Olden waste site may have 25 years remaining

Craig Bakay | May 10, 2017

The Oso (Crow Lake) waste site probably won’t last much more than five years but with proper management and diversion techniques, the Olden site could last 17-35 years, with 25 years being a reasonable estimate, David Bucholtz of Environmental Services, Cambium Inc. told Central Frontenac Council at its regular meeting Tuesday in Sharbot Lake.

“A new operations plan is being completed (for Olden) and we’ll have a better idea once it’s submitted to the Ministry from review and approval,” he said.

Currently, the Olden site has a remaining capacity of about 92,000 cubic metres and an average annual fill rate of 2,100 to 4,200 cubic metres. The Oso site has a remaining capacity of about 10,000 cubic metres with an average annual fill rate of 2,000 metres.

He said both sites as well as the Hinchinbrooke transfer station and the two closed sites (Arden and Wilkinson) are monitored for both ground water and surface water contamination and once a “minor action” was taken care of at Oso, all are satisfactory. The Township will need a closure plan for Oso, he said.

One plan in the works that could help is a potential agreement between all County members to increase diversion (in all likelihood in conjunction with the City of Kingston).

North Frontenac Council has rejected the plan, South Frontenac has accepted it and Central voted to accept it as well.

“And I’ll be voting for it at County Council,” said Mayor Francis Smith.

“I’ll be supporting it as well,” said Coun. Tom Dewey, the Township’s other representative on County Council.

• Council approved a new half-ton truck at a cost not to exceed $40,000 for new Fire Chief Greg Robinson. The vehicle is not in the 2017 fire budget and will be financed through reserves.

“It is normal accepted practice for municipalities to provide a vehicle to full-time fire chiefs so that they may respond quickly and safely to emergencies when required, both from home and while on duty,” Robinson said.

Mayor Francis Smith said they had discussed using one of two other pickups in the fleet for the chief but Robinson said both were already assigned to other duties at their respective fire halls.

Robinson said there was another aspect to the vehicle request that would have to be discussed in camera.

When Council announced its intension to go into closed session, it gave the reason of discussion of an identifiable individual.

• Public Works Manager Brad Thake said all the rain lately has kept his department busy inspecting, diverting and cleaning out culverts.

“Water is really weighing on my mind but I think we’re in pretty good shape other than 2nd Depot Lake Road,” he said. “I can’t say when that will reopen.”

“We did a lot of work on that road a couple of years ago,” said Coun. Phillip Smith. “Did we not get what we contracted for?”

“We won’t know until we get the engineer’s report,” Thake said. “But if it should have been done differently, then we may have some recourse.”

And speaking of recourse, Coun, Sherry Whan noted the number of guardrails that need replacing and asked if there was some recourse for that.

“Yes, if the incident was reported to the police, we can recoup some of the cost,” Thake said.

• Jerry Ackerman, despite making a compelling argument to change the name of the road he was born on several decades ago, was turned down by Council.

Ackerman made the case that the road, which runs from Tamworth to Parham is known by many names including Wagarville Road when it leaves Parham to 5th Lake Road to Carroll Road to California Road.

Ackerman made the case for Tampar or Partam Road, as well as simplified signage. If successful in Central Frontenac, he planned to take his proposal to adjacent Stone Mills Township.

However, several Council members, while sympathetic to his arguments, pointed out that there are several reasons road names don’t get changed very often.

“Jerry, as much as I sympathize with you, there’s a domino effect that happens when you change a road name,” said Coun. Bill MacDonald. “Everybody along the road has to change their mailing address on everything including their driver’s licence and all the maps in Ontario have to be changed.

“And the number of people who take ownership of a road name is amazing and they would all have to be consulted.”

“There are many roads like that such as Henderson Road which becomes Arden Road which becomes County Road 15,” said Coun. Cindy Kelsey. “And there are costs involved with every change of address and that can get expensive.”

Council did however make it part of its resolution to have the Public Works Manager look at ensuring adequate signage on the the road, at least that part in Central Frontenac.