Rezoning in Loughborough District

Township Planner Trudy Gravel opened a public meeting concerning a property at the intersection of Eel Bay Road and Charlie Green Road, on Eel Bay of Sydenham Lake. The proposal is to rezone a narrow waterfront property from resort commercial to special waterfront residential and replace three small cottages, a dock and a private but commonly used boat launch site with a single detached dwelling, a shed, a garage, and two docks.

Currently the site is described as “heavily culturally impacted” with an eroding shoreline, beside a Provincially significant wetland.

Gravel’s report states that the redevelopment of this site as proposed with greater setback distances will not have an environmental impact on the water quality of Eel Bay nor on the wetland (marsh) located near the southern portion of the property.

“The proposal provides an opportunity to reestablish (renaturalize) the shoreline vegetation that will both improve the habitat for wildlife species as well as provide stability and prevent erosion in the foreslope areas.” The boat launch will no longer be open to the public.

The only comment from the public was from neighbour David Plumpton, who was fully in support, saying that the heavy public use of this private boat launch in the past has led to overuse, noise, rowdiness, and littering.

Councillor Sutherland questioned allowing two docks, but the owner, Simon Clarke, said the second, smaller dock was in a location where he could back his boat down to the water for launching. (The main dock is down a steep slope which is currently being stabilized.)

Council approved the rezoning by-law.

Dogs Barking: A Noise Bylaw Issue?

In response to complaints from Harold and Lynn Snider about the noise of barking dogs believed to be originating from neighbouring Ben Acres Kennels, Councillor Revill brought a motion that the noise levels at the Snider property should be professionally measured. CAO Orr estimated that fees for such a measurement would be between $1,500 and $2,000 and still would not prove whether or not a township bylaw has been breached, as the bylaws do not reference decibel levels, using only the broad, subjective term “nuisance.”

Council defeated the motion, instead choosing to direct staff to work with development services to draft a bylaw update, perhaps one which would exempt dog kennels. (This is the only complaint about barking that Council has received in the past three years, and no other neighbours have complained: In most cases this type of matter is resolved between neighbours.)

Recreation Committee Restructuring

Council considered a three-part motion that: 1) Council strike a “Recreation and Leisure Facilities Committee” and a “Community Programming & Events Committee” 2) that this structure be put in place for a trial period of 12 months from the date of committee appointments, and 3) that staff be directed to actively advertise for committee appointments to these committees with a deadline of July 19th .

Councillor Norm Roberts made an amendment that a specific date (September 30, 2020) be chosen for the review of the trial period, and Deputy Mayor Sleeth seconded it. Council passed the amended motion unanimously. Sleeth complimented Recreation Supervisor Tim Laprade on his excellent and detailed report which made this possible.

Sleeth also noted a recent example of local volunteer work: in order to bring the Storrington Centre kitchen up to commercial standards, volunteer Rebecca Smith raised the funds to buy a commercial stove by canvassing hall users and potential users.

Morgan Subdivision Update

Following a site visit and staff review of the Sydenham Valleyview (Morgan) Subdivision agreement, Director of Development Services, Claire Dodds reported that “it is staff’s opinion that the paving of driveways and any outstanding seeding/sodding is a matter that is best addressed between the developer and property owners to come to an agreement to complete the outstanding site work without direct involvement from the Township.”

Lot drainage and grading is at various stages throughout the subdivision, and RKR Landholders is responsible for completing work on the road and sidewalk between Rutledge Road and the communal mailboxes before the final approval can be issued. Dodds attributed some of the problems in communications as having occurred as a result of staff changes during the subdivision’s development.

Rideau Waterway Monitoring

Deputy Mayor Sleeth reported on a meeting between the Cataraqui Conservation Authority, Queen’s, the Ministry of the Environment (and other related groups) that addressed this summer’s plans to monitor the water quality of the Rideau and connected tributaries. The water off Gilmour’s point in Dog Lake is currently being tested.

Quote:

“If you want it to happen, do it!” Volunteer Award recipient Alvin Wood.

Addington Highlands is prepared to work with a local beef farmer but wants a little more information before deciding how to proceed, Council decided at its regular meeting Tuesday in Flinton.

Area farmer Glenn Davison wrote a letter to the Township asking for “consideration regarding the cost of disposing of farm-generated waste once the transfer station is established.”

A beef farmer in the area since 1985, Davison went on to say: “As the costs for farm materials has tripled or quadrupled, the income made from cattle sales has remained fairly stable for the past 35 years. Additional costs to dispose of farm-related waste such as netwrap and twine off bales of hay, hay tarps and feed bags will have an additional negative impact on the already fragile bottom line in the farming industry.

“For this reason, I am asking Council to consider an exemption on farm-generated waste for farms that belong to OFA, Agricorp or have a farm business number as some other townships have done.”

“If I were him, I’d burn it,” said Roads and Waste Management Supervisor Brett Reavie. “But that wouldn’t be environmentally friendly.”

“I’d burn it too,” said Coun. Helen Yanch. “I wonder what waste it is.

“Is some of it recycling?

“I don’t know what he’s asking.”

“We’re not changing any of our tipping fees at the transfer station,” said CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed.

“They (farmers) already get a 75 per cent reduction on their taxes,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “What are other Townships doing with farm waste?”

Council instructed Reavie to contact Davison to see if some of his waste could be recycled and to conduct further research as to what neighbouring municipalities are doing with similar situations.

Burn Bylaw

Council passed a new open-air burning bylaw, the same one as neighbouring North Frontenac with which Addington Highlands shares a joint fire department for Barrie Ward.

Fire Chief Casey Cuddy said the new bylaw isn’t much different than the old one, “basically re-worded to make it easier for residents to understand.”

It does however, ban the use of fire lanterns in the Township.

Mandatory septic inspection? No

Addington Highlands won’t be instituting a mandatory septic reinspection program for lakefront properties, following a report from Chief Building Official Mike Twiddy.

Twiddy made the recommendation following a request from a resident.

“We thought this was coming from the Mazinaw Property Owners Association but the resident didn’t represent the association,” Twiddy said. “But I looked into it and while the Ontario Building Code was recently amended to establish and govern mandatory on-site sewage system maintenance inspection programs established by local enforcement bodies, we have the authority to establish an inspection program or not.

“I talked with some other municipalities and most agreed that if you have a program like we have with KFL&A Health Unit, you’re best just to leave it with them.

“If you take it over, you’re just potentially putting yourself into an antagonistic situation.”

He said that Belleville initiated a mandatory inspection program but phased it out as it became unworkable.

Fisheries Act

Addington Highlands passed a resolution adding its support to the Township of Bonnechere Valley to have changes to Section 2(2) of the Fisheries Act contained in Bill C-68 removed.

The amendment will deem any body of water capable of supporting fish as being a fish habitat.

“Whereas consequential of this amendment, puddles in farm fields, municipal lands, drainage ditches or water reservoirs can possibly be declared fish habitats,” said the Bonnechere motion, which also said the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association has said the amendment “will place a crippling regulatory burden on family-owned operations.”

Central Frontenac Township passed a bylaw reducing speed limits through the hamlet of Sharbot Lake at its regular meeting Tuesday night at Oso Hall in Sharbot Lake.

Under the new regulations, Road 38 shall be 70 kph from Hwy 7 to 14551 (about the Child Centre) and 50 kph from there to 14000 Road 38 (about Brewer Road). The new regulations do not affect the school zone in front of GREC, which remains at 40 kph during school hours.

Also, the remaining roadways within the hamlet shall be reduced to 40 kph. These roadways include Elizabeth Street, Garrett Street, Robert Street, Mathew Street, Thomson Street, Cannon Road, Legion Road, Medical Centre Road and Wing Crescent.

Also, Council approved the purchase of a “solar-powered school zone device” for $12,652 plus HST.

Acting Public Works Manager David Armstrong said in his report concerns had been raised by the OPP and communicated to the Community Policing Advisory Committee over the number of differing speed zones along the 4.3 kilometre stretch of Road 38 where there were nine posted speed limit signs travelling south and eight posted speed limit signs travelling northbound.

“Sgt. (Buff) Chadwich based out of the Sharbot Lake OPP detachment brought forward some concerns regarding the posted speed limit signage on Road 38, specifically from Highway 7 to Brewer Road,” Armstrong said. “The message conveyed by the officer was that there were too many speed limit signs and there was no consistency, making it difficult for them to enforce.”

Stairs to cost more

Council approved an additional $1,237.60 for the stairs project at Oso Hall to deal with rotting sill plate discovered during the renovations. The additional costs will come from the 2019 budget.

Washroom woes

The washrooms at Oso Beach are temporarily out of order due to problems with auto-flush valves and water supply. Manager of Development Services Andy Dillon told Council that parts are on order (rubber seals) and that there is no evidence the damage is anything more than normal wear and tear.

In the meantime, two portable outdoor toilets have been installed at a cost of $90 for both plus a weekly fee of $65 each plus 8 per cent for sewage disposal. He said rates for for a minimum four-week rental which will allow them to be used for Canada Day.

Premium gas prevents wear and tear?

Dep. Mayor Victor Heese wanted to know why the Township uses premium gasoline in its fleet.

Acting Public Works Manager David Armstrong said that “it prevents wear and tear” and “that some people say it doesn’t.

“If Council wants us to switch to regular fuel, we can do that after this contract,” Armstrong said.

Palliative Care

Matt Walker of Compassionate Care and Sandy Whaley of South Frontenac Community Services addressed Council wanting to get their message out that palliative care services are now available in the area.

Walker said they have several goals including end-of-life care and support, creating access and capacity for a visiting hospice program, reducing social isolation and reducing emergency department visits and/or unnecessary hospitalization.

He said the area involved is more than 4,000 square kilometres with a very low population density, a higher percentage of people over 50 and over 65 than most of Ontario and a lower median income.

Whaley said that part of what they do is giving caregivers a break for a couple of hours or so.

“Our volunteers don’t come to entertain you or be entertained,” she said. “It can take a lot of energy to be social but you don’t know that until you have no energy,” she said.

As a general rule, public meetings on zoning bylaws don’t attract a large audience. North Frontenac’s such meeting last Friday at the Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna was an exception to that rule as the hall was full.

Planner Tracy Zander of ZanderPlan began the meeting by outlining several of the recent changes that have been made to the bylaw as a result of public feedback.

“The original plan was to take six to eight months,” she said. “But it’s been over a year now.”

Following a public meeting in November of last year, she said the main changes have included:

• The deletion of ‘forestry management’ and the inclusion of a new definition for ‘commercial forestry operation’

• New guidelines for ‘principle storage units’ in rural zones on properties that have no principle dwelling units

• Guidelines pertaining to boathouses

• Permission for ‘rural co-op housing,’ which she said “has a long history in the township”

• Parking for island and water access only properties

But while there were those who came to discuss most of the above changes, the issue receiving the most attention seemed to be Areas of Natural and Scientific Interest (ANSI).

The ANSIs, created by the Province, severely restrict development and/or usage in order to protect unique features, such as animal or plant habitat, or geological features.

ANSIs are noted in Frontenac County’s Official Plan as well as the Township Official Plan.

However, there has been considerable opposition to their inclusion in the zoning bylaw from a variety of sources, including residents who might like to subdivide their property in the future (for offspring and other uses), logging operators and/or mining operations such as gravel pits.

Much of the opposition comes in the form of not knowing the specifics of why the the individual ANSIs were created in the first place and if they still are applicable (for example in the case of species protection, are the species still present).

Mayor Ron Higgins has been trying to get some answers from MNRF for some time now without much success.

“It’s been a high priority for me this past month and we did invite the MNRF to have a representative here for this meeting but they’ve had cutbacks and put a ban on travel,” he said. “We couldn’t convince anyone from Bancroft to come (and) we cannot acquire the designation justification documents.”

“We just feel overall, we shouldn’t have to prove the MNRF wrong,” said resident and owner of a gravel pit business Darwyn Sproule. “MNRF should prove they’re (ANSIs) needed.

“County planning exceeded (its authority) by promoting regional ANSIs to the same level as provincial ANSIs.”

In Sproule’s case, an ANSI has been laid over his licensed gravel operation.

Mark Snider, a planning consultant hired by Sproule said that zoning an ANSI as Environmentally Protected is “excessive and unnecessary.

“The ANSI west of Palmerston Lake includes a significant portion of the Ompah Settlement Area (and) if a new lot is created, it triggers an approval process.

“The ANSI would then trigger an environmental impact study (which can cost thousands of dollars).”

While Higgins told the crowd that there would be no decisions taken that day and that the meeting was for Council to gather information, Council did pass a resolution instructing staff to “remove ANSIs from the Zoning Bylaw” to considerable applause.

(Editors note – Darwyn Sproule is the Public Works Manager for the Township of North Frontenac as well as a property owner. He was speaking as a private citizen at the meeting, not a township official)

Johnston Point: Gold Standards and Big Microscopes

In their responses to the developer’s request for a one-year extension of the three year old draft plan of approval for the Johnson Point plan of condominium, which is due to expire at the end of June, Council members made their unhappiness with the process very clear.

Although final decisions about plans of condominium rest with Frontenac County, the township’s recommendations on matters relating to condo and subdivision developments are forwarded to the county to become part of the decision-making process.

Developer Gavin Marshall of Magenta Waterfront Development, which assumed responsibility for the Johnson Point project in March, introduced himself as a person with strong local connections, having grown up in Prince Edward County and graduated from Queen’s. He spoke of the “unprecedented degree of scrutiny and analysis that has made this the gold standard for waterfront developments.” He said the condo corporation would have an environmental committee formed of residents who were totally committed to the environment and the area.

“Johnson Point will produce great economic benefits for the Township and will cement and elevate South Frontenac as a place with extremely high environmental standards,” he said: “Johnston Point is the gold standard future we all need to get to.” Marshall complimented Township staff for their help and commitment: “Our Corporation has the expertise and financial ability to help you bring this project to completion in the next few months.”

Marshall introduced Tracy Zander, planning consultant and project manager. “In spite of two extensions, I feel we are close to getting registration,” said Zander, “but to date, we have been unable to obtain a copy of the Benefit Agreement.”

This is the problem: a benefit permit from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Fisheries (MNRF) is required before the subdivision can be registered, and neither the Township nor the current developer has been able to obtain a copy of this document. The document delineates protective measures to be undertaken for the surrounding wetland habitat and identified species at risk at the site (including Blandings turtles, Black Rat snakes, and Whipporwills). The MNRF issued the Benefit Permit for the Johnston Point project on November 14, 2018, to the then proponent of the project (Gary Beach) and claims that it is unable to share the permit with township or county. To date Beach has refused to share the document, the County has been unable to get a copy, and has filed a Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act request to obtain one that can be shared with the Township. Marshall is also in the process of trying to obtain a copy of the benefit permit. Later in the meeting, Beach came as a delegate in reference to another subdivision, saying only that “there will be time to speak to other developments at another date.”

As Claire Dodds, Director of Development Services for South Frontenac Township, explained to the News earlier in the day in a telephone interview, the township cannot make a recommendation to the county until it sees the benefit agreement. The township needs to know that whatever is required under that agreement has been satisfied before it can recommend that the county give final approval for the plan of condominium.

“Without seeing the agreement, we are stuck,” she said.

The township has made a freedom of information request to try and force the MNRF to release the document, and Dodd’s recommended that council grant the one year extension to allow the benefit agreement and other issues enough time to play themselves out.

Deputy Mayor Sleeth led the response by some sharp questioning of the unavailability of the Benefit permit, asking why nothing seemed to have been done until now, even though Magenta had taken over the project more than two months ago. He went on to point out that neither council nor staff had been permitted to enter the Johnson point property until very recently, to see what was going on.

Councillor Sutherland said that although it was good to talk to the majority shareholder, in his opinion “Johnson Point is an inappropriate space (for development), no matter what the gold standard is.” He listed five issues that have come up in the past five years, including the “unconscionable” construction of a bridge without a building permit, and brush clearing along the shoreline.

Marshall responded that construction of the offending bridge had halted, and an engineer had been retained to draw up a design to accompany a building permit application. He added that although branches had been cut along the shoreline, no trees had been removed and this had been all right with their consulting biologist. Sutherland countered this by saying that regulations for the 30 metre setback stated that all vegetation should be retained and maintained; “It’s pretty clear that this means all vegetation. We have been working hard to protect our shorelines and don’t want to see niggling and picking away at branches and fallen trees, etc.”

“This is your issue, not ours,” said Councillor Ruttan when Marshall complained that Mr Beach had refused to release the Benefit Permit to him. “I question it is gold standard when a lot of work has been done without approval: seeking permission after the fact is hardly ‘gold standard’. Also, how do you plan to hold the new owners to a standard?”

Marshall replied, “We’re under a really big microscope here. No way could we get away with cutting corners. It can be tough to legislate human nature, but the residents will have a commonality of interest - they will be interested in conservation.” Ruttan responded that the big magnifying glass didn’t seem to have worked so far.

“The municipality has put in hundreds of hours on this project, and it has cost us thousands of dollars,” said Sleeth, “with no benefit to the Township to date.”

Marshall responded that he, too, had a lot of money - ten million dollars -invested, and five pending sales, once the project had final approval: “We have high environmental standards. It is regrettable, deplorable and unfortunate that these standards have not been upheld. The microscope has been greatly expanded now that our company has taken over.”

Councillor Revill said he was disappointed Mr Beach was not more forthcoming, but at this point he could not support what appears to be a very last-minute request for an extension. “It feels like a very adversarial relationship between the developer and council.”

Council narrowly defeated an amendment that would have seen the matter referred to the development committee, which meets later this week, for recommendations to a special meeting of Council that could be called shortly afterward.

In a recorded vote, Council also turned down the recommendation that they approve the requested year’s extension of draft plan approval. (Only Mayhor Vandewal and Coucillor Leonard were in favour).

The minutes of the evening’s discussion and outcome will be forwarded to the County, who will make the final decision.

Two other requests for draft plan extensions: Cranberry Cove condominium and Ouellette subdivision, both in Storrington, were approved without discussion.

Cowboy Mounted Shooting Range

Council directed stuff to issue a letter of ‘no objection’ to the private shooting range proposed near Piccadilly for the purpose of Cowboy Mounted Shooting, subject to both Phillip Smith and Jamie Lloyd entering into an agreement with the Township as outlined in the report of May 29, 2019. Conditions limit the times of use, and stipulate that no live ammunition will be discharged on the range, as well as other details. This support will be granted on a trial basis of 6 months and will be subject to renewal upon evaluation. The range will also be governed by the Firearms Act and Regulations, as administered by the Chief Firearms Officer.

SF Official Plan Review

Council will hold a special meeting on August 6, to consider revisions to the Official Plan, and three public meetings will be scheduled, to gain public input on lakes and natural environment, rural lands and economy, settlement areas and community. These will be publicly advertised.

Premier’s letter to municipal councils

Premier Ford’s letter of May 23, which withdraws this year’s retroactive funding cuts for public health, paramedic series and child care, also asks municipalities to find new and better ways to cut costs.

This drew a tart response from council and staff.

Outgoing CAO Wayne Orr: “I do not believe for a moment that South Frontenac is wasteful or overstaffed. Rather we deliver exceptional services with the resources we have and have taken steps towards being self-sufficient rather than relying upon grants in order to meet expectations.

“I do acknowledge that there could be different processes, but caution that they may come at a cost to service delivery, access to services and programs or staff morale and retention. Efforts to identify potential efficiencies and / or savings are best focused on the big picture items rather than looking at how much is spent on office supplies, how many paint brushes we buy a year or how much we pay for rust proofing etc.”

Councillor Sutherland: “Council knows how to save and spend money: this is disrespectful.”

Deputy Mayor Sleeth: “I agree; we do a really good job of managing our finances.”

Mayor Vandewal: “There’s always room for improvement, but it doesn’t seem like the (recommended) exercise is worth it.”

Central Frontenac Township deferred making a commitment on regional roads at its regular meeting Tuesday evening in Mountain Grove until it hears back from lawyer Tony Fleming as to what a “1 per cent ownership of regional roads and bridges” means in a proposal drafted up by Frontenac County and presented to the four member townships for ratification.

In a report to Central Frontenac Council, Dep. Clerk Cindy Deachman said: “staff have some reservations about the 1 per cent ownership model and how it would integrate with the jurisdiction sections of the Municipal Act.

Frontenac County currently owns no roads and/or bridges as part of the restructuring order at amalgamation. As such, it is not eligible for some grant money to be applied to roads such as 38 or 509/506. What the townships are concerned about is how much say the County would have in road repairs and how much of any grant money the County would administer.

For example, would a County staff member be the one to decide if a pothole on Road 38 got fixed? Or would the County have the right to hire staff to make such decisions?

North Frontenac Township passed a similar resolution at its meeting Monday in Plevna, wanting to know the same things Central does before making a decision on which of several proposals the County has made to support, if any.

South Frontenac has already endorsed a proposal that grants Frontenac County a 1 per cent ownership interest in agreed-upon regional roads and proposes contracting out for any engineering services required to apply for and/or administer grants.

Mayor Frances Smith said she was concerned that by deferring, they may miss out on some funding.

Hydro for Railway Heritage Park

Central Frontenac Council gave its consent to the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society to have Hydro One install a pole at Railway Heritage Park in order to get power to the tool shed and for things like security cameras and amplifiers/PA for concerts and other events.

Co-chair Gary Giller and Treasurer Wayne Moase told Council that they had the funds to have the services installed but asked for help with the monthly hydro fees.

They also asked if they could be put under the Township’s insurance for liability and damage to assets.

When Dep. Mayor Victor Heese wondered if the Society should become a Committee of Council to accommodate these requests, Mayor Frances Smith pointed out that if they ceased to be a private society, their opportunities for grants would become severely limited.

Council agreed to have staff look into the insurance aspects and also to examine a ‘donation’ to pay hydro and/or insurance as if has done with other groups in the Township.

RKY Hall

Mayor Frances Smith said that RKY Camp on Eagle Lake is building a 150-seat banquet hall that should be finished by 2020 at the latest.

“This will be an asset to the Township to be able to seat 150 people for dinner,” she said. “It could attract a lot of convention type business.”

Swiss Smith

On becoming a Swiss TV star (ie appearing in the Swiss TV show featuring two Frontenac paramedics switching places with two Swiss paramedics), Mayor Frances Smith seemed somewhat underwhelmed.

“Something that takes 20 minutes ended up taking two hours because we had to do it three times,” she said. “I guess that’s television.”

The recent public works managers meetings to discuss Frontenac County’s Waste Management Review were something of an eye-opener for North Frontenac’s Darwyn Sproule.

“Being relatively new, it was a good education for me,” Sproule told North Frontenac Council at its regular meeting Monday morning in Plevna. “I was surprised at the varying operations.”

In his written report to Council, he said: “I found the report provided an effective review of the current operations, differences between the four Townships, potential efficiencies and practical ‘go forward’ initiatives.

“No doubt the study was challenging since our waste operations range from entirely rural with waste sites/transfer stations to rural without any landfills to urban communities with curbside pickup.”

He said there were some “good ideas” to come out of the meetings, such as sharing transport of recyclables and equipment like shredders.

But he also warned there could be big changes coming, especially in post-landfill scenarios.

“Our capacity is something we have to be aware of,” he said. “We may not have any control over it.”

He said the Townships need to work together closely on joint initiatives.

He also said he’s looking for volunteers to staff the re-use centre two half-days a week.

Coun. John Inglis was somewhat critical of the Waste Management Review.

“I see as incremental, rather than visionary,” he said. “There was a County report on energy from waste (and) this does ignore one part of the strategic plan.”

“Some systems require a lot of waste to operate,” Sproule said. “But there are systems that require 24 tons a day, which is what Kingston produces.”

“When I look at this report, it seems to be a short-term solution,” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

“Some things are short-term,” Sproule said. “We used to get paid for much of our recycling but now we’re paying $80/ton to get glass recycled.

“The other thing we’re struggling with is Styrofoam, there’s no market for it.

“But by the same token, we don’t want to change what the public has been used to doing by bringing things in.”

Cost of dying going up

Council amended its Fees and Charges Bylaw to with respect to cemeteries. A lot costs $480.25 for a resident which includes interment rights, care and maintenance and HST. For non-residents the cost is $553.70. For Cremation lots, the cost is $264.42 (residents) and $335.61 (non-residents). Casket internment costs $734.50 and cremation interment $339.

“It’s going to cost us more to die,” said Coun. Vernon Hermer.

“It’s really not that expensive,” said Coun. Fred Fowler.

Will Elvis will be in the building?

When CAO Cheryl Robson brought up a request to use Council Chambers for wedding ceremonies, it caused Coun. John Inglis to quip: “We’re going to be just like Las Vegas.”

Which in turn brought this from Coun. Vern Hermer: “Are you going to dress up like Elvis?”

Higgins seeking efficiency; declares one Small Township deceased

Mayor Ron Higgins gave notice of motion that he intended to ask for a consultant to come in to recommend “efficiencies” in the way the Township goes about things.

When asked is the One Small Township project was “officially dead,” Mayor Ron Higgins replied “yes,” adding that he was returning a substantial “donation” check to the B.C. First Nations group who had intended to invest in it.

It started out as a plan to build a self-sustaining community of environmentally sustainable homes made of used tires and other materials, called Talking Trees. It then expanded into an initiative called “One Small Town” that was based on the concept of contributionism, and the philosophy of Ubuntu, as espoused by Michael Tellinger, the South African founder of the Ubuntu liberation movement.

Members of the community could contribute their labour towards a variety of initiatives in return for some of the benefits of the project. A simple example was a proposed apiary. By taking on some of the labour, contributors would not only get as much honey as they required, they would also share in the profits when the excess honey was sold.

The project, which was championed by North Frontenac Mayor Ron Higgins, eventually included a renewable energy component using lake water, as well as the potential for a self-contained

North Frontenac Council expressed its, somewhat reluctant, support for the venture on a couple of occasions, making sure to stipulate that the township was making no financial commitment.

In November of 2017, a group came to a meeting of council to formally introduce the concept. A home in Plevna was purchased and the first project, an apiary, was to start up in the spring of 2018.

Meanwhile, Ron Higgins was talking up the project. He appeared in CBC interviews and other public forums on social media. He told the CBC that the project was going to progress quickly.

"In two or three years time, once this is all done, we will go into the bigger $20-million projects," he said in an interview on CBC Ottawa on January 28, 2018.

Later, it appeared that that David Craig, who had spearheaded the Talking Trees tire home building project, began working independently from the group that was based in Plevna.

The Talking Trees – North Frontenac website indicates that a property has been purchased for the project and that 144 lots have been marked out. Of those, 5 are marked sold, 2 1.5 acre lots at a listed price of $66,000, a one-acre lot at a listed price of $44,000, and 2 ½ acre lots at a listed price of $22,000.

The site says that the lots will be formally approved in 2020.

“​Once the Plan of Subdivision has been approved, lots will be available conventionally. (approval for Plan of Subdivision expected summer 2020)” it says on the site.

Late in 2018, Mayor Higgins said that a first nation from British Columbia was set to invest in the project.

There has been no further formal word until this week, when the agenda for the upcoming meeting of North Frontenac Council was released. The agenda includes an administrative report from Mayor Higgins under the heading “One Small Town”.

The very short report consists of the three council motions that have been passed regarding the project, and the following comment.

“Based on intensive research and analysis, since November 2017, of the proposed One Small Town program, I have concluded that the implementation of the proposed program was not going to be a viable option and have closed this proposed project.”

With that, it appears, the Mayor has, at the very least severed his involvement with “One Small Town” if he has not shut it down completely.

One North Frontenac Councillor, John Inglis, is not waiting until the council meeting next week before expressing his opinion about the demise of One Small Town.

“I am embarrassed for my township that we appear to have been so gullible. Even though Council backed away from the whole thing right at first introduction, and were questioned by the Mayor for being so negative, the public perception has always been that this was a township project. Unfortunately, this is the second promise of investment money from outside that has fallen through. The first was our Mayor’s promise that if we were able to keep wind turbines out of North Frontenac, investors were lined up to build hotel accommodation here. I actually believed that for a while. I’m sorry to say that I also believed there was a remote possibility that millions of dollars might come to this community as a result of the idealism of a group of urban visitors.” Inglis wrote on his personal blog on Tuesday afternoon (May 21).

The News called Ron Higgins late on Tuesday afternoon but he did not get back to us before our publication deadline at midnight on Tuesday night.

Higgins returned our call on Wednesday, but we did not speak until Thursday morning.

He said he had secured a contribution for the project but he found that the “organisation to get it kicked off just wasn’t going as planned. Conflicts were developing between different projects, and I could note get the kind of commonality I needed between the team leaders.”

By early March he said that he “had a nagging gut feeling that this isn’t right. We had a meeting with team members and I found out some things I had not known before. It was then that I pulled the plug.”

Higgins added that he is not connected with the Talking Trees project and does not know where it stands.

“I have maintained contact with the group behind the donation and I will be working on some individual projects that they may fund in the future, but I am no longer working on this as Mayor of North Frontenac, but as a private citizen.”

He added that the township never was asked to invest in the One Small Group project, but some staff time was spent developing a township position in relation to it.

(This article has been updated from the one that was included in the May 23 edition of the Frontenac News)

Nothing has really changed, so far, for Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health.

“From the food you eat to the water you drink, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, we make sure it is safe. That hasn’t changed,” said Dr. Kieran Moore, the medical officer of health for the region and Chief Executive Officer of the public health agency.

The agency does not yet know how much money the Province of Ontario will contribute for the current fiscal year, which started on April 1st, but that is not unusual. What is different this year, is that in the provincial budget, the government indicated that it wants to cut the overall budget for public health by $200 million, a substantial cut, but it is unclear if there will be a substantial cut this year.

“Our municipal partners have committed to covering any shortfall in funding this year so our programs will continue even if there is a cut from the province,” Moore said. “and we have heard from the ministry, who tell us that our final budget allocation will be known in a month or so.”

The province of Ontario currently contributes $18 million towards the $24 million Public Health budget in KFL&A, 75%.

Fiscal 2020/21 is not at all certain, however.

A few weeks after announcing that they plan to restructure public health and consolidate 35 health units across the province into 10 larger regional entities, the ministry revealed their intentions for Eastern Ontario.

The proposal is to create a regional health unit, based in Ottawa, to cover Renfrew, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Prescott Russel, Leeds and Grenville, Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox and Addington. The large region encompasses 29,000 square kilometres and 1.6 million residents.

Two main objections to the plan have been raised. The first is that public health organisations are most effective when they respond to the specific needs of the population that they serve, and this will be difficult to accomplish with the massive geography in the proposal.

Dr.Moore pointed out that KFL&A Public Health has developed cutting edge programs in response to Lyme Disease, which is more prevalent in its jurisdiction than elsewhere in the province, and has also been pro-active in studying and responding to high radon levels in homes, another locally significant circumstance.

“We know that smoking rates are higher in Hastings and Belleville than elsewhere, and Hastings Prince Edward Public Health has developed their own response for that reason. They also don’t have the same level of primary care than is the case elsewhere so they provide more home nursing,” said Moore.

The second objection is based on a concern about how public health is structured in Ottawa. Whereas in KFL&A, public health operates as an independent entity governed by a board of municipal politicians and appointees, in Ottawa, the service is integrated into the administration of the City of Ottawa.

“If the province is looking for cost savings, they will first have to absorb the cost of creating a new Public Health Organisation with its own building, financial office, human resources department, etc.” said Moore.

Christine Elliott, the Minister of Health, has said there will be consultations before any final decisions are made, and Moore, along with his colleagues elsewhere in Eastern Ontario, are developing alternative proposals.

One possibility is to pair Ottawa with Renfrew County to form one organisation, and create another one for Prescott-Russell, Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry, Lanark, Leeds and Grenville, Lennox and Addington, Frontenac, Kingston and Cornwall, along with Hastings County.

“I think it is more workable,” Moore told the Ottawa Citizen.

On the political level, Dennis Doyle, Mayor of Frontenac Islands and Chair of the Board for KFL&A Public Health, proposed a motion to Frontenac County Council last week.

The motion extolled the virtues of Public Health, and said that “the proposed changes by the province to create 10 Provincial Health Hubs would cause unnecessary and negative unintended consequences,”.

It then asked that the province “stop the planned reduction of Ontario public health units from 35 to 10 and planned reduction of $200 million from public health, and instead initiate consultations with municipalities and public health agencies on the public health system in Ontario,” and requested the province commit to funding 75% of public health costs going forward.

The motion was approved by Council.

Joe Gallivan, Manager for Planning and Economic Development for Frontenac County, briefed Frontenac County Council last week on a communal services report that will be coming their way next month. This is a file that Gallivan has been working on for years, but he wanted some of the newer members of the council to be more familiar with the issues in the report in advance of its release.

The Province of Ontario encourages rural municipalities to focus on development within hamlets. Since there are no hamlets in Frontenac County that have municipal water systems except for Sydenham, and there are no municipal waste water systems in the county at all, development potential within and near hamlets is limited.

“The potential for communal services within subdivisions has been around since 1995, but municipalities have not taken it up within their jurisdictions, because of fears over the potential liability coming back to the public if a communal water or waste system fails,” said Gallivan. “Over the years, the technology for septic systems has progressed substantially, and that cuts the risk.”

Communal services would mean there is one large septic system to cover an entire development instead of separate systems for each building. In some case, one of more communal wells could be included as well.

Municipalities in Ontario have two options for creating multiple building lots on a single piece of property, ‘vacant land condominium’ development, and ‘plan of subdivision’ development. Under a ‘plan of subdivision’, the municipality assumes ownership, and the associated costs, for the public infrastructure (roads, ditches, sidewalks, etc.) within a development, after the developer pays to build them to a municipal standard, whereas within a ‘plan of condominium’ the infrastructure remains the responsibility of the property owners after construction is complete.

Plans of Condominium, Gallivan said, could include responsibility for upkeep and maintenance of communal services in addition to roads and ditches, keeping municipal liability to a minimum.

“As well, if there are a number these systems within Frontenac County, there may also be an opportunity to put together a single municipal fund to cover potential liability from all of them. Individual projects would not have to cover as much liability on their own.”

In making his presentation, Gallivan used an existing development on the southwest edge of Inverary as an illustration of how much more density can be achieved using communal services. The Mathias subdivision is a 27 - acre block of land with 16 lots. The minimum lot size in the development is 1.5 acres, and each lot includes space for a well and individual septic system.

If a communal septic system were in place, the same block of land would be able to contain 42 detached lots as well as 9 townhouse lots and a small apartment complex with 12 units, plus a commercial lot. Gallivan said that once the study is released, he will be proposing that Council authorise him to go to the township councils to see if they are interested in pursuing the type of development that communal systems will make possible within their townships.

“It really comes down to what the local townships envision for their future,” he said, “the timing is good for South Frontenac, which is facing a lot of development pressure right now. The council is starting to review their Official Plan, and they will have the opportunity to accept communal services in their new plan”.

Gallivan said that one of the key elements for developers would be a consistent process and cost structure for communal water systems across the county.

“That would put Frontenac County ahead of other municipalities,” he said.

While South Frontenac is the jurisdiction that would be the most likely to see developments using the communal system model, Gallivan said he could see applications in Marysville on Wolfe Island, as well as in Central and North Frontenac.