Editor’s note: This article by Teresa Shevchenko was written in 2006 and we are republishing part of it as a tribute to Don Lavery, who passed away last week.

One of the joys of spending time at the cottage is stepping back in time to discover some of the old-fashioned general stores that are still operating in the area. These rural gems are an important part of Canadian heritage.

The concept of the general store actually dates back to fur-trading days when customers could buy everything from a shovel to cod liver oil all at the same place. They are however, rapidly becoming an endangered species. Big box stores, urban sprawl and changing lifestyles are making it difficult for general store owners to stay in business. Once the thriving heart of small communities, many general stores in cottage country stand empty and forgotten, a reminder of a different, simpler way of life.

This summer, cottagers in North Frontenac will surely miss a landmark. James General Store in Plevna, closed up shop in August 2005.

Proprietors, Don and Jessie Lavery moved from the Toronto area to the rural village of Plevna 16 years ago when they bought James General Store, named after previous owners. The store that had already been serving area residents and cottagers for many years was much more than a place to pick up the essentials. The business doubled as the only gas station within 50 kilometres, village post office, snack bar, butcher shop, bakery, book exchange, hardware and fishing supplies store and internet café. But most importantly it was the hub of the community - a place to buy the newspaper, have a cup of coffee, enjoy the smell of bread and homemade pies fresh out of the oven, and chat a while with the friendly staff.

”It was always my dream to run an old-fashioned general store. We really got to know our customers over the years and made many friends,” says Jessie. “We loved sharing stories with our customers. Saving newspapers for our regulars and remembering how they like their coffee was all part of the fun.”

While Jessie could usually be found at the front cash, Don spent most days behind the butcher counter at the back of the shop. Calling out to customers by name, he always made sure to save their favourite prime cuts and threw in an occasional bone for their dogs. If there was an item that a customer needed, but it wasn’t in stock, Don wouldn’t hesitate to find it in his own kitchen.

The Laverys, who lived in an apartment above the store, would open after hours for people who found their gas tank on empty or just needed some emergency cottage supplies. This small town helpfulness was one the charms of James General Store. Keeping up with the times, the couple designated a corner of the store as an internet café, during their last few years in business.

While the Laverys depended on the busy summer season, they felt a responsibility to stay open during the slower winter months for local residents, snowmobilers passing through and the occasional cottagers who braved the cold. But last summer when a larger, modern grocery store opened in Plevna, they realized that they could not compete, even though their customer base remained faithful. Sadly they closed the store, but not before throwing a party at the village community centre to thank all their customers for years of business. People came from far and wide to wish them a great retirement and to let them know that they will be missed.

“Now we’re enjoying the rest, but we will definitely miss the store and the people this summer,” says Jessie.

Diane Gray, owner of Battersea General Store, just 15 minutes outside of Kingston on Battersea Road, has been running the business with her husband Glenn for eleven years. “The store has been open for over a hundred years. We always try to carry a little bit of everything,” she says. “Our busiest time is cottage season.”

Discover these stores and others in the Kingston region and experience an integral part of Ontario history right on your doorstep.

Cottagers can do their part to help preserve the general stores that are scattered throughout cottage country. Here are a few suggestions.

If you generally bring in your supplies from larger urban supermarkets, but there is a general store near your country retreat, try to make a point of picking up some of your everyday purchases such as fresh milk, bread, eggs and your favourite paper. Every little bit helps.

Many general stores sell ice cream, coffee, desserts and snacks. Stop in and treat yourself and your family

Tell other people about your country store experiences. Word of mouth is one of the best advertisements and others will also want to step back in time and savour the old- time atmosphere.

Many general stores offer souvenirs like t-shirts, postcards and locally made crafts and gifts. Pick up a memento. It could be a collector’s item one day.

North Frontenac tax increase sneaks in at under 3%

It was only by the slimmest of margins, but in spite of an increase in OPP costs of $173,000, which in itself represents an increase of 3.16% of the overall North Frontenac budget, staff managed to bring in a budget with an increase of 2.98%.

Although the OPP increase was offset by a $75,000 increase in provincial transfers, flat-lining the rest of the budget took months of effort from staff as well as council, which met numerous times in the fall of 2015 and again this winter to fine-tune the numbers.

By partnering with Frontenac County for IT services and waste management consulting, and Central Frontenac for building services, cost savings have been realized. There was also a reduction in heating costs.

The township was also one of 77 municipalities in Ontario (out of 144) to receive a grant under the Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund this year. The grant of $288,000 will cover 90% of the cost of a new culvert on Buckshot Lake Road. The township will also purchase two pickup trucks and a Sterling tandem truck.

The planned re-build and renovation of the township office is not included in this year's budget. The project will remain in the design stage this year.

Community Improvement

Once Council had approved their 2016 budget, Anne Marie Young and Reid Shepherd presented the final version of a Community Improvement Plan, which will be available for businesses in the entire township.

The program will include funding under four different categories: facade improvement, accessibility enhancements, commercial space funding, and municipal fees granting program. While in other Frontenac townships, individual hamlets were chosen for funding, such as Verona in South Frontenac and Sharbot Lake in Central Frontenac, all businesses in the Township of North Frontenac are eligible for funding support for improvements to their business location, including renovations and expansions of existing buildings. However, the program does not apply to new construction. There is a $2,500 limit for any single project, and an additional $2,000 for grants to cover municipal fees, such as building permits, for renovations and expansions.

Frontenac County is providing a $70,000 pool of money for the program, which will be handed out on a first-come, first-served basis for projects that fit the criteria of the program. Once that money is spent, the township may choose to invest its own money to extend the program. Most of the grants will require matching investments from the businesses involved. The Community Improvement Plan also includes municipally generated projects. For further information, contact the township.

Electoral reform – North Frontenac style

Based on a request from Mayor Ron Higgins, a document was received by Council about reviewing municipal ward systems by Quinto Annibale, a Toronto-based planning consultant.

Higgins said that if the township is interested in changing the current system, they need to do so by the end of 2017 in order for the changes to come into effect in time for the 2018 municipal election.

“Although I think we are striving to work together towards a common goal at council, and I have found this council has made great strides in that direction, I don't see us abandoning the ward election system,” said Higgins. “What we might do is cut down to one member from each ward, and a mayor and deputy mayor elected at large, by the entire township.”

Since there are two representatives for each of the three North Frontenac wards, and Barrie Ward is home to more than twice as many people as Palmerston Ward, Councilor John Inglis said, “What we could do is have two representatives from Barrie Ward, and one each from the other two, and the mayor elected at large.”

The matter was deferred.

Independent Electricity Service Operator (IESO)

North Frontenac will take the lead in the municipal response to the IESO regarding mandatory municipal support for renewable energy projects. Last week, the locations of wind and solar projects that were awarded contracts under phase 1 of the Large Renewable Procurement process were announced. Consultations are getting underway to determine the rules for phase 2, a process that will take over a year.

Mayor Higgins has been asked to develop a position paper on behalf of a number of townships, and Council gave him leave to do that work.

“The main goal is to ensure that municipalities have a veto over the location of wind or solar projects within their boundaries,” said Higgins.

Resistance from South Frontenac

Mayor Higgins said that it caught him by surprise when, at a meeting of Frontenac County Council, the mayor of South Frontenac did not want to allow him to report on the activities of the Rural Mayors’ Forum of Eastern Ontario, a group that Higgins founded.

“He seemed to feel that we were undermining the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus, and I explained that we are not trying to do that; and that we are working collaboratively with other organizations on a set of common issues,” said Higgins.

Local opposition to proposed industrial wind projects has been muted ever since the deadline for project submissions passed on September 1 of last year.

However, the Independent Electricity Systems Operator (IESO) is set to announce which companies will be awarded contracts under their Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) process later this month.

In anticipation of the announcements, Ron Higgins, the mayor of North Frontenac, has sought and received support from his council to appeal if either of two projects being proposed locally by NextEra receives a contract. Northpoint 1 is a NextEra project located entirely in North Frontenac, and Northpoint 2 is located mainly in Addington Highlands but partly in North Frontenac.

Last spring, North Frontenac declared itself an “unwilling host” for industrial wind projects, and rejected a benefits package on offer from NextEra. In the fall, Higgins provided information to the IESO that, he believes, demonstrated that NextEra did not adhere to the requirements outlined in the process and that North Point 1 and Northpoint 2 should have been disqualified from the bidding.

At council on Friday of last week (February 26), Higgins did not indicate how, or to whom he would appeal a successful contract, and when reached by phone this week he said he was trying to determine how to proceed.

“I might inquire to the Energy Board, which oversees the IESO, or the Ministry of Energy,” he said.

Meanwhile, BEARAT (Bon Echo Area Residents Against Turbines) have released the contents of all the emails between Addington Highlands Township staff and NextEra and RES Canada, the two companies that have proposed wind projects in the township. The emails were released to them as the result of a Freedom of Information request.

The emails do not contain anything like a smoking gun, in the sense that there is nothing to indicate that any personal interests were being pursued by staff or Council. However, in an accompanying summary BEARAT claims the emails demonstrate a bias towards the developers, and that the township only supported the project because each of the companies offered $500,000 per year for 20 years to the township if their projects get built. This money will come in the form of a “community vibrancy fund”.

“It is clear and reasonable from what went on in Addington Highlands that the ‘municipal support’ materials being used to justify the projects in the community are tainted and should be discredited,” says BEARAT

The contracts that will be awarded in March are only the first step in a process that will take at least another two years to complete.

Along the way there will be environmental assessments and other planning hoops for the companies to jump through, leading to numerous opportunities for opposition groups to appeal.

Everything that has happened thus far in Addington Highlands and North Frontenac, as well as elsewhere in Eastern Ontario, would indicate that the opposition will employ whatever legal remedies are available to them along the way. That is underscored by what has transpired in the last week or so, even before the IESO might indicate that they are indeed looking to this region for the next phase of wind power generation in Ontario.

North Frontenac waste sites earn praise from new consultant – township has 40 years of dump life left

David Bucholz, from Cambium Consulting, made his first report to North Frontenac Council on February 26 after his company took over the monitoring contract for waste sites as part of a county-wide procurement initiative.

“In my job I've seen a lot. I've seen how not to manage sites. The North Frontenac sites are neat and trimmed; the testing wells are in good order, they are locked. There is no loose garbage, and that matters for residents and it matters when the Ministry of the Environment comes to inspect. Your sites are managed with due diligence and care, with effective signage and not too much signage. From a monitoring point of view everything we needed was easy to access. I'd like to commend you on the way you operate the sites.”

Bucholz reported that all of the six active sites in the township have over 30 years of capacity at current dumping rates, with an average of 39 years overall. Although Cambium found a significant decrease in the amount of material entering landfill in 2015 as compared to 2014, Bucholz was reluctant to project even longer life spans for the waste sites.

“With us taking over the monitoring from AECON [the previous consulting company] there may have been changes in how the measuring is done, so I would not project forward until we have a couple of years of data,” he said.

Concerns about Kaladar-Barrie fire budget

Mayor Higgins expressed his concerns regarding the budget for the Kaladar-Barrie Fire Department. The budget, which was approved by the board that oversees the department, contains limited reserve funds. The board is made up of three township councilors from North Frontenac and three from Addington Highlands.

“It seems to me this department is becoming under-funded,” said Higgins.

“We wanted to put more in the budget, to up the reserves,” said Deputy Mayor Fred Perry, one of the North Frontenac representatives to the board, “but the councilors from Addington Highlands wouldn't go for it.”

“Does the fire chief say they can afford the core services they are committed to providing?” asked Higgins.

Fred Perry said that Casey Cuddy, the fire chief, said they can do so this year, but not over the long term.

Mayor Higgins recommended setting up a meeting with Addington Highlands Council to discuss the fire budget. Council then ratified the 2016 budget for the department and passed a motion authorising the clerk to approach Addington Highlands about a meeting in the spring.

Wind turbines back on the radar

The Independent Energy Systems Operator (IESO) of Ontario has said it will award contracts this month under the Large Renewable Procurement (LRP) for wind and solar projects. Companies have made bids under the LRP in North Frontenac and Addington Highlands. Since North Frontenac has come out against industrial wind turbines, Council was quick to endorse a motion being circulated by the municipality of Wainfleet. The motion calls on the provincial government to exercise its right to cancel the process “at any stage and for any reason” and to hold off on any new renewable projects until there is a demonstrated need for the power they would generate.

Councilor Vernon Hermer said that solar projects should be included in the motion. “Everything that the motion says about wind can be said about solar as well”.

Mayor Higgins pointed out that the Wainfleet motion included solar in calling for a moratorium on renewable energy projects and that he would make a specific reference to solar in a letter he will be sending out on the matter.

Although North Frontenac is on record as opposing wind projects, the situation as regards solar is less clear. Mayor Higgins invited a large solar generation company, SunEdison Canada, to address Council on the potential for a large-scale solar farm to be located in the township, and Higgins even talked about the township assisting SunEdison by locating a suitable property for the company to use. Council, as a whole, has not yet taken a formal position as regards large-scale solar power projects.

At last week's meeting, Mayor Higgins also canvassed Council about what to do if either of the wind projects being proposed by NextEra in North Frontenac were awarded the LRP contract by the IESO.

Higgins proposed calling a special meeting with representatives from BEARAT (Bon Echo Area Residents Against Turbines) if a contract is awarded in either township, with a view towards launching an appeal. (See “Opposition ramping up as LRP decision nears”)

Lobbying the province over OPP

Mayor Higgins reported back on the meetings he attended while at a major municipal conference earlier in the week.

At the OGRA-ROMA (Ontario Good Roads Association and Rural Ontario Municipal Association) conference in Toronto, Higgins participated in a forum with the Deputy Minister of Community Safety Correctional Services, among others.

“The request we are making to the ministry is to have direct involvement in the process of overseeing administration of policing services. Municipalities pay 38% of the cost, but we have no oversight over how that money is spent,” he said.

The North Frontenac Dark Skies Preserve is excited to be hosting its first winter star party. On Sat. February 27, beginning at approximately 9 pm, we will be viewing a “Steeplechase” of Jovian moons, where one of its moons (Europa) will slip behind the planet, and a few minutes later another moon (Ganymede) will re-appear from the opposite side!!! And you can view this in REAL TIME! A few hours later in the evening, watch another moon (Io) slip in front of the planet and cast a black shadow on the cloud tops! An eclipse on another planet! This is an event you won’t want to miss! In between we will be observing some beautiful galaxies and nebulae of the winter sky, so come and join the FUN! The star party begins at 8:30pm to give time to set up the telescopes, etc. The Dark Skies Preserve is located at 5816 Road 506 just south of Plevna. Please visit www.northfrontenac.com or our facebook page at www.facebook.com/NFDSP/ in case of cancellation or for information on events and activities throughout the year.

Public meeting and budget adoption set for March 18

The budget process in North Frontenac has been underway for several months, with the township having passed their capital budget back in October.

Finally, a complete draft budget was presented to Council by staff last Friday, February 19, which included the operating and capital budgets.

Staff proposed to spend just under $13 million this year, including monies to be transferred to Frontenac County and the Ministry of Education.

Of those expenditures, Frontenac County ratepayers are on tap for $5,570,000, an increase of just over $100,000 or 1.87% over 2015.

In order to get to that number, staff had to basically keep all departmental spending at the same or less than in 2015 because the township is facing an increase of $173,209 in the cost of policing by the Ontario Provincial Police.

That amount is partially offset by a $76,400 increase in transfers this year from the Ontario government through the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), which is the vehicle for the province to support rural and remote townships in covering their financial obligations. The township will receive $1.2 million from the OMPF in 2016.

However, still facing a new $97,000 cost, it was up to staff to find ways to trim operating costs in order to keep the budget from increasing beyond the rate of inflation.

“We managed to find savings in operations without affecting service levels, while maintaining our reserve funds and keeping our commitment to our long term asset management plan,” said Treasurer Kelly Watkins when contacted by phone earlier this week.

In order to make this happen, costs for administration have been cut by $20,000; for protection and emergency services by $55,000; for waste disposal by $37,000; and for recycling by $27,000.

Some of these decreases are due to changes in the way administrative costs are being allocated to different services, and others come from projected costs based on actual costs from recent years.

When Council went over the budget last week, they made a few changes, and added some costs, bringing the overall increase to just over 2%.

One item that is not included in the 2016 budget is the cost of the renovation and upgrade to the township office, a project that has a very preliminary estimated cost of $900,000. Although there is $370,000 in reserves for the project, the remaining $530,000 is not included in the 2016 budget. Instead, a committee has been struck to look in detail at the project and report back later this year. The project will likely be funded through an infrastructure loan, and payments towards that loan will come out of budgets starting in 2017 at the earliest.

At this point it is projected that policing costs will increase by another $140,000 in 2017 as part of a five-year phase-in of a new OPP billing formula that has hit many local communities hard, but none as hard as North Frontenac.  

This Saturday, February 27, join the Snowshoe Romp & Snowball Stomp at the Clar-Mill Hall in Plevna from 10:30am-12:30pm. This fun event will be the launch of the KFL&A Region Healthy Kids Community Challenge in the Plevna area. Come and try out snowshoeing; participate in races; stomp some snowballs and enjoy a hot dog and hot chocolate. Everything at the event is free and snowshoes will be provided for anyone interested to try out!

The Kingston, Frontenac and Lennox & Addington (KFL&A) region is one of 45 communities participating in the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, an initiative of the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care and part of Ontario’s Healthy Kids Strategy.

The Healthy Kids Community Challenge is a multi-themed initiative with the first theme titled “Run. Jump. Play. Every Day.”

The City of Kingston is receiving up to $1,125,000 from the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care to fund the Healthy Kids Community Challenge over the next three years to support communities in KFL&A in promoting physical activity and healthy eating for children 12 years and under and their families.  

Township hoping to host ATV Federation convention

Councilor Denis Bedard said that he has been contacted by the Ottawa Valley ATV Association about the possibility of the township hosting the 2017 Ontario Federation of ATV Associations convention. Attendees would be accommodated at cottages and resorts in the area. Since the convention takes place in June, Bedard said it might bring welcome bookings to local resorts. He said he would keep Council informed.

K&P upgrade

Through the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA), a committee is being formed to look at upgrading the K&P Trail north of Sharbot Lake all the way to Calabogie, where the former rail line ends.

Brian Stewart, the Mayor of Lanark Highlands and a board member with EOTA, is pushing the initiative. The section of trail running through North Frontenac is owned by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, but in pointing out that in both Lanark and Renfrew counties the trail is owned by the County, Councilor Bedard said it might make sense for Frontenac County to take ownership of the trail. The section of trail between Sharbot Lake and the border with North Frontenac is owned by Central Frontenac. The trail in North Frontenac has a 2-3 kilometre section from south of Mississippi to Snow Road that is in private hands. People using the trail are diverted to Road 509 for that section. The rest of the trail is intact.

Rural mayors to look again at policing

Mayor Higgins reported that the Rural Mayors' Forum that he chairs will be meeting in Horton Township this month, and in preparation he has been looking at how much Frontenac, Lanark, Renfrew, Hastings and Lennox and Addington Counties pay collectively for policing each year,

“We know that on our own [each individual county] could not form a department that would would be cost us less that we are paying to the OPP, but with all five counties involved there might be a way to make it work,” said Higgins.

Question about electric vehicle charging station

Councilor Hermer asked a question about the township supporting a proposal to set up a vehicle charging station at one of the businesses in North Frontenac.

“How practical is that? There are only 250 all-electric vehicles in Ontario and most of them are urban taxis or delivery vehicles. Of the ones in private hands, most or all are in cities as well. How practical is this here?” Hermer asked.

“It will be practical. At least that's the hope,” said Mayor Higgins. “It is also something that will not cost the township. A local business has to apply and they would get a grant.”

“Has any business taken up the offer?” Hermer asked.

“We had one that is very interested, but I haven't heard back,” said Facilities and Recreation Co-coordinator Corey Klatt. “The deadline is February 12 so maybe I will hear next week.”

The Township of North Frontenac will be hosting a free skating event on Saturday, February 20, from 12 noon – 2pm at the Plevna Rink, 6598 Buckshot Lake Road.

The Township of North Frontenac has invited “Funtastical Costumes” and they are graciously volunteering to attend. There will be public skating, hot dogs, and hot chocolate. Come out & see us, come out for some fun with Olaf and Elsa. And no…we’re not done… the Ninja Turtles & Hello Kitty also can’t wait to see you. Oh wait, Minion & Mickey & Spiderman will be there too!! Plan to come out! Write down the date; it will be fun for the whole family. So lace up your skates and make sure you’re not late! For information contact Corey Klatt, Manager of Community Development at (613) 479-2231 ext. 233 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information

Let’s make some Funtastical Memories!!

To see more visit www.funtasticalcostumes.com

Ompah Fire Hall In Need Of Repair

Jeremy Neven, the Chief Building Official, did an inspection of the Ompah Fire Hall in early December 2015 and pointed out 13 violations of the Ontario Building Code that need to be addressed.

The issues range from caulking the shower stall, moving pressure valves, electrical outlets, and water lines, to venting laundry traps and insulating the floor.

“I just can't believe this,” Councillor Wayne Good said. “On a brand new rebuild of a building...This is just ridiculous.”

“Council made a decision not to go ahead with a professional project manager and to use a volunteer instead,” Mayor Higgins said. “The Township itself is ultimately responsible for this as we never followed up on inspections.”

“Our existing building inspector pretty much refused to do interim inspections,” Councillor Gerry Martin said.

“The biggest and most major issue is the fact that the floor was improperly installed,” Councillor Bedard said. “We spent a pile of money on a concrete floor with the chances now of it heaving and destroying the in-floor heating system.”

“We were not willing to spend the money on a contractor to come in and do the whole thing,” Councillor Inglis said. “We went with this process because it was going to save us money.”

“The cost of fixing this, compared to the (quoted) cost of that building,” Inglis said. “We still have a 100% success rate with this.”

“For all this is going to cost us it's nothing compared to what it would've been with a major contractor,” Councillor Good said.

Bathroom Built Without Permit Causing Grief For Cottagers

Joe Gallivan, from the County planning department, made a presentation to Council on Monday morning regarding the request for a by-law amendment, made by Beth and Bo Mocherniak, cottagers on Lake Kashawakamak, to allow them to keep the bathroom they built in their garage.

The Mocherniaks built a two-storey garage on their property in 2014 and added a bathroom to the structure in 2015. The project, excluding the bathroom, was constructed with a building permit, allowing them to build a garage with sleeping quarters upstairs. The bathroom was built in 2015, without a building permit, and was tied into the existing septic system of the original cottage.

The Mocherniaks purchased their cottage approximately 12 years ago although Beth has been cottaging in the area since the 1960's. When they first purchased the cottage their family was 5 people. It's now 9 people and soon to be 10.

“We've been cottaging here for a number of years and we've continued to support the local economy and use local builders and suppliers,” Mr. Mocherniak said.

The Mocherniaks made a plea to Council to allow them to keep the bathroom. They suggested that it wasn't practical to expand the current single bathroom in their cottage as it would mean possibly eliminating one of their bedrooms. They also said that the original cottage bathroom setup made it difficult to bath a child in, a concern of theirs since they've now got grandchildren. The new bathroom in the garage includes a bathtub to alleviate this problem.

“It is almost impossible to bath a child in a shower stall,” Mr. Mocherniak added.

The garage is considered an accessory structure and therefore isn't allowed to have a sanitary, or cooking, area in it, under the local zoning regulations.

“We didn't realize we needed a separate permit for it,” Bo Mocherniak said regarding adding the bathroom to the garage. “Our contractor didn't mention it to us.”

“I would say the majority of the area is habitable and insulated,” Gallivan said. “There is no kitchen but there is the tub and the shower and running water in the summer time.”

“I would argue that 'majority' is not correct,” Bo Mocherniak said. “It is a garage. We store stuff there. Maybe a significant portion (is livable)”

Brad Taylor, a neighbour to the Mocherniaks, raised concerns during the meeting.

“What it comes down to is the building code and the by-law,” Taylor said. “If you do allow special exemptions to one person then you're opening the door to everyone else.”

“If we allow this to go through we might as well scrap the zoning by-law,” Councillor John Inglis said. “The word 'shall' would be replaced by the word 'should'.”

“The washroom addition doesn't impact the environment. The septic system can handle it,” Councillor Dennis Bedard said. “Why wouldn't our by-laws change to accommodate situations like this?”

“That's something to consider, changing the by-law,” Mayor Ron Higgins said. “That would include the planning department and the building inspector but the point is we have an existing by-law we need to go by right now.”

“We just built a cottage next store. It's 1300 square feet,” said Louis Armstrong, a neighbour of the Mocherniaks. “They just built a garage that's 1344 square feet. I'm thinking I'm going to pay high taxes on my brand new cottage and they're going to pay taxes on a garage that's bigger than my new cottage. I just don't find it's fair to skirt around the rules.

The by-law amendment request for the Mocherniaks was voted on by Council and defeated 5-1.

Plugging In

The Ministry of Transportation is investing $20 million into installing public electric vehicle charging stations throughout Ontario through their Electric Vehicle Chargers Ontario program (EVCO).

The program is a one-time, competitive, application-based grant program designed to cover the costs of purchasing and installing a public charging station and is accepting applications up until February 12th 2016.

“The Economic Development Task Force (EDTF) recommended that the Township actually apply for the grant,” Councillor Inglis said. “If we get a grant to do something than we'll scramble to find a private partner. I'd like permission for the Township to pursue the application and that we deal with the question of ownership if we get the grant.”

“Our choice was Cloyne,” Councillor Inglis said regarding a potential location for one of the charging stations. “We'd be lucky to get one here.”

The Township could apply for 100% of the costs to cover the project through the EVCO and there is no limit to how many chargers they can apply for.

These charging stations allow an electric vehicle to reach 80% charged in 20-30 minutes.

Potential Ompah Picnic Area

Councillor Bedard met with members of the Ottawa ATV group last week to discuss the idea about developing a trailhead and picnic area with a washroom in the Ompah area.

“The Ottawa ATV group officially committed a minimum of $2500 towards the project,” Bedard said, “I also have a meeting with the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance on Thursday and will be discussing it more formally with them to see if they're interested in participating.”

“It might be an opportunity to combine all these partners and put this together,” Bedard said.

“It's not intended to be used just by that group (ATV's),” Bedard said. “A picnic area and washrooms would allow people coming into the community to stop and maybe look at a map, use the washroom. The biggest structure would be similar to the pavilion at the park in Plevna.”

“We don't have to do anymore than the Malcolm Lake boat landing,” Councillor Gerry Martin pointed out. “That's being used all the time. Families are using the picnic tables, the washrooms. They stop there.”

The project has been budgeted to cost between $13,000-$14,000.