North Frontenac Axes Seniors Housing RFP

Craig Bakay | Mar 23, 2022

After getting no takers on their request for proposals to build a five-unit seniors apartment complex in either Plevna or Cloyne, North Frontenac Council decided to pull the plug on the entire project at a special (electronic) meeting March 21.

Most of Council felt the parameters of the RFP were too restricting on contractors and there was no appetite for having the Township run the operation.

“I read it as if I were a contractor,” said Coun. John Inglis. “I’m not a contractor but I do have a business and I would never get involved in this.

“It’s too complicated with no room for creativity or profitability.”

“I talked it over with a business friend and they agreed it’s too complicated,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin. “They suggested we find an old house to renovate.”

“I had a contractor call me saying it’s too complicated,” said Coun. Wayne Good. “Too many conditions and they wouldn’t touch it.

“What can our taxpayers afford? If we decided to build only (as opposed to having whoever built it run it for profit), I don’t think we could get it done for the money we have.”

The money amounts to some $437,500, of which $337,500 would come from Frontenac County and $100,000 from North Frontenac (already budgeted).

Presumably, Frontenac County wouldn’t give the Township the money if it wouldn’t be used for seniors housing.

And, there’s another issue. Surveys and consultations done by the Township suggest North Frontenac seniors don’t want seniors apartments, preferring to live at home as long as possible.

“I know of at least 10 seniors just in my immediate area that live alone and eight of them have told me they wouldn’t move to an apartment,” said Good. “And they don’t want to move into a home unless they absolutely have to.”

“Seniors want to stay at home,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

“Before we built anything, I’d like to hear that there are people willing to use it,” said Coun. Vernon Hermer.

Higgins said that ultimately County Council would have to decide what happens to the $337,500 but suggested that he and Dep. Mayor Martin address County Council with the suggestion that the money go to Central Frontenac’s project in exchange for consideration for a few units (depending on scale) be designated for North Frontenac.

“Well, issuing another RFP would definitely be insanity,” said Hermer. “Doing the same thing over and over expecting different results.”

“If we don’t go ahead, we could help Central,” said Higgins.

“I think the other County Councillors are reasonable enough,” said Martin.

Consultant Ken Foulds, who drafted the original and revised RFPs, suggested North Frontenac could conceivably enter into a referral agreement that would effectively guarantee some spaces for North Frontenac residents in Sharbot Lake.

“I think we should revisit the proposal with Central,” said Higgins.

“I think it’s time to kick the can own the road,” said Martin. “It’s time to support Central.

Council was unanimous in supporting that proposal.

On a second vote, to abandon the idea of building its own seniors complex, only Inglis voted to keep some sort of build on the table.

“I’m not quite ready to give up on us building something,” Inglis said. “We could build one or two.”

“We’ll set up another meeting with Central,” said manager of community development Corey Klatt.

That left the issue of what to do with the $100,000 the Township had earmarked for the project.

Inglis said he’d like to see it go to some sort of seniors maintenance/support program.

Treasurer Kelly Watkins suggested: “it could go to already established seniors organizations.”

But Council decided to hold off making any decisions on the $100,000 after Good said: “I don’t think we should be too hasty with that $100,000.

“We may need it to sweeten the deal with Central.”