• New Office Building – dry wall is going up, decisions are being made on interior colours and floor materials. Contractors worked throughout the holiday season. Fire Hall/Public Works building is enclosed.
• Discussions on the 2006 Township budget begin February 7th. Due to significant increases in assessments this year the tax rate (mill rate) will decline accordingly to meet our budget requirements.
• The new water and sewage system in Macteir should be ready to “turned on” in September 2006.
• Based on a presentation by the Madawaska Club at Go Home Bay, our budget deliberations will consider shared funding for the ongoing “Neighbourhood Planning” initiative that will be completed this year for the Cognashene Association and the Madawaska Club.
• The mandate of the Township Santa Clause Parade Committee has be expanded to include the March Break program for the Port Severn/Honey Harbour.
• Further support to protect the Sandy Gray Rapids on Go Home Lake from hydro development has been received from the District. The rapids are within the Gray Rapids Heritage Area as defined by the 1994 Muskoka Heritage Areas Program.
• Since 2001, 2950 septic systems have been inspected of which 162 still require repairs. Council will receive an action plan on these repairs at our next meeting on February 6. 85 systems were inspected on North Bay in 2005 of which 10 require repairs. 129 systems on Twelve Mile Bay will be inspected in 2006.
• For 2005, 690 building permits were issued of which 61 were dwelling units. Permits were up over 100 from 2004. To date, 2574 permits are still open.

Paul M Wiancko
Six Mile Lake
pwiancko@csolve.net