New junior and teen areas introduced at library

Join the Orangeville Public Library for the introduction of new junior and teen areas on March 26 from 4-5 p.m. The event will take place at the main library at 1 Mill Street.

MPP Sylvia Jones and a representative of Boston Pizza will be present to accept the Town's thanks for making this initiative possible.  We thank the Ontario Ministry of Culture's financial investment in Ontario Public Libraries and Boston Pizza's donation of a percentage of  profits received in one day.  Join in the celebration at the library and enjoy a slice of pizza, suppled by Boston Pizza.

Please RSVP by March 22 to

Teen area features

• Café-style tables
• Wall mount display area for magazines
• Colourful posters with flair for teens' interests
• Signage indicating a dedicated place for teens
• Wooden shelving to create a warm inviting appeal
• Area for new material display

Junior area features

• Wood grain shelving with blue accent tops
• Funky mitt chairs
• Brightly coloured area rug
• Framed posters with age appropriate material
• Signage indicating a dedicated place for kids
• Brightly coloured oversized pillows for curling up with your favourite book
• Area for new material display

Municipal election is set for October 25

Recently, the provincial government passed legislation that changes sections of the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.  Municipal elections will now be held every four years on the fourth Monday of October (instead of the second Monday in November).  Voters will be required to present identification at the voting location in order to receive a ballot.  The nomination and campaign period began on January 4, 2010.  Nominations will be accepted until 2:00 p.m. on September 10.  Contact the Clerks Department for information (519-941-0440, ext. 2242 or 2223).

To be eligible to vote you must:

Residents:       

• Reside in Orangeville on October 25, 2010 AND
• Be a Canadian citizen AND
• Be 18 years of age on or before Election Day

Non-residents:

• Be the owner or tenant, or the spouse of an owner or tenant of land in Orangeville on October 25, 2010 AND
• Be a Canadian citizen AND
• Be 18 years of age on or before Election Day

IN ORDER TO REDUCE WAITING TIME AT THE VOTING  LOCATIONS, BEFORE VOTING DAYS ALL VOTERS SHOULD  ENSURE THAT THEIR NAME AND RELEVANT INFORMATION ARE CORRECTLY SHOWN ON THE VOTERS' LIST

If your Canadian citizenship was unable to be confirmed by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation you will not be on the voters' list and will need to provide proof of Canadian citizenship and complete the required form in order to be added. 

Nominations being accepted for Environmental Sustainabilty Awards

  The Orangeville Sustainability Action Team (OSAT) invites nominations for this year's Environmental Sustainability Awards. Nominations for the Awards are open to any Orangeville resident, youth, business and/or group who have made positive contribution(s) to our natural environment and/or are leaders in environmental practices.

Nominations for an individual, youth, business or group are to be submitted using the nomination form that is available at the Town Hall, 87 Broadway, or on the Town's website at http://www.orangeville.ca/. The deadline for nominations is March 31, 2010.

New bike lanes on Hansen Boulevard

The Town of Orangeville has introduced its first bicycle lanes - on Hansen Boulevard from First Street to Blind Line, which will extend further west in the future. The move to add bicycle lanes is part of an effort to promote more sustainable means of travel and to enhance the safety for a situation that already exists -- motorists and cyclists sharing the roads.

The 1.5-metre wide bicycle lane is clearly identified with both signage and pavement markings. Motor vehicles are not permitted to drive, park or stand in the reserved bike lanes but right-turning cars and trucks can enter the lane at intersections and driveways to complete their turns.

Standard biking rules apply in the bicycle lane - hand signals must be used and anyone under the age of 18 must wear an approved helmet. When riding in the lane, bicycles are considered vehicles and therefore cyclists must know and follow traffic laws, signs, signals and road markings.

Although there are no plans for more bike lanes in the immediate future, the Trails Master Plan identifies a number of potential roads which may be suitable for bike lanes. The Planning and Public Works Departments will work with the Orangeville Sustainability Action Team, the Trailways Committee, and the County of Dufferin (which has already started to introduce bike lanes on County road) to continue to develop a network of routes over the long-term.

Orangeville Council approves 2010 Operating and Capital Budgets

Orangeville Council approved the 2010 Operating and Capital budgets on February 8. The Orangeville-only tax rate will rise by 2.5 percent. When combined with the County and Education tax rate adjustments, the overall tax rate increase will be 1.25 percent ($49 per year, based on the current tax rate, for the average single detached home assessed at $250,000).

The 2010 budget ensures the existing service levels can be maintained and also provides increases for winter control and road programs, provides for inflationary pressures, invests in infrastructure needs, provides financial support for community groups and facilities, supports accessibility initiatives and improvements to the road network, sidewalk rehabilitation, renewal of the transit fleet, and an increase in library hours (in the latter part of the year).

Councillor Sylvia Bradley, chair of the Finance and Administration Committee, described the budget as "very responsible" and noted it contains $3.2 million for much needed capital projects.

The capital portion of the budget, totalling $3.2 million in expenditures, includes several projects for 2010:

• Sarah Street reconstruction, including watermain and sewer ($1,115,000)
• Buena Vista sidewalk ($6,000)
• John Street bridge and rehabilitation ($237,000)
• Manhole replacements ($150,000)
• Fourth Street road rehabilitation - First to Second ($40,000)
• Second Street road rehabilitation - Fourth to Fifth ($60,000)
• Burbank Cres./Century Drive road rehabilitation ($80,000)
• Tideman Drive road rehabilitation ($175,000)
• Stewart Court road rehabilitation (50,000)
• Town Hall HVAC repair ($50,000)
• Fire Dept. breathing air compressor ($46,000)
• Operations Centre health & safety improvements ($25,000)
• Roof repairs at Alder Street Recreation Centre ($100,000)
• Installation of snow & ice breaks over Tony Rose doors ($77,000)
• Alder Street sidewalk repairs ($40,000)
• Safety guards for Tony Rose rooftop system ($25,000)
• Rotary Park soccer field ($19,000)
• Transit bus ($100,000)
• Bus pads/shelters ($56,500)
• Sweeper replacement ($230,000)
• Accessibility improvements ($25,000)
• Police gun replacement ($31,000)
• Playground replacement - Rebecca Hills ($30,000)
• Carpet replacement at library ($45,000)
• 5 tonne truck for Public Works ($180,000)
• Fire station upgrades - door replacement ($30,000)
• Rotary/Idyllwilde Park lights ($25,000)
• PC replacement ($65,000)
• General sidewalk maintenance ($75,000)

Town and Lions Club to create BMX park

The Town of Orangeville and the Orangeville Lions Club have teamed up to build a BMX park in the west end this spring. The development of a BMX park comes in response to input from some local youths and the Lions Club's desire to take on a new community project. The Town will contribute $5,000 through the Community Matching Fund Park Improvements Program and the Lions Club will contribute an estimated $10,000 to $15,000.

The Lions Club approached Brent ‘Smitty' Smith of Burlington, an expert in the sport, to help design the park. The Lions Club members will be taking a hands-on approach to the project, and they will be physically involved in the building of the park.

Smitty is working with the Town of Orangeville staff, the Orangeville Lions Club and local youths to design a track and hopes that it can be used for an introductory BMX program and some fun races. The track will be approximately 700 metres long.  The design will accommodate riders of all skill levels, as it will have jumps to allow inexperienced riders to ‘roll' over them while more experienced riders can get air off of the same jumps. This allows even the youngest riders to participate safely. However, he recommends a full face helmet for riders of all skill levels.

Construction is slated to begin as soon as the snow melts and should take approximately one week to complete.  A grand opening celebration is planned for June 5, to run in conjunction with Summer Program Information Day and a Lions Club barbecue.

Telephone calls for water testing in private homes or apartments

Orangeville Public Works is aware that residents in the Town of Orangeville have been receiving telephone calls from privately-owned companies asking to test the water inside their homes or apartments.

The presentation used by these companies can sometimes give the impression they are working on behalf of the Town of Orangeville.  In most cases, these companies are attempting to sell residents in-home water treatment systems. The use of these in-home systems is a matter of personal preference.

The Orangeville water system is owned and operated by the Town of Orangeville.  Residents are advised that the Town of Orangeville does not hire privately owned companies to test the water on its behalf.  All in-home water testing done by the Town is performed by the Town's certified water works Operators, and is generally only done at the request of the resident.

Residents should be aware of the following:

• Orangeville's water system is operated in strict compliance with provincial regulations.
• The quality of Orangeville's drinking water must satisfy provincial standards.
• Orangeville's water works Operators must be certified and licensed in accordance with provincial regulations.
• Orangeville's water system is inspected annually by the Ontario Ministry of Environment.
• Water samples collected by Orangeville water works Operators are tested at a provincially accredited laboratory.
• Annual water works reports are available to the public on the Town's website at http://www.orangeville.ca/. The report provides the results of the regulated water quality testing done by the Town. The 2009 report is now available.

Town Staff are available to answer any questions about the Orangeville water system.  Please contact Tim Thompson at 519-941-0440 extension 2245 or Jack Tupling at extension 2247.  Residents can also reach Town Staff by e-mail at .