Back to HomeFeature Article - October 22, 2009 South Frontenac Council –Oct 20, 2009By Jeff Green

Smooth Sailing for for Barrett Xplore

Barrett Xplore’s service roll out in South Frontenac has been considerably smoother than their aborted efforts in Central Frontenac.

South Frontenac Council received two emailed letters of concern about one of the nine tower locations that will provide high-speed internet service to residents of South Frontenac who have been relegated to dial up service thus far.

The concerns were about a tower that is to be located within view of Devil Lake on the Perth Road south of Westport, and the concerns mirrored those that helped convince Barrett to back out of a planned tower in Arden earlier this summer. The letters talked about the towers altering the well-established natural character of the lakeside.

However, whereas a public meeting in Central Frontenac was filled with members of the Big Clear Lake Association, most of whom opposed the tower installation, at a public meeting in Sydenham on Tuesday night, October 20, not a single member of the public voiced concerns about the towers that are popping up this fall in South Frontenac.

Members of council asked questions about the towers, but were assured by Bob Davie of Barrett that the towers, at 45m in height, will not resemble the much higher cell phone towers that now dot the rural landscape, and “will not be lit.”

The Barrett presentation included a map, which predicts that most of South Frontenac will be covered by already existing service and new service provided by the towers, but that there would still be significant gaps, particularly in the regions around Frontenac Park to the east of Verona and north of Sydenham.

Barrett Xplore will be offering free installation with a three-year service contract until the end of 2009. Residential service packages range from $30 to $60 per month in addition to a $50 activation fee. For business customers, the price ranges from $60 to $100 per month. 

South Frontenac building activity down in '09

Compared to a solid 2008, and a booming 2007, which included the controversial Sydenham water plant, 2009 is shaping up as a bit of down year for building in South Frontenac.

As of the end of September 2009, building permits for $17.25 million had been taken out, as compared to $18.5 million in 2008, and about $25 million in 2007 for the same time period.

By the end of 2007, permits for over $29 million in construction were purchased, and in 2008 the total was $23.2 million.

While 2009 will likely be the lowest year of the last three, it will still be higher than the total for 2006, which was $18.6 million for the entire year. The township is still poised to see over $20 million in construction in 2009.

The building slump in South Frontenac will not be long-lasting, however, as several larger commercial and institutional projects are expected in 2010.

With commercial construction projects in Inverary, at the corner of Sydenham Road and Rutledge Road, and just south of Harrowsmith all working their way through the planning department, as well as the library building/township office renovation project in Sydenham, also slated to start next year, healthy construction numbers for 2010 are anticipated. 

by Wilma Kenny

ADMINISTRATIVE CHANGES:

Township residents attending council meetings have sometimes expressed frustration that they have not had access to the background information packages provided to council members and the press: the only printed material available to them has been the two-page agenda. Now, the entire information package, which can be more than 100 pages long, is posted prior to the meeting on the township’s website. As well, discussion of zoning issues is now accompanied by projected aerial photos of the property in question. These improvements not only save a lot of trees, but also make it much easier for observers to follow the discussion.

PUBLIC MEETING:

A public information meeting concerning a proposed plan of subdivision and zone change that would permit an industrial park on the southern edge of Inverary along Perth Road, drew comments from several residents. Concerns were mainly around the perceived loss of the rural nature of the area, and fears of increased traffic, noise, and vandalism. Councilors Ron Vandewal and Del Stowe both pointed out that light industrial and commercial use on the property would have less impact on water and sewage than a housing development of 35 or more houses, and might well generate less traffic. Residents were encouraged to send letters listing their concerns to Lindsay Mills, Township planner. These will be passed along to council for their consideration.

TRUCK PURCHASE:

Two 3/4 ton extended cab trucks were budgeted and tendered in July, but at the time the successful tenderer was unable to meet the required delivery date. The trucks were re-tendered, and Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth reported there had been two bids, only one of which met the specifications and provided a delivery date. Council agreed with his recommendation that Edwards Ford’s bid of $87,200 be accepted. The trucks will be Oregon Orange, in keeping with township policy.

SYDENHAM WATER ADVISORY COMMITTEE:

Council accepted the minutes of the water committee’s October 7 meeting. At that meeting, Cameron Smith of XCG Consultants reported that they now have nine months of water testing data measuring water temperature, dissolved organic compounds (DOCs) and Trihalomethanes (THMs). He noted that in spite of seasonal temperature fluctuations, the levels of DOCs had remained consistent, which should make it somewhat easier to design the corrections to the plant. Smith agreed to have his first technical memo complete and ready for peer review by October 20, following which it will come to Council, then will be communicated to the public.

SYDENHAM LIBRARY

There was good attendance at last week’s public open house to view and comment upon the architect’s draft drawings of the new library. A list of comments and suggestions from both the open house and the library committee following their recent library tour have been forwarded to architects Shoalts and Zabak, who plan to produce updated design drawings before the end of October. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - October 29, 2009 Frontenac County Council – Oct. 27/09By Jeff Green

In the absence of South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison, who was on his honeymoon, the other three members of Frontenac County Council held off on deciding major matters at their October meeting.

The meeting almost didn’t happen at all, because Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek has been away much of the month of October, fulfilling his duties as county caucus chair with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario.

County Council composition debate deferred

The 18-month-old discussion about the future composition of Frontenac County Council was deferred, at which time Frontenac County Council will be under pressure to make a final decision.

“I feel there is a lot of urgency to this,” said North Frontenac Deputy Mayor Jim Beam, the interim representative for North Frontenac on the four-member Council. “There needs to be a public meeting if we decide to make a change, and the four lower-tier municipalities will need to ratify it. That doesn't leave a lot of time before the end of the year. Back in the spring Mayor Vanden Hoek said there was ‘no fire under this’, well now there is.”

Before the matter was deferred Jim Vanden Hoek asked a question about comments that have come back from the four municipalities on council composition.

“My understanding is that three of the municipalities would like to see eight or nine members on council and South Frontenac five, but I am unclear if the second representative from the townships will be a four-year appointment or if we will see new people every year,” he asked

“My understanding is that the second person will be appointed for four years,” said Jim Beam. “Similarly, even though the municipalities did not like the idea of a four-year warden, they felt that should be left up to county council to decide.”

The matter of county council composition was then deferred.

TRAILS: Council did agree, however, to accept the County Trails Master and Implementation Plans, after receiving assurances that neither document ties the county to any funding commitment.

Mayor Vanden Hoek was concerned that the trail not become a county-run program, and sought wording to the effect that a managing partner for the project be sought at the outset.

“I’m trying to separate the county from the activity of the trail. My fear is that if we don’t do this now, it becomes a very large thing that the politicians can’t cut off and move on its own,” he said.

Speaking for the trails development committee, South Frontenac Councilor Alan McPhail said, “The only thing that staff is doing now is putting the implementation plan together, with a new trails advisory committee. Finding a management group for the trail cannot come until we make some basic decisions about the kind of trail we are going to develop.”

The trails implementation committee will now begin its work

Money released for transportation – Frontenac County set aside $80,000 in the 2009 budget for transportation under the heading “Grants to Service Providers”, but the money was held back, pending receipt of a business plan from the fledgling Frontenac Transportation Collaborative.

Rural Routes, which offers transportation service in North and Central Frontenac, and Southern Frontenac Community Services, which does the same in South Frontenac, have been working together to develop a business plan.

That plan was delivered to the county earlier this month. With Mayor Davison absent from the meeting, Mayor Vanden Hoek insisted that the county simply receive the document for information and release the 2009 money to the two agencies involved.

Jane Drew from Rural Routes and Deborah Andrews from Southern Frontenac Community Services expressed relief that the 2009 money will finally be flowing, because their agencies had been stretched to the limit covering the shortfall.

The business plan, which calls for annualized funding from the county in the amount $80,000, will be considered on November 18 at the next county meeting. 

Back to HomeLetters - October 29, 2009Letters: October 29

Re: Hydo Debt, Betty Gallant

South Frontenac Council, Bill Robinson

Re: Hydro Debt - Frontenac News, Oct 15

I, too, am paying for a debt that was not of my making, and this is no small debt! I totally agree with Ms. Ina Hunt-Turner! 

Hydro One has not, as far as I'm aware, ever given an accounting of this debt, or let their customers know how much has been paid off.  Why not?

Hydro rates have increased and Smart Metres have been installed. I believe these Smart Meters are Hydro One's way to “sidetrack” their customers, so that this little matter of debt repayment is not of prime importance.  But it is!  How do we get Hydro One to account for the debt repayment charges we see on our bills each and every month?

Betty Gallant

South Frontenac Council

Regarding the presentation of the first three mayors by the South Frontenac Township Sydenham W.I. - a thoughtful idea and wonderful photo portraits (Frontenac News, Oct 8, 2009, South Frontenac Council). However, at the next meeting of council I asked why the other two mayors were not invited, because they were informed beforehand. This was wrong, and also not published in the October 20 paper.

As well, at that council meeting I inquired about the issue of slip lanes in the village of Harrowsmith, both on Road 38; one is south and one is north. Each business is very similar. One has to pay $25,000 and that is the one on the south end; the one on the north pays nothing. Both on the same highway, approximately half a mile apart. Is this justice, I asked?

Neither of these subjects was published and I think this is wrong as well. Equal justice for all.

Bill Robinson, South Frontenac Councillor

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 3, 2009 Frontenac County gets the nod from AMOBy Jeff Green

For several years members of Frontenac County Council have lamented the lack of profile the county has on a provincial, even regional basis.

The county actually disappeared as an entity in 1998 and was replaced by a management board, but was resurrected several years later and has been trying to emerge from the shadow of its larger neighbours such as Leeds and Grenville, Lanark and the City of Kingston ever since.

And the efforts have now paid off, at least in terms of Frontenac County’s relationship with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, the umbrella organisation for large and small municipalities in the province.

Aside from its role as a lobbying organisation, AMO has been contracted by the federal and provincial governments to oversee granting programs for municipalities, including the Federal Gas Tax Transfer and economic stimulus funding.

Two weeks ago, on August 18, federal Minister of State, Gordon O’Connor and Peter Hume, President of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), presented Frontenac County with an AMO Federal Gas Tax Award for the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan, citing the county’s extensive public consultation process.

“The beauty of this plan is that it brought all five of Frontenac’s municipal governments together for the very first time to collaborate on sustainability needs,” said Peter Hume, AMO President. “It considered everything from the health of local trails and waterways, to the long-term viability of local business and attracting new investment.”

Last week, senior county council member Jim Vanden Hoek (Mayor of Frontenac Islands Township) was named to the AMO Board as a member of the county caucus and to the executive committee of the organisation.

This is the culmination of efforts that Vanden Hoek has made over the past couple of years, with the express intent of raising Frontenac County’s profile within the province and in Eastern Ontario.

“AMO’s Board of Directors benefits from membership from across the province, reflecting the diversity of Ontario’s municipal governments,” said AMO President Peter Hume in announcing Vanden Hoek’s appointment. ■

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 3, 2009 South Frontenac Township Council     

Sydenham library plans proceeding

By Jeff Green

A Kingston-based construction management company will oversee the building of a new library in Sydenham.

Thompson Construction Management Services was awarded the contract in August and by mid-September an architect should be hired.

Three firms are on the short list and one will be selected in time for approval by South Frontenac Township Council at their meeting on September 15. Frontenac County Council will be asked to award the contract the following day.

The project received a funding boost when a Frontenac County application for infrastructure funding was approved earlier this year, but the county funding makes for an added layer of responsibility for the project as well.

At a South Frontenac Township meeting on August 4, councilors expressed anger that Frontenac County seemed to be taking control over the project, but South Frontenac was to be responsible for any cost overruns that might occur.

This led South Frontenac CAO Wayne Orr to prepare a report to council, which outlines a process whereby decisions about key matters, such as naming the architect, will not only go through the library expansion committee, which includes representatives from the library board, the local community, as well as township and county reps, but will also be vetted by South Frontenac Council before being passed to the county for final approval.

“Formally, the project is in the county’s name,” Orr said in an interview with the News early this week, “and by the terms of the Build Canada Grant they received [which covers 2/3 of the estimated cost of construction] the county will own the building for 10 years. There will be a leasing agreement to cover that, and the township will take ownership in 10 years.”

Orr said he understands the concerns expressed by members of council last month, and will be working to accommodate them. “Major decisions, such as hiring the architect, will come to the township for approval before going to the county,” he said, “which might make things a bit tight, but we will make it work.”

The architect’s drawings should be finalised later this fall, and Orr expects to be able to go to tender for construction of the library in late January. It is hoped that the library will be in operation by the fall of 2010.

The second part of the project, renovating the current library space for use by township staff, will be developed at the same time, although construction will not begin until the library has vacated the premises.

The township will be moving the treasury department from their Keeley Road site to George Street once the renovations to the township office are complete. Public works will stay at Keeley Road. 

SF Salt dome contract awarded

A key component in a two-year salt management improvement plan for South Frontenac Township's largest works yard, which is located at Keeley Road near Sydenham, has been the building of a new salt/sand storage dome, and at the council meeting this week the tender for the new building was awarded to Wemp and Smith for $683,446.30.

The new building will be a 100' by 130' structure and will enable all loading and mixing of salt and sand to occur under cover to minimise environmental impacts.

Wemp and Smith entered the lowest bid on the contract, almost $75,000 less than that of Storage Systems. Cover-All and Cruikshank also bid on the contract.

An additional $35,000 was paid to Jewell Engineering for building design and preparation of tender documents.

Jewell will also be conducting a two-year ground and surface water monitoring study at the site, which is being considered for a Household Hazardous Waste depot. 

Zoning Issues

By Wilma Kenny

There were no objections from the public or Council to the proposed rezoning from commercial to residential of a former veterinary clinic property on Road 38 in Verona.

Council passed a by-law authorizing a site plan agreement between the Township and Glenvale Industrial park to facilitate the proposed expansion of Harrowsmith Storage, which currently operates on the property.

Council also approved a by-law to amend the Official Plan to redesignate an area of land from Rural to Mineral Aggregate, in order to allow the extension of an aggregate area near Stars Corners, on the east side of

Wilton Road. This will be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs for their approval, prior to rezoning.

Bear Creek Road Property. Councillor Fillion brought a motion to reconsider an earlier resolution approving Council's purchase of a piece of waterfront land in Storrington.

The motion did not receive the two thirds majority required to reconsider a previous decision of Council.

Portland Parks and Recreation - Council approved Portland Recreation Committee's proposal to draw from their parkland reserves for several district projects. Although budget numbers weren't available, Mayor Davison confirmed the amount was almost double what had been budgeted for this year's capital expenses.

Councillors Stowe and Vandewal voted against the motion.

Livestock Kills High - Fourteen animal kills (goats, cattle, sheep) were recorded during the last

month, at a value of over $3,200. All are attributed to coyotes.

Abrams Brothers Concert - Council approved the temporary closure of the intersection of Williams &

Mill Streets in Sydenham on the afternoon of Saturday September19th, for the Abrams concert, annually sponsored by Trousdales General Store.

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 10, 2009 Adddington Highlands Council By Jeff Green

AH Council reluctant to take back roads

Addington Highlands Council agreed to consider a request from Gret Rumesch, who owns a property on the 6th Concession near Flinton. Rumesch has been visiting the property at least once a year for the past 30 years. Over the past year or so, as the result of beaver intrusions, she has come to realise that her road is not being maintained.

Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath said that since amalgamation in 1998, the 6th Concession has not been on the list of maintained roads.

“In that case I would like to make the case that it should be included,” Gret Rumesch said. “There is a creek and a beaver pond going across. I know that one of the reasons my husband purchased the property in the first place was because it has access.”

Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch proposed that staff inquire as to whether the road has ever been maintained.

“We can't promise anything but we'll have a look,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Other requests for work were less optimistically received.

- The Ashby Lake Association wrote to request that council do some work at the boat launch to the lake, including removing some brush, but Reeve Hogg pointed out that the boat launch is the responsibility of the Ministry of Natural Resources. “If they cut and remove the brush we'll dispose of it,” Hogg said.

- Finally, the residents on Rock Lake wrote to request that the Township put Addington Road #5 “back on the township’s road maintenance list”.

It was pointed out that the agreement with the developer who established lots on Rock Lake said that the township would not be responsible for the road, and the request was denied.

Other road and bridge matters – Royce Rosenblath reported that the road work that accompanied the Flinton bridge project would be completed next week.

A request for a stop sign on Upper Flinton Road was accepted.

Budget amendment – Aside from road matters, Council passed an amendment to their 2009 budget to allow for the purchase of a property just south of Northbrook that will be available to be used for a new township office / fire hall complex in the future. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 10, 2009 "Green Cottager of the Year” to address RVFNBy Judy Buehler

Showing exceptional leadership in projects that lighten our impact on the natural environment around us, Gray Merriam received Cottage Life’s Green Cottager of the Year Award for Canada. On Sunday, Sept. 13, Gray will be addressing the Rideau Valley Field Naturalists, with a lecture on "Ecology -- Growth & Change Over Time”. A retired professor, Gray has taught and done research at the University of Texas and Carleton University and has had academic affiliations in Poland, Sweden, France, the Netherlands and Utah. As a landscape ecologist, he has applied his ecological knowledge to the landscape where he lives on the Salmon River near Arden. He is founding President of the Friends of Salmon River, Chair of the Frontenac Stewardship Council and is ecological advisor to the Kennebec Lake Association.

The RVFN meeting is open to everyone and takes place at 2 p.m., Sun. Sept. 13, in the All-Purpose Room at the Perth and District Indoor Swimming Pool. There is a small admission fee of $5 for non-RVFN members. For more information, contact Judy Buehler at 326-0106.

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 24, 2009 South Frontenac CouncilBy Jeff Green

South Frontenac answers questions on county governance

At a Committee of the Whole meeting on Tuesday night, September 22, South Frontenac Council considered a seven-point questionnaire on county governance that was sent to them by Frontenac County Warden Janet Gutowski.

Each of the Frontenac townships is being asked to consider the questionnaire in advance of the October county council meeting, when the governance issue will ultimately be moved forward or put to bed for another four years.

There are currently four members on county council, the mayors of the four townships. The first question on the list concerns the number of members on county council, and asks if eight is an acceptable number - two representatives from each council.

A strong majority on council said no to eight members.

Council also rejected a proposal to give the South Frontenac mayor a weighted vote in recognition of the fact that 58% of county residents live in South Frontenac.

Instead, they all wanted to see South Frontenac have an extra member on county council.

Councilors David Hahn and Alan MacPhail both said they would favour a nine-member Council, with three members from South Frontenac and two from each of the other townships, but everyone else agreed with Councilor Ron Vandewal, who said a five-member Council is the best option, the mayors from all of the townships and an extra member, the deputy mayor, from South Frontenac.

“The other townships are not going to support this,” said Hahn, “so I think we should consider our fallback position. Can we live with nine?”

“Let’s not worry about a fallback position. They asked us what we thought and we are saying five. If they say something else, we will consider that when the time comes,” said Vandewal.

There was a strong consensus on council that any new county members could be chosen by the township council, rather than through a township-wide vote, and that the new person should sit at the county table for the entire term of four years, as the mayors do now. They also agreed that the current practice of the warden position rotating through the four mayors over the four-year term of county council should remain in place, rejecting a proposal that the warden be elected for a four-year term.

If county council agrees on a proposal for a change in county council composition it will come back to the townships for ratification. Three out of the four townships, representing the majority of the population, must ratify any proposal before it can come into effect.

With a majority of the county population, South Frontenac will effectively be able to veto any proposed change if they so choose. If they support a proposal, any two other townships must agree as well.

A decision on changing the composition must be reached by the end of 2009 to come into effect for the municipal election in November of 2010.

GAS TAX MONEY - Mayor Davison brought news that after years of debate “and a bit of horse trading” the township will receive $69,000 from the Frontenac County gas tax money this year. The money will be used on repairs to Road 38.

AGENDA ON THE WEB – Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Orr is trying to streamline the council agenda package and make it easier for members of council and the public to keep informed about township matters. In addition to changes in the way members of council receive information, the council agenda and much of the background reports and documentation will soon be posted on the township website (township.southfrontenac.on.ca) in .pdf format on the Monday preceding council meetings. 

Back to HomeLetters - September 24, 2009Letters: September 24

Re: North Frontenac secession from county, Frances Thurlow

Re: Leo Enright, Linda Brown

Re: North Frontenac secession from county

See North Frontenac Wants out of County, Frontenac News, Sep. 10/09) 

For some time, I have been interested in how the issue of secession would unfold. I applaud the council of North Frontenac for showing leadership in the matter of secession from the county. Before amalgamation was forced upon us, people throughout the townships were allowed to voice and vent their feelings at public meetings, regarding amalgamation. It was to no avail, and we were forcefully amalgamated into four townships. After 11 years there appears to be much unrest and dissatisfaction.

I applaud North Frontenac Council for having the courage, fortitude and decency to act democratically, and present the question of secession as a referendum at the next municipal election, effectively giving the people of the township a voice in the ultimate decision.

I would suggest that the four mayors who presently are the sole representatives of the townships at the county level show the same courage. The County of Frontenac died when amalgamation became a reality. A Management Board took its place. If the present mandate of the county is closely examined, they are still a Management Board no matter what they currently call themselves.

Four township councils have passed resolutions requesting more representation from local councils at the county level. The time has come for additional representation and stronger debate. County Council hired a consultant to study the problem, as to what is wrong with the present county setup. His report was instantly ignored when he bluntly stated that amalgamation is not working. Maybe the county should follow the example of North Frontenac Township, and by referendum, ask all residents if they favour additional, necessary representation from local councils at the county level.

Maybe we could go an extra step and have a referendum on whether the majority of people throughout the county would favour once again becoming a full-fledged county of former townships, where the Reeves and Deputy Reeves are entitled to attend and participate in county meetings, rather than be told they may attend county meetings, but only to sit and listen. What a crime!

Good luck, North Frontenac, as you bravely seek to become masters of your own house.

Frances Thurlow

Re: Leo EnrightSee One less Star in the Night Sky: Leo Enright (1943-2009), Frontenac News, Aug 13/09

Last night I went out stargazing. The sky was so clear, and as I looked up, trying to identify the fall constellations, I became aware of how much I miss Leo's interesting and informative column. He would have told us all about that hugely bright star that rose in the southeast, and moved around to the west last night.

Each summer in August, we attend a family camp in the Near North. During the Perseids meteor shower mid-month, 75 of us, from very young to rather old, sat out on a hill in the dark counting meteors and exclaiming in delight. I had Leo's 2008 column in front of me, and I was able to impart all that was on the Frontenac News page from Leo's work. I hope I was able to convey also his awe and enthusiasm for this vast canvas we take so for granted. Thank you, Leo, for helping us look up, for helping us really SEE what is before our eyes.

Linda Brown

Back to HomeFeature Article - September 24, 2009 Addington Highlands Council -Sep. 21/09By Jule Koch Brison

UN-MAINTAINED ROADS: A request from Marlene Bowman of Kaladar for improvements to her road prompted a discussion about AH’s policy, or lack thereof, on un-maintained township roads.

“She’s not looking for her road to be redone,” said Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch. “She would like a culvert and some gravel; her son-in-law has heavy equipment and could do the work.”

“We’ve got to get a policy on un-maintained roads,” said Councilor Eythel Grant.

Yanch replied, “We did that at the last meeting but we left it open for them [ratepayers] to ask – it’s the least we can do. In most cases they’re not asking for a lot – a culvert, a load of gravel… they are township roads and they do pay taxes… we do have to be reasonable.”

Reeve Henry Hogg said he didn’t know what the answer is, as there are more un-maintained than maintained roads in the township.

A decision on Marlene Bowman’s request was deferred until Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath returns from his holidays.

SEPTIC REINSPECTION: The Federation of Ontario Cottage Associations sent a letter to council requesting that the township initiate a voluntary septic and grey water inspection program for Mazinaw Lake.

Reeve Hogg said that any such program would have to be township-wide and couldn’t be confined just to Mazinaw Lake. He said the costs would be considerable and the township couldn’t bear them; it would have to be a user-pay program.

Deputy Reeve Yanch said she had the impression that other townships that have embarked on septic inspection programs had received grants and suggested that the cottage associations could look into securing grants.

Township Clerk Jack Pauhl said that a delegation would be coming to the next council meeting with a similar request for Skootamatta Lake and a decision was deferred to the next meeting.

TENDER REFUSED: Only one tender was received for an addition to the Denbigh township garage, and it was almost twice as much as Royce Rosenblath had estimated. Council voted to accept Rosenblath’s recommendation, which was to not accept the tender. Jewell Engineering will investigate whether the work could be done in-house.

RECYCLING CENTRE: Seven municipalities including Addington Highlands, which were serviced by the Renfrew County Recycling Centre, have been looking into taking the centre over when its owner retires. Although Addington Highlands had budgeted money for the centre, the township decided not to proceed because of uncertainties about whether the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) would order it closed.

JOINT FIRE BOARD: North Frontenac Township and Addington Highlands share a joint fire board, and North Frontenac has requested that the two townships hire a lawyer to attend a meeting with both councils and re-write the joint fire board agreement. Reeve Hogg said that would cost approximately $6,000, which he did not feel was a justifiable expenditure. Township Clerk Jack Pauhl commented that North Frontenac’s concerns could be dealt with in an operational bylaw, separate from the agreement.

Council voted to decline North Frontenac’s request and instead ask North Frontenac specifically what changes it wishes to see, make the changes and then submit the agreement to the lawyer.

A ROAD BY ANY OTHER NAME: County Road 29 is also signed as the Flinton Road and Bridgewater Road. There is also a Bridgewater Road in the nearby village of Tweed. In addition, the Old Flinton Road is also signed as the Upper Flinton Road where it meets Highway 7. This all results in some confusion for emergency services trying to respond to calls. Deputy Reeve Yanch discussed an email she had received from a ratepayer, requesting an official name change of her road because an ambulance had difficulty finding her house. Yanch herself lives on County Road 29 where it is signed as Bridgewater Road and she requested that the road be only signed as County Road 29.

Township Clerk Pauhl pointed out that public notice would have to be given for road renaming and Councilors Janice Kerr and Louise Scott both said that the township should look into the costs because all the 911 numbers and mapping would have to be changed.

Yanch asked, “What’s the price of people’s health and safety?” She also said, “It’s not a matter of costs; it needs to be done.” She brought forward a motion to rename the Flinton Road but no other council member would second the motion. Councilor Scott then suggested amending Yanch’s motion to include investigating the renaming costs first and the motion passed.

INFRASTRUCTURE: Council passed a bylaw to authorize certain capital works; to apply to the Ontario Infrastructure Projects Corporation (OPIC) for financing; and also to borrow from OPIC to meet the needs of financing the projects, which include a rebuild of the Matawatchan Road, and upgrades to the Northbrook Fire Hall.