Author: Economic Development

Embracing the Future while
Remembering our Past

Township of Stirling-Rawdon
2529 Stirling-Marmora Rd, P.O Box 40
Stirling, ON, K0K 3E0
613-395-3380

COMMUNITY CORNER

Your source for local information

Summer 2024

Message From
Mayor Bob Mullin

I would like to take this opportunity to thank my fellow members of Council, Roxanne and the staff of the Township of Stirling-Rawdon for all their hard work and preparations for putting the 2024 Budget together. This particular project is the hardest one of any given year. There are many moving parts to preparing a budget, and a dependency on other agencies, e.g. the school board, Hastings County Council, and the Provincial government, to present their budgets before the Township budget can be completed.
This year, the province has made the process even more difficult that in previous years. Municipalities are now responsible for many more services than previously, and provincial grants and transfers have failed to cover the additional costs. In Ontario, people pay tax in many forms: income tax-both provincial and federal, sales tax, HST, and property tax (municipal). On average, property tax accounts for approximately 10% of all the tax that is being collected. With this 10%, both the Township and the County are expected to provide multiple services ranging from roads, ambulance service, policing, housing, social services, planning, daycare, fire protection, in addition to many more. We have also been required to increase the amount of funding to some of our supporting services because there has been an overall decrease in provincial funding, or changes in provincial legislation regarding fee structures.
When I read negative comments about high property tax, or lack of services, please remember that many of these problems are out of our control. They need to be corrected by the upper levels of government who appear to have forgotten that there is life outside the big cities.
We have a Township Council and Staff who are doing their very best to provide as many services as they possibly can to the people of Stirling-Rawdon. They are doing so with not nearly enough assistance from the provincial and federal governments. I applaud their efforts.

Clerk’s Deptarment
by Kathy Pearl

On May 21, 2024, Council repealed By-law 1595-22 and enacted By-law 28-24 which governs the proceedings of Council and Advisory Bodies of Council. Highlights of the new Procedural By-law are as follows:
*Section 3.3 changes to the regular meeting schedule of Council. The regular Council meeting will now be held on the third Monday of each month at 6 pm. *Section 3.5 changes the committee meeting structure. The former Environmental, Transportation, Protection to Persons and Property and Finance and Personnel Committees have now been combined into the Standing Committees meeting, which will be held on the first Tuesday of each month at 9:30 am. *Section 13.2 introduces the Public Input session, which provides an opportunity for Council to received comments or questions from members of the public regarding matters on the current agenda. *Section 14.0 revises current Electronic Meeting Procedures to allow for hybrid meetings under certain circumstances

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Message From
Roxanne Hearns—CAO-Treasurer

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Council and our senior management team for all their support through a very tough budget process. It is never easy trying to maintain service levels, and, do capital projects without large tax increases.
The lack of sustainable funding from the upper levels of Government, along with the changing of programs and downloading of services with the promise of revenue neutral and it not being maintain, eventually catches up with being able to maintain these services without tax increases.
The loss of $600,000 since 2012 through our Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund and no tax increase over the years to accommodate this loss revenue, is finally hitting us.
We continue to lobby by way of delegation at conferences in hopes of eventually being heard. Former Kings Highway 14 is a major concern for Stirling-Rawdon since the download from MTO in the late 90’s to the County and then eventually to us. Class 3 road has a much higher standard for maintenance and timing of winter control, which then takes our priority to this road over our local roads.
We are grateful for the funding that we do receive, however there is much more funding required to reduce the infrastructure deficit not only in Stirling-Rawdon but all municipalities in Ontario.
Highlights over the last few years and this year, we have been able to complete Springbrook Road East and West, replaced culverts on various roads, added a walking trail, update parks equipment, completed the downtown project, resurfacing Wingfield Road South, and replacing equipment that has long out lived their useful life.
I would also like to extend a huge thank you to all Staff at Stirling-Rawdon for your continued dedication to our beautiful small rural/urban municipality, without your dedication and continue commitment Stirling-Rawdon wouldn’t be this great place to live, laugh and play.

Public Works Department
By George Burkit— Public Works Manager

Summer Reminders:
Please remember not to blow your grass onto the Road as this is against the Highway Traffic Act and may cause issues. Grass clippings that are laying on gravel roads restrict us from grading as it does not mix well with gravel which may cause voids and create potholes.
Make sure you are aware of road maintenance/construction and obey all signs and flag persons. Everyone wants to be safe and go home at the end of the day.
With this wet weather there will be more grass to cut so please have some patience with the grass cutting of the parks and roadsides. We have several parks in Stirling-Rawdon, make sure you get out and enjoy them. If you see any vandalism to our parks or Township property please contact our office or the OPP. For any Public Works concerns pleae call 613-395-1241. Have a great and safe summer!

Building Department
By Richard Cook— CBO

The BISB does all permits through an online permitting software called Cloudpermit. To apply for a permit please use cloudpermit.com. Property owners are responsible for obtaining the appropriate permits and approvals, before applying for a building permit . Please contact the Building Department. * These are not always required

The Building Inspections Services Board, for Stirling-Rawdon, Tweed, Madoc Township, Tyendinaga, Deseronto and Marmora and Lake

Conservation Authorities
Crowe Valley (613-472-3137) Lower Trent (613-394-4829) Quinte (613-968-3434)
Ministry of Transportation 705-755-5714 Ministry of Environment
1-800-565-4923 Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs 613-475-1630

Have Questions? Get in Touch

Inspection booking 1-866-414-0088 Cloudpermit help contact our permit clerk 613-395-3380 ext 2230

DEPARTMENT UPDATES

Stilring-Rawdon Public Library
By Jaye Bannon — CEO

This spring the Stirling-Rawdon Public Library celebrated and acknowledged the 28 years that Jackie McFee spent as a volunteer at the library. Library staff, Board members, Council members and friends, joined us for cake and refreshments and an opportunity to thank Jackie for all her help over the years.
The Stirling-Rawdon Public Library is gearing up for another summer of programs for all ages! Summer Reading challenges, Take and Make Kits, Fair Crafts, Choose Your Own Adventure Book Club, Outdoor Storytime, STEM activities in the Makerspace, Jug Band, Taylor Swift Party, Life Sized Candyland game, and a Nerf Battle are just some of the exciting activities planned for July and August!
Cash orders can be placed at the library for the Community Development Council of Quinte’s Good Food Box and Good Baby Box programs before the third Tuesday of each month. Placing orders online is now possible by visiting the CDC website at https://cdcquinte.com/pages/shop. The Good Baby Box provides an opportunity for families of infants and toddlers to access formula, diapers and wipes at a reduced cost and the Good Food Box Program offers fresh, healthy, nutritious fruits and vegetables at a fraction of the retail cost. We encourage everyone to make use of these incredible programs.
With summer being a prime time for travel and visits to the beach, we would like to remind everyone that millions of FREE ebooks and audiobooks are available to library card holders through the Overdrive collection accessed through the ‘Libby’ app. Also available at the library are Ontario Parks Day Passes as well as Quinte Conservation Area parking passes. For more information visit our website at www.stirlinglibrary.com, or call us at 613-395-2837.

Fire Department
By Derrick Little - Fire Chief

The Stirling-Rawdon Fire Department has been continuously busy this year. Our fire prevention team has attended several events, including visiting our schools and Farm Safety Day, hosted by the OFA. We have started in house training for our firefighters working towards obtaining certification. We are continuously training on various training topics to ensure we are ready and equipped to handle all calls.
It is campfire season. Be sure to purchase your burn permit at Home Hardware, McKeown Motor Sales or the Municipal Office. Ensure you are burning safe and only using dry wood in an approved campfire. Remember, nothing will burn you quicker than something hot! Never leave a fire unattended. A huge thank you to all of our firefighters that volunteer their time and efforts to helping fight fires and assisting with medical emergencies. Their families and spouses support are also appreciated. If you see a green light on a vehicle traveling down the road, please pull over safely. They are responding to an emergency and it could be someone you know.
Please remember to change your batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors as this can prevent a dangerous situation. Please visit www.srfd.ca to check burning conditions before any burning. For larger burns, please call the Fire Department 613-395-0214.

Waste & Water Operations
By Matthew Richmond — Environmental Manager

The Township of Stirling-Rawdon Environmental Department has started out 2024 with some repairs to the stormwater headwall located at the Foodland Parking lot. These repairs were necessary to extend the lifespan of the headwall and to repair some damaged areas. Catch basin cleaning was conducted in the Spring for preventative maintenance to the stormwater system to remove any accumulated silt.
In the drinking water department aging pipes and a flow meter were replaced at the water treatment plant. The water Standpipe (Tower) was repainted on the inside of the structure by Landmark structures at no cost, to repair deficiencies covered under warranty. Fire Hydrant fire flow testing will be completed in the early summer followed by repainting of all hydrants.
The Downtown reconstruction project was finished this Spring with the paving of the final lift of asphalt and line painting.

Stirling-Rawdon & District Recreation Centre
By Richard Dean—Manager

Peter Puck turns 50 at the Stirling-Rawdon & District Recreation Center! Senior men’s hockey league, founded by Glen McIntosh in 1973 turned 50 years old this past season. It began with an idea to create some local hockey that would be played once a week in house with no traveling. There were 4 original teams, Glen’ Clippers, Springbrook, Loyalist and the Selects which eventually turned in to 6 teams. The sponsors and names have changed many times over the years but the love for the sport has not.
The league runs every Sunday evening and has a yearly draft. Beginning in October it ends with a final “March Madness” playoff round. All teams make playoff but only 4 will make it to the final Saturday. There is a waiting list so if you are interested in joining you would need to sign up early. Check out their page at stirlingpeterpuck.com.
This summer is also turning out to be a busy one as we remove the ice for another season. This is the second year for ladies’ ball hockey and the response was so overwhelming that we moved from 4 teams to 6. When registration opened for the additional 2 teams, they were filled in less than 24 hours. This is a group of women that are vastly different in experience but its all about the work out, team play and having a great time!
Youth ball hockey will be wrapping up the end of May as a lot of the kids move to soccer and baseball. But this year we also brought in youth lacrosse. A sport that seems to continue to grow in this region and offering kids one more thing to try out. It is important that we encourage a healthy active lifestyle in whatever sport you may excel at.

Council 2022-2026

COMMUNITY EVENTS

For detail events in your community, please visit the Upcoming Events section of our website at
www.stirling-rawdon.com
If you have an event you’d like to place on our Upcoming Events or in our community noticeboards, please email the details or poster to
receptionist@stirling-rawdon.com

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Embracing the Future while
Remembering our Past

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