FICE SCHOOL & OFIE S SUPPL THAN
1
PRICED $ LOWER
THAN BETTER
Your Hometown School Supply Store has today’s Top Brands at Everday Low Prices.
A
BUCK
priced at
97¢
EACH
10 Church St. W. Elmira 519-669-2201 www.schelterofficeplus.ca Office & School Supplies • Print Copy Courier • Computer IT Supplies
08 | 23 | 2014 VOLUME 19 | ISSUE 34
WELLESLEY U16 WILDCATS WIN BIG IN FREDERICTON SPORTS PAGE 9
COMMENT PAGE 6
MUNICIPALITIES NEED BETTER, LONGER-TERM PLANNING
www.OBSERVERXTRA.com
Residents question plans for gas bar in Heidelberg
CURBSIDE CORN SALES HAVE A CHARITABLE PURPOSE
WHITNEY NEILSON
Tanner Armstrong, Blake Frede, Tucker Armstrong, and Leah Frede wheeled a wagon full of local corn to the curb to sell on Elmira’s KingFisher Drive this week. All proceeds will go to the Woolwich food bank and Sick Kids Hospital. [WHITNEY NEILSON / THE OBSERVER]
Woolwich welcomes infrastructure fund pledge SCOTT BARBER Responding to longstanding calls for predictable and stable funding for municipal infrastructure projects, Premier Kathleen Wynn announced a $100 million program for small, rural and northern municipalities.
At a press conference in St. Thomas on August 18, Wynne said, “I believe the success of our small, rural and northern communities is intrinsically connected to the success of our entire province. The fund we are launching today will help build up our infrastructure, and create jobs and oppor-
tunity in every part of the province.” Promised in the Liberal’s July budget, the Ontario Community Infrastructure fund provides $50 million annually for municipalities by formula and the remaining $50 million by application for critical road, bridge or sewage projects.
Township of Woolwich chief administrative officer David Brenneman called the plan a step in the right direction. “We are very pleased by this announcement as this is something the township, along with other municipalities, have long advocated for,” he said. “It
finally confirms that all three levels of government, federal, provincial and local all agree that if we are going to deal with the infrastructure deficit issue, which is Canada wide, we are going to have to partner together.” FUNDING | 4
Concerned about the impacts of a gas bar proposed for a Heidelberg site, neighbours filed into the Crosshill council chamber August 19 to provide feedback. Ahmed Haji, owner of the Forwell Variety Store, is seeking a zone change application to permit a gas station at the location. “Your bylaw for some reason permits a motor service station or a public garage but not a gas bar. We’re asking tonight that you consider approving a gas bar on the property,” said Sam Head of Dryden, Smith & Head Planning Consultants, representing Haji. Head addressed some of the concerns raised by residents, including a decrease in property values, school bus safety, reduced parking, and an increase in traffic and noise. He said the decrease of parking from 16 spots to 12 is not an issue because the nature of the business isn’t long-term: it’s in and GAS BAR | 2