Navy League support
Council carried a motion to donate $200 to the Manitoulin Navy League for the Manitoulin Sea Cadets. Councillor Michael Erskine, who put the motion on the table, said that he felt the Manitoulin Sea Cadets was a great organization which provides a great service and teaches youth discipline and a number of skills. Councillor Paul Skippen agreed.
Haweater Weekend donation
Council granted the Little Current Lions Club’s annual Haweater donations request such as the use of Low Island Park and pavilion, to close of the main street (Water Street) to traffic on Saturday and Sunday, the use of Sisson Park for a ball hockey tournament and the use of both the recreation centre main hall, main ice surface and curling rink surface.
Council carried a motion to close down Water Street East from NAPA Automotive east to the intersection of Campbell and Sims Streets from 7 am to 4 pm on Saturday, July 20 for the 2016 Haweater Cruise In. Council also donated $200 towards the Cruise In and kids Hot Wheels racing event.
Fire department
Northeast Town Fire Chief Darren Bailey presented the April report to council. He said that there were four calls for service which include: a motor vehicle accident (MVA) on Highway 6 South on March 24, a MVA on Highway 6 North on April 10, a grass fire on Highway 540 on April 16 and a house fire on Highway 6 on April 17. He also noted that apparatus and equipment was in good working order.
Community Services and Public Works
Reid Taylor reported that the refrigeration plants were off at the recreation centre and that the curling club and arena ice had been pushed out. He also reported that the ice surfaces are being cleaned and inspected and that the first two weeks of April were busy with the extended ice season.
As for parks and outdoors, Mr. Taylor said that buildings and parks are being monitored and that plans for spring openings are beginning. He added that playgrounds have been inspected and that park maintenance equipment will be working for spring.
He added that in terms of the marina, facilities and docks are being monitored as the ice thaws and that Spider Bay Marina will open on May 20.
In a report to council, councillors learned that there were 5,000 Easter eggs hidden and 250 participants in the annual Sheguiandah Easter Egg Hunt.
Public Works Manager Gary May told council that grading was underway and should be over most of the roads shortly. He said that patching was being done where needed and street sweeping had also started and will be followed up with line painting.
He stated that Clean Up Week was scheduled for May 16 to 22 and that the landfill would be open for the first Sunday of the season on May 15.
Garbage tags
Council reviewed a letter requesting that garbage bag tags be officially eliminated as they haven’t been in use for sometime. Council learned that the practice of making residents buy and use garbage tags hadn’t been in place for some time, but that council hadn’t made an official motion eliminating it. Council carried a motion making the change official.
