Central Frontenac Council - May 12/15

May 14, 2015

Volunteer Septic Re-inspection Program

The volunteer septic program will be available to property owners on Big Clear Lake and Silver Lake this year, at a cost of $6000 to the township. Of those lake associations wanting to offer the program to their members, Silver Lake was chosen because it is defined as an at-capacity trout lake, highly sensitive to pollutants and Big Clear Lake because it has a high density of structures. Crow Lake is the last at-capacity lake in the township that has yet to be offered the program.

Council approves tandem snow plow truck purchase: Council approved CAO Jim Zimmerman’s recommendation for the purchase of a tandem snow plow trick from Oakes Truck sales at a cost of $222,650. The truck will replace the township's truck # 4, a 2000 Ford Sterling Tri-axle.

No decreased speed limit on Road 38 near Evergreen Road: Council agreed with CAO Zimmerman's recommendation to leave the 80 km speed limit in place on Road 38 from Evergreen Road to 100 metres north of the Hydro One transmission facility at Hinchinbrooke. Zimmerman was instructed by council to look into the matter and found after referencing Book 6 of the Ontario traffic manual that reducing the speed to 60km/hour would “be problematic”.

“This highway has been designed for speeds of 80km/hour and the request does not comply with the Ontario traffic manual recommendations,” he said. He added, “If we reduced the speed limit there we would have to look at all areas where school buses pick up kids along 38 and in our township that would be somewhat problematic." In lieu of reducing the speed limit, the CAO recommended additional brushing in that area to improve sight lines. This was approved by council.

Councilor Dewey asks to see the numbers

Councilor Tom Dewey requested that council be able to see financial reports from recreation committees in order to see what monies are going in and out. He cited the model that the Heritage Festival uses in their annual reports. Council passed a motion requesting staff to look into the matter.

Delegations: Catherine Tysick of Northern Frontenac Community Services and David Townsend of Southern Frontenac Community Services spoke to council about new shared initiatives between the two organizations. The first addresses the homeless population in North, South and Central Frontenac townships through a Homelessness Prevention program, and the Housing First and Rapid Re-housing programs. With extra funding there are now two staff members instead of one who are providing support to the homeless populations in all three townships. Townsend cited that in 2014 SFCS dealt with 216 households in imminent threat of losing their homes, and NFCS has identified a further 30 from Central Frontenac and 12 from North Frontenac.

“In rural areas the homeless population tends to be 'invisible' and this initiative will help,” he said.

The second initiative is the expansion of the Hospice Palliative Care program. Funding has expanded this service from one to five days a week to benefit clients in South, Central and North Frontenac. The program offers a volunteer hospice service coordination, bereavement support, outreach volunteer training and administrative support and better connects the local health care professionals with clients in need in their communities.

Crow Lake sign trials

Council was hesitant initially to approve Karen Lahey's requests for a series of community signs to be placed on existing township signs located at the entrance and exit points of Crow Lake Village. The new signs, which were a project of Villages Beautiful, include the following wording: “Welcome to our beautiful community: please slow down and enjoy the view”.

Lahey is hoping that the signs will slow traffic on Crow Lake Road, which she said is an issue that she has been concerned about for years.

The concern raised by a number of councilors as well by CAO Zimmerman was primarily that an approval would allow anyone to make a similar request. Currently the township has no set criteria for signage and a policy would require some definite guidelines.

Zimmerman said, “I would caution council that once you allow private signs to be placed within a right of way, that opens the issue up to everyone who might want to follow suit and it would very difficult to determine what signs are appropriate and what signs are not.” He added that the signs would also need to be maintained.

Lahey said that she would be happy to put up and take down the signs herself and that as a last resort, she would place them on private property. After much discussion considering a future official signage policy, Councilor Brent Cameron said Lahey's request should be approved because the signs seem to be in keeping with township ideals. Council approved the Crow Lake signage conditionally for 2015.

Delegation re approval of Small Fit application

Rob Hitchcock of Abundant Solar Energy Inc. requested on behalf of a client that council support an IESO (Independent Electricity System Operator) application for a 500KW solar ground mount project offered through the Small Fit Solar program on a property located in Hinchinbrooke on Wilkinson Road. Council hesitated and CAO Zimmerman said he has been getting lots of similar requests for support since the IESO deadline for applications is July 13. Zimmerman pointed out that council has two options regarding this and other IESO requests. They could either approve the applications by a blanket resolution or else look at each project individually. He advised council “to be cautious”, citing his concern about ensuring there is a public consultation process for renewable energy projects.

”Property owners might not want to look at solar panels so I would be cautious of approving these projects without public consultation,” he said.

Zimmerman then asked Hitchcock if it was possible to approve the application with conditions. Hitrchcock replied that the IESO “sees things in black and white” and that an approval has to be either yes or no. Councilor Bill MacDonald said he would consider approving the application “only if a public meeting were held first”. Council in the end passed a motion receiving the information and requested that staff look into the matter further.

Council gets tough on back taxes owed

CAO Zimmerman said that council needs to maintain consistency in its approaches to the payment of back taxes. Mayor Frances Smith said, “There is a process already in place and Treasurer McGovern deals with it. He is given the authority to negotiate with the property owner where he can and I don’t think people need to come to us to see if we are going to change the rules.”

Parham library branch update

CAO Zimmerman informed council that the Kingston Frontenac Public Library CEO received a call from the Limestone District School Board (LDSB) indicating that there is a possibility of extending the branch's stay in the existing portable. The LDSB expects the township to pick up any ongoing incidental costs of running the facility after June 1. Zimmerman then handed out proposed draft floor plans for a new Parham Fire Station/ Community Centre, which included a 1000 square foot section that could house a self-contained library facility if the costs fall within the budget or if council approves additional funding for it.

Other news and business

Mayor Frances Smith congratulated Treasurer Michael McGovern on graduating with an AMCTO diploma in municipal administration

Councilor Jamie Riddell spoke of upcoming meetings with Utilities Kingston and Xplornet Internet in the hopes of bringing improved internet services to the Mountain Grove area.

Additional property has been purchased for the Hinchinbrooke fire hall.