NOW BOOKING
DR.STEVE SCHIEFER
24 Fraser Rd Leamington
MARCH BREAK EYE EXAMS
LATE NIGHT APPOINTMENTS NOW AVAILABLE. CALL FOR DETAILS!
Call to book your eye exam
519-322-2551
519-326-8413 24 OAK ST. E. UNIT 3, LEAMINGTON
www.dtauto.ca
Volume 9, Issue 8
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
www.southpointsun.ca
FREE
Mill Street redesign still flexible, council told
KEEPING YOU
WARM AND COZY
THIS COLD WINTER • PLUMBING • HEATING • • HVAC SERVICES•
1 Iroquois Rd. Leamington
519-326-6054
By Mike Thibodeau The town has a proposal to revitalize the Mill St. West block but it hasn’t determined a final design yet. “Everything is flexible, this shows what it could look like,” said Alex Del Brocco, engineering project manager. He outlined the proposal to council last week. The project also includes some sidewalk extension at the intersection of Fox, Erie and Mill. The total cost is estimated at $1.66 million. Del Brocco said he expects more input from the business and property owners on the street at a public information centre, hopefully within a month. One company is already applauding the update. We support the project, said Frank Ricci of Ricci, Enns and Rollier, although he admitted he would like to keep as many open parking spaces as possible on the street. Representatives of the Leamington Art Centre
(LAC) expressed concerns with a possible loss of parking and loading space. The art gallery’s worry was the lost parking in front when the new sidewalk on Mill wraps right around the corner onto Fox and Talbot streets. The design showed the loss of three or four parking spaces on Talbot often available to load and off-load items for the gallery. The design also showed the parking spot available for gallery staff was going to be lost. “We have thousands of pieces in and out of the gallery each year,” said LAC board member Jan Bateman. Infrastructure service director Rob Sharon agreed a parking and/or loading zone can be provided on Talbot, close to the gallery’s service elevator. And one on-site staff parking spot is planned at the southwest corner of the building. While sewers and waterlines will be replaced, the major impact is an enlarged sidewalk at road level along
A rendering of the proposed Mill Street redesign.
the north side from Erie to Fox. That will better facilitate outdoor events on Mill St. And that is where parking will be lost. To a question from Deputy-Mayor Hilda MacDonald, Del Brocco said that angled parking was rejected in the design because it would reduce the “wider pedestrian space.” Parking will remain on the south side and Del
Brocco said he believes the businesses on that side have delivery capabilities from an alley at their rear. He also said that during construction access for deliveries will be accommodated, and certainly open to pedestrians, but he expects the street to be closed to through traffic to speed up construction. A redesign of the property where the Tomato Tourist
Booth is located will not be included in the reconstruction this year. Sharon, in an interview, said the future of the Tomato will be discussed during the town’s “Master Plan process.” “We will not build that parkette this year,” he said, but he does expect the sidewalk will be extended at that intersection creating more space.
Local company covering half costs of dock railing Buy 1 Item Get 2nd Item
50off %
STOREWIDE REG. PRICED ITEMS
MARCH 14-18
9 ERIE ST. N. LEAMINGTON 519-326-2222 OPEN SUNDAYS
(;&(//(1&(
By Mike Thibodeau Leamington municipal councillors last week applauded a corporate offer to help update the Leamington dock for public use. They learned that South Essex Fabricating has agreed to cover half the costs to install a 405-metre long railing along the western and southern edge. Town staff has estimated the cost of the railing at $175,000 and South Essex will complete the job for half – $87,500. For that reason, project manager Alex Del Brocco said the project would not be going out to tender. Deputy-Mayor Hilda MacDonald praised the company’s offer, saying that private public partnerships like this “make this community a better place.” While South Essex didn’t seek recognition, Council agreed a plaque on the dock could be installed to acknowledge its participation. Del Brocco said the dock project and others along the Leamington waterfront will make it a “jewel for years to come.” South Essex Fabricating actually made the offer last year shortly after
NEW CANADIANS’ CENTRE OF
³+RPH WR WKH :RUOG´
INC.
3UH (PSOR\PHQW :RUNVKRSV 5HVRXUFHV DQG ,QIRUPDWLRQ <RXWK -RE &RQQHFWLRQ 3URJUDP 6HFRQG &DUHHU &DQDGD 2QWDULR -RE *UDQW
2DN 6W (DVW 8QLW /HDPLQJWRQ 7HO
2XU VHUYLFHV DUH )5(( DQG RSHQ WR HYHU\RQH )XQGHG E\ )LQDQFp SDU
0RQGD\ WR 7KXUVGD\ DP SP )ULGD\V DP SP 6DWXUGD\V DP SP
the town reached a leasing agreement for the dock with the province. Del Brocco said the price was more than fair because the cost to install similar railing at the amphitheatre was over $600 a metre. The town will only be paying $216 a metre. The money will come from $100,000 earmarked this year for dock development. As well as the railing, Council was told a deck for people to sit will be installed. “This year we’re trying for the fence and the deck,” said administrator Peter Neufeld. “This will be an evolutionary process.” He is hoping the project can be completed in time for Canada Day when the town holds a fireworks display on the waterfront. Del Brocco said a special area for fishing will be built, gates in the railing will be installed along with ladders down to the water, and flotation devices installed for emergencies. While the railing is geared for safety, a section will start along the property line of the ferry parking lot to prevent pedestrians from cutting across the parking and driving lanes associated with the ferry operation.
GOVERNMENT REBATES 1964 Rd 3 East Kingsville ARE BACK! 5 1 9 - 3 2 6 - 8 5 5 1 Quality Windows and Doors Exceptional Value
CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE ESTIMATE
WE WORK ALL YEAR ROUND!
(west of the new roundabout) Mon - Fri 8 am - 4:30 pm, Sat closed www.tmurrexteriors.com