Municipal Archives — Lindsay Advocate

Accessibility Awareness Recognition awards handed out by City

Published on June 18, 2019 in Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

Accessibility for all. This simple statement has inspired many to work towards a barrier-free Kawartha Lakes. From rethinking the design of a building to hosting programs for the elderly, accessibility can be celebrated and encouraged in many ways throughout Kawartha Lakes.

Each year, to honour the efforts of those working towards a more accessible municipality, Kawartha Lakes recognizes residents, organizations and employees at the Accessibility Awareness Recognition Awards.

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Kawartha Lakes capitalizes on grant opportunities

Published on June 17, 2019 in Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

At the last Special Council meeting, Adam Found, Manager of Corporate Assets, reviewed the new capital grant opportunities that the municipality has submitted applications for, including the following:

Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program

Rural and Northern Municipalities Stream – This is a competitive program targeted toward roads and bridges to strengthen Canada’s transportation networks. Federal and Provincial governments will fund up to 83% of eligible capital project cost subject to a $5 million cap. The Colborne St. Bridge and Colborne St. West reconstruction project scheduled for 2020-2024 has been submitted. The bridge location was approved by Council in 2015 following several studies.

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City says it’s ‘turning a corner’ on affordable housing supply

Published on June 6, 2019 in Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

During the June 4 Committee of the Whole, Housing Manager Hope Lee, CAO Ron Taylor and Policy Planning Supervisor Leah Barrie provided an update to Council about the ongoing housing initiatives in Kawartha Lakes. The presentation included an overview of municipal, provincial and federal housing legislation and initiatives as well as a summary of how Kawartha Lakes will continue to grow affordable and attainable housing in the coming years.

“Affordable housing is essential to our municipality, and it’s important that Kawartha Lakes and Council continue to develop this sector,” said Ron Taylor, CAO of Kawartha Lakes.

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EOWC and eastern MPPs meet to talk social policy, services

Published on May 30, 2019 in Municipal/Provincial by Lindsay Advocate

Members of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) held a meeting with their provincial counterparts recently to discuss issues of interest for Eastern Ontario such as affordable housing, health care, emergency services and financial impacts on municipal service delivery.

The meeting, co-hosted by EOWC Chair Andy Letham and MPP Todd Smith (also Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade), is an annual gathering of Provincial MPPs and the heads of Council from across the region.

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Mayor talks ‘top 10 ways’ City is moving forward

Published on May 28, 2019 in Municipal by Roderick Benns

At the recent mayoral luncheon in front of the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce, City of Kawartha Lakes Mayor Andy Letham laid out what he believes are the top 10 ways the City is moving forward to the assembled business leaders.

1 – Roads

“Roads are our number one issue and challenge,” says the mayor.

“We now spend $50 million a year on our 5,400 lane kilometres of road network. We spend 90 per cent more on roads than we did 10 years ago and 50 per cent more on winter control.”

Letham says 35 cents of every tax dollar brought in goes toward roads. The City of Toronto only allocates five cents of every tax dollar to roads, showing the challenge of maintaining this many roads in a single tier municipality with a small tax base.

“Roads are a challenge with the changing climate and we need to change the way we do business. Over the next few years, it will improve.”

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Housing program launched to support homeowners building secondary suites

Published on May 27, 2019 in Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

Housing Help has launched its 2019 Secondary Suite Program, which will help homeowners in Kawartha Lakes and the County of Haliburton develop a private unit within an existing house. To apply before the deadline of July 5, 2019, visit the Housing Help website.

“The Secondary Suite Program is a great way for Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton residents to support seniors or other small households looking for housing accommodations, to increase rental housing options in the area,” said Hope Lee, Manager of Human Services-Housing. “Secondary Suite gives flexibility to residents looking to make their housing options more affordable.”

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Fenelon Falls’ downtown undergoing major facelift

Published on May 26, 2019 in Around Town/Business/Community/Municipal by Geoff Coleman

The Fenelon Falls main streetscape will get a facelift when recommendations from the 2016 Fenelon Falls Corridor Study of Lindsay Street and Colborne Streets (CKL 121) are implemented. And while the restructuring is intended to contribute to “traffic calming,” it may result in the opposite reaction from drivers looking for a spot to park.

Benches, waste receptacles, and tree plantings will freshen up the sidewalks, but the most noticeable change for residents and visitors will be a loss of seven parking spots on Colborne Street (the main thoroughfare) between Water Street and Bond Street.

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City loses $620,000 for licensed childcare in PC cuts; more kids for less staff expected

Published on May 23, 2019 in Community/Municipal/Poverty Reduction/Provincial by Joli Scheidler-Benns

More than $620,000 in funding has been lost to the City of Kawartha Lakes for licensed childcare spaces due to cuts from the provincial PC government.

Within that pot, nearly $258,000 was for general allocation funding. This money is used for child care fee subsidies for low-income families and general operating costs.

The remaining amount, more than $360,000 is being eliminated through cost sharing changes. In what was once a 100 per cent boost from the Province, it is now a forced 80-20 cost-sharing agreement between Province and Municipality. This includes reductions in the administration allowances (from 10 per cent down to 5 per cent).

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Kawartha Lakes reviews long term plan for arenas

Published on May 13, 2019 in Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

At an evening Committee of the Whole meeting on May 9 at the Little Britain Arena and Community Centre, Council considered the long term plan for arena capital requirements.

Craig Shanks, Director of Community Services, recapped staff recommendations to Council that include $11.7 million of capital investment over the next 10 years. All costs have been included in the municipality’s long-term financial plan.

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Kawartha Lakes looking at new alternatives to reduce environmental footprint

Published on May 9, 2019 in Environment/Municipal by Lindsay Advocate

A motion brought forward by Councillor Kathleen Seymour-Fagan to Committee of the Whole on May 7 proposed looking at a possible Styrofoam ban. The memo recommended that Kawartha Lakes staff conduct a study surrounding the feasibility of a ban and bring a report back to Council by the end of this year.

“It’s time that we do something. We can’t ban what’s coming in from external sources, such as online retailers, but we can ban what’s being used and sold directly in our municipality. It all ends up in the landfill,” commented Councillor Seymour-Fagan.

“I own a restaurant and there are options to ban Styrofoam. Part of our Strategic Plan is a healthy environment, and this is part of a healthy environment. It’s time we take a leadership role in change.”

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