Vandalism, sewer, dog issues raised at Kippens meeting

Acts of vandalism at the Town of Kippens playground was one of the issues addressed during the town council's March 11 meeting.

"It's being vandalized during the evening hours," said Councillor Leon Benoit, noting the RCMP have been notified about the problem.

"I'd like all residents to phone the RCMP or the town office if [they] notice any suspicious activity around the playground area. We have a beautiful playground and it would be terrible to let vandals ruin this area."

Councillor Debbie Brake Patton told council she had drafted another letter to send to the provincial government regarding the town's proposed sewer system.

"I did submit a letter with our application last fall, indicating the problem areas with the Town of Kippens," she said, adding the letter may have been lost during a shuffle within the department.

Councillor Brake Patton noted the letter, carbon copied to local MHAs, would again highlight such issues as the town's poor soil drainage, foul smells from septic tanks in the spring of the year, septic tank back-ups.

"I also highlighted in the letter that we have to get our sewer treatment plant started," she said.

Mayor Cator Best said the town had received several complaints over the last few weeks about roaming dogs and related mess on the town's nature trail, despite the town having a dog catcher and a public doggie park.

"I don't know why the doggie park is not working," said the mayor. "Personally, I've gone to different places in Canada and in the big cities like Toronto and Montreal, and walked my daughter's dogs and everything seems to be working fine. I can't see why it's not working here."

He said the co-operation of dog owners is needed to clear up this problem.

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