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August 25, 2005. | Navigate | .
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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright
Ompah dump to become waste transfer station
North Frontenac Council, August 18, 2005
by Jule Koch Brison
Pending receipt of a certificate of approval from the Ministry of the Environment, the Ompah dump will become a waste transfer station on a trial basis sometime after it closes next month.
This option had been considered and previously rejected by the Waste Management Committee, chiefly because of worries that garbage would be dumped illegally. The Ompah site was a full service site, but the transfer station would be for household waste only. The committee did not feel that residents would make a second trip to another waste site to dispose of goods such as refrigerators, stoves or tires.
Councillor Bud Clayton, Chair of the Waste Management Committee, stressed that the very first time any illegal dumping takes place, the transfer station would be closed immediately.
Nevertheless, the committee recommended to council that the waste transfer site be set up at the Ompah dump on a trial basis. Councillor Fred Perry asked that council review the costs after one year. The recommendation was accepted and a motion to that effect was passed.
Clayton was asked how long it would take to obtain the certificate of approval from the MoE, but he could not give a definite answer, only saying that it was “in progress”.
Council will proceed with the closing of the Ompah dump after Labour Day and then set up the site when the certificate is received.
A waste attendant would still be present at the site and the hours of operation would be kept the same as the present dump hours.
- ICE WATER RESCUE: Fire Chief Bill Young of Oso District, Central Frontenac, visited council to advise about setting up an Ice Water Rescue Unit of the Ompah Fire Department. When the Ompah Snowmobile Club dissolved, they donated $36,000 to the Ompah Fire department, which proposes to use the money to purchase a rescue boat, ATV, and ice water rescue equipment. The Fire Department will cover an extra $4,772 needed for the purchases.
Bill Young said that it was an unfortunate accident eight years ago that prompted his crew to get into ice water rescue. They fundraised and went ahead and bought the equipment, and have used it about half a dozen times since. The rescue boat is also used in the summer for boating accidents.
Bill Young offered to help with the training of the Ompah crew, and offer that was really appreciated by council. The training takes several days, with sessions for summer and winter conditions.
The Oso Fire department has two boats specifically made for ice water rescue; one is an inflatable Fortuna raft that costs about $5500. The Ompah Fire Department would not need to build storage for it.
Councillor Hunter asked Bill Young how he chooses who goes out in difficult and dangerous conditions. He said he puts it out on the floor and whoever wants to come, does. He said that the ice water wet suits really make one feel comfortable, and as one gets to trust the suits, their confidence levels go up.
Council agreed to go ahead with setting up the Ice Water Rescue Unit, and the sooner the better, as lives might be saved.
- COUNTY TRAILS
Lennox and Addington Rep Steve Roberts made a presentation to Council about the posting of signs for County Trails as part of a fitness trail initiative by L&A County Council. Roberts visited Central Frontenac Council on Aug. 8 with the same request, and it was well received.
The County Trails are not ATV trails, and in response to councillors’ concerns, Roberts said that there was no expectation of paved shoulders, as many of the already signed County Trails do not have paved shoulders. He said it would be indicated on the maps that there were narrow or no shoulders available. Clerk Brenda deFosse was concerned that many shoulders in North Frontenac are vegetated, and Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke asked if there were any liability concerns. Roberts replied that the trails do not promote any uses of the highway, such as cycling and walking, that aren’t already legal, so there are no liability issues.
Councillor Betty Hunter brought up a concern that the “County” signs might be confusing to ATV drivers. ATVs are allowed on North Frontenac Township roads, but not on county roads, and some roads, such as the Buckshot Lake Road, are part county and part township. Roberts said that perhaps this information could be incorporated into the literature.
Councillor Hunter also asked if “places to eat” etc. would be placed on the map, but Roberts said that while they had considered seeking private sponsorship, they had not done that. The Land o’ Lakes Tourist Association is listed on the maps as the contact for tourist information.
L & A County will provide the signs and reimburse the township for the labour and installation costs.
Council agreed enthusiastically to the proposal.
- POLICY ON SELLING CONCESSIONS: A request by Len Connelly and Cathy McCann to purchase a concession road allowance leading to water has been denied. Councillor Will Cybulski wrote that it is township policy not to sell concessions leading to water. This was questioned by Councillor Clayton, and Councillor Perry said there should be a bylaw. Township staff will research the issue and see whether a bylaw can be passed.
- ROADS MAINTENANCE: Council discussed several complaints about road conditions: A petition with 36 signatures was received requesting immediate maintenance of Mountain Road from Schooner turn to Mackie Lake; emails were also received about Mosque Lake and Arcol Roads. Councillors agreed that the roads are bad and will consult with the Public Works Manager about the schedule for road maintenance. It was also agreed that the dry weather is partly responsible for the problem
Mayor Maguire said the township would consider paving Arcol Road next year. Councillor Cybulski asked, “Why pave, if calcium could do the trick?” Maguire replied, “Considering is not the same as approving”.
- NO SWIMMING? A request from the OPP to change the sign at the Mississippi bridge from “No Diving” to “No Swimming” was denied. The request was made because when an officer spoke to some kids about diving off the bridge, they said they were just swimming. Councillor Cybulski argued that unless there were a bylaw about the swimming – or diving, for that matter, any signs would be unenforceable.
- RECYCLING HAULER: Council will be putting put out a request for proposal for a recycling hauler. Manco, the present contractor, has not been showing up to haul recycling bins away as they have been filling up. This has resulted in piles of recyclables accumulating on the ground at the dump sites. The sites are in the process of being cleaned up by Frazer Haulage of Tweed with the assistance of township staff, but Council agreed Manco should be put on notice about their performance.
A further irritant came last month when Manco informed the township that there is a 5% gas cost surcharge being added to the haulage charge for each load of recycling they haul.
- FIRE BANS: There have been problems with people not respecting the fire bans. First warning letters have been sent out. The ban applies to everyone, including campers.
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December 15, 2005. | Navigate | .
ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims
Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright
Official Plan to get five-year review: Central Frontenac Council Reportby Jeff Green
It’s been five years since Central Frontenac adopted an Official Plan, which, along with the accompanying comprehensive zoning bylaw, sets out a framework for how the township deals with a variety of land use planning matters, from lot size to zoning, and gives the staff and Council guidance for their dealings with individuals and developers that come to their door.
Official Plans are designed to change as townships develop, and the township’s planning consultant, Glenn Tunnock, appeared before a meeting of Council this week to outline his proposals for conducting an Official Plan Review.
His proposal includes plans to consult with staff, Council, and the public in order to identify issues that have arisen in the past five years, and which Council might want to see addressed in the Official Plan.
“Several issues have arisen in the past five years that were not envisioned when the Official Plan was being developed, “Tunnock said, “including the whole exercise for lake planning that some lake associations have undertaken. As well, there are issues as far as what is an appropriate standard for private roads - issues about the viability of private roads as far as access for emergency personnel are concerned. Should we allow private roads at all, is a question that might be worth looking at. Do we bite the bullet and say, no more private roads?”
Tunnock said that he appreciates that 2006 is a municipal election year, so he was hoping to receive a mandate from Council to proceed quickly.
With waterfront property owners having such a strong stake in the future development of Central Frontenac, Mayor MacDonald suggested that as part of the Official Plan Review process, one or more public meetings should be held after the first of July, preferably on a Saturday morning.
Council approved Glen Tunnock’s planning review proposal.
Council goes in camera to talk about Trans-Canada Trail
Representatives from the County of Hastings and the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance came to Council to talk about the portion of the Trans-Canada Trail that runs through Central Frontenac along Highway 7. Central Frontenac paid $32,000 for the trail but decided not to take possession of it, because residents on another piece of trail the township owns, the K&P trail north of Sharbot Lake, invoked the Line Fences Act to force the township to undertaken expensive fencing along the K&P. Fearing astronomical costs, the township has backed away from the trail along Highway 7.
Although the discussion was held in camera, Hastings County and the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA), have both trumpeted their ability to negotiate inexpensive arrangements for fencing with local farmers and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. They both see trails as beneficial for economic development, with EOTA being very active in promoting ATV tour packages along a network of trails that they have developed throughout eastern Ontario.
Council took no action in open Council in response to an hour-long discussion with their guests.
Henderson Hall – The lease with the United Church Women in Henderson has expired after 25 years and Council decided to offer a five year lease to the United Church Women.
Building permits drop in November – In contrast to last year, when 23 building permits were issued for $763,000 worth of construction, only 13 permits were issued this November, for $464,000 worth of construction.
The year-to-date picture remains positive, however, with 217 permits issued in 2005 for a total of $7,621,000 of construction value compared to 196 permits for $6,004,000 in construction value in 2004, and 161 permits for $4,618,000 in construction value in 2003.
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Feature Article
February 16, 2006
Township questions proposed deal overK&PTrail
by Jeff Green
A proposal by the staff of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority to turn over management of the K&P Trail is being questioned by members of the North Frontenac Council.
Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke brought council’s attention to the proposal at a meeting of North Frontenac Council last Thursday. Lemke has been representing North Frontenac on the Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) Board for several years. She missed the last MVC Board meeting on December 22. At that meeting a staff report was presented to the board, recommending that management of the K&P Trail be turned over to the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, who would be better able to maintain and promote the trail. The K&P Trail runs through Central Frontenac, North Frontenac, and Lanark Highlands on the old K&P rail line.
Some board members at the December 22 meeting expressed concerns about the proposal, and it was also pointed out that Gleva Lemke from North Frontenac and Larry McDermott from Lanark Highlands were not at the meeting. The matter was deferred to a meeting on February 23.
Gleva Lemke invited members of North Frontenac Council to pass on their concerns to her to take to the February 23 meeting.
The Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA) approached North Frontenac Council last year with a proposal to include the 56 km of Crown land roads that North Frontenac manages in their trail system, but the proposal was ultimately rejected by North Frontenac Council.
One of the concerns expressed by North Frontenac Council at the time was that the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance is primarily focused on ATV use of trails, which is not always consistent with other kinds of trail usage.
This point, in reference to the K&P trail, had been made at the Mississippi Valley meeting by Mary Vandenhoff from Lanark, who was concerned that an agreement with EOTA would lead to ATV use only.
“An agreement with EOTA is not the solution if the Conservation Authority wants to continue with multi-use of the trail,” Vandenhoff is quoted as saying in the minutes to the meeting.
North Frontenac councillor Betty Hunter pointed out that a 15-page promotional booklet circulated by the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance lists North Frontenac as a member municipality, “even though we have no connection to them.”
The booklet also lists the townships of Central Frontenac and Addington Highlands as member municipalities.
On page 3, under the heading “Economic Impact Study”, the booklet projects benefits from the development of the EOTA Trail system. It says, “Over a 10-year period the economic and tourist benefits could be $45.8 million and the creation of 1659 jobs.”
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Feature Article
March 2, 2006
Minister saysLineFencesAct will be revisedby Jeff Green
The Ontario government is poised to amend the century-old Line Fences Act, which could facilitate the development of recreational trails on former rail lines.
In a speech to municipal politicians in Toronto last week, John Gerretson, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said, “Our government intends to introduce amendments to Section 20 of the Line Fences Act … These amendments, if passed, would require owners of abandoned rail right-of-ways to pay 100 per cent of the costs for construction and maintenance of fences only where there are neighbouring farm businesses.”
Section 20 of the Line Fences Act stipulates that a municipality that purchases an abandoned rail line is responsible for 100% of fencing costs. Municipalities who have purchased rail lines with the intent to establish trails have downplayed this responsibility in the past.
However, adjacent landowners in several south-western Ontario municipalities have successfully gone to court to force the municipalities to pay for fencing. This has put a damper on the so-called Rails to Trails movement. Locally, both Central and South Frontenac have pulled back from purchasing railway lands as a result.
Restricting Section 20 of the Act to apply only to farm businesses would cut potential costs to municipalities considerably. All other landowners would have recourse to other sections of the act, which provide for shared costs for fencing.
Ralph Walton, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing, said that Minister Gerretson is promoting changes to the act that were identified in a government sponsored report released last year.
The minister “recognises there is a provincial and municipal interest in promoting agriculture, and this is balanced against the desire to promote opportunities for the public purchase of abandoned railroad right-of-ways for use in activities that can lead to economic development and improved recreational opportunities, such as trails,” Walton told the News.
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Feature Article - June 1, 2006County Trails open
On May 24, the County of Lennox & Addington held the official opening of
Ontario
’s newest recreational trail network: County Trails.
County Trails is a multi-use fitness trail network that encompasses 12 trails & nearly 600 kms of circular routes that allow travelers to arrive back at the beginning without having to retrace their steps. Three of the trails loop through Central & North Frontenac, & Addington Highlands , & two of those are the longest trails in the system.
The Buckshot Lake Trail is 102 km long and is the most challenging of the trails. It takes you through Bon Echo Provincial Park , and past Myers Cave , Plevna, Vennachar and Cloyne.
The Sheffield Trail is 78 km long and is also a challenging trail. It is considered the transition trail and goes from farmland to the Canadian Shield . The trail loops around Erinsville, Tamworth, Arden and Kaladar.
The Flinton Road Trail is 37 km long and is of moderate difficulty. The northern & western portions of this trail are on the Bridgewater Road . The southern & eastern portions are on the Old Flinton Road . Both roads are well traveled but may be best suited for mountain biking.
The County Trails concept was recommended in the County of Lennox & Addington’s 2001 Master Transportation Plan. County Council has been committed to the initiative & has recognized the importance of the trails in promoting recreation & fitness and as a product to improve tourism in Lennox & Addington & neighbouring municipalities.
The opening festivities of County Trails will continue on June 11 at 10am with a Grand Opening Tour de Hay Bay Ride. Cyclists of all levels & ages will have the opportunity to be the first to ride the Hay Bay Trail (Trail E). This free event will offer a 15km, 25km or 44km leisurely ride along the shores of the Napanee River , Bay of Quinte & Hay Bay, beginning at Conservation Park in Napanee.
Trail brochures are available at the Land o’ Lakes Tourist Association office in Kaladar, township offices and other locations. For more information visit www.countytrails.com or call 1-800-840-4445.
Photo: MPP Leona Dombrowsky, Lennox & Addington County Warden Doug Bearance, Napanee Mayor Gord Schermerhorn, Addington Highlands Reeve Ken Hook, & Doug Sexsmith, Chairman of PELA CFDC, were all in attendance at Conservation Park in Napanee to launch County Trails.
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Feature Article - September 7, 2006South Frontenac to explore K&PTrail option
by Jeff Green
Last month Kingston City Council decided to make an offer of purchase to Nexacor (the real estate arm of Bell Canada ) for 15 km. of land for a non-motorised trail along the old K&P rail bed. That decision has rekindled interest in developing the K&P trail for most members of South Frontenac Council.
In a 7-2 vote at a meeting on Tuesday night, September 5, council passed the following resolution;
“That Council authorise the CAO [Chief Administrative Officer] to enter into discussions with the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority [CRCA] for the possible acquisition and management of the portion of the K&P Rail Line which passes through the Township of South Frontenac with final approval to be given by Council once a satisfactory agreement is arranged.”
The Conservation Authority has operated the Cataraqui Trail, an east-west nature trail, for 12 years. The first stretch of the old K&P line that would likely be developed into a trail in South Frontenac would be an 8 kilometre stretch between the proposed Kingston K&P, which ends at the border with South Frontenac at Murvale, and the Cataraqui trail at Harrowsmith.
A longer portion of trail would run north towards Sharbot Lake , where it could join up with the Trans Canada Trail that is already in place.
Councillor Bill Robinson, who represents the Portland District, where most of the trail would be located, was the major dissenting voice.
“I am not against trails,” he said, “but it is too much money. We’ve gone down this road before, and I don’t think it is the place of this council to be looking at spending $60,000, plus surveying costs, plus insurance, plus fencing, plus making the trail, which are all unknowns. This should be left to the new council. I don’t think that we, as grown up people, who are responsible for people’s money, should be talking about spending this kind of money for a walking trail.”
Bedford councillor David Hahn, who proposed the motion and has long advocated for the K&P trail, said “Nexacor and the city have agreed to a price of $2,000 an acre. I think in fact this is an opportunity to do something we need to do. The city has had this as a goal for a long time. They have negotiated a deal. What we are talking about here is beginning discussions.”
Hahn then talked about a potential source of money or the project.
“ Del [Bedford District Councillor Del Stowe] and I are willing to talk to the Bedford District Rec. Committee about spending some of the Bedford Parkland Reserve on this. As you know there is $300,000 in the parkland reserve fund … And if the trail becomes part of the Trans-Canada Trail, there is a $2,000 per kilometre grant that we can access as well.”
Quite apart from the costs of surveys, which may or may not be necessary for the entire length of the trail, and the rehabilitation costs along the length of the rail bed, the century-old Ontario Line Fences Act is a major obstacle to the development of the K&P trail, both in South and Central Frontenac. Central Frontenac would have to come on side in order for the dream of a Kingston/Frontenac leg of the Trans-Canada trail to be realised.
Section 20, subsection C of the Line Fences Act, clearly delineates the responsibility for fencing that municipalities incur when they purchase abandoned railway lines.
Any municipality or Crown agency that purchases an abandoned railroad right of way and does not own the abutting land is “responsible for constructing, keeping up and repairing the fences that mark the lateral boundaries of such land.” (sec. 20, subsection c, Ontario Line Fences Act)
In the early 1990s a so-called rails-to-trails movement took hold in Ontario , and municipalities throughout the province began purchasing and developing abandoned railroad rights of way as trails, under the assumption that the courts would not apply the Line Fences Act literally.
A couple of farmers in southwest Ontario, backed by the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, changed that, and two cases went to the Supreme Court of Ontario, where the Line Fences Act was upheld and the municipalities were forced to pay for fencing.
Central Frontenac, which had purchased a section of the K&P line running north from Highway 7 several years ago, found themselves forced to do fencing by residents on the abutting land, and found the costs to be exorbitant, at well over $20,000 per kilometre.
In 2004, the last time South Frontenac Council addressed the K&P trail issue, a motion of interest was passed, with the proviso that the Line Fences Act must be changed before the township will proceed.
In 2006, the Line Fences Act remains the most difficult obstacle to developing the K&P trail, and although a report on changes to the act was prepared last year, legislated changes to the Act are not on the front burner at Queen’s Park.
Still, South Frontenac councillors are hoping that section 20 of the Act will be amended so that it only applies to active farms abutting railway beds, instead of all properties, as is still the case.
Another issue that is sure to complicate matters, even if the Line Fences Act is changed, is the use of ATVs on the trails. The Kingston and Cataraqui Trails do not permit ATVs and that is not likely to change, whereas the Trans-Canada Trail between Tweed and Sharbot Lake is managed by the Tweed-based Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, which has ATV tourism as its primary focus.
There are many people in South Frontenac who oppose ATV use of trails, and there are others who argue that trails are not economically viable without 4-wheeler traffic.
These divisions exist on council as well.
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Feature Article - May 10, 2007Increase of 3.6% in Addington Highlands budget
by Jeff Green
The levy to taxpayers for the 2007 Addington Highlands budget will be a few dollars shy of $1.6 million, up from $1,545,000 in 2006, a 3.6% increase.
Much of the increase came from the Lennox and Addington County taxes, which are up 3.8% this year.
The tax increase will be spread quite evenly among taxpayers in the township this year, since property tax assessments will not be reviewed in 2007, while the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) undergoes a review of its procedures.
The final tax rate will be set when the budget is approved on May 21 at the regular council meeting in Denbigh.
Peter Tryon honoured Peter Tryon’s quick thinking in saving a truck driver has come to the attention of the Governor General. Back on December 8, 2005, Peter was at his home on Highway 7 at Kaladar when he heard what sounded like a loud thunderclap. He rushed outside and saw that a transport had run off the road into the garage at Bence Motors.
Peter ran to the scene, woke the driver and guided him out of the cab through the passenger door to safety before the truck was overcome with flames.
Earlier this week, Peter had a chance to recall the events of December 8, 2005 when he received a framed citation and a commendation from Governor General Michaelle Jean, as presented by Addingotn Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg. Lennox and Addingotn County Warden Clayton McEwen was on hand as well, presenting a certificate from MPP Leona Dombrowsky in recognition of the same event.
“You hear about people doing things like this,” said McEwen as he presented the certificate, “but it’s an honour to actually meet someone. Would you do it again?”
“In a second,” Peter Tryon said.
Request for ATV use of county roads Larry Pealow addressed council, representing AHEAD (Addington Highlands Economic Advisors for Development). AHEAD is asking, on behalf of the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, that a portion of Lennox and Addington County Road 29 (which runs from Highway 7 to Flinton), be made legal for ATV traffic in order to connect two trails in the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance multi-use trail network.
ATV traffic is legal on Addington Highalnds Township roads, but not on county roads.
Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch, who sits on Lennox and Addington County Council, said, “I don’t think ATV’s should be on roads, I won’t be supporting this.”
Reeve Henry Hogg said he would bring the proposal forward at the County Council table.
“I have no idea what the county will say”, he said.
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Feature Article - May 10, 2007Letters
Alarming number of toxins in use today
My wife and I have chemical sensitivities. Our lives are changed. The world is now a hostile place. Effects of exposures can vary from disabling flu-like symptoms to life-threatening (asthma). These sensitivities are the results of previous repeated exposures. (It may happen to you, too.)
Over the course of the Easter long weekend, a major renovation took place at our local Royal Bank branch – a complete makeover. New floors, counters, etc. greeted me on my arrival the following Tuesday morning. Also there to welcome me was the overwhelming atmosphere of toxic, solvent-laden fumes; the result of the off-gassing of the various materials used during the renovation process. By the time I was able to leave, my head was pounding, heart racing, lips were numb; I was light-headed, and had a sharp, metallic taste in my mouth. In short, I was very ill for the rest of the day.
Now, I am not uninformed regarding the make-up of some of the materials used, and they do indeed contain various acknowledged hazardous chemicals. There are government-mandated MSDS (Manufacturers Safety Data Sheets) for these products, and these instructions for safe usage should be adhered to. High on the list is good ventilation and the use of an appropriate breathing apparatus. The information is there; unfortunately, it is often ignored.
When I registered my concern, I was asked “Is anyone else complaining? Are the employees?” Great! I can see it now. “Well, the canary died…but the miners still seem okay.”
There are an alarming number of hazardous, toxic, and carcinogenic chemicals in use today, incorporated into many commonly-used products. We avoid them in our home, and I resent being involuntarily exposed, especially in public spaces. Had I walked into the bank and lit a cigarette there would have been an outcry. Why is it acceptable to expose customers and employees to other toxins with impunity?
April is “Cancer” month. Isn’t it ironic that we can “Walk for the Cure”, all the while coming up with new ways to give it ourselves?
- Bob Miller, Activist in the making!
Food Down The Road – a Local Reality
The article by Jeff Green, “Food down the Road – towards a local food system” (Frontenac News, May 3), is both encouraging and timely. In the article, Jeff states that the National Farmers’ Union local 316 project is aimed at “developing a sustainable local food system in the region.”
While “North of Seven” may be a little beyond the perimeter of the Food Down The Road Project (defined as a 100 km radius around Kingston), a small group of highly enthusiastic community people in the Northbrook area is taking one small step along the road to making the aim of the sustainable local food system project a practical reality.
Saturday morning (May 12 – 9:00 am – noon) they plan to construct several raised garden plots next to Pine Meadows Nursing Home using donated lumber, top-soil, and organic compost. Once constructed, the garden plots will be made available to interested individuals, families, or groups for the purpose of either (a) growing their own fruit and vegetables (and flowers, if they so choose), or (b) growing produce to share with others.
The hope and intention of the initiators of the community garden is that this project will provide a model and an incentive for others to start their own community gardens.
Whether your interest is in caring well for the Earth, learning more about gardening, sharing your accumulated gardening wisdom, eating delicious, nutritious produce, or making new friends, put one foot in front of the other and…
If you happen to be out and about the Northbrook area this Saturday morning,
May 12th, take a drive around Pine Meadows Nursing Home. Say hello to the work crew who will be constructing the raised garden plots for this area’s first community garden. Better yet, bring your gardening tools with you and join the party.
Eleanor Belfry-Lyttle
Wildfire in North Frontenac
On Saturday, May 5, a brush fire started on the northeast corner of our property at the Wintergreen road in Barrie Township. At this location the high voltage power lines run west towards Northbrook. We smelled smoke, discovered the fire, and called 911. No more than 10 minutes later the fire department was on site and setting up to fight this wild fire. Since there was a strong wind out of the east and everything was very dry, the fire moved across the property and down the power line easement with great speed.
The MNR was contacted and within an hour a helicopter with a firefighting crew was on the way from Pembroke and water bomber airplanes dispatched from Gravenhurst. The fire was finally brought under control by 7PM after two extra water bombers were brought in from Quebec. It was stopped just 100 metres from our neighbour's cabin.
No cause has been determined as yet, but it looks like it could well have been started by a discarded cigarette. In total, approximately 60 acres were burned and crews were still working to put out hotspots on Monday afternoon. We owe our local firefighters, the MNR fire crew, and the MNR a great “Thank You”. They worked without stopping from dawn till dusk each day in very rugged conditions. It is very important to realize that if they had not been able to control the fire when they did, it would have been on its way to Northbrook, less than 5km away.
This fire cost tens of thousands of dollars to fight. One water bomber costs over $2,000 per hour.
Please be careful with all sources of fire at all times.
Thanks, firefighters, you did a great job.
- Frank McEvoy
Editor’s Note: As of Tuesday morning May 8, firefighters were still struggling to contain this fire. A complete fire ban is now in effect in Addington Highlands, North, Central and South Frontenac Townships.-
Re: K&P Trails
I wish to lend my support to the efforts of the mayor and council of Central Frontenac in attempting to acquire the old K&P rail line. Recreation trails are now important and will become, in my opinion, even more important in years to come. What a shame that a track bed that would have cost millions of dollars to construct in another time could be lost forever. This acquisition is well within the mandate of a municipal council and I hope all the various parties will co-operate to have the trail run from Kingston to Sharbot Lake and then beyond.
I hope ratepayers from all the municipalities will support the efforts of their councils to purchase and develop this link so that the trails will be available to all recreation users in the future.
Keep up the good work.
- Wayne Robinson
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Not without trepidation, members of Frontenac County Council approved the establishment of a trail planning committee to prepare a draft master plan for the trail system in Frontenac County.
Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski brought the concerns of her own council to the county table, and asked that the planning committee “include a representative from the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA), who have expertise in trail management.”
“That would be appropriate,’ said Dianna Bratina, the County Manager of Economic Development, who had proposed that the committee be set up, “My report on this was meant as a starting point to try and get this moving.”
Frontenac County has become involved in the often thorny issue of trails in applying for and receiving a rural infrastructure grant of $298,000, dedicated to purchasing former K&P trail lands from Bell Canada. The incentive to do this came from South Frontenac Township, which intends to establish a non-motorised trail running roughly parallel to Highway 38 in order to join the K&P Trail coming out of Kingston with the Cataraqui Trail. The trail would then run north to the boundary with Central Frontenac. South Frontenac intends to have the Cataraqui Trail Foundation, which owns the Cataraqui Trail, manage South Frontenac’s portion of the K&P Trail as well.
The infrastructure grant also covers the cost of purchasing the former railway lands in Central Frontenac, from Piccadilly to Tichborne, which the county will hold in trust until Central Frontenac Council decides to get involved in a north-south trail.
Although the county’s focus is on the K&P Trail, “the committee will be charged with developing a ‘Master Plan’ for all trails in the county,” Gutowski said.
Central Frontenac owns the K&P Trail running north from Sharbot Lake, and has been involved in the purchase of the east-west Trans-Canada Trail, which runs parallel to Highway 7. Those trails are motorised trails, where ATV traffic is common, and they are managed by EOTA.
“South and Central Frontenac both allow them [ATV’s] to run the roads, and we are not going to allow them on the trails. Cataraqui runs non-motorised trails, and EOTA runs motorised trails, so I don’t know how this is going to work,” said South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison.
With an EOTA representative, the committee will include up to 9 members, including representatives from the county, the two municipalities, the tourism industry, the Frontenac Stewardship Council, and others.
“We are in danger of establishing a committee that is so large that it won’t be able to get anything done,” Davison said.
The committee, which received approval from county council, will have a broad range of topics to look at, including: users and activities, design standards and guidelines, amenities, fees, funding sources, and a trail name. Perhaps the most important two issues they will look at are an implementation plan, which will include the cost of initial upgrades and ongoing maintenance costs, and trail management. The committee will present a draft plan for presentation to the public.
Other council items:
Council roles changing – County council recognises that Frontenac County has a limited profile in the province, and decided to encourage council members and staff to attend more meetings and seek appointments to boards and committees with a provincial profile.
The initiative for this came from Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek, who was recently appointed to the County Caucus of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. In order to secure the appointment, Vanden Hoek told council that he needed to do some campaigning, which led to out of pocket expenses.
Council approved a new policy, which called for reimbursing Vanden Hoek for some of his costs, subject to review by the county treasurer.
According to the staff report that was accepted by council, the county will pay the conference fees and other expenses of both staff and council members for attendance at “meetings that might be seen to be focused more on the county’s profile … Overall in its 2008 budget, council might be considering a financial commitment to improving the governance and government of its constituents ranging from $30,000 to $40,000”.
Budget direction - In response to the news that the Province of Ontario is planning to upload the costs of the Ontario Disability Support Program from municipal ratepayers, Mayor Vanden Hoek asked that as staff prepares a draft budget for 2008, “Any resulting savings from the uploading of costs are devoted to a tax decrease rather than to program spending increases.”
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Back to HomeFeature Article - October 29, 2009
Frontenac County Council – Oct. 27/09By Jeff Green
In the absence of South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison, who was on his honeymoon, the other three members of Frontenac County Council held off on deciding major matters at their October meeting.
The meeting almost didn’t happen at all, because Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek has been away much of the month of October, fulfilling his duties as county caucus chair with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.
County Council composition debate deferred
The 18-month-old discussion about the future composition of Frontenac County Council was deferred, at which time Frontenac County Council will be under pressure to make a final decision.
“I feel there is a lot of urgency to this,” said North Frontenac Deputy Mayor Jim Beam, the interim representative for North Frontenac on the four-member Council. “There needs to be a public meeting if we decide to make a change, and the four lower-tier municipalities will need to ratify it. That doesn't leave a lot of time before the end of the year. Back in the spring Mayor Vanden Hoek said there was ‘no fire under this’, well now there is.”
Before the matter was deferred Jim Vanden Hoek asked a question about comments that have come back from the four municipalities on council composition.
“My understanding is that three of the municipalities would like to see eight or nine members on council and South Frontenac five, but I am unclear if the second representative from the townships will be a four-year appointment or if we will see new people every year,” he asked
“My understanding is that the second person will be appointed for four years,” said Jim Beam. “Similarly, even though the municipalities did not like the idea of a four-year warden, they felt that should be left up to county council to decide.”
The matter of county council composition was then deferred.
TRAILS: Council did agree, however, to accept the County Trails Master and Implementation Plans, after receiving assurances that neither document ties the county to any funding commitment.
Mayor Vanden Hoek was concerned that the trail not become a county-run program, and sought wording to the effect that a managing partner for the project be sought at the outset.
“I’m trying to separate the county from the activity of the trail. My fear is that if we don’t do this now, it becomes a very large thing that the politicians can’t cut off and move on its own,” he said.
Speaking for the trails development committee, South Frontenac Councilor Alan McPhail said, “The only thing that staff is doing now is putting the implementation plan together, with a new trails advisory committee. Finding a management group for the trail cannot come until we make some basic decisions about the kind of trail we are going to develop.”
The trails implementation committee will now begin its work
Money released for transportation – Frontenac County set aside $80,000 in the 2009 budget for transportation under the heading “Grants to Service Providers”, but the money was held back, pending receipt of a business plan from the fledgling Frontenac Transportation Collaborative.
Rural Routes, which offers transportation service in North and Central Frontenac, and Southern Frontenac Community Services, which does the same in South Frontenac, have been working together to develop a business plan.
That plan was delivered to the county earlier this month. With Mayor Davison absent from the meeting, Mayor Vanden Hoek insisted that the county simply receive the document for information and release the 2009 money to the two agencies involved.
Jane Drew from Rural Routes and Deborah Andrews from Southern Frontenac Community Services expressed relief that the 2009 money will finally be flowing, because their agencies had been stretched to the limit covering the shortfall.
The business plan, which calls for annualized funding from the county in the amount $80,000, will be considered on November 18 at the next county meeting.
