Sharbot Lake reconstruction gets green light to start early

Craig Bakay | May 13, 2020

The Sharbot Lake Downtown reconstruction project had been scheduled to get into full swing just after Labour Day but following a report from Public Works Manager Tyson Myers, Council decided to shift the start date to early summer at its regular meeting held online Tuesday afternoon.

“This one really excites me,” Myers said. “We have a chance to take advantage of the reduced traffic due to the pandemic and I hope it can save us a little bit of money.”

The post Labour Day construction schedule was designed to try to limit the impact construction would have on local businesses and the tourism season.

“Currently tourism is already going to be impacted significantly in the summer of 2020 and the consultant contract administer and I agree that the contractor would have a sufficient amount of time to complete the majority of the contract this year,” Myers said.

He said he has been in contact with the Sharbot Lake business group and also the owner of Mike Dean’s Grocery Store and “these important members of the community have shown full support of the change.”

By completing the majority of the construction in one construction season, the township would see savings in mobilization costs, Myers said.

“The goal of the change is to reduce the interruption to local businesses to encourage a more lucrative tourism season in 2021,” he said. “This would have a positive impact on the economy of the entire Township.”

Coun. Bill MacDonald agreed.

“I think this is a positive direction to go in,” MacDonald said. “If we hadn’t moved ahead when we did, I could see a change in direction for this type of funding.”

“I think the government may be pleased to see this type of project begin, it is good for the economy,” Myers said.

Building season had fast start before shut-down

This was starting off to be a good year, construction-wise, with $2,446,500 in construction value and $34,486 in permit fees to date but it could be even better, Building Inspector Andy Dillon told Council.

“I was able to issue all of the permits I had before the April 4 deadline (because of the pandemic lockdowns),” Dillon said. “But I won’t be issuing any more or doing any inspections until the order is lifted.”

To that end, Central Frontenac passed a resolution asking the Ontario government to lift the prohibition on issuing residential construction permits. Where permits were issued, construction can now take place. But the township is urging the government to allow new permits to he issues, “in accordance with the principles outlined in the government’s Framework for Reopening our Province at its earliest opportunity in order to alleviate the economic hardships being experienced by rural Ontario’s construction sector and the residents and families it serves.”

The Township will also be sending its resolution to the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus and all rural Ontario municipalities, requesting their support.

“My concern in regards to this is will there be some responsibility of municipalities to ensure safe practises such as only three workers on-site and physical distancing,” said Coun. Bill MacDonald.

“It’s my understanding that their (provincial government) inspectors will be responsible for that,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

Seasonal unmaintained roads

Council passed a resolution directing staff to develop a policy to identify the status of seasonal/unmaintained roads and the use of unopened road allowances which specifically would determine the municipality’s obligations for roads leading to a single house/low volume roads.

“There have been several recent incidents where non-local drivers or transport drivers have relied on GPS coordinates for travel directions in the area which have taken them on roads that are not maintained by the municipality,” said a report by Public Works Manager Tyson Myers and dep. Clerk Cindy Deachman. “Given the high number of municipal roads, private lanes and abandoned roads in the Township, staff, after consulting with our insurer, believe it is important to better classify and document the status of our active roads and develop a policy that establishes the maintenance standards for each type of road, and ensures proper signage is in place.”

Good News from Plevna

Councillor Bill MacDonald said that he just wanted to pass along a little good news.

“I was talking to Bill James, the fellow who owns the restaurant in Plevna,” MacDonald said. “I asked him how things were going for him, fully expecting a bag news response.

“But he told me things have never been better and he’s really busy with his take-out business, even to the point of having trouble keeping up on Friday nights.”