By Sue Tiffin
Published Feb. 20 2018
Thefollowing are brief reports of items discussed at the Feb. 14 countycommittee meetings.
TheHaliburton Highlands Outdoors Association (HHOA) has asked the countyfor funding support to help restore Gould's Creek.
Fundsreceived by the HHOA will be matched up to a total of $155000 aspart of a Department of Fisheries and Oceans stream rehabilitationprogram.
Thatprogram would encourage spawning grounds for brook trout.
Thecounty road committee agreed to shift $10000 from the Gelert Bridgeproject and $10000 from reserves to help support the fundingrequest.
“Thesources of funding are from a re-allocation because rather thancompletely replacing the deck on the Gelert bridge we will bereplacing rotten boards and then putting a full surface on top($10000) with the remaining $10000 coming from our engineeringbudget where we budgeted approximately $30000 to do our bi-annualbridge assessments but the pricing came in at just over $20000”said Mike Rutter county CAO in an email to the paper.
Gould’sCreek runs from the fish hatchery south under a township road andunder a rail trail.
Aculvert replaced within the project would help save the countysignificant funds by having to replace it themselves.
LizDanielsen Algonquin Highlands deputy mayor and county deputy wardencalled it a reasonable request especially given the cost savings tothe county and asked for a report on updates of the project.
“Isee it as a good news story” said Craig Douglas director ofpublic works.
Accordingto the HHOA website they have also partnered with MNRF TrentUniversity Fleming College Trout Unlimited Canada U-Links and theCasey Family Property.
Saltyroads
Asof Jan. 23 111 loads of salt have been ordered in the 2017/2018winter season. In comparison 71 loads were ordered for the 2015/2016winter season and 147 loads in 2016/2017.
Countypublic works staff has recommended to council that a group tender forthe supply and delivery of untreated road salt be renewed with K &S Windsor Salt. Co.
“Theirservice has been really good in getting us sort of real-timedeliveries” said Douglas who explained in the roads committeemeeting the county doesn't have storage space for large saltshipments. “When we need it we need it right away.”
Therenewed contract lists costs as being $78.09 per tonne of untreatedsalt and an increase 1.6 per cent in delivery charge from theprevious contract with K & S Windsor Salt. Co which was signedin 2015.
Onecalendar to inform them all
TammyRea and Jim Love headed a delegation during the county tourismcommittee to share the OurCalendar.ca project a central communitycalendar launched to assimilate information about county happeningsin one online place.
Thecommittee agreed to take part in the pilot project of the calendar atno cost to determine best practices in making it successful in givinglocal groups and organizations the chance to plan around each otherwith more ease as well as give residents and visitors easier accessto events in the area.
The calendar is available for viewing andparticipation at OurCalendar.ca.
