Frontenac News - Bedford - Results from #20

Thursday, 17 April 2008 11:42

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Feature Article - April 17, 2008

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Feature Article -April 17, 2008 South Frontenac budget approvedBy Wilma Kenny

CAO Gord Burns summarized the highlights of the township’s 2008 budget.

The total budget for the year is over $19 million. The fire department came in with no increase, and the roads budget showed a deficit, but was balanced by calling in some of the reserve funds. However, the police budget went up by 16%, in spite of the cancellation of the part-time community policing position.

All other departments fell within the 2.5% to 3% increase range: this reflects negotiated salary increases and rising cost of gas, diesel and hydro. Bedford taxes will rise 4.558%, partly because of an additional $300,000 in their roads budget: this is to work toward amalgamation of the township’s four roads departments by bringing Bedford’s roads closer to the standards of the other districts. Loughborough’s taxes will rise 1.9%, Portland’s 3.255%, and Storrington’s will decrease 1.561%.

Using a property assessed at $150,000 as an example, taxes in Bedford will be $1780.67 in '08; in Portland they will be $1780.57, in Loughborough $1789.48 and in Storrington $1797.15.

There were no questions from the public, and the budget passed with no further discussion.

Tenders Awarded

Tender for the new recreation building in McMullen Park, Verona, was awarded to Shelley Home Improvements of Sydenham, for a total of $74,000 plus GST. In order to meet this price, Portland Recreation Committee was given permission to draw $5,000 from recreation reserves.

Hughson Guide Rail and Fencing’s tender of $103,919 was accepted for installation of guide rail protection on Bedford Road.

Smith Construction was awarded this year’s surface treatment tender, at the price of $1,020,726.

Provincial Infrastructure Grant

The township has been granted $2,478,832, to be used for municipal road and bridge structures. CAO Burns underlined the requirement that this money is not intended to reduce taxes, but is to augment/increase road programs. Any money not used for capital expenses related to bridges and roads during the as yet undetermined time period of the grant must be returned to the province.

Thanks to Sparks, Brownies and Guides

Mayor Davison sent a letter to the Sydenham Sparks, Brownies and Guides, thanking them for their work in doing a village clean-up on April 3.

Published in 2008 Archives

Thursday, 31 July 2008 11:21

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Editorial - July 31, 2008

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Editorial - July 31, 2008 Democracy in Action - Part 2Editorial by Jeff Green

Last Saturday the Bedford Mining Alert (BMA) held its annual meeting.

The nine year old group was founded by people who were unlucky enough to be part of the 2% of landowners in Ontario who do not own their own mining rights and happened to have found their land staked and claimed by a graphite exploration company called Graphite Mountain. This shattered the peace they had been seeking when they purchased their rural properties and turned them into political activists.

The threat to their well being from Graphite Mountain has abated, although their properties are still available for staking. There is currently no way for this to be changed, under the Mining Act of Ontario.

The Mining Act has been the target of the Bedford Mining Alert since the group came into being, and the government of Ontario has been the main target of the group’s political activism.

At their latest annual meeting, there were politicians from two of the three major parties in Ontario in attendance. Local MPP Randy Hillier was there, as was Peter Tabuns, MPP and Energy Critic for the NDP.

In the audience were several people with a lot of experience in dealing with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines and with Mining Act reform.

It was a lively political gathering, with much debate, and disagreement between parties and individuals. You might say it was democracy in action.

The one thing missing from the meeting was a representative from the one political party that has the power to act.

Minister Gravelle of the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines was not available to attend the meeting, and he sent his regrets.

He did not send a representative, or a replacement; he just turned down the invitation. It would have been helpful for the government to send someone, not necessarily to debate with the others, but simply to explain where they are headed on this file.

However I noticed a young man sitting in the second row. He had a small digital camera, with a large memory card or perhaps several cards. He recorded the entire 2 hour meeting. He was not hiding himself in any way, and it appeared to me that he was a reporter (I thought perhaps there was another new newspaper coming into our region).

It turned out the man was not a reporter. He was recording the meeting for the “Liberal Caucus”. How the caucus is distinct from the government I don't quite know.

The point is, our government does not think that it is important to explain their policy directions in open forums, they do not want to submit themselves to public scrutiny, even in the context of a meeting like the AGM of the Bedford Mining Alert, which is not exactly a mob scene.

But they do want to know what is being said about them, and they do want to monitor the proceedings.

Democracy in action indeed.

Published in 2008 Archives

Thursday, 17 July 2008 11:21

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Feature Article - July 17, 2008

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Feature Article - July 17, 2008 Basking in the history of Bedford TownshipBy Julie Druker

It is no wonder that June Quinn, Chair of the Bedford District Historical Society located at Glendower Hall at 1381 Westport Road, sometimes is amazed at the amount of information that she finds floating around in her head at any one time.

That amount recently increased exponentially since the society held an Open House on Canada Day. Roughly 40 local history buffs turned out to dine, chat, exchange stories and personal histories and to explore the wealth of historical information on display at the hall.

June was thrilled by the turn out. “It really gives people a thrill to see and touch history, especially if relates to them personally.”

A history buff herself who has delved thoroughly into her own family history, June thought originally that she’d write a book about the people from Bedford Township. She soon realized, after having spoken to many locals, what needed her immediate attention. She explains, ”More than writing a book, what was needed was a historical society where stuff could be gathered and generations could come and see their ancestors.”

So the society began three years ago this coming November and it presently boasts 15 members. Most of the artifacts that have been gathered and donated are stored and displayed in the office and library sections of the Hall. These artifacts include old documents from the town hall, schools, and churches, maps, photos, etchings, family histories, and the John Laughlin Collection of over 40 books donated to the society in December of 2007. Hours of work have gone into collecting, documenting and organizing the materials. One could spend hours exploring the history of the area and learning some very interesting facts.

For example, did you know that:

In 1896, Andrew Grey held military training sessions for local farmers at the Burridge School House? Or that the Corcoran family of Godrey,who sold their farm in the 1940s, returned every year for 15 years to celebrate their annual family reunions in the fields that no longer belonged to them? Or that a tornado touched down on Green Bay in 1963 and caused a considerable amount of damage?

Art lovers will appreciate a copy of a colored, etched landscape scene from the area titled “Wolf Lake from Fermoy Village” which was copied out of the Canadian Illustrated News and is dated November 25, 1876. The original art work is located at the national Archives in Ottawa.

After a visit to the society, one comes to understand the general history of the area.

Logging began in Bedford in the 1830s. Trains came along after that in the 1860s. In 1854 the post office opened up in Godfrey and Fermoy and the stagecoach was then extended to Westport.

Westport Road used to be called Mast Road after the huge pines that were cut down from these forests and used as masts for English ships. These fresh cut pines traveled the Westport Road and likely headed to the Rideau Canal or to Kingston, where they were loaded onto ships and sent to shipyards in England.

Also of interest is the old framed photo of the Council of Bedford Township dated from 1900 and whose frame bears a bullet hole from one gone astray, likely from the gun of a young rabble rouser.

The stories are endless and the history fascinating. All one need do is take a bit of time and stop by The Bedford District Historical Society located in Glendower Hall at 1381 Westport Road. You’ll definitely come away knowing more than you did when you stepped in.

It is open every Tuesday from 1pm-7pm in July and August. The society is also in great need of volunteers to help organize the large amount of artifacts and information coming in. Anyone interested in volunteering is greatly encouraged to do so. For more information call June Quinn at (613) 273-7241.

Published in 2008 Archives

Thursday, 07 August 2008 07:18

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Feature Article - August 7, 2008

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Feature Article - August 7, 2008 South Frontenac Township Council Aug 5, 2008By Wilma Kenny

BEDFORD BLOW-UP: An already edgy South Frontenac Council meeting erupted into disarray when council defeated a motion to "not withdraw from the Automatic Aid Agreement with Rideau Lakes Township to service a portion of Bedford District."

Fifteen Bedford residents stormed to their feet when this happened, ignoring Mayor Gary Davison’s reminder that this was not a public meeting. They demanded that their concerns be heard, either immediately or at a public meeting. Their unofficial spokesperson, Marty Humphrey, asked what had become of a petition with 150 signatures demanding that the agreement be maintained, and insisted that at no time had council held an open meeting so residents could express their concerns to all councilors.

The issue of concern is that at present the Rideau Lakes fire department has an agreement to respond to South Frontenac’s emergency calls along that portion of Bedford Road closest to Westport.

The arrangement is unusual, in that it amounts to a purchase of service, whereby the fire hall in Westport is the first responder for calls in a portion of Bedford, and South Frontenac pays a fee each year of a few thousand dollars.

The agreement differs from standard mutual aid agreements where fire departments along municipal borders help each other out for free.

Council had discussed withdrawing from the agreement at a Comiteee of the Whole meeting in June but at Councilor Hahn’s recommendation, the issue was referred to the fire marshall and the township fire committee for further discussion.

In his notes to council, CAO Burns stated that the Committee of the Whole had recommended that council not withdraw from the agreement at this time.

However, on Tuesday night, Councilors Hahn, McPhail, and Stowe, and Mayor Robinson voted not to withdraw from the agreement while Councilors Fillion, Hicks, York and Deputy Mayor Robinson voted "no; they voted not to not withdraw. Councilor Ron Vandewal abstained, as he had been on the fire committee and in these kinds of votes an abstention is equivalent to a no vote.

Councilor Hahn vociferously questioned the legality of reducing a service on what he interpreted as a tie vote on a negative option and he asked that the township seek their solicitor’s opinion on the wording of the motion.

Bedford Councillor Del Stowe noted that Bedford’s complement of firefighters is low: down from 30 to only 13. Councilor Ron Vandewal said that the Bedford firefighters have complained to him about never having any firefighting to do.

Mayor Davison assured the Bedford residents that council would revisit the issue at a Committee of the Whole meeting, though he could not promise a public meeting. He said that the present agreement will remain in place for several months yet. The Bedford residents thanked their two representatives and expressed their unhappiness with the rest of council before leaving the meeting.

PROPOSED WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth brought a proposal that council approve the Sustainability Committee’s recommendation to "accept the Public Information Program (developed by Totten Sims Hubicki), with the inclusion of the $2.00/bag household garbage user pay charge and the remaining costs funded from the general tax rate effective September 1, 2009 for presentation to the public."

In support of this, Segsworth stated: "We have an inconsistent program: six active waste sites are too many for a township this size, blue box requirements vary from district to district, and Bedford’s waste disposal leaves much to be desired. South Frontenac is managing solid waste in four different ways. A standardized system would be in the township’s best interests."

He noted that a user-pay system could finance up to half of the waste disposal system, thus reducing taxes, while also providing a strong incentive to divert more solid waste by recycling.

Councilor John Fillion said "I wasn’t at the last committee meeting: you see what happens when the cat’s away." Fillion disagrees with the user-pay system, and he outlined a scenario whereby ditches would be filling with garbage, farm dumps would re-open, and seasonal residents would not be contributing their share to the costs of running the township.

Councilor Ron Vandewal noted that the Sustainability Committee’s vote on bag tags had not been close and Fillion’s opposition would not have changed the outcome.

Deputy Mayor Bill Robinson expressed concerns that a more amalgamated waste management program might mean the rest of the township would use the Portland waste site, and Portland might lose their hard-earned reserves.

Mayor Davison commented, "Last week you seemed very willing to pump water out of Sydenham, but this week you’re not willing to share waste disposal resources."

Mark Segsworth assured Robinson that this was a 20-year plan, which would be brought into effect in stages.

David Hahn said this was a big report that addressed complex issues. He noted that the Sustainability Committee had three engineers on it, and a community member who worked for Kingston Area Recycling, as well as council and community representatives.

The motion to accept the proposal passed, supported by Hahn, McPhail, Stowe, Vandewal and Davison.

Public information centres will be :

Bedford District Community Hall (Glendower)- 9:00 am Saturday, August 23Storrington Centre, Sunbury - 7:00 pm, Tuesday Sept 9Lions Hall, Verona -7:00 pm Wed, Sept 10Town Hall, Sydenham - 7:00 pm, Sept 11

Coyote kills up, housing starts down

Eight coyote kills of cattle were recorded in July, at a total cost of just over $3,000 to the province. Construction starts in the township have been somewhat lower for the first half of 2008, compared to last year. There is no indication this latter fact is in any way connected to coyote predation.

Library Advisory Committee

Council established a committee to advise on plans for a new library and enlarged municipal office space. Public representatives are: Stephanie Hook, Steve Lapp, John McDougall and Wilma Kenny; Council representatives are: Fillion, Vandewal, Hahn and Robinson.

Township employees praised for excellent work

Lorrie Ann Lane of Verona wrote to thank Assistant Clerk Angela Maddox "for going above and beyond the call of duty" to assist in finding a temporary replacement for crossing guard at Prince Charles School during a time of family illness. "Residents should know there are still good people in the world we live in."

Ron Maguire, Mayor of North Frontenac, thanked the mayor and council for sharing South Frontenac’s Chief Building Officer, Alan Revill, on a part-time temporary basis, until a replacement could be found. "We could not have been better cared for. Courteous, knowledgeable and professional, he has provided guidance and assistance to every one of us here in North Frontenac."

Published in 2008 Archives

Thursday, 25 September 2008 07:15

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Sept 25/08 - Letters

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Letters - September 25,2008 Letters: Sept 25

Vision Needed for Railway Museum, Peter Hennessy

Curbside Pickup MakesNo Sense in Bedford, Bernie Gelineau

Walking on a Country Road, Kimberly Bate

"Pro-Choice" The Great Paradox, Francis MacDonald

Why Call An Election?, Sylvia Powers

Vision Needed for Railway Museum

It was heartening to read in your Sept. 11 issue about the effort to create a railway museum in Sharbot Lake. Though showing only a glimmer of success to date, the bright light of enthusiasm for local history will finally prevail.

In Kingston, where I live, there is a sputtering effort to save the CN station on outer Montreal St. This architectural gem, dating back to 1856 and the Grand Trunk Railway, is in danger of collapse as a result of a fire in 1996. With the station no longer in use, CN Rail chose not to repair the building. The City of Kingston elected not to buy the station for one dollar in 2003. The heritage protection agencies, local, provincial and federal, now stand in the way of CN selling the station property for commercial purposes. Thus, there is a standoff. The idea of a Kingston Railway Museum as a recreational and educational centrepiece in north Kingston has not made much progress because everybody concerned is hoping that somebody else will pick up the tab. The Smiths Falls Railway Museum offers a convincing argument against the faint-hearted and the municipal bean counters. Gary Giller of the Sharbot Lake Committee is quite right in emphasizing the need for a vision to bring the idea into reality. Such a vision should be formed around community memories and civic enthusiasm. When we lose our history, we lose part of our common soul.

Peter H Hennessy

Curbside Pickup Makes No Sense in Bedford

have been a seasonal resident of Bedford for almost 25 years. Before amalgamation Bedford had six dumpsites; now, under the new proposed waste management plan the district will be down to two locations. To move away from dumpsites and to provide the same service across South Frontenac, the plan calls for Bedford to have curb-side pickup where practical. For many in Bedford, this does not make sense.

Firstly, Bedford has 75% of its residents seasonal while the other districts have 9% to 18%.

Secondly, Bedford has an extensive system of laneways, some with many properties on them. In some cases the entrance and exit cross other municipal boundaries.

Thirdly, Bedford has large areas of wilderness and lakes with an extensive wildlife population.

A group of us on our laneway reasoned that if the plan proceeds, many of us will be required to have curb-side pickup somewhere away from our properties and this might result in a lack of supervision. Where there is a joint responsibility for curb-side disposing of waste, we foresee the human factor regarding the maintenance of the waste site along with the intrusion of wildlife to be a problem.

On our lane there are 15 properties. Of these, one resident is permanent; six are full-time seasonal spending almost six months at the lake; three properties are rented, and the rest are used on a less consistent basis. The seven who are more full-time have sent a signed petition to our two local councillors asking that we continue the practice of going to the dumpsite with our waste and recyclables. In all likelihood South Frontenac plans to proceed so all we ask is that Council incorporate some flexibility in the policy.

At the entrance to the Bradshaw road off Cty Rd. 38 there is a rickety sign from the old Bedford days. The man-made sign says "Keep Bedford Beautiful". That is what we want to do.

Bernie Gelineau

Walking on a Country Road

Is there someone out there who believes it is okay to put peaceful citizens who love their country into high security prison for speaking out against pollution? What do you think about using tax dollars to send police to cite ordinary, peaceful citizens for either walking upon, or listening to stories while standing upon, a vacant country road?

More than a year ago we learned as a community that a uranium mining company had set up shop, and intended to drill for uranium without notifying the people with claims to those lands. Many local citizens, organizations and Native members spoke up against this, including an award-winning teacher from Queen’s, who went to high security prison. The local, national and international outcry was huge. Finally a Toronto court ruled that the Kingston court was out of its mind (they did not put it quite that way), and Bob and others were released.

However, the story did not end there. Last winter a woman was walking along a wooded country road, when police cited her for violating the Kingston court order to stay clear of the mining company. Several others were also cited. Next week, my uncle David has to stand before the court. He was up on that road, far from the mining company gates, to listen to Bob Lovelace tell Algonquin stories. You see it's Algonquin homelands up there. Environmentalists also stop by, because they want the mining company to realize they have not forgotten it’s there. Meanwhile, you pay tax dollars for police, citations, paperwork, court appearances, judges and all the rest, so the provincial criminal justice system can stop people from walking a country road.

The higher court has said, in my understanding, it is legal in Canada for peaceful people to walk upon a country road. Yet strangely, the Kingston court continues to do as it pleases.

On September 26 my uncle David has to stand before the Kingston court. My uncle David served honorably in the military reserves. He is a trained medical technician. He is a skilled computer services man. Locals know him because you will see his truck pulling a tourist or a cottager’s car out of the ditch. He will fix your lawn mower or your computer just because. He believes in community and helping others and love of country. He retired with health issues, and his sister (my mother) is ill, but he still finds time to care about culture, neighbors, and what is right.

I just want you to know that Ontario citizens are still being harassed, cited and expected in court, despite everything we achieved and the court agreeing with us. The mining company makes no indication they care whatsoever about toxic byproducts or violating land claims or sneaking onto your property without your permission. They seem to be quietly waiting us out. It seems the Kingston court, the mining company and whoever is hoping to line his pockets with mining revenue, are quietly expecting that we forget. However, we will not. We will not forget the vitality, beauty and safety of our water, our land, and the future of our grandchildren.

So I ask you to be there in thought, if not in body, with David, on 26 September.

Kimberly Bate

“Pro-Choice” - The Great Paradox

I would like to address some inaccuracies and inconsistencies in the “Pro-Choice” movement as well as the left wing media’s dishonest and unethical coverage of the abortion debate.

During the Quebec Referendum, the Bloc initially referred to the rest of Canada as “English-speaking Canada”, accurate, albeit mildly misleading. This label was, however, quickly replaced with “English Canada”, inaccurate, in that this country is comprised in large part of the descendants of those who fled to Canada to escape racial or religious persecution in their own countries at the hands of the English (as was the case with my own Scottish ancestors), and dishonest in that it was intended to play on centuries-old distrust and animosity between the French and English. The same holds true for the labels applied to both sides of the abortion debate by those who support abortion, labels that are so uniformly accepted by the mainstream media.

The label “Pro-Choice” connotes a positive. “Pro”, progressive or positive, and “Choice”. The label “Anti-Abortion” on the other hand conjures up only negative images. As an ardent “Pro-Lifer”, I take issue with the Anti-Abortion label for two reasons. First I consider myself to be pro-choice. I cannot imagine an LCBO with only one brand of wine in stock or a gas station with only one type of candy bar on the rack, and second because I don’t believe that the Anti-Abortion label fully exposes the viciousness and depravity of my pro-life views. I am also opposed to murder (in any other form) including genocide and euthanasia of the elderly or infirm.

The Conservative Government has recently introduced Unborn Victims of Violence legislation that would, in a case where a pregnant woman was assaulted and her baby was killed as a result of the attack, force the judge to consider the unborn child’s death in sentencing the accused. The Pro-Choice movement in Canada has voiced their opposition to this bill, citing the fact that it would undermine existing abortion legislation in this country but in doing so have unwittingly undermined their own position in the abortion debate, not to mention their credibility.

In order to credibly refer to yourself as Pro-Choice, you must defend just as vigorously a woman’s “choice” to continue her pregnancy as you do her right to end it. As Ayn Rand once said “Whenever you experience a contradiction in your philosophy, it’s time to rethink your premises because one of them is wrong.”

In the end, the publicly-funded left wing media in this country will not ask the Pro-Choice movement to change their mantra from “I respect your right to choose” to “I respect your right to choose if you choose like me”. Nor will they be asked to “rethink their premises”, but it is my submission that those ardent abortion supporters are, at best, not only “ “ Pro-Abortion” but possibly “Anti-Life”.

Well, I threw it out there. Let’s see if that label sticks.

Francis MacDonald

Why Call An Election?

Canadians are likely wondering why Stephen Harper called an election before his mandate was up especially since the Liberals have supported all of his 43 motions but two, not a dysfunctional government. Perhaps it is because on June 3, 2008, a motion in the House of Commons was approved stating “that the government immediately implement a program to allow conscientious objectors and their immediate family members who have refused or left military service related to a war not sanctioned by the United Nations and do not have a criminal record, to apply for permanent resident status and remain in Canada” and that any moves towards deportations cease. The conservative government chose to ignore this motion despite a poll showing 64% of Canadians would support it.

They also ignored the Federal Court of Canada which respected the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the UN Declaration on Human Rights regarding rights of conscience in its decisions regarding two such refugee claims made on July 4 and 9. On the 4th the federal court sent Joshua Keps’ refugee claims back to the Immigration and Refugee Board for consideration. On the 9th Corey Glass’s deportation order was stayed by the Federal Court. Yet on the 11th of July another “war resister” was arrested and was the first to be deported on July 15. He will face months of detention, a long prison sentence and loss of health benefits because of a felony conviction. War resisters are former U.S. soldiers who refused to serve in Iraq because of the illegality of the war and its impact on the thousands of Iraqi civilians. Canadians cheered Chretien when he would not join the U.S. in this non-UN sanctioned war. Canada has a history of providing refuge to people who refused to fight in Vietnam.

The conservatives are ignoring the wishes of parliament and the federal court and the majority of Canadians. Also Stephen Harper has been having secret meetings with U.S. officials to integrate our currency, armed forces, and immigration policies. It has been only thanks to whistleblowers and the Council of Canadians among other organizations that this has been exposed. He is acting outside of parliament through orders-in-council, imitating his friend George Bush who seems to have more power than Congress. He must be stopped. Unfortunately, there are too many parties on the left, which will spread the opposition vote. Can they not get together to support the leftist candidate most likely to win? I think that Scott Reid is a nice person but like all the other members of his party, he has to vote the way Stephen Harper dictates.

Sylvia Powers

Published in 2008 Archives

Thursday, 04 September 2008 07:16

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Sept 4, 2008 - SF Waste Management

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Feature Article - September 4, 2008 Waste Management to be debated in South FrontenacBy Jeff Green

Of all the issues to be sorted out in South Frontenac over the next few months: finalizing the official plan, putting the Sydenham water issue to bed once and for all (which happened this week), and changing the way waste is collected, the last is the one that people throughout the township will notice most.

The reason for this is that the way garbage is collected will change: change in the way it is picked up, where we have to take it, and how much and in what way we will pay for it to be disposed of.

Waste management is also one of the last bastions of the area rating system that has been a feature of municipal life in South Frontenac since the township came into existence some 10 years ago.

As of now, the situation varies widely from district to district. In Bedford district, ratepayers deliver their garbage to several small dump sites, most of which are nearly full.

In all three other districts there is garbage and recycling pickup, and the township provides enough bag tags for two bags of garbage each week, but the similarities in service mask stark differences in what happens to the waste stream after the garbage is picked up.

Portland district is home to the largest site in the township, with a potential ability to handle Portland’s waste for another 30 years. The Loughborough dump has limited life left in it, and in Storrington the waste is transported out of the township and is dumped at a commercial site, for a fee.

Residents in Loughborough, Portland, and Storrington pay about $125 each year in waste management fees as part of their tax bill, while in Bedford the fee is $25. Residents receive 100 bag tags each year, and additional tags cost $3 each.

The Waste Management Plan that was approved by the township’s sustainability committee in draft form was presented to the public in Bedford District recently and will be the subject of meetings in the other three districts over the next two weeks (see ad on page 13). It envisions a basic change in the way waste is managed in South Frontenac. In practical terms the changes for ratepayers would be greatest in Bedford District, where curbside pickup is proposed on township roads.

The other major impact noticed by the public would be how the system is funded. Instead of annual fees, the report proposes establishing a standardized user-pay bag tag system in the township.

This proposal is outlined on page 35 of the report.

“13.1 – The Township of South Frontenac should continue to require bag tags on all garbage bags. The Township should move towards a standard bag tag that can be used by all residents.

13. – The Township should consider changes to its bag tag system with the objective to encourage more recycling and diversion. Consideration should be given to full user pay.”

The report goes on to say that the township “should determine what system best serves its long term needs and then prepare a transition plan to implement the final system.”

In terms of the backbone of the system, the report calls for sweeping changes. It recommends that all the township’s garbage be kept within the township, and that dump sites be considered as a township resource for use by the entire township.

This would mean that the garbage from Storrington district would end up in South Frontenac landfill sites instead of being exported. Some sites, particularly those that are nearing capacity, would likely be filled up first, and sites might be temporarily closed as other sites are used up. This promises to be the most controversial aspect of the report.

Under this scenario the township would be out of dumping capacity by 2024, based on current practices and dumping volumes. If the districts kept their garbage to themselves, however, Loughborough would run out of space in 2021, Bedford in 2025, and Portland in 2046, with Storrington continuing to dump outside of the township.

However, mainly through the use of increased compaction, increasing recycling and other diversion practices, the report says the township should be able to continue dumping until 2039 without having to look at establishing new sites or expanding its Salem site in Bedford or its Portland site.

Currently, South Frontenac diverts about 20% of its waste, and the goal is to increase that to 50% in the coming years through increased recycling, e-waste diversion, and establishing a collective composting program.

The complete report is available on the township’s website (township.southfrontenac.on.ca). Click on “General Info” in the menu on the left side of the page, then on “dump/landfill/recycling information”, then on “waste management plan report.”