Patrick Raftis

WELLINGTON NORTH – Facing a 19 per cent increase in the township’s 2021 insurance premiums, council directed staff to investigate potential savings from increasing deductible limits before finalizing the contract for the coming year.

ALMA – Core Fuels Ltd. has dropped its appeal of Mapleton council’s decision not to grant a zoning amendment for an underground propane storage facility on property the company owns in this hamlet.

WELLINGTON NORTH – County climate change coordinator Karen Chisholme said the plan, developed over the last 18 months, provides outlines how member municipalities can work together to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

MAPLETON – A proposal by a local service club to create a dog park in Drayton has been turned down by township council.

DRAYTON – An outdoor skating rink behind the PMD arena here is now open, Mapleton Township announced on Jan. 14.

MAPLETON - The township will provide Drayton Entertainment with $30,000 to help offset costs of operating the Dayton Festival Theatre in 2021. Mapleton council agreed to the contribution during the Jan. 12 meeting, which featured a presentation from artistic director Alex Mustakas.

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Millions of dollars in COVID-19-related expenses have flowed through the county’s books in 2020, but local costs have been generally covered by contributions from upper levels of government, a new report indicates.

ARTHUR – With the local Caressant Care Nursing and Retirement Home dealing with a major COVID-19 outbreak, a group of local residents decided to bring a little cheer to residents and staff this week.

MAPLETON – Mapleton Township will provide a letter recognizing the importance to the agricultural industry of the Darling Ingredients rendering plant at Rothsay. The letter will be read by Mayor Gregg Davidson during the company’s appeal before Ontario’s Environmental Review Tribunal.

WELLINGTON COUNTY – County councillors are planning to work with staff through committees to reduce a proposed 2.5 per cent tax rate increase in 2021 to 1.25% or less.

MINTO – Officials here will approach other north Wellington municipalities about the possibility of working collectively to update their cultural plans.

MINTO – An action plan to help local non-profit groups recover from COVID-19 pandemic impacts is under development here.

MINTO – The final version of the Harrison Flood Mitigation Study will be presented to council here on Jan. 26.

MINTO – Mayor George Bridge hailed the arrival of COVID-19 vaccine in the region as a step toward eventually controlling the ongoing pandemic.

MAPLETON – Council here has approved a budget with no increase in the tax levy and an actual reduction in the township share of local tax bills.