> Grimsby DIA rolls out downtown visioning renderings at AGM /Pgs 8-9 > Lawn sign issue at council Monday Pg 5 > Surprise your sweetheart with Valentine’s dinner Pg 6 > WLMH COVID outbreak declared over Pg 15 Thursday, February 11, 2021 Vol. 9 Issue 43
www.wn3.ca 100% Niagara owned & operated.
Proudly serving Grimsby, Lincoln, West Lincoln & Winona
Circ: 26,529
Lincoln approves 1.9% tax increase
Cool times at Nelles Public
It was a bright, sunny day last month when families came out to sled down the slopes at Nelles Public School - all socially-distanced, of course. The Smith family, including Olivia, Glen and their dad was among those who came to out to enjoy some fun in the snow. Marks - Photo
Tristan Marks NewsNow It is now official. The Town of Lincoln has approved its 2021 budget with a 1.9 per cent tax levy increase for the municipality. Council voted Monday to approve the recommendations made by the Committee of the Whole (CoW) during its budget meetings. The 2021 capital budget will come in at $16.6 million, with a zero increase. This also includes a one per cent special infrastructure levy for potential infrastructure improvements during the year. The operating budget for the year comes in at an $18.9 million tax levy requirement, which works out to a
0.9 per cent increase. The blended tax rate increase for Lincoln residents (adjusted to include the regional and educational levies) will be 1.75 per cent. The motion to approve the budget passed uninanimous in a recorded vote. At the final CoW budget meeting last month, councillors requested that CAO Mike Kirkopoulos provide regular updates on the Town’s long-term debt and reserves, in addition to quarterly updates. Council also approved a recommendation made at the Feb. 1 CoW meeting to refer the Jordan Village improvement budget back to staff for further cost-saving analysis.
Phase 1 for Casablanca waterfront park teed up By Tristan Marks NewsNow The Grimsby waterfront in the Winston Road area will be getting the start of a fourphase facelift this summer. Grimsby council approved Phase 1 of the Casablanca Beach Park - scheduled to begin construction in July, said Sarah Sweeney, director of Recreation, Facilities and Culture, in providing a report on the project. The park plan will focus on the area between Hunter Road and the future Losani
Homes development at the former Fifth Wheel truck stop property. Park improvements will include: • Trail improvement; • Landscape enhancements, a tree strategy, lighting, site furniture; • Bicycle amenities, bike racks, repair stations; • Picnic and seating areas; • Playgrounds, and; • Public art displays. The improvements will take places over four phases. Phase 1, which is set to begin in July and conclude in
Fall 2021 will focus mostly on the western end of the park. The town will also construct an accessible access ramp and possibly a playground in the eastern section of the park during Phase 1, said Sarah Sweeney, director of parks, recreation and culture. “We’ll have to see with the playground, that will come down to timing,” Sweeney said. “But we are focusing on building the accessible ramp.” Phase 2 will be “taking
place shortly after” Phase 1 construction concludes, according to the project report. It will centre on the middle section of the park where the bridge and creek are located. According to the report, “ideas for this area are to have a passive picnic seating area with lighting where the current brush and tree area is located.” Phase 3 is slated to begin in Spring 2022 around the eastern parcel of the shore. Ideas for this area are to build washroom amenities, a
playground and various areas for seating. The park will also receive a dedicated parking lot, which will be completed as part of the Losani Fifth Wheel development, which the report lists as the fourth and final phase of park development. Until then, Sweeney said, “the parking we have is the parking that we’ll be working with until phase four is finished.” The entire project has been funded through “parkland See PARK, Page 3