Addington Highlands Says No To Roadside Slow-Moving Vehicle Signs

Craig Bakay | Feb 28, 2024

Addington Highlands Council may have debated the erection of slow-moving vehicle signs at its regular meeting Feb. 20 in Denbigh but the meeting itself was any but slow moving, clocking in at just under 40 minutes with Dep. Reeve Tony Fritsch in the chair in the absence of Reeve Henry Hogg.

In January of this year, the Lennox & Addington Federation of Agriculture sent a letter to Council requesting the signs, which they said had already been sent to the Township in the fall of 2022, be installed.

But in a report to Council, Manager of Roads and Waste Brett Reavie said: “Signs were never received by the Township of Addington Highlands.”

Also, Lennox & Addington County de- cided against use of the signs on County Roads, saying “this type of sign is not recommended or supported by the Transportation Association of Canada or the MTO manuals.

Also, the County response to LAFA request included the following: “As per Canadian and Provincial Design/Sign manuals, unwarranted signs should not be installed as this desensitizes drivers to the regulatory and warning signs.”

Later, Reavie said they did have the signs available and Council had resolved to install them but if they were going to iA stall them, Council would have to select the appropriate roads or, if not, send a letter to LAFA much the same as the County did.

“We don’t have a lot of agricultural vehicles on our roads,” said Coun. Ken Hook. “Are they really needed?”

“We already have slow-moving vehicle signs on the vehicles,” said Coun. Kirby Thompson. “I don’t really think they’re necessary.”

“I haven’t had any complaints or comments about them,” said Reavie.

Council passed Hook’s resolution that they don’t up the signs “unless there is a specific request and we can revisit this then.”

Transportation Grant

Bus service from Addington Highlands to more urban centres such as Napanee, Belleville and Kingston fell victim to the Covid-19 pandemic and the Township put the final nail in its coffin by returning the $103,560.61 still in the coffers to the province.

In her report to Council, CAO/Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed said the Township, in partnership with Land O’Lakes Community Services applied for and received funding through the Community Transportation Grant Program to provide the bus service.

“The program began running in late 2019,” she said. “In March of 2022, the program was put on hold as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

“After considering all options and in consultation with Land O’Lakes Community Services, Council resolved on Sept. 20,2022 to not move forward with the program.

“On Jan. 15, 2024, the Township received a letter from the Ministry of Transportation acknowledging the discontinuance of the program and requesting a return of any funds still in possession of the Township.

“Those funds have been returned and the program is now complete.”

Budget Meetings Postponed

Council decided to wait until Reeve Henry Hogg returned (expected first meeting in March) to set dates for 2024 budget meetings. As per Township bylaws, the budget must be adopted by the first meeting in May.

“There are a lot of challenges with the potential to impact our budget,” said Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed.

Municipal Water Unsustainable

Council lent its support to a resolution from the County of Renfrew advocating to the federal and provincial levels of government to make them aware that rural and small urban water and wastewater systems are financially unsustainable and advocating to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Rural Ontario Municipalities Association and the Federation of Canadian Municipalities to examine the unaffordability of water and wastewater system operational costs is systemic provincially and nationally.

“You can’t make these regulations unless there is support financially,” said Coun. Ken Hook. “Otherwise, it would bankrupt us.”

Support for Water Bombers

Support for Water Bombers Council lent its support to a resolution from the Municipality of Calvin encouraging the federal government to commit additional funds for cost sharing of provincial firefighting, including sharing the cost for acquiring a national fleet of Canadianmade waterbombers and to consider the creation of a national strategy including a national fire administration to coordinate efforts.

“It’s a sign of the times,” said Coun. Kirby Thompson. “We had a lot of forest fires last season.”

“And 34 of those were arsons,” said Coun. Helen Yanch. “So we have to be prepared.”