Editorial_09-36

Jeff Green | Sep 10, 2009

In the list of grievances between North Frontenac and its municipal partners at Frontenac County, funding support for Pine Meadow Nursing Home is always near the top

According to information supplied by North Frontenac Township to the province, township ratepayers pay $133,000 each year as their share of close to $1 million in payments the county makes towards operating costs for Fairmount Home, which the county owns and operates. The township also says that no North Frontenac residents use Fairmount home, which is located more than one hour’s drive from the nearest border of North Frontenac.

During the 2009 Frontenac County budget deliberations, North Frontenac proposed that Frontenac County include a $25,000 annual contribution for 10 years towards upgrading Pine Meadow to an “A” class facility, but this proposal was voted down, as it had been in 2008.

In 2008, Lennox and Addington County, which also owns its own facility, the John Parrot Centre in Napanee, committed $25,000 per year for 10 years towards the Pine Meadow upgrade.

Again, according to information supplied by North Frontenac Township to the province, 44% of Pine Meadow's residents come from North Frontenac Township.

When Frontenac County Council voted on the Pine Meadow proposal in 2008, it was lost in a tied vote. In 2009, the vote was 3-1 against. During the 2009 budget debate, Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek said the county should consider the whole social services envelope before deciding whether to fund Pine Meadow.

Pine Meadow Nursing Home, which is located in Northbrook in L&A County, is owned by Land O'Lakes Community Services, a charitable not-for-profit corporation, and overseen by a management committee, which includes representation from North Frontenac and Addington Highlands Townships.