Photo/WES KELLER FAN METERS COMING: Diameter Services president Joel Carty points to the white box FAN (Fixed Area Network) transmitter while project coordinator Kevin Hofland holds the meter that goes inside the house as, left, Shelburne project coordinator Kelly McDowell and, right, Mayor Ed Crewson and wife Wendy look on. The installation at the Crewson home Tuesday was to publicize the new watermetering system. A sod-turning to begin capacity expansion at Centre Dufferin Recreation Complex

CDRC) has been set for 1:30 p.m. today

Thursday), and public information sessions for the town’s new water metering system are scheduled for the public library next Tuesday, April 13.

The CDRC expansion, to be completed by the end of September, includes handicap access to a new dressing room and a handicap balcony off the elevator for a wheelchair accessible view of the entire ice surface.

The $3-million cost of adding a two-storey addition to the front of the existing arena is being shared one-third each by the federal and provincial governments under stimulus funding, and by a combination of local governments and community fundraising.

The work is being done by local businesses. Dickinson and Hicks is the architect, and Everstrong Construction the winner of the tender as general contractor. Both firms are from Orangeville.

CAO John Telfer said the completed new structure would appear as something of an L-shape, and diagrams would be available at the groundbreaking.

Project co-ordinator Kelly McDowell said the location and design of the addition would make the swimming pool invisible from the parking lot by effectively giving the pool two solid walls.

Deputy Mayor Ken Bennington is quoted as saying that, “The community will be very proud of the design and features that have been incorporated into the ‘new’ CDRC. We look forward to the grand re-opening in the fall of 2010.”

The CDRC Board of Management has established a fundraising committee to raise money for further enhancements and to put the finishing touches on the project. For information call the CDRC at 519-925-2400.

In water metering matters, you won’t have to worry about keeping a clear path to a water meter this winter, as the data will be sent to the town hall electronically by something called FAN (Fixed Area Network).

The water meter itself will be in your basement but there’ll be a little white box outside your house to act as the data transmitter.

The first such box was installed Tuesday as a launch of the program at the home of Mayor Ed and Wendy Crewson. The actual installation program is set to begin on the 19th, when technicians wearing Diameter Services Inc. uniforms will attend either to install a new meter or upgrade the one you already have in your home.

In the meantime, there’ll be information sessions at the public library on Tuesday afternoon, April 13, from 1 to 3 and from 5 to 7 p.m.

Diameter President Joel Carty said homeowners may book appointments for between 8 a.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Friday and from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays.

He said in an interview he hopes all 2,200 Shelburne homes will have been services by Sept. 30.