Letters: October 14

Re: Vandalism at Seniors Housing Project, Arno Heurter

Re: Vandalism at Seniors Housing Project, Ray Fletcher

New NF council – hope for a renewed community, Susan Hemmerich

A choice for South Frontenac, Wolfe Erlichman

Questions for South Frontenac candidates, John Sherbino

Re: Vandalism at Seniors Housing Project

In response to the comments made by Mr. Rick Greenstreet (Letters. Oct.7, 2010) regarding the ICF installation for the North Frontenac Non-Profit Housing Corporation project on Clement Rd. I would like to clarify the following.

I am curious as to which expertise Mr. Greenstreet draws from when stating, “So where are the three courses of rebar for these three courses of ICF block? With the rebar in, there is no way that wind or people could push over the walls as is depicted in the picture.” We would question Mr. Greenstreet’s understanding of the ICF system based on the above comment.

Eastern Ontario ICF are the installers for this project. We have successfully completed over 50 thousand square feet of ICF walls during the last 8 years. We are proud to state we have never received a stop-work order from any building department for our ICF workmanship, in fact we have never been asked to make a correction in our work.

Eastern Ontario ICF is a certified ICF installation trainer for the Arxx ICF system. It is our expressed opinion that all ICF walls on this project, including those that we are convinced were pushed over, are assembled to standard. It is not until ICF walls are filled with concrete that they attain their final structural integrity.

Mr. Ian Trickett, the Chief Building Official for Central Frontenac personally reviewed the ICF installation prior to the pouring of the concrete. Mr. Trickett gave his approval for the installation to allow this last step to be completed. In fact Mr. Trickett has, as per the approval of the project’s general contractor, full access to the site for inspection at any time without any notice. This is not commonly done and shows the faith the general contractor has in the workmanship of the trades on the site. Along with this site being open to the building department, any other officials or persons that have legitimate reasons are permitted on the site.

A construction site can be a dangerous place and our workers cannot and will not be held responsible for accidents that happen to anyone entering the site without permission or unaccompanied by one of the staff from the general contractor.

Mr. Greenstreet’s use of the press to verbalize his opinion is a freedom we enjoy. However, Mr. Greenstreet’s opinion is unfounded and irresponsible in its wording.

Eastern Ontario ICF was pleased to have been selected to build this portion of the mature living townhouse complex. On behalf of myself and my crew we are honoured to be involved in what is the first Greenhouse Certified townhouse project in Ontario. Once completed these homes for active seniors will be a model of energy efficiency, safety and comfort.

Arno Heurter, General Manager,
Eastern Ontario ICF

 Re: Vandalism at Seniors Housing Project

Mr. Greenstreet (Letters. Oct.7, 2010) is disingenuous to say the least, in his response to your report of possible vandalism at the North Frontenac Non-Profit Housing construction site. Maybe he feels that is the first qualification appropriate to hold political office? Where is the disclaimer stating his candidacy to represent this ward at council? Where is his disclaimer stating his virulent opposition to this project right from the outset? To my mind it would be incumbent upon a knowledgeable person who observes a major fault, or construction safety issue to immediately report same to the appropriate authority. If indeed Mr. Greenstreet has the facts demonstrating a willful disregard for best practices regarding safe and proper construction principles, it should be his duty as a citizen to report such violations as soon as discovered. It serves no public good to write this newspaper outlining these supposed construction malpractices and then form some kind of conspiracy theory to explain how these things can go on undisturbed, and why he is under a "no trespass" order. Truth in reporting should depend on a correspondent with no axe to grind, nor ox to gore, with objectivity towards both sides of an issue. Conspiracy theorists are suffering from that malady that actor Jack Nicholson's character accuses Tom Cruise of, "you can't handle the truth"... or so it seems to me.

Ray Fletcher

New NF council – hope for a renewed community

During this election season, the issue of boat accesses and roads serving lake residents has come up frequently. In the past, local council has been unyielding in its refusal to spend money for these services, even though the taxpayers requesting improvements are a significant part of the tax base.

Such reluctance to provide basic services may temporarily save a few dollars. However, as property owners age and retire, they often choose to live at their lake properties for greater portions of time, or even full time, making it their primary residence. Baby boomers are beginning to retire and over the next decade, there will be many more joining their ranks.

Council should encourage newly retired residents to participate fully in the local community. They are an untapped source for volunteers and are generally interested in community affairs. Many have valuable skills and expertise that they are willing to share for the benefit of everyone. Furthermore, by extending their stay in the area, local businesses benefit. 

Secure access is required for this to be a viable alternative. It makes winterizing, renovations or rebuilding practical. With secure access, property values would be enhanced. Additionally, tourism would be encouraged. As things stand, many boat accesses shown on tourist maps are actually unusable.  

The whole community would benefit from a well thought out plan for future improvements in communication and response to the needs of seasonal residents. 

The new council for North Frontenac can be the force for change. This is an opportunity to make North Frontenac grow and become an area attractive for living in, not just visiting!   

Susan Hemmerich

A choice for South Frontenac

With an election coming up, we in South Frontenac have a choice to vote for the future or the past. South Frontenac is no longer the small rural community that Bedford, Loughborough, Portland, and Storrington were before amalgamation. It is now a large, vibrant modern municipality with a $10 million budget. We enjoy many rural benefits such as clean air, water, and hunting and fishing but we have to protect them using whatever modern means we have. The politicians who amalgamated South Frontenac did it for economic reasons so that it would be more efficient. Now that we are finally getting those efficiencies, do we want to go back to having four fire departments, four roads departments, four waste management systems? Do we want a budget for each district as well as a budget for South Frontenac? Do we want to stop development because we don't have the staff to process permits? Do we want local empires at the district level stopping efficiencies at the township level?  The old ways are not always the best, especially when they result in higher taxes. South Frontenac has the lowest tax rate in Frontenac County. Let's keep it that way. That is why I am voting for Mayor Davison.

Wolfe Erlichman

Questions for South Frontenac candidates

Judging from the tone of letters to the editor over the past few months and definitely in the last few weeks, there are concerns regarding the ability of South Frontenac Council to work as a productive team representing the electorate.

The members of the Desert Lake Property Owners' Association share these concerns and hope that council members can resolve their differences and work productively as a group and with the municipal staff.

Even though we are now into the municipal voting process, our association executive has the following questions for the candidates to consider:

1) Do you believe that the policy and decision-making process for the township is the collective responsibility of council and that the

implementation and administration of the council¹s decisions are the responsibility of the municipal management team and their employees?

2) Are you prepared to work supportively with the township administrative team, drawing on their training and experience to ensure the best possible decisions are made by council?

3) Do you support the principle that a majority vote by council members establishes policy and are you willing to support it?

4) Do you believe in the value of long-term planning with respect to infrastructure, commercial development, public spaces and residential development? Does the current Official Plan provide sufficient support in these areas?

5) Do you believe that where the township¹s Official Plan has not been adhered to, violations should be addressed and corrected?

6) And finally - this is of specific concern to us as a lake association: Are you willing to establish formal relations with the growing number of township lake associations for the purpose of protecting the quality of lake water and the general wildlife habitat through the continuing development of policy and procedures that will help preserve these valuable resources?

These are questions we will consider as we reflect upon council's activities and cast our votes.

John Sherbino for the Executive,
The Desert Lake Property Owners' Association