Feature Article January 15, 2004
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Central Frontenac forced to close Wilkinson waste disposal site
A report by Golder and Associates has identified that the Wilkinson Waste Disposal site in the southwestern corner of Hinchinbrooke District contains about 4,900 cubic metres of waste on a site that is licensed for a total of 4,600 cubic metres of waste. The report states that the township is required to notify the Ministry of the Environment of this situation and provide the ministry with a plan to close the site.
In the interim, it is suggested that the Township of Central Frontenac consider effective closure of the Wilkinson Waste Disposal Site, the report states.
The Wilkinson site is located at a remote corner of the township. Most of the ratepayers are cottagers who access their properties through the Bell Rock Road west of Verona. Residents have dubbed their area the forgotten corner of Central Frontenac.
At their Monday night meeting, councillors expressed frustration with the situation. The township owns land around the area licensed for landfill, but extending the landfill area would require an amendment to the license, which would require an environmental assessment. That would cost at least $100,000, according to Golder and Associates, Public Works manager Bill Nicol told Council.
Councillor Jack Nicolson asked about putting bins into the site and trucking the waste to the other Hinchinbrooke site, but was told by Mayor MacDonald that it would be cost prohibitive to do so.
At first it was proposed that the site be closed on January 30, but council decided to delay until the end of April, so there can be a public meeting on the matter on April 5 at the Piccadilly Hall at 9:30 am. It was argued that at least then the seasonal residents who come to their cottages on Easter weekend will be able to hear first-hand why their dump will be closing.
Logan Murrays requests: Councillor Murray brought forward four separate motions, three of which were designed to bring about more public participation in the workings of Council.
The fourth motion was to turn long-time casual employees Terry Goodenough and Mike Tryan into full- time employees of the township. This issue, since it dealt with a staffing issue, was discussed in the in camera session that followed the public council meeting.
Two of the other motions were about setting up a roads and a financial committee. The roads committee, as proposed, would include 5 members of the public and 2 members of council, and it would be charged with advising council on road policy and review all procedures used in buying and maintaining equipment, hiring road staff, winter control and general maintenance, and developing a ten-year road plan, in the words of the motion.
Most of the councillors felt elected officials should make the kinds of decisions this committee would be charged with, and felt members of the public might bring the interests of their own smaller region to bear on the entire township. The motion was defeated 7-2, with Jack Nicolson and Logan Murray voting in favour.
The motion to set up a finance committee met with a similar response from councillors, and was also defeated 7-2, again with Jack Nicolson and Logan Murray voting in favour.
Finally, a motion to change the times and place of council meetings was considered. It asked for two changes: 1. the replacement of the monthly daytime meeting in Sharbot Lake with an evening meeting; and 2. the institution of rotating meetings throughout the township, rather than the current practice of meeting the second Monday of the month in Mountain Grove, and the fourth Tuesday at the township office in Sharbot Lake.
Many councillors argued the morning meeting was necessary so staff and computers could be readily available, and to accommodate delegations from institutional agencies who would have to pay employees overtime to come to evening meetings.
The motion was then split because Councillors Murray and Snider, the mover and seconder, thought the second part might have a better chance of passing. However, despite a closer vote than was the case for Murrays other motions, it was decided to maintain the status quo and have the evening meeting held consistently in Mountain Grove.
Livestock Valuers report: Livestock valuer Glen Stinson sent in two reports for cattle owned by Clark Gaylord. The market value for the cattle, which were killed by wolves, was listed on the reports. With the BSE crisis the values were extremely low - $138 for a 1150 lb. Angus Cross cow and $129.60 for an 810 lb. Hereford Cow. Fortunately for Mr. Gaylord, the Ministry of Agriculture, who will pay the settlement to him, has stated that the cattle prices previous to the current crisis should be used and the animals have been valued at $725 and $550 respectively, making Clark Gaylord one of the only Canadian farmers to receive anything resembling a normal price for cattle in recent months.
February meetings: The annual ROMA/Good Roads Conference, which will be attended by the majority of the Council, conflicts with the second scheduled council meeting in February. It was decided that Council would meet once in February, on Monday the 16th at 7:00 pm in Mountain Grove. There is one more meeting scheduled in January, on Tuesday the 27th at 9:00 am at the Township Office in Sharbot Lake.
Addendum: After the in camera session of the council meeting, a motion was passed making Terry Goodenough, Mike Tryan, and Michael Lowery full-time members of the township road crew.
