Back to HomeFeature Article - July 2, 2009 North Frontenac CouncilBy Jeff Green

Ompah fire hall still on the radar, department assured

Members of the Ompah fire crew had an opportunity to meet with North Frontenac Council on June 25 to talk about the township’s on-again off-again plans to build a new fire hall in Ompah.

It's been almost three years since Mayor Maguire was re-elected, and during the election campaign Maguire, along with all the other candidates, promised to build a new hall in Ompah during the current term of office.

A piece of land in Ompah has been purchased, and money has been put aside to build a hall in recent budget years, but with the township facing shortfalls, only $25,000 was put in the 2009 budget.

Mayor Ron Maguire outlined for the fire crew members how other infrastructure needs in Ompah are slowing down the project.

A report on ambulance needs in rural Frontenac County was recently presented to Frontenac County Council. One recommendation in particular concerns Maguire, that the base located near Ompah be replaced with a base at Hwy. 509 and Ardoch Road in Central Frontenac.

“As a council we rejected the ambulance report,” said Maguire. “We didn't want to see the North Frontenac station go anywhere. We then came up with the possibility of combining a new fire hall with a new ambulance base, and there could be money available to help build. The ambulance report said it costs $750,000 to build a base. That amount of money would go far if combined with building a fire hall.”

Maguire said that the ambulance situation, and others, “led us to believe we can't make a decision this year, which is why we cut some of the contribution towards the fire hall from our budget. But it remains a priority.”

The only dissenting voice on council came from Councillor Wayne Good, who said, “A new fire hall in Ompah is not a priority for me, I look at all the fire halls since we are one township. I look at the halls in Plevna and Snow Road as much as Ompah. If they can do the job so be it.”

The site of the current fire hall, which has been slowly sinking, also houses a community hall and the Ompah library, and the future of those municipal services will need to be considered as well.

While the chances of having a new hall in place before the next municipal election in 16 months are not great, the fire crews came out of the meeting feeling that council is indeed committed to moving forward.

“Our first question was, 'Is the hall still a priority?” said Deputy Fire Chief Steve Dunham, “and you've answered yes to that.”

Dunham also pointed out that the Ompah crew raises over $20,000 each year for equipment, and that they have been looking at plans for fire halls for a few years and have found some relatively cheap alternatives.

“We've done about everything we can do,” he said.

One of the crew members suggested moving forward by developing plans for a building that includes space for a self-contained ambulance base with separate kitchen and shower facilities and a separate entrance.

“If the ambulance falls through, we stick to the fire hall,” he said.

Council and the crew agreed to keep working on the fire hall, and to keep working together through Fire Chief Steve Riddell. 

North Frontenac to write to Municipal Affairs about County

The dispute between North Frontenac Council and Frontenac County took another turn last week, when North Frontenac Council decided to write a letter to the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH) outlining their grievances.

MMAH is the ministry that oversees municipalities in Ontario.

The issue that has galvanized North Frontenac into action is the makeup of county council, but as Mayor Maguire pointed out last week at a meeting of North Frontenac Council, “The list is long and goes back several years.”

Two weeks ago North Frontenac Deputy Mayor Jim Beam resigned from the County Trails committee over his perception that the committee was being bypassed by county staff in the preparation of a county trails master plan. Then representatives from Central Frontenac and Frontenac Islands also resigned.

Beam told council that he “did have a call from the warden, discussing the issues. I told her the wedge that's been driven is almost beyond repair. She said she would put a resolution on the table on county governance, recommending a council composition of eight, with a weighted vote for South Frontenac, at the county meeting on July 22. I'd like to hold off until then.”

Mayor Maguire did not express much optimism that county governance would be resolved on July 22. “I suppose there is always hope,” he said “but I don’t see the warden getting support from the other two mayors, and she always votes with them anyway. If this thing comes forward in July and it fizzles, it’s pretty well dead.”

For Maguire, the governance debacle is the latest in a string of disappointments with the county. “We’ve seen this over long-term care, over the transportation issue, and we may well see it again before the ambulance issue is resolved. When you add governance and the fact that the trails committee has become a fiasco, it’s time we took some action,” he said.

Council passed the following motion: “Be it resolved the Council of the Township of North Frontenac instructs the Mayor and CAO to lodge a formal complaint with the Minister / Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing by a formal letter of complaint with respect to Council’s ongoing frustration with major issues with the County of Frontenac that directly affect the Township of North Frontenac”.

“This way we can get our grievances on file with MMAH as a first step,” said Deputy Mayor Beam. “In the meantime we can proceed with the County in July before taking any further action.”

Kaladar-Barrie agreement – Plans to re-do the Kaladar–Barrie fire agreement hit a snag when Addington Highlands, North Frontenac’s partner for the fire service, revealed they had not put the necessary funds, $3,000, in their 2009 budget.

North Frontenac wants to get it done, and decided to fund the entire cost by dipping into a reserve fund. They will be asking Addington Highlands to reimburse them for the cost in 2010.

Trillium application – The township will apply to the Trillium Foundation for new boards for the Clar-Mill hockey rink.

River Road water – On the advice of their solicitor, the township will erect a metal sign cautioning the public that the water at the spring at the side of River Road, north of the Ardoch Road, has not been treated. 

South Frontenac Council

Brian Hill of Hydro One asked Council to reconsider the use of the herbicide Garlon 4 (triclopyr) for control of brush and tree growth on hydro right of ways and under transmission lines. He said Hydro’s goal is to stabilize low plant growth in these areas to grass and low shrubs, which will allow ease of access for repairs and maintenance.

In 2007, when Garlon was last proposed, there was a strong public reaction against it, with the result that a compromise was reached, to use Roundup (glyphosate) instead. However, Roundup has proven to not adequately control the woody growth of Manitoba maple, elm, etc, and cannot be used on dormant plants.

As well, the formulation of Garlon has changed: most of the ‘inert’ ingredients have been removed, mineral oil has been substituted for petroleum distillate, and the chemical now comes in a ready-to-use form, eliminating the necessity of mixing on site, which carried potential for spills. It can also be successfully applied to the bark of dormant trees.

Councilor Stowe said that South Frontenac had very few power outages during the recent ice storm, compared to other areas where trees had fallen across hydro lines: he attributed much of this to Hydro’s recent aggressive removal of trees along the roadside hydro lines.

Mayor Davison agreed, and asked whether some areas, such as those near organic farms, could request to be excluded from Garlon treatment. Hill said this could certainly be done. Davison said a thirty-metre setback from lakes and watercourses would also be necessary. There was general agreement from other Council members.

CAO Orr asked Hill to send a formal request from Hydro One, so Council could address a resolution.

Community Grants

Treasurer Fragnito presented a proposal for a community funding policy that would address the means of distributing small grants to community organizations for projects deemed to ‘support and enrich quality of life within the Township.’ In 2014, $10,000 has been budgeted for Community Grants. Councilor McDougall said that these grants might be one means of non-profit groups getting some relief from hall rental fees. Council will review Fragnito’s proposal.

Affordable Seniors' Housing in Township

Councilor McDougall said that although there is need for more seniors housing in the rural areas, the City has made it clear that they do not see rural housing as a priority. As a result, the County of Frontenac has established a Seniors Housing Task Force to encourage local housing initiatives, in order to address at a local level the housing needs of our growing seniors population, and their wish to remain in their home communities.

Old School Museum Project

McDougall reported that the Portland District Heritage Society was continuing to make improvements in the stone schoolhouse in Hartington, and would like to approach Council with a plan to proceed toward the establishment of a museum. As a first step, they will make a presentation to the Township Recreation Committee in February. 

Back to HomeEditorial - June 11, 2009 County GovernanceEditorial by Jeff Green

It is welcome news that Frontenac County Council is going to consider governance once again at their meeting next week.

After county council rejected a consultant’s plan for a new structure at their last meeting, they really had no process to follow and the lingering sense that the council was going to walk away from the issue threatened to create even more disenchantment among members of township councils towards the county.

Three local townships have endorsed one plan, and it is incumbent on county council to take that seriously - to either accept it or put forward something similar enough to have a decent chance of being accepted by the township councils.

Now that the idea of changing the composition of county council has been put to the township councils and been heartily endorsed, if county council fails to act they will make relations between the county and the townships worse than they have ever been. Those relations, on the staff as well as the politician level, are pretty poor already.

There is one more reason that county council should act: their current four-member structure does not conform to the Municipal Act.

Section 218 1 of the Ontario Municipal Act (2001), under the heading of “Composition of an Upper Tier Council” reads:

1. There shall be a minimum of 5 members, one of whom shall be the head of council.

County council has a choice: make a change or risk the embarrassment of being taken to the Ontario Municipal Board by one its own members.

North Frontenac, perhaps? 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 Central Frontenac Council - June 8/09By Jeff Green

Guntensperger chastised over PARC

Councilor Norm Guntensperger asked that the Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) for the local schools be put on the council agenda.

However, Guntensperger, who represented council on the committee, did not present an update into how the PARC had proceeded. Instead he talked about the circumstances surrounding his decision to resign from the PARC.

The issue at hand was a presentation Guntensperger made to the PARC at the beginning of the meeting where the committee was set to pick their preferred option. On the grounds that the school is central to the life of the village of Mountain Grove, Guntensperger argued the PARC should not recommend closing Land O' Lakes Public School.

“The next evening I received a phone call from the mayor saying that I was not representing the township and in fact I had not done my job. She requested that I resign, and informed me that she felt I might be in conflict of interest.

“I reiterated that I did not think I was; the members of the PARC from Hinchinbrooke said on more than one occasion that they wanted their school to be closed. However I was speaking as the representative from Olden. I was clear that I was not speaking on behalf of the township.”

Mayor Gutowski replied directly to Councilor Guntensperger. “In my opinion, as an employee of the Limestone District School Board [Guntensperger is a teacher at Land O' Lakes Public School] I think you should take legal advice about this. To publicly go out and say you do not represent the township when you are sent to represent the township, when there is something as controversial at stake such as school closing, I don't think that was wise.”

“If I may, Madam Mayor, I would just like to say that if I had stood up and said I represent the township it would have been presumptuous. The truth is only people from my district approached me, and they wanted Land O'Lakes to stay open,” replied Guntensperger.

“I'm going to chalk some of this up to inexperience,” said veteran councilor Frances Smith, “when you are sitting at a meeting as a councilor, you represent the township.”

As Guntensperger has now resigned from the PARC, Councilor Gary Smith has stepped in to represent the township as the committee winds down.

(Note – in addition to members from North and Central Frontenac township councils, the PARC includes parents and school support staff members, teachers and principals as well as board employees as advisors)

HOUSING REQUEST – North Frontenac Not for Profit Housing sent a letter to council requesting that development fees associated with a planned five-unit seniors’ housing complex be waived by the township.

Township Planning Coordinator Cathy MacMunn said that the project will require an official plan amendment, a zoning change, and a severance, which will cost between $3,000 and $5,000 in addition to building permit fees.

The request received widespread support, but before a vote could take place CAO John Duchene said it might be preferable for the township to charge the fees, then provide a grant back to the housing corporation.

The matter was deferred for Duchene to investigate and will be finalised on June 23.

ARDEN HALL NEEDS NEW SEPTIC - The continuing saga of repairs to the Arden hall took a new twist when township staff and the public health unit came to the conclusion that it is impossible to keep the existing septic system in place as the wall at the back of the hall is repaired. A new system will be required. The good news is there is money in the 2009 budget for a replacement septic system and the work should be completed this year.

TRACTOR PURCHASE – After a divisive debate, council agreed, in a 5-4 vote, to purchase a tractor to be used for roadside mowing this summer.

SPEED BYLAW PASSED – A long-awaited speed limit bylaw was finally approved. It creates a number of 40 km per hour roads, as well as 50 and 60 km roads. Very small, dead end roads will not be posted.

COUNTY GOVERNANCE – Council received a letter from North Frontenac Council that endorses a plan to create a nine-member Frontenac County Council, including the mayor and another representative from each of the four lower-tier townships that make up the county, and an extra member from South Frontenac. Councilor Gary Smith pointed out that “Since we have endorsed the same resolution, that makes two thirds of the triple majority that this needs to be adopted. It has been endorsed by a majority of councils representing a majority of the population. The only missing element in this is the county council itself; the ball is clearly in county council's court.

Councilor Bob Harvey asked, “Should we make a suggestion that our mayor carry this forward?”

Mayor Gutowski, who is doubling as county warden this year, said “I agree that the discussion should come forward, and I will ensure that this will come forward as an item for action at next week's meeting.”

“Do you have a position yourself?” asked Councilor Guntensperger.

“I'm not yet there with exactly what is proposed. It will be an interesting discussion at the next meeting. It will be on the agenda,” Gutowski replied. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 North Frontenac Council - May 28/09By Jeff Green

Frustration with Frontenac County boils over again in North Frontenac 

Months after the idea of secession from Frontenac County seemed to have receded from the political landscape, it came back into focus last week at a meeting of North Frontenac Township.

The catalysts were the inertia at Frontenac County Council over proposed changes to the makeup of county council, and the pending Integrated Community Sustainablity Plan (ICSP).

In both cases, representatives form North Frontenac Township say their suggestions and proposals have been ignored.

“In view of what's happening with governance, I wonder if we should participate in the launch of the ICSP,” said Councilor Fred Perry.

The ICSP has been in the works for a year. It includes sections on various aspects of environmental and economic initiatives for the county, and staff and members of North Frontenac Council participated in working groups in five categories: economic development and communication; land use planning and management; protection of natural areas; energy – waste water – transportation and infrastructure; and quality of life.

As the plan comes forward members of North Frontenac Council say the flavour of the discussions on the various committees were not reflected in the final report.

North Frontenac's clerk/planning coordinator Brenda DeFosse said that the idea of a county official plan was on the back burner at the ICSP’s land use planning and management committee meeting, but has been brought forward as a priority in the report.

“They are doing what they want to do, anyway,” said Councilor Wayne Good.

“On the quality of life committee, which is the one I worked on, it was pretty much the same thing,” said Councilor Elaine Gunsinger.

“To me northern issues are paid lip service at the county,” said Mayor Ron Maguire. “We were told that the county could not distribute its gas tax money without an official plan, but in its place there could be an ICSP. Although a lot of the townships wanted the county’s gas tax money distributed, it's kind of taken on a life of its own.”

Maguire went on to say that at the county council meeting on May 20, the discussion over governance “was really a slap in the face. The discussion started our pretty well, but clearly the warden threw cold water on the idea of expanding the council. It was almost more than I could take. I knew then that there was no hope. One of the township chief administrative officers asked me after, 'What's the plan now?” and I said 'It's finished'. It’s pretty deflating; that means that the debates cannot be broadened the way they should be.”

Most of the membership of North Frontenac Council travelled to the county offices in Glenburnie several times to participate in discussions about governance and the county ICSP.

“In terms of the ICSP, long-term care facilities, health, broadband, we're still nowhere,” said Maguire.

Councilor Fred Perry asked if it would be an idea for North Frontenac to endorse the plan put forward by South Frontenac Council for a nine-member council, as Central Frontenac Council has done.

“We could do that,” said Maguire, “but unless the county council changes its own direction, nothing will happen.”

Perry introduced a motion to endorse the South Frontenac Council proposal, and it was unanimously approved.

Swim club donation – In response to a request, Council approved a donation of $500 towards the Mazinaw Lake swim program.

Blue Imp in Ompah – The township will be applying for a grant under the Recreational Infrastructure Canada program to purchase playground equipment for Ompah. The playground structure that will be purchased if the grant is approved is produced by Blue Imp Playgound Equipment of Alberta and costs $31,349.72. The grant would cover 2/3 of the cost and the township would find its third from the ward 3 special parks reserve fund.

Plaque at Cloyne Pioneer Cemetery – Council agreed to authorize the cemetery’s task force to put up, in conjunction with the Land O' Lakes Garden Club, a plaque recognising people that are presumed to be buried there but were either not recorded or the record of burial has been lost. The names came from old Methodist church records. The committee intends to have the plaque installed before the end of July, in time for the Cloyne 150th Anniversary celebrations in August. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 4, 2009 Addington Highlands CouncilBy Jeff Green

Derelict schoolhouse sparks concern in Flinton

Driving into Flinton from the east on County Road 29, the unmistakable shape of a 1950s era school house appears on the left. But the reality that the former Flinton schoolhouse is in terrible shape is almost immediately apparent.

Boards cover the doors, windows are smashed, and the grass has not been cut this year. On closer inspection it is clear that the building is completely derelict; the roof is gone in places, as are the floors, and there are signs that animals have moved in.

It is the sad end of a building that once was alive with the sounds of grade school children. When the school closed in 1972, it was sold to the Reverends Elgin and Beula Fisher from Sharbot Lake, who had the intention of opening a Christian school for handicapped children at the site.

The Flinton Christian Academy was a project that never really took off, and while Beula and Elgin Fisher tried to keep the building from falling into disrepair, vandalism became common at the site. As the couple aged it became more and more difficult to keep the building from falling apart completely.

Elgin died in 2005 at the age of 87, and Beula now resides at the Sharbot Lake Seniors' home.

Meanwhile the building has become a safety concern as well as a political issue.

Carolyn Hasler and Robert Wood, from the Flinton Community Policing Association, appeared before Addington Highlands Council this week to talk about their concerns about the property.

Among other things they told council that the liaison officer to their association became concerned about the schoolhouse, and paid a visit. He heard noises and found a man using the building as a convenient place to take drugs. An arrest was made.

“Our concerns are not just that the building is an eyesore but that it is not safe. If people wander in there they could be in danger,” said Carolyn Hasler.

The township’s building inspector and bylaw officer Eric Sheppey agreed with what Hasler had said.

He reported that he has tried to approach Mrs. Fisher about the state of the building but a registered letter that he sent was returned unopened.

Sheppey went to visit Mrs. Fisher but reported that she “could not adhere to what I was saying.”

Sheppey then tried to communicate with Mrs. Fisher through Susan Irwin, the Executive Director of Rural Legal Services in Sharbot Lake, but Irwin told him “she was not able to converse with Mrs. Fisher.”

Sheppey said he has been getting prices on “securing the old school”, at which time the township’s lawyer will be contacted on the “proper procedures re: costs being placed on the tax bill.”

Over the past few years there has been interest in the property from several directions. In addition to the building, there is a fair bit of acreage at the back, and the property abuts the township-owned recreation centre property.

The proprietors of the Through the Roof Ministries, located next door, had reportedly expressed interest in the property, as has the Flinton Recreation Committee.

The building however, remains the responsibility of Mrs. Fisher at this time.

There is no doubt that the image of Flinton would be enhanced if the building were demolished and the property redeveloped.

Other former school buildings in Addington Highlands have escaped the fate of the Flinton schoolhouse.

The Kaladar Community Centre and the Northbrook Lions’ Hall are both located in former schools, according to Carolyn Hasler, and the Land O' Lakes Inn in Cloyne, which is now for sale, is also located in a former school.

The issue of the Flinton school is surfacing just as the Limestone Board prepares to sell off the Denbigh School. 

Swim club donation on hold – Addington Highlands Council, June 1, 2009

The Mazinaw Lake swim program sent in a request for a cash donation towards swimming lessons this year. The cost of the program, $65 for four weeks, does not cover the cost to deliver the program to area children, and while fundraising covers some of the extra costs, a donation from the township would help the program make ends meet.

“There are many children in your area that would greatly benefit from a donation by your organisation,” said a letter to council from Chelsea Dacuk, the swim program supervisor.

In considering the proposal, the fact that the program is not offered in the Denbigh area was raised. Council decided to contact Chelsea Dacuk to see why swimming classes are not offered in the North, which would save the need for bussing, before coming to a decision regarding funding.

ROAD PAVING TENDER

Addington Highlands will continue the established practice of accepting road paving tenders prepared for the entire County of Lennox and Addington.

“Greenwood Paving has agreed to keep to the same price as last year,” said Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath. The township will spend $60,000 on paving this year, which is on par with budget estimates. The Weslemkoon and Jacques Bay roads, and the portion of Granny’s Lane that the township owns will be re-paved this year. The township has a 10-year road paving schedule to cover all the township's paved roads, and this year’s roads fit into that plan.

GRADER TENDER ACCEPTED

The township will be purchasing a new John Deere grader in the coming weeks, as per the 2009 budget. The tender price came in on budget.

DENBIGH SCHOOLHOUSE – Taking note that the Limestone District School Board has called a public meeting on June 15 in Denbigh to discuss the formal closing of the Denbigh school, Reeve Hogg asked council if he should attend to make a presentation from the township.

The school ceased operations several years ago as bussing children to North Addington Education Centre in Cloyne gained popularity and enrolment slipped below 10 students.

Now the school board will be considering whether to close the school and sell the building.

Henry Hogg said he intends to argue that the township should have the right of first refusal should the building be sold because it has made investments in the school over the years.

The public meeting coincides with the next scheduled Addington Highlands Council meeting, which had been scheduled for 7:00 pm on June 15 at the Denbigh Hall. The council meeting will be put off until 8:00 p.m. to allow Hogg and other members of council to attend the public meeting.

E-WASTE DEPOTS – E-waste recycling has been approved for the Kaladar waste site, and an approval for the Vennachar site is pending. However, at the Mackavoy site there has been a delay due to the wording of the certificate of approval for that site from the Ministry of the Environment, which might take some time to clear up.

CONSTRUCTION STYROFOAM REJECTED BY RECYCLER – A load of waste styrofoam from a construction project using an alternative building system has been rejected by the township’s recycler. The adhesive used on the styrofoam makes recycling impossible. The township will begin charging tipping fees for the material.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 25, 2009 Frontenac County Councilby Jeff Green

Frontenac County Trails Master Plans faces opposition from without, and now within.

The Frontenac Trails Master Plan, which was presented in draft form to Frontenac County Council at their June meeting, was slated to be received for information and discussed next month along with a staff prepared implementation plan.

The plan talks in general terms about a number of existing trails within the county, and touches only slightly on the most contentious trail, which has been the subject of considerable work by the Frontenac County Trails Committee, the proposed K&P trail between the boundary of the city of Kingston and the hamlet of Sharbot Lake.

The impetus for the County trails committee, which has included council members from each of the four Frontenac County townships, along with County staff, came when the County received a grant from the province to purchase the K&P rail line from Bell Canada.

The K&P trail, as an idea, has been around for years, and has been dogged by controversy. Some people who own land abutting the trail are concerned about trespassing, and about noise.

Who will pay for fencing, where necessary, has never been resolved, nor has the issue of whether the trail should be accessible to motorized vehicles or not.

Coincident with the release of the draft trails report, Bill Murnighan, whose vacation property on St. Andrews Lake (north of Godfrey) sent a package of information to the County and the media voicing his opposition, and that of his neighbours to a motorized trail in the vicinity of the lake.

Murninghan told the News that he has received no response from a letter opposing motorized trails that he sent to the County back on January 22nd, which was signed by himself and 14 others, prompting him to start up a website www.kandplandowners.com which includes an online petition.

Although there were meetings held with adjacent landowners, Murninghan says people who opposed motorized trails should have been represented on the trails committee itself.

“There is a representative from Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, who are marketers of ATV trail usage, on the committee, but no one from the other side. An adjacent landowner should have been invited,” he said.

When Murninghan's letter was raised at the County table, Warden Janet Gurtowski said, “I didn’t receive on email from this gentleman, but he had the opportunity for consultation. I'm surprised there was a group.

Although County Council was not surprised by the opposition from landowner's who are concerned about the potential implications of the trail, they could not have expected that at three of the four council representatives on the trails committee would be leaving the committee in the wake of last week's Council meeting.

In a letter to Warden Gutowski, Central Frontenac Deputy Mayor Gary Smith outlined his grievances with concerning the Master Plan, particularly the way it was brought to the county council table by County staff before being presented to the committee, and the fact that implementation is to be handled by staff and not the committee.

To make matters worse, according to Smith, “when the Deputy Mayor of North Frontenac rose and asked to speak (on the trails issue et al) he was rebuffed by County Council.

“Instead Councillors sat and listened to two one hour staff presentations whose watch words were 'consultations with stakeholders and 'respect'. Township Councilors received neither of these ... As the result I have decided to resign immediately as a representative of Central Frontenac on the trails committee.”

Jim Beam, the Deputy Mayor of North Frontenac, refers to his own decision to resign from the committee in a letter to this the Frontenac News (Letters, The Frontenac News,  June 25/09).

Dennis Doyle, Councillor from Frontenac Islands, has also resigned from the committee.

“The report was supposed to be a committee report to Council. When it became clear it was really a staff report to Council, to be implemented by staff, there was no longer any role for the committee,” Doyle said.

Councilor Alan Mcphail, from South Frontenac Township, remains on the committee, although he told the News that he understands some of the frustrations that are felt by other members of the committee.

“I'm willing to give County staff the benefit of doubt,” he said, “and consider that some of what happened was the result of unintentional oversight as the draft was rushed to the County table.”

All four members of the committee expressed regret that the committee, which they all said had been a model of co-operation between politicians from all corners of the township, has ended on such a sour note.

It is unclear what will happen to the trails committee now that it has lost three township representatives.

Governance not on the County agenda in June

Frontenac County Council did not debate governance last week, and it is unclear when the matter will come to the table

Resolutions from all four constituent townships of the County, all aimed at promoting a change in the composition of the four member County Council to 8 or 9 members after the municupal election in 2010, were marked as “items for action” on the Frontenac County agenda last week (June 17).

When the item came up, only North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire thought action should be taken.

“The endorsements of the notion to increase the composition of county council is overwhelming,” he said “The future would be well served if we acted on this.

South Frontenac Mayor Gary Dacvison was hesitant to endorse a proposal, put forward by his own council, that would give South Frontenac 3 members on a 9 member Council, and each of the other townships two members.

“I remember saying that my first choice is 8 members, with the two South Frontenac members having two votes. With 58% of the population, it seems like an imbalance for South Frontenac to have less than 40% of the vote.”

“I wasn't aware that we were going to have this item on the agenda,” said Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek. We have the balance of the year to deal with this. I think we need to think about this a bit more.”

“I agree wholeheartedly that we need more time to discuss this,” said Warden Janet Gutowski. “I don't have a proposition for a bylaw at this time.”

“After hearing all of you, I'm not talking,” said Ron Maguire.

There was no direction to staff on the matter.

For a change in County Council composition to take effect in time for the 2010 election, a bylaw must be proposed by Conty Council and must be brought to at least one public meeting before being approved by County Council. It must then be ratified by the majority of the four Frontenac townships representing the majority of the population, before the end of December 2009.

County council has meetings scheduled for July, September, October, November and December, but they can meet at any other time at the call of the Warden.

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 Surprise Funding for New Sydenham Library Proposalby Wilma Kenny

Almost a week after most other project grants had been announced, South Frontenac learned at noon Tuesday that their application for funding for a new library and fully centralized municipal offices had been approved. Under the Communities component of the Building Canada and Infrastructure Stimulus Fund, the Provincial and the Federal governments will each contribute $726, 667, for a total of almost $1.5 million.

If the Township Council agrees to go ahead with the project as recommended by their library committee, they will contribute a matching third, which could come from the $1.3 million set aside in reserve for upgrades to the municipal buildings.

Sydenham library is by far the most heavily used branch outside Kingston: and at 0.18 sq. ft. per capita of local library space, South Frontenac is far below the recommended guideline of 0.5 sq. ft. per capita, and the KFPL system-wide average of 0.56. Building a new library would have the additional advantage of freeing up space in the present building for more township office space, so the treasury offices could be relocated from Keeley Road to join the other municipal offices.

A Sydenham Library Redevelopment Committee has been working with architects Shoalts and Zabeck to determine feasibility of the site, and develop a budget for the proposed project: it will now have to go to Council for approval to continue. Councilors Fillion and Robinson both expressed their disapproval of the project.

The grant application for the Sydenham Library was done under the auspices of Frontenac County, as was the South Frontenac ambulance application. Including these two projects, South Frontenac alone received in excess of $4 million in federal and provincial grants over the past week.

(Editor’s note – In this era of full disclosure, we might as well reveal that our intrepid South Frontenac Council reporter, Wilma Kenny, is also a member of the Kingston Frontenac Library Board. Not only that, but when Wilma was assigned to take a photo of Scott Reid presenting a check for $2.36 million on Saturday afternoon, she took the opportunity to ask him whether there was any funding program for the new library, which was the only project applied for in Frontenac County that had not received funding. We might never know if it made any difference, but 72 hours later the money arrived - JG

Back to HomeFeature Article - June 11, 2009 North Frontenac Council, June 11/09By Jeff Green

North Frontenac Council looks to the future, and doesn't really like what it sees

At the start of their council meeting on June 11 at the Harlowe Hall, Mayor Ron Maguire drew council's attention to a report that was included with the agenda package.

Entitled The Federal Role in Rural Development, the report from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities outlines some of the difficulties facing rural communities throughout the country.

The report says, “Rural Canada is in a crisis. It is a quiet crisis but one that, if left unattended, will leave rural Canada increasingly weakened and unable to play its essential role in Canada's economy and national life.”

Although the report acknowledges that, “Some believe that rural Canada is a drag on the national economy and on the urban areas”, it argues against this position.

It points out that resources drawn from rural Canada (energy, agricultural products, lumber and minerals) make up 50% of Canada's exports but do not generate wealth for the communities where they are extracted.

The report argues that, “As long as natural resources remain critical to our national economy, a chronically weak and underperforming rural Canada is not good for those who live there, or for the national economy, or for urban Canada. Balance is needed in economic development, which calls for public policies that can accommodate both rural and urban areas.”

It marks a difference between rural areas that are close to urban centres, which have seen population increases and comparative wealth in recent years, as opposed to more remote regions, which are suffering.

In the end, it makes three major recommendations: that rural Canada needs a champion at the federal cabinet table; that rural communities need a “long term plan” from the federal government; and that “a one size fits all approach to rural policy making will not work. Solutions must be tailored for and responsive to the diversity of rural Canada.”

In taking about the report and its conclusions, Mayor Maguire said, “I think that we can't passively sit by and just let the status quo continue; this arguing for a federal role in rural Canada is fine, but that will take years. I think this report is the backdrop for moves we should be making as a council.”

Funding for Northbrook Medical Centre’s 25th anniversary – In response to a request to support the 25th anniversary celebrations at the Northbrook Medical Centre, council agreed to pay 1/3 of the projected $2,500 cost of the event.

Later in the meeting, Councilor Fred Perry updated council on some of the changes proposed for the medical centre, which is in the midst of adjusting its care model to bring it in line with the requirements for establishing a multi-disciplinary Family Health Team.

“I was talking to Doctor Tobia today,” Perry said, “and he would like to set up a satellite clinic in North Frontenac, probably in or near Plevna. He wants about a 1200 square foot building, to house a nurse practitioner and staff. He already has a small satellite clinic in Denbigh.”

The four tenders – They might not sing like angels, but the following four companies submitted the winning bids for township tenders.

Francis Truck Centre, $119,523 for a new tandem cab and chassis

Gemmill Sand and Gravel, $42,940 gravel crushing

Greenwood Paving, $259,031 for a variety of paving jobs

Jason Lemke, $31,500 for winter sand.

Ambulance base proposal – Councilor Fred Perry suggested that the township offer Frontenac County three possible locations for an ambulance base.

“We need to give them some options, because if not they will move the base to 509 and Ardoch Road in Central Frontenac,” said Perry.

Council thought it was premature to make any offer, since the ambulance report has not been debated thus far. 

Central Frontenac draft budget

The draft 2014 Central Frontenac budget, presented by Treasurer Michael McGovern to a special meeting of Council on Monday afternoon (January 20), carries an increase of just over $500,000 in the cost to taxpayers for local services, from $6.15 million in 2013 to $6.66 million in 2014, an 8.1% hike.

Inflation accounts for just under 1% of the increase, according to McGovern, and there are a number of investments that account for the rest. On Monday afternoon, the public works and fire departments presented their departmental budgets, and later in the week the other departments, including the corporate, IT, building, and planning departments will present their own figures.

Among the more expensive additions to the 2014 budget is a $200,000 contribution to the fire department capital reserve fund, which is earmarked for a new fire hall in Parham, slated to be built next year. There is also a $75,000 cost for a new emergency first response foam crew cab truck for the Henderson Fire Hall.

“The plan is to move the existing pumper truck from Henderson to Arden, and have something more applicable for our Henderson crew,” said Fire Chief Bill Young.

Aside from completing the $1.77 million Wagarville Road project, which is mostly covered by a grant from the province, Public Works Manager Mike Richardson proposed that $640,000 be put towards a reconstruction project on the four-kilometre stretch that runs north from Henderson.

“The Henderson Road is causing us a great deal of grief in maintenance,” said Mike Richardson. “The base is falling apart very quickly in sections; $640,000 does four kilometres - the worst four kilometres - of that road. We will have to entirely rebuild that road.”

The other major public works project in 2014 is the Johnston Road bridge, which will cost $330,000.

In terms of equipment replacement, the 2014 budget includes $210,000 for a new tandem truck and $165,000 for a new loader. The budget also includes the $10,000 purchase of an electronic speed street sign, similar to that which South Frontenac's road department has placed at the north end of Verona to encourage drivers to slow down before they reach Prince Charles Public School.

“We plan to put the sign at Crow Lake for several months and then maybe move it to some other location,” said Richardson.

All of the road and bridge projects in the township, as well as equipment replacement, is being done in line with five-year priority plans that are updated annually.

Mayor Janet Gutowski proposed that councilors refrain from making any decisions about changes to specific budget items until all of the presentations have been made, which will have taken place by the end of this week.

“Once we have heard all the presentations, and asked for clarification of all the numbers, we can get down to cutting or adding items,” she said.

Council will meet on Monday (January 28) and two days later if necessary to finalize the budget.

“All things being equal we will bring the budget to our regular council meeting on February 11 for approval,” said Chief Administrative Officer Larry Donaldson.

As the budget currently stands, Michael McGovern said the impact on the average ratepayer will be significant but not too substantial.

"Taking the median family income in the township, which is about $61,000, property taxes would represent about 4.7% of household income. The average house value in 2013 was $220,000 and the increase would be about $130 in 2014, as it stands now,” he said.

There were seven members of Council in attendance at the first budget meeting. Councilor Frances Smith was away due to a death in the family and Councilor Bill Snyder was ill.

School property the preferred site for new Hinchinbrooke fire hall

If Central Frontenac Fire Chief Bill Young has his druthers, by the end of next year there will be a new fire hall located at the corner of Wagarville and Long Lake Roads, in the parking lot and front grounds of the now vacant Hinchinbrooke Public School. The new hall will look almost identical to the hall that was built a few years ago near Mountain Grove, with easy access off two of Central Frontenac's arterial roads, within a few metres of Road 38.

“That would be the ideal location,” Bill Young said earlier this week at Central Frontenac Council, “but the alternative would be to use the site of the existing hall, although it is smaller and is not as convenient.  When there is a call there can be a dozen firefighters arriving at one time and the fire trucks have to have a clear path to the road as well, so there is a congestion problem.”

The availability of the Hinchinbrooke site is not in the township's hands, however.The school board has a protocol around disposal of surplus property and might be looking for a substantial amount of money for the school building as well as the grounds.

The possibility of using the school property was tagged as a sufficient reason to delay the project for a year.

“Bill and I have talked quite a little bit about the need for a new fire hall in the area. Even though we could possibly make use of the well and septic on the existing property the possibility of the school board property becoming available is enough incentive for us to put money aside and wait a year or so before building. When you consider that we are building something that will be in place for 50 years it makes sense to wait a bit and see,” said Larry Donaldson, the Chief Administrator of Central Frontenac Township.

Donaldson added that there has been discussion about a potential use of the school building for a community centre, and said the fire hall would not get in the way.

“At the end of the day maybe everything can be accommodated,” he said.