way to go.
There was a definite sense of déjà vu at
The advice is timely because this is the
the Hawkesbury town hall lately when town
time when our local governments are
council began discussing, again, the
preparing their budgets and large chunks of
potential for development in the big village
those budgetary pies are consumed by road
on the Ottawa.
repairs.Seriously, though, some of the streets
Do you hear the sound of eyes rolling?
and roads around here are real shocks to
Yes, this is a topic that over the years has
your springs and struts, and they are not
been thoroughly debated. In fact, in the
good for your car, either.
past, grand plans for Hawkesbury’s
Concrete action
Thankfully, concrete pavement lasts
development have been probed, assessed,
longer and saves municipal taxpayers
diced, shredded and recycled.
money, report the Cement Association of
But you can’t get anywhere without some
the question. Hydro is a much more
own ideas. If one is so convinced of the merits
Canada and the Ready Mixed Concrete
direction.
important issue than beer, obviously. But
of one's vision, why would one require the
Association of Ontario.
So, the council that was elected in the fall
one pesty reporter persisted in bothering the
tacit validation of another party?
The report must be gripping. The
has started developing a strategy that will
M.P.P. about suds.
Still, a $10,000 bill from a consultant would
Methodology for the Development of Equivalent
finally help Hawkesbury realize its vast
The M.P.P. eventually yielded, saying he
be a sound investment if the strategy leads to
Pavement Design Matrix for Municipal
potential.
was against cheap beer for social reasons,
progress. Besides, if the government will
addresses the new reality of
Roadways
There were no incredibly new ideas
because he fears that a price cut would
cover the bill, let's go for it! But then, could
increased focus on both long and short-term
presented.
encourage consumption among people who
this just be another circular discussion,
cost efficiencies and establishes the lifecycle
In fact, while everyone was tossing
could least afford it. Really?
signifying nothing?
cost advantage of concrete pavement.
around ideas and visions, Mayor René
Let us remember that at one time, Lalonde
Gosh, it is so easy to be wishy-washy, eh?
“Responsible municipal politicians and staff
Berthiaume came up with a tried and true
had pushed to change the law so that
We tend to be tentative when it comes to
realize they must look beyond short-term
suggestion – hire a consultant.
dépanneurs in eastern Ontario could sell
public discourse. Those who forge ahead
expediency to deliver value to their
When in doubt, retain an outside expert.
beer and wine. The argument was that this
without some sort of consultation, who lead
communities,” said CAC President and CEO
It is a common response when issues are
new source of revenue would be a godsend
the pack unconcerned about who may be
Michael McSweeney. “Concrete pavement
tackled in government circles.
for convenience stores in Hawkesbury, say,
following them, are branded autocrats, or,
is not only more durable than asphalt, it can
But some Hawkesbury council members
where thirsty folks often cross the bridge to
even worse, dreamers.
help municipalities reduce their greenhouse
wonder if outside intervention is necessary.
Grenville to buy booze at dépanneurs.
Since a consensus is always required, in
gas emissions and it provides other
“We know what our needs are and what
Ontario has very special liquor rules
political circles, free thinkers are rarely
sustainable benefits like reduced aggregate
has to be done,” says Councillor Johanne
which permit dépanneurs to sell liquor under
rewarded. They become known as renegades.
demand, savings in truck fuel, and reduced
Portelance, noting that the involvement of a
certain circumstances.
All issues, or potential ones, are carefully
energy consumption over the life of the
consultant would incur an additional
For example, there are some LCBO outlets
weighed before a stance is adopted. And
pavement,” he explained. “And, as this
expense for the town and further delay the
in dépanneurs and grocery stores in this
rarely does an idea receive bipartisan support.
independent study clearly shows, concrete
process.
district. These businesses can sell hooch
Take the buck-a-beer idea floated by
typically has a lower lifecycle cost than
Berthiaume reasons that a professional
because they are located a certain distance
Ontario Conservative leader Tim Hudak. If
asphalt for pavements of equivalent designs.
would help council members focus on
away from the nearest LCBO store.
he is elected Premier in October, Hudak
This alone is an important reason for
priorities that they can all agree with that.
You take your empty liquor bottles,
pledges to cut taxes so we can enjoy a case of
municipalities to seriously consider the use
“The vision must be unanimously
purchased at the LCBO, to the Beer Store.
24 for the price of $24.
of concrete for their roadways and for
supported by council. If we are to sell
Anyway, the buck-a-beer notion will
A cheap way to get votes. Sure.
taxpayers to demand that they do.”
Hawkesbury, we have to be unanimous,”
likely fizzle because the big breweries have
Premier Dalton McGuinty dismisses the
Roads. On the surface, that is one area
the mayor reiterates.
too much clout.
promise as a silly distraction that takes our
where everyone can agree concrete action is
Unanimity has proven to be an elusive
Speaking of pressure, we are being told
eyes off the real issues.
required.
ideal for this group, which since the
by the cement people that concrete is the
Of course, Glengarry-Prescott-Russell
December 1 swearing-in ceremony has often
M.P.P. Jean-Marc Lalonde echoes his leader’s
been divided.
lines.
A consensus could be reached with the
Lalonde tried to avoid the question when
assistance and validation of a moderator
he called a press conference to discuss the
who will essentially assemble all of the
malarkey the Tories have allegedly been
dreams and notions of the elected.
spreading about Hydro rates.
However, resorting to the services of an
Beer must be a touchy topic because
outsider may indicate a lack of confidence
Lalonde at first tried to stick-handle around
on the part of the representatives in their
Harrington tax rate increases
newsroom@eap.on.ca
($174,815); debt repayment $217,522
H ARRINGTON
($168,903); capital expenditures $80,000
($52,000.)
Ratepayers in Harrington Township will
• Faire-part traditionnels, nouvelles tendances et exclusivités • Serviettes et allumettes personnalisées • Accessoires divers pour la réception
see their tax rates increase by about seven
Man charged with
per cent this year after municipal council
adopted a budget that calls for an increase
assaulting teens
of about $100,000 in spending.
The general tax rate has increased from
70 cents to 75 cents per $100 of property
newsroom@eap.on.ca
evaluation as a result of the adoption of the
V ANKLEEK H ILL
budget which goes from $2,315, 840 to
$2,467,705.
Des catalogues exceptionnels pour un événement exceptionnel !
A 46-year-old Vankleek Hill man has
A special loan by-law tax has increased
been charged after two teenagers were
from 2.13 cents to 4 cents per $100 of
attacked during a birthday party last Friday
evaluation this year.
night.
The garbage collection tax stays at $125
Christian Walz is scheduled to appear in
per household while a $50-per-home
L’Orignal court March 30 to answer to two
Pour de plus amples renseignements, venez nous voir au bureau et consulter nos catalogues.
recycling fee also remains unchanged.
counts of assault which were laid after police
Tax revenues are expected to climb from
were called to a residence on Pearl Road west
of Vankleek Hill February 18. Two teenagers,
$1,840,469 to $2,021,083.
a 14-year-old girl and a 15-year-old boy,
Among the big expenses this year (with
reported that they had been assaulted by a
2009 figures in brackets): general
1100, RUE ABERDEEN, HAWKESBURY (ONTARIO) 613 632-4155 NUMÉRO SANS FRAIS POUR LES GENS DE L’EXTÉRIEUR 1 800 267-0850 (dans la zone 613)
man after they had consumed alcohol and
administration $525,515 ($488,763); public
had become ill in the home, reports
safety $355,192 ($329,802); roads $872,381
Hawkesbury Ontario Provincial Police
($903,764); waste management $177,489
detachment spokesman Constable Pierre
($162,290); recreation and cultural activities
Dubois. The incident is still under
$38,017 ($35,503); town planning $200,589
investigation.
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