North Frontenac Council - Aug 20/12

Jeff Green | Aug 23, 2012

CIIF grant application – North Frontenac, one of the smallest of 400 municipalities in Ontario, is seeking some of the $50 million that is available in matching grants under the Community Infrastructure Improvement Fund (CIIF) a federally funded, provincially administered program.

The township is seeking funding for improvements to each of its five township halls, and has pushed the Clarendon/Miller Hall, which has been facing a drainage and mold problem, to the front of the line. The other four halls, Ompah, Barrie, Harlowe and Snow Road, are included as secondary applications.

Fire fighters to cover some of Norcan Lane damages: The township received a letter from Grant Small, a year-round resident on Norcan Lane, at the north-eastern edge of the township. As part of a subdivision agreement, the property owners on the lane pay for road maintenance. The lane was included in the spring ATV run that was sponsored by the Ompah firefighters, and Mr. Small asserted that the road was damaged by the hundreds of ATVs that used it as part of the April ATV poker run, The association paid over $800 to have the road graded after the run.

“As North Frontenac does not pay to maintain this lane and provides us with limited services we feel justified in requesting the grading cost from the township,” wrote Mr. Small.

Councilors Inglis, Watkins and Martin said that even though the township does not have a legal obligation to provide funding, and there was a concern that it should be clear it would be a one-time grant, the township should offer to pay half of the cost.

Councilor Good said that the firefighters should take responsibility for the damage, not the township.

The deputy chief for the Ompah station, Denis Bedard, was attending the meeting, He said that he would likely be able to convince the Ompah firefighters to come up with $200 from their fundraising proceeds.

Councilor Good then said that the township portion should come from the monies that the township receives from the Ministry of Natural Resources to maintain Crown land roadways and trails.

Cory Klatt, the township employee who manages the Crown Land Stewardship Program and the roads included in a land use permit with the MNR, said, “Norcan Lane is not on crown land; it is a private lane. We can’t use money from the MNR for a road that is not located on Crown land."

Denis Bedard then said that the firefighters will cover the entire $400 and council passed a motion offering $400 to the Norcan Association. Of the six council members in attendance, (Betty Hunter was not at the meeting) five supported the motion, with Councilor Good being the only naysayer.

$5,000 for Fish TV: The Land o' Lakes Tourist Association (LOLTA) wants to enter into a partnership with Fish TV, a syndicated fishing show that airs in Canada and the United States. The five-year marketing agreement will result in the production of eight shows featuring the Land O’Lakes region as well as inclusion in Fish TV marketing at trade shows and sports shows.

The deal will require an infusion of cash from LOLTA and LOLTA General Manager Rachelle Hardesty is asking all of the member municipalities within the LOLTA catchment area (Frontenac and Lennox and Addington County and the Town of Tweed) - nine townships in total - for $5000 from each of them over two years as leverage money for a grant application to the Community Futures Development Corporation for the project.

North Frontenac Council supported the proposal and made the commitment. The township also provides $4,000 each year to LOLTA as a sponsoring municipality.

Sunday Lake Road: The Sunday Lake Association wrote to the township to inquire what needs to be done to bring their road up to a township standard so the road can be assumed by the township. The letter pointed out that the original subdivision agreement in 1983 said that the township (which was then Palmerston-Canonto) might consider assuming the road at a future date. It also pointed out that there is now over $6 million in annual property assessment coming from Sunday Lake Lane property owners

“What would be the advantage for us in assuming the road, and paying for maintenance on it?” asked Councilor John Inglis.

The letter was received for information.

$10,000 for community profile: As part of its work promoting business in North Frontenac, the Economic Development Task Force has concluded that in order for the township to be what they call “investor ready”, a community profile geared at the business community needs to be developed. “The project scope is to hire a contract technical writer who could conduct research and revise the entire document to ensure it meets the requirements of investment readiness,” wrote Councilor Betty Hunter in requesting a funding envelope of $10,000 for the project. The money would come from the economic development budget for 2012 and council approved the expenditure.