Addington Highlands Council -
Sept. 20/10

Council discussed a letter from the Lake Weslemkoon Conservation Association (LWCA), which raised several issues, mostly about the township’s new requirement that all recyclables must be brought to dumpsites in blue boxes, not bags. The requirement was originally scheduled to come into effect on October 1, 2010, but at its last meeting council decided to defer implementation until December 1.

However, the requirement will effectively eliminate marinas as “drop-off” points for cottagers for their waste and recyclables, and the LWCA wrote that extended hours at the waste sites would be necessary to accommodate cottagers as “the existing system will not likely be adequate.”

The letter also raised concerns about garbage being dumped illegally as a result of the changes, and asked that implementation be deferred without a set date, until the committee and council would have “had time to receive input from all interested parties and arrive at a more accommodating mechanism to address the issues and concerns..”

In discussing the letter, Reeve Henry Hogg reiterated that the township is bringing in the Blue Box requirement for two main reasons. The first is in the interest of the safety of its custodians, who currently have to rummage through bags. The second reason is the problem of contaminated loads of recyclables being rejected by the recycling company, which has happened occasionally. However, Hogg also said that council would be happy to consider alternate suggestions from the association.

Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch commented that it is the responsibility of individual householders to get their own garbage and recyclables to the dump.

Council decided to refer the waste management concerns to the next meeting of the waste management committee.

The LWCA’s letter also raised a concern about Otter Lake, which has been designated a Highly Sensitive Lake Trout Lake by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment but has not been changed in the township’s Official Plan. Reeve Hogg said that the provincial designation came about after the Official Plan was adopted. “It is a procedural matter,” he said, “the lake’s status will be changed in the amendments.”

• There is a clause on the township’s certificate of approval for their waste sites that the licence plates of cars that enter the sites must be recorded. Previously the township had not been doing that, but the Ministry of the Environment informed the township that they must follow the requirements of their certificate more strictly. The attendants then started to record the plate numbers, but residents have become upset about the practice and it has become a contentious issue.
  Upon investigation, the township has found that they can have the certificate changed so the licence plates do not need to be recorded, only the number of vehicles that enter the sites. The matter will be discussed at the next waste management committee meeting.

• A ratepayer, Mr. Ruth, came to the last council meeting requesting upgrades to his road, which is an un-maintained road. Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath looked into the matter, and wondered if the snowmobile club, which is a major user of the road, could be asked to contribute to the cost of repairs. Reeve Hogg found that the club presently does not have a president, so there is no one to ask.

• Several residents have requested that the council minutes be more up to date on the township’s website. Presently the minutes only go to July 5. Clerk Jack Pauhl said that the township has changed internet servers recently and that the minutes have been sent to the webmaster.