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PAGE U18-GT1 STORM WIN LEAGUE TITLE St. Marys Independent Thursday, September 3, 2026
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St. Marys Independent 36 Water St. S., St. Marys ON | 519.284.0041 | info@stmarysindependent.com | www.granthaven.com
Issue #1329
Thursday, September 3, 2026
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St. Marys staff use delegated authority to award $300,000 Milt Dunnell pavilion project
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GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
18 Holes & Cart
keting, events and partnerships intended to increase traffic to local businesses. Director of culture, tourism and engagement Amy Cubberley told council the plan brings together recommendations made by council in June, priorities from the town’s 2024 Tourism Marketing Strategy and council’s 2026 strategic priorities. “The plan really focuses on making tourism the primary focus of economic development,” Cubberley said. “We’re shifting more
With St. Marys council now restricted from making certain financial decisions ahead of the Oct. 26 municipal election, town staff have used delegated authority to move forward with the construction of a new pavilion at Milt Dunnell Field. At council’s Aug. 25 meeting, CAO Brent Kittmer informed council he would direct staff to award the pavilion contract to Chad Hartman Construction Inc. for a total project cost of $300,265.31, approximately $80,000 over the town’s approved $220,000 budget. The town entered a restricted acts period, commonly referred to as a “lame duck” period, following nomination day Aug. 21 because fewer than three-quarters of the current council members are seeking re-election. Under the Municipal Act, council cannot approve expenditures that exceed amounts already included in the 2026 budget during this period. “Although this project was budgeted for, the tender and the award will be over budget, so it’s going to take new budget money,” Kittmer said. To allow municipal business to continue, council previously delegated certain authorities to the CAO during the restricted acts period. Kittmer is required to report to council whenever that au-
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Aileen and Harold Burgin arrive at Daegu Stadium in Daegu, South Korea, for the World Masters Athletics Track and Field Championship, hosted Aug. 22 to Sept. 3. See the full story on page 20.
St. Marys shifts economic development focus toward tourism under new action plan NEW School Year
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GALEN SIMMONS Regional Editor
St. Marys will put a greater emphasis on attracting visitors and promoting events as an economic driver under a new tourism action plan approved by town council Aug. 25. The Tourism Action Plan, which runs from September 2026 through December 2027, refocuses staff time and resources within the town’s tourism and economic development portfolio on visitor attraction, tourism mar-
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