Smooth Rock Falls keeps arena on Mon–Sat schedule; lists four homes for sale

Smooth Rock Falls council voted Sept. 21 to keep the Reg Lamy Cultural Centre arena on its regular Monday-to-Saturday schedule, with Sunday openings continuing only when events are booked, according to the town’s council meeting highlights.

The same meeting also dealt with several day-to-day municipal issues that affect residents, including the status of municipal drinking water after reports of discoloured water and the timeline for work on Sixth Street.

On arena operations, the town’s highlights say the decision followed a Sept. 8 council discussion about whether to add regular Sunday operations. Town staff consulted local arena user groups ahead of the Sept. 21 vote to better understand scheduling needs.

Council also authorized the mayor and the town’s chief administrative officer to enter into listing agreements with RE/MAX Crown Realty (1989) Inc.

The town’s meeting highlights list four municipally owned residential properties to be marketed: 15 Highway 11, 23 Highway 11, 7–9 Dupont Street, and 186 Cloutierville Road. Councillor Leslie Gagnon declared a conflict of interest because the matter involved a property adjacent to her own and did not participate in discussion or the vote.

Council passed By-Law No. 2026-69 authorizing the sale of municipally owned property at 100 Hollywood Ave., the highlights say.

During council question period, the town said it had “no concerns” about the potability of municipal water and that the water remained safe to drink. The town attributed the earlier discolouration to existing pipes that have since been replaced, and said water from the new pipes was tested multiple times and did not require a boil-water advisory.

Council also supported a request asking the Province of Ontario to expand financial support for traffic-calming and speeding mitigation measures to all municipalities across the province, according to the highlights. The request came from the North Grenville–Merrickville–Wolford Village OPP Detachment Board. Council said it will forward its resolution to provincial representatives and municipal organizations including the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and the Rural Ontario Municipal Association.

Council also reviewed a community suggestion about safety improvements at the intersection of Dupont Street and Highway 11. Council said the land involved is privately owned and Highway 11 is under the jurisdiction of Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation. The town said it does not have the authority to complete the requested work, and council directed that no further municipal action be taken.

On Sixth Street, the town said construction work is nearing completion for the season. Sixth Street will remain gravel over the winter, with asphalt paving scheduled for the spring.

The next regular council meeting is scheduled for Oct. 5 at 6 p.m., according to the town’s meeting highlights.