| Jun 14, 2017


Central Frontenac Council expects to have a draft bylaw for ‘chip trucks’ to discuss at its June 27 meeting following a report from Development Services Manager Shawn Merriman at this week’s regular Council meeting in Sharbot Lake.

The Township is holding an open house on the subject June 24 and Merriman said he expects to incorporate comments from that meeting into the proposed bylaw.

“Nothing quite screams Eastern Ontario identity like a chip truck,” Merriman said, quoting an old Toronto Star article. “A new bylaw would recognize the desire of the community to have mobile food vendors and provide some certainty as to where these operations would be allowed to set up within the various communities and locations throughout the Township.”

The bylaw on the table at the moment is of a temporary nature, allowing potential vendors to enter into an agreement with the Township in order to operate until such time as a permanent bylaw is prepared, debated and passed. Merriman said that the permanent bylaw should be all-encompassing, addressing more than food vendors.

“It’s about more than chip trucks,” he said. “This bylaw should not only cover the generic chip truck but in all likelihood all mobile vendors/special or recurring events.

“It should not matter whether the item being sold is prepared food, whole foods, homemade crafts, arts or mass produced items like flags or T-shirts.”

Coun. Victor Heese reiterated that the bylaw to be considered on June 27 was for temporary use and wondered about a time frame for a more comprehensive bylaw.

“I’ve seen these things go fairly quickly,” Merriman said. “I personally think mobile vendors are a good idea.”

Council accepted Merriman’s report, setting up a vote on June 27.

The process is now set out for the Spud Box truck that is parked at a lot on Hwy. 7 and 38 to open in Central Frontenac this summer. As Merriman pointed, approval from the Ministry of Transportation will be required because it is located at an on-ramp to the provincial highway, and the Public Health Unit will have to approve it as well. If, as seems likely, the bylaw is passed on June 27, the owners of the truck were told by Merriman that they can come and see him about a permit on June 28, provided they have the necessary approvals in place from the MTO and Public Health.

This did not sit well with the owners of the Spud Box.

“June 28th is too late for me,” the man said, “I thought this was going to end today.”

He indicated that he had first approached the township back in September of 2016 about opening up in Central Frontenac and was frustrated with all the delays.

Construction delayed
At the recommendation of Public Works Manager Brad Thake, Council decided to put off construction projects for Dickson Crescent and Gordon Crescent in Sharbot Lake for a year.

“Timelines and budgetary concerns would be best addressed in 2018,” Thake said. “The roads are still in pretty good shape.”

“As long as we keep them maintained, I’m sure the residents can wait a year,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

Bridges get go-ahead
Council did vote to go ahead with bridge rehabilitation on two bridges on Burke Settlement Road, awarding the contract to Crains’ Construction Inc. for $329,337.25 plus applicable taxes.

“I notice this is ‘rehabilitation’ and not ‘reconstruction,’” said Coun, Bill MacDonald. “What’s the life expectancy for this work?”

“We shouldn’t have to look at them again for 20-plus years,” said Merriman.

“Any idea when this work will be done, it will affect me directly,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

“It should get started around July 20 and will be done long before school starts,” said Merriman.

Road safety
Council awarded the contract for engineering design services to Greer Galloway to look at road user safety, traffic calming measures, road realignment and traffic safety barriers for the hamlet of Crow Lake.

Arden Pit
Council approved a plan to crush recyclable asphalt, concrete, brick, glass and ceramics that had been stored at the Arden pit as the Township’s approval to store the material has expired.

“We can use a lot of this material in our road building and other projects,” said Merriman.

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