Feature Article July 10,2003
LAND O' LAKES NewsWeb HomeAssessments Complaints Surface at CouncilA festering sense that property assessment has gone awry came to Central Frontenac Council this week. Letters from three disgruntled taxpayers outlining increases in taxation in the 40-50% range were received by council, and staff reported receiving several phone calls as well.
The Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) conducted a reassessment of properties in Central Frontenac in 1998 and again in 2001. The 2003 tax bills are based on the 2001 assessment. A notice was sent out about the assessment last November, but it was not until ratepayers received their 2003 final tax bills that the effects were brought home to many people.
Mayor Bill MacDonald said that township staff must take the time to respond to every call that comes in. MPAC is blaming us, and they shouldnt.
The township sets the tax rate. This year in Central Frontenac it was raised by 3.7%, and property taxes are calculated based on the tax rate and the assessed value of individual properties. Township Clerk Heather Fox told council that a study is underway to see how many large increases there have been within the township, and to look at cases where similar properties have received vastly different assessments. A representative of MPAC will be speaking at the Annual General Meeting of the Sharbot Lake Property Association on Saturday morning at the Legion Hall in Sharbot Lake.
Petition to reinstate Terry Goodenough A delegation led by Logan Murray presented a petition containing 190 signatures, asking that Terry Goodenough be reinstated to the roads department. Terry Goodenough has been employed, as a casual employee for the roads department. According to the petitioners, he has been working more or less full time for the past several years, and it is clear that he is highly regarded in the Arden area, where he has been working. He was laid off in June.
Bill Nicol reported that has already met with Terry, and there was an understanding on both sides as to what took place and why. Nicol also said he had explained the chain of events that led to the laying off.
Logan Murray responded by saying the group standing before council did not feel the matter had been resolved satisfactorily. He then said council should step up and recognise a good employee.
Terry Goodenough began working for Kennebec Township in 1996, and has been working for Central Frontenac since amalgamation in 1998. He said he has been working full-time hours for the past three years. Still, he has been classed as a Casual employee and has not received benefits, nor any compensation or notice when he was laid off. He told the News he has no idea why he was never given the status of a township employee, which may have protected him from a sudden lay-off. I just want my job back, he said.
Crow Lake Dock A tender call on the reconstruction of the Crow Lake Dock has received two bids. The lowest was for $33,191.40 from Crains Construction Limited. Council passed a resolution offering to take over ownership of the property from the Federal Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), provided the DFO pays the cost of reconstruction. The DFO has said they were willing to pay for reconstruction of the dock provided the cost was reasonable, although the figure that was floated was quite a bit lower than the $33,191.40 the township is now asking for. Still, it is hoped the money will come and the project can go ahead this fall. If need be, the District of Bedford in South Frontenac has expressed a willingness to help out if the DFO does not come through with all the necessary funds.
Request for Fence Viewing In response to a number of requests for fence viewing along the K&P Trail, council passed a motion to set aside $20,000 for fencing, and will look at the requests in the order in which they have been received. $20,000 is not sufficient to do the required fencing, but it was argued that it demonstrates the townships willingness to live up to its responsibilities under the Line Fences Act.
