Storewater Fee Further Explained, Drop In to Chat,

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Our drop in sessions continue in May. After a great opportunity to spend the day in the new Morning Owl in Manotick on May 1st, we will move our next drop in session to Burritt’s Rapids on Wednesday, May 15th between 10:00am and 3:00pm at the Community Hall. We will not be scheduling any drop ins during the month of June due to the pending addition to my family but we will be back on schedule in July.

If there are any specific locations you would like us to hold one of these sessions, please let us know! We are open to suggestions. The only requirement is that we need Wi-Fi. 

Stormwater Fee Update

Approved in 2016, there remains plenty of misconceptions being shared about the City of Ottawa's stormwater fee so I would like to take this opportunity to provide some context. In 2019, $12 million will be spent on culvert replacements, repairs and construction in the rural area, funded by the stormwater fee. Specifically, $3.8 million will be used to design and construct 42 culverts in Rideau-Goulbourn. To put that $3.8M in perspective, the stormwater fee collected $1M last year across rural Ottawa. The money collected in rural Ottawa stays in rural Ottawa and then some. I have included a comprehensive list of culvert replacements planned for 2019 below. Culverts, wet ponds and dry ponds found in rural areas are key pieces to the stormwater system – in the prevention of flooding, mitigating erosion, as well as protecting water quality in rivers, creeks, and streams.

As a refresher, the intent of the new fee was to improve how the City bills for water, wastewater and stormwater to create a fairer and more sustainable system for its residents. It recognizes the different types of services received by those in serviced areas of the City and those who rely on private wells in urban and rural Ottawa. One of the key outcomes of the new rate structure was the implementation of a new charge for stormwater services for properties that did not pay this fee.

Stormwater will be charged through a fixed rate fee to all applicable properties that benefit from stormwater service. For connected properties, this fee was previously included in the sewer surcharge rate for connected properties. Therefore, if you have always received a water and/or sewer bill, you have always been paying for this and nothing changes significantly except for that other residents are now sharing the cost. Properties that do not receive a water utility bill see the stormwater fee on their property tax bill instead.

Historically, all properties were paying for stormwater either on their water bill or as a tax levy, or a combination of the two. In 2001, 100% of the fee was moved to the water utility bill as part of the sewer surcharge, meaning that only connected properties that received a water bill contributed to stormwater management funding. For those connected to the City water system, the fee was charged based on water consumption. However, stormwater services are not affected by how much water you consume and nearly everyone benefits from stormwater infrastructure, even those not connected to City water. 

The implementation of the new rate structure started in May 2017 when non-connected properties first saw a new stormwater charge on their final tax bills. It was planned that the stormwater charge would phased in over four years to allow non-connected property owners time to adjust. In 2017, owners paid 25% of the fee, they paid 50% in 2018, will pay 75% in 2019 and by 2020 non-connected properties will be paying 100% of the fee. As promised, here is the list of planned culvert replacements in Ridea-Goulbourn:  

2019 List of Culvert Projects in Rideau-Goulbourn

•         Barnsdale Rd Culvert
•         Bowrin Rd Culvert
•         Century Rd E Culvert
•         Donnelly Dr Culvert
•         Eagleson Rd Twin Culvert
•         Fallowfield Rd Culvert
•         Huntley Rd Culverts (2)
•         Kelly Marie Dr Culvert
•         Malakoff Rd Culverts (5)
•         Malakoff Rd Culvert
•         Mansfield Rd Culverts (3)
•         Mansfield Rd Culvert on Mansfield MD
•         McCordick Rd Culvert
•         Montague Boundary Rd Culverts (2)
•         Old Richmond Rd Culvert
•         Phelan Rd West Culvert
•         Pollock Rd Culverts (2)
•         Pollock Rd Culvert on Shouldice MD
•         Proven Line Rd Culvert
•         Purdy Rd Culverts (2)
•         Purdy Rd Twin Culverts (2)
•         Roger Stevens Dr Culverts (2)
•         Roger Stvens Dr Culvert
•         Second Line Rd S Culverts (2)
•         South Island Park Dr Culvert
•         Southwick Dr Culvert
•         Steeple Hill Cres Culvert
•         Third Line Rd S Culvert
•         Walgreen Rd West Culvert

Golf 4 Youth Classic

Join me on Friday, July 5 for the Scott Moffatt Golf 4 Youth Classic at the Canadian Golf & Country Club. It promises to be a fun day for the whole family with all proceeds going directly to the Youth of Manotick Association (YOMA) and the Richmond Youth Centre (RYC). I would love for you to participate!
 
We are also acquiring sponsorships and silent auction donations. If you are a local business and want to be involved in this event, please contact me and we’ll find an exciting way to get you involved.
 
For more details or to register, visit www.golf4youth.ca. I hope that we can make this a successful event that will benefit kids and families all across Rideau-Goulbourn.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary, ARAC Review & Upcoming Events in Rideau-Goulbourn

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Similar to last month, the publish date of the Messenger during the first week of May does not align with the release of the agenda for our May 3rd meeting of the Agriculture & Rural Affairs Committee. Although not completely set, the agenda will include the revisions to the Site Alteration By-Law that will improve clarity and remove ambiguity surrounding the agricultural exemption and some of the definitions. The agenda is also expected to include the Zoning By-Law Amendment for the Rideau Carleton Raceway property, which is a major step in the Hard Rock Casino development. Please be sure to sign up for our e-Newsletter, if you have not already, as the complete agenda will be sent out next week.

Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary

The Rideau Valley Wildlife Sanctuary is now accepting applications for summer student positions. Please note that these jobs are still pending approval, expected in mid to late April, under the Canada Summer Jobs program.

To be eligible under the program, students must:

  • be between 15 and 30 years of age (inclusive) at the start of employment;
  • have been registered as a full-time student during the preceding academic year;
  • intend to return to school on a full-time basis during the next academic year;
  • be a student in a secondary, post-secondary, CEGEP (Quebec only), vocational or technical program;
  • be a Canadian Citizen, permanent resident, or person on whom refugee protection has been conferred under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act* and;
  • be legally entitled to work according to the relevant provincial / territorial legislation and regulations

The positions are:

To apply, send your resume; covering letter, including your availability and eligibility under the Canada Summer Jobs program; and two references by email to [email protected]. Only complete applications will be accepted. Only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

Scott Moffatt Golf 4 Youth Classic

The Scott Moffatt Golf 4 Youth Classic is back! The tournament will be on Friday, July 6th at the Canadian Golf and Country Club. Last year, this event raised over $20,000 for Youth of Manotick Association and the Richmond Youth Centre! We are currently in the process of obtaining sponsorships for the tournament. If you are interested or would like more details, please contact our office and we can connect you with the tournament organizers. Furthermore, if you are interested in participating, you can buy tickets at golf4youth.ca.

Community Dancing in Manotick

Interested in a fun, interactive session of dance, laughter & music? Join the Ever Hopeful Stringband and caller Pippa Hall for a family-friendly, alcohol-free evening of community dancing, including circles, squares and contras. This evening of fun takes places at the Manotick United Church on Friday, April 27th  from 7:00pm to 9:30pm. Each dance is taught and the whole family is invited. The evening begins with simple dances, followed by dances that build on skills as the evening progresses. Admission is $10, $5 for those aged 12-18, and children under 12 are free. There is a family max admission of $20. For more information, please call 613-692-4576. http://dance.manotick.net

7th Annual Zumba MS Fundraiser

The 7th Annual Zumba Multiple Sclerosis Fundraiser is taking place at the Alfred Taylor Recreation Centre in North Gower on Friday, April 27th. Admission is $10. All process go to the MS Society. Donations of $20 or more will receive a tax receipt. The event begins at 7:00pm but you are encouraged to arrive early to sign the waiver form. The evening will also feature a live auction and plenty of door prizes.

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If you have any comments, questions or concerns, please feel free to email me at [email protected] or contact me by phone at 613-580-2491. For information on Rideau-Goulbourn issues, please visit RideauGoulbourn.ca.