Oct 14, 2010


Septic Re-Inspections

Eric Kohlsmith of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority presented his report to council regarding the voluntary re-inpection program on Sharbot and Eagle lakes that commenced on August 16, 2010. A total of 25 inspections were done, 20 on Sharbot Lake and five on Eagle lake. No water access properties were inspected.

Twenty-one of the 15 property owners were present at the time of the inspections and most of the inspections were done on septic systems with tanks and leaching fields. Of the 25 systems inspected, 10 had no concerns, 15 required remedial work, and none required any full system replacements.

Councilor Purdon asked about the goal of 60 inspections and Kohlsmith said that inspections would continue this year till the ground freezes and then resume after the ground thaws.

Councilor Gary Smith wondered about the effectiveness of the voluntary program and Kohlsmith responded that the MVCA have performed more than 450 inspections, and that the outcome usually shows that 2-3% need their systems replaced and anywhere from 40-60% required some type of remedial work done. Ideally the goal is to inspect properties that have not been inspected for at least 10 years .

”Knowing is always better than not knowing and maintenance is the real key to protecting water quality in the lakes,” Kohlsmith said.

He summed up what some pending amendments to the provincial building code will mean for septic re-inspections, and highlighted the three possible options.

Firstly, the township could institute discretionary programs where the township itself decides which systems should be inspected.

A second option would be to institute a full mandatory inspections system like the one being implemented on the Lake Simcoe watershed.

A third option would see mandatory inspections associated with the clean water act, rather than the building code. This kind of system may soon be required on sensitive watershed and head-water areas.

Kohlsmith also suggested ideas of how the township might go about implementing discretionary programs, including creating an ad campaign early in the spring and holding information sessions where the public could attend. He said he could aid the township in figuring out how to prioritize property inspections, help township staff carry out inspections and advise the township on the creation of mail out packages for property owners.

Construction Details Report

Ian Trickett presented to council his report, which concluded that the number of new single detached residential dwellings this year was higher than any level reached in the past.

The total value of construction in the first 9 months of 2010 was $6.4 million, over $2 million higher than the first nine months of the recessionary 2009 ($4.3 million) and $600,000 higher than the robust building year in 2008 ($5.8 million).

New residential units (33 – not including the 5 unit seniors’ complex) and permit fees ($76,000). The total number of permits (148) are all well higher than each of the last two years.

Trickett said there is an ongoing concern in the township about the dearth of good quality rental accommodations available.

This led Janet Gutowski to express the hope that some kind of statistical data can be compiled to show the need here.

Councilor Gary Smith wondered what the council could do to encourage the private sector to build and maintain good quality rental units.

Mayor Gutowski suggested council members attend the next Municipal Housing Strategy and information session put on by the City of Kingston and County of Frontenac. She said that at the recent one she attended in Mountain Grove on Oct. 6 no statistical housing information from Central Frontenac was presented.

Purchase of Rescue Van in Parham

A heated discussion ensued regarding a report from Fire Chief Mark MacDonald to council about a $17,500 emergency expenditure for the purchase of a 2006 Ford F550 rescue van. In his report Chief MacDonald noted the van would represent a future savings to the township of $80,000.

Councilors complained that the purchase had been approved by staff without council being informed, and some councilors wanted to defer a staff motion to accept MacDonald’s report, pending a personal visit by him. However, ultimately the report was accepted.

Communications and Correspondence

Central Frontenac Council decided they would contact the Limestone District School Board to request that council be permitted to appoint a representative to be a part of the school design committee for the new Sharbot Lake school. Mayor Gutowski said, “We have some very vital groups in the community, like the North Frontenac Little Theatre, who will surely want to have on going access to the facility. I also feel it’s in the municipality’s best interest that the school be designed in a environmentally friendly way and also there is value in having a liaison disseminate information to the community about this good news story,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski.

$10,000 for canteen

Council was pleased to accept a “Letter of Offer” for $10,000 from the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation to support the construction of a new canteen at the Parham fairgrounds, a project whose total cost is projected at $23,000. Council has agreed to fund $10,000 of the costs with the Hinchinbrooke Recreation committee providing the remaining $3,000.

Winter Sand Tender

Nedow Construction was awarded the winter sand tender in the amount of $126,000 plus applicable taxes. Crains’ Construction’s price was $138,350.

 

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