Central Frontenac Council –
Nov
10/08
By
Jeff Green
MPAC presentation – Bev Disney from
the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation made a comprehensive
presentation on the new property assessment notices that have been
sent out to Central Frontenac residents over the past three weeks.
Highlights of the changed assessment
regime include a four-year phase in of assessment increases so
property owners will not face large increases in property taxes all
at once, as well as an enhanced, interactive website.
Information relevant to individual
assessments is available using unique key codes that are included in
the assessment notices.
It is also now possible to file a
request for reconsideration of an assessment online.
Further information is available at
MPAC.ca or by calling 1-866-296-6722.
First Impressions – Brian Ritchie,
from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
(OMAFRA), made a presentation at the behest of Mayor Janet Gutowski
about the First Impressions program. First Impressions involves
arranging “secret shopper” style visits between two communities
that are of similar size and character. The findings are presented to
each community by a team of First Impressions visitors.
Although Ritchie said First Impressions
would probably best serve Sharbot Lake and perhaps one other
community in Central Frontenac, it is something that Central
Frontenac Council may consider doing in 2009.
“One of the key things is finding a
co-ordinator,” said Ritchie, “because that person could have to
put in a total of five full days all told. But First Impressions is
cheap,” Ritchie said,” and it could generate lots of energy in
your community.”
Verona and Sydenham both participated
in First Impressions this past summer.
Road 38 maintenance contract – Public
Works Manager John Simcock received leave to put out a tender for
contracting out winter maintenance on Road 38, which has been done
in-house for many years.
Council agreed that if the price were
lower or equal to what the township is paying to do the work, it
would grant the tender.
Four companies answered the call, and
each bid on a cost per hour of work basis. The bids were: Wills
Construction, $258/hr, Cruickshank, $235/hr, Jim England $152/hr, and
Scott’s Snowplowing (Dennis and Jill) $129/hr.
Simcock said his estimate of the cost
to the township running their own truck is about $123, not including
fuel, maintenance, training, and insurance costs, which would bring
the cost up to $145 to $150 per hour.
“Would there really be extra
insurance costs?” asked Councilor Norm Guntensperger, “don't we
pay a fixed rate for insurance?”
“You have to remember that we are
planning to use all of our trucks for the ten snow routes we've set
up,” said Councilor Jeff Matson, “so we would be looking at
buying a new truck if we don't go for this.”
“We said if it costs the same or less
than what we are paying, we'd try it,” said Councilor Frances
Smith. “So let's accept this tender from Scott’s.”
Council accepted the bid from Scott’s,
and the contract will run for two years.
One December meeting – If there are
no urgent matters, Council will meet once in December, on the 8th at
Mountain Grove. The meeting will start early, at 5:30, to allow for a
90-minute presentation from the public works manager of a roads
capital report and long-term plan. The fire chief is also scheduled
to present a fire master plan at that same meeting.
Township Office closing – The
township office will close at 4:30 pm on December 23, and will not
re-open until Monday, January 5 at 8:30am (barring any unforeseen ice
storms, that is) in line with the practice of previous years.
