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Bouwers beating the big boys Rural municipalities tackling the regional government for lower tax levies intend to single out sub- sidies paid the National Arts Cen- tre and Ottawa theatre groups in the next assault. Osgoode Township Reeve Albert Bouwers says he wants the region to cut back a $260,000 grant to the arts centre because rural municipalities are helping to subsidize the centre when rural taxpayers rarely use it. "If I want to go and see a show at the NAC, I'll pay my own way,' said Mr. Bouwers, who is leading the rural "team" on regional council. The reeve says rural areas, in- cluding West Carleton and Goulbourn, will be trying to show they don't benefit from many ex- penditures so the urban members on council will be forced to carry more of the load. He says he's "won a few bat- tles" and rural areas are getting a little more of a sympathetic ear, "but we haven't won the war; we're paying for an awful lot of services we don't use."' Mr. Bouwers wants to see a new county formed including Cumberland, Osgoode, Rideau West Carleton and Goulbourn. '""We'd form a "V"' around the city and we wouldn't be sitting there with a great regional bureaucracy making decisions cadillac-style." Osgoode's regional levy is $681,961 this year while in 1968, "when we were still a county, the levy was $60,000. It's very dif- ficult to defend an increase of more than 1,000 per cent," said Bouwers. '"'There are no buses, water or sewers and we don't need the social services."' Rural representatives on council 'almost have a notion to boycott council."' Mr. Bouwers is awaiting the results of a study on who benefits. No 'ruff' By Brenda Stewart In Osgoode Township, man's best friend is having a tough time living up to the reputation. - Livestock has been killed, bark- ing is upsetting neighbors, and the township is cracking down on dogs that aren't on a tight leash. Dog control officer Dale Simser has come under fire in some quarters. One resident complained that he was using a bitch to entice unruly male dogs. Simser denies the charge adamantly. "T have a female but she's spayed," Mr. Simser said. "I told council that and they're satisfied."' Dog owners are now paying $10 for dog tags that cost $5 last year. The main reason is inflation. The township is responsible for dog control and for replacing livestock killed by dogs. The responsibility has become more expensive; recently, two sheep cost the township $200 and an in- jured horse cost $250. In a year, approximately $2,000 is spent on livestock replacement including poultry. Reeve Albert Bouwers says the main idea is to keep dogs under control. "But the question is, what is under control? There are a lot of grey areas."' Mr. Simser has been dog con- trol officer in the township for about 10 years. He says there now is no big problem with dogs. Mr. Simser does not agree with the title "dog catcher", because he is not required to catch the dogs. If the dog is running loose, the owner will be fined, he says. Mr. Simser's.responsibilities lie.in, from regional welfare expen- ditures and where the recipients reside before discussing changing the joint financing agreement. He said the average township -has less than three per cent unemployed -- "people in the rural areas are frugal and don't sit on their butts." The city of Ottawa has to realize that although it is forced to provide services to people who have left the townships in search- of jobs in the city, Ottawa is col- lecting all the commercial taxes to afford to pay for services. But Mr. Bouwers' main objec- tive is to reduce the rural contribu- tion to the overhead cost of runn- ing the region. Osgoode shouldn't have to pay for employees in the finance department if their main job is looking after OC Transpo Al Bouwers books. Bus service isn't provided in Osgoode, he said. He wants rural governments to take over the care of regional roads and says in-city community centres for senior citizens should be paid for by the urban areas. "T'm not saying they aren't pro- viding valuable services but we can't benefit from them."' Russell village recreation upfour mills Property owners in Russell Village and the west half of the township will pay an extra four mills for recreation services this year as council attempts to reduce a staggering $51,000 deficit. The recreation mill rate will climb to 18.22 mills from 14.22 last year. For the average homeowner with a $4,500 assess- ment, $18 will be tacked to his tax bill. Combined with ane rate in- creases for other purposes, the average village homeowner is fac- ing a $168 hike in his combined tax bill. The main drain on the local recreation budget is the Dr. Frank Kinnaird Arena which has operated in the red since its con- struction at a cost of $600,000 five years ago. Township clerk-treasurer Jean- Guy Bourdeau said the arena operation is a sorepoint in the township financial picture. However, it's a specific problem that can be corrected, he added. The four mill hike will reduce the deficit by about $10,000, Mr. Bourdeau said. Meanwhile, Embrun residents will pay 10 mills to maintain their arena compared to 9.29 mills last year. The Embrun recreation committee has a_ budgetary surplus of close to $40,000 which will be channeled into construc- tion of a bowling alley. The Embrun arena has been operating for close to 20 years which has given its administrators some expertise in the field, Mr. Bourdeau said. problem, says Simser patrolling the township twice a week and responding to com- plaints. In addition to Osgoode, he also looks after Mountain and Winchester townships. In general, he finds the majority of people easy to deal with. They co-operate and try to.control their dogs. But Reeve Bouwers refers to the "petty neighbor complaints" where people get at each other by griping about their respective pets. Atl complaints are investigated. Recently, James Patry applied for a kennel licence and was turn- ed down because of neighbors' complaints about his dogs bark- ing. There is a by-law which says a dog cannot be left barking for any great length of time. Mr. Patry lives in an area where some of his neighbors are quite close; his dogs are huskies. Both these facts were taken into con- sideration by council when the decision was made. Currently, there are approximately fifteen kennels in the township. A kennel licence is $25. By-Law Enforcement Officer, Sam Micucci explains that a ken- nel licence is required for more ~ than three dogs. Mr. Patry had seven. "He didn't have time to look after the dogs -- he was always working. He admitted that himself," says Mr. Miccuci. Heritage Residents forced to cough up Tenders will be called shortly for installation of new wells and septic beds in as many as 38 Heritage Road subdivision homes, said Tom Evans, spokesman for affected owners. Russell Township council recently agreed to the major undertaking, designed to provide potable water to Heritage residents who've been without that necessity virtually since they bought their homes. Council will administer 75 per cent of the required funding, to be provided by the Ontario Ministry of Environment. As the situation now stands, the remaining 25 per cent is the responsibility of . benefitting homeowners, ....... Mr. Evans said it's imperative that all owners participate. Although a few have not had trou- ble with their water supplies, they could sometime in the future and contaminate new wells, he said. The estimated cost to install 38 new wells and spetic beds is $400,000. Residents would be responsible for $100,000. "T know it's hard for most peo- ple to come up with $2,506 in one chunk. We're _ trying to work something out.' Mr. Evans said the Heritage Homeowners Association hasn't given up efforts to get financial assistance from Chantal Develop- ment Corporation which established the. subdivision.. ~.. : Castor Chatter Russell Registrar Wendell Stanley thinks he now has '"'the ; best- equipped, small registry office in Ontario." 'Sbatk at the Concession Road location has more than doubled through an almost-completed expansion project that left the historic front building intact. Wendell is as pleased as punch at the results. Not only can office staff now move around without bumping into each other but.the equipment has been updated to match the surroundings. The next big change is a few years down the road when the registry will move to microfilm, away from cumbersome documentation. Old deeds and titles from Eastern Ontario offices will probably be stored in a central headquarters, Wendell. says. a Still with the Russell Registrar, the current economic slump is reflected in slow traffic through the office, he says. The norm is for low real estate movement in January and February, picking up in March. "We didn't get our usual pick- up this year and I don't think it's the highest interest rates," Wendell says. "Some developers are offering 12 per cent but that doesn't seem to be doing much good." He suggests that people are afraid to venture out on a limb economically because they can't be sure they'll still have their jobs tomor- row. KK Kenmore is finally on the map. The Ontario Ministry of Transportation and Communications has agreed to include the local hamlet on the next edition of the official Ontario road map. The news is from Carleton-Grenville MLA Norm Sterl- ing, whom we're sure won't need the map to find his way. a The Russell Village Block Parent 'program will be assisted with a $100 grant from township council. The ever-expanding Block Parents will meet May 29, 7:30 p.m., at Russell Public School with special guest, Casselman OPP Constable Georges Barre. RK Talking about grants going around, the Russell Agricultural Society is getting a big $500 from township council for 1980. KKK Special education students at Metcalfe Public School had a distinguished guest recently and teacher Fran Pearl was "proud as punch" at the way her 12 charges handled themselves. The students baked all morning in order to pro- . vide a formal tea for Citizen Court Judge Yvonne Kerr who recently awarded Fran her citizenship papers. A Metcalfe teacher during the past four years, Fran was born in New Zealand, grew up in Australia, and lived in England and France. She decided Canada was a good place to put down roots. 2 2 ok His powers of concentration are to be envied. Undeterred by hammering, crowbarring, sawing, and drilling coming from 'above, Russell clerk-treasurer Jean-Guy Bourdeau recently put together that 1980 municipal budget. The affable clerk allowed that when you're working with figures, you have to keep your wits about you and it wasn't always easy. The disturbing com- motion was caused by workmen adding a second storey to the township hall at Embrun. The $70,000 addition will provide five new offices, a conference room, and washrooms. Another $30,000 will be spent on interior decorating throughout the building and new furniture. As Jean-Guy described the pro- ject, small particles of debris, caused by the pounding above, rained down on his desk. oe ok ie ok ok About 30 Russell Township farmers will be able to extend their properties at a pretty reasonable rate. Council will offer for sale to abutting owners sections of the old New York Cen- tral right-of-way between the Castor River and Finch Township boundary for $250 plus $40 an acre to cover survey costs. \ IK New Continental Mushroom expansion The economic slump has many businessmen agonizing, but not Metcalfe's Mr. Mushroom. Nick Pora is once again expanding his 'Continental Mushroom farm, investing $1.2 million and creating 40 new jobs. Work has begun on nine new growing houses and two maintenance bays that, when completed in two months, will bring Continental's production of the umbrella-shaped delicacy to 4.75 million pounds a year. The six-year old company markets its harvest in the Ottawa- Montreal region. The staff increase will place about 150 people on the payroll. Most workers commute daily from Ottawa in the company's four buses. Mr. Pora said new. construction will cost about $450,000, with the balance of the estimated expenditure gong towards electronics and machinery. 'J just paid $60,000 for a tractor and $40,000 for a truck. Machinery is very expensive these days."' A fire which erupted in January, destroying about 100,000 bales of hay, hasn't set back production, the Roumanian native said. deta the, hay was. still smouldering in a ' -y