ACCESSIBILITY PLAN

Kathryn Bloomfield, Chair of Dufferin's Accessibility Advisory Committee, presented the 2006 Accessibility Plan to Dufferin County Council last Thursday night.

The presentation included highlights of the plan and the accomplishments of the committee in the past year. A full copy of the plan is available on the County's website, www.dufferincounty.on.ca.

NOTICES OF MOTION

Waste Matters

A notice of motion was presented to provide $50,000 to Orthogenxx or the completion of a feasibility study for a pilot project prototype for a zero waste concept.

Request for Creation of Bicycle Lanes

A Shelburne resident asked that consideration be given to incorporate bicycle lanes during the reconstruction of County Roads. In particular, County Road 12 is being reconstructed this year and this request seeks approval to have a bicycle lane incorporated. A notice of motion was presented in favour of this initiative. This matter will come back to council via the Public Works Committee.

Federal Gasoline Tax

A notice of motion was presented regarding the transfer of the County's share of the federal gasoline tax to the area municipalities.

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST SOUGHT - Use of County lands in East Luther Grand Valley

Staff was directed to draft an Expression of Interest for options of the use of the 200-acre property owned by the County of Dufferin in East Luther Grand Valley to coincide with the RFP for a Consultant to evaluate the Expressions of Interest. A report will be brought to the June meeting of the Community Development Committee and a final recommendation on a consultant will be presented to the July council meeting.

RETIRED AMBULANCE DONATED

TO SHELBURNE POLICE

Shelburne Police Service will acquire a retired ambulance for use by the police service.

DUFFERIN OAKS PHONE SYSTEM AWARDED

Council approved the tender of Unis Lumin for a new telephone system at Dufferin Oaks at a price not to exceed $186,234.84.

NEW AMBULANCE STATION

County Council approved the purchase of land from the Grand Valley Agricultural Society for the construction of a new Ambulance Station in East Luther Grand Valley. The new station, which is anticipated for completion this fall, will house two ambulances.

RAIL ACQUISITION COMPLETED

The acquisition of the rail lands from TransCanada Trail and CP Rail has been completed and duly registered. Council enacted a bylaw to authorize the transfer a portion of these lands, from Orangeville to the 5 Sideroad in Amaranth, to the Orangeville Railway Development Corporation. It is intended that the rail will be re-instated on this section of the line to accommodate an expansion of the current rail cargo service. This expansion is viewed as a potential economic boost to the Dufferin area.