“More moves than a can of snakes.”

Mayor Davison made no secret of his disapproval that all townships except South Frontenac will now be using the County planners. He pointed out that South Frontenac Planner Lindsay Mills’ comments on the County’s proposed Official Plan revision had led to some valuable changes that would not otherwise have come about. Councillor McDougall had earlier commented that if the townships and the county all use the same planners, “There’s nobody to push back.” Davison also asked what the County Planners had been doing with their time the over past two years, if they have time to serve all four other townships. County planning services to the townships from now on are to be done on a full cost recovery basis.

Portland District Quarry Question Addressed

In March, a public meeting was held regarding an application for an Official Plan amendment which would allow a quarry on Petworth Road to expand its operations. One member of the public wondered why her family was not permitted to create a new residential lot in proximity to the quarry, yet now the quarry company is proposing an expansion in proximity to the residences: she wondered why the rule didn’t work both ways. Accordingly, the township wrote to the Ministry of Natural Resources, asking that any decision on the proposed expansion be deferred until the Official Plan and rezoning applications have been finalized.

Planner Mills brought his interpretation of the MNR’s reply to Council. The MNR confirms that the licence indeed cannot be issued until the township has amended the Official Plan and the Zoning by-law to permit it. Mills added that section 6.20 of the township’s Official Plan states: “Where possible, influence areas will be based on Provincial guidelines. Council, through the review of development applications within influence areas will ensure that land use compatibility issues are addressed.” Mills summarized that: “Ultimately, the problems of coexistence…have been recognized in both the Aggregate Resources Act and the Planning Act and a process (for their resolution) has been well set out.”

Portland Heritage Committee

Councilor McDougall reported that the structure of the stone school house has been assessed as secure. The committee is presently planning their contribution to the County’s 150th celebrations next year.

Volunteer needed

Mayor Davison said the County is still looking for one more volunteer for their 150th celebration planning committee. Interested individuals should contact either the township hall, or the county.

Summer meeting schedule

Unless further need arises, Council will meet twice during the summer: Tuesday July 8, and Tuesday August 5.

Several months ago, Arlene Seale, a resident on North Shore Lane on Loughborough Lake in Storrrington District of South Frontenac, appealed to the Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) about an order by the township's planning department that she remove a covered deck she had constructed on her house.

Seale won her appeal on the spot, as was reported on March 5, 2014 (see the article at Frontenacnews.ca by typing Arlene Seale into the search bar at the top of the home page)

Last week, the written report by OMB commissioner Sylvia Sutherland was released.

The report said that the extension can remain; that a site plan agreement must be secured with the municipality; and that the OMB will entertain a submission from Ms. Seale's lawyer regarding costs. It also says that a site plan should be submitted to the township.

Sutherland also commented on the arguments made at the OMB by the township's planner, Lindsay Mills.

“While the only expert land use planning evidence the Board heard was from Mr. Mills, the Board, quite frankly, did not find his evidence convincing,” Sutherland wrote.

Sutherland questioned Mills' reaction to an opinion regarding the construction from the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority (CRCA).

The CRCA said “It is our opinion that the application is indeed minor in nature, and, provided that the above-noted recommendations are implemented, we feel that the application would also be in keeping with the intent of the water quality protection policies of the Official Plan and Zoning By-law,”

When Mills said that it is the township, not the CRCA that is responsible for land use planning, Sutherland replied, “Surely the CRCA's opinion should not be dismissed so lightly”.

Finally, Sutherland wrote, “The Board agrees with the CRCA that the variance is minor. It has no negative impact. The Board finds that the variance is desirable for the suitable development of the land, making the dwelling safer.”

Sydenham: No More Water Exemptions

The township has recently received new enquiries requesting exemption from the Sydenham Water system. These may have been triggered by the recent increase in water rates: by 2016, a non-exempt residence that is not hooked up and/or is not using the water system will be charged a monthly rate of $104.57, vs the exempt rate of $66.37, a difference of $458.40 per year.

When the system was being set up, exemption requests were considered by Council on an individual basis if the cost to connect were deemed to be “unduly burdensome for the owner.” Total costs including frontage charges and well abandonment had to total more than $25,000. Only a few exemptions were granted.

Some applicants claim their request for exemption was never answered. Current staff can find no records to confirm or deny this. CAO Orr says the original intent of the exemption process appears to have been tied to the debenture calculation, which was finalized several years ago.

Council passed, without discussion, a bylaw revoking the exemption by-laws of 2002 and 2008, stating that they bewlieve all previous applications for exemptions under these by-laws were considered at the time, and that any outstanding exemption requests under these by-laws will be considered denied. The vote was unanimous, with the exception of Councillor McPhail, who abstained.

Long Swamp Road Closed

Public Works Manager Segsworth was granted permission to temporarily close the seasonally maintained Long Swamp Road, pending assessment of the structural integrity of the bridge, and the costs necessary to maintain the existing structure. The bridge is due to be replaced within the next 6-10 years, at an estimated cost of $400,000. However, it has been completely submerged this spring because of the heavy runoff, and there are concerns that the wooden plank decking may have been seriously damaged. Segsworth expects to have a report on the state of the bridge by the July 8 Council meeting.

Council also approved the Public Services Committee’s recommendation “that staff engage additional resources to develop criteria and identify liability with regards to increasing service levels on partially maintained roads.”

Energy Management Plan

Council endorsed Public Works’ Energy Management Plan: Segsworth introduced the ten-page document, a plan required by the Provincial Green Energy Act, by saying “It’s the right thing to do.” The plan will be published on the Township website and paper copies will be available by July 1st.

Cell Towers

Council endorsed Madawaska Township’s motion asking the Federal government to implement a moratorium on installation of cell towers and antennae until they have accepted a safety code that considers “the biological, non-thermal effects of microwave technology on the health of Canadians,” and until it “adopts a truly democratic process for locating new cell towers.”

‘Glendower' Now Official

Council passed a motion brought forward by Councillor Barr from the Bedford Recreation Committee, to replace the old sign on the district hall with one that reads, “Glendower Hall, Township of South Frontenac.”

To help celebrate the 150th anniversary of Frontenac County, the Frontenac News is embarking on an ambitious story-telling project with the support of Frontenac County Council.

The project will include feature stories in each issue of the Frontenac News in 2015, and on Frontenacnews.ca starting on January 8 and running until December 17. The stories will explore historical topics, and geographical and cultural elements in each and every corner of Frontenac County. Our main focus will be on some of the remarkable individuals who have made their lives in its borders and who have lived its history.

The vast county runs from the top of Vennachar at the spot of the darkest skies in Southern Ontario at Mallory Hill, through Canadian Shield to fractured limestone and some prime farmland. It then bypasses the City of Kingston and continues on Howe and Wolfe Islands, where it ends at the virtual border with the United States. It contains numerous hamlets but no population centres, and has a common thread throughout. It is a waterlogged county, the county of 1000 lakes, from some as small as 53-foot-deep, one-acre-wide Little Round Lake where the water at the bottom gets no oxygen, making it one of the few “meromictic” lakes in the world, to Mazinaw, Bobs, and Crow Lakes, and the county’s largest, Lake Ontario.

At one time people traversed the county by canoe, then by horse and buggy, then rail, then car and truck, and now by the electronic highway. Many of these changes have come about in the last 100 years and some of our residents have lived through them.

In order to make 50 for 150 a success, we are asking the best source we have for all of our stories - our readers - to provide us with leads. If you know of an interesting topic or individual with a remarkable story to tell, let us know as soon as possible as the list of stories is being compiled now and will be pulled together in the coming months.

We are also hoping to have a video component to our 50/150 feature. To contact the News about story ideas, call 613-279-3150, email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and put 50/150 in the subject line, or send us a message on our Facebook page.

A number of people have come forward to seek office in the Frontenac townships over the last week or so.

Valentini running for mayor of North Frontenac

In North Frontenac, Claudio Valentini, a music teacher at Granite Ridge Education Centre and the president of Tomvale Airport on Road 506, is the only candidate who has come forward thus far for any position in North Frontenac. He is seeking the position of mayor. Mr. Valentini has not served on North Frontenac Council before.

Gutowski seeking a third term

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski has decided to seek another term. She had indicated early in the year that she was leaning towards running and she made it official early this week. With Councilor Frances Smith already in the race, this ensures voters will have a choice for mayor in Central Frontenac this year.

Hinchinbrooke Councilor Heather Fox has also decided to run for re-election. She joins Brent Cameron in running for the two positions in Hinchinbrooke.

There are three candidates for the two Kennebec positions: incumbents Tom Dewey and Jeff Matson and former councilor Logan Murray.

Incumbent Wayne Millar is the only candidate so far in Oso ward.

South Frontenac

In South Frontenac, two candidates without council experience but with inside knowledge of municipal operations have come forward.

Alan Revill, the former chief building official in South Frontenac, is the first declared candidate in Bedford ward, and Mark Schjerning, the Chief of Paramedic Services in Lennox and Addington County, is the first candidate for Council in Loughborough ward.

(Clarification – in a previous article about candidates in the 2014 election, we reported that Bill Robinson is the longest serving councilor in Frontenac County. While Robinson is the longest serving active councilor and the longest serving in the post-amalgamation era, Thomas Martin Neal served six years as a councilor and 28 years as reeve of Barrie Township. He started his political career in 1953, and retired from municipal politics at the end of 1997.) 

At a Committee of the Whole meeting last week (March 5), members of Frontenac County Council took turns expressing concern about a report about emergency communications that they received from the fire chiefs of the four Frontenac townships in mid-February.

The report, which was funded by Frontenac County on the request of the four local townships, was initiated in reaction to an upgrade to the communications system in both the City of Kingston and the County of Leeds Grenville.

What Council found most objectionable was the price tag of $5-7 million for an upgraded system that would be compatible with the neighbouring systems.

Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle wanted to see the ambulance and police services involved in a cross-jurisdictional solution to the needs.

Councilor John Purdon from Central Frontenac said the matter is the responsibility of the townships, and that's where it should be discussed.

Councilor John Inglis, from North Frontenac, wondered how this need for a new system had come about. “In all the time I served on the fire department we never talked about this issue, and we have never talked about it at council, and now we are faced with this huge cost,” he said.

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton said, “It is all a matter of needs versus wants. We are only required to provide fire safety and education services as a municipality. Fire suppression is an optional service. This is another want, not a need."

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski said the study and its presentation “are an example of how things shouldn't be done. This report is real geek; it is a technical report, which I do not have the expertise to evaluate. We miss-stepped in funding the study in the first place. The advancement of this should have gone through a different chain of command. Our staff could have brought forward the study, and presented options for how to deal with it. I suggest we refer this to our staff and the fire chiefs can work with their CAOs to see how we can cost share on this.”

South Frontenac Fire Chief Rick Cheseborough attended the meeting. He was given leave to speak after all the councilors had had a chance to comment.

“I would like to start by saying that under no circumstances is it the Township of South Frontenac or myself that is doing this. This is the largest joint project of the public works departments from all the townships. I am just the lucky one who got to speak for the group. We did not bring this to the county expecting a decision from County Council. It is just that since the county funded the study we thought we should report back to the county first ... we did not go into this expecting to see these kinds of costs, but the facts are what they are ... we are going to go to our individual councils with this and we will see what happens.”

Cheseborough pointed out as well that once Leeds and Grenville and Kingston bring their new system on line, firefighters from Frontenac County will no longer be able to communicate with firefighters from those jurisdictions. He also said that he does not know how Lennox and Addington and Lanark County are dealing with this matter.

While the reception at Frontenac County was rough, a presentation to South Frontenac Council a week later (March 11) found a more receptive audience.

Rick Cheseborough pointed out that the existing system is no longer being supported by manufacturers because it is basically an analogue system that is being replaced by a digital one

“In January the power to our main tower [located near Hartington] went down. Not only did we not have a battery backup, but it took two days to find some parts and three and a half weeks to find another part,” he said. “The current system will simply not be viable in the future.”

He added that the costing estimate that caused such consternation at the county is not based on any studies.

“The County insisted on seeing some pricing so we got that figure by using the $6 million that Leeds and Grenville spent and the $10 million that Kingston is spending. What we need to do is look at our own circumstances and do the technical studies to find some real pricing. Then we can figure out what we want to do and how we can pay for it.”

Mayor Davison, who missed the County meeting last week because he was on vacation, said to Cheseborough, “I’d like to publicly state that you did a good job with this report.”

Smith taking a run for mayor in Central Frontenac

Perhaps it’s the weather or the fact that no one pays a lot of attention to these things until at least the summer, but there hasn’t exactly been a run on nomination papers for member or head of council positions in the coming municipal election.

In North Frontenac there are still no candidates registered for any of the seven spots (six councilors and a mayor)

In Addington Highlands, newcomer Gerry Bray is contesting incumbent Henry Hogg for reeve, and the only council candidate is Ward 2 incumbent Bill Cox.

In Central Frontenac there has been a major change in the candidate list. In addition to Brent Cameron running in Hinchinbrooke Ward, Wayne Millar in Oso, and incumbents Jeff Matson and Tom Dewey contesting with former councilor Logan Murray in Kennebec, Frances Smith has decided to run for mayor this time around.

Smith served as reeve back in Oso township days, and is a former Frontenac County warden. She was township clerk before she ran for council. She was appointed to Central Frontenac Council in 2002 and has been elected three times, in 2003, 2006 and 2010. Smith has considered running for mayor in the past, but was deterred by her work responsibilities.

In South Frontenac there are three candidates for the soon to be vacated mayor’s position, Councillor Ron Vandewal, Councilor Allan McPhail, and John McEwen, but the only candidate for council thus far is long-time incumbent Bill Robinson, who with 14 years experience is the longest serving member of council in Frontenac County.

Loons Lost and Loons Found
by Ross Sutherland

We thought the new Mitchell Creek Bridge would be a disaster for the loons: and it was. But like all dark clouds the silver lining finally showed through.

Within a week of the bridge’s completion, someone had cleared fallen trees from the creek’s channel to facilitate faster, bigger, boats. Then the loons came, as they do every year. That year, however, the higher waves from the larger boats washed them off their nest. There were no chicks that season nor for the next four years.

Then a crack of light shone through in the form of a radio report on loon recovery. Humans were building floating platforms so that nests could ride over a boat’s wake. A quick internet search turned up a variety of clever raft designs from the rustic (four cedar logs nailed together) to the high tech (aluminum frames with a roof and ramps).

But would a nesting platform work on Mitchell Creek? All of the plans called for the rafts to be 30 meters from shore, which would put the nest somewhere in the woods, on the other side of the creek. Yet the loons had successfully nested on the creek for at least two decades, if not millennia. Luckily, they had not paid attention to our definition of a “best loon nesting site.”

Their chosen nesting location had been on top of a specific muskrat push-up in a marshy bay. The water here is a metre deep, not the three meters supposedly required for a loon nest. However, it is close to the only pool in the river which might make three metres of depth in a very wet spring. If it was good enough for the loons, it was good enough to try a loon raft.

As luck would have, felled cedars were among the leftovers from recently cleared hydro lines. A day’s work in the crisp fall air (one of the truly wonderful times near Frontenac Provincial Park) was all it took to build a sturdy cedar log square with a galvanized chicken wire bottom.

The platform was towed into place and canoes carried swamp muck, bulrush mats and motley native sedge cuttings to be packed between the logs. It was hard to imagine how all the pieces would survive the first good wind let alone attract any self-respecting loons.

The next spring the loons, ever hopeful, arrived on the creek. Then they were gone. But instead of disappearing they were on the nest. And they stayed. In the midst of one wild wind storm we watched the raft, with loon abroad, calmly riding the waves.

Near the end of June, after weeks of silence, we were woken in the middle of the night by loud, joyous loon calls. A 5:30 a.m. paddle found two tiny chicks bobbing in the water with their parents as the sun’s light broke through the trees on the eastern shore of Mitchell Creek.

Urban Hikers
by Kristin Mullin

Picture this: it’s a bright, October day in Westport. You are hiking a vibrant mountain covered in trees that are peppered with leaves of all colours. As you breathe in the crisp autumn air you can smell the change of seasons and hear the birds and small animals scurrying around. Your lungs welcome the burst of fresh air that replaces the grit and grime of stale city air. It’s so tranquil, a beautiful rustic setting – one that satisfies your need for peace during hectic days at home.

Picture this. It is a bright warm October day in Westport.

Now add a small child into the mix. Replace the nature sounds with squeals of delight as a toddler armed with boots, a hat, mitts and snacks takes the trail by storm and scans the forest for critters, determined to hug and kiss every single one. Then watch her burst into tears at the injustice of it all when they flee from her in terror (luckily toddlers are easily distracted and the area has a bountiful supply of forest creatures).

After relentlessly chasing the poor critters that call this area home my daughter and I lapped up all of the intense beauty that surrounded us. We raced up the hills and climbed what felt like hundreds of species of trees. We found mushrooms and caterpillars in the underbrush and took pictures of all kinds of interesting bugs. We were even fortunate enough to spot a young fox sunning itself on a rock.

As our hike concluded, we decided to head down to the Village of Westport for a snack at the Village bakery and reflect on all that we had seen and done. Our Foley Mountain adventure took twice as long as we had anticipated (mostly due to the activities mentioned above) but all-in-all it was a glorious afternoon and we have been itching to return ever since.

Being from the city, I am so thankful to live in this region and have access to so many beautiful sites where I can take my daughter to connect with nature. Thanks to experiences like this, she has a wonderful passion for the outdoors and a love of all nature.

A lot of things went right last Monday in Verona.

When an electrical fire started at McMullen Manor, 28 people had to evacuate the building on a bitterly cold and blustery day. They did not know where to go at first and were sitting in their cars, but since one of them was a member of the Verona Free Methodist Church, soon they all trundled over to the church.

From then on, from all accounts, the community sprung into action.

The fire department was on the scene in minutes and managed to keep the damage to a bare minimum, but concerns over carbon monoxide and the need to be thorough meant that residents needed to stay away all day.

Once the Free Methodist Church's minister, Jeff Nault, and his team got in gear, food started arriving; people started offering to take people in overnight in case they could not go back home; local business started bringing in supplies; the residents had the run of the church and instead of feeling stressed they began to feel supported.

By late afternoon McMullen Manor was given the all- clear for residents to return home and the drama of the day was over.

But for the residents of the manor, memories of the day and the community support they received have lingered. For years, ever since McMullen Manor stopped being a seniors' residence in 2001, there has been a stigma attached to its residents. There certainly have been times when some of its residents earned the enmity of the community through their actions. However, residents of the home shouldn't be treated differently from anyone else in Verona just because of their address.

There is one other thing that a resident of McMullen Manor pointed out afterward last Monday. It would be helpful if information could be posted on the Verona Community Association and South Frontenac websites and also printed on a sheet of paper informing people whom to call when emergencies such as the one last Monday take place. 911 is good for emergency services, but a list of individuals and businesses who are willing to offer other kinds of emergency support would also be a useful document.

Provincial transfers up.

Thanks to increased funding from the Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund (OMPF), all local municipalities except for South Frontenac will be getting a little boost as they face down their election year budgets in the coming months.

But after that election, the 2015 budgeting process could be brutal if a proposed new funding arrangement to cover local OPP costs ends up being implemented. The proposal is for a billing of $369 per household to local municipalities, and the kicker is that seasonal households count just as much as year-round residences.

Here are the numbers, listed alphabetically by municipality.

Addington Highlands will receive $1.53 million from the OMPF in 2014, an increase of $189,000 from 2013. In 2015, policing could cost AH ratepayers over $1 million for the 2,718 households in the township. The population, (based on the 2011 census) 2011 was 2,518. We do not have the figures for policing costs in 2013

Central Frontenac will receive $1.62 million from OMPF in 2014, an increase of $149,200 over 2013. In 2015, policing costs are slated to go to $1.48 million for the 4018 households in the township. The permanent resident population in Central Frontenac is 4,556. Policing costs in 2013 were $767,328

Lanark Highlands will receive $1.43 million in OMPF funding in 2014, an increase of $115,000 over 2013. In 2015 policing is set to cost $1.36 million in Lanark Highlands for 3,681 households. The permanent resident population in Lanark Highlands is 5,128. Policing costs in 2013 were $502,313

North Frontenac will receive $1.07 million in OMPF funding in 2014, an increase of $22,500 from 2013. In 2015, policing is set to cost $1.28 million for 3,471 households. The permanent resident population in North Frontenac is 1,842. Policing cvosts in 2013 were $208,226

South Frontenac Township will receive $1.457 million in OMPF funding in 2014, a decrease of $149,000 from 2013. South Frontenac is covered by a policing contract so its projected 2015 costs cannot be calculated in the same way as the other townships' costs. However, the $369 per household figure will likely be reflected in their next contract. It would result in policing costs of $3.7 million for the 10,054 households in South Frontenac. The population of South Frontenac is 18,113. Policing costs in 2013 were $2.4 million.

Tay Valley Township will receive $686,400 in OMPF funding in 2014, an increase of $130,000 over 2013. In 2015 policing is set to cost $1.43 million for 3,868 households in Tay Valley. The population of Tay Valley is 5, 571. Policing costs in 2013 were $502,313