has chosen a new Superintendent of Education.
The Huron-Superior Catholic District School Board says Christine Durocher will start the job August 1st.
Durocher was hired by the board in 1997, working as a teacher before becoming a vice principal and later principal, most recently for St. Mary's French Immersion in Sault Ste. Marie.
She'll be one of three Superintendents of Education at the HSCDSB, replacing Maria Esposito, who's retiring at the end of June, after more than 40 years with the board.
Chapleau Town Council has a busy night ahead, with another regular meeting.
Included on tonight's agenda is a presentation from Newmont Goldcorp - which owns the nearby Borden Gold Mine - as well as a by-law to regulate smoking in public places, and resolutions approving: a $10,000 quote for trip hazard removal work; nearly $8000 for zamboni conditioner rebuild and ice power edger repairs; detailed designs for the Downtown Revitalization project; a $2000 proposal for removal of anchor plates and repairs of the dock at the rear of the Civic Centre; and a total of nearly $20,000 in evaluations of equipment and infrastructure at the Recreation Centre.
Council will also consider deferring 2019 bridge rehabilitation work and instead approving the replacement of the Sanitary Forcemain and other "aged infrastructure" on Dufferin Street, which would be backed by outside funding.
There's also a single "in-camera" item, a "personal matter about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees".
Aside from the "in-camera" portion, tonight's meeting is open to the public, starting at 6:30 pm in Civic Centre Council Chambers.
A Sudbury-based miner's touting the acquisition of mining lands near Wawa.
Manitou Gold says it has acquired "two important packages of mining lands", extending its property along the Goudreau-Localsh deformation zone by 27 kilometers - Manitou's properties are located north of Wawa, extending from just east of the former Cline Mine beyond the Renabie Mine 37 kilometres to the east.
Both of the new properties cover documented deformation zones which are extensions of the Goudreau-Localsh zone or related zones.
A Dubreuilville school's holding an event welcoming children starting kindergarten next fall.
École St-Joseph is inviting upcoming students and their families to show up for a "Welcome to Kindergarten" event, meant to promote a smooth transition to kindergarten.
It will include several activities for children and parents while providing parents important information about speech development, social and daycare services, and school transportation.
The event starts at 1 o'clock this afternoon.
Some Wawa students will be washing cars this weekend to raise funds for a big trip.
St. Joseph French Immersion Catholic School Grade 6, 7, and 8 teacher Adam Cariccato explains the car wash fundraiser will support next year's Grade 7 and 8 trip.
Cariccato says any donation will be accepted - all proceeds go to cover costs for the trip - and suggests the event will also serve as a fun team-building exercise.
The students will be set up in the Community Centre parking lot from 10 to 2 tomorrow.
Time is almost up for golfers to register for CHADWIC Home's annual golf tournament.
Reminding today is the official deadline for registrations, CHADWIC Home Executive Director Paula Valois explains the event's a fundraiser for programs not usually covered by the "main budget" of the local women's shelter.
Valois encourages everyone to sign up a team of four today - the tournament will be held next Friday, June 28th.
Organizers of Wawa's annual music festival are again putting out the call for support - in many forms.
Committee Vice Chair Isabeau Allard reminds today is the deadline to sign up - for free - to be a vendor during the Wawa Music Festival's street fair.
Allard encourages potential vendors to message her on Facebook or email wawamusicfestival@gmail.com.
Fellow committee member Sheila Rodger reminds volunteers are also wanted - age 14 and up - with a good chance for community service hours for high school students and more for adult volunteers.
Rodger emphasizes that it's a lot of fun for volunteers, too, and encourages potential volunteers to contact her or message the festival Facebook page as soon as possible..
The Wawa Music Festival will be held June 28th to 30th.
More parking could be added on Broadway Avenue.
Wawa Municipal Council had received a letter requesting angle parking along the street for a local business near Lion's Beach - the idea was discussed, with Infrastructure Services Director Cory Stainthorpe says it would be viable, though it would require a change in the municipal parking by-law.
Councillor Pat Tait noted concerns about putting angle parking at the spot, as that area would be a good spot for parallel parking for larger vehicles - such as RVs - and asked that Stainthorpe prepare a report on the request.
That report is expected at a later date.
Work is continuing on Wawa's waterfront.
Wawa Municipal Council received an update on the project during last night's Policy Committee meeting, with Brian Lachine - the Acting Director of Community Services and Tourism - noting work has begun on various aspects of the project, with some parts to continue to October, though much of the work is to be done this summer.
Plans include the demolition of the current Dr. Rose's beach house - to be replaced with accessible bathrooms - which Lachine notes will be accompanied by new sand on the beach.
Lachine also says staff are looking at replacing the Lion's Beach stairs, which are currently closed to public use over safety concerns.
Work is also underway on the "swales" along the waterfront - with the boardwalk to go by them and more vegetation to be added to make it look similar to marshland - and Lachine emphasizes the four along Dr. Rose's Beach capture about a quarter of the municipality's "stormwater".
Lachine adds that the outflow at Ganley Street puts out about 75 percent of the municipality's stormwater, so the swale at that spot plays a more important role.
The swales are designed to be cleaned by municipal staff as regular maintenance, though Lachine says the hope is the conversation will prompt people to think about what goes down municipal storm drains and take better care of our drinking water source, Wawa Lake.
When asked about the potential for a boat launch, Lachine emphasized that is not included in the current plans - which he called "phase one" of the Waterfront Project - but noted discussions have been held with the Ministry of Natural Resources about the idea, which could be included in a second phase of the project, though there's no timeline for that and it would likely be subject to outside funding.
No charges are expected for a single vehicle collision near Wawa this past weekend.
Superior East Ontario Provincial Police have confirmed that there was a single vehicle collision about 30 kilometres north of town Saturday morning - two people were in the car, with the Wawa Volunteer Fire Department needed to extract one of them.
Both occupants were brought to the Lady Dunn Health Centre for treatment of minor injuries.
