Township backs off on mandatory inspections

Craig Bakay | Mar 29, 2017

Central Frontenac Council decided to take another look at how a mandatory septic system inspection program might work, rescinding a motion it made two meetings ago asking staff to come back with a bylaw to be implemented before this summer.

The impetus for bringing the motion back came from Councilor Jamie Riddell who successfully argued that “some information wasn’t included” in the report the committee looking into the matter presented to Council at the Feb. 28 meeting. Riddell cited the cost of inspectors as well as potential liabilities costs to the municipality for taking over such responsibility.

“I think we as a municipality need to join forces with other municipalities to let the premier know one-size-fits-all does not work for all rural municipalities,” Riddell said. “We need some funding.

Councilor Tom Dewey said that while he supports in principle some form of inspection, “for a bylaw of this magnitude, I think we need to hold public meetings in all four districts, in the summer when cottagers can be here.

“And we still haven’t addressed island properties and/or water access properties. In the east basin of Sharbot Lake, there is no water access point at all.”

Dep. Mayor Brent Cameron, who is on the committee looking into ways the municipality might be able to help fund people faced with replacing their system, said they need more data and information to be able to determine the scope of the project.

“This is a very important decision,” Cameron said. “We need to get it as correct as we can.

“This affects every homeowner.”

Cameron said they need to look at how the municipality might enforce such a program and cautioned that even if they do order a system replaced, it could easily end up costing the Township money if simply added to the tax bill with interest charged.

“Over the course of a year, that’s credit card interest,” he said. “We can’t take the property for three years and if we end up having to seize the property for non-payment, after the school board and county get their cut, we could end up losing money.”

For his part, committee chair Victor Heese said he thought “reconsidering the original motion is a good idea.”