Pickleballers Present CF Council with Options

Craig Bakay | Nov 02, 2022

The Central Frontenac Pickleball Committee presented Council with a couple of options at the Oct. 25 regular meeting but it may be awhile before either becomes an outcome.

Spokesperson Sandy Robertson told Council that having the pickleball courts remain where they are at the former Sharbot Lake Public School was the preferred option but a second location near across from the Township Office would be acceptable.

“When (the pickleball committee) made their presentation at the June 28 Council meeting, they asked for a commitment that the current location of the pickleball courts be preserved so that they could be upgraded,” she said. “At that time, Council could not commit to that location because that site is being considered for a housing project.

“As the configuration of the housing project was unknown, Council wanted to keep all options open.”

However, she said, the situation has changed somewhat. At the Sept. 20 Special Council meeting regarding the viability of using communal services to provide water and sewage disposal to the housing project, FoTenn and Pinchin presented two building scenarios — one with two buildings and a total of 50 units and another with one building o 45 units which retained the pickleball courts.

“Although these scenarios were presented just as conceptual so as to demonstrate the potential of the communal servicing, these scenarios showed that it is possible to get a large number of housing units in place without removing the existing pickleball court,” she said.

She said the committee also believes that the pickleball courts would likely be a selling point for future renters.

“If Council decides that the committee’s preferred option is still not viable because of the tentative nature of the development planning, the committee would like to recommend that Council grant permission to the committee and the Sharbot Lake Pickleball Club to proceed with plans to build new courts north of the Township Office parking lot,” she said.

Because of a reasonably level and stable base, revamping the existing courts would cost about $80,000, based on estimates provided by South Frontenac’s Tim Laprade, who has some experience with South’s four pickleball locations and corroborated by Kathleen White and Kelli McRoberts.

The committee estimated a new four or six court facility in the secondary location would cost about $120,000-$140,000 as it would require leveling and the addition and compaction of fill as well as some minor rerouting of the Tay-Havelock Trail, which would remain convergent with the K & P Trail south of Thompson’s Cut until past the pickleball courts before turning south and connecting to the existing trail that runs south of Railway Heritage Park.

“The Sharbot Lake Pickleball Club remains committed to funding the construction of this project through grants and donations,” she said. “No Township money is expected for the construction.”

However, Mayor Frances Smith said: “keep in mind that grants have to be for all of the Township so there will have to be fundraising efforts.”

At any rate, it will be up to the newly elected Council to decide as this Council passed a motion recommending the matter be brought to the next Council.

“We will keep having pickleball until we can have permanent pickleball,” said Smith.

Treasury Report

Treasurer Michael McGovern called the budget to actuals report “a pleasant surprise.

“We’re $75,000 ahead of last year but electricity and fuel bills will bring the final numbers closer to zero.”

The Last Word

Mayor Frances Smith thanked all the unsuccessful candidates for Council for running and said: “remember, there’s always another election around the corner.”

However, Coun. Bill MacDonald, who lost in his bid for another term on Council wasn’t so sure.

“Having run in nine municipal elections and two provincial, I’d like to thank everybody for the support I’ve received,” he said. “But, as far as burning my (election) signs goes, I think it probably will happen.”

Coun. Tom Dewey, who decided not to run for re-election, told Council that this was likely his last meeting.

“The next meeting is Nov. 7 and I’ll be deer hunting,” he said.

Which prompted Mayor Frances Smith to urge all the deer hunters to “get your deer early and make the meeting.”