North Frontenac Council - Oct. 11/11

Jeff Green | Oct 13, 2011

Emergency repairs to be completed on Mississippi Bridge.

During a routine road patrol in August, North Frontenac Public Works foreman, Gregg Wise, noticed some erosion on the northeast corner of the Mississippi Bridge, which is located on Road 509 near Snow Road.

The bridge had received a clean bill of health in 2010 from AECOM, the engineering firm that completed a roads and bridges study for the township at that time.

AECOM was called in again to look at the bridge this September. This time their view was aided by the low water levels this year, and they found that erosion was undermining the buttress of the bridge.

As repairs were urgently required, AECOM recommended that the township approach Doornekamp Construction, who were already working in the township repairing the Ompah salt/sand storage dome. Doornekamp said they could do the work for $23,600, including paving the approaches to the bridge.

Council accepted the bid, and the repair will be done this month.

Since it is an unbudgeted item, money for the repair will be taken from the roads department’s reserve funds.

Economic Development Task Force Launched –

Councilor Betty Hunter has been involved in the establishment of a Business Development Association (BDA) in North Frontenac.

Township resident Ron Higgins, who is also a consultant with the Wren group, offered to do a SWOT (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats) analysis for the township for free. After the analysis was done, members of the BDA and others identified four themes that require focus and consideration. The themes are Accommodation, Services, Four Seasons, and Offerings (what the township has to attract people on a regular basis.)

In a report to Council, Chief Administrative Officer Cheryl Robson wrote that, “A Working Group/Task Force is needed in order to develop and implement a plan focused on economic development for North Frontenac Township.”

Robson said the task force should include one or more council and staff members and a Business Development Association member, as well as someone from the accommodation sector, the services sector, the Aboriginal community, a member from the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation, the Land O’Lakes Tourist Association and the Manager for Economic Development from Frontenac County.

“What can this task force do that the BDA can’t do?” asked Councilor John Inglis.

“The association talks about issues and helps strengthen local businesses. It is membership-based, but the task force is all about bringing in new business. It is to look at what can be done to improve the business environment,” said Betty Hunter.

“As a business owner myself, I have never felt the township was hostile to business; I feel it just ignores business,” said Inglis.

“I’m in favour of anything that will bring business to the township,” said Mayor Bud Clayton.

The task force was approved on a one-year trial basis.

JEPP application – Under the Federal Joint Emergency Preparedness Program, the township is applying for 45% support for the purchase of a mobile lighting unit at a retail cost of $11,900. The township will find out sometime next year if the JEPP grant is coming their way.

Council says no to MADD – Mothers Against Drunk Driving asked for support in their efforts to prevent any change in the marketing of alcohol and beer in Ontario. MADD does not want alcohol to be available in corner stores as it is in Quebec and other provinces.

“I don’t agree with this. People have to drive too far to purchase something as simple as cold beer,” said Councilor Gerry Martin.

“From an economic development point of view, if they close the liquor store in Plevna for any reason, people will have to leave the township and go to Northbrook or Sharbot Lake for alcohol, and will take their money with them,” said Betty Hunter.

Council voted not to support the MADD position.