Tempers flare
Residents insist council cut staff and operations before services and facilities It was an angry group of ratepayers who greeted members of council and County administrators Wednesday night in Bloomfield. Many are frustrated with the prospect their property taxes could take another big jump this year. Mayor Mertens explained to the crowd that the purpose […]
Think again
Friends of Wellington Museum argue council needs to know accurate costs before selling this piece of County history Council shouldn’t even talk about closing the Wellington museum unless it knows how much the municipality is spending on it, said Bill Wightman, spokesperson for the Friends of the Wellington Museum. Wightman addressed a special meeting of […]
Saving or losing
Council to weigh cost savings and their implications A committee of council will ponder a range of recommendations this week that could radically alter the way this community connects to its history, governing administrators and each other. These recommendations are contained within a report dubbed “Financial Sustainability Opportunities” that will be considered by council […]
Fees hiked
Cost of County services on the rise The cost of putting a bag of garbage is rising by 50 per cent. Later this year the cost of bag tag will rise from $2 to $3. The cost to bring that same bag to the landfill site will rise from $3 to $5. These are […]
Harder numbers
Corrected and updated information alter budget picture The County’s finance’s are in tough shape—but, perhaps, not quite as tough as was reported last week in the Times. Some reporting errors (ours, see correction below) combined with some decisions (council’s) to begin trimming the budget early, alter the magnitude of the challenge—if not the […]
Work to begin on Ostrander Point wind factory next week
Unconfirmed reports suggest that work to erect distribution lines to accommodate the Gilead Power wind factory at Ostrander Point will begin as soon as next week. According to the report work is to begin to erect a 44kV line from the Ostrander Point site to a transformer station in Milford. The distribution lines will consist […]
Hard numbers
County budget picture much worse than expected If you live in the County and use its services— prepare to pay more and get less. Members of council got their first glimpse of the budget proposed for 2012 last week— and the story it tells is grim. First the big numbers. County administrators figure it will […]
For sale?
Should the County sell the arena and community centre in Wellington? It is not the old DukeDome proposed to go on the selling block but rather the shiny new Wellington and District Community Centre, opened for just over a year. “Should we have it appraised and consider selling it?” asked Dianne O’Brien, one of three […]
Guilty
Jeff Vader’s killer to be sentenced on May 31—three years after Vader’s death The courtroom on the second floor at the Union Street courthouse in Picton is like a set from an old movie. High ceilings, ornate lighting, large windows, a glassed-in prisoner’s box, a long wood railing, combined with rows of tiered, well-worn, hard […]
Are you ready?
Dukes prepare for playoffs With Cobourg’s disputed shoot out win over the Kingston Voyageurs on Monday night, the playoff picture for the Dukes became a little clearer. Cobourg, with the win, locks up either first or second place in the East Division. Cobourg and Trenton will continue to scrap for the regular season title likely […]