By-Law Enforcement and Complaints

  • The Town operates primarily on a complaint driven process for our municipal by-law enforcement with the exception of a violation that is an immediate threat to health or safety or of greater public concern. We are currently reviewing delivery models to ensure adequate coverage for our Community is achieved.

  • By law enforcement will respond to complaints received from a complainant who provides their full name, telephone number, address and nature of the complaint in writing. Anonymous, incomplete or vexatious complaints will not be investigated. Complaint forms can be found at www.deseronto.ca or can be picked up at the Town Hall.

  • Names and any personal information provided by the complainant will remain in the strictest confidence in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and shall not be intentionally divulged to any member of Council, non-essential municipal staff, the public or media unless so ordered by a Court or other tribunal or body of competent jurisdiction.

  • The Ontario Provincial Police are responsible for emergency situations and should be contacted to deal with issues, including but not limited to loitering, trespassing, noise related neighbor or domestic disputes, traffic related, vandalism or other possible criminal activity.

  • Public concerns about programs, services or operations will be forwarded to the appropriate department head. Individuals will be required to provide as much information as possible about the issue as well as their name and contact information. An acknowledgement of your complaint and a resolution or update can be expected within 20 days.

Be courteous to your neighbors. Pick up after your animals.

Reminder: Be Courteous to your Friends and Neighbours.

Please pick up after your animals.

Help Keep Deseronto Looking Beautiful

The Town of Deseronto has a Property Standards By-Law.

Lawns, hedges and bushes shall be kept trimmed to a suitable height and shall not be overgrown or unsightly.

All yards and vacant lots shall be kept clear of derelict vehicles and free from rubbish, garbage or other debris that may attract pests or create a health, fire or accident hazard.

Burn Permits. Contact Town Hall or visit website.

Burn Permits

To obtain a burn permit, please contact the Town Hall or visit our website deseronto.ca for details.

Water & Sewer Rate Restructuring

Council is exploring the possibility of revamping the Town’s water and sewer rate structure to better reflectneighbouring municipalities. Look for Public meeting notices and surveys for completion in the latter part of 2019.

CURRENT STRUCTURE

Flat-rate structure with all users paying for a minimum of 40 m3

The 2019 minimum bill on a regular 20mm meter is $162.27 The base rate $43.62 + water charge $43.62 + sewer charge $75.03.

Summary
A household using 10 m3 /per billing pays $4.36/m based on the water charge.

Whereas
A household using 40 m3 /per billing pays $1.09/m based on the water charge.
Multi-residential properties – each unit pays for 40 m3

PROPOSED STRUCTURE

Proposed new bill will consist a of base rate reflecting fixed costs + volume charge reflecting variable costs + capital surcharge to maintain a reserve for the future

Revised structure for multi-residential properties will be based on the number and size of service connections

Objective: User-pay system

Three-year gradual phase-out of mandatory volume charge is proposed

BENEFITS OF CHANGE

Equitable, user-pay system

• Incentive to conserve, reducing demand on the treatment, collection and distribution systems

• Better reflects true costs of service provision to the user

• Aligns with practices of other area municipalities while remaining cost competitive

DID YOU KNOW?

Water and Wastewater Facilities Upgrades

Complete renewal and upgrade of the Town Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants has been completed over the past 5 years. Upgrades were also completed at the First Street Pumping Station. The facilities, originally constructed in the mid-1970s, had reached the end of their useful service life and lacked sufficient capacity to accommodate future community growth.

Highlights of the upgrades include:

  • All treatment process equipment and controls have been replaced and modernized to meet current Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Standards.

  • New, more stringent effluent standards were established for the upgraded wastewater treatment process to better preserve water quality in the Bay of Quinte. The new process has consistently demonstrated compliance with the prescribed limits.

  • The new water treatment process utilizes dissolved air flotation (DAF) technology. DAF is highly effective in the removal of blue-green algae which has become a health concern in the Bay of Quinte over the past several years.

  • New lighting, motor controls, and upgraded insulation were incorporated into the construction to improve efficiency.

Build Deseronto Highlights

✓  Water and Sewer Plant Upgrades have been completed – The new facilitity has a state-of-the-art system capable of handling the development needs of our community

✓  College Street Rehabilitation – This includes replacement of old water mains, installation of proper storm drainage and resurfacing of the road. The call for tenders is due June 19th and we will have further information about when construction will start after the contractor is selected.

✓  Main Street Revitalization – Improvements to include a digital communication sign, Town Hall façade improvements, a pedestrian crossing, hanging flower baskets, a bike rack, Gazebo lighting and benches and new trees.

✓  Update from Hospital Foundation New Medical Centre - The site has been excavated; footings and foundations poured; floor and exterior walls constructed, and interior walls framed. Roof will be completed and the interior space sheltered from the elements. Shingling of the roof and installing siding, windows and doors will be the next priority. Plumbing and electrical will be carried out concurrently with the finish carpentry. Ground leveling, landscaping and paving will be done as the final phase of the project. They expect that the site will be completed by mid-August at the latest.

✓  Communications and Community Events Coordinator – Hiring a Part-time person to plan and promote events and recreation programs for the Community in conjunction with a proposed new Culture and Recreation Committee.

Effective Contact with the OPP

In an Emergency Please Call 911

Engaging the OPP

Residents can log a complaint online at https://www.opp.ca/ or call 1-888- 310-1122 to advise the OPP of what they have seen. An occurrence will be generated within their Reporting Management System and an officer will be assigned to investigate the call.

Reporting an incident will greatly assist as it allows the OPP to analyse trends to help better determine our needs and appropriate Service levels for our community.

The Town recognizes there is an issue with some inconsiderate ATV/Dirt Bike drivers causing damage to property and driving recklessly. We are working to resolve this and need your help. Please contact the OPP if you have specific concerns or knowledge about these incidents.

The police do not always need to see the offending behaviours themselves. If evidence and witness statements are submitted that identifies the operator and an infraction, the OPP may be able to lay charges.

Reporting an Incident

Non-emergency calls

Please call: 1 888 310-1122 / 1 888 310-1133 (TTY)
Anywhere in Ontario, 24-hour toll free

  • Lost/missing property under $5,000

  • Stolen license plates or validation stickers

  • Theft from a vehicle under $5,000

  • Mischief to a vehicle under $5,000

  • Mischief (damage to property other than a vehicle) under $5,000

  • Theft under $5,000 Driving Complaints/ ATV

Letter from the Mayor

Summer Issue 2019

Greetings everyone.

Summer is fast approaching and I’m sure we're all looking forward to the warmer weather and the joys it can bring. On behalf of Council, I’m very happy to be addressing our Community in the first of our 2019 communique. As part of our commitment to better communication, we will be focusing on continual improvement in this area.

We are pleased to announce we’ve renewed the “Deseronto Minute” with radio station 88.7 MY FM to promote valuable community information. We will also be purchasing a digital communication board to be placed outside Town Hall to help further communicate with you.

Improvements to our online presence and communication have been an immediate focus of this Council and these efforts will continue. Please “like” our official Town Facebook page for updates on meetings and important Town news. In addition, upgrades to our website are forthcoming; so please check in often as we roll out these useful new changes.

Since forming our Council in December, I’ve made it a priority to meet with many service partners such as the OPP, Community Housing, Government Representatives and various Hastings County resources to discuss our community’s needs and Councils’ direction. Working with staff, Council has been busy finalising the 2019 budget, while working on and reviewing many Municipal policies and procedures to help improve our overall service delivery to you.

Recognizing the need to keep tax increases low, we are excited about the 2019 budget. It addresses many of our immediate needs while preparing the Municipality for future discussions.

Investments into safety & accessibility, increased recreational funding for the Deseronto Library, summer student employment, sidewalk and road repairs, upgrades to Municipal buildings, parks, Main street and waterfront enhancement, communication, and recreation & community programming are all part of this year's budget.

Starting this month, Council will shift its focus to longer term planning and 2020 budget talks. Discussions will deal with future land use, Waterfront investment, a Community needs assessment, attraction of development and business services and our overall Municipal strategic direction. We will advertise these meetings and we look forward to sharing the results of these discussions with you.

In closing, have a safe and happy summer and I look forward to seeing you around town as we all enjoy the nice weather.

Sincerely, Mayor Dan Johnston

Download the full copy of the Summer 2019 Newsletter here.

Become a Member of a Committee or Board in Deseronto

 The Town is currently accepting expressions of interest to become a member of a Committee or Board in Deseronto 

Are you?

  • Interested in making a difference in the future success of your community

  • Committed to being an active participant in board/committee meetings and come prepared to contribute to discussions and decisions

  • Prepared to represent the interests, concerns, and attitudes of your community

  • Open to learning about programs and services that enhance your community  

Committees/Boards

  1. Deseronto Transit Committee

  2. Deseronto Cemetery Board

  3. Deseronto Culture and Recreation Committee

To be eligible you must be: 

  • At least 18 years old

  • A Canadian citizen

  • A resident of the Town of Deseronto or a representative of a partnering agency

Apply by June 19 at 4:30 p.m. at the Town Hall by submitting an expression of interest outlining skills and experience and/or explaining why you wish to participate on that Committee to:

Christine Martin – CAO/Clerk-Treasurer

Town of Deseronto

331 Main Street

P.O. Box 310

Deseronto, Ontario

K0K 1X0

cmartin@deseronto.ca


2019 Emergency Preparedness Guide

Preparing for an emergency is important and is something everyone should do.  By taking a few simple steps, you can be better prepared to face a range of emergencies and minimize the impact on yourself and your family.

Here is the 2019 Emergency Preparedness Guide, which can also be found the Emergency Plan link on our website: https://www.deseronto.ca/residents/emergency-preparedness

Spring Clean Up Day

Notice to Residents

 

CORPORATION OF THE TOWN OF DESERONTO

 

SPRING CLEAN UP DAY

 

ONE DAY ONLY  -  SATURDAY MAY 25, 2019

8:00am  -  2:00pm

RAIN OR SHINE

 

Arctic Gardens Site, Mill and Water Streets

 

 

Old Furniture, Household Items, Most Appliances, Yard Waste, Residential Construction and Demolition Materialswill be accepted 

 

Fees:

Small Car or SUV -- $20.00

Pick-Up or Trailer Load -- $40.00 each

Larger Loads - - Priced Accordingly

 

Leaves and Brush (including tree branches up to a maximum of 6 inches in diameter) will be accepted free of charge.

There will be a charge for ALL other items (No Exceptions)

 

NOW ACCEPTING E-WASTE (printers, tv's, computer parts) and USED CAR TIRES (maximum of 8 tires per truck load)

 

MATERIALS NOT ACCEPTED

The following materials will NOT be accepted:

Household Hazardous Waste, Refrigerators and/or Freezers, Propane Tanks, Air Conditioners and Paint/Paint Cans

 

NO CURBSIDE PICK UP

There will be NO curbside pick-up.  Participants must make their own arrangements to have the discarded items transported to the Arctic Gardens site.

 

BBQ AT ARCTIC GARDENS

There will be FREE soft drinks and BBQ hot dogs served at the Arctic Gardens site for residents of Deseronto from 11:30am – 1:00pm on May 25, 2019.  Members of Town Council will be there to greet and serve you!

 

COME OUT AND ENJOY THE DAY !

 

** Please Note: Entrance to the Arctic Gardens site is done at your own risk.  The Town of Deseronto assumes no liability.

Minor Softball Registrations - 2019

A young boy swings a bat during a baseball game.

Register by April 30, 2019 for Minor SoftBall

Registration forms are available to download or at the Town Hall.

Registrations will be accepted at the Town Hall during regular business hours (8:30 am - 4:30 pm).

Registration night will be Thursday, March 28 from 6:00-7:30 PM.  More dates to follow.

For parents who are unable to attend the Town Hall during business hours, there will be registrations at the Deseronto Community Centre at 51 Mechanic Street:

Thursday March 28th – 6:00 pm - 7:30 pm

Saturday April 6th –10:00 am – 12:00 noon     

Wednesday April 10th -   6:00 pm – 8:00 pm    

Check out the Stone Mills South Lennox Minor Softball on Facebook!

Update on Council Meetings

Please be advised that effective February 27, 2019 Council passed an updated Procedural By-law # 12-19 to establish procedures for governing meetings.

Regular Council meetings of Council will be held in the Town Hall at 331 Main Street on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of each month at 6:30 pm, except in July, August and December when only one meeting will be held on the 2nd Wednesday.

Council meetings are public and all are welcome to attend and observe.  Agendas can be viewed on the Town’s website www.deseronto.ca/council-agenda.

If you wish to engage Council please contact the Town Hall no less than one week prior to the scheduled meeting to submit your request for the agenda.