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The controversial extra charge of $25 a month for residents of Sydenham who have not hooked up to the Sydenham water system has been revoked by Council. Residents who are not hooked up will continue to pay for the water that they don't use, as they have all along, but they will no longer pay an extra fee for not using the water they pay for.

Although Council revoked the fee at their meeting in Sydenham last week (July 7), they stopped short of rebating the money that has already been collected since the “non-usage fee” was instituted a year ago.

“I know Council is removing this charge and I know why, but the fact is that it is the only thing we have done that has resulted in people actually hooking up to Sydenham water, which is what we want,” said Mayor Ron Vandewal.

In a report to Council about the matter, Treasurer Louise Fragnito wrote that since the extra charge was introduced, 34 households hooked up to the system, a 22% increase. “At a minimum, 18 of those accounts can be correlated to the non-usage fee,” she wrote.

She also said that in the absence of the fee “consideration must be given to a mechanism to continue to encourage non-using accounts to begin to use the water system.”

The township has the authority to enter the lot of someone who refuses to hook up, and connect the building at the owner's expense, and use all methods to receive payment up to and including placing a lien on the property.

“We've never done that, and I don't see us doing it anytime soon,” said Vandewal.

On June 23, Council asked staff to prepare a revision to the Sydenham water bylaw to eliminate the extraordinary fees, citing their punitive nature.

Since June of 2014, the township has collected over $22,000 in “non-usage fees” $20 monthly per household before January of 2015, and $25 monthly from January to June.

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 26 March 2014 20:00

South Frontenac Council March 25

Annual Report: Sydenham Water Plant

Kevin Riley, water treatment plant manager, presented the 2013 annual report to Council. All of the contaminants tested for were below the maximum acceptable levels set by the Ministry of Health. The full report, which describes the water treatment process in detail, is available on the Township website. In reply to a query from Councillor York, Riley said that the plant would be able to operate more efficiently if all households in the village area were hooked up and using the water.

Cemetery Report

Louise Fragnito, Treasurer presented a year-end summary of amalgamated cemetery operations. On January 1, 2013, new rates were set for lot sales and interment charges; April 1st, centralized administration and sales were contracted out, and May 1st, new contracts began for grass cutting and maintenance. Considerably fewer lots were sold than anticipated, but there were more burials, especially cremations. The overall result was an operating deficit of $17,598. CAO Orr said that by the end of 2014, Council will be able to include cemetery costs in their budget discussions, based on a full year of amalgamation.

Winter Control Reserve

Fragnito reported on the winter control (ie; snow clearance, etc) reserve over the past five years. In 2009, 2010 and 2011, the Township contributed to the reserve, but in 2013 and 2014, they drew from it. The reserve continues to have sufficient funds to stabilize annual fluctuations, as it is based on a rolling five-year average of actual winter expenses.

Petworth Road Quarry

CAO Orr included copies of correspondence received from residents concerned about the proposed expansion of a stone quarry near their homes in the Petworth Road area. Councillor Stowe said that he felt it was important that the footprint, or ‘area of influence’ of the quarry be reduced, so that it would not prevent local landowners from developing their road-front properties.

Councillor McDougall brought a notice of motion that Council reiterate their opinion that the present area of influence is unfair, and needs to be adjusted.

Once the Ministry of Municipal Affairs has commented on the zone change application (from Rural to special Quarry “A”), the matter will return to Council for a final decision. (Orr reminded Council that in addition to the zoning change, an application has been made to the Ministry of Natural Resources for a licence to expand the quarry area under the Aggregate Resources Act.)

Question of Renaming Roads

In response to ongoing requests from Bedford resident Fred Bresee to rename two roads, Council directed CAO Orr not to open the issue. “Once you open the door, you may be flooded with similar requests,” said Bedford Councillor Stowe. Mayor Davison agreed, saying a name change would require all residents on the road to change their addresses on all personal documentation.

Welcome and Long Overdue Announcement! Councillor McDougall reported that County Council has declared: “The word ‘sustainability’ is used too much.”

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 19 March 2014 20:00

South Frontenac Council

Public Meeting re Portland Zone Changes

There were no public comments relating to an application to add additional commercial uses to the property in Harrowsmith where Gilmour’s Meats is located. This change would permit a prospective client to open a wood stove sales business in the plaza. Council approved the change later in the meeting.

Six neighbours expressed concerns about the expansion of a stone quarry that has been in operation on a property on the Petworth Road since the early 1970’s. This quarry is used to obtain naturally weathered limestone, and does not involve drilling, blasting or processing. All agreed that they have no complaints about the present operation, but asked, “What if the quarry were sold, and the new owner wanted to work the quarry more aggressively?” Some were not aware that the existing quarry was already approved for 20,000 tonnes, a much higher amount of rock than is actually extracted, but the basic amount permitted by the Ministry of Mines. There were concerns about noise, dust, lowered property values and increased traffic with resultant damage to roads.

Rachel Smith-Tryon, speaking on behalf of herself and her father, Don Smith, said that when she built her house she had to prove it would be outside the 150 metre ‘area of influence’ of the quarry before she could obtain a building permit. “Why,” she asked, “is it now ok for the area of influence of the extended quarry to include my home?” Planner Mills said that the rule worked only in one direction, and did not apply to a quarry extending close to private properties.

Council received the Planning Department report and its attachments, and will forward them, along with the residents’ letters and discussion from the public meeting to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for their review.

Letter re Needed Support for Seniors Housing

Following Councillor McDougall’s notice of motion, Council agreed to send a letter to Minister Jason Kenney, expressing the need for the federal government to work with the provinces and municipalities to fund long term social and affordable housing.

Sydenham Water Rates

Council passed a by-law to set the new water rates for Sydenham: as of June 1, the flat monthly rate for residences will be $45.23; industrial, commercial and institutional will go up to $65.01, and unexempted non-users will be charged $65.23. This will be increased January of each year.

Public Works Tenders

Council accepted the bid of Leonard Fuels Ltd ($542,323.) for the supply and delivery of the township’s diesel fuel and gasoline. This includes dealing with emergency situations, such as cleaning up spills, transfer from one location to another, and responding within a suitable timeframe.

Council approved, but not unanimously, the purchase of a municipal tractor with snowblower, power angling sweeper, and bloom flail for $146,247. Mayor Davison questioned whether the roads department had sufficient staff to provide someone to operate the machine to its full potential year round.

Exemption to Trailer By-law

Chief Building Official Brian Gass asked for an exemption to the trailer by-law which would permit a time-limited rental of two trailers to house a burned-out family of six until their home could be rebuilt. This had been requested by the owners' insurance company, so the family could continue to live in their children's school district. Council agreed: the insurance company will post the required $5,000 surety that the trailers will be removed once the house is completed.

Published in SOUTH FRONTENAC
With the participation of the Government of Canada