Central Frontenac Council - Nov 9/10

Jeff Green | Nov 11, 2010

New planner in the works for Central Frontenac?

By Jeff Green

Central Frontenac Council received a letter from their planning consultant, Glenn Tunnock, this week, advising them of his pending corporate move to North Bay.

As of December 1, Zanderplan Consultants of Perth will handle smaller planning issues, while Glenn Tunnock or his associate David Welwood will handle major projects such as Official Plan or Zoning Bylaw updates.

In receiving the news, members of council began to consider whether they might look to a new direction when the retainer contract with Tunnock Consulting ends at the beginning of January, 2011.

“We are in a position to make a decision as to whether we could get a staff person to do the work or hire a consultant,” said Councilor Norm Guntensperger.

“Perhaps a community such as North Frontenac would like to consider partnering with us, to see if an in-house planner is something we both want to look at. They use Tunock as well,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski.

Council passed a motion asking staff to prepare a report for the new council to look at, outlining the amount that is spent on planning consultants each year.

BRIDGEN’S ISLAND – Council received information from Frontenac County about the proposed resolution of a zoning issue on Bridgen’s Island. Bridgen’s Island is an island on Eagle Lake that has been collectively owned since the 1970s. It is on the verge of being carved into 14 separate lots in a plan of subdivision. But it is a bitter pill for four of the former collective’s members, because although the 10 lot owners who have built cottages/cabins will be able to keep them, the four lot owners who have not built will never be able to.

In order to comply with development limitations imposed on Frontenac County and Central Frontenac Township by the province when Eagle Lake was designated as a “trout sensitive” lake, the four undeveloped lots will be deemed as “privately owned open spaces that cannot be developed as building lots”.

“I have met with the property owners from Bridgen’s Island,” Mayor Gutowski told Council, “and while this was not their first choice, they will accept it.”

OSO WASTE SITE – The township has been informed that it is not in compliance with its certificate of approval (C of A) for the Oso Waste site on Wemp Road on a number of fronts. The non-compliance problems range from the bureaucratic - the C of A needs to be amended when the hours of operation at the site change - to some more serious issues, such as the township not covering the site with fill as often as is required by the Ministry of the Environment guidelines, which could lead to increased rodent and other animal populations at the site.

Public works Manager Mike Richardson said he would be working to ensure the township complies with the C of A. The report from the ministry estimates 11 years of life remain at the site, but a detailed analysis of remaining life will be done next year, Richardson said.

SPEED LIMIT SIGNS NEAR SHARBOT LAKE - Council received a letter from John Hawley, who has a cottage just south of the bridge at the foot of Sharbot Lake Village. Hawley said that cars travel that section of road at excessive speed, causing a hazard at the turnoff to the beach, Family Health Team and Maples Restaurant. Hawley said cars routinely travel well in excess of the speed limit.

Members of Council agreed with the concerns expressed in the letter, and said they will consider starting the 60 km zone further south on Road 38 so people will know the village is coming up.

“Speed limit signs are only as good as the enforcement,” said Councilor Bob Harvey.

Enhanced railway crossing on Crow Lake Road -

Canadian Pacific has applied for funding from Transport Canada for the construction of a wing arm gate and lighting system for the railway crossing on Crow Lake Road west of the hamlet of Crow Lake. There have been accidents at the location in recent years, and the sight lines are poor. Transport Canada will cover 80% of the $249,000 project and CP is willing to pay 7.5%, leaving Central Frontenac with a cost of $31,000 or so.

Some councillors thought they could negotiate a better deal with CP, but Councilor Gary Smith pointed out, as did Public Works Manager Mike Richardson, that by federal law, railways are a primary use for land, so the road is in the way of the rail line and not the other way around. “It is our problem, not theirs,” said Smith, “so any money they are willing to contribute is a bonus.”

$31,000 will be put in the preliminary 2011 budget for the project.

CROSS ROAD CLOSING - CP has also informed the township they will doing some work on their line near Crow Lake on Monday and Tuesday of next week, and the Cross Road will be closed for those two days.

BUILDING RESULTS CONTINUE TO IMPRESS – Permits for 42 new homes have been taken out in Central Frontenac for the first 10 months of 2010, a jump from the 26 that were taken out by the end of October in 2009, and 12 more than the 30 that were taken out at the same point in 2008.

The total value of construction is also up, now standing at $7.24 million with two months to go as compared to $5.19 million at the same point in 2009, and $6.4 million in 2008.

This year’s numbers are comparable to those in the boom years of 2005 and 2007. In 2005 a total of 49 new homes were built, and in 2007, 40 were built. The highest total construction value year in the township’s history was 2007, when it was about $8.8 million (including the $1.5 million Family Health Team Project)

Central Frontenac Council Support Reintrocuction of Snow Drags

by Julie Druker

Dustin Kehoe, a member of the Skills Link group in Sharbot Lake, presented the group’s plan to reintroduce and organize snowmobile drag races this February 18 and 19 in Sharbot Lake. The races, which have been successful in the past, were halted due to a lack of volunteers. Kehoe outlined the benefits that the event will bring to the businesses and organizations in the local community as a well-attended winter event and tourist attraction.

Councilors offered their advice to the group and suggested contacts for the group to approach to help them in the proposal. The group was pleased with the council support and will spend the next three months planning the event.

Davy Road Woes - Mark Montagano, who lives on Davy Road in Piccadilly, requested maintenance to a 1.5 km section of that road, which is regularly used by 20 residents, but has become almost impassable. After much discussion as to why that was and the standard of service that should apply, council invited Public Works Manager Mike Richardson to weigh on the matter. As per his recommendations, council passed a motion to remove brush, and provide gravel and maintenance for safe passage.

PST cut on Hydro bills? Councilor Frances Smith brought to council's attention a correspondence from the Municipal Taxpayer Advocacy Group who were looking for support on a motion to remove the PST portion of HST on Hydro Power bills. Smith said, “My concern is for people on very low fixed incomes who might be disconnected from their hydro services because they cannot afford to pay the bill.” Council passed a motion supporting that motion. Councilor Gary Smith wondered if the same might be done for PST on all winter home heating sources.

Multi-Use Centre - Council passed a motion to support a $16,000 grant application for the Creative Communities Prosperity Fund to undertake a cultural needs and assessment project ($2000 of which will come from the township). Mayor Gutowski said that the grant would allow for a cultural mapping of the entire municipality and that the project will have value for many years.

Out of County expenses? Outgoing councilors Gary Smith and Bob Harvey drew up a motion to explore how other municipalities go about reimbursing councilors who attend regular meetings out of the county. Gary Smith explained, “Sometimes we can travel five to seven hours to and from certain committee meetings that we regularly attend every month so it would be interesting to explore how other municipalities deal with it.”

Council supported the motion.