North Frontenac Council - Oct 15/13

Jeff Green | Oct 17, 2013

Tanker Purchase

In a split vote, North Frontenac Council decided to purchase a 2013 Watermaster Vacuum Tanker for $262,000. The vehicle will be located at either the Snow Road or Clarendon and Miller Fire Station, at the discretion of the fire chief.

By approving the purchase, Council also committed itself to removing the existing tanker truck from the Ompah fire station, leaving it with only a mini-tanker.

In debating whether to go ahead with the purchase, Councilor Lonnie Watkins raised the issue of size. “That’s an awfully big truck. How will it do on the back roads?” he asked.

Fire Chief Steve Riddell said that Central Frontenac has been using the same vehicle for a number of years with good success. “They have similar roads to ours, and don’t seem to have had a problem,” he said. “The other thing that I can add is about water. If you are going to put out a fire you have to do it in the first five minutes. This truck has a large tank and a 2.5 inch hose. It can put out a huge amount of water in a short time, and that’s what is required.”

Councilor John Inglis said he would be voting against the purchase because of his previously stated opposition to removing the existing tanker truck from the Ompah station. “I also think that if we are just starting to look at a Fire Services Master Plan, we should wait until it is completed before spending this kind of money," he said.

In a recorded vote, Deputy Mayor Perry, and Councilors Good, Martin and Hunter supported the purchase, while Mayor Clayton joined Watkins and Inglis in voting no.

Fire Master Plan

As mentioned, North Frontenac Council has appointed a task force with the responsibility to create a Fire Master Plan for the township. The task force will be chaired by Councilor Gerry Martin, and Deputy Mayor Fred Perry and Councilor John Inglis will serve on it as well. CAO Cheryl Robson and Fire Chief Riddell, and at least one member of the public, will join them. (See ad on page 8 for details).

Under the Joint Fire Board agreement between Addington Highlands and North Frontenac townships, Addington Highlands Fire Chief Casey Cuddy has responsibility for fire in Barrie Ward, the largest ward in North Frontenac. When asked if Cuddy would be asked to join the task force, Fred Perry said it would not be necessary.

“We can bring him in to consult, and the fire marshal’s office as well,” said Perry.

Township seeks $364,000 Infrastructure grant.

The latest incarnation of the Ontario MIII (Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative) includes a $24 million fund that is earmarked for small rural municipalities, those with a population of under 5,000. North Frontenac will apply for $364,000, which represents 90% of the cost of new large culverts at the location where Black Creek runs under Road 509.

“It is identified as a priority project by our asset management plan and our road needs study,” said Mayor Clayton.

Council holds the line on fees for Frontenac Parklands

Council rejected a proposal to raise fees for campsites and road usage in areas covered under the Crown Land Stewardship Program, which is marketed as the Frontenac Parklands by the township.

In line with recommendations from the services review the township recently had completed, the fees were set to rise by 2%. This would have put campsites to $22.50 from $22; weekly road permits to $22.50 from $22, and annual road permits to $45 from $44.

Recreation Co-ordinator Cory Klatt, who oversees the program, said that it has been growing steadily in recent years and he is wary of increasing the cost, saying it might disturb that positive trend. Council decided to keep the prices the same for next year.

Building tops $5 million for the year.

Statistics provided by Chief Building Official George Gorrie show that even though the September numbers are down by almost $1 million from last year, the year's total to date is $5.8 million, up from $4.9 million in 2012. Permit fees sit at $91,000 for 2013, up from $76,000 at the same time last year.

Canonto Lake Plan presented

Jim Holton and Steve Sunderland formally presented the Canonto Lake Stewardship Plan for Council’s consideration. They invited Council to review the plan and consider adopting it as an amendment or an appendix to the township's Official Plan.

The Canonto Lake Association, which spent three years developing the plan, has been approached by both the Malcolm and Kashwakamak Lake Associations to advise them on how to put their own plans together.

“All lakes are different, and that should be taken into account when development is being considered,” said Sunderland. “For example, Canonto Lake drains three times a year, and Palmerston drains once every six years. That makes water quality issues very different on the two lakes."