North Frontenac dumps garner praise

Craig Bakay | Apr 13, 2022

“The Township should be proud, you do well,” Stephanie Reeder, senior project manager, Cambium told Council at its regular (online) meeting April 8.

Reeder was addressing Council for the purpose of giving the annual update on waste sites.

“Based on how much capacity is used, you have at least 47 years left,” she said.

She said that the Ardoch site was closed temporarily in 2014 and must remain closed for 15 years but “with the other four (506, Kashwakamak, Mississippi and Plevna), it doesn’t make sense to re-open it.”

“So, does this mean we kind of have it in the bank?” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

“Essentially, yes,” she said.

Reopening the Ardoch site would add about 10 more years of life at the current fill rates.

In terms of aesthetics, she said transfer sites and closed sites are well-maintained and active litter clean-up time should focus on active waste sites in the peripheral areas (treelines, watercourses).

“Birds are as big a problem as anything else,” she said.

“I’ve been there when you throw your litter out, the seagulls are on it and carrying it away before it hits the ground,” said Coun. Vernon Hermer. “You almost have to have a gun.”

She said that unlike many municipalities, North Frontenac sites have actually been gaining capacity, much of that due to the diversion of construction waste.

“But the population is growing and I’ve talked to attendants who say there are more visits so that could change,” said Hermer.

“Or, it could just be that more recycling is coming in,” said Reeder.

She said that overall, there are no complaints, and minimal incidents (mostly related to residents not following site/Township policies, some illegal dumping, theft, trespassing.

She said in terms of monitoring well security/compliance, there are a couple of minor repairs to be completed in 2022 (new cap, locks).

Floating accommodation

North Frontenac is recommending that floating accommodations (ie houseboats) be regulated by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry not the municipality, following an email from the Ministry asking for input.

“Rideau Lakes had problems for a number of years with a business that would rent house boats and the renters would pull up in front of somebody’s property and stay there,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

“I’m not impressed with what we’re doing (and) we should be doing more,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

“We’ve had complaints about party boats and even a floating golf course,” said CAO Cheryl Robson.

Letter to come later

Coun. Vernon Hermer wanted to know where a letter from W. A Robinson was concerning the K & P Trail land acquisitions.

CAO Cheryl Robson said the letter was to be on the agenda for the next Council meeting.

Martin for Senior of the year

Coun. Vern Hermer nominated Brenda Martin for Ministry for Seniors and Accessibility Senior of the Year.

“I don’t think her wall is big enough to hold any more awards,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

“She does a lot for the community,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

Re-selling camp sites

Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin asked Community Development Manager Corey Klatt what the Township was doing about people who rent a campsite in North Frontenac Parklands facilities and then re-sell the reservation.

“As far as re-sellers go, we haven’t been able to catch anybody doing that,” said Klatt. “If we do, we’ll deal with it.

“We hear the rumours too but we’re really not seeing it.”

Push back on invasive plants

Public Works Manager Darwyn Sproule’s report on a plan to deal with invasive plants such as wild parsnip, giant hogweed and phragmites on township roads and boat launches met with some unexpected opposition as Mayor Ron Higgins and Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin implied it didn’t go far enough.

Both pointed out the problems with Eurasian milfoil, particularly in Ardoch and Malcolm Lakes.

Sproule responded that he didn’t know how to deal with the milfoil and suggested it wasn’t so much a Township jurisdiction as a provincial or even a federal one.

“My mandate is up to the water’s edge and so that what the report focuses on,” Sproule said.

WIFI at Barrie Hall

Council approved a request from the Land O’Lakes Garden club to get WiFi in the Barrie Township Hall, because, they said, WiFi from the Library does not fully service the hall.

“Can we not just move it from the library to the hall?” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

“Internet for the library is not Township,” said Community Development Manager Corey Klatt. “It’s paid for by the Library Board and I’m not sure they’d want to do that.”