Feature Article - November 10, 2005

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November 10, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Helen Forsey to represent NDP in upcoming federal election

by Jeff Green

Ompah resident Helen Forsey was selected as the nominee for the New Democratic Party for the next federal election at a meeting in Sharbot Lake last Sunday.

The nomination was contested by Forsey and Galad Elfandsson from Camden East in front of a spare crowd of party faithful.

Helen Forsey made reference to several issues in her nomination statement, including; rural revitalization, environmentally sound economics, universal health, social and cultural programs, independence from the United Sates and good government.

She has a background as a writer and a researcher, and recently worked for the National Farmers’ Union for several years. During the meeting she said that she would have work to do developing her familiarity with some issues, but she has a good understanding of both Agricultural and Environmental issues.

Politics is also in her blood, as her father Eugene was a controversial and well respected Senator for many years.

Helen Forsey has lived near Ompah for over 10 years, at the Lothlorien Rural Co-operative. She is a member of the local fire Department’s Emergency Frist Response team, a member of the Ompah Community choir, and sits on various boards and committees. She is the Woman’s representative on the local NDP riding Association executive.

The Green Party of Canada has also conducted a nomination meeting, and has chosen Mike Nickerson of the Smiths Falls area as its candidate. Incumbent MP Scott Reid will represent the Conservative Party whenever an election is called, Former municipal Councillor and Catholic School board Trustee, Irene Backholm from Amherstview, has declared the intention to contest the nomination for the Liberals, as has Robert Godkin of Odessa. The local riding Association is awaiting approval from the Liberal Party for a nomination meeting date.

With the volatile situation in Ottawa, an election could come as early as the darkest day of the year on December 21st, 2005 or as late as April Fool’s Day, 2006.

Feature Article - December 15, 2005

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Feature Article

December 15, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Letters to the Editor

Re: Where is Christmas Going?

As a non-Christian who came to Canada from another country, it is quite clear that Canada is a Christian country in the same way that Iran is a Muslim country and Bhutan a Buddhist country. The attitudes and social fabric in each of these countries reflect the religious values and cultural norms held by the majority of the population.

Many factors contribute to the high degree of religious tolerance and harmonious multi-culturalism which has defined Canadian society in recent decades, not the least of which is a broad-based Christian teaching emphasizing respect, and even curiosity for the beliefs of others.

In Canada we are also living in a post-industrial age where many people feel no connection to their ancestral religion and are groping for some sense of identity. It is unfortunate that this lack of belonging is finding expression in self-deprecation, devaluation, and a new form of intolerance.

There are growing numbers of politically correct, well meaning Canadians who misguidedly believe that all the world’s religious, social and economic differences can be eradicated and seamlessly reblended into a projection of their bland and homogeneous utopian dream world where everyone co-exists on a theoretical ‘level playing field.’

Democracy is not about the wishes and aspirations of vocal minorities being rudely imposed on the majority. In characteristic form, the Canadian Government is unwilling and unable to take a definite stand on this issue, and is naively attempting to please everyone. How about a little tolerance towards the Christian majority who opened the doors of immigration to people of other faiths, giving them the opportunity to practice their religion freely in this land?

- Raphael Kerem, Burridge

Ompah fire station will miss John Hawe

In mid-November the Volunteer Fire Department in Ompah lost John Hawe as its Deputy Chief and its best firefighter. Suffice to say North Frontenac's Township Council fired him because he drove the rescue van to an emergency when he did not have a driver's license to do so. This is not an expose on what council did or should have done -- that's a tale that might be written another day. This is a tribute to our good friend John.

Part time mechanic, electrician, plumber, carpenter, John gave volunteer services that have been crucial to the whole community as well as to the fire department. The Ompah Skidoo Club, the Ompah Conservation Association, the Ompah Community Centre — literally every local organization has benefited from his dedication. He gets to all the meetings, helps at the dinners, the parades, the road tolls, the work bees, the fish hatchery, skidoo trail maintenance, chicken barbecues — whatever and wherever the work may be, John will, of course, be there. If something's wrong or something needs fixing — we all just call John.

John moved to Ompah in 1979 and became a firefighter in 1980. Many temporary fire chiefs have come and were soon gone, but John has been the real glue and continuity that kept the department going. In 1992 he was made Ompah's Deputy Chief responsible for Wild Fires and eventually Deputy in charge of the whole Ompah operation. Consider 25 years of service with all the fire emergencies, all the courses, all the meetings, all the training, emergency medical first response calls, keeping trucks rolling, ensuring equipment was maintained and operational, budget and records keeping - he's done it all. As firefighters we often asked "What would we do without John?" We never dreamt township council would cause us to find out so abruptly and unceremoniously.

The following is not really a fire department story but it gives an insight into what John is like. In 1990 the Ompah Conservation Association convinced him to ride for them in a charity skidoo run. Not being much of 'church guy' he balked a bit when we said the proceeds were going to the Ompah United Church but (afraid of the wrath of God we supposed) he showed up. His skidoo was an old Elan one banger, most of the plastic shroud was missing as was half the windshield and some of the seat. John wore a sign on his back which read 'Riding for the OCA' and a helmet that looked like it was last used in the 1926 Grey Cup game. He had no food for the whole day's ride but he came prepared with three things:

Moth balls for the gas tank (the gas in the tank was slightly skunky at three year's old); nylon panty hose in case the drive belt gave out; and a ratty old tow rope. "I have to be at the hotel by 4 o'clock, so let's have at her," he said. At the end of the day he towed us and our new machine home. Project completed in John's normal way.

As the saying goes, now for the rest of the story: Like most of us, John could not afford a trail permit but the OCA did not fire him as their rider. He was not pulled off the trail because his skidoo might have been an environmental risk. No one worried about what the liability issues were because his helmet was slightly below the current safety standard. And he did raise over $100 for the United Church. Times have certainly changed!

Real volunteers do not want or expect recognition, but Ompah Station firefighters and emergency first responders wanted this article written and published. It is not to embarrass him but to give tribute to and say thanks to our Deputy Chief John Hawe. He was fired for doing something we all do in every fire or medical emergency — he responded based on the circumstances in the quickest and best way possible to help someone in need.

- Leo Ladouceur

Agricorps makes life difficult for farmers

A recent story that appeared in the Kingston Whig Standard demonstrates another example of how the provincial government has let down farmers and farm families. Farmers who spend thousands of dollars on crop insurance through OMAFRA’s Agricorp are unable to collect on legitimate claims. The problem stems from an argument over how much rainfall is recorded in an area. The farmer knows there has been little rain for his crops, and those who monitor rainfall in the area are in agreement. Agricorp, however, claims that the rainfall greatly exceeds that measure, and refuses to honour the claim.

The problem comes from how Agricorp measures rainfall. First, they divide the province into 350 zones, then they take the average rainfall for the entire insured period, and from that they come up with a number.

You don’t have to work the land to know what the problem with this plan is. Unless you live right next to the place where the data for your area is collected and the amount of rainfall for each month is exactly the same, you are likely not going to have your claim treated fairly by Agricorp. Double the rainfall in August is of little use if your crops were scorched to a crisp in July.

The solution will not come from Agricorp’s area representatives. Their hands are as tied as those of anyone else. The solution lies in the hands of Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky.

As the minister responsible for Agricorp, she can deal with this problem. If the past is any indication, Dombrowsky will argue that Agricorp is a crown corporation and that she, as minister, is restricted as to how much influence she may bring to bear on Agricorp’s management.

No problem. Agricorp was created by an act of the legislature, and it is through an Act of the Legislature that Agricorp can be compelled to change its method of adjudicating claims.

While Dombrowsky is free to decide how this situation is handled, here are some helpful suggestions. First, stop taking rainfall averages over a four-month period. Take readings every month and determine from there. Second, increase the number of measuring stations. In fact, why not include some form of monitoring equipment when farmers sign up for their insurance plan, provided that the plan is valued over a certain amount? Most times, the Weather Office uses little more than a glass tube with measurement markings on the side. Given that some large farms each pay upwards of $3000 in premiums, Agricorp should be able to spring for a glass tube, as well as a tamper-proof means of monitoring the data – either by remote electronic monitoring, or site inspection by OMAFRA staff.

The bottom line is that farmers pay into a crop insurance system and expect to be compensated if their claim has merit. To lose compensation because of a change in how data is either collected or tabulated by Agricorp is an unfair burden on an industry that has been burdened for far too long.

- Brent Cameron

Feature Article - January 19, 2006

Feature Article

January 19, 2006

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Helen Forsey:Another form of Activism

by Jeff Green

Helen Forsey has never aspired to be a politician, even though she has been a political activist all her life.

In a sense she was drawn into the current election because Ross Sutherland decided not to seek the NDP nomination this time around. Sutherland carried the banner for the NDP in the Ontario election in the fall of 2003 and in the Federal election in June of 2004.

“Ross was an excellent candidate, and without him running this time I thought I should,” Forsey said.

There is also a parallel to the political career of her father, and political mentor, Eugene Forsey. “It’s kind of neat. My dad ran for the CCF, also against a popular Conservative, George Drew, in Carleton County.”

Eugene Forsey was a founding member of the CCF party, and he left the Party when the NDP was formed. He was named to the Senate in 1970 by Pierre Trudeau, and for nine years did a tremendous amount of work in Senate committees.

For her own part, Helen studied Agriculture and then worked for CUSO and OXFAM in Ottawa, South America and West Africa. She later lived in Enterprise, where she was part of a craft co-op and farmed as well. In 1991 she moved to her present home near Ompah to become a full time writer and translator. She worked for the National Farmers’ Union between 1999 and 2003, where one of her duties was to edit their quarterly publication.

Although Helen Forsey writes mostly about agricultural and environmental issues, her background as a feminist remains a force in her thinking.

“My feminism informs my entire world view,” she says.

Helen Forsey has a history as an activist, most recently in the anti-globalization movement, but her involvement with the New Democratic Party, and with electoral politics is quite new. “I’ve got things to say, and talking to the media or speaking at all-candidates meetings provides a good opportunity to be heard.”

She is not impressed with the way the leaders of the other parties have conducted the campaign. “The campaign has been full of pablum,” she said, “but the local campaign has been much better. In fact, if the seven people running in this riding had a chance to get together and work on local problems, I think we could do a good job at finding solutions.”

As a resident of one of the smallest, most vulnerable communities in the riding, Helen Forsey has a different attitude to some issues than some of the other candidates.

At an all candidates meeting in Verona, she responded to a question about high gas taxes, by saying “The owner of the former store in Ompah once told me that the store could survive if gas went up to $2.00 a litre. Then people would see the value of shopping locally.”

Although she is an outspoken advocate for farming families, she does not take the view that it is access to foreign markets, and subsidies for agri-business that are needed. Rather, she argues that a re-ordering of priorities around production and consumption of food are needed. She concluded a recent article called “Farm Crisis, Food Crisis, or both,” in this way:

“Farm families and their allies across the country and around the world are finding more and more ways to resist this destructive corporate model and kick the multiple dependencies that have entangled us in its net. Resistance is not an easy road to take, but it is creative and exciting, and we are not alone.

“And it really is our only choice. Literally and figuratively, farm families carry with them on that road the seeds of the future - a future where, if we can stay the course, the farm crisis and the food crisis will both be vanquished.”

Feature Article - November 23, 2006

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Feature Article - November 23, 2006

Ompah helipad to be reconsidered:NorthFrontenac will consider formal agreement with Tomvale airport this week

by Jeff Green

The honeymoon was indeed short for North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire this time around.

Just a week and a day after being re-elected, and a full three weeks before his new council is sworn in, he was facing an angry crowd of 125 people at the Ompah hall. The issue at hand was the future of the Ompah Helipad.

The meeting had been called by Barbara Sproule, the former Reeve of Palmerston/Canonto (now Ward 3 of North Frontenac). At the start of the meeting, Barbara Sproule explained some of the history of the helipad.

It was built by the Ompah Snowmobile club, using volunteer labour, and maintained by the club for many years. “The community built the helipad, that’s why we are so attached to it,” she said.

When the snowmobile club disbanded, the helipad was turned over to the township, and the township has invested in maintenance, putting up a fence and upgrading the site. Problems surfaced a little over a year ago, when representatives from the Air ambulance service contacted the township to inform them that helicopter pilots no longer wanted to use the helipad at night because the view of the reflective material on the pad was obstructed by trees on a neighbouring property.

The township entered into negotiations with the neighbour in question, who eventually produced an estimate of the value of trees that were involved - $364,000. Alternatively, he offered to accept a payment of $35,000 plus $600 per month.

Council was loath to accept this proposal. An alternate site, which has been used for helicopter landings on an ad hoc basis, the Tomvale Airport on Hwy. 506 near Fernleigh, was proposed, and at a meeting scheduled for this Thursday, Council is poised to give Mayor Maguire the go-ahead to complete an agreement with Tomvale Airport for helipad services. The agreement will entail the township providing some cold patch for the private road into the landing pad, and snow clearing as well, at a cost of approximately $10,000 per year.

At the meeting, incoming councilor Jim Beam reported that he has contacted Martin Boucher, from Canadian Helicopter Services, who told him that if an alternate approach to the Ompah helipad is found, the helicopters that are dispatched will be able to land at Ompah, even at night.

... “If that approach respects the numbers for our nights criteria ... the municipality can at their wish change that approach,” Boucher wrote in an email to the township on Tuesday morning.

“That is not the information that we previously received from Canadian Helicopters” said Councillor Fred Perry, who was in attendance. “The guy who talked to us before, a Mr. Pascale, said nothing about alternate approaches to the helipad. He only said the trees had to be removed.”

“Mr. Boucher is Mr. Pascale’s boss,” said Beam.

“Before we can do anything about the Ompah helipad, we need Mr. Boucher to meet with members of council at the helipad; we need assurances that what we come up with be acceptable and the helicopters pilots will agree to land at night. Otherwise, we can’t do anything,” said Perry.

Several members of the boisterous audience spoke passionately about the necessity of maintaining helipad services at Ompah, noting the distance between Ompah and the Tomvale airport.

“I think it’s a great thing to put a helipad at Fernleigh or Plevna, but we don’t want to lose ours,” said Barbara Sproule

Barbara Sproule then asked Mayor Maguire, “Are you planning to pass a bylaw on Thursday to close the Ompah helipad, or will that be left to the new council?”

Maguire responded by saying the Ompah helipad will not be closed this week, and further, “The new council can set up a task force to try and solve the problem at Ompah.”

“Will you promise not to make an agreement over Tomvale?” asked an audience member.

“The two matters are not related,” Maguire replied. “We need to ensure a safe landing spot for night helicopters in North Frontenac, and we will be looking at an agreement with Tomvale Airport this week. If the new council can come up with a workable proposal for night landing at Ompah, we will consider that when the time comes.”

So, the new North Frontenac Council, which will be sworn in on December 14th, already has a pressing issue to deal with.

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Feature Article - November 30, 2006

NorthFrontenac Council

by Jeff Green

Even though its authority only extends for a few more weeks, the outgoing North Frontenac councillors found themselves working hard last week at their final meeting.

Ongoing issues ranging from the Ompah helipad to the Pow Wow grounds at Pine Lake dominated the agenda during a three-hour meeting, which culminated in the mayor and the chief administrative officer extending thanks to Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke and the three other councillors, Betty Hunter, Bud Clayton, and Dave Smith, who will be leaving council in December.

The council meeting took place less than 48 hours after a public meeting on the subject of the Ompah helipad. At that public meeting Mayor Maguire had said that the Ompah helipad will remain open for the time being, to allow for a task force to determine how to ensure its long-term viability, but that an arrangement with the Tomvale airport will be completed in order to ensure at least one night landing spot for air ambulances in the township.

Such an agreement was prepared by the township’s solicitor, but Mayor Maguire said there were a few small matters that are still outstanding, matters which could only be discussed in closed session.

The matter was thus deferred to the new council.

Small grant application approved – Roger Millar, the township’s recreation/economic development co-ordinator, reported that an application for a $25,000 grant from the Bell Sports Fund, which would have been used to upgrade the Clar-Mill ice rink, had been turned down.

The news wasn’t all bad, however, because a smaller grant for $5,000 was approved. This money will be used for maintenance, and volunteers will be completing some repairs to the facility at a work bee, with the township supplying materials.

Bins for Kashwakamak and Ompah dumps – Councillor Wayne Good relayed the concern of a constituent from Kaskwakamak Lake about the fact there is no bin for recycling cardboard at the Kash Lake waste disposal site. Public Works Manager John Ibey said that he has sourced larger bins, which will be purchased for the Mississippi and Road 506 sites, freeing up smaller bins to be moved to the Kashwakamak and Ompah sites.

Council approved the purchase of the larger bins, and when they arrive the smaller bins will be moved.

Cloyne and Ompah transfer stations – According to clerk/planner Brenda DeFosse, approval is expected shortly for the operation of transfer stations at both the Cloyne and Ompah waste sites. The public will be notified when final approval is received.

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Feature Article - November 16, 2006

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Feature Article - November 16, 2006

Nothing underhanded about heliport, Maguire says

by Jeff Green

At the final North Frontenac Council meeting before this week’s election results were announced, Mayor Ron Maguire took the opportunity to report to council about what he called “controversy over the Ompah helipad”, a matter which could not ultimately be dealt with in open council session.

The controversy stems from the possibility that the helipad might be taken out of service, and the township might enter into an agreement to use the Tomvale Airport on Road 506 as a helicopter landing site for emergency services, some 20 km. from Ompah.

As Maguire pointed out, members of the Emergency First Response team at Ompah put in many volunteer hours to build the helipad years ago and are alarmed about the possibility this service will no longer be available at Ompah.

The problem arose, Maguire explained, because visibility at the site is compromised by some tall trees on a neighbouring piece of land. This has led helicopter pilots to refuse to land at the site at night on a few occasions because they could not see all of the reflective markings at the pad. Some were blocked by leaves from the trees.

The township has been unable to negotiate an arrangement with the adjacent landowner, who owns the trees, and thus has been negotiating with the operators of the Tomvale airport for a permanent solution.

“There was never anything sinister on the part of the township. It is simply a matter of air ambulance pilots no being able to land there (at Ompah),” said Maguire in summing up the situation

The issue is expected to be the subject of a public meeting at Ompah sometime this week.

What’s black and white and pretty near impassable? Nellie Hobbs , a waterfront resident from Barrie ward, addressed council concerning the state of repair of Blacks and Whites Road . Hobbs said that the roads are sand covered and flood periodically, making them very difficult to use. She noted that $10,000 had been set aside each year for the past two years for repairs to the roads, but little had been done concerning the condition of the surface.

“The road itself is nothing but sand, with exposed rock in places,” Hobbs said.

Cheryl Robson, the township CAO/treasurer, speaking on behalf of Public Works Manager John Ibey, outlined the road construction expenditures on the road over the past two years. The work that has been done has been mainly blasting and ditching work at the side of the road, and the surface of the road has not received significant attention. Hobbs asked that this aspect of the situation be addressed.

“Could you give me an idea what’s going to happen?” Hobbs wanted to know.

Repairs to Clar/Mill Hall The public works department issued a report containing a request for council’s approval to complete $14,000 worth of repairs to the Clar/Mill Hall. The work, which is to be done this month, includes the removal of an existing concrete slab at the entrance to the building in order to correct a drainage problem. The slab is sloped towards the building and water runs off of it under the building.

The proposed work includes replacing the slab with one that slopes away from the building.

The report also talks about what might be found once the slab is removed. Under the heading “Repair damage to foundation”, the report says, “unknown until the slab is removed, but the foundation and/or timbers will need to be repaired before the slab is built.”

This, along with the nearness of winter, led some councillors to question if removing the slab at this time will not lead to unexpected complications, but the recommendation of the public works department was accepted. The project is being funded out of Ward 2 Special Parks reserve funds.

No humbug from NF Council In contrast to their neighbours to the west, North Frontenac is supporting the Santa Claus parades in Ompah/Plevna and the parade in Kaladar with $200 donations.

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Feature Article - December 2006

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December 21st 2006

Ompah Helipad

by Jeff Green ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night time landings at the Ompah helipad are not dead.

A meeting was held at the Ompah helipad this past Monday, where North Frontenac Council was shown what is required for night landings by a representative from Canadian Helicopter, the contractor for air ambulance in the township.

“We need to clear a 50 degree swath with an 8% incline for 800 feet in order for the pilots to be comfortable coming in for night landings,” said North Frontenac councillor Lonnie Watkins after the meeting.

The difference between this information and what was previously known is that the pathway can be in any direction.

When the township first heard that Canadian Helicopter was seeking improved visibility on the way in to the helipad, they thought that the only acceptable direction was the one that the helicopters have traditionally used to come in. The township tried to negotiate with the adjacent landowner to cut down trees on his property in order to make night landings possible, but the negotiations broke down earlier this year. Since then the township has been on the point of closing down the helipad entirely.

Armed with this new information, Mayor Ron Maguire appointed a task force to determine the best way to establish the necessary clearances for night landings to resume. The Task force, which is being chaired by Deputy Mayor Jim Beam, includes councilors Lonnie Watkins, Wayne Good, and community members Barbara Sproule, Norm Mills, and John Haw.

In the interim the helipad will remain open for daytime landings only, and the Tomvale airport near Fernleigh will be used at night.

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Feature Article - December 2006

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December 21st 2006

Ompah helipadby Jeff Green---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Night time landings at the Ompah helipad are not dead.

A meeting was held at the Ompah helipad this past Monday, where North Frontenac Council was shown what is required for night landings by a representative from Canadian Helicopter, the contractor for air ambulance in the township.“We need to clear a 50 degree swath with an 8% incline for 800 feet in order for the pilots to be comfortable coming in for night landings,” said North Frontenac councillor Lonnie Watkins after the meeting.

The difference between this information and what was previously known is that the pathway can be in any direction.

When the township first heard that Canadian Helicopter was seeking improved visibility on the way in to the helipad, they thought that the only acceptable direction was the one that the helicopters have traditionally used to come in. The township tried to negotiate with the adjacent landowner to cut down trees on his property in order to make night landings possible, but the negotiations broke down earlier this year. Since then the township has been on the point of closing down the helipad entirely.

Armed with this new information, Mayor Ron Maguire appointed a task force to determine the best way to establish the necessary clearances for night landings to resume. The Task force, which is being chaired by Deputy Mayor Jim Beam, includes councilors Lonnie Watkins, Wayne Good, and community members Barbara Sproule, Norm Mills, and John Haw.

In the interim the helipad will remain open for daytime landings only, and the Tomvale airport near Fernleigh will be used at night.

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Feature Article - March 15, 2007

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Feature Article - March 15, 2007

Ompah library expansion proposal defferedbyJeffGreen

The Ompah library expansion committee came to a meeting of North Frontenac Council last week, seeking support for a planned $70,000 upgrade to the small facility, which measures 240 square feet in area.

Marily Seitz, John Inglis, and John Walters presented a report, which outlined 7 deficiencies of the current library. There is an overall lack of space for materials and patrons in the library. In addition, the librarian does not have enough desk space; the public internet access computer is crowded in behind the librarian and it faces the door (a privacy concern); there is only one window and its light is blocked by bookshelves; the building is not wheelchair accessible; patrons must go outside to access washroom facilities in the community centre; and the library has no closet.

The expansion committee’s proposal deals with all of these concerns. “We propose constructing a new structure of 20 by 27 (540 square foot). We suggest that the new structure be self insulated, with a ramp and wide door to allow wheelchair access, a door into the community centre to allow access to the washrooms, and windows that allow the librarian to see approaching patrons and to bring in more natural light. We would like to see a seating area for patrons to use as they browse,” the report proposes.

“We estimate that the new construction would cost around $70,000,” said committee member John Inglis, “and we are seeking approval in principle from council today so we can approach the library board with this and then begin fundraising. At a later date we will likely come back to council looking for funds for a portion of the costs, but we don’t know how much money we will be seeking.”

In extolling the virtues of an expansion, Marily Seitz, of the Ompah Library Committee said that Ompah residents are avid readers. “The Ompah library is more heavily used than the one in Plevna, for example, even though we have a smaller population base,” she said.

The Ompah library has been serving double duty in recent months, as the Plevna library has been closed because the employee union is concerned about mould issues at the location.

While council expressed their interest in the Ompah library initiative, concerns about the overall status of the Ompah community centre, the fire hall and the library, which are all attached, led council to ask the group to wait until a facilities review takes place later this year. “You’ve made a compelling case,” said Mayor Ron Maguire, “but we can’t respond today because we are looking at the overall building itself.”

The issues that the township is grappling with are two-fold. The fire hall is too small, needing a new bay to house a wildfire truck, but the ground in the area is unsuitable for further building because it is too soft. As well, the community centre has been sagging at the rear of the building.

Councilor Fred Perry, who chairs the township’s fire committee, said that the building is safe, “but it needs to be looked at as whole before any additions are contemplated.”

“Council will be setting up a task force, soon, to consider facilities issues in Ompah and with our other halls. I would like to see this task force complete its work by the end of the summer,” Mayor Maguire told the delegation.

“We don’t want to wait four to six to eight or ten years,” said John Inglis.

“It won’t take that long,” said Fred Perry.

“We would like to be involved,” said John Inglis.

“I think the entire community will be involved,” said Deputy Mayor Jim Beam.

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Feature Article - August 2, 2007

What happened to the Ompah library expansion?

In February of this year, a small group of people in Ompah, including myself, having long ago agreed that our library was ridiculously small, put together a physical and financial plan to expand it. Anyone who has visited our well-used little facility will recognize that it’s the size of a generous bathroom. We quickly realized that there was a political element to the process as well, so we gathered signatures on a petition and letters of support from the local community. I am writing this progress report today because I feel some embarrassment about our performance so far. The ”we” I am referring to is the “Ompah Library Expansion Committee”, and our story follows:

The present library is 225 square feet. Our plan was to tear this building down and build a 600-square-foot space on the same location, for under $70,000. The new space would have double the shelving, plus a sitting area facing to the south. There are a number of funding alternatives we explored, and it looked possible that it might even be done at little or no cost to the township. The library building is owned by the Township of North Frontenac, so we dutifully talked with several councillors and the township employee responsible for buildings. We were told not to talk to the library in Kingston (KFPL) until council had heard a representation from us. Our March 8 presentation to council was described as a “compelling case” by Mayor Maguire, and then we heard about the township’s plan to review all its buildings. It seems that we timed this just when a period of uncertainty and upheaval is happening with all municipally-owned structures.

The Kingston library board was surprised that we hadn’t contacted them earlier, and invited us to make a presentation, which Marily Seitz and I did at their June 27 meeting. The problem the KFPL Board is faced with is how best to serve a small, scattered population in “the north”, and their feeling is that three libraries (Cloyne, Plevna, and Ompah) are too many. The Plevna building is closed indefinitely due to mould problems, so our Ompah space is doing double duty. The board may have been considering closing the Ompah library in the future; however, they now have a delegation suggesting a new, larger space, and not really asking for any help in doing so.

When I first learned of the township’s review of its building assets, I thought this could put a significant hold on any plans of the Ompah Library Expansion Committee. The township has formed a committee which has yet to meet for the first time.

So, to all you people who signed a petition or wrote a letter in support of a larger Ompah library, I offer this short explanation of why nothing has happened. We will continue working with the township and the KFPL Board, but I remain frustrated at how difficult it is to do something which is so apparently simple.

- John Inglis, co-chair (with Marily Seitz)

Ompah Library Expansion Committee