North Frontenac Council sharpened up its red pencils Friday morning and spent the entire day hammering out its 2020 budget, which should be officially passed in bylaw at the March 20 Council meeting.

They started out looking at a 2.77 per cent levy increase or ($166,648).

But there were a few things Council wanted to add so they started out cutting a few things to make room.

First to go was a $3,000 line item for new Council chairs.

“If we’re going to trim the budget, that seems like a good place to start,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

Next to go was $1,025 for a proposed Kaladar/Barrie Joint Fire Department Audit that went down in a 6-1 vote that prompted Mayor Ron Higgins to quip “I guess I’m all alone (in wanting this).”

The Septic Re-inspection program budget was cut by $5,000 as well as $20,000 added as revenue for Trailer invoices.

Council then added $3,500 to the budget for a volunteer appreciation dinner and $10,000 to a revamped Community Grant program. A further $7,500 was added for a dynamic speed sign and $20,000 for grinding of materials at the waste sites. They also added $5,400 for funding of Rural Frontenac Community Services and $2,00 to add pickle ball lines to the tennis courts in Cloyne.

As evening approached, Treasurer Kelly Watkins calculated that they “ended the day with a $186,023 levy increase or a 3.09 per cent increase.”

Higgins also noted an increase in roads spending of $63,409 and expressed surprise that there was very little discussion about it.

“We got the fewest questions about the biggest budget item,” he said.

In the never-got-off the ground category, a suggested $10,000 to install a second entrance to the Sky Pad observation facility wasn’t approved, to which Coun. Vernon Hermer quipped: “We should donate that to Central Frontenac so they can fix up Ardoch Road.”

While there was some discussion concerning what the Township should do about seniors housing, it was decided not to go ahead with anything just yet and Council directed its two County Council reps, Higgins and Martin to inquire if the County might let North Frontenac use funding earmarked for senior housing to use it to attract a retirement residence builder.

One other suggestion that had been floated was the possibility of the Township building a float for the Northbrook and/or North Frontenac Santa Claus Parades. That sort of died on the drawing board when Coun. John Inglis observed: “A thousand dollars donation means I gotta sit on a float? No, I’m not doing that.”

Watson and Associates, a Mississauga based economic consulting firm, completed a population study for Frontenac County in 2014, and this week they brought an update to that study, a projection of population and employment outcomes for Frontenac County municipalities until 2046.

The 2014 study was hindered by the suspension of the long-term census in Canada, which was replaced by a survey in 2011. For that reason, other sources of data were used for the 2014 study, but the current study is based on the 2016 census.

The study projects that the permanent resident population in Frontenac County will grow by a rate of 0.7% annually between 2016 and 2046. In 2016 the permanent resident population was 27,200 and it is projected to rise to 33,200, a growth rate that is higher than the City of Kingston but lower than the national average. The population increase for seasonal residents is projected to be lower, partially because the study predicts that there will be a number of seasonal residents who will become permanent residents. In terms of total population (seasonal plus permanent), it is expected to reach 62,900 in 2046, up from 54,700 in 2016, an increased of 8,200. That will mean that permanent residents, who made up just a hair under 50% of the total in 2016, will inch ahead by 2046, to 53%.

The bulk of the permanent resident population increase (80%), is expected to occur in South Frontenac, along with 11% in Frontenac Islands, aided by the advent of a dual ferry service, with Central Frontenac (5%) and North Frontenac (3%) lagging. The increase in seasonal residents is projected to be more or less evenly split between North, Central and South Frontenac.

Tied in with all this is another factor, ageing. In 2016, 21% of the county population was over 65, and that is projected to rise to 35% by 2046. By 2036, the 55+ cohort is projected to reach 47%.

“Looking forward, this is anticipated to place increasing demand on the need for seniors’ housing, affordable housing, as well as community and social services to support Frontenac County’s growing seniors’ population,” said the study.

The job picture is expected to change as well. In 2016, about 5,400 people were employed in Frontenac County, and that is projected to increase to 7,000 by 2046. While retail and tourist related employment will be part of that increase, much of it is expected to come from home-based businesses.

Aside from its projections about future growth, the study provides some interesting information about employment changes between 2001 and 2016. It found that Frontenac County residents continue to travel for work. Seventeen per cent of residents stayed in Frontenac County for work in 2016, down from 19% in 2001. Most go to Kingston (65% in 2016, down from 69% in 2001). While less people were travelling to Kingston, more were travelling elsewhere, 6% went to L&A County in both censuses, but in 2016 7% went to Leeds Grenville, and 4% to Hastings County, both of which were not even listed as work destinations in 2001.

In her report to Council on the results of the study, Megan Ruekwald, manager of community planning, said that the data in a study like this one should be updated on a regular basis in order to ensure its usefulness as a planning document.

“Regular updates to the projections ensure that county and township policy and operational decisions are based on technical projections for population, housing and employment. Future updates to the study will capture changes in policy and infrastructure that may result in alterations to the forecast … Regular updates to the study also inform Council on changing demographics and economic conditions at the provincial and regional scale.”

“Physician recruitment for this area is best left with the Lakeland Family Health Team,” said Reeve Henry Hogg in a letter to Lennox & Addington County tabled at Tuesday’s regular Addington Highlands Council meeting in Denbigh.

L & A County asked for feedback from its constituent municipalities at a meeting last November.

“The current financial incentive partnership with the Township of North Frontenac has significant value that we do not want to lose,” Hogg’s letter also said. “The County should continue to play its key role in promoting Addington Highlands and the three other lower tier municipalities as great places to live, work and play.

“This promotion is greatly appreciated and of significant value to our community.”

After the meeting, Hogg said that they’ve had a relationship with North Frontenac for more than 10 years and in consulting LFHT, the parties involved think they have put together a competitive package to attract a doctor to the area ($75,000 from each of the two townships over five years as well as the opportunity to receive an additional $92,160 per year because of the area’s Rurality Index for Ontario.

“I just don’t think we have much in common with the rest of the County when it comes to physician recruitment,” Hogg said.

• • •

One of the biggest things Council dealt with on Tuesday was naming islands in Weslemkoon Lake, Hogg said.

“There are 52 islands, most of which are unnamed,” he said. “They have to be named to be given civic addresses.”

He said the Township consulted with the Lake Weslemkoon Cottage Association and the received suggestions will be sent to the Ontario Geographic Naming Board, he said.

There were six islands for which no name suggestion was received.

• • •

Council told the Kaladar General Store that it had no objection to having the LCBO Agency store open on Family Day, Victoria Day, Canada Day, Civic Holiday, Labour Day, Thanksgiving and Boxing Day.

• • •

The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks has sent the Township a letter containing several conditions it wants fulfilled before it would allow expansion at the Denbigh Waster Disposal Site, which has been ‘temporarily’ closed since June of 2007.

“Ah jeez,” Hogg said. “It’s been 13 years and we’ve done everything they’ve asked but they still won’t approve it.

“But, after all the money we’ve spent on it, I guess we have no choice but to continue on with what they require.”

The future of the Oso dump is back on the table pending more information after Central Frontenac Council’s regular meeting Tuesday evening in Sharbot Lake.

Public Works Manager Tyson Myers’ report recommended the landfill simply be closed when its life runs out in about four years.

“If we opt to just close it in four years, is there an option to reconsider down the road?” asked Coun. Bill MacDonald. “There are a lot of strong feelings out there.

“We have to look at a transfer station.”

“I’m reporting on a cost basis only,” Myers said. “I need you guys’ feedback on the politics of it.”

Meyers said.

The estimated total closure cost in year 1 is $440,000. If it were to be operated as a transfer station, the cost would be $525,000 for a seasonally (summer) operated site or $540,000 to operate year round, Meyers said in his report.

Either way, he said, the consultants overseeing the shut down need to know now, as the requirements for either type of change are quite different.

“I can’t agree with that option (total closure),” said Coun. Nicki Gowdy. “People in Arden are still bitter about their site being closed down and this would cause a lot of hard feelings.”

In 2019, there were on average 51 vehicles per day at Oso, 56 vehicles per day at Olden and 28 at Hinchinbrooke. About 60 per cent of the total traffic at Oso is from May 1 to Nov. 1.

Coun. Sherry Whan asked if an incinerator was an option and Dep. Mayor Tom Dewey asked if mining the site for scrap metal had been explored.

Meyers said he’d come back to the next Council meeting with answers to those questions.

“I too have concerns with totally closing it (as opposed to making Oso a transfer station),” said Mayor Frances Smith. “With 40 per cent of the people using it, if you come from the far end of the Township, Mountain Grove can be a long drive.”

Red grant application

Council approved a plan to apply for Provincial Rural Economic Development Program funding to piggyback on the Townships roadwork plans for Elizabeth Street in Sharbot Lake. The plan would result in direct physical improvement connected to Elizabeth Street renewal such as public art, streetscaping and signage.

If successful, this would provide for a $100,000 budget with $50,000 coming from the RED program, $43,000 coming from the Township, $2,000 and staff support coming from Frontenac County and $5,000 from the Sharbot Lake Business Group Inc.

SALT thanks premature?

Representing Seniors And Law Enforcement Together(SALT) , Bill Bowick told Council “force once, I’m not here to asking for anything, I’m here to express thanks.”

Bowick was thanking the Township for its donation of $1,000, which helps pay for the meal at S.A.L.T. talks.

“Our budget is just draft,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “But it is in there.

“The pressure will be on now to approve it.”

About 30 residents attending the Town Hall meeting in Perth Road Village last Saturday. The event was organized by the two South Frontenac Council members representing Loughborough District — Coun. Randy Ruttan and Dep. Mayor Ross Sutherland.

“This is an opportunity to hear your concerns,” Sutherland said. “Everything is on the table.”

“I don’t pretend to know what your concerns are but I know what mine are,” Ruttan said. “I ran for Council because some things bother me.”

First up was the concept of having a property standards bylaw instead of a safe properties bylaw.

“Who’s going to decide what is junk?” was one comment.

“There have been property standards bylaws that prevented people from having gardens in their front yards that were struck down in courts,” Sutherland said.

Other comments included that such bylaws tend to pit neighbour against neighbour, tend to be expensive to enforce, “you can’t apply city standards to rural settings,” to one resident offering to take neighbours’ junk to the dump in his pickup.

That conversation morphed into a septic inspection program.

Ruttan suggested residents be required to prove they’ve had their septics pumped out every five years or so.

Another resident was annoyed that “people are dumping garbage on my farm . . . and growing marijuana on it.”

It wasn’t all complaints and/or new rules suggestions however. One resident was “very proud to see the involvement in conservancy in our area.”

Access to high speed internet and cell phone coverage was a huge issue for residents in the Buck Lake area.

Some Perth Road residents were interested to know what were the next steps with the firehall, along with concerns about increased commerial traffic on Perth Road.

Others were annoyed that there was no available access to the Point Park docks on Canada Day.

Health Unit to pull out of septic inspection business

Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health (KFL&A PH) sent a letter to Central Frontenac Council on January 30th, informing the township that as of January 1st, 2021, they will need to find a new provider for sewage inspection services for new construction.

KFL&A PH provides sewage system inspection services, as outlined in part 8 of the Ontario Building Code Act, for the city of Kingston and the 8 municipalities in Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties. The program, which cost $566,000 to operate in 2019, is entirely funded out of permit fees. Public health inspectors work with developers and building departments to make sure that septic systems that are put in during new construction and renovations conform to the building code. This involves site visits before, and after, excavation work is done.

However, it is not a program that most public health agencies in the province offer for their member municipalities.

In the letter to Central Frontenac Township, Linda Murray, director of corporate services for KFL&A Public Health, said that in preparation for the public health modernisation program which is being undertaken by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care, her agency is seeking to align itself to the services that are offered by other public health units.

“We have determined that KFL&A Public Health is one of only four of the 34 health units in Ontario that are voluntarily involved in handling sewage system inspections, “Murray said in her letter to Central Frontenac.

“Given the Ministry of Health’s direction, we realise that we are in a difficult position and need to be proactive going forward.”

As Murray pointed out in her letter, the direction the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care is taking, in regards to public health, is to align all of the services offered by public health with the “Ontario Public Health Programs (OPHP)” that they run.

“Sewage inspections do not fit that profile, as their legislative oversight comes from the “Ontario Building Core, not the OPHP” she wrote.

The letter leaves no room for doubt.

“We are providing you with notification of our intent to terminate our agreement to carry out the municipality’s responsibilities for sewage system … effective January 1, 2021.”

Murray wrote that Sarah Ryding, from KFL&A PH, will be available to talk with township staff “to discuss the details of a transition plan”.

When contacted on Tuesday (February 11), a spokesperson for KFL&A Public Health said that some municipalities in the province contract out the service to their local Conservation Authorities, while others run the service themselves, either by employing outside contractors or township employees.

The spokesperson also confirmed that every jurisdiction in the KFL&A catchment area, including the separated City of Kingston, has been sent a similar letter to the one that was sent to Central Frontenac on January 30th. Public Health will attempt to avoid any staff layoffs as the result of the change, if at all possible.

KFL&A PH has contemplated getting out of the septic inspection business before. In 2009, they informed the municipalities that they serve, of their intention to close the septic inspection office, noting that it was not a core business and that the person who had been over-seeing the program for them was retiring. Pressure from the municipalities who use the service led to a change of heart.

Not only was the program maintained but KFL&A PH offered to provide re-inspection services to townships, such as those in Frontenac County, who had become concerned about the impact that older systems may be having on water quality, particularly older systems on lakeside properties.

But it was the Mississippi-Rideau septic office, which is jointly operated by the Mississippi and Rideau Valley Conservation Authorities, who ended up being contracted to provide re-inspection services for older systems for both Central and North Frontenac.

Central Frontenac recently brought about a mandatory re-inspection system, which is being run by the.

The Mississippi-Rideau septic office also provides the part 8 building code inspections, for new systems, to Tay Valley Township and may be in a position to do the same for the other townships within the Mississippi and Rideau watersheds, which includes North, Central, and even South Frontenac.

However, Conservation Authorities are facing a similar restructuring initiative from the province of Ontario as the public health system is, so their ability to provide this kind of service is not guaranteed.

When the matter was discussed at Central Frontenac Council, the township Chief Building Official, Andy Dillon, briefly outlined four options: provide the service in-house (which would require more staffing), enter into an agreement with another municipality or municipalities, or enter into an agreement with a conservation authority.

Mayor Frances Smith was concerned about the net effect on ratepayers.

“We don’t know how much this is going to cost, and what sort of revenue will pay for it,” she said.

Andy Dillon pointed out that the costs are all currently taken from building permit fees and he envisions that will remain the case under a new service model.

While appreciative of the offer, North Frontenac Council declined a group of property owners suggestion that the owners would pay to amend Frontenac County’s Official Plan at its regular meeting last Friday in Plevna.

In a letter to Council Jan. 28, resident Steve Dunham wrote: “I was pleased to see general agreement on Council regarding the need for the County to change this unreasonable OP provision (treating regional Areas of Natural or Scientific Interest as Provincial ANSIs). The reason for not proceeding with the request appeared to be the cost was to wait 1 ½ years until the next scheduled OP review at the County.

“I represent a large number of private property owners impacted by the current County ANSI provisions and we find the restrictions on our private properties for that period of time is unreasonable and unacceptable.

“In order to assist the Township to move forwards on the OP request promptly, our group of property owners are offering to compensate the Township for the $750 fee associated with the OP amendment request. Please advise if Council finds this acceptable and I will ensure payment is provided promptly.”

“These people have been waiting a long time,” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

However, Clerk-Planning Manager Tara Mieske said that if the Township were to initiate such a request, the County would “require a study as to why we want the change.”

She also said that such a study would likely raise the overall cost to the $1,750 range and that in all likelihood the actual change wouldn’t happen before the scheduled OP review anyway.

“The County already has two resolutions on this from this Council,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

“To me, the process would still take 18 months,” said Coun. John Inglis.

“The County Planner acts like this (ANSI restrictions) is cast in stone, (and) I don’t trust him (to act on such a request in a timely manner),” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

“And County Council listens to him,” said Inglis.

“And if we go ahead, it will be more work for our staff, which we’ve said we’re trying to not add to,” said Higgins.

“We’re here to represent the residents,” said Hermer. “Somebody dropped the ball way back when.”

“I’m not sure spending money is representing,” said Higgins. “I don’t wan to take their money.”

“We’ve spent more for a lot less,” said Hermer.

Higgins said he and Martin would bring the matter up at the next County Council meeting and try to get a feel for “their feeling on removing regional ANSIs.

“God save us if we get a lot of rain, they’re going to make everything a wetland,” said Hermer.

• • •

Coun. Fred Fowler has just learned a lesson all new councillors learn early on — if you miss a meeting and there’s an assignment nobody wants, you’ll get drafted.

Fowler wasn’t at Friday’s meeting and sure enough, he was voted in to be the Township’s representative at Solicitor General Sylvia Jones’ OPP reasonable Roundtable Sessions.

Of course there were the expected comments about how he’d be the man for the job because of his background in law enforcement.

• • •

Council discussed ending the practice of selling off road allowances that lead to water in a future bylaw.

“I’m against selling access to water,” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

“And we’ve been doing it for years,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

“I’ve been trying to get access to the Mississippi River for years but we’ve sold off all of those,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin. “It was a mistake.”

In the early ’70s, there was no fire protection in Barrie Township. Around 1972, Barrie purchased fire protection.

In 1990 the Fire Marshall’s office conducted a survey and a new department, the Kaladar-Barrie Fire Department was formed.

In 1998, municipal amalgamations took place but the Kaladar-Barrie Fire Department remained the same.

This past year, Loomex Training and Consulting conducted a North Frontenac Fire Review, an independent study on the level of fire service in Ward 1, as compared to Wards 2 and 3.

Last Friday, the Council of Addington Highlands met with their counterparts in North Frontenac in Plevna to discuss the results and recommendations of the study.

The study concluded that the level of service in the three North Frontenac Wards is very similar in the way they respond, the training standards, the challenge of recruitment and retention, the infrastructure and the daily operations.

“There is a difference, however, in how the departments are being managed, as well as differences in public education, fire prevention and inspections,” the report concluded.

As such, the report gave five recommendations as well as five service level options to be considered.

At the end of the day, however, things stayed pretty much status quo as both Councils passed identical resolutions.

About the only things changing are that Kaladar-Barrie Chief Casey Cuddy will present the Ward 1 budget to both Councils and a financial audit to ensure that the current 50/50 cost sharing is correct will be “discussed at the next Joint Fire Committee meeting.”

Both Councils agreed that the level of service has been working for some time now and took a don’t-fix-what-isn’t-broke attitude.

“The arrangements have been in place for four decades now and I’m not hearing people complaining about the service they’re getting at a car accident or house fire,” said Addington Highlands Dep. Mayor Tony Fritsch.

“I don’t think the service in Ward 1 is different than in Ward 2 or 3,” said North Frontenac Coun. Fred Perry.

When it was suggested that it might be an option for North Frontenac to simply purchase protection from its neighbour, Addington Highlands Reeve Henry quickly put an end to the idea by saying that while his Township might be able to afford half a pumper, the entire truck was essentially out of the question.

He also worried that without Ward 1 residents, they might have trouble fielding enough recruits for a fire department, especially when they’d still have to cover Highways 41 and 7.

Public meeting procedure clarified

At the opening of a public meeting to hear a rezoning application, Claire Dodds, Director of Development Services, presented an update on the procedure for appealing a Council decision in respect to zoning. (This reflects the provincial decision to replace the Ontario Municipal Board with more accessible Local Planning Appeal Tribunals).

In brief: “If a person or public body does not make oral or written submissions at a public meeting about a zoning by-law application, or make written submissions to South Frontenac Township before a by-law is passed, they may not be added to the hearing of an appeal before the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal ,unless, in the opinion of the Board, there are reasonable grounds to do so.

If one wishes to be notified of the decision of Council in respect to any of the applications, they must submit a written request to the Clerk or sign the attendance list provided at the public meeting. This will also entitle them to be advised of a possible Local Planning Appeal Tribunal.

Anyone may appeal a council decision to the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal by filing with the clerk within not later than 20 days after the notice of decision, and the appeal must set out the objection to the by-law and the reasons in support of the objection, accompanied by the required fee.”

This evening’s public meeting was to hear comments on an application to rezone a waterfront property on Hewett Lane, Dog Lake, from Resort Recreational to Limited Service Residential, in order to permit construction of a single detached dwelling. There were no comments from the public, and have been no written comments, so the application will come back to council for formal by-law approval.

Support of Conservation Authorities

Councillor Revill brought a notice of motion requesting Council to endorse a resolution supporting the work of the local (Rideau Valley, Quinte and Cataraqui) Conservation Authorities. Currently, the Province is reviewing the mandate and operations of conservation authorities, with the intent “to improve efficiencies, consistency, transparency and oversight of conservation authorities.” Revill noted that smaller municipalities do not have the capacity or the financial resources to employ staff with the technical expertise that conservation authorities have to monitor floods, manage source water protection, ensure the integrity of the watersheds and conserve the natural environment within our township and county. “(In summary,) we have been well served by our Conservation Authorities; they are responsible, transparent and accountable.”

There was full Council support, and the resolution will be forwarded to Premier Doug Ford, the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, the Minister of Natural Resources and Forestry, Conservation Ontario, the Association of Municipalities of Ontario and all Ontario municipalities.

In the absence of CAO Carbone, Clerk Angela Maddox asked that the February 11 Committee of the Whole meeting be cancelled, for there are no staff reports pending. Council agreed, and Mayor Vandewal brought Carbone’s regrets that he was not able to be present for the current meeting.

Coming Events

Councilor Morey extended an invitation to the South Frontenac Museum’s annual meeting, at the Museum (Road 38, at Hartington), Tuesday February 11, at 10 am.

Deputy Mayor Sutherland reminded everyone of the Family Fishing day Saturday Feb 15, 1-4, at the Elbow Lake Environmental Education Centre, 1400 Hewlett Packard Lane, Perth Road.

Back in September of 2019, Central Frontenac Township received confirmation that under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), the Province of Ontario will provide $1.06 million and the federal government another $1.9 million, towards a $3.2 million project to reconstruct Elizabeth Street in Sharbot Lake.

On October 9th, the newly hired township public works manager, Tyson Myers, told Council that he had already begun work on the project, and reported that in addition to Elizabeth Street, work will be done on two adjacent streets, Robert and Garrett.

He also said that the business community and the public at large will be consulted in the run up to the project. At the time, construction was slated for the summer of 2020.

Since then, Myers has been working to get the plans for the project ready. Jewell Engineering has been working with the township on what is now being called the Sharbot Lake Village Reconstruction project, and while the project is still in the planning stages, he said that the schedule is going to start moving along quite quickly in the coming weeks.

“Jewell Engineering is working hard to complete the plan and profile drawings for the township’s review. Residents may have seen surveyors on the streets and in their yards collecting data and property boundaries to provide to the engineering team.  I am working with the home and business owners, the economic development committee, the Sharbot Lake business group, the accessibility committee and many others to gather as much local input that I can, to bring forth to the engineers to try to incorporate in the initial design,” Myers wrote, as part of an email interview this week.

He said that he expects to have a set of “plans and profile drawings that are detailed enough to show the public” within the next couple of weeks.

In addition to new asphalt, the “reconstruction to the village will provide upgraded underground infrastructure, additional areas of curb and sidewalk, with a focus on the downtown core.”

The infrastructure project will also provide an opportunity for a downtown revitalisation project that people from Frontenac County and OMAFRA (Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs) have been working on and have already presented to the Central Frontenac economic development committee.

“The program would capture market information and opportunities for economic development that relate to the work being done on Elizabeth Street,” he said.

Updates will be brought to Council and posted on the township website in short order and Myers said that input from an upcoming public information session will be incorporated into the final plans.

At this time, the expectation is that construction will get underway in the late summer, which is at least partial relief for the local business community, which is dependent on summer tourist traffic.

“This is a very exciting time for Central Frontenac residents as I think our investment in the core of the community will have a ripple effect on the rest of the township that will bring growth and opportunity,” he wrote.