| Apr 07, 2005


Feature article,April 7, 2005

Feature article April 7, 2005

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Addington Highlands Council April 4, 2005

by Jeff Green

A simmering dispute came to the fore this week when Urusula Nussberger appeared before Addington Highlands Council to complain about road access to a car wash at the south end of the village of Northbrook.

Nussberger, who owns a car wash at the north end of the village, was asking Council to act to force the owner of the south end car wash to block off access to his car wash from Highway 41.

The matter is complicated by the fact that Ken Buxton, building inspector/bylaw officer for Addington Highlands, is an owner of the facility.

Nussberger first asked why Council had not responded to a letter she sent them about the matter last September but I received no response.

Reeve Hook said The township conveyed our desire to have him [Ken Buxton] stop up the entrance off Hwy. 41. We cant force him to do it, because Hwy. 41 is not on township property; its not a township road. We cant take any further action.

Ursula Nussberger said, Part of your building permit is confirmation by the MTO [Ministry of Transportation] that the entrance would be blocked off. This is part of your permit.

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Councillor Bill Cox said, The permit we set out called for an entrance on Glastonbury road. There is an entrance on Glastonbury road. Thats all we have the authority to deal with. He pointed out that the fact that Ken Buxton works for the township has no bearing on the case. He was asked as a business owner to block off access, not as a township employee. Your issue is with the MTO, not with the township.

Ken Hook acknowledged that the MTO had requested the entrance be blocked off, but to answer why the MTO has not enforced it, I have no idea.

The News contacted the MTO regarding this matter, and Lori Yaskevich of the MTO said, We are dealing with the property owner on that matter and its not appropriate for us to discuss anyones private business. It is something that were dealing with.

The News was unable to reach Ken Buxton on Tuesday.

Buxtons relationship to the township will cease shortly. He has given notice to the township after accepting a full-time position as a Chief Building Officer elsewhere. He has been a part time employee in Addington Highlands.

Denbigh Hall Roof up to $14,000 Councillor Bill Cox reported that tenders have come in on replacing the roof at the Denbigh Hall. The cost of the job had been estimated at $12,000 but the lowest tender came in at $14,000. Originally $8,000 was to be taken from a reserve fund that comes from Shoreline road Closings, and $4,000 from the township budget for 2005. By regulation, all of the money raised by Shoreline Road Closings must be spent on recreational projects. Cox proposed that the extra $2,000 also be taken from the reserve fund, and this was accepted. The tender that was accepted came from Darrens Renovations of Denbigh.

Developer tour being set up Bill Brown, the chair of the Economic Development Committee, reported that the company that has expressed interest in a resort development project in response to the promotional work done by the committee over the past two years will be coming to tour some prospective properties next month. We want to get them here in early May, before Black Fly season, if possible, Brown said.

Salt Management A detailed Salt Management Plan has been prepared by the County of Lennox and Addington, in accordance with requirements of the Federal Environment Ministry. Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath, who participated in the planning along with officials from the other townships and the County, said Were lucky we could prepare this plan through the County, because it would have been a huge job for us to undertake on our own.

The plan outlines current practices in each of the townships within the County, states the best practices as a goal, and includes timelines for achieving the goal.

In terms of the amount of the ratio of salt to sand, Addington Highlands, at 5%, is already at the standard that Environment Canada is seeking, while other townships within L&A are not there yet. But in terms of salt containment, Addington Highlands lags behind. The plan says the best practice would see 100% of salt/sand blends stored indoors on impermeable floors immediately upon delivery. Currently in Addington Highlands salt/sand blends are stored outdoors uncovered with about half on an asphalt pad and half on earth. The plan states that Addington Highlands will achieve the best practice for half of its salt/sand mix by 2007, and fully by 2010.

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