As we head into the special holiday time for many, I am hopeful that the snow and ice will melt over the next few weeks. Be aware of flood conditions on many of Seguin's roads and especially around the fast flowing rivers and streams.
Seguin Council has now moved into its biweekly meeting schedule. We continue to receive correspondence from many ministries in the Ford Provincial Government indicating that resources will be limited and efficiencies demanded. To date Seguin is still working towards a tax increase of less than 2% in 2019. We hope to be able to finalize the exact amount at our upcoming May Council meeting.
Many of you may have received a request to participate in an important Communication Survey. This survey (available in hard copy at the Township office and all library branches or on line at seguin.ca) is an important input into our upcoming Strategic Planning. Please let us know how you would like to hear from the Township and what information is most important to you by April 30, 2019). Your input is extremely important to us.
After an extremely busy plowing winter, our Public Works Department is moving into a tidy up and spring mode. You will see new line painting throughout Seguin. Crews and graders are out as often as possible on our unpaved roads to smooth out the frost heaves and the inevitable ruts. Please bear with our crews as they compete with more rain and snow from mother nature - which tend to undo the grading work of the previous days. If you are having any construction or deliveries done to your property PLEASE observe the half load limits on all of Seguin's unpaved roads. Big trucks are no allowed during half load season on any unpaved roads.
Work will be occurring on Turtle Lake Road throughout 2019 and 2020 to improve it and eventually add a hard surface to all of Turtle Lake Road.
Council approved the rezoning application from Muskoka Lakes Marine in Rosseau at the April 15, 2019 meeting. Owner Michael Smith is investing substantially in Seguin and plans an exciting new marina with a restaurant in Rosseau. Construction is expected to begin in the early autumn.
Council has agreed to revisit the Rosseau docking bylaw that was passed by the previous Council. Public consultation on this issue will occur on Thursday May 2, 2019 at the Rosseau memorial Hall. Please make your voices heard by attending this meeting or sending your thoughts into the Clark, Craig Jeffery at the Township Office.
Environment First continues to drive most of the decisions of your current Council. The final part of the 2016 Official Plan review was approved by Council on April 15th following an informative presentation by Neil Hutchinson of Hutchinson Environmental Sciences Ltd. detailing the Seguin water quality monitoring model as approved by the Ministry of the Environment. Council is evaluating participating in the Benthos Biomonitoring Program and a Regional Energy Plan on Community Climate Action and Protection. Stay tuned for more information on these important initiatives.
I wish you and your family all the very best for this holiday season. Travel safely and please complete the Seguin communication survey at seguin.ca
