Waiver For Storm Related Brush & Waste Disposal Fees Extended

Craig Bakay | Sep 14, 2022

Following a motion by Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch, Addington Highlands will continue to waive disposal fees for storm related brush and yard waste until Sept. 30, Council decided at its Sept. 6 regular meeting in Flinton.

This includes brush, branches trees, leaves and stumps.

Fritsch said he believed most people had completed cleanup but Reeve Henry Hogg said he’d received a request to extend the deadline for no fees for debris related to the May 21 windstorm and derecho event.

“People aren’t done yet,” Hogg said.

Indeed they aren’t and that extends to the Township’s efforts as well.

As part of his monthly report, Roads and Waste Manager Brett Reavie said: “We’re noy done yet either but I’m concerned about getting funding if we extend the deadline.”

CAO-Clerk/Treasurer Christine Reed said she believed that as long as they have their application in by the deadline of Sept. 19, it should be OK.

“With the application, we have to show proof of payment,” she said. “But we can submit an invoice.”

She said the estimated expenditures to remove trees and debris from municipal infrastructure and repair resulting damage is to date about $255,000 and as such is greater than the Township’s Own Purpose Taxation Levy of $94,605 and therefore eligible for a claim to the Municipal Disaster Recovery Assistance Program.

Under the Program, the Province will reimburse the Township at 75 per cent for expenses up to the first 3 per cent of the municipality’s Own Purpose Taxation Levy with the municipality being responsible for 25 per cent of these expenses. For eligible expenses incurred beyond the 3 per cent, the Province will reimburse the municipality at 95 per cent with the municipality being responsible for the remaining 5 per cent.

Reavie said he’s still trying to schedule chippers to come in to reduce the volume of debris. Burning is not an option due to the Township’s strict no-burn ECA for its waste sites.

Reavie also said it’s been a busy year for the Township’s waste sites as well.

Community Transportation Grant

Council asked staff to meet with Land O’Lakes Community Services to see if pursuing a Community Transportation Grant is feasible.

“Quotations for insurance costs were challenging to get as the Township’s insurer was unwilling to provide a quote without very specific vehicle information,” said CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed. “Effective July 1, 2021, there were new safety requirements for intercommunity services that carry one to nine passengers.

“As part of the vehicle registration process, under-10 passenger vehicle operators are required to inform the province when an under-10 passenger vehicle is being used to provide intercommunity transportation services; they must meet the minimum driver, insurance, and vehicle safety requirements under the Highway Traffic Act.”

“Past experience in our community to provide public transportation has had limited success,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch.

Trunk or Treat event

Council approved using the municipal hall parking lot for the 5th annual Trunk or Treat event Oct. 31 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Short Term Rentals

At the request of Reeve Henry Hogg, a discussion on a bylaw governing short term rentals was deferred until Council’s next meeting.

“I would like to wait until we get results of the surveys,” Hogg said.

Heat Alert Response

In response to a request from the Town of Aylmer requesting increased federal and provincial funding for health units to develop uniform and comprehensive local responses to extreme heat and cold events, Council directed staff to meet with the Health Unit with respect to such events.

“We had an instance last summer where we had some pretty warm weather,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch.

“We did have a hall and some bottled water available but I don’t know how well know it was,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “And sometimes those things happen on the weekends when it’s tough to get the word out.”