North Frontenac Council - Nov. 29/11

Jeff Green | Dec 01, 2011

North Frontenac Council gives New Energy project a cold shoulder

Ruth Noordegraff is the part time program manager for the New Energy Project, an initiative that is being supported by Frontenac County, the Kingston Economic Development Council (KEDCO), the City of Kingston, Queen’s University, St. Lawrence College and others.

Noordegraff visited North Frontenac Council on Nov. 28. She said that the project is interested in and can provide resources for economic development initiatives that promote a sustainable economic and environmental future.

“You have already had some successes here, with the waste management program of the township and the Frontenac Transportation Service. The dark skies tourism initiative is one that could be very important as well. We can help you to look at solar and wind energy, or micro-hydro.”

Noordegraff said the main reason for her visit was to introduce herself and the New Energy Project, and to let Council know that there are resources available to help with new initiatives.

“What do you want and is it a viable project are the key questions for any initiative,” she said.

After her presentation, John Inglis, who as a member of Frontenac County Council sits on the county’s Green Energy Task Force, said that the New Energy Project needs to develop a new vision statement.

“The vision statement is very off-putting, very airy fairy. It is very difficult to understand and accept,” he said.

“I understand what you are saying,” said Noordegraff.

The New Energy Project Vision statement starts, as follows:

“This is the dawning of a new day, fresh light reveals a living landscape wild with possibilities and progressive action.

People inspired, inspiring others. We grow greener with every season. Breathing deeply, we draw in the future, then release the energy and ideas that move us forward, that will sustain our success … “

Lonnie Watkins then pressed Ruth Noordegraff over the Ontario Hydro Micro-Fit program, which has resulted in a large number of solar panels sprouting on rooftops and on ground-mounted frames throughout Frontenac County and Ontario as a whole.

“How can a system that pays 80 cents to a producer for power that it sells at 7 cents be a sustainable project?” he asked.

“I understand your opinion,” said Noordegraff, “but the New Energy Project is broader than the Micro-Fit.”

Council eats crow over young firefighters –

A complaint that was aired at a meeting of the Joint Fire Board that North Frontenac shares with Addington Highlands Township led North Frontenac Council to rescind a motion that they passed at their November 14 council meeting. The motion said that no firefighter under the age of 19 may attend any ‘incident’ for any fire service that is funded by North Frontenac.

“The problem is that the Joint Fire Service is funded by both North Frontenac and Addington Highlands, so our motion tied their hands, which is not something we should be doing,” said Councilor Wayne Good, one of the North Frontenac representatives to the Joint Fire Board.

Council agreed to rescind the motion and will hear from the two fire chiefs involved in both services, Steve Riddell and Casey Cuddy, about what the existing protocols are for firefighters between the ages of 16 and 19.

Pine Lake island names - The Ministry of Natural Resources has accepted the township’s recommendation for the name of one island on Pine Lake, Priest Island, but another island, which the township wanted to name Millie’s Island, has been named Shingwak Island, the name that the MNR had initially put forward. Shingwak is an Ojibwe word for Pine according to Warren Upham in his book “Minnesota Place Names”.

Cenotaph task force – Council has appointed Gerry Martin, Wayne Good and Bud Clayton and staff member Cory Klatt to a task force that will be looking into establishing a cenotaph somewhere in the township.