Feature Article September 30, 2004
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Septic Re-inspection to be the subject of NF task forceby Jeff Green
Septic re-inspection, a concept that has been taken to heart by Elma MacLachlan of Kashwakamak Lake, will now be looked at by North Frontenac Council.
MacLachlan made a presentation to a meeting of Councillors and Cottage Association representatives in late August.
She argued that old, defective, or poorly maintained septic systems are recognised as a source of lake pollution, and pointed out that since 1998, under the Ontario Building Code, municipalities have an obligation to regulate the construction, operation, and maintenance of on-site septic systems.
About four year ago, the idea of North Frontenac entering into a septic re-inspection program, such the ones that are in place in Tay Valley and South Frontenac Townships, was briefly proposed, but was not acted upon.
This time around, with support of a number of cottage asociations, septic re-inspection might go further.
Responding to MacLachlans report, a motion was put forward to set up a task force to consider options for a program in the township. The nine-member group will include representation from Council and Cottage Associations, as well the Health Unit (which regulates new septic systems), the Frontenac Environmental Partnership, the Mayor and others.
The task force has been given a short time frame to do its work. It is expected to look at programs in other jurisdictions and prepare a report by the second Council meeting in November.
Elma MacLachlan, who was in attendance at the meeting, thanked Council for acting on her initiative.
Other items from Council: Trash Compactor needs workIn order to ease pressure on landfill sites, North Frontenac has purchased a used trash compactor, which is now sitting behind the township office. When asked when it will begin operating, Councillor Dave Smith from the waste management committee said the trash compactor needs to be converted from electrical to an alternative source of power in order to operate at township dump sites.
Have we got quotes on that? asked Councillor Betty Hunter.
No, Smith replied, were just deciding whats needed.
Smith assured Council that the compactor will in place and operational soon.
Civic signs on water access propertiesThe task of assigning civic numbers for water access properties, which has been ignored in the struggle to get the long-awaited 911 emergency phone system operational, will now have to be completed.
The task will not cause delays to implementation of the 911 system, which is still tentatively scheduled for early December according to several Councillors, because most of the water access properties do not have phone service. The task of matching 98% of all phone numbers in the township with civic numbers, which is something Bell requires, has been completed.
Work on numbering all water access properties can continue even after the cutover to 911 service.
Snow plowing extendedSandra Killam of East Bay Road on Buckshot Lake, submitted a request that the township begin plowing her road in the winter. The road is a township road that has only been maintained seasonally. Mrs. Killams letter started that My husband and I have been permanent residents at 1575 East Bay Road for six years. Prior to the Killams taking up permanent residence, there were no permanent residents on the road, and the township has never plowed the road.
Since the Killams have been in residence, the work has been done by Lorne Killam. Fortunately we had an old truck when we came here, Sandra Killam wrote, but it was very hard usage and we cannot afford another one. For that reason, the Killams asked Council to have the township crews begin providing winter maintenance on an extra 1.5 kilometre stretch of the East Bay road.
I think that we have an obligation to plow the road. After all, it is our road, said Councillor Will Cybulski.
A motion to that effect was passed.
Accessibility rep requiredNorth Frontenac has no representative on the County of Frontenac Accessibility Committee, and the township is seeking an individual who is willing to serve on the committee. The individual must be disabled in some way, and clerk-administrator Penny Sharman pointed out that the definition of disabled is quite broad. For example, she said, diabetics are included within the definition. Anyone interested in serving on the committee can contact the township office or the county. (See ad on page 8)
Mileage or no mileage?Some very short minutes to a roads committee meeting that was cut short due to a power failure at the township office on July 9 almost led to a controversy. At issue was the second, and final, paragraph in the minutes. It said that the committee had decided not to pay an invoice for unsolicited mileage.
When a motion to accept the minutes was proposed, Councilor Hunter asked about the non-payment. The individual in question was Councilor Hunters husband, who had picked up some road signs for the township. He was going to pick up signs for our own business and the Public Works Manager asked him to pick up some township signs as well. In order to do that he had to drive a truck instead of a car, and he submitted the mileage request.
Public Works Manager John Ibey was called in from the township office. He had a different version of events. He [Don Hunter] told me that he was picking up his own signs so he might as well pick up the ones for the township as well. I was surprised when he submitted the mileage request. If the township had picked up his signs we wouldnt have charged him mileage.
Mayor Maguire then recommended that the issue be discussed further during the in camera session that was to follow, but Councillor Hunter waved her hands in frustration and said, Lets just forget it. The matter was dropped and the minutes accepted as submitted.
