Central Frontenac Council approves tree replacement plan at beach

Craig Bakay | Oct 20, 2021

Bill Bowick wants to plant some trees, in Sharbot Lake, down at the beach.

Bowick appeared as a delegation to the Oct. 12 Central Frontenac Council (online) meeting to pitch his proposal, which he calls “A Greening of the Park.”

He said part of his motivation would include a memorial plaque for his late wife Rosemarie, who died recently but “recognition of Rosemarie is really recognition of Villages Beautiful and the work done by all the Villages Beautiful volunteers in the last 20 years.”

However, that isn’t Bowick’s only motivation. He said he’s done an unofficial inventory of the 23 trees currently in the park, and it doesn’t look good, sustainability-wise.

“It’s predicted that in five or 10 years, we’ll lose half of the trees left,” he said. “There’s only been one tree planted in the last 20 years, and it’s struggling.”

The 23 trees include six Manitoba maples, five of which are over mature and one is a bush growing out of an old stump, eight ash, of which two are sound, two are struggling and four are dying, a struggling scotch pine, a struggling sugar maple and four black locusts that are losing lower branches but otherwise OK.

There is also a Norway Maple and a white willow in good shape, a “spectacular elm and three stumps.

Under the plan, 27 new trees and shrubs would be planted including four downy service berry, three highbush cranberry, two pussy willows, two nannyberry, two American beech, and singles of red maple, eastern black walnut, gingko, shagbark hickory, Canadian Plum and red dogwood.

Bowick said he estimates cost of the trees and shrubs at about $4,000 and an additional $4,000 to have them planted and protective borders installed.

“But I’m not here asking for money,” he said. “I know there are people in the community who will want to give to this cause but I’m hoping Council will recognize this as a citizen’s gift to the community so tax receipts can be issued.

“If there’s a shortfall, I’ll cover it and if there’s a surplus, it can go to other tree projects in the community.”

Council unanimously approved the project.

“I’m personally prepared to support this project,” said Coun. Bill MacDonald. “But as someone who works with trees, I can tell you that the American beech tree is also under attack from the emerald ash borer.”

“It’s essentially replacing the trees that are dying,” said Coun. Brent Cameron. “I think it’s a great idea.”

“I support this, considering all the work Rosemarie has done,” said Coun. Tom Dewey.

“Rosemarie would be smiling,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “If you’ve been down to the beach on a hot day, you know there’s never enough shade.”

Communal Servicing

Council awarded the feasibility study FRP for communal servicing at the former Sharbot Lake Public School site to Fotenn for $60,037.50 excluding HST. The Township was successful in getting a 48 per cent grant from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities for the study meaning the cost to the Township will be about $32,000. The County is contributing 4 per cent as “in kind” work towards the project.

Recreation booking software

Council approved staff applying for Phase 3 of the Municipal Modernization grant program for the Decision Support Module and an online Recreation Booking software (for halls and facilities).

Resurfacing on Road 38

Public Works Manager Tyson Myers told Council that they were able to do the resurfacing job on Road 38 because they got a “last minute call” from the asphalt company who were doing similar work on the South Frontenac portion informing them they had a small window of opportunity to do the work.

“So we hustled to get some patching done and get it ready,” he said.

He said new lines will be painted soon. They had to wait a couple of days for bits of asphalt and aggregate to get blown off the road.

Crow Lake Schoolhouse sold

Council voted to accept the bid of $150,001 plus HST from Dr. Diana Meeks for the Crow Lake Schoolhouse property.

Meeks said she would restore the property keeping to the original buildings as much as possible. She said her intent is to offer community instructional classes including cooking, history and art, promoting local instructors and their products as well as offer the community centre to rent for meetings and events like bingo, euchre, outdoor festivals and such.