WHAT

News Release from Guelph Water Management Group,
Department of Geography, University of Guelph . Guelph , ON N1G 2W1
Contact: Reid Kreutzwiser, (519) 824-4120 ext. 58113 reidk@uoguelph.ca

In September, randomly-selected rural residents in Tay Valley will receive the Ontario Household Water Well Owner Survey in the mail. The Guelph Water Management Group at the University of Guelph is asking residents to complete this very important survey being undertaken in ten randomly-selected rural municipalities across Ontario . While over a million people in Ontario rely on their own wells to supply household water, very little is known about these critical resources. Tragic events, such as the Walkerton water contamination incident in 2000, demonstrate the importance of protecting our water supplies. The aim of the survey is to learn more about private wells so that well owners can better maintain and protect their wells, and thus their health and the health of their families.

This important survey takes only 15 minutes to complete, and postage-paid return envelopes are provided. Anonymity of participants and confidentiality of the information they provide are guaranteed by the researchers and the University. The first 25 persons in the municipality to return the completed survey and an entry form can become eligible for one of three cash prizes of $500, $300 and $200. Details are provided in the survey package.

Council’s proposal to allow an increase in the maximum number of lots created by consent (from 2 to 3 lots plus the remnant parcel) has been approved by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, but only for those lots with frontage on a municipally maintained road.

The Christie Lake community has reached another milestone in their Lake Management Planning Program by circulating the 2nd draft of the Christie Lake State of the Lake Report.

In addition, there is a feedback and questionnaire form to be completed, the purpose being to provide residents an opportunity to review the content, determine if individual issues have been addressed and make recommendations. The form is available by clicking here, or from the Township Office.

The Lake Management Plan Committee requests your input on or before June 30, 2008.

Feedback can be provided to Austin Sweezey at asweezey@magma.ca or
any member of the Lake Management Plan Committee.

Further information about Christie Lake and the Lake Management Planning Program
can be viewed at www.christielakeassociation.com.

Paper and CD copies of the Plan are available for public review at the Tay Valley Township Office located at 217 Harper Road.

Over the past several years the cost to the township for hauling and processing of scrap metal has increased significantly. As well a comparison study of fees charged by neighbouring municipalities indicated that an adjustment was needed to bring ours in line. As a result of these and other factors a decision was reached to increase fees for 2008.

We would like to remind all residents that your help in reducing waste is vital!
We encourage everyone to “Think Green”.

Did You Know - Household garbage can be reduced by about one third by composting your kitchen and garden wastes. By doing so, you will also be returning organic matter back to the soil when you compost in your garden.

Another solution is to bring scrap metal directly to recycling operations instead of using the township’s waste sites.

Further information and ideas on how you can reduce your household waste can be found at www.greenontario.org.

As part of the Broadband Outreach and Awareness Program of Storm Internet’s contract with Lanark County, Storm hosted a series of public information meetings.

The purpose of these meetings was to allow Storm to advise the public on the progress of their project as well as permitting an opportunity for members of the public to ask Storm service related questions. It also provide an opportunity for anyone wishing to sign-up for their service to do so.

If you were unable to attend any of the three sessions that were held in Tay Valley Township, you can click here for more information, or to sign up online.

The Community and Primary Health Care Unit will make regular stops in Tay Valley Township at the Althorpe and Bolingbroke Community Hall (ABC Club), located at 3166 Bolingbroke Road on the first Tuesday of every month from 9:30am to 2:30pm.
This unit will provide free primary health care to those residents who do not have access to a family physician or nurse practitioner. They will provide services such as: blood pressure checks, blood testing for cholesterol, diabetes etc., immunizations, well baby checks, prenatal care, smoking cessation counseling, healthy lifestyle information and physical assessments, treatments and diagnosis of acute and chronic conditioners.
The ABC hall in Bolingbroke is 10km south of Maberly.
All are welcome to drop in during clinic hours.

The Otty Lake community has reached another milestone in planning for the long-term health of their lake. The Otty Lake Management Plan is now available for community review at http://www.rideauvalley.on.ca/programs/LMP_Program/otty_lake.html

Further information about the Otty Lake Management planning process
can be viewed at www.ottylake.org.

Paper copies of the Plan are available for public review at the Tay Valley Township and Drummond North Elmsley Municipal Offices and at the Perth and District Union Public Library.