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PAGE GOJHL REALIGNMENT Thursday, July 4, 2024
St. Marys Independent
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St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | info@stmarysindependent.com | www.stmarysindy.com
Issue #1218
Thursday, July 4, 2024
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St. Marys town staff will soon bring a report for council’s consideration outlining all the tools council has in its municipal toolbox for dealing with vacant and damaged “eyesore” properties in the downtown core. At its June 25 meeting, council approved a motion introduced by Coun. Jim Craigmile to have staff present council with all the options it has at its disposal for either enforcing property standards on or penalizing owners of vacant buildings downtown.
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Amelia Baker-Thompson and Dalton Baker were decked out in their Canada Day attire at the Canada Day celebration at Cadzow Park. More Canada Day photos on page 8. Photo by Murray Grant
Lack of trained volunteers for home visits results in compliance shortfall for St. Marys senior services By Galen Simmons As a result of a lack of trained volunteers available to visit local seniors in their homes, St. Marys senior services department fell short last year in meeting the obligations outlined in its funding agreement with Ontario Health. At council’s June 25 meeting, town senior services manager Jenny Miki-
ta said St. Marys’ senior services department was funded $468,000 for the fiscal year, April 1, 2023, to March 31, 2024, through a multi-sector services agreement with Ontario Health for the community support services programs provided by the department. As part of that agreement with Ontario Health, the department is required to submit an annual declara-
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“A month, a month and a half ago, Coun. (Dave) Lucas forwarded on some correspondence that he had found in doing his research about, in Manitoba, what Portage la Prairie was doing with some issues they had with buildings in their community of I believe it was 13,000 people,” Craigmile said, introducing this motion. “In the article, (the bylaw) had only passed reading once, but it talked about eyesores, derelict buildings, poor upkeep affecting other properties, problems with social and economic things in the area whether it be criminal activities, whether it be fire hazards – no different than what we talked about in this town. I’m sure every town and every community has these and what can you do or what tools are in the toolbox that you can use?” According to a May 29 article published on the PortageOnline news website, the City of Portage la Prairie is set to introduce a new bylaw aimed at improving the management of vacant and derelict properties and reducing social, health and financial risk factors associated with neglected buildings. In the article, the city’s public safety chair, Coun.
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Town to investigate how to deal with vacant “eyesore” properties in downtown St. Marys
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