Addington Highlands Council Report - September 2

Jeff Green | Sep 04, 2025

Lakelands Family Health Team

Chief Administrative Officer Christine Reed reported back to Council about an “excellent” meeting she had with Lakelands Family Health Team Executive Director Janice Powell, and long-time board member Ian Brummell. She brought two items back to Council as the township owns and maintains the Lakelands facilities in both Northbrook and Denbigh. The first item is the concrete apron at the front door, which needs to be replaced, and the main sign in front of the building, which also needs replacing. The township is prepared to make both improvements with funding from the Mazinaw Community Fund, which is operated by the Community Foundation for Lennox and Addington.

The sign is slated to be replaced with the township’s sign project, Reed told Council. Chief Building Official David Twiddy said he has contacted two cement contractors, who both said they are too busy to look at the work now, but will when the construction season winds down in the late fall.

Councillor Yanch made a motion to accept Reed’s report and approve the upgrades, which was adopted.

O’Donnell Road Hard Top Request

“I’m sure there’s many people who would like a hard topped road, but we are not hard topping any roads at this point, to my understanding,” said Councillor Ken Hook.

His comment was made in response to a request from Sandra Miller, who said that the O’Donnell Road is much busier than it was, and had been suffering damage due to ATV traffic.

Miller’s request was denied and a letter is being sent to her explaining that there is currently a moratorium on paving gravel roads in Addington Highlands.

Denbigh Park Bench

The Denbigh Griffith Lions Club is offering to install two benches in the new playground at the Addington Highlands Community Centre – Denbigh. The new benches will be installed once some work on the playground is completed in October. The roads department will help with any site prep that is required for the installation of the benches

Trunk or Treat Council approved both the use of the parking lot at the Flinton Recreation Centre for Trunk or Treat on October 31st from 5:30pm-7:30pm, and for a noise bylaw exemption for the event.

Roads and Waste

Brett Reavie reported that ditching work is continuing on Upper Flinton Road and mowing is complete but brushing is continuing. Grading is not taking place in any major way because of how dry the roads are.

Sand and Salt contract. The bid from RJ Selle Sand and Gravel of 10.49/tonne, for stockpiling and filling the sand/salt dome, was the winning bid. The bid of $19.50/tonne from Sanford Construction, for Restock at the Northbrook Yard, was also a winning bid. The Denbigh price is lower than in 2024, and the Northbrook price is identical.

Building and Facilities Report

Building Permits are well down from last year, with fees for building and septic systems are at about $100,000. David Twiddy is hoping that the numbers will approach 75% of the 2024 totals.

In terms of township facilities, the dome project at the AHCC – Denbigh is almost complete, and Twiddy said “the finished product will allow a very nice entrance portal to either access the building, or a quiet sheltered area to enjoy a good read.”

He also reported there has been serious vandalism at the skateboard park in Northbrook. Vulgar graffiti is covering the entire skateboard area. The township had to have a company come in to sandblast the graffiti.

Ken Hook pointed out that the sandblasting cost was $3,400 for the graffiti at the skateboard park, and said the matter should be reported to the OPP. Twiddy said he would do so.

“I would ask that anybody who has information about the vandalism contact us, or the OPP,” said Twiddy

“$3,400 is a lot of money, and it comes from taxpayers,” said Twiddy.

“That’s the only source we have,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. 

Twiddy also reported that the number and frequency of the running of dogs is continuing to escalate in the township.. He said that he wants to remind the public that there is a limit of three dogs per household, without a kennel license, and that dogs need to be leashed and never allowed to run freely through the community.

Election Readiness

“It’s hard to believe, but we are about one year out from the close of nominations for the next municipal election,” said CAO Reed as she presented a report on preparations for the next municipal election.

The election bylaw adopted by Council in 2021, establishes that electronic voting has been adopted on a permanent basis by the township. The system of electronic voting with a telephone option has been in place since 2006, when it replaced a mail-in system.

Reed said she is planning to participate with the other Lennox and Addington municipalities and an ever-growing group of municipalities across the province, in a joint procurement process for an online voting service provider.

Her report included a timeline for the election year. Nominations will open on May 1st, and will close on the third Friday in August (August 21). Voting day, which is the end of a 10 day online voting window, is October 26, and the new term of office will begin on November 15 or shortly thereafter when an inaugural meeting can be scheduled.

Council accepted Reed’s report as presented.