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Feature Article April 29

Feature article November 25, 2004

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Central Frontenac to apply for funding for Salt Containment and other notes from Council - Nov. 23, 2004

by Jeff Green

Central Frontenac has decided to prepare an application to support the construction of two salt containment units under the newly announced Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund (COMRIF). They are also planning to apply for a reimbursement for some of the monies they have already spent on the Stones Bridge on Brewer Road south of Sharbot Lake.

When the question of what project should be tackled was put to Council, the resurfacing of Hwy. 38 was mentioned by several Councillors, but when questioned, Public Works Manager Bill Nicol said the preparatory engineering work has not yet been done, and the COMRIF plan requires townships to pay 1/3 of the costs, which could mean as much as $4 million said Councillor Murray.

The first deadline for COMRIF applications is January 10. Salt Containment was not mentioned by any of the Councillors, but then Mayor Bill MacDonald said, I have a suggestion. Weve got a salt containment unit that we have to deal with. It meets the criteria of the program. Its within our budget capabilities. I would like to recommend we proceed with an application for two salt containment units. I know for a fact that the majority of this money has already been allocated, so a clear cut proposal that fits the criteria is our best shot.

In a rare show of spontaneous unanimity, the Councillors agreed. Central Frontenac has been putting money into reserves for two years for use in building salt containment units at the Piccadilly and Olden township garages, and the project will have to be completed by 2006 in order for the township to comply with provincial environmental regulations.

Mayor MacDonald also said he had received word that it would be possible to apply for funding for the Stones bridge, which has already been completed, and he suggested applying for funding for that project as well.

A motion was passed unanimously to prepare an application for both projects.

Other items from Council

- Update from Frontenac E-Waste Centre

In response to a request from Council, Jim MacPherson and Brent Tullis appeared before Council. MacPherson reported that since September about 10 tons of electronic material has come into the new e-waste centre, and most of it has been diverted for refurbishing. Computers have been sent to Mauritius, Ghana, and Guatemala, MacPherson said. Although the e-waste centre has been awaiting funding, and currently does not have the necessary staff to receive large amounts of e-waste, We have been telling individuals that have one or two old computers that we can take them in.

MacPherson also announced that the e-waste centre heard last week that funding has been approved under the Knowledge-based Economy Fund of Industry Canada in support of the Frontenac E-Waste Centre Pilot project. Further funding necessary to really get up and running will be delayed until early in 2005. The possibility of receiving electronic waste at township waste sites will require finding shelter so reusable parts dont get wet. The E-waste centre and the township will look at this next year.

MacPherson also informed Council that e-waste is being designated as recyclable, just like plastic and bottles, and is going to be banned from landfill.

Water regulation testing

A report from Public Works Manager Bill Nicol recommended that the township hire MacLellan Water Technology to investigate drilling records, do a site visit at each of the townships 11 wells, and take a water sample and test the water for all necessary chemicals listed under Water Regulation 170/03. The price quoted for the work was $6,750 plus GST.

I think we need to have this work done to have baseline data for whatever we end up deciding to do next year, said Councillor Francis Smith.

I said it before and Ill say it again. Im opposed to Bill170/03 [the provincial water regulation]. We should be dragging our feet on this as much as possible. We should do absolutely nothing on this, said Councillor Bill Guigue.

Councillor Murray said We have to be the first line of defence here. I talked to three business owners this weekend who said they cant afford this water regulation, so we have to remain strong in our opposition to it. We shouldnt do this.

I can assure you said Mayor MacDonald, that we are going to have to do something, and we might as well have the information we need to know what we are dealing with.

Even though the Water Regulation dates have been delayed, MacDonald also pointed out that it is already having an effect. There was a playgroup cancelled in Arden he said, and thats not the end of it. We need to show we have good water in our halls.

The motion was defeated 5-4, Councillors Smith, Nicolson, Gutowski and Mayor MacDonald voted in favour and Councillors Snyder, Guigue, Murray, Harvey, and Deputy Mayor Putnam voted against it.

Were going to live to regret this decision, said Francis Smith.

Crushing tender A tender was granted to R.G.T. Couthier in the amount of $215,200 for stockpiling aggregate. The company that did the work for the past three years at a price of $205,000 had offered to do it again for the same price, but when the contract went out to tender they did not submit a bid.

Procurement bylaw A 23-page procurement bylaw, passed last week by the County of Frontenac, was submitted for review. A motion was proposed to have the clerk alter the bylaw for use by the township, with Councillors submitting their comments and suggestions to the clerk.

The Mayor pointed out that the township is obligated to pass a new procurement bylaw by the end of the year. Councillor Nicolson said I dont like this procurement policy at all. I have 25 or 30 questions about it. We have a good procurement policy already.

In explaining the situation Mayor MacDonald then said, There are new regulations for the Province of Ontario that came about in response to the federal sponsorship scandal. Its nothing we can stop. A motion to refer the bylaw to the clerk for changes was passed.

CGIS contract not renewed A contract with CGIS (Centre for Geographic Information Systems) of Perth to maintain and update the townships electronic mapping information will not be renewed once it expires in May.

With the participation of the Government of Canada