Lakeshore Waves Newsletter November/December 2021

Water & Tax Billing Reminder

Area 2 Water Bill Due Date

Please note, the payment for 2021’s final water bills in Area 2 (Maidstone & Rochester) will be due on December 22, 2021 instead of the final day of the month.

Payments can be made in-person, by mail, telephone, banking, pre-authorized payments, or online.

2022 Property Tax Bill Timelines

Interim Property Tax Bills

Mailed in January, due:
• February 28, 2022
• April 29, 2022

Final Property Tax Bills

Mailed in June, due:
• July 29, 2022
• October 31, 2022

2022 Water Billing Cycle

Water and sewer billing is divided into two areas with each receiving a bi-monthly bill. Area 1 covers Belle River, Comber & Tilbury. Area 2 covers Maidstone & Rochester.

Flood Plan Launched

In August of 2021, Lakeshore kicked off the implementation of a new multi-year Flood Mitigation & Protection Framework (FMPF). 

The framework is designed to address the complex challenges of flooding and climate change as well as help protect residents and their properties. The plan, which outlines a number of key investments to address flooding issues throughout Lakeshore, includes:

• Expanded investigation and by-law enforcement.
• Review of current policies and by-laws.
• New zoning and Official Plan requirements and consideration of sustainable building and landscape design standards.
• New staff positions to support framework implementation.

Earlier this year, Lakeshore partnered with the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) to conduct a smoke testing pilot project along County Road 2 (Old Tecumseh Road). Smoke testing, which will be rolled out in other areas, helps to identify locations where storm water is entering the sanitary sewer system.

On November 2, community members joined Council for a Special Meeting to provide feedback on past flooding events and Lakeshore’s response to date. For a summary of flooding information, a link to the full Flood Mitigation and Protection Framework, subsidies for property owners, and what community members can do to protect their homes, please call or visit:

519-728-2488
Lakeshore.ca/Flooding

Winter Weather On The Way

New shift gearing up for overnight snow plowing and roadway maintenance.

Late night drivers may see a few more Lakeshore plows on the road with the introduction of a new overnight winter control team.

The shift, which hits the road on November 15, will focus on high volume roads and areas hit hard by small, localized storms.

Running from 10:00 PM to 6:30 AM, the team of four operators and trucks will also help make roads safe for morning commutes.

When not responding to snowfall and winter storms, the shift will conduct regular patrols, routine maintenance, and act as a quick response to urgent situations such as road closures and flooding.

Next Steps for Transit & Mobility Plan

Business case development underway, potential rollout in 2024

At the October 12 Regular Meeting, Council supported moving forward with the development of a business case for the implementation of an integrated regional transit system in Lakeshore.

Throughout 2021, residents, business owners and local stakeholders were invited to provide their feedback on local transportation options and the need for transit.

Moving forward, the business case will consider potential partnerships with other communities, options for service delivery, financial implications, as well as funding sources.

For questions about the plan, please call or contact EcDev@Lakeshore.ca 

National Day of Truth & Reconciliation

The Municipality of Lakeshore observed the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation on September 30, 2021. Enacted by the Government of Canada, the holiday honours the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families, and communities.

“As a local government, observing this solemn holiday may seem like a small part of our country’s reconciliation efforts, but it is an important reminder that we all have a part to play,” said Mayor Tom Bain. “This holiday is an opportunity to seek out the stories of residential school survivors and to take a moment to reflect on the history of our country’s relationship with Indigenous people.”

As part of Lakeshore’s observance of the holiday, a number of educational resources were shared with community members, including the 94 Calls to Action issued by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada. To learn more and access the resources, please Lakeshore.ca/Reconciliation