Thanks to Marie Smith and Champlain Township, L’Orignal’s mascot moose will enjoy some Christmas spirit this holiday season. Smith offered the township some extra holiday lights to decorate the tree near the moose, which was installed along County Road 17 this year.
At its regular council meeting, Champlain Township agreed to install the lights.
Speaking of lights, holiday lights are being installed in L’Orignal this year for the first time, thanks to a downtown revitalization grant in the amount of $45,347.32.
At its June 11, 2019 meeting, council approved the purchase of 30 holiday lights for L’Orignal, along with water fountains and bike racks.
But the cost of the holiday lights has turned out to be higher than anticipated.
The holiday lights cost $18,000, freight charges are $1,500, Hydro One layouts cost $8,900 and Sproule Powerline will charge $15,198 to install, creating a shortfall of $1,749.
Parks and Recreation Director Lisa Burroughs said that the cost of the water fountains and bicycle racks will be included in the township’s 2020 parks and recreation budget.
Holiday lights installed on utility poles in Vankleek Hill, also in Champlain Township, were paid for several years ago from the Vankleek Hill Hydro reserve — funds held in a reserve following the sale of the Vankleek Hill Hydro Commission.
The province’s Downtown Revitalization Fund was designed to support small businesses within main street areas by providing funds to municipalities to implement local Community Improvement Plans and/or encourage strategic public investments in municipal and other public infrastructure within main street areas.
