North Frontenac Council – Jan. 27/11

Jeff Green | Feb 03, 2011

North Frontenac Council received their sixth annual septic re-inspection report from Eric Kohlsmith of the Mississippi Rideau Septic Reinspection Program

As Kohlsmith reported, the program has changed over the years, but the focus on older systems and waterfront properties has been a constant. “Because we now have a 16ft. boat we were able to do inspections on a number of water access properties for the first time this year,” Kohlsmith told council.

Of the 102 inspections that were done in North Frontenac in 2010, 24 were on water access-only properties. Earlier in the season, 179 property owners were sent letters and asked to fill in an inspection form that included an appointment schedule. Those who did not respond were noted and will be approached again next year.

“We have found it to be a great advantage to have the property owner present during the inspection,” said Kohlsmith, “and this year about 70% of the time that happened. It is really helpful in terms of the educational aspect of the program.”

Of the 102 inspections in 2010, half were done on Brule Lake, 15 on Buckshot Lake, 12 on Little Marble, and the rest on a number of other major lakes. Fifty-three of the systems inspected had no concerns; 31 required some remediation; and six require replacement. The Health Unit was notified about the six systems that need replacing, since they are the enforcement agency for septic systems, and will have approve the new installations.

For next year, Kohlsmith recommended using an online form to make it easier for property owners to fill out and to continue asking property owners to excavate their systems before the inspectors arrive. Changes in the Ontario Building Code may make the re-inspection system mandatory for property owners instead of voluntary in future years.

Mackie Lake Access – Carol Free, from the Mackie Lake Cottagers Association, presented a position paper written by Geoffrey Dudding. The paper outlined the 50-year history of public boat launches at Mackie Lake, through which day visitors and water access cottages get their boats into the water.

The boat launch that has been used for the last 40 years was built by the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) in the 1960s. Two years ago the township removed the Mackie Lake boat launch from their Land Use Permit with the ministry and turned over its maintenance to the cottage association.

However, the terms of the land use permit the cottage association would have to enter into would see the association assume all the costs while the general public would have access. And moreover the cottage association would be liable if a member of the public suffered an accident at the site. The association is asking the township to re-instate their land use permit with the MNR so that the boat launch can be maintained properly. “I predict it will become unusable by the spring of 2011 or shortly thereafter when the first storm of the season wipes out the top of the road,” wrote Geoffrey Dudding of the boat launch.

Council received the presentation for information.

Building permit numbers down over five-year period – Although in 2010 the dollar value of construction ($8 million) rebounded from the two recessionary years of 2008 and 2009, and the amount of money collected in building permit fees ($136,000) was the highest it has ever been, the number of permits taken out for major construction on waterfront properties, which is the key sector in the township’s construction industry, has been on a steady decline for the past five years.

In 2005, 79 permits were issued for waterfront residential construction and additions, and only 34 were issued in 2010.

Changes in the way construction values are calculated are credited with keeping the dollar value of construction high, as is the impact of inflation on construction costs.

Pay phone at Clar-Mill rink – While pay phones are going the way of the Dodo throughout the province, one is being put in outside the Clar-Mill Hall. The township made a request to Bell for a pay phone at that location so that people using the ice rink in the wintertime can contact their families and emergency personnel if necessary.

“This will be a useful until we get cell phone service in Plevna,” said Councilor Gerry Martin. “After that the phone will be taken away just like they have been elsewhere.”