Central Frontenac Council - Oct 13/15

Julie Druker | Oct 14, 2015

Council welcomes new public works manager

Mayor Frances Smith introduced to members of council and staff the township's new public works manager, John Badgley, who attended his first meeting after arriving from Peace River, Alberta where he had been working as an operations manager in highway maintenance. Badgley, who was born and raised in Tweed, Ontario, is now working alongside Steve Reynolds until he gets his bearings. The mayor also introduced students Luke Maloney and Amanda Herbert from the University of Guelph, who are studying rural planning and development.

Council approves road signage to deter trespassers

In a delegation to council, Central Frontenac resident Alyce Gorter addressed the issue of hunters and ATVers trespassing on her private road and property. In 2014, the owners of a hunt camp near the property received township approval to construct a road from Fifth Lake and Mountain Roads, which follows the municipal boundary for a short distance. In a letter to council, Gorter explains that this approved road “now leads directly to a long established road that was developed by a local land owner for his private use” and one, that Gorter claimed “has not now, nor has ever been open to the public.

Gorter said that drivers on the approved road are now continuing along the private road and that “despite the installation of a hinged gate and a large 'private property' sign”, the road is still being used by the public, mainly by hunters and weekend ATVers to access interior lakes and camps. Gorter claimed that not only was the hinged gate removed by trespassers but beaver dams on her property have been either damaged or removed altogether.

Her first request was for signage at both ends of the private road, which Council agreed to do. Gorter's second request was for council to enter into a “partnership” with the affected residents in an effort to prevent illegal trespassing.

In denying the second request Mayor Smith stated, “We have to be careful that we are not drawn into a 'he said she said' situation” but she agreed that staff could assist by advising the two parties and helping them come to an agreement.

Construction numbers up

Chief Building officer Jeremy Neven was pleased to report that the overall construction numbers were up significantly in September. Construction values ($610,564) tripled those of September 2014, and the year date numbers ($5,643,735) are $2 million over 2014 levels after nine months. Permit fees were just short of double the 2014 year to date total at just under $80,000.

Amnesty Load numbers

This year's amnesty load program was used by 609 residents, resulting in 16% of residents taking advantage of the program, which according to the report amounted to lost tipping fee revenues for the township of $20,464.

Loan approved for Fifth Lake Road construction project

Council approved Treasurer Michael McGovern's recommendations to approve a five-year loan agreement with RBC in the amount of just over $1 million at an interest rate of 2.15%. These loan payments were approved in council's 2015 budget and Mayor Smith reminded council that a $2 million grant through the SRNMIF (Small Rural and Northern Municipal Infrastructure Funding) program will cover two thirds of the total costs of the project, which came to $3 million.

Olden Ball Field construction plan revisited

At the request of Councilor Jamie Riddell, Treasurer McGovern presented the original 2010 plan to revamp the Olden Ball Field. The total estimated cost of the plan at that time was $340,000 and included costs for lighting, parking lot and roadway, fence, benches, dugouts, canteens, washrooms as well as a playground facility. Riddell said that he would bring the report to the recreation committee and return to council with their input in time for the 2016 budget deliberations.