Transportation_Study

Jeff Green | May 12, 2005

Feature article May 12, 2005

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by Jeff Green

Sheila Sim has been making the rounds of council chambers in the past week seeking input for a transportation project she has taken on for Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS).

Sim was in Sydenham last week; appeared before Central Frontenac Council on Monday; and will be in Plevna on Thursday. She explained to Council that transportation to small and larger centres to deal with social, medical, and other needs has long been recognised as a challenge for poorer residents in the northern Frontenac area.

Although Northern Frontenac Community Services has limited, volunteer-based transportation programs for both adults and children, Sim has been given the mandate to look to other agencies and to the townships to seek transportation solutions for the community as a whole.

So far various models have been considered, and at this point Sheila Sim said she is thinking the program will require a person to do some driving and some organizing. This person would co-ordinate with organizations that have some funding for their volunteer driving services to augment the fee-based service.

Sim told Council that We will be looking for funding to kick start the service, probably through an application for a Trillium grant. She was not looking for money from Council, but said she might come back to Council at a later date looking for a motion of support. In the interim she wanted to hear Councils ideas about transportation.

Council was receptive to Sims presentation, and she was encouraged to contact the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre, the Legions in Sharbot Lake and Arden, and the Lions Club.

One of the reasons cited when the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre was named as Family Health Team were the transportation issues people face having to travel to Kingston and Perth for treatment and diagnosis, said Mayor Bill MacDonald, but it is still 50 km from Plevna to Sharbot Lake, so transportation remains a concern there as well.

A survey had been circulated to Councillors with a request that they fill it in. Well do whatever we can for you, MacDonald said as he handed in his survey, short of spending any money. I might even volunteer to drive, but not until the end of this term of Council.

OTHER COUNCIL NOTES:

Trees at Cenotaph: Council has gratefully accepted a request by Legion Branch 425 that the Legion be allowed to plant hardwood trees on either side of the Cenotaph in front of the Oso Community Hall.

Harassment Policy: A policy designed to ensure that all municipal employees enjoy a work environment that is free of personal and sexual harassment has been adopted by Council. the policy defines different kinds of harassment, and bullying as well, and outlines informal and formal means of rectifying abusive situations.

Building permits up in April: A report from Ian Trickett shows a marked increase in building permits for the month of April as compared to 2004. There were 32 permits issued this April, for a construction value of $1,094,000 as compared to 17 permits for a value of $548,000 one year earlier. However construction activity in 2004 dropped from the level in 2003, when 25 permits were issued for a $961,000 construction value.

So far in 2005, 49 permits have been issued for $1,759,000 worth of construction, which is 40% higher than this time last year and 15% higher than 2003.