Monthly Archives: September 2021

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The Municipality of Chatham-Kent is hosting a second virtual community meeting on Saturday morning to provide Wheatley residents with an update on last month’s gas explosion, as well as another opportunity to ask questions.

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Residents can access the 10 a.m. meeting via the municipality’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.

The community meeting comes shortly after Premier Doug Ford and Natural Resources Minister Greg Rickford traveled to Wheatley on Tuesday to see damage from the August 26 blast that razed two buildings and injured 20 people downtown.

Provincial politicians have pledged their support to the community.

The ministry has hired consulting firm Golder Associates to conduct a technical analysis of the area and will also continue to fund a 24-hour hydrogen sulfide monitoring system at the site.

Similar to the first virtual community meeting on September 4, questions can be submitted in advance by emailing [email protected] up to two hours before the event.

Chatham-Kent Mayor Darrin Canniff, West Kent Councilors Melissa Harrigan and Mark Authier, Managing Director Don Shropshire and Jennifer Barton, Assistant Deputy Minister of the Department of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forests, are among the participating officials.

Shropshire said the first meeting was attended by more than 300 people.

“Obviously we don’t have all the answers to all the questions but we want to make ourselves available as much as possible,” he said. “COVID regulations limit public gatherings, so we’re doing the right thing. “

Chatham-Kent groups planning to host events next year can now apply for additional funding to make it happen.

The municipality is accepting applications from local groups seeking funding for community events to be held in 2022 as part of the Together CK: Events grant program.

The program was previously known as the Community Partnership Fund: Festival and Events.

Groups are encouraged to apply for funding of up to 50 percent of the cost of an event up to a maximum of $ 5,000. Significant events, with attendance levels greater than 25,000 people, can qualify for up to 50% of expenses for the first $ 10,000 of the budget and 25% of the budget balance, up to a maximum of $ 25,000.

Chatham-Kent council allocates funds each year through a competitive process, according to a city press release. All requests will be studied by a committee made up of citizens and representatives of various municipal services.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Together CK: Events grant program is invited to attend one of the two information sessions. Sessions are scheduled for September 22 at 11 a.m. and October 6 at 6 p.m.

The deadline for funding requests is Thursday, October 21 at 4:30 p.m. clicking here.

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Monday, September 20, 2021

Guáimaro, Camagüey, Sept. 19 – To comply with current COVID-19 prevention measures, Ariel Santana Santiesteban, first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba in Camagüey, summoned residents of the 34th district of the People’s Council of Cascorro, in the municipality of Guáimaro, a remedy valid for the rest of the territory.

In this demarcation, the integrated community work We Are Continuity was developed this Sunday, a space in which the also member of the Central Committee indicated to the structures of the neighborhood a better identification of the cases with the greatest problems in their homes for their progressive Solution.

In this regard, Governor Yoseily Góngora López pointed out that due to the lack of certain resources, local alternatives are imposed, such as those offered by the Tejar de Cascorro with its large potential, which can provide building materials to meet today one of the main demands of voters.

Constituency 34 delegate Mario Blanco Cruz spoke of the vast previous movement that allowed the solution of certain difficulties, although there are still others that can receive the contribution of the productive bases, added Santana Santiesteban.

Once again, the community working meeting demonstrated the possibilities it offers people to express their complaints, as happened this Sunday in Cascorro, Guáimaro, where alternatives and answers have also been sent that will be soon to be verified. (Juan Mendoza Medina / Radio Cadena Agramonte)

Months after the fallout from winter storm Uri, the city is looking to revamp how it can help tenants with mold in their apartments, a problem that has grown in the wake of the storm.

The weeks and months following the February disaster saw hundreds of violations related to potentially dangerous housing conditions recorded across Austin, including dozens of interior water damage that can often be linked to problems with mold.

“No one should be trapped in an apartment full of mold and crumbling ceilings. … These health and safety violations that have lasted for months at the hands of mismanagement are inexcusable, ”District 4 Council member Greg Casar said in a May statement.

In response to complaints, a municipal council resolution sponsored by Casar and adopted in early May, city staff have been tasked with reviewing local and national mold in rental housing policy and improving the way Austin deals with tenant complaints. That review was detailed in September in a report from the Austin Department of Code outlining the city’s current approach to handling mold complaints and how that process could be improved. Topics of interest to the department included tenant insurance, training code staff, and reviewing city policy.

Casar said the report provides a basis for next steps on the issue and that he plans to continue researching how the city can protect and help tenants facing mold in their homes.

“This report is a step forward, but the next step is necessary,” Casar said in a statement. “The city needs to make it very clear that homeowners need to remove mold from apartments, otherwise they are breaking the law. Nowhere else in the state regulates mold, and Austin has an opportunity to lead the way in protecting residents from this serious health issue. My office plans to work with the code department, housing advocates and tenants to make this change as soon as possible. “

One solution suggested by the code department could see city funds used to provide rental insurance to tenants without coverage, given the “heavy expenses” of policies for those on fixed incomes, staff said. Another possibility involved expanding the Austin Rental Housing Development Assistance Program, or RHDA, and funding it for construction projects that could make apartments less vulnerable to unwanted moisture and mold problems.

The code department also said changes to its inspection and repair guidelines could improve the way mold complaints are handled in the future. Recommendations include switching to a new type of moisture meter for all inspectors – estimated at a total cost of $ 40,000 that could be spread over several years – and adopting new water damage repair guidelines. which will be developed with the Texas Mold Assessors and Remediation Association. .

Water damage training for a handful of the ministry’s top inspectors through the Institute of Inspection Cleaning and Restoration Certification was also recommended at an initial cost of $ 4,000.

The Code Department’s analysis looked at how other jurisdictions approach mold issues and found a few examples of mold testing and related safety standards or tenant protections at the local, state, and national levels. Code staff also found that no large city or small municipality examined in the ministry’s review offers moving assistance for tenants who have mold issues in their apartments that require remodeling.

Staff said Austin offers financial assistance and repair service support for eligible homeowners and affordable housing developers in certain cases of safety or emergency issues.

The code department said effective next steps would be mostly internal adjustments rather than wholesale changes to city policy.

“Based on these results, staff do not recommend creating specific regulations for the presence of mold, as there are no standards or levels established to serve as the basis for the design of such a language. ‘arrangement. However, the City of Austin can take steps to improve our response to mold issues in rental housing, ”staff wrote.

Other city actions could include code department adjustments, with additional actions potentially spilling over into city council actions for budgeting or building code changes. Casar said his office continues to review existing tenant protections and policies.

SOUTH BRUCE – The answers come from a recent independent survey conducted in South Bruce to determine the term ‘will’.

The municipality hired an independent company to conduct the investigation, as part of the ongoing debate over whether the construction of a deep geological repository (DGR) by the Nuclear Waste Management Organization (NWMO) is welcome to the region.

GDH Consulting Corporation surveyed taxpayers in the South Bruce jurisdiction and produced a report released on September 7.

Of the 229 residents surveyed, 136 confirmed the referendum as their preferred method of determining the will of the DGR.

The survey identified six themes, based on recurring ideas or comments or sharing similar feelings. Each of the themes identified by GHD is described below and is not presented in any order of importance.

Overwhelming preference for the public referendum

A public referendum emerged as having sparked the most discussion and was preferred by most participants. Participants said a referendum is fair, allows everyone in the municipality to vote, is anonymous and provides a clear “yes” or “no” answer.

According to the report, “some participants noted that a referendum is the only way to determine the will and a strong aversion to any other means.”

This view was not shared by all participants, however, according to the report.

“When participants were asked which processes they didn’t like, the referendum was the second most common response, after the council vote. Concerns about the public referendum included low voter turnout, voters may not be sufficiently informed, and the fact that a referendum has the potential to cause deeper divisions in the community.

Divergent views on the timing of a referendum

Participants raised a variety of comments regarding when a referendum should take place, including:

• a referendum within the framework of the municipal elections of 2022;

• organize a referendum as soon as possible;

• a referendum should be organized separately from municipal elections; and

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• more time should be taken before a referendum or preferred community engagement activities (ie in person, online, polls, etc.) are held in combination with or before a referendum.

Diversity of views on other ways of determining willpower with common themes

The report identified several advantages and disadvantages of a referendum, but no individual process for determining willpower emerged as strongly preferred. Instead, several participants noted a preference for a combination of methods, including other plans with a referendum, as noted above.

Speaking of the reasons, several common themes emerged in all the processes:

• the importance that the decision be representative of the community and that the community has a voice;

• the importance of being informed;

• impartiality and protection against prejudice, manipulation; and

• concerns about mistrust and the importance of establishing a dialogue and not provoking further divisions.

Clear, accessible and impartial information from reliable sources

Several participants wanted a better understanding of the science and an open and impartial dialogue about the NWMO project, including:

• the results of drilling and technical and scientific studies;

• strong evidence that this project can be built safely;

• the risks and contingency plans associated with the project;

• access information in a simple, clear and easy to understand manner;

• information available in various formats (print, online, by mail, etc.) so that participants can access it in a way that suits them; and

• factual and impartial information from an independent source.

Wide representation

Several participants stressed the importance of broad representation:

• everyone in South Bruce should have the opportunity to have a say in will determination;

• the importance of youth engagement and representation;

• understand the Ojibway Saugeen Nation’s perspective on the project and its process for determining the will and views of those outside of South Bruce; and

• more involvement / participation of community members in the project.

Trust, mistrust, transparency and community divide

Several participants provided comments related to the mistrust and division of the community:

• the NWMO project was difficult for the community, which divided neighbors, friends and family on the issue;

• concerns that community members do not feel safe to give their opinions and opinions without being “on one side or the other”;

• lack of confidence in the NWMO, municipal staff, council and the Community Liaison Committee (CLC), and concerns about the bias of the CLC, council and municipal staff in favor of supporting the project; and

• Concerns that GHD is biased in favor of supporting the project.

Protect Our Waterways – No Nuclear Waste (POW-NNW) issued a press release after the announcement saying the organization is happy with the results.

“We are delighted to see that the will study reflects our long standing position,” said Michelle Stein, President of POW-NNW. “A binding referendum is the only legitimate way to determine the will. It guarantees everyone a voice and respects both their choice and their privacy.

Stein said all residents should be allowed to have a say in this momentous decision; an opportunity to declare with a clear “yes” or “no” vote is the only way to make the decision fair.

“Hosting the RDG will permanently change the character, reputation and economy of our community. Every resident and business will have to live with the risks and benefits promised for generations to come. Such an important decision cannot be made by a small group of people, no matter how well-meaning they are, ”said Stein.

Stein added: “We urge the mayor and council of South Bruce to act quickly and include a binding referendum in the upcoming municipal elections in October 2022. Our community must be given the opportunity to clearly answer ‘yes’ or’ no Whether we want to host the RDG of the NWMO.

Steven Travale, communications and public relations manager for the Municipality of South Bruce, said in an email to Midwestern Newspapers, “As the report is currently presented as a draft, it has not yet been formally presented to council in a report. agenda, so the board as a whole gave no comment or direction on it.

Travale added: “Once the comment period ends on September 24, the draft report and comments will be presented to the CLC for information at the October meeting, after which the final report will be presented to the board in early November in the framework of an agenda. . “

Cory Bilyea, Local Journalism Initiative reporter, Wingham Advance Times

BROCKTON – The Cargill and District Community Center is in a period of transition, according to Brockton Mayor Chris Peabody.

“We will support them in whatever direction they choose to go. We will work with them, ”he said.

A report presented at the September 14 board meeting said the Cargill and District Community Fund raised questions in 2020 about whether the board committee structure served the long-term goals of the fund.

Alternatives were explored, including becoming a registered charity and an incorporated not-for-profit organization.

Peabody noted that COVID-19 was at least partly responsible for the change, and added that “we’re going to be dealing with the fallout from COVID-19 for a while, in ways we’ve never imagined.”

Good news was also on the meeting’s agenda – the Walker West Townhome senior townhouse units are up and running. Peabody said issues with the developer have been resolved – areas of concern in the conditional building permit agreement have been clarified to everyone’s satisfaction.

The overall numbers for development at Brockton are good. The mayor said the municipality is currently considering some $ 38 million in building permits, with 160 permits issued. Last year’s figures for the same period were $ 20 million in permits, with 137 permits issued.

The COVID-19 vaccination disclosure policy report for the municipality was a major topic of discussion and debate during the meeting. Peabody said he was inclined to think that the city’s workplace policy on COVID-19 vaccination should not apply to people such as part-time snow plow operators, due to the difficulty of testing them and the fact that they work on their own.

The mayor noted that 95% of firefighters are vaccinated against COVID-19. Most office workers are also vaccinated.

One area of ​​major concern is the child care program, where individuals regularly interact with and provide services to children.

In Gray County, the COVID-19 vaccination policy applies to all employees.

See next week’s Walkerton Herald-Times for full council coverage.

The Covid-19 situation in Cambodia’s frontline provinces with Thailand is facing an explosion of community cases.

The growing number of community cases has put several border provinces under enormous pressure as they now have to deal with cases on two fronts, the first being migrant workers returning from Thailand with an infection rate of between 10-20%.

The second concerns community cases caused by asymptomatic truckers and their assistants who then infect vendors in markets and then infect their families, other vendors and buyers.

Siem Reap Province Governor Tea Seiha said Khmer time that the increase in community epidemics in the province has placed Siem Reap in a health crisis and that they are struggling to cope with the situation as they have not received timely information and cooperation from the population .

“On September 17, 483 positive COVID-19 cases were detected while a further 222 cases were detected on September 18,” he said.

Meanwhile, in Oddar Meanchey province, the deputy governor of the province, Lem Sokto Reaksmey, said Khmer time As of Sunday, the numbers of migrant workers crossing the border and the number of them infected with COVID-19 declined.

“On Saturday, September 18, 84 migrant workers crossed the border from Thailand through the O’smach International checkpoint and only six tested positive. However, when the vendors were tested, up to 491 of them, the number of infections rose to 37. These cases are classified as community cases.

In Poipet City, Deputy District Governor and Municipality Spokesman Keo Dara Reaksmey said Khmer time Sunday that community cases among the citizens of the city are increasing daily.

“As of September 17, a total of 399 have been tested and 83 positive COVID-19 have been found while a further 396 were tested on Saturday, of which 90 infected people have been found,” he said.

• Key words: COVID-19 in Cambodia, Thailand