Prescott-Russell regional policing proposal gŏđŏ editionap.ca
counties began looking into the feasibility of taking on the policing contract for both Prescott and Russell counties last year. Administrative and other delays have pre- vented the OPP from providing an immedi- ate answer to the counties council’s inquiry. A letter from Superintendent Rick Philbin, OPP municipal policing bureau command- er, reviewed during a recent session stated that a formal proposal report should be available for presentation to the counties for consideration in early May. Presentation of a proposal does not mean
that the counties will take over responsibil- ity for OPP from contracts from member municipalities in the UCPR. The counties council and administration still have to
review the OPP proposal before deciding whether or not it may be acceptable for fu- ture budgeting and then it would still have to go to a vote.
GREGGCHAMBERLAIN gregg.chamberlain@eap.on.ca
L’ORIGNAL | Whether or not the counties will take over all of the policing contracts for Prescott and Russell may be decided within a few weeks. The United Counties of Prescott-Russell council (UCPR) has been waiting for the OPP to provide a cost breakdown for a regional police contract proposal. The
Les dindes sauvages aiment bien notre région, comme les gens peuvent le constater en circulant dans les secteurs ruraux. En Ontario, le dindon sauvage a disparu il y a 100 ans à cause de la chasse non-réglementée et la perte de forêts. En 1984, des efforts ont été entrepris afin de rétablir la population du dindon sauvage dans l’Est. Actuellement, il y a 70 000 dindes sauvages dans la province.
Counties will review “shop local” option
for another review of how the counties can provide more support through its budget to local suppliers of goods and services. “We are going to have to look at our pur- chasing policy,”he told the counties council, “but without putting our purchasing policy at risk.” The auditor’s report included several rec- ommendations on supplies and services to the counties. Parisien noted there may be leeway in future for the UCPR to favour more local purchases of goods and services. Warden René Berthiaume noted that the counties have just two sources of revenue, property taxes and grants from either the provincial or federal governments. He said the counties still has to be careful and ac- countable and open with its purchasing policy when using public funds.
GREGG CHAMBERLAIN GREGG.CHAMBERLAIN@EAP.ON.CA
L’ORIGNAL | More power to local busi- nesses for services may be the future when the counties council looks at its purchasing needs. The United Counties of Prescott-Russell council (UCPR) received another black-ink auditor’s report on its financial affairs at a recent meeting. The report from Deloitte LLP showed the UCPR finished 2012 with a good-sized surplus in its accounts after calculating all of its revenue sources and then subtracting the operating and capital expenses. UCPR Chief Administrative Officer Sté- phane Parisien noted that it may be time
Photo Richard Mahoney
Unepériodede «développement incroyable»
ceux-ci : un centre d’interprétation et des logements écologiques nichés au centre de la forêt Larose, l’amélioration des pistes cy- clables traversant les Comtés unis, planifica- tion et construction d’une ou de deux nou- velles résidences, développement des rives, des quais et des lieux au bord de la rivière des Outaouais, agrandissement de l’édifice des CUPR à L’Orignal, étude des routes et des besoins régionaux à long terme, en concert avec le développement durable et le plan officiel, étude de planification de la route 17 à Hawkesbury, et ainsi de suite. « Ceci est un geste de transparence », a conclu René Berthiaume, le président des Comtés unis. « Nous voulons que les ci- toyens aient une idée des projets. C’est à l’heure actuelle qu’il faut débattre ces idées et mener des discussions. » Brizard, SNC Team Lead, Forest Resources. “It’s certainly gratifying that our program has gained such good acceptance and sup- port from our colleagues in Prescott and Russell,” Brizard observed. “Of course, as owners of Larose Forest, the counties government has always demon- strated a keen interest in sustainable wood- lot management.” The program has been well received, with more than 100 site con- sultations conducted covering 6,000 acres. Available on a first-come, first-serve basis, there’s no charge for the advisory service. However, to be eligible for SNC advisory help, stands must be a minimum of five acres and applicants must live in Prescott- Russell. SNC provides a technician to help owners identify management consider- ations such as general tree health, species and their potential uses, and the economic value of their woodlot.
NOUVELLES@EAP.ON.CA PRESCOTT-RUSSELL
L’ORIGNAL | «Nous nous dirigeons vers une période de développement incroy- able», à déclaré Stéphane Parisien, di- recteur général des Comtés unis de Prescott et Russell. «Afin de planifier et de budgétiser de manière responsable des projets aussi im- portants et avant-gardistes que ceux-ci, il est essentiel que les Comtés unis établis- sent leurs priorités à chaque année.» Récemment, les membres du conseil et quelques chefs de département ont donc participé à des discussions informelles pendant lesquelles les projets présente- ment à l’étude ont été énumérés. Parmi Ongoing efforts to preserve trees in Prescott-Russell have received a boost. With clear-cutting of trees becoming more widespread to make way for crops and residential development, South Na- tion Conservation has been urging owners to consider the value of their woodlots be- fore removing them. The agency is getting some help from the United Counties of Prescott-Russell. UCPR is partnering with the conserva- tion authority in promoting sustainable woodlot management by contributing $25,000 to the authority’s popular free advisory service for owners of tree stands throughout the region. “Both partners find it imperative to edu- cate woodlot owners when it comes to best management practices,” said Josée
Poverty aid plan
A decision by the town of Hawkesbury to convert a section of Régent Street into a one-way lane will return to a council agenda soon – if a councillor has his way. Councillor André Chamaillard submitted a notice of motion at Monday’s town coun- cil session with the aim of convening a special meeting on the issue. He suggests that everyone with an interest in the matter be invited to attend. Dépanneur owner Ataur Khan has received the support of other businesses and residents in his drive to convince the town to reconsider its decision to turn a strip of Régent between McGill and Stanley Streets into a one-way eastbound street. The move was meant to improve the safety of seniors living at the Manoir McGill Manor, at Régent and McGill Streets. But Khan says the new arrangement has hurt sales at the McGill Street Dépanneur À Tout Prix. He has said that revenues have dropped by “at least 20 per cent” since the street change formally went into effect in October. One-way controversy L’ORIGNAL | It’s a plan worth at least $3 million to the United Counties of Prescott- Russell. Counties council gave quick approval to a report on local poverty aid programming from its social services department and an order for administration to rush the report to the provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing. The counties must have the report in as soon as possible to guarantee Prescott-Rus- sell’s funding allocation from the ministry under the province’s Community Homeless- ness Prevention Initiative (CHPI). Prescott-Russell is entitled to $3.2 million in CHPI funding aid for the 2013-14 fiscal year for rental subsidies and other tenant aid programs for low-income residents in the counties. But the counties must provide the ministry with an updated poverty aid plan to receive the money. If approved, the UCPR will use its funding allocation for programs administered through the social services department. Included are the Energy Emergency Fund, Small Water System for Domiciliary Hostels/Retirement Homes, and the Rent Bank which helps applicants at risk of eviction because they may not be able to meet their rent payments for various reasons.
Taking a stand for trees TRIBUNE-EXPRESS NEWSROOM@EAP.ON.CA
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