| Apr 09, 2014


Snyder family wants to donate fence to honour Bill

Sharon Snyder, the widow of recently deceased long-serving councilor, Bill Snyder, sent a letter to Council last week. In it she said that she would like to pay for a new fence for the Piccadilly cemetery, a project that Bill had tried to get council to buy into a couple of years ago.

In her letter, Sharon Snyder said she had a price of $14,795 from Foster Fencing. Township staff would have to remove the existing fencing and since the cemetery is township property the township must approve any work.

Deputy Mayor Frances Smith, who was chairing the meeting, suggested that the letter be forwarded to staff to report back on what will be required on the township end for the project to proceed.

Mayor Gutowski, who was not at the meeting this week, talked a few weeks ago about some sort of memorial to Bill Snyder to be located at the cemetery, but she said the township could not afford to put up the fence that Bill had been looking for.

Slow start to construction

The cold winter weather has had an impact on construction starts. Permits for a paltry $66,000 in construction were taken out in March, for a total of $262,000 thus far in 2014. the year-to-date total at the same time last year was $450,000.

Water water everywhere

Public Works Manager Mike Richardson said the township roads department is “kind of running around in circles” trying to keep up with the impact of the warmer, wet weather on township roads.

“We received 20 calls today, for example,” he said.

Residents are encouraged to call the public works hotline to report washouts, flooding, and large holes in roads (613-279-2936 ext. 5) but Richardson said it would be best if people were specific about the nature of the problem. “There is a difference between a washed out road and a flooded road,” he said, “You can drive through a flooded road but not a washed out road,” he said.

New front end loader: After reading a detailed report on the relative costs of used and new front end loaders, council decided to heed the public works manager's advice and will purchase a new loader this year.

$2,000 for Parham Fair: Wendy Parliament of the Parham Fair board wrote to Council requesting a donation of $2,000 towards the 2014 Fair.

“Isn't the fair going to be one day shorter this year?” asked Councilor Jeff Matson. “Maybe they don't need as much money."

“If it is shorter then there will be less revenue and they will need the grant even more” said Frances Smith.

The $2,000 grant was approved by Council.

Pic Hall still open: Councilor John Purdon pointed out that even though Council has decided to look into closing the Piccadilly Hall, there are issues to be considered, including the fire truck that is housed in the building.

“While we consider what to do, the hall remains open for rental, and the public should know that,” he said.

Grant application

The township is applying to Frontenac County for a $10,000 small project sustainability grant from Frontenac County to cover a portion of the cost of upgrading a section of the K&P trail in the hamlet of Sharbot Lake. The piece of trail is a wooded section between the public beach and the government dock at the edge of the railway park across from the township office. The park has been under development for a number of years.

Phase 1 of the project, which is budgeted at $28,000 includes brushing and leveling the trail, applying granular M stone and stone dust, a wood chip buffer, and the installation of gates and bollards at both ends of the section in addition to safety signage.

Phase 2, which is budgeted at $64,500 ($55,000 of which is for lighting) is slated for next year.

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