Feature Article February 12, 2004
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NF Council - Vandals ruin ice at Clar-Mill rink
Volunteers had flooded the ice rink in Plevna in plenty of time for a good ice surface to be established for this weekends Winterlude event, but before the ice had fully set, someone drove a snowmobile up and down the rink. The water pushed aside by the snowmobile froze as a two-inch high ridge on the ice surface, making it possibly useable for broomball, but useless for skating, Recreation Committee chair Will Cybulski reported to Council at their Monday night meeting.
Cybulski said he was reluctant to call the volunteers again to see if they would be willing to flood the rink again.
To have this happen, as far as Im concerned, is a slap in their faces, he said.
I believe that if they flooded it now, it still might not be ready for this weekend, said Councillor Betty Hunter.
Council then passed a motion to contact the OPP, and have them investigate the vandalism.
Cloyne & District Historical Society - Marg Axford appeared before Council on behalf of the Historical Society. She briefly outlined the funding situation for the Pioneer Museum this year. Our estimated expenses this year are just over $17,000, and our projected revenue from grants, fundraising, and donations, is about $16,000, Axford said. We are asking the township of North Frontenac for $500 this year. What we would also like is a commitment on an annual basis.
Axford pointed out that the museum is an important feature of the township, saying more and more people within the villages and areas in between recognise the importance of history.
In response, most of the councillors spoke in support of the museum, but a decision on funding will have to wait until budget deliberations later this spring. As to multi-year funding, Councillor Bud Clayton told Axford This council cant make commitments for councillors in the future, so you will definitely have to come back in three years time, leaving open the possibility Council may make a three-year funding commitment to the museum.
Axford said she would be seeking a similar commitment from Addington Highlands.
Barrie Park Project Committee Before Marg Axford left the meeting, clerk administrator Penny Sharman remembered that Axford had requested a Council representative on a committee set up a year ago to rejuvenate the park at the Barrie Hall/Pioneer Museum site. The park had been devastated by the microburst in the summer of 2002. Dick Hook volunteered to join. Marg Axford said the committee would become active again when the weather warms up.
ATV bylaw Clerk Administrator Penny Sharman informed Council she was seeking advice from the township solicitor concerning a request from the Ontario Federation of ATV riders to pass a bylaw permitting the use of the vehicles on township roads. Sharman also reported that the Frontenac Islands, Central Frontenac, and Loyalist Township have all said they are not interested in passing a bylaw at this time. Councillor Dick Hook said Addington Highlands attorney told them not to touch it with a ten-foot pole, referring to the possible liability for the township if injuries occur to ATV riders, or motorists who may have altercations with them on town ship roads.
Property Management- A tour has been completed of all the township halls and fire stations by the property management committee, and Councillor Smith told Council a lot of work is required to bring the facilities up to safety standards. We arent even going to talk about the wish lists people have for the halls; there is enough work, and cost, in doing what we absolutely have to do, Smith said.
Scrap metal The township has had an arrangement with an individual who has been removing all scrap metal from township dumps at no charge for the past 12 years. There has been no market for the metal, but the individual was storing it in hopes a market would develop. A market has developed and another individual offered to pay $20 a ton to take the metal now. The man who has been taking the metal for 12 years countered with an offer of $40 a ton, and the other man then asked to have the contract put to tender. Council decided not to put out a tender, but to stick with the man who had provided service for 12 years. Im afraid if we dont stick with the guy we used in the past, he might not want to do it when it goes back down to nothing, said Councillor Bud Clayton.
Committee reports The new Council has set up about a dozen committees, ranging from Communications to Roads and Recreation, and much of the meeting was devoted to hearing reports about committee meetings. Arrangements are being made to post minutes from committee meetings on the township website. At the end of the meeting, which ran 3 hours, Councillor Cybulski said he thought once the committees are established they may only have to met quarterly or on an ad hoc basis, freeing up councillors time. For now, most of the councillors are attending several committee meetings each week.
Meeting cancelled The Council meeting scheduled from February 23 has been cancelled. Three of the Councillors will be away at the Good Roads conference in Toronto, and no delegations have been scheduled, so Council will not meet again until March 8 at 7 pm at the Township Office in Plevna.
