Letters: August 16

Potholes, Judy Meeks

Hitchhiker in Harrowsmith area, Lisa Doxtator

M-312 Referendum, Sharon McDougall

Re: Nuisance calls and tired firefighters, Beth & Dan Munro

Township vehicles, Bauder Drive, Marie Calberry

 Potholes

The pot holes on Buck Bay Road and Green Bay Road in South Frontenac Township are just appalling and inexcusable. The entire roads are like this and it's to a point where you can't even drive around the pot holes to miss them. I contacted the roads department over two weeks ago about my concerns. Their response was “The majority of the people would rather have pot holes than dust". He said that because the township had put calcium on the roads over a month ago. Also "we are really busy and don't have enough man power" Really???? Maybe these people should be driving down our roads every day and see how they like it. Some places the roads haven't seen a grader in almost 2 months. We used to drive out to White Lake Road, but now we drive out to Fish Creek Road and all the way around. It's 8 ½ more kilometers that way for us. Some people don't have a choice in the matter and have to drive down these roads. 

I'm just sick and tired of the excuses why the township can't or won't grade our roads. So I'm asking.. how bad do our roads have to be before we see a grader on them???

Judy Meeks

Hitchhiker in Harrowsmith area

Hi, I would like to share my experience about picking up a hitchhiker and hope that someone may have some information.

On Wednesday August 8, at approximately 11:30 a.m. my partner and son picked up a hitchhiker just outside of Harrowsmith heading towards Kingston. He stated that he was going to Bath Rd. When they arrived in Kingston the guy jumped out of the car at Sydenham and Princess St. Unfortunately my son who is 15 had just received his paycheque and had left his wallet with his bag in the back seat. When the man jumped out of the car he took my son’s wallet. It contained his I.D and all his money. I feel bad for my son because he works so hard for his money.

The man was white, between 25 and 30, with a brush cut, about 5 feet 8 inches and around 210 lb. He was wearing head phones and carried a knapsack. He was picked up around Hwy 38 just before Nelly’s gas bar. We have reported it to the police. If you have any information please contact us at ldldoxtator3@gmail.com.

Thanks, Lisa Doxtator

M-312 Referendum

I just received Scott Reid's latest missive, asking his constituents to vote on a referendum on Motion M-312. I do not respond to Mr. Reid's newsletters as a matter of personal policy, as I don't want any of our political arties or their representatives to know how I intend to vote in Mr. Reid's own referendum; on any issue; or in any election. I do not object to providing this information to my MP anonymously, but do not want "big brother" knowing my personal opinions. This time, I was alarmed at the prospect of not responding though. The use of the word "REFERENDUM" in the title of the document gave me the impression that this was an important matter, to which I was duty-bound to respond. The document indicates that Mr. Reid will vote according to the majority of votes cast in his referendum.  What of the interests of his constituents like me, who choose not to respond, because I don't want to disclose my personal preferences in a public way? Mr. Reid, if you truly wish to know the wishes of all of those you represent, then offer us an opportunity to cast a secret ballot on this and other subjects. That way you are more likely to get a more representative sampling of the views of your constituency. What I personally believe as a private citizen is none of your business.

Sharon McDougall

Re: Nuisance calls and tired firefighters

Since moving to our cottage on Bolton Lake three years ago, the biggest fear my husband and I have had is of fire. On July 24 our worst nightmare became a reality. A lightning strike ignited a fire in a dried wetland between us and a neighbor. I cannot say enough about good things about the Central Frontenac firefighters and the water bomber pilots who fought that fire. They were already tired when they arrived, as they had just left another stubborn fire. Their tireless efforts kept the fire contained and away from all homes and cottages.

It is almost impossible to get to Bolton Lake without passing a Burn Ban indicator sign. We also have a web page for our little community where the burn status is prominently marked. Now a couple of weeks later I am hearing that some on our lake are still lighting campfires and burning trash. Have they no brains?! They obviously have no thought for the firefighters who risked their lives to save their properties. WAKE UP PEOPLE!

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you to all who came to fight our fire.

Beth & Dan Munro

Township vehicles, Bauder Drive

Well now, after all the hoopla about where the three new township trucks were to be built due to the requirement for them to be painted Omaha Orange, we note that not only is the truck intended for Public Works Manager, Mark Segsworth, being built at a different plant than the other two, but that he has directed the factory to paint it black and add the township crest to the doors due to his dissatisfaction with previous repainting.  It's refreshing to see that Council stood firm for once and directed him to have it repainted the required township colour once it arrives. Since he took it upon himself to direct that the truck be painted black he should be paying for the repainting himself, not the taxpayers of South Frontenac. 

This is the same Public Works Manager who has decided that our road, Bauder Drive, will not be redone until 2015. Prior to the election of 2010 we were told that it would be done this year. We have lived here for the past 16½ years and in that time span the road has been done once. That was many years ago and it was a slap dash job. In slightly over two hours they were done and gone. Since then there has been significant development down and off Meredith Lane, which runs off Bauder, and on Bauder itself.  The heavy equipment has taken its toll on the road surface. It was our understanding that a portion of the development fees levied are to be used to bring the infrastructure back up to standard. This has not happened here. This issue was brought to the attention of Mayor Davison and Council by hand-delivered correspondence and was tabled at the Council meeting on June 5. We did receive a visit from one of the Portland District councilors, one who has personal knowledge as to just what state the road is in, after the council meeting that night and all we got was excuses as to why we were not a priority and talked over every time we tried to make a point. Let's say the visit did not end well and neither did the stop made to speak to other Bauder Drive residents before he stopped at our home.  We also received a letter from Mayor Davison with the usual platitudes about priorities and emerging issues and confirming the 2015 date. There is nothing much left of this road now. It is in an abysmal and dangerous state and the Township would do well to carefully consider possible liability issues.

Marie Calberry