LONG SAULT – South Stormont council members had a full agenda for the Sept. 25 council meeting. After a presentation from SDG director of library services Karen Franklin, council received a report from Peter Young, South Stormont director of Planning, Building and Economic Development.

Young explained to council a recently conducted “telephone survey to identify the general sense of satisfaction of our business community and help staff to prioritize Economic Development initiatives” was undertaken.He continued that the responses gathered from survey participants were quite positive, with Young suggesting the municipality might provide information on the services available from other sources as well as those from South Stormont, to businesses looking to open in the municipality.

Ross Gellately, director of Public Works, advised council that in the near future, upgrades to the Newington Water Treatment Plant would require it being offline for “a short period of time” and that a boil water advisory would be issued. Gellately indicated the dates had not been determined yet but once it’s known that the information “will be hand delivered to all users as well as being posted on the township’s social media pages.”

Council agreed to provide a letter of support for the “Save the Train 2.0” as requested by Gardner Sage, co-chair of the “Save the Train 2.0” committee. The committee will be submitting an application to the St. Lawrence Parks Commission with a goal to “establish a long-term legitimate volunteer group/organization” that will refurbish and maintain the train located at the Aultsville Station.

Council also provided a letter of support to the Cornwall Compassion Centre, a not-for-profit organization which seeks to provide for unmet needs in Stormont Dundas and Glengarry, Cornwall and Akwesasne; which is seeking to build a maternity home that will enable 18 teenage mothers and their children in the local community, to receive assistance.

South Stormont council approved a budget of $10,000 for the 2020 South Stormont Volunteer Appreciation Gala and directed staff and the gala committee to commence planning for this event which has been hosted by the municipality since 2004. The 50+ Community Club will receive up to 50 per cent of their start-up costs to a maximum grant of $1,500 from the municipality.

Council received information on, and endorsed revitalizationinitiatives for the shopping plazas located in Ingleside and Long Sault. These include the pedestrian cross walks, bicycle parking as well as sidewalk development. The municipality received funding from the Ontario government through the Main Street Revitalization Initiative of approximately $50,000 with the municipality providing $16,000 from the Community Improvement Plan.