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More units proposed for Almonte Country Street Seniors’ Residence kkent@perfprint.ca
News – Seniors in Mississippi Mills could soon have more opportunities to age in their hometown now that Mills Community Support has proposed a 20-unit expansion to the existing Country Street residence in Almonte. At the Committee of the Whole meeting held Nov. 5, Mike Coxon of Mills Community Support gave a presentation outlining phase three of the Country Street Seniors’ Residence, which will add additional units to the existing complex and possibly a seniors’ centre. “Our community is only growing and aging,” Coxon said during
his presentation. “It only makes sense that we continue to expand the services available to that portion of the population.” Mills Community Support, Coxon said, serves more than 600 seniors in Mississippi Mills. As part of their work, the group has built a residence for seniors on Country Street in Almonte. The residence is an independent living centre, not a retirement home, and some of the units are subsidized to help low-income individuals. Currently, the Country Street residence consists of two completed phases: the first phase included 50 units and was built in the ’90s; the second phase was completed in 2010 and added another 20 units.
Phase two was originally supposed to include 40 units and a seniors’ centre with a dining room, office and program areas, but due to a lack of funding and time the project was scaled back to 20 units. “We really took a hit with the funding for phase two,” Coxon said. Phase three of the plan will feature an additional 20 units and a seniors’ centre. The centre will be used for recreation, services and dining, Coxon said. In total, phase three of the plan will bring the number of units at the Country Street residence to more than 90. “We want to give seniors in Mississippi Mills the opportunity to age in place and stay in the town,” Coxon said.
As far as funding for the proposed expansion, Coxon said that the Mills does have a SEED grant from the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, but funds will need to come from a variety of other sources as well. At the end of his presentation, Coxon opened up the floor to hear questions and comments from the committee. Coun. Bernard Cameron asked why the Country Street residence needed to expand at all, since the committee received a proposal for a 120-unit seniors’ residence a couple of weeks prior to Coxon’s presentation. At the Oct. 15 meeting of Committee of the Whole, a proposal was brought forward for a 120-
unit seniors’ residence to be built on Patterson Street in Almonte. Cameron said he wondered if there would be enough demand to fill those units plus 20 more at the Country Street complex. Coxon answered by saying that, yes, there would be enough demand for the Country Street units because of one major difference: cost. “Frankly, our units will be much more affordable for seniors,” he said. Those proposed for Patterson Street, according to the presentation given to the committee, will cost an average of $2,600 per month. In comparison, the units at Country Street will cost around $1,000 or less. Currently, many of the units
Community Jill Moxley and James Powell pose with a copy of their book, Faking It! A History of Counter feiting in Canada, during a book launch at the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum in Almonte on Sunday, Nov. 10. Photo by DESMOND DEVOY
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Phone: 613-256-2064 1-888-779-8666
UPCOMING COUNCIL MEETINGS: Nov 19 @ 6:00 pm Council
SPACE FOR LEASE IN BEAUTIFUL HISTORIC BUILDING: ALMONTE OLD TOWN HALL
Committee of the Whole Following Council Meeting All meetings held in the Council Chambers (3131 Old Perth Road) unless otherwise indicated.
NOTICE OF INTENTION OF PASSING A BY-LAW TO PLACE A QUESTION ON THE BALLOT TAKE NOTICE that the Council of the Corporation of the Town of Mississippi Mills intends to pass a by-law to place a question on the ballot for the upcoming municipal election. Council will consider this by-law at its regular meeting on Tuesday, December 3, 2013 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, 3131 Old Perth Road, Almonte. For more information please contact the Clerk’s Office.
Approximately 1,200 square feet of space in the Almonte Old Town Hall is available for lease effective immediately with spaces ranging from 180 square feet to 476 square feet in size. Prospective tenants including community based arts & culture (art, dance, drama, music, etc.), tourism, commercial and special interest groups are invited to apply.
at the Country Street residence are subsidized for lower-income seniors. They are rent-geared-toincome (RGI) units, meaning the residents pay what they can afford; in many cases, the residents are only paying a couple of hundred dollars per month. “This time, for phase three, we will not be including those types of units,” Coxon said, referring to the RGI units, “but they will still be within an affordable range.” Coun. Paul Watters said he thought the expansion was a good idea. “There’s always a waiting list to get into these places,” he said. “I say, the quicker they’re built, the better.” It is not known when construction is slated to begin.
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Municipal Matters November 14, 2013 MISSISSIPPI MILLS SANTA CLAUS PARADE FLOATS
TOWN OF MISSISSIPPI MILLS QUOTE FOR CHRISTMAS LIGHTING INSTALLATION
It’s time to start planning your 2013 Mississippi Mills Santa Claus Parade floats! Quotes on the prescribed Form and Our theme for both parades this year will sealed in an envelope clearly marked be WHITE CHRISTMAS. “2013 Christmas Lighting Installation and Removal” will be received by Diane Dates for 2013: r 1BLFOIBN (leaving from the Smithson, CAO at the Steward Community Centre) Town of Mississippi Mills Municipal Office December 7th, 2013 – 1:00PM 3131 Old Perth Road r "MNPOUF (leaving from the P.O. Box 400 Almonte Community Centre) Almonte, ON K0A 1A0 December 8th, 2013 – 5:00PM until 12:00 noon local time, Be a part Almonte’s second annual NIGHT Tuesday, November 19, 2013 parade. When planning your float don’t Quote documents may be obtained forget to include a lot of lights… it’s from the Municipal Office, at the above important that people see you! address or by contacting Tiffany MacLaren, To register your float or for more information Community Economic and Cultural please contact Mississippi Mills Recreation Coordinator at 613-256-1077 (ext. 22). and Culture department at 613-256-1077. The lowest or any quotes will not necessarily be accepted. MUNICIPAL GRANT
APPLICATIONS
Anyone interested in further details The Town is accepting applications from concerning this opportunity are asked to organizations seeking financial assistance contact: in 2014. Application forms are available for pickup at the Municipal Office or on the Diane Smithson, Town’s website at www.mississippimills.ca. Chief Administrative Officer Tel: 613 256-2064 x 225 All applications must be received by Email: dsmithson@mississippimills.ca Monday, December 2, 2013 THE EMC - A/CP4 - Thursday, November 14, 2013
ACCESSIBILITY – DID YOU KNOW? When talking with a person who is deaf or uses a hearing aid, talk directly to the person, keeping eye contact, even when a sign language interpreter is present.