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Feature Article July 17

Feature Article July 17, 2002

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Citizens question mayor on Crow Lake Beachby Jeff GreenConcerned citizens of the Crow Lake area have been upset about the condition of the Crow Lake beach since early this spring, and on July 11 expressed their concerns to Central Frontenac Mayor Bill MacDonald and Public Works manager Bill Nicol.

There are two major issues around the beach that have been of ongoing concern, Crow Lake resident Ludwig Ratzinger told the News in an interview. The first is the wharf, which blew down in a spring windstorm after 25 years; and the second is the maintenance of the beach itself, which has been abysmal this year.

The Crow Lake wharf, which is the only free public access point for both Crow and Bobs Lakes, is the property of the Ministry of Fisheries and Oceans. According to a letter from Jean Vrooman, assistant to local MP Larry McCormick, negotiations for the divestiture [of the Crow Lake Wharf, a launching pad, and about 0.3 acres of land] have been ongoing with the Township of Central Frontenac since 1999. A land claim by the Algonquins of Golden Lake First Nations has since halted the divestiture discussions.

Vroomans letter goes on to say that Public Works has inspected the damage and has recommended options for the replacement of the existing wharf (estimated between $20 -$40,000).

At the meeting in Crow Lake, there were strong opinions expressed about what sort of new wharf should be built. The idea of building a floating dock instead of a permanent, affixed structure, was roundly condemned, primarily because of the fluctuations in the water levels on Crow Lake.

Mayor Bill MacDonald told the News in a subsequent interview that the township would now be recommending that the ministry build a similar dock to the one that had been there, in accordance with the advice of the people at the meeting.

In a petition being circulated around the village of Crow Lake, questions are also being raised about the existing concrete ramp that is used as a boat launch on Crow Lake. The petition says By fall, the ramp is completely out of the water, which presents large problems for people taking boats into or out of the lake. Bumpers have been torn off and damage incurred in the efforts to use the ramp at the time of low water levels. It needs to be extended further into the lake to correct this problem. The petition will be presented to the director of Fisheries and Oceans Canada

While the issue of the Crow Lake wharf concerns the Ministry of Fisheries, the beach itself is a municipal property, at least for now. Ratzinger says that since maintenance of the beach was taken out of local hands after the year 2000 and given over to someone from Central Frontenac who is supposed to maintain several beaches, it has been neglected.

This spring, the windstorms that destroyed the wharf also destroyed the outhouse at the beach, leaving the concrete waste tank exposed. Mr. Ratzinger says he made several calls to the township office before the outhouse was repaired just prior to the long weekend in May.

As well, a large amount of refuse built up on the beach and surrounding area, and when they finally came to deal with it, they only piled it up, instead of removing it entirely. It took a long time for the pile of garbage to finally be removed.

While the meeting gave the local citizenry a hearing, there was no definitive commitment made to improving the situation quickly, according to Ratzinger. Nonetheless, he reports that on Friday morning the beach was thoroughly cleaned, the outhouse was stocked with toilet paper, and by Monday some happy tourists were enjoying the view and the swimming at the Crow Lake Beach.

Mayor MacDonald described the beach condition as an oversight on the part of the township, for which I apologize on behalf of the township. Further, he said, the beach has now been cleaned up, and I dont think it will go untended again.

A new contracting policy will come into effect in September for the maintenance of all township beaches and halls. One thing is certain - the ongoing maintenance of the Crow Lake beach will be well monitored by the local citizenry.

With the participation of the Government of Canada