Frankensense
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Orillia CAO taking top administrative job in Ramara Township
OrilliaMatters
24Full pension from the city of Orillia and now full time employment as CAO of Ramara. Congrats on the double dip Ms. Jackson.
1- Frankensense
POLL: Most readers expect a purge of cannabis stores
7The black market is still thriving. Furthermore Health Canada has been overly generous in letting “medicinal” users grow multiple plants, way more than the four permitted per regulation. These two factors have severely hurt legitimate government approved sellers. Finally, there is a paucity of enforcement for bad actors. Has anyone heard of anyone charged or prosecuted, or even warned for growing more than four plants?
12- Frankensense
COLUMN: Orillia's 'forced sprawl' comes with a huge price tag
OrilliaMatters 16Excellent analysis by Mr. Bissett. We have been continually conned into believing that growth and expansion are good for all Canadians when it is clear that developers are the ones who have lined their pockets (as well as contributing to like minded politicians) at the expense of the municipal taxpayers. The other aspects of continual growth, excessive traffic, pollution, stress on finite services are also important factors that have often been overlooked.
2- Frankensense
Heads up: One of city's new speed cameras goes live on Friday
OrilliaMatters 11Schools out for summer so if the goal is kids safety why activate cameras now? $$$?
6- Frankensense
Province gives Orillia $10M to upgrade water system, pave the way for new housing
OrilliaMatters 9So, traffic is already congested going from Coldwater Road west bound across 11 Hwy and over to West Ridge, both ways, Friday to Sunday. How will the addition of 3,554 houses, and the people living in them and their additional cars make the lives of those who live here now better? Is this another effort to nourish developers into greater political contributions? Create jobs and stimulate the local economy says Ms. Dunlop. At whose cost?
5- Frankensense
Over-budget project, Terry Fox Circle upgrades on council agenda
OrilliaMatters 12All this Orillia taxpayers money thrown into curling. First Orillia builds a curling facility and calls it a recreation centre to deflect criticism of "Orillia taxpayer funded curling" for curlers who live in or outside of Orillia. Now, 92 thousand more are thrown into the sport as reported in Orillia Matters in order "to avoid system failure and support the 2025-26 curling season!" Perhaps curlers should pony up to support their sport, er recreation, not the taxpayers at large.
1- Frankensense
Paid waterfront parking, businesses in public facilities on horizon?
OrilliaMatters 11If you go down to Couchiching or Tudhope parks on the weekend you will see them full of folks who come from the big cities south of us, set up kitchen tents, BBQs etc. enjoying our waterfront and facilities at no cost. Paying reasonable rates for parking is an excellent idea given most other municipalities are doing the same thing.
1- Frankensense
Recycling pickup in Orillia moving to every other week with new carts
OrilliaMatters 9Garbage pickup in summer, especially when it’s hot and humid, should be weekly. Maggots don’t wait for two weeks.
2- Frankensense
As OPP costs soar, county explores options for regional police force
OrilliaMatters 6Starting your own regional police force would be hugely expensive. The vehicles, telecommunications system, facilities, equipment would entail significant initial and ongoing maintenance costs. Memories are short but Orillia chose OPP policing to save money and to have a higher level of policing without having to manage all the HR issues that come with running a police operation. One need only compare the per capita cost of policing in Barrie (city run police force) to Orillia (OPP policing) to compare costs.
3- Frankensense
Orillia's Boat Trailer Parking Program set to drop anchor soon
OrilliaMatters 5Personally I feel $50 a day is too high to pay for trailer parking in these lots and designated roads. This will discourage people from coming and encourage parking in adjacent roads and Metro. A fee of $20 would be much more reasonable.
3- Frankensense
Local protesters attempt to rock the boat on aggregate issues
OrilliaMatters 6Don't forget that there are benefactors from the gravel quarry industry. Speedy Auto Glass in Orillia for one. I'm replacing two windshields this year that were both caused by gravel trucks on Hwy. 11.
1- Frankensense
Staff predicts 3-7% tax hike as budget prep begins at city hall
OrilliaMatters 6A potential tax increase of 7% for seniors and citizens on fixed incomes owning homes in Orillia is excessive. Mayor MacIssac was elected to bring fiscal accountability and discipline to expenditures.
1- Frankensense
Orillia girl finds rare relic in Lake Couchiching
OrilliaMatters 6Hope she finds a gold coin soon.
- Frankensense
North and West Zone school buses cancelled today
OrilliaMatters 5More information would be appreciated by working parents whose kids use this transportation consortium. Who and why was this decision made on what turned out to be a sunny and clear, albeit brisk, day.
1- Frankensense
COLUMN: Ice storm, prolonged power outage provide knockout blow to Orillia
OrilliaMatters 3Our power came back on yesterday so we had three days without. It appears our infrastructure is lacking when a city of 30,000 can suffer through such a long disruption. Clearly upgrades need to be made to ensure this doesn’t become the norm.
3- Frankensense
COLUMN: Finally ... the real 'scoop' on shovelling snow
OrilliaMatters 1Excellent opinion piece Mr. Bisset. I also own a scoop and find it very good at cleaning a lot of snow especially when the snow is light and not too deep. There are times however where a major dumping of snow makes it impractical, especially when the piles of snow are very high at the edges of your driveway and you have sidewalks in your neighbourhood. I am then forced to join the chorus of snowblowers belching fumes and making a racket.
4- Frankensense
Is Orillia going to the dogs? City chewing on 3 new off-leash parks
OrilliaMatters 4Whenever I walk or jog on Orillia trails dogs are consistently walked off leash by their owners. I would support off leash fenced in dog parks if the leash law was enforced in the city and on its trails, but its not. For now it seems a luxury as we already have a dog roaming park on the lakefront by Kitchener Park.
1- Frankensense
Future of 150-year-old local curling club on thin ice, official warns
OrilliaMatters 3I had to chuckle when I read: "the Orillia Curling Club is looking for a little help from the City of Orillia." This when the city funded and built the curling club's building and Orillia taxpayers continue to fund its operations and facilities. The true cost of curling, without significant financial support from the City of Orillia and Orillia taxpayers, would be extraordinary. Totally amusing to read they are looking for a "little" more help.
1- Frankensense
Council to consider if on-demand transit should be tried in Orillia
OrilliaMatters 2I'm tired of buses roaring up my street empty. Seven days a week. On demand makes sense, smaller vehicles, less fuel, better service. Mayor MacIssac was elected to bring some accountability and reason to the city.
2- Frankensense
MPP says Canada Post's Mulroney stamp a 'testament to his legacy'
OrilliaMatters 2He accepted cash stuffed envelopes as Prime Minister of Canada. Why is he being honoured with his mug on a stamp?
1- Frankensense
