AH Council Support Lions Hall Becoming Emergency Centre

Craig Bakay | Dec 13, 2023

Addington Highlands Council is on board for a proposal that would make the Land O’Lakes Lions Club building in Northbrook into a third emergency evacuation centre for the Township, joining the Flinton Hall and Addington Highlands Community Centre in Denbigh in that regard.

Representing the Lions Club at the Dec. 6 Council meeting in Flinton, Nawar El Khouri Hage and Tom Hunter told Council that the local club was applying for a matching grant from the Lions Club International Foundation in the amount of $66,000 in order outfit the club building.

“It’s a bit of an urgent matter,” Hage said. “The last time the LCIF contacted us was two days ago with a request that we submit some form of document that says the Townships of Addington Highlands and North Frontenac are on board — not in the sense of any financial support but in the support of the Lions working their hall into an emergency evacuation port.”

She said they’ve already received said documentation from North Frontenac Township.

Coun. Ken Hook moved support for the concept.

“I don’t think the Township has any problem with it,” Hook said.

“None whatsoever,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “I’d just like to see it coordinated through our emergency management so that any emergency has a coordinated effort.”

“We’ve been in contact with Fire Chief Casey Cuddy and North Frontenac Fire Chief Eric Korhonen,” Hage said. “We are trying to work directly with the Townships.”

“Eventually, we would have to work out some form of agreement between the Townships and the Lions Club as to how this would work in terms of goals, responsibilities, processes and how this would all work and be coordinated in the event of an emergency,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch.

“That is something that would have to happen because we would not be opening up our hall unless directed by the Townships to do so,” Hage said. “We are Pine Meadows’ designated emergency entity conditional on a formal agreement in the future.”

Christmas Hamper Program

Council approved a request from the Denbigh Griffith Lions Club for a donation of $750 for the Christmas Hamper program and although the amount was already set aside in the 2023 budget, it almost became substantially more thanks to a slip of the tongue from CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed.

When reading out the motion, Reed accidentally said ‘$750,000’ instead of ‘$750’ much to the amusement of Council.

“That’s pretty generous,” said Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch. “They’ll be ecstatic.”

Needless to say, the motion was corrected and the Lions will receive $750.

Fireworks at Denbigh Parade

Council approved an exemption to the noise bylaw to permit the discharge of fireworks during the Christmas Stationary Parade Dec. 16 in Denbigh.

Council also agreed to participate in the parade in some form but Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch warned that it might be conditional on availability.

“Last year, the roads and waste department decorated a grader for the stationary parade but if they’re out plowing the roads, they won’t be able to participate,” Fritsch said.

Walking Program

Council approved using the Addington Highlands Community Centre for an indoor walking program on Mondays and Thursdays from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Fences at Library?

Coun. Helen Yanch reported that the Flinton Library Board would like to see the property fenced on both the East and West boundaries due to some property disputes that have been occurring there.

CBO David Twiddy confirmed that he has been called out to the property on occasion because of the disputes with neighbours.

Yanch said the board isn’t looking for a 6-8’ high privacy fence, just something simple to delineate the property lines.

“The library sometimes likes to use the back yard for children’s programs,” she said.

Reeve Henry Hogg said there is a road allowance on the Eastern border and that could cause some opposition.

CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed confirmed there is a road allowance but didn’t foresee any issue but in any event, she said a survey would be necessary.

$11 million, a good year for development

CBO David Twiddy said there have been 160 building permits issued to date representing “about $11 million in development.”

“So, we’re having a very good year development wise,” he said.

He said “playground makeovers are complete (and) we’ve brough them all up to the standards the audit report suggested.”

Christmas Closings

The Addington Highlands municipal office will close at 4:30 p.m.. Dec. 22 and reopen at 8:30 a.m. Jan. 2.