| Jun 12, 2014


Township sets ambitious goal for energy conservation

Chief Building Official Jeremy Neven has been working on an energy management plan for the township. The provincially mandated process required an audit of energy consumption by the township, followed by an action plan to make improvements.

The plan's ambitious target is a 5% reduction in consumption of fuels and energy each year until 2020.

Current energy costs in the township exceed $130,000 per year, and if successful the management plan could bring that down to $100,000, barring increases in energy costs.

But there will be costs to implementing the plan, although those are generally one-time costs and the savings will accumulate over time. One anticipated addition are solar photovoltaic systems on “all corporate facilities with sound, south-facing roofs” said Neven’s report.

“I can see how we can achieve 5% in the first year or two, by finding the easy fixes, etc. but I think it will be difficult in the 5th and 6th years,” said Councilor John Purdon.

“This is a living document and subject to change,” Neven said. “We had to pick a target and I thought we might as well pick an aggressive one.”

Council approved the document, which is expected to have budgetary consequences in 2015.

Sustainability speaker series

Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle and Dr. Barry Gilbert, a Wolfe Island-based member of the Frontenac County Sustainability Advisory Committee, made Central Frontenac the first stop on their tour of township councils. They are promoting a project in support of a project the committee is bringing forward, a community speakers series.

“Our idea is to engage with residents of Frontenac County on subjects that matter to them, creating opportunities for residents to connect with others and improve their communities” said Dennis Doyle.

The advisory committee will co-ordinate the events and work with the townships on promotion, and Doyle said that they needed to find out what topics would be of interest in the different townships. Examples of topics include: developing resilient communities, helping homeowners find environmental solutions, local living and eating, climate conscious communities, etc.

“We are hoping to hear from your council or community members about what would be of interest in Central Frontenac before we go any further,” said Dennis Doyle.

Building season underway, finally

Permits for $935,000 in construction, including three new residential units, catapulted in May, 2014 well over either of the last two years ($587,000 in 2013 and $373,000 in 2012).

It is particularly important for the township because it comes after the worst first third of the year in construction permits in recent memory.

The cumulative value of construction between January and April was $345,000, a far cry from the $1.75 million at the same time in 2013 and $1 million in 2012.

With the strong May, construction at this point in the year is now on par with 2012 while still almost $1 million behind the stronger 2013.

“It does give us some hope that we will have a solid summer,” said Neven.

New building bylaw harmonises with South Frontenac

Based on the new Ontario Building code, Jeremy Neven has revamped the township's building bylaw.

The new bylaw includes provisions for partial building permits, which Neven said will be useful when people are ready to get started on a project but do not have everything in place for the entire permit. It also allows the township to abandon permits that have been taken out but not acted on, sometimes for years, and puts permit fees and regulations in line with those in South Frontenac.

“A number of builders work in both townships and it will save frustration for them to deal with a single set of rules,” said Neven.

After time for public comment, the bylaw will come back to council in August.

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