The SDG Regional Tourism Grant program is now accepting applications

Todd Lihou

The program includes a grant designed to help existing events and organizations increase visitation to Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry via tourism initiatives and attractions.

The Regional Tourism Grant program is tailored specifically to help tourism events and organizations in SDG, while also focusing on new ideas, or augmenting an existing event/ attraction.

“Those interested are asked to complete a detailed application that includes a brief history of the organization, details of the event or program and an outline of where the funds requested will be used,” said SDG Tourism coordinator Karina Belanger.

SDG Regional Tourism Grant highlights:

• One-time annual intake.

• Applications must be received by March 24, 2023 - 12 p.m.

• One application per organization per year.

• The minimum grant request is $500 per application.

• The maximum grant request be an upset of $5,000.

• Total grant program has an annual budget of $40,000.

To complete an application, please visit www. whereontariobegan.ca/ sdg-regional-tourism-grant

Please contact SDG Tourism Coordinator Karina Belanger at 613-932-1515 x1331 or email tourism@sdgcounties.ca for more information.

BUDGET APPROVED: The United Counties of Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry has approved its 2023 budget, which focuses on mitigating inflationary pressures for residents of SDG Counties.

Counties Council, at its Feb. 15 meeting, put the final touches to the 2023 document which sets the budget at $71 million. The budget means a 3.72 per cent increase for an average residential property in SDG Counties. County taxes for a home valued at $220,459 will increase $48.47.

“Counties Council has agreed on a budget that allows us to continue to offer important services and complete much-needed infra structure projects while respecting the inflation ary pressures that are impacting spending hab its in homes throughout our region,” said Warden Tony Fraser. “Many municipalities in Ontario are grappling with potential tax increas es that some would find unpalatable. Council agrees that the 2023 SDG Counties budget is both prudent, and respectful of taxpayer concerns.”

Some large-scale or special infrastructure projects that will be completed in 2023 include:

46.7 km of road resurfacing - $10.8 million

21.2 km of pavement preservation, (micro-surfacing, crack sealing) - $1 million Bridge rehabilitation activities (including $780,000 for Ferguson Bridge) - $5.4 million Improved sightlines at ‘Dead Man’s Curve’, County Road 2 - $300,000

“SDG Counties staff have spent considerable time over the last few months, setting priorities and charting a course through some turbulent financial waters,” said SDG Counties CAO Maureen Adams. “Inflation is the number one challenge we faced in presenting to council a budget that builds on the programming and ser vices that residents in our region have come to expect and enjoy.”

The investment SDG Counties ratepayers make via taxation continues to be the chief source of revenue for SDG.

“SDG Counties continues to maintain a strong financial position, by keeping a solid level of reserves and not carrying debt,” said Financial Services Director Rebecca Russell. “Consistent with most municipalities, SDG Counties’ main source of revenue is property taxes. As funding declines, property taxes increase to support services. Taxation currently accounts for 78 per cent of our total revenue.”

Counties Council officially adopted the 2023 budget by way of bylaws at its Feb. 21 meeting.

Ingleside: March 22, April 5 & 19

Long Sault: March 24 & April 21

Rose Pynenburg RN AFCN has joined Specialty Footcare Services to assist you with your footcare needs.

INGLESIDE: WEDNESDAYS LONG SAULT: FRIDAYS

Council

March 2023

Township Office Easter Weekend Closure

The Township Office will be closed for on Friday, April 7th for Good Friday,and Monday, April 10 for Easter Monday.

Garbage and Recycling scheduled to be picked up on Friday April 7th will be moved to Saturday April 8th due to the Good Friday Holiday.

Household Hazardous Waste Days

Household Hazardous waste days at the City of Cornwall are scheduled for: April 12th & 24th.

TRILLIUM ROAD LANDFILL

The Trillium Road Landfill will be closed on Friday April 7th for Good Friday and will open on Saturday April 8th.

Public Works

CURRENT RFQ’S:

RFQ 01-2023: Surface Treatment and Full Depth Pulverizing

The Township of South Stormont is seeking quotations for Surface Treatment and Full Depth Pulverizing. RFQ documents can be obtained by contacting the Public Works Coordinator at bailey@southstormont.ca

Deadline: 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday March 21st, 2022

RFQ 02-2023: Supply of Granular Material

The Township of South Stormont is seeking quotations for Supply of Granular Material. RFQ documents can be obtained by contacting the Public Works Coordinator at bailey@ southstormont.ca

Deadline: 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday March 21st, 2022

WINTER PARKING RESTRICTION IN EFFECT

Please remember that no person shall park a vehicle or permit a vehicle to remain parked on any highway so as to interfere with the clearing of snow or ice from the highway at any time; or between the hours of 12:00 a.m. of one day and 7:00 a.m. of the same day between November 1st and April 1st. Enforcement Action will be taken if vehicles interfere with snow removal.

Winter Maintained Sidewalks

The Township of South Stormont would like to remind residents that only the sidewalks identified in By-law No. 2020-011 are maintained throughout the winter. All other sidewalks are considered closed from November 1st – April 1st. To view the list of sidewalks that are maintained, please visit southstormont.ca/WinterMaintenance or contact the Township Office at 613-534-8889 or info@southstormont.ca

Please ensure that vehicles, garbage and recycling bins are not obstructing the plow operator’s ability to effectively clear the sidewalks.

2023 Spring Half Load Restrictions Are In Effect

Each spring, vehicles are restricted to carrying a maximum of five tonnes per axle on the weaker roads within the United Counties of SDG, including roads within the Township of South Stormont.

These restrictions usually take place from early March until May and roads that are under restrictions will be identified with appropriate signage.

Mayor Bryan McGillis 613-360-9655 bmcgillis@southstormont.ca

Deputy Mayor Andrew Guindon 613-330-1935 aguindon@southstormont.ca

Councillor Jennifer MacIsaac 613-662-9210 jmacisaac@southstormont.ca

Councillor Reid McIntyre 343-370-3324 rmcintyre@southstormont.ca

Councillor Cindy Woods 613-930-5381 cwoods@southstormont.ca

Building Department

As the first two months of every year normally represent the least number of permit applications being submitted, the Township’s building department wishes to issue a friendly reminder that applying for permits early in the year helps to mitigate potential delays in permit issuance prior to the Spring rush.

Finance

PROPERTY TAX BILLING

Interim tax bills were mailed in early March, there are two (2) installments due March 31 and May 31, respectively. For your information, please be advised of the following methods of payment available:

• If you would like to pay your taxes by pre-authorized payments, visit southstormont.ca/PAP to submit your application form.

• Telephone/internet banking

• Mail cheque or money order to P.O. Box 84, Long Sault, ON K0C 1P0

• After hours, access the drop off box beside the front entrance of the Town Hall

• At ABMs (automated bank machines) and at most financial institutions

• In person at the Township Office using cash, cheque, debit, postdated cheques

Please note that any outstanding balance in your water account has been transferred to your tax account and appears as “past due” on the interim tax bill.

Please ensure that your method of payment allows sufficient time for processing; payments must be received at the office by the due date. A penalty of 1.25% is added to all outstanding tax accounts the day after the payment due date and continues to be added on the first day of each month until the account is paid in full. Thank you for your cooperation. Should you have any questions, please contact the Township Office.

E-BILLING eBilling is when you receive an electronic version of your bill directly to your email inbox instead of a paper bill through traditional mail. The convenient features and benefits of registering for eBilling are:

Did you know that residents of South Stormont have the opportunity to register for eBilling for both Water/Sewer and property taxes?

• Receiving your bills fast and securely

• Being able to save or print a PDF version of your bill

• Reducing clutter by having less mail to sort through

• Saving trees and the energy required to print, handle and deliver paper invoices.

To register for e-billing, visit southstormont.ca and complete an application form.

NOTE: The Township has recently started directly uploading online/ telephone banking payments. Therefore, it is very important that your account number be correct. Tax accounts are 15 digits in length with no “0406” at the beginning and four zeros “0000” at the end with no decimal point.

Water account numbers are 14 digits in length. Water account numbers changed in 2021, please make sure to use the correct account number from your latest water bill.

Each bank/financial institution is set up with two payees for the township – South Stormont Taxes and South Stormont Water. Please ensure that you are paying your tax/water bills using the correct payee. You will be advised of any errors in your online/telephone banking payments, however, any further errors due to an incorrect account number or payee may result in a $10.00 fee to correct the information.

Recreation

Minor Sport Referees

The Township of South Stormont is seeking referees for our minor soccer and ball hockey programs. A coaching clinic will be provided for soccer and specific rules for the ball hockey league will be taught during orientation. Soccer will run Monday and Tuesday evenings. Ball hockey will run on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. Please e-mail cara@southstormont.ca or call 613534-2419 to indicate your interest. Applicants must be 14 years of age or older.

Minor Sport Registration

Registration is open for Soccer, Ball Hockey, Baseball and T-Ball! Summer basketball camps and a mini house league basketball session are also open for registration.

South Stormont residents may register as of Friday, March 10 at 9:00 a.m.

Non -residents may register as of Monday, March 20 at 9:00 a.m.

Registration closes on April 13, or when the program is full. Enough players on a waitlist may result in adding additional teams. Minor sports are $75 per child, per sport. See more information or register at southstormont.ca/ youthrec

Swimming Registration

South Stormont residents can register as of Monday, May 29, at 9:00 a.m. Non-residents may register as of Monday, June 5, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. Typically, registrations close the Friday before the session starts at 12:00 p.m. or once the lesson has reached capacity. Limited spaces are available. Please register online at southstormont.ca/swimming.

South Stormont Sports Hall Of Fame

Nominations are being accepted for the 2023 South Stormont Sports Hall of Fame. The deadline for Inductee Nominations is April 1, 2023. The deadline for the Youth Recognition Nominations is May 15, 2023. Visit ssshof.com/nomination-instruction for more details and to submit a nomination.

Skating At Long Sault Arena

The last day for Public Skating will be Sunday, April 2nd. Our last Stick & Puck will be on Tuesday, March 28th. See southstormont. ca/skating for a full schedule.