Mar 09, 2016


8% increase projected in CF Budget

Michael McGovern's updated Council on some minor updates to the 2016 budget, which is set for an increase of 8% in the levy to ratepayers.

The two remaining budget items that were discussed were Councilor Bill MacDonald's request that $5,000 be budgeted for the MUCC committee (Multi-Use Cultural Centre) and councilors Jamie Riddell and Tom Dewey's request to support the window replacements at the Pine Meadow Nursing Home. Council then considered adding $12,500 to the 2016 budget, which would cover the cost of one window at Pine Meadow.

With both items being considered, it looks as though council might easily meet McGovern's forecasted numbers, which have changed since the initial budget meeting in January.

“We found some savings to accommodate the 2015 deficit of $415,000 and made about $292,000 in cuts, which resulted in $123,000 being added to the levy to get us a $532,000 levy increase,” McGovern explained at Tuesday's meeting.

The final numbers, he said, are waiting on the announcement of the education tax, which should be come out in the next week or two. When that number arrives, council could indeed be passing their 2016 budget at their next regular meeting this month.

Construction details

February's construction value numbers are significantly down and are sitting at $118,000 compared to $773,071 at this same time last year. The year to date numbers reflect the same trend and stand at $448,000 compared to $823,071 last year. comparable with the numbers from 2014 and 12015.

Roads and waste site report

Public Works Manager John Badgley reported to council that he and his team have been busy this month plowing, sanding and salting roads, and repairing signage in the township. Graders have also been out ice grading and patching potholes as well as doing the major clean up of downed trees and branches from the recent ice storm. When asked by Councilor Bill MacDonald about the large pot holes on Clement Road, Badgley replied that they had been dealt with.

On the topic of hard plastics, for which Badgley had earlier requested that council implement a $1 tipping fee, Badgley said that he had spoken to a company that could take these plastic items, mostly lawn furniture and large toys and that he is still working on the details.

Regarding Councilor Bill MacDonald's request that Badgley look into the annual costs if the township were to truck out its garbage, Badgley estimated the cost at $750,000 per year, adding “It is difficult to determine precisely as we do not know how many tons of waste we are producing per year, nor do we know how many tons of construction and demolition waste we are putting into the waste sites”. Badgley said he came up with the number based the average waste produced per household in the township and added that the $750,000 cost does not include the cost of closing down the township's two waste sites.

Summer public works work schedule approved

Council approved the township's Human Resources Committee's recommendation to continue the implementation of a summer work schedule for public works employees, with staff to work 10-hour days four days per week with Fridays off from May 1, to September 30, 2016.

Public Works Manager Badgley also proposed that in case of emergencies during this time period, one of the two township garage's foremen would be on call alternately each week, a proposal that council also approved.

Rob Moore, who headed up the talent show at this year's FHF talent show, along with FHF chair Janet Gutowski present a cheque to Kim Cucoch, chair of the North Frontenac Food Bank.Council approved the HR committee's recommendation to hire a public works administrative assistant. The position will be posted internally for 10 days from March 11 to March 21 and will be posted externally in local newspapers and on relevant websites.

New signage approved for the CFRHS

Sally Angle and Gary Giller of the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society outlined their plans to erect 12 new signs at the Central Frontenac Heritage Railway Park in Sharbot Lake. The new signage will be thanks to a grant from Trillium, which came about through the work of John Duchene, and a new society member and former Sharbot Lake resident, Gene Kirkham. The signs will feature historic photos of the railway site.

FHF makes cheque presentation to the North Frontenac Food Bank

On behalf of the Frontenac Heritage Festival, Rob Moore and Frontenac Heritage Festival chair Janet Gutowski presented a cheque to Kim Cucoch, chair of the North Frontenac Food Bank, in the amount of $615.

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