The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

Wednesdsay November 17, 1999 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER A3 Taxes could rise 3.5% Local residents w ould pay about $34. m ore in 2000 By Howard Mozel OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF V^nen the Town of Oakville's preliminary 2000 Budget goes to Council for approval on Dec. 13th it will contain a 3.5% tax increase - the equivalent of $34 on an average home valued at $250,000. Nearly half of the tax increase 1.5% is attributable to improved public service levels, including increased snow removal measures and the expansion of Oakville Transit service to new development west of Third Line. Money was also included for conduct ing an environmental assessment on Third Line. "Changes recommended by the Budget Committee respond to the requirements of the Town's newest communities while recognizing the importance of maintaining existing service levels," said Ward 3 councillor and budget chair Keith Bird. "In short, we want to ensure new owners' needs are serviced while ensuring existing needs are main tained." Bird felt the tax increase would be supported by the public. "We believe the benefits of improving service lev els outweigh the increase required to keep this municipality operating at its peak," said Bird. "Feedback from the public indicates we're on the right track and that change is crucial to keeping our municipality vital and equipped to handle future growth while maintaining our existing infrastruc ture." The remainder of the tax increase is due to the continued implementation of "strategic directions" imposed by Council. These include such directions as the Master Fire Plan which is in its fifth year of implementation and financial phase-in. Its impact on the 2000 Budget will be $164,100, the cost of mak ing the Oakville Fire Department's training facility operational. Other strategic directions affecting the budget (approximately $1.2 million) include the Information Technology Plan, the Iroquois Ridge Recreation Centre, dredging and seawall replacement, Iroquois Ridge Library and Town Hall's expan sion. About 50% of the total cost of the strategic directions is a result of the move to fund more capital programs from the tax levy to avoid incurring debt charges. "Our financing strategy is to become a pay-as-you-go municipality to reduce debt over time," said Bird. The Town's slice of the total residen tial property tax bill is 27.7%. The Halton Region and education compo nents are 42.2% and 30.1% respectively. The total change in residential property taxes will be determined only after the Region completes its budget and Queen's Park establishes the top rate for education. Student-restored farm house will be environm ental facility Bronte Creek Provincial Park & Halton Board In unique partnership to bring house back to life W Photo by Barrie Erskine Karen Blower a student from the Bronte Creek Project was one of many students who helped clean out the old Silver Creek farm house at Bronte'Creek Friday. hile most students are better known for clean ing out their lockers at the end of the school year, Bronte Creek Project students, Friday, were busy cleaning up their classroom for next year. The students were kicking-off a major clean-up and restoration ini tiative by Bronte Creek Provincial Park and the Halton District School Board to turn the Silver Creek Farmhouse into an environmental facility for the students. The official groundbreaking cer emony for the restored Silver Creek Farmhouse, and new ecological and environmental training centre is scheduled for Earth Day -- April 22,2000. The farmhouse restoration is a partnership between the public school board and Bronte Creek Provincial Park, the project also includes the creation of an environ mental and ecological training facil ity including lecture rooms, com puter facilities and learning centres. The facility will be the perma nent home for the Bronte Creek Project, and will be used by students during the school year. The Bronte Creek Project is an educational pro gram run by high school students (who earn educational credits), offered for Grade 4, 5 and 6 stu dents. The program combines acad emics with environmental aware ness. On evenings, weekends and school vacation periods, the facility may be used by park staff for semi nars and training courses. The cost of the initial restoration and equipment installation, includ ing the excavation of the basement to accommodate space for kitchens, dining areas, food storage and refrigeration is estimated at $500,000. Federal and provincial grants will cover some of the costs, other partners, including local historical societies, the Centre for Skills Development and Training Apprenticeship program. For of Canada and Mattamy Homes have already made cash and in-kind con tributions to the project. Additional donations from large and small cor porate sponsors in cash, materials, and services as well as volunteer labour are still being sought. THERE'S A SPACE L O fo r y o u r O K FO R Y O U ! PARKING METERS The electronic m eters located on dow ntow n streets accept tw o dollar coins as well as quarters and loonies. Parking on Lakeshore Rd. is lim ited to tw o hours at $1.00 per hour. LONG-TERM PARKING Day long parking is available in lots 5, 7, 8 & 11B. In addition there are long-term m eters along Water, Robinson and Douglas Streets, HANDICAPPED PARKING There are a total of 18 signed spaces available in lots 1 ,2 , 3 , 1 0 , 11a, 15, in the M unicipal Parking Garage and at specified street meters. Kerr St. tree-lighting takes place Friday The 6th annual Kerr Street Tree Lighting Ceremony will be held on Fri. Nov. 19th at Heritage Square, Kerr and Florence, from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. The tree will be lit at 7 p.m. by long time resident and supporter Nora Groves. Roseanna Gautreau and Suzanne Brown will lead the caroling. There will be a visit from Santa and his Elf, who will have special treats for the children. Hot home made food, and drinks, will be available. The tree lighting is sponsored by the Kerr Street Merchants Association. FR EE PA R K IN G is available in ail Municipal Lots and at street meters daily after 6:00 p.m., Sundays and holidays. TOWN OF OAKVILLE PARKING OPERATIONS 338-4394 m DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREA 844-4520 THERE ARE MORE THAN 2,800 PARKING SPOTS AVAILABLE IN DOWNTOWN OAKVILLE FUTURESHOP A lw a y s w e a r y o u r s e a t b e lt in t h e c a r. C O R R E C T IO N N O T IC E In our November 17-30, 1999 flyer, the following error occured: © O ntario M inistry o f Transportation O n t a r io G o v e r n m e n t N o t i c e NOTICE OF STUDY COMPLETION Highway 407 West - Westbound Truck Inspection Station Eastbound Truck Inspection Station · The Sony 12 Pack VHS Tapes advertised on page 14 for $12.99 should have read $19.99. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience this may has caused our valued customers. t h e C a n a d a S a f e ty C o u n c il. THE STUDY: The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has completed a Design Study for the construction and operation of westbound and eastbound Truck Inspection Stations on Highway 407 West. The two truck inspection stations will be located on either side of Tremaine Road as shown. w w w .s a fe ty - c o u n c il.o r g A m e s s a g e fro m Burhamthorpe Rd. Hwy_407 W att Eastbound TIS L Wattbound TIS THE PROCESS: The study has followed the approved planning process outlined in the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities, 1999. As required, public consultation has been a component of this process and a Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) has been prepared and is available for public review at: Regional Rd. 5 / / ili / V r & Ministry of the Environment, EA Branch, 2 St. Clair Ave. West, Floor 12A, Toronto, Ontario Ministry of Transportation, Central Region, Planning and Environmental Office, Atrium Tower, 3rt Floor, 1201 Wilson Avenue, Downsview, Ontario Regional Municipality of Halton, Office of the Clerk, 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Ontario Town of Oakville, Office of the Clerk, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, Ontario Town of Burlington, Office of the Clerk, 426 Brant Street, Burlington, Ontario Town of Milton, Office of the Clerk, 1005 Victoria Ave., Milton, Ontario The public review period for this TESR will terminate on December 17, 1999, after which time the projects may proceed to design and construction. If you have concerns that cannot be resolved in discussions with MTO, you may request, in writing, that the Minister of the Environment (2 St. Clair Ave. West, Floor 12A, Toronto, Ontario, M4V 1L5) "bump-up" the project to an Individual EA. A copy of this request must be forwarded to MTO. COMMENTS: All comments received will become part of the public record. Names and addresses will remain confidential. If you have any questions or require further information, please contact: Mr. Fred Leech Planning and Environmental Office Ministry of Transportation 3ri Floor, Atrium Tower, 1201 Wilson Ave. Downsview, Ontario Phone: (416)235-5545 Fax: (416)235-4940 email: leechFr@mto.gov.on.ca Ms. Barb Brownlee Planning and Environmental Office Ministry of Transportation 3rdFloor, Atrium Tower, 1201 Wilson Ave. Downsview, Ontario Phone: (416)235-5482 Fax: (416)235-4940 email: brownlee@mto.gov.on.ca CJew ttrngs are more cdarmma idem a dmforitiefi note. at w rite impressions we provide the tools. Beautiful Christmas cards, wrap, candles and napkins w rite impressions - the last w ord in cards 222 Lakeshore Rd. E., O a k v ille , O nt. 8 4 2 -9 4 0 0