Feature Article February 19, 2004
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Central Frontenac Council - Conservation authorities face penny pinching Council
Central Frontenac contains territory that is part of three different watersheds: the Mississippi Valley in the north, the Rideau Valley in the south, and the Quinte region in the west. Based on population and property values, Central Frontenac is a decidedly minor player in the funding of the Conservation Authorities for all three of the watersheds. This year they all asked for increases of a few hundred dollars, which represented increases from 10-18%. Council requested they send a delegation to explain their programs and the need for funding increases, and all three sent their respective Executive Directors to Monday nights Council meeting. Terry Murphy of the Quinte Conservation Authority (QCA) was not scheduled to speak but he ended up facing the brunt of councils expense-oriented concerns.
Murphy reported that in 2003 QCA completed a groundwater study, and he was pleased to report that the water quality in the regions lakes is generally good. He also said source protection planning legislation is expected this year and that will involve the authority. Among this years projects is a provincially mandated dam breakdown study. We have no choice in this; the province says it has to be done, Murphy said.
Quinte Conservation Authoritys budget draft budget calls for an 18.2% increase in the levy from Central, although in dollar terms it is less than $500.
Councillor Frances Smith said I understand the authorities are being squeezed, but an 18% increase is not acceptable. If our staff came back with as much as a 14% increase, we would send them back.
Terry Murphy responded by saying, in our operating budget, it comes out to a 4% increase, it is only because of mandated projects that we are looking for more.
Mayor MacDonald said, my concern is that the province has cut funding, and left this to us, but municipalities have nowhere to go for money. Our taxpayers cannot take any more increases. I cannot support any more downloaded services. We cant do this.
Del Hallett of the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority RVCA was up next. He reported on the watershed planning done by the RVCA, including the Tay Valley Watershed plan, which encompasses several large lakes in Central Frontenac, a beaver management plan, septic and well inspection pilot projects. Other projects included $20,000 worth of work done in the Meisel Woods Conservation Area, of which $10,000 came from the RVCA and $10,000 from the Sandi Slater memorial fund. The RVCA is asking for a increase of $755 from Central Frontenac this year - an 18% increase.
Last up was Paul Lehmann of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority. He noted that MVC had completed the Renfrew County- Mississippi Rideau Groundwater study, has been working on developing a water power plan for the river, and was working on a watershed watch program. The MVCA is seeking a 10% increase in their levy from Central Frontenac.
When Paul Lehman had finished his presentation, Mayor MacDonald said We see increases year after year. Do you see this stopping?
The Mayor then thanked all the directors for coming and said their requests would be considered during budget deliberations in March or April.
Other council business: John Balint of the Kids of Steel Triathlon appeared at Councils request with information about the proposed closing of Road 38 on the morning of Sunday, August 22.. This year the Sharbot Lake event will be the provincial championship, and Balint said he expects upwards of 500 participants double the number at last years event.
The area around the Sharbot Lake beach, where the event will be held, could become quite congested and triathlon organizers are putting measures in place to deal with crowds. The main issue at hand, Balint said is that the children need a safe course, and in my conversation this afternoon with Sgt. McCann of the OPP, he said we will need to close Road 38 for a time in order to ensure that safety. Council expressed concern over the effect on traffic, specifically for church goers between 9 and 11 am. Balint said there are several races, and the road will be opened between races. The longest consecutive closure will be 90 minutes, and we can work around the needs of the church goers, putting that race off until after church is over, Balint said.
Mayor MacDonald expressed concern because Road 38 is the north/south emergency route, and Balint assured him that emergency vehicles will be allowed to pass through if necessary, since the area will be controlled by police.
Council then passed a motion granting the Kids of Steel the right to close the highway as necessary between 7 am and 1 pm on August 22.
Soccer league Malcolm Sampson appeared before Council. Mr. Sampson, newly arrived in Arden, has experience setting up recreational soccer leagues and is attempting to put one together in Central Frontenac this summer. Human Resources Canada has said they will pay Mr. Sampson a salary for 34 weeks to organize and run the league for its first year, as long as the township will pay his EI, CPP, and other remittances, totalling $1525. Mr. Sampson has done some preliminary work, and has called a public meeting to see who is interested in a league. Several Councillors encouraged him to contact the organizers of the existing baseball league to make sure soccer will not conflict with it. Successful leagues exist in South Frontenac and in Cloyne, and Sampson expects registration will be cost between $15 and $20 per child. Council endorsed a motion supporting the League and Mr. Sampsons funding request.
