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Budget deliberations for Central Frontenac Township began in earnest Monday night at the Oso Fire Hall and although it was only the capital budget discussed (the operating budget, which tends to affect the tax levy more than the capital, is still to come), it could be an expensive year.

Granted, the pencils haven’t been sharpened yet to make cuts but out of the gate, capital budget is at $2,779,000 as opposed to last year’s $2,491,111, an increase of $287,889.

“You need to increase capital to provide services or change your service delivery level,” said Clerk Administrator Cathy MacMunn.

Some items aren’t likely to fly such as a $20,000 ask for a wireless microphone system for Council meetings.

Dep. Mayor Tom Dewey argued for the system citing it being easier to set up and take down as well as no cables to trip over or get in the way.

But Coun. Brent Cameron responded “is there $20,000 worth of frustration there?”

There was also a $20,000 request for a new hard-wired generator for the emergency operations centre (aka the Oso firehall).

But Mayor Frances Smith had to ask three times how many generators they already have and it turns out that each firehall already has a large generator and the Arden hall has a smaller one. They just don’t turn on automatically when the lights go out. There’s also a large portable generator which was used when power went out at a Council meeting not too long ago.

Fire and emergency services also has put in for $216,680 for more bunker gear. That spending has already been approved but the reserve fund has to be replenished.

Speaking of reserves, replenishing them is also a priority.

“Does $884,000 sound like a lot?” said Smith.

“It is but it is within ministry guidelines and it eventually gets us to a point where we can loan to ourselves and thus save interest fees,” said Treasurer Michael McGovern. “I’m not in favour of capital loans because of the interest factor.”

And then there was Fire Chief Greg Robinson’s plan to use the former Parham firehall for a storage facility.

But Smith wasn’t on board with that.

“There’s places in that building where you can look through the cracks and see outside,” she said. “I think we have to make a decision that when we shut down a building, we don’t heat it.”

It looked like Public Works Manager Brad Thake’s plan to buy a new grader for about $300,000 might have wings and he made a case for three new ½ ton pickups.

“Right now we’re using big trucks to do jobs ½ tons could do and this would save wear and tear on our larger, more expensive equipment,” he said.

He also said he’s looked at equipment for sidewalks in Sharbot Lake but because they tend to be narrower, it will take specialized snow removal equipment.

“I’d like to address the sidewalks next winter,” he said.

Coun. Jamie Riddell made a plea to finish up the Mountain Grove ballfield.

Smith responded: “That should be your job and Victor’s (Coun. Heese).”

“I’m just here to ask questions and point fingers,” said Riddell.

McGovern wound up the meeting by saying there is a 2.7 per cent increase in assessment this year, which will have a $220,000 impact and that a spending increase of $72,500 would increase taxes by 1 per cent. He also said he’s looking at the end of January to bring in an operating budget.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Central Frontenac Council came out of a closed session at its regular meeting Tuesday in Sharbot Lake and immediately introduced a motion to spend $207,509 “to mitigate legislative health and safety risks.”

It was an unusual outcome given the stated reason for the in camera meeting discuss two instances of “personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.”

In an interview, Fire Chief Greg Robinson said the $207,509 was mostly for personal protective gear — bunker suits, helmets, gloves and some training for supervisors. He said none of the funding was for breathing apparatus.

The resolution allows for the $207,509 to be taken from reserves suggesting that the equipment is needed immediately.

Mayor Frances Smith said after the meeting that the Township doesn’t have enough gear for its firefighters.

“The legislation says we have to have so many of this and so many of that and we don’t have it,” she said. “In some cases, there’s gear that needs to be replaced.”

She said that they expect there to be some funds left over in this year’s budget but whatever shortfall there is will be made up from reserves and discussed in the 2018 budget deliberations which are scheduled to begin Dec. 18 at 4 p.m. in the District 3 (Oso) Fire Hall.

$200 boot allowance for PW staff

Council agreed to raise the boot allowance for full-time Public Works staff to $200 per employee per year from the current $120 (which was approved in 2015).

“I work in much the same environment they do and $200 doesn’t meet the need for work boots today,” said Coun. Bill MacDonald.

Thake said the anticipated cost of the measure will be $4,400 (an increase of $1,760) and will be included in the 2018 budget.

Elm Tree road construction to begin

Thake also said he expects work on Elm Tree Road culvert to begin shortly. The holdup came when the conservation authority required a larger culvert than what was planned because “Arden is in a low-lying area.” However the larger culvert isn’t a stock size and has to be manufactured individually.

Thake said the asphalt on Elm Tree will be held off until next year to give the gravel bed time to settle.

He said there will likely be traffic disruptions once the actual work begins but school boards (for busing) and emergency services will be notified of such closures, which might be able to be scheduled over the Christmas break.

Accessibility report

Frontenac County Clerk Jannette Amini, who coordinates the County Accessibility Committee, gave Council a progress report.

Specifically in Central Frontenac, in 2017 a seniors housing task force was set up with the direction for allowing seniors who cannot function in their homes to have a place to move that would allow them to stay in Central Frontenac and a fully accessible library was built in Mountain Grove to replace the old inaccessible one.

In 2018, the committee is looking at a crossing on Road 38 at Elizabeth Street, a ramp for the barn at the Parham Fair Grounds, signage for crosswalks, work on the Eagle Lake Dock, designated parking areas at the Parham, Mountain Grove, Piccadilly and Sharbot Lake libraries and community centres and LED stree lights with wifi capability.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 20 September 2017 18:09

Pine tree at Kennebec Hall replaced with cedars

Back on June 15, 1984, seniors in Arden and Kennebec planted a pine tree to commemorate not only the seniors of the day, but also descendants of those present who represented the original pioneers of the area.
However, nobody really envisioned a day when the tree would get as large as it did nor when needles and cones would cover steps and the ramp, making wet and/or icy conditions all that more treacherous for seniors and others wanting to access Kennebec Hall. Also, the bigger the tree got, the more light it blocked adding increased darkness to an already slippery situation.

So, the District 1 (Kennebec) Rec Committee, along with G. E. Matson & Sons/Kennebec Tree and Lawn Services got together last Monday morning to knock it down.
The pine tree was replaced with two cedars. There were no costs to the Township for removal or replacement of the tree.

“The lady at the store said they won’t get much bigger than 10 feet high and they can be easily trimmed,” said Lorne Harrison.

Rec Committee chair Wanda Harrison said a branch of the tree will be milled and a plaque attached commemorating the 1984 seniors as well as the 2017 seniors who planted the new trees.

Several attendees at the ceremony went home with bundles of pine cones from the old tree.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

In his report to Central Frontenac’s regular Council meeting Tuesday at Oso Hall, Public Works Manager Brad Thake noted that the Rehabilitation of Arden Road has gone over budget by $195,000. The tender commenced in 2016 for 2.4 kilometres and an extension of the tender was added in early 2017 for an additional 1.6 kilometres. In his report, Thake said: “The first phase (2.4 kilometres) was halted as time ran out with only surface treatment remaining to complete.

The 2016 budget amount allocated was $260,000. So far, $263,557 has been spent on phase one, and surface treatment will cost another $110,000, according to the report The 2017 budget for the 1.4-kilometre second phase is $210,000. Phase 2 is now ready for surface treatment, but to this point $245,000 has already been spent. To complete the surface treatment for Phase 2 will be about $60,000. When all of the numbers are added up, there is a shortfall of $195,000/ “This project commenced in 2016 and was underfunded from the beginning,” Thake said. “There is speculation we can offset some of the overrun costs through cost savings from other capital projects by year end.” Treasurer Michael McGovern said that it’s conceivable the funding can be taken from reserves as long as there are sufficient funds allocated in the 2018 public works budget to replace the reserves. “There’s a big difference between what we thought the cost would be and what it is,” said Deputy Mayor Brent Cameron. “We’re not anywhere near the ballpark where we thought we’d be.” Council Tom Dewey said that it would be a good idea, since the project is underway, to add guardrails in certain spots. “Tom, there’s no more extras,” said Councillor Cindy Kelsey. “Extra culverts and things sucked up the money for surface treatment,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “But we’ve got a good road there and we have to cover it up.” Council approved the overages. New grader At Public Works Manager Brad Thake’s recommendation, Council also approved the purchase of a new grader putting a limit of $325,000 plus taxes on the purchase. Council had already approved $250,000 plus taxes to purchase a used grader but Thake said after receiving quotes and testing demo units “it has become evident that purchasing a used grader may not be cost effective.” Thake said the the 2017 Public Works current reserve is about $190,00 but it would be feasible to borrow $135,000 from general reserves this year with a repayment in 2018. Treasurer Mike McGovern said the plan was feasible provide reserves are restocked.

“So next year’s roads budget will have to have $325,000 for a grader in it,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “So you just get a shovel and a pick-axe next year,” said Cindy Kelsey to Works Manager Thake K&P – reaching the end of the trail. Frontenac County Manager of Economic Development Richard Allen told Central Frontenac Council that “all the agreements (for land acquisition) are in place for the last phase of the K & P Trail and it’s just a matter of how quickly the various banks act.” He said there were a number of areas (many adjacent to St. Georges Lake) where they had to divert the trail from the rail bed because houses had been built on it. There are other areas where the former rail bad passes over some swampy areas, but given the multitude of uses for the trail a boardwalk just wasn’t feasible. All of this means crossing Road 38 more than the original plan would have liked but Allen said “if we work together we can mitigate a lot of the safety concerns people have expressed.” County CEO Kelly Pender said they are finally at a point where they can produce a “final map” and as far as liability goes, “the County will indemnify the Township. “However, we all know that doesn’t get you out of all lawsuits but the insurance companies are working on an agreement.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 09 August 2017 14:00

Glee Club, Ardenaires to celebrate Canada 150

Two of Arden's musical fixtures, the Ardenaires and the Arden Glee Club, have teamed up for an evening of entertainment on Friday, August 11 to celebrate Canada 150.
The free concert at the Kennebec Community Hall, which will feature a very special, surprise guest, to be announced only on the night, will showcase some original material by the Ardenaires with a distinctly Canadian theme.
Arden Glee Club, a large choir under director, Helen Praskey, has become well known in southern Ontario for its complex harmonies and beautiful a Capella renderings of well known songs.

Near show's end, the names of Arden residents, who died in the service of their country in both world wars, will be recited as part of a moving musical tribute but the mood will be far from somber for the rest of the night since the audience can expect more of the trade mark high jinks and laughter that often accompany concerts at the hall. Refreshments will be served at the intermission, courtesy of the Kennebec Recreation and Canada 150 Committees.

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 26 July 2017 15:39

Arden Artisans annual garden party

Arden Artisans is Judith Versavel’s paintings and one-of-a-kind jewelry, Joanne Pickett’s pottery and Sarah Hale’s batik art. But for the past couple of years, they’ve added a group show and tea room at the Kennebec Centre. All together, it makes for a rather busy day in Arden with a lot more traffic than your typical Saturday.

“It’s a really good day,” said Versavel, whose Gallery on the Bay witnessed a steady stream of visitors through its doors. “This is just a fun day and it’s really crowded down at the community centre.”

Versavel is the relative newcomer to the Arden art scene, having been in business for 10 years. Pickett has been operating for 38 years and Hale for 39.

This year, Versavel had the rustic furniture of James Hanley line the walk to her studio.

“I really like meeting the people,” she said. “And reconnecting with others. “I like telling the stories behind the paintings and work that I’ve done.

“It’s a lot of work (getting ready for the day) but it’s something to work towards.”

Versavel has an extensive arts background including working for Harrowsmith Magazine and various other stints as art director but this is something she’s always wanted to do.

“I’ve always wanted to have my own gallery,” she said. “But the big thing for me is talking to the people.”

Pickett agreed that that inclusion of the show at the community centre has been a draw.

“It’s a busy day, but it was last year too,” she said. “There are more artists at the hall and the blueberry tea is a big draw as well.”

At 1:30 p.m., Pickett still hadn’t had breakfast.

“No, I haven’t had breakfast yet,” she said. “But somebody did bring me some blueberry cake from the hall.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Central Frontenac Council authorized the go-ahead for a septic system and canteen/washrooms/warming/storage area at Oliver Scott Memorial Park in Sharbot Lake with the intent to complete construction in the fall of 2017 at its regular meeting on Tuesday July 11 in Arden.

Specifically, the resolution authorized Chief Building Official Shawn Merriman to apply for the appropriate septic permit, issue a purchase order and proceed with the construction of the canteen building.

“I hope the canteen can be built this fall but September might be too optimistic,” Merriman said. “November is more realistic.

“If I’m lucky I’ll be able to present a plan at the August Council meeting but it will more likely be September’s meeting.”

In 2016, Council set aside $30,000 for facilities at the park, which is adjacent to Granite Ridge Education Centre. Merriman said that a well will cost $7,500 and the septic about $12,500 including the cost of permits and such. That won’t leave much for the actual construction as well as the necessary drainage and other costs to be taken into consideration.

“It’s not like the old days when you could put up whatever you wanted and nobody cared,” he said. “Today you have to factor in accessibility, emergency parking and I’m especially concerned about drainage there.”

Coun. Tom Dewey asked about the $10,000 the District 3 Rec Committee has raised for a rink on the site.

Clerk/CAO Cathy MacMunn said that money is for the rink itself. “The volunteers are not responsible for anything else,” she said. “The canteen will be a Township building and therefore it’s our responsibility.”

Several councilors were concerned about parking. Much of the the available parking area on-site will be taken up once the rink is built and much of the plan involves a partnership with the school to use their parking lot.

“I’m sure the Limestone Board will want to enter into some type of agreement,” said MacMunn. “They use the ball field now for some activities and we have had a similar agreement in the past for the tennis courts (beside the former Sharbot Lake Public School.)

Merriman said he too was concerned about parking long term because it is conceivably possible the school might not want its parking lot used sometime in the future but “I’m more concerned about drainage.”

Coun. Phillip Smith said he was concerned that “we’re not treating all the rec committees the same.

“District 4 has raised a lot of money for facilities and I’d like to see more money from District 3.”

Merriman said that he was impressed with all the work and plans District 3 has already done and “this is a worthwhile project and the District 3 committee should be applauded for their amazing endeavor and commitment to raise what will probably be between $250,000 and $500,000 (depending on the inclusion of an in-pad cooling system.

“In addition, the Township may have an obligation to make sure that which was removed is returned and so that even if the rink/pad never occurs thus this building should be constructed regardless.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC
Wednesday, 19 July 2017 12:31

Pine tree and sign at Arden Hall

At the Central Frontenac Council meeting in Arden last week, District 1 Rec Committee Chair Wanda Harrison and Glen Matson addressed Council on two issues — one being safety issues concerning the large white pine at the entrance to Kennebec Community Hall and the other being the sign on the hall.

“It’s grown to the point where maybe there is a problem,” Matson, who operates a tree business and offered to cut it down, said. “There wouldn’t be any charge to the municipality and perhaps we could make a plaque from it.”

“We’ve had issues with the needles on the ramp and stairs,” Harrison said. “When it rains and in the winter, they can get quite slippery.”

The tree was planted in a ceremony before amalgamation and the committee suggested replacing it with a smaller variety, perhaps in a ceremony in conjunction with the opening of the Heritage Garden across from the Mill Pond in late August or early September.

Council did approve the removal of the tree.

Concerning the sign, the District 1 committee is still hashing over several options, Harrison said.

While there is little doubt it needs some work, the question is just how historically significant it might be. It’s painted plywood that has sustained some rot and it could be quite fragile to remove intact.

Estimates vary as to when it actually went in (circa mid-’80s) and the actual name of the hall for that matter. But where the sign is now was the window of the principal’s office when the building was a school. There are no plans to change the diamond below the hall sign.

“Things are pretty much up in the air (regarding the sign),” Harrison said after a Rec committee meeting this week. “The presentation to Council was pretty much a stick-your-toe-in-the-water-to-take-the-temperature.

“We’ve had some offers to restore it but many people would like to see something new that incorporates the Township Logo.

“And at the end of the day, the Township owns the hall and all we can do is make recommendations.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

In 1932, Hwy 7 was completed. That was also the same year opened their bakery in Arden.

These are just two of the many fascinating facts in a new booklet A Kennebec Timeline, compiled by Arden artisan Sarah Hale.

Hale put together a Kennebec timeline for last year’s Heritage Festival and then got the idea of printing that up, complete with pictures/illustration.

The 12-page booklet is something of a fundraiser for the Kennebec and District Historical Society and was available for the first time last Saturday as the KDHS held its open house.

“It’s history by the year, or as I like to call it ‘Kennebec history for the Twitter generation,” said Hale. “It’s $5 but that also gets you a membership and you get on my email list, so you can hear about meetings and get little text bits of history.”

Where else could you find out that there was a “brief and ultimate disappointing ‘gold rush’” in Kennebec in 1936 or that fire destroyed the Methodist Church in 1954 (there’s a United Church there now).

The Society even has some old newspaper clippings about the gold rush.

The Society is “gradually developing a file of family histories,” Hale said. “We also have quite a few scrapbooks we’ve put together and an archive of phots and stories.”

They’re also open to donations of just about any sort, like photos and uniforms of the old Arden Centennial Ball Club.

“The people who bought Vera Steele’s house brought those in,” she said. “They were in a bag in the attic.

“Amos Hughes was the coach.”

And they have several other projects in the works like Malcolm Sampson’s book about the names on the Arden Cenotaph.

And then there’s Reg Peterson, Arden’s own ‘tool man.’

“We’re always looking for donations, we don’t turn anything down,” Peterson said while proudly displaying the collection of old nails and a corn planter. “If we can get something with a story behind it, that’s what we’re really after.”

And Peterson knows his stories too. For example, he’s one of the few people around who knows how Bordenwood got its name.

“Frank Peterson was injured in an accident and lost a leg,” he said. “He wanted to start a post office in the area but was told it had to be in a village or settlement.

“Robert Borden was the Prime Minister at the time so they named the place after him and got the post office.

“It ran for 44 years and then it closed.”

Published in CENTRAL FRONTENAC

Remember when you were a kid, before school started, at recess, lunch hour, whenever you weren’t in class but were still required to be on the school grounds. Chances are, if there was no snow on the ground, every diamond on the property would be in use. In many Southern Ontario school grounds, the game was called ‘scrub.’

Call it what you will, softball, lob-ball, slo-pitch, whatever, the image of a ball glove slung over a bicycle’s handlebars was common.

When school let out for the summer, the game continued, often on open fields, with bases defined by dragging your heel in the dirt to delineate a less-than-perfect square. Often, rules were set by stomping home plate, as in ‘no lead-offs’ and/or ‘call your field’ if there weren’t enough players to cover all the positions. Players rotated through the positions and everybody got their turns at bat.

That generation has become seniors now, but the memories still linger.

So is it any wonder that seniors seem to be returning to the game, albeit with a slower-paced approach?

This summer, there are no less than three, and probably four teams (using the term ‘team’ loosely) operating in the northern areas of Frontenac and L & A Counties, whereas it wasn’t that long ago there were none.

Cloyne, Arden and Sharbot Lake all have seniors softball programs operating this summer, with Sharbot Lake being the new kids on the block.

By all accounts, things got started about five years ago when the late Don Patry and Lauder Smith put an ad in The Frontenac News asking if anybody wanted to get together once a week in Cloyne to play a little ball.

As it turns out, enough people did. Some of them were from the Arden area.

“My wife Karen and I along with the Pratts drove up there and enjoyed it so much we thought we’d try to get something similar going in Arden,” said Gord Brown, the de facto ‘commissioner’ of Arden seniors baseball.

That was three years ago and from an inaugural season of about 10-12 players, the Arden contingent grew to around 20.

One of those was Sharbot Lake’s Mike Procter, who this year started testing the waters to see if there was enough interest for a team there.

“I’ve had all sorts of inquiries,” Procter said. “I wouldn’t be surprised if we could fill two teams.”

That doesn’t surprise Brown or Rick Guthrie, who is one of the main organizers in Cloyne.

“I was lucky enough to play rec league until 2013,” Guthrie said. “But in many ways, this (seniors ball) is better.

“It’s all of the fun, with none of the stress.

“When you go back and catch that fly ball, it’s just as much fun as it always was.”

“I always come home with a few aches and pains, but yes, it is fun,” said Brown. “You know we have quite a few players in their 70s and a couple are over 75.”

Another aspect of seniors ball is that while pick-up games in the ’60s tended to be more of a guys thing (although there always seemed to be a couple of girls in the game), seniors ball tends to be co-ed, with more females than males on many nights.

There’s no real ‘league’ of sorts but there is talk of games between the communities including a potential Canada 150 ‘tournament.’

At any rate, if you’re 50-something-plus, you may want to check it out this summer.

In Cloyne, games are Friday mornings at the field behind the tennis courts. Contact is Rick Guthrie 613-336-3460.

In Arden, games are Wednesday and Sunday evenings at the Arden ball field. Contact is Gord Brown, 613-335-4843.

In Sharbot Lake, games are Wednesday and Sunday evenings at the ball field. Contact is Mike Procter, 613-279-2572.

All you need is a glove and it’s all about just having fun.

Published in General Interest
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