Central Frontenac to pay 200 grand to demolish the former Sharbot Lake Public School building

Craig Bakay | Sep 12, 2019

Council approved a bid of $197,485 excluding HST, from Environmental Contracting Inc. to demolish the old Sharbot Lake Public School Building. The bid was the lowest of 10 bids.

There is currently $150,000 in the 2019 Capital Budget for the project and $25,00 scheduled to be put into reserves for it this year, leaving a $25,960 shortfall which will come out of the Recreation Account.

Mayor Frances Smith said this is the next step in a process that will lead to two five-unit seniors apartment buildings on the site.

“We have a committee looking to develop a business plan now,” said Smith. “We can’t just leave a big hole on that property.”

The township paid $110,000 for the property in 2015. Another $110,000 was paid for the former Hinchinbrooke school and property. the decision to demolish Sharbot Lake Public School was taken in late 2015. The Chief Building Official for the township at the time, Jeremy Nevens, estimated that it would cost $150,00 for the demolition. 

Fire report

Dep. Fire Chief Jamie Riddell gave the monthly Fire and Emergency Services report after last month’s report from Fire Chief Greg Robinson was not accepted by Council on the basis that it contained no statistics.

Riddell’s seven-page report contained almost nothing but statistics, ranging from training activities to number of calls, to invoices for billing to MTO.

That prompted an enthusiastic compliment from Coun. Brent Cameron, who said: “I appreciate all the work that went into these numbers.

“It’s useful to know trends so that we can allocate resources.”

New Public Works Manager

After coming back from their second in-camera session, Council announced the Township has extended offers of employment to Central Frontenac residents Tyson Myers as Public Works Manager and Steven Gould as Public Works Supervisor. Council also discussed a third personal matter about an identifiable individual.

“We instructed the Clerk to carry out instructions as per the closed sessions,” said Mayor Frances Smith.