2010 Final Newsletter – Fall

The 2010 Final Newsletter is currently being mailed out with the Final Tax Bill Notices.  The newsletter contains valuable information regarding tax rates, the upcoming Municipal Election on October 25th, property owners’ responsibilities concerning nuisance beaver and snow removal, as well as recycling and waste disposal site regulations.  Click here to view the printable PDF version of the newsletter.

RESIDENTIAL TAX RATE DECREASE
The 2010 budget has resulted in an 8.8% decrease to the overall residential tax rate.

2009 FINANCIAL STATEMENT
This document will be available in late fall at which time it will be accessible on the website (www.huronshores.ca) and at the Municipal Office.

2009 MUNICIPAL PERFORMANCE MEASUREMENT PROGRAM (MPMP)
The 2009 MPMP stats will also be available in late fall.  The 2009 MPMP statistics will be included in the 2011 Interim Newsletter.

TAX BILL MAILING PROCESS
The municipality strives to ensure that all tax notices are mailed out on time and to the most recent address on the assessment roll.  Address changes must be submitted to the office in writing.  It is the responsibility of the taxpayer to ensure that payments are made in a timely manner, regardless of receipt of the tax notice.  The installment due dates for the final tax bill are the last business day of both September and November.

MUNICIPAL ELECTION
Elections for Municipal Councils occur in Fall 2010 for the next 4-year term of Council:
Nominations may be received during regular office hours BUT on Nomination Day, Friday, September 10, 2010, ONLY between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
Advanced polls: Saturday, October 16, 2010, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Voting Day:  Monday, October 25, 2010, 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

911 NUMBERING/CIVIC ADDRESSES
Maintenance of 911 signs is the responsibility of property owners.  Please check the condition of your 911 sign as part of your fall yard cleanup.  Visible, clear signage may be key to assisting you or someone in your household in receiving timely emergency assistance.

EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS
The Emergency Response Plan is available for viewing at the Municipal Office and Library.
The Emergency Management Ontario website (www.emergencymanagementontario.ca) contains excellent public education information.  Once on the website, click on “Be Prepared” or visit the Municipal Office for free copies of the information.

FIRE PREVENTION
Fire Prevention Week is October 3rd – 9th, 2010.  “Stay Fire Smart. Don’t Get Burned.”  Don’t forget to test your smoke alarms.

REVIEW YOUR FIRE ESCAPE PLAN
The Canada Safety Council recommends these steps to prepare for a family fire drill:
– Draw a floor plan of your house.
    – Mark two ways out of each room.
  – Establish a meeting place outside  the house.
  – Be sure each family member has  the plan and knows the escape  route.
  – Post your fire escape plan on the  fridge or family bulletin board.
  – Hold a fire drill for your family once  or twice a year. Vary the drills, to  practice escaping from different fire  sources.

YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOU!
Council and the Fire Department encourage you to join the volunteer fire department.  Application forms may be obtained at the Municipal Office.

LAKE CAPACITY STUDIES
The Municipality has contracted Freshwater Research to conduct Lake Capacity studies on Big Basswood Lake and Bright Lake this year.

MUNICIPAL VOLUNTEERS REQUIRED
The Thessalon Township Recreation Committee and the Iron Bridge Arena Board are seeking interested individuals to serve on its Committees.  If interested, please contact the Municipal Office or submit a letter of interest.  Without active committees we have no active facilities.  Volunteers are an extremely valuable asset to our community.  We applaud those who are presently volunteering on Municipal Boards and Committees and would like to take the opportunity to thank you for your time and dedication.

       

NEW WEBSITE 
www.huronshores.ca is receiving a ‘makeover’.  We hope to have the new Site operational by mid October and we look forward to your comments.  We are excited that you will be able to follow Municipal business, news, announcements, community events etc. via the web.

 MUNICIPAL SERVICES
Are you new to the municipality and would like information on services in Huron Shores? Contact the municipal office for an information package.

Here are a few helpful tips for your consideration as a taxpayer of this community to protect you and your neighbours:

NUISANCE BEAVER TIP – Property Owner Responsibilities
Nuisance beaver can create potentially dangerous hazards resulting in personal or property injury to the traveling public from flood waters that can be produced from beaver dams.  Case law reveals that as a landowner, there is obligation to ensure that water retained on property does not negatively impact adjacent properties and land, which includes public roadways.  The Municipality respectfully requests that all landowners monitor, maintain and/or remove beaver and/or dams on their properties to keep water to levels that will not create flooding hazards and/or dangerous erosion to public roadways.  This could significantly limit your risk of liability for personal injury and property damage that could result from breach of beaver dams.  If you are an absentee landowner, it may be beneficial to have another individual monitor your property in your absence to deal with potential situations that could reduce liability risks.  Visit the following Ministry of Natural Resources internet link:  www.lrconline.com/Extension_Notes_English/pdf.bvr.pdf for information on maintaining and controlling beaver activity on your property.  You may also call the Municipal Office for contact information of local trappers that you can consult for assistance.  In the interest of keeping our community a safe one, we appreciate and thank everyone for co-operating in this matter. 

SNOW REMOVAL FROM PRIVATE PROPERTY TIP
Council respectfully requests that you refrain from parking on, and plowing snow across, public roadways in the winter season.  Doing so creates dangerous conditions for the travelling public and winter maintenance operations.

CLEAN YARD BY-LAW TIP
The Municipality has adopted a Clean Yard By-law and we respectfully request the removal of any refuse and debris that may have accumulated in your yard.  Please feel free to contact the Municipal Office for further detail.

RECYCLING TIP – IMPORTANT NOTICE
To maximize the life of our Waste Sites and to optimize municipal revenue via recycling, depots are located throughout the Municipality for your use and currently accessible 7-days a week.  If the recycling bins are full, PLEASE do not leave your items outside the bins; take them home and return with them another day.  Items left outside the bins do not get picked up by the recycling contractor.

WASTE DISPOSAL SITE HOURS
Winter Hours – Nov. 1 to March 31
Monday     2:00 p.m.  to 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Saturday  9:00 a.m.  to 5:00 p.m.
Summer Hours – April 1 to Oct. 31
Monday     4:00 p.m.  to 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Saturday    9:00 a.m.  to 5:00 p.m.

Notice: All Waste Disposal Sites in the Municipality of Huron Shores are closed on Statutory and Civic Holidays, Family Day, Easter Monday and Remembrance Day.

This is a reminder that there are tipping fees for the dumping of mixed building debris at all Municipality of Huron Shores Waste Disposal Sites.  Please contact the Municipal Office prior to depositing these items at the Sites.  The tipping fees help offset the cost to the taxpayers to have these items removed and/or sorted at each site.
Also, all refrigeration appliances (freezers, fridges, dehumidifiers, etc.) must
have the Freon removed & be tagged accordingly by a licensed technician prior to drop off at the Waste Disposal Site.

TIRE COLLECTION TIP
Huron Shores has registered 2 Waste Sites, being Ward 1 (Thessalon Township) and Ward 3 (Iron Bridge) for the collection of tires under the Ontario Tire Stewardship Program.  Tires may be brought to these sites during regular operating hours, at no charge.

PROTECTING YOUR FAMILY PET TIP
It is a dog owner’s responsibility to ensure that pets are kept securely on their own property or leashed and under control of a responsible individual when off the property. Should the family pet wander away from home or become lost, a dog tag will help to identify it.  Tags may be purchased at the Municipal Office for $5.00, or $3.00 with proof of spaying/neutering. Please bring proof of rabies vaccination as well.
Owners of pets falling under the definition of Dangerous Dogs are to register those pets with the Municipal Office.

CHRISTMAS/ NEW YEAR’S HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The Municipal Office will be closed from noon, Friday, December 24, 2010, to Monday, January 3, 2011, inclusive.  Our doors will reopen at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, January 4, 2011.

The Corporation of the
The Municipality of Huron Shores
Final 2010 Newsletter

 Municipality of Huron Shores
7 Bridge Street, P.O. Box 460
Iron Bridge, ON      P0R 1H0

Phone (705) 843-2033
Fax (705) 843-2035

Email: email@huronshores.ca
Website: www.huronshores.ca

Municipal Office Hours
Monday to Friday – 8:30am to 4:30pm

If you require a newsletter in larger print, please call the Municipal Office at 843-2033

** If you have any questions regarding information in this Newsletter, please do not hesitate to contact the Municipal Office. **

OTHER ITEMS OF LOCAL INTEREST:
LAKE ASSOCIATIONS
Basswood Lake Cottagers’ Association:
www.bigbasswood.ca

Bright Lake Cottage Association:
www.brightlakecottageassociation.ca