CARLETON PLACE – Carleton Place received a dose of primary source Korean culture last Tuesday (Oct. 8) with a visit from Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, His Excellency Maeng-ho Shin.

The Ambassador and a delegation of visitors spent the day in Carleton Place as part of a program intended to enhance cultural, economic and people-to-people ties between Korea and Canada. The visit included a wreath laying ceremony at the Cenotaph coordinated by the Carleton Place Legion Branch to honour veterans of the Korean War, a visit and tour of Sam Bat and a reception including cultural performances and Korean food.

“Nice to see our town forging relationships all over the world,” Coun. Theresa Fritz said.

Other news coming out of the Carleton Place council meeting include Inspector Derek Needham, former Lanark County Ontario Provincial Police Detachment Commander was formally recognized by council and the Police Services Board for his years of service to the residents of Lanark County and Carleton Place.

Staff presented the draft 2020 Water and Sewer budget to the public for comment. The draft includes a recommendation for a five per cent increase to water and sewer rates. This will result in a total charge of $935.68 per year for a residential property with one or two people; an increase of $44.52 per year (or $3.71 a month) over 2019 rates. The justification for the increase is primarily centered around an increase in the cost to undertake construction projects locally.

“Increased costs have had a significant impact on the long-term capital plan for water and sewer,” town council released in a statement Oct. 8. “The public will have the opportunity to provide input on the proposed rate increase until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct.  25. The final decision on the proposed rate increase will be made by council at its regular meeting scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 12.”

Council approved a motion to retain Majore Landscaping to reconstruct a portion of the interlock patio in Town Hall Square Park at a cost of $5,200.00 plus HST.

By-law 93-2019 was passed to authorize the town entering into an agreement with the County of Lanark to provide for the automatic dispatch of fire personnel to certain emergency medical calls to assist Lanark County Paramedic Services.