South Frontenac Committee of the Whole

Wilma Kenny | Apr 12, 2017

Annual Waste Site Review
Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth introduced Stephanie Reader of the engineering firm Cambium, who submitted the annual review of the Township’s waste disposal sites, both active and closed.

The five active sites (Portland, Loughborough, Bradshaw, Salem and Green Bay) are all operating well, although Portland, formerly struggling to comply with Ministry of Environment requirements, was the only one that did not have some recommendations for improvement. Five more former landfill sites are still being monitored, and all are considered in good condition.

At the current rate of fill, not counting Storrington’s waste which is trucked out of the Township, the combined site life of South Frontenac’s landfills is nineteen years, unchanged from last year

Assumption of Portion of Keir Road
Forbes Symon brought a recommendation that the Township assume a 76 metre length of Keir Road (close to the Applewood development) once the prospective owner constructs it to Township standards.

Councillor Sutherland objected, on the grounds that the Township still had no written policy to address requests to assume unmaintained roads. Segsworth, confirmed that there was an “unwritten agreement” that once a property had upgraded a road allowance to Township standards, the owner should bring the question of ongoing maintenance to Council. All other Council members agreed that this request should come to a Council meeting for approval.

2017 Assessment Update
Bev Disney, Account Manager for the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), an independent not-for-profit corporation funded by Ontario’s municipalities, reported to Council on her agency’s role in assessing the values of all properties in Ontario. Municipal governments then use these assessments to determine property taxes. Ontario  properties are reevaluated every four years: the most recent evaluation, done in 2016, will be used for the tax years 2017-2020.

Disney noted that any given property’s value is determined by comparing prices paid for comparable properties in the same district. Residential properties get their property assessment notices from MPAC between April and August; farm and business notices go out in October. These notices should be carefully reviewed for accuracy. They also have contact information for further help in interpreting the notice, and, if necessary, for filing a request for reconsideration.

The website aboutmyproperty.ca provides even more information about your local property values and market trends, gives details on how your property was assessed, and an interactive map allows you to view up to 100 other area properties considered to be of similar value.

Nice Try, but No Cigar…
Treasurer Fragnito’s yearly report on the financial status of the township showed that South Frontenac theoretically could borrow almost $60 million at the rate of 5% for 20 years.

Councillor Sleeth said, “Since our frugal mayor is away (in Alberta tonight), I’d like to propose we construct an Olympic swimming pool in South Frontenac.” After a few seconds of hopeful or horrified silence around the table, acting Deputy Mayor Roberts quickly said that he was just as frugal as the mayor, possibly more so, and the moment passed.