News27 January 2021
By Darren Lum
The following are Highlands East council briefs from the Jan. 19 meeting held virtually on YouTube.
The recent attempts to start a roadside zoo with exotic animals on Peterson Road in neighbouring Hastings Highlands is drawing attention for how residents there are raising concerns and has led to Highlands East expanding its animal control bylaws to include exotic animals.
From her monthly staff report, township bylaw enforcement officer Kristen Boylan presented potential issues that face the township without such a bylaw to address complaints and concerns related to exotic animal ownership. As it stands, the township has no enforcement options.
Hastings Highlands has approved financial assistance for property owners who are struggling due to COVID-19.
They say that penalties for overdue property tax accounts will be waived between February and July of this year. They are able to waive the fees due to funding they received from the Safe Restart Program.
They say they have further information here.
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Person suffers life threatening injuries after industrial accident
A 34-year-old had to be airlifted to a London hospital after an industrial accident in Norwich Township Wednesday left them with serious life threatening injuries.
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The Oxford OPP said Ornge air ambulance took the person and the Ministry of Labour have been notified and are continuing to investigate.
The OPP said Oxford County paramedics and the Norwich Township fire department also attended the scene.
December 15, 2020
By Nate Smelle
Hastings Highlands council received a delegation at their Dec. 2 meeting from Reverend Marilyn Zehr and Erin Morlock of the Maynooth-Madawaska Pastoral Charge of the United Church of Canada. Drawing attention to a hateful act of vandalism which took place in the municipality on Aug. 1, Zehr and Morlock called on council to move forward with a plan of action to deal with racism and discrimination in the community.
Establishing common ground in a shared hope for a more inclusive and healthier community, Zehr pointed out how everyone wants to live in a community where they are safe, and where they feel a sense of belonging. By using phrases in the municipality’s strategic plan such as “We care,” “We are all in this together,” and “Welcome home,” Zehr said council acknowledges the value of this kind of hope in their effort to become an “enviable community where people want to live and work and play.” Unfo
A new round of Safe Restart funding has come to townships across the region.
The Ontario Government announced it is releasing $695 million to municipalities across the province. Minister of Municipal Affairs Steve Clark said the joint funding will help Ontario’s municipalities and make sure they are not operating deficits going into 2021. MPP Daryl Kramp says the announcement will help municipalities move forward with capital projects and move on from COVID-19.
Each region will receive:
The Town of Bancroft is getting a large chunk of that money, netting in $166,000. Township of South Algonquin will recieve $37,000. Adding Highlands $32,00, Carlo/Mayo $15,000, Central Hastings $29,000, Faraday Township $20,000, and Hastings Highlands will get $47,000. Hastings County as a whole will be receiving $300,000.