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8 - The Oakville Beaver Weekend, Saturday January 31, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Vision ­ To be the most livable town in Canada OAKVILLE - Celebrating 150 years! We can serve you... ask us how! How do I know who to call at the Town of Oakville? Just dial 3-1-1. 311 is an easy-to-remember, three-digit, non-emergency phone number that offers a single point of direct access to Halton government services. It provides free, multilingual assistance--in over 170 languages--to anyone calling from within Halton. If you need to contact a government service but not sure which level of government looks after it, dial 3-1-1 to reach the Town of Oakville, Halton Region, the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, the Halton District School Board, the Halton Catholic School Board and Halton Police (for non-emergencies). How can I find out the status on street snow clearing? Snow removal service for the Town of Oakville follows strict guidelines so your roads are salted and plowed in the most timely and effective manner. The Town's website has all the information you might want to know about how the Town clears snow and how you can help. New this year, the Town has an online snow plowing status map so you can see which roads have been plowed and which ones are in the process of being cleared. The Snow Line, at 905-815-5999, has a recorded message with an update on snow maintenance in Oakville. How and what payments can I make online through the Town's website? The Town has a number of ways in which you can pay for programs or services. Our online options are convenient and easy to use. Details are available on the Town's website. The following programs and services have easy online payment options: Tickets ­ Parking tickets and Provincial Offences Act violation tickets (speeding, seat belt infractions, etc.) can be paid online. Visit www.paytickets.ca for details. Recreation Programs ­ Register and pay for a program online. Visit the website and click on the iris icon, call the iris help line at 905-845-6601, ext. 4747 during regular business hours or email iris@oakville.ca. Registration for spring/summer programs begin: February 21 for Oakville residents, March 3 for Senior Services 50+ Membership programs, March 6 for non-Oakville residents. Performing Arts ­ The Oakville Centre for the Performing Arts offers you the option of selecting your show, choosing your seat and paying for your ticket all from the comfort of your home. Visit www.oakvillecentre.ca for the exciting lineup of shows right here at home. How can I pay my tax bill? The Town has set up a number of options when it comes to paying your tax bill: Pre-Authorized Tax Payment Plans When you fill out a pre-authorized tax payment plan application form, you'll be able to pay your taxes in four, nine or 12 monthly installments. Application forms and program details are available on the Town's website. Internet, telephone or ATM banking You can use Internet or telephone banking to pay your taxes, as well as ATM machines. Contact your financial institution or their website for details. Regular mail Your cheque can be sent through Canada Post to 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON, L6J 5A6. Do not send cash through the mail. In person The tax counter on the second floor of the Town Hall is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cash, cheque or debit cards are accepted. After-hours There is a secure after-hours drop box at the main entrance at Town Hall. Only cheques will be accepted. For more information contact the Oakville tax office at 905-338-4222 or finance@oakville.ca. How does the Town communicate with its residents? The most up-to-date information on Town services and programs is available on the Town's website. It is updated regularly and offers information on upcoming public meetings, news releases, council highlights, and much more. The Town also places ads in both local papers, offers door-to-door delivery of the Recreation and Culture brochure twice a year (January and July). Read about Mayor and Council activities in Let's Talk Oakville, delivered to your door step. How can I find out what's happening with Council? Get active your way, every day! Photo by Karin Chykaliuk e. Transit... ...just around the corner. How can I find out about transit routes? www.oakvilletransit.ca has a complete list of bus schedules, maps and costs. Don't forget Oakville Transit makes it convenient to take the bus to catch the GO train. Show the driver your GO ticket for that day and your bus ride to and from the GO station is only 65 cents each way. Watch for new transit routes that are more convenient, offer more choice and more coverage across town starting in September. Official agendas and minutes for all Council meetings are available in the Agendas and Minutes section of the Town's website. Council Highlights are published on the website following Town Council meetings. They provide a brief summary of the decisions made at the corresponding meeting, including matters considered by Council's standing committees. Council highlights are not considered an official record. You can also watch a live broadcast of Town Council meetings online on TownTV at www.towntv.ca. Or, subscribe to the RSS feed and be automatically notified when the latest edition of Council Highlights is published. www.oakville.ca