Back to HomeFeature Article - February 5, 2009 South Frontenac Councilby Wilma Kenny

Winter Sand Payment Increased

On the recommendation of public works manager Mark Segsworth, Council agreed to pay contractor W.J.Heska an additional $1. per yard over his original bid, for winter sand supplied.

This was in consideration of unanticipated additional costs, including damage to Heska’s equipment caused by improper moving by township staff. The total cost with the additional payment is still almost $70,000 less than it would have been, had Heska not bid on the contract.

Frontenac Arch Biosphere’s Funding Request

Councillor Hahn spoke in support of the Biosphere reserve’s request for increased funding, listing several substantial projects the group was working with: a mapping of all trails in the reserve area, promotion of the Local Flavours farm network, developing a database of local artists and artisans, and a national model for sustainable tourism. In previous years, South Frontenac had given the group $500: the current request, for 25 cents per capita, would come to $5,000. Hahn suggested $2,000. Councillors York and Robinson reminded Council that when the Biosphere reserve was originally set up, council had been assured there would be no financial cost to the township. In the end, Council agreed to provide $1,000.

Limited Consultation Process for Wireless Communication Facilities

Following receipt of a lawyer’s letter on behalf of Bell Mobility, Rogers Wireless and TELUS Mobility, Council appointed Alan Revill as the designated official in the township for notification of the location for new towers. Burns pointed out that although Industry Canada now requires a limited amount of communication with the municipality and the community in the vicinity of a new tower, placement of communications towers does not require municipal approval.

Sydenham Water

Council approved in principle that as part of the Official Plan Review, an expanded ‘Area of Influence’ be included surrounding the settlement area of Sydenham. It is also proposed that new development within this area would be required to connect to the municipal water system, unless it can be demonstrated that such a connection would be cost prohibitive. A public meeting will be scheduled to inform residents of these proposed changes.

Also, Council has agreed to set up a Water Advisory Committee comprised of the two Loughborough district councillors and three members of the public. The Township will advertise for interested applicants to the committee, which will have an advisory role to Council.

Sustainable Economic Development in Action

Jo-Anne Cuddy presented council with Land O’Lakes Tourist Association’s new 2009 maps and visitors’ guidebooks. Land O’Lakes mandate is to support economic development through promoting tourism. Cuddy said that although there had been less visitors to the region from the US in 2008, overall tourist numbers had been up, due to an increase in tourists from other countries, as well as more ‘local’ visitors. The new web address is: www.travellandolakes.com.

South Frontenac Committee of the WholeBy Wilma Kenny

"Amalgamtion"..." Again

CAO Gord Burns made a plea for Council to consider amalgamating the road budgets and recreation reserves. He noted that last year council had discussed amalgamating roads, but had decided to wait and see how things worked out in 2008. During the past year, some area road projects had gone over budget, but this had been offset by the $250,000 gas tax money distributed to each of the districts.

Burns also pointed out that "while 2008 showed some township road budgets in deficits and others without, that situation could easily be reversed any given year."

With regard to Recreation, the question of who is responsible for libraries has also been discussed, with the thought that libraries as well as district buildings such as the Storrington Centre, Harris Park, Princess Anne and Bedford Hall should be South Frontenac responsibilities.

A new issue has arisen: council is now looking at the possibility of a new branch for the Kingston Frontenac Public Library system in Sydenham, which would include renovation of the present library space to create offices for Township staff who are presently located at the township barns.

This building project might be an appropriate use for some of the parkland reserve funds which are now distributed through the four districts. As well, the role of the Central Recreation Committee is being re-examined: projects such as new soccer fields, ball diamonds, building upgrades and libraries could receive funding on a township wide basis, with Central Recreation advising Council as to the availability of funds and preferred projects.

The discussion that followed was lively, with several Councillors speaking strongly in favour of amalgamation.

Councillor Robinson asked for a referendum: "Take it to the people," he said.

Mayor Davison replied, "We did, last election - I ran promising amalgamation, and I was elected!"

Councillor Ron Vandewal said he was in favour of amalgamation, but could not support Burns’ proposal as it was written.

"Don’t just choose bits and pieces: do it all or do nothing," he said.

Council voted 5-4 not to bring Burns’ proposal to the next council meeting.

Presentation

Bob Branscombe, representative of the Ontario Fire Marshall’s office, presented a Certificate of Compliance to Fire Chief Rick Chesborough and Mayor Gary Davison. This certificate recognizes the fact that the South Frontenac Fire Department meets or exceeds the Ontario Fire Marshall’s requirements for fire service within the township, and is in compliance with the public education and fire prevention requirements of the Ontario Fire Protection Act.

Financial Request

Don Ross, Executive Director of the Frontenac Arch Biosphere (FAB) asked Council to consider increasing their annual financial support to a contribution equivalent to between $0.25 and $0.50 per capita per year. (Present South Frontenac annual grant has been $500.) Ross’s report noted that Canada’s Biosphere Reserves receive little support from the federal government, as opposed to other similar reserves throughout the world. In the past two years, the FAB has managed to contribute over $600,000 to the community through contracted services and programs they have developed in the areas of culture, environment, economy and society.

Development Proposals

Planner Bob Clark of Port Hope updated Council on the proposed Gordon commercial and subdivision proposals for the corner of Rutledge and Sydenham Roads. The highway commercial area would contain gas station, convenience store and storage units: the housing subdivision, north of Rutledge Road, would have 41 residential lots. Not all preliminary studies are completed: Clark estimated the formal applications would not come to Council for six months.

Use of Township Vehicles

Alan Revill tabled a draft policy concerning the use of township vehicles by township staff, particularly in regard to off-hours and personal use. After discussion, Council asked him to redraft a tighter version than the one presented. A comment from the floor supported a firmer policy, in regard to an incident of perceived possible misuse of a township vehicle for transportation of family members.

Procurement Policy

After a brief review of the Township’s rather detailed procurement policy, CAO Burns agreed to send a letter to all township committees reminding them of this policy and asking them to contact him before making any major purchases.

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 5, 2009 North Frontenac CouncilBy Jeff Green

North Frontenac Council facing budget crunch

North Frontenac Council has been quick off the mark in considering their 2009 budget. Most township Councils are just now beginning the process.

But thus far, Council and senior staff don’t particularly like what they see.

Increased costs for waste management and road maintenance, and a need to put money aside for future capital projects, have all affected the budget, and township CAO/Treasurer Cheryl Robson said “although the numbers are still very preliminary, we are still very high, sitting right now at an increase of 5% in the township portion of the budget.”

Council will be meeting later this month to continue working on the budget.

Consultants recommends compaction

In presenting a comprehensive waste management plan to Council on January 29th, Guy Laporte of AECOM engineering (formerly TSH) made the point that the estimated dumping capacity in township sites is about 21 years.

“However, if you begin compacting the waste, you can increase the lifespan of the sites by about 50%,” he said to Council.

The cost of a used compactor is about $200,000, with another option being contracting out compaction at a cost of $34,000 per year.

Although Laporte said AECOM does not see a need for the township to consider expanding any of their waste sites at this time, the Mississippi Station site is a candidate for expansion in the future, and it is possible it can be made large enough to accommodate 20 years worth of North Frontenac waste.

Laporte also pointed out that most of the considerable cost of maintaining township waste sites is paid for out of property taxes, and recommended that the “program be changed to that a larger portion is funded through user fees.”

The township is considering scheduling a public meeting to consult about a variety of proposed changes.

More waste, of a different kind

Jamie Saunders, from Rideau Valley Conservation, made a presentation about the 2008 Wastewater Disposal System Re-inspection program (AKA septic re-inspection).

Saunders reported that last year, because of scheduling problems, only 78 systems out of a planned 100 were actually inspected.

On the positive side, for the first time island properties were included in the inspection program; including Islands on Kashwakamak and Big Gull Lakes.

“I’m pleased to say that the state of systems on the islands was pretty good,” said Saunders. “We’d all heard that we would find straight pipes into the water but that was not what we found at all.”

The main function of the re-inspection program is educational, Saunders said.

“We spent a lot of time talking to people about proper maintenance of systems,” Saunders said.

Of the 78 systems inspected last year, 34 had no concerns, 37 required some work, mostly of a minor nature, 5 require further information in order to be evaluated, and 2 require replacement and have been referred to the Health Unit.

“Would it be possible to increase the number of inspections per year,” asked Mayor Ron Maguire.

Saunders replied that 200 system are looked at each year in Tay Valley Township it would be possible to do the same in North Frontenac.

The program cost $7,600 to run in 2008.

Roads task force members named – The following people have been named to join three members of Council on a Roads Task Force: Russel Gray, John Hudson, Bill Raeburn, Darwyn Sproule, Bob Watkins and Karin Reynolds.

Mayoralty candidate in 2010? Among the seminars that Councillors have signed up for at the upcoming annual municipal conference in Toronto, Deputy Mayor Beam has signed up for the “Heads of Council” training session.

Ringing endorsement for Denbigh ambulance committee paper – Council passed a strongly worded motion in support of the recommendations that were found in the Denbigh community groups “Ambulance Position Paper”.

The resolution concurred that a “reduction of the Denbigh ambulance to 12 hour coverage” would “result in a net decrease in the quality and net increase in the costs of medical care as a whole.”

It also said that “effective land ambulance delivery cannot recognize political boundaries,” and asks the province to “resume responsibility for land ambulance”.

A consultants report on the Frontenac County Land ambulance service will be released in March, according to County Officials.

Paul Charbonneau, the manager of the Frontenac County Service, confirmed that the question of the Denbigh Station would be considered in the report.

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 5, 2009 Frontenac County CouncilBy Jeff Green

County levy increase stands at 4% as budget nears completion.

At the first of two scheduled budget meetings, members of Frontenac County Council worked their way through a portion of the 2009 County budget, which would entail a 4% increase in the County portion of municipal taxes if passed in its current form.

Of that increase, roughly half is due to increased operating costs at the County. The rest comes from a projected decrease in interest earnings from County investments due to a collapse in the global investment climate.

Council deferred debate on the matter of non-union salaries, which at this point are slated to rise by 3% in 2009.

In a report prepared by County staff, the non-unionised pay rates in nearby Counties were listed. Four of them have approved their budgets for 2009, and three of them have approved 3% raises, and the fourth has approved a 2% raise.

County Councillors also deferred discussion of their own salaries until the non-unionised pay rates are finalised.

The budget includes the purchase of a Simulator for the Frontenac Land Ambulance Service. The new piece of equipment will allow paramedics to prepare for the kinds of emergencies that come about rarely in the normal operation of their duties, but require specialised skills. The cost to County ratepayers for the Simulator ($40,000) will be covered by a reserve fund and will not affect the 2009 budget.

The Fairmount Home budget, includes a hefty increase in cost, 13% or $95,000 to County taxpayers.

Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek asked Fairmount Home Administrator Julie Shilllington whether any of the recommendations from a recent study of the long term care facility had been implemented and were reflected in the budget.

Shillington said she would have something for County Council on that in March, but this will only be reflected in future years' budgets.

Final budget meeting will take place on February 11.

Pine Meadow left out again

It was a shortened version of a debate they held last year, with the same result.

On January 28th the four Frontenac County Mayors considered a request from North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire to support a renovation project at the Pine Meadow Nursing Home in Northbrook.

The request was for $250,000 over ten years towards the project, which is the same amount that the County of Lennox and Addington (L&A) committed in 2008. Although Pine Meadow is located in L&A, a report last year showed that 60% of its clientele come from Frontenac County.

“This is a very sensitive issue in the north half of Frontenac County,” Maguire said. It is hurtful that residents from NF are throwing a lot of taxpayers money at Fairmont Home, which serves the south part of Frontenac well, and the city of Kingston and others. It seems to me it is only fair, symbolic and fair, that the people who live in the north half of the county are taken seriously and supported by the county, I would like to show that symbolic commitment by including $25,000 per year for 10 years. It is the cost of a photocopier.”

Frontenac Island Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek said he “thinks it is fair to have a discussion in the Frontenacs about support for assisted living but in a broader context than just looking at supporting another long term care facility.”

Warden Janet Gutowski, who supported Ron Maguire's request last year, said “my thinking is along the lines of Mayor Vanden Hoek. “$250,000 is a substantial amount of money.”

Fairmont Home, which is owned by Frontenac County, receives municipal support from the County and the City of Kingston.

The draft 2009 Frontenac County budget includes a contribution of $820,000 in property tax dollars to the Fairmount Home.

A study of the operations of Fairmont Home, completed late last year, praised the level of care at the facility but questioned the high cost of running it.

By provincial regulation, Ontario municipalities are required to own or support at least one municipally run long term care facility. Municipal homes are funded through standardised provincial grants, patient fees, and municipal dollars.

Pine Meadow Home is a non-municipal home. It is owned and operated by Land O'Lakes Community Services, a not-for profit charitable corporation, and is funded entirely through standardised provincial grants and patient fees.

Neither facility is located within the boundaries of Frontenac County.

Back to HomeFeature Article - February 5, 2009 Addington Highlands CouncilBy Jeff Green

Reeve dissapointed over County broadband snub

Addington Highlands Reeve Henry Hogg was not happy when he found out at a Lennox and Addington (L&A) County Council meeting on January 28th that a grant application for rural high speed Internet extends as far north as Stone Mills township, but not Addington Highlands.

He was still seething a week later when Addington Highlands Council was asked to pass a resolution endorsing the L&A Rural Connections grant application.

“They say it is too expensive to provide service to the North, but I'm very disappointed,” he said.

Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch, who also serves on County Council, said, “we still should pass a resolution supporting this even if we are not happy. I move we support this.

Henry Hogg smiled at this, but he voted against the motion, which passed in a 3-2 vote. Councillor Janice Kerr also voted against it.

An alternate broadband, unrelated to the L&A application, is also a possibility for Northbrook and Vennachar. As well, Addington Highlands residents near Cloyne could get service if their application to the Rural Connections program is successful.

A different kind of cell service for Kaladar – It is now possible, once again, to spend a night in jail in Addington Highlands.

During their quarterly reporting on police activities, OPP officials said that after being closed for several years, the jail cells at the Kaladar detachment have been brought up to standard and are available for use.

911 signs the responsibility of property owners – Roads superintendent Royce Rosenblath said that as winter crews have been patrolling the roads they have noticed that some 911 signs have come down as people have been clearing snow from their driveways.

“The signs are now used for many purposes, and people need to keep them clean and visible,” Rosenblath said. “They are only the township’s responsibility if we knock them down, but that doesn't really happen because we made sure they would not be affected by snow clearing on the roads when we put them up. They cost $75 to replace and it is the property owner's responsibility.”

The township will include a note about 911 signs in the first instalment of property tax bills, which are going out this month.

Budget meeting – Council will meet next Monday, February 9th, to begin considering the 2009 township budget.

Curbing the bright lights of Denbigh – Council will be inviting Frank Roy, from the Elektra Observatories project, to a meeting.

“Some of the dark sky initiative concerns me,” said Henry Hogg. “They are talking about a 35 kilometre radius where street lights are to be limited, which includes Denbigh. We should here more about this.”

.

Energy matters dominate quiet meeting

Meeting for the second week in a row, South Frontenac Council had very little business to attend to other than considering an Official Plan amendment and a road closing application in the public meeting portion of the agenda.

In terms of regular business, the only issues of consequence were two proposals by the Chief Building Official, Alan Revill, regarding energy use.

In a report, Revill proposed that the township join a bulk energy buying co-op called Local Authority Services (LAS) which is a subsidiary of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. Joining LAS would protect the township from the impacts of changes to energy pricing that are coming on stream on May 1 of this year.

As of that date, Revill wrote, “Ontario municipalities will no longer be protected by energy price regulation and will be subject to hourly pricing based on time of day consumption.” By contracting with LAS, the township could see lower bills, and would be able to accurately budget for the cost of power because the price would be fixed. In order to join the program the township would be required to have a load profile done by LAS at a cost of $750.

Chief Administrative Officer Gord Burns said that he had “signed up to LAS many years ago with another municipality and each year we ended up saving money.”

Council considered a motion to pay for the $750 load profile and sign on for the next available bulk purchase with LAS.

“I agree with the load profile but I think we shouldn’t sign up unless the load profile shows that it is in our interest,” said Councillor Ron Vandewal.

The motion was approved, with Vandewal casting a dissenting vote.

LED light bulbs – Revill informed Council, again through a written report, that he is going ahead with switching to 1 watt LED bulbs from 15 watt incandescent bulbs in the exit signs at all township buildings, including fire halls. The up front cost of the LED bulbs is $12, but the energy savings are significant.

Revill reported that there is a “payback period of 8 months” on the $12 purchase of the bulbs, “so the savings in the first year will be modest.”

The LED bulbs are projected to last 11.4 years, but that timeframe has not been tested. Even if the bulbs only last 5.5 years, the energy savings for the 16 bulbs in the Sydenham office alone would be over $1,400.

Not bad for an investment of $192. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Back to HomeFeature Article - January 29, 2009 Proposal would bring faster Internet to much of North FrontenacBy Jeff Green

North Frontenac Council has applied for a provincial grant which could bring wireless high speed Internet to much of the township by the end of 2009.

The township has been working with the consulting firm Actionable Intelligence, the County of Frontenac and the Internet Service Provider Omniglobe to put the proposal together.

All that is missing is a $334,000 commitment from the Ontario government’s Rural Connections granting program.

At their meeting last week, Frontenac County Council confirmed their commitment of almost $100,000 towards the project. The money will be taken from provincial infrastructure money the County received last September.

Omniglobe will invest the rest of the required funds to complete the project, which is slated to cost $1 million all told.

The proposed network would build on existing infrastructure that Omniglobe, in conjunction with Utilities Kingston, put in place last year to serve the public schools in Plevna and Cloyne, and would also make use of large TVO tower.

In addition, new 120 foot towers are proposed for Ompah and a location in between Kashwakamak and Big Gull Lakes. The network would also include “repeater sites” at Palmerston, Canonto, Shabomeka and Mississagagon lakes.

It is projected that once the hardware is in place service will be available in: Plevna, Cloyne, the Meyer's Cave/Harlowe area, Ompah, Ardoch, Fernleigh, and Kashwakamak, Mississagon, Shabomeka, Mazinaw, Big Gull and Sand Lakes.

Maureen O'Higgins from Actionable Intelligence, told County Council that because the region is very rocky and tree covered, it will not be possible to determine if any individual location can access the system until the towers are in place, the equipment is installed, and the signal can be tested.

“Anyone who gets the service will get good service, but we cannot guarantee service for any individual,” she said.

People living in the Snow Road, Mississippi Station, Coxvale and Brule Lake regions will not be reached by the proposed network.

The application claims that of the over 7,000 seasonal and permanent residents of the township, 4,400 will be served if the network is built.

Omniglobe says that the price of the service would be $50 per month for residential consumers and $87 for business customers, with a sign up fee of $55. Seasonal service would also be available for 8 months out of the year, with a $30 suspension fee.

In discussing the allocation of County funds, South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison asked North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire if North Frontenac Township is planning to invest any of its own money into the project.

Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek intervened,

saying that a successful application to the same funding program last November to cover off broadband service gaps in the rest of the County, which included a $250,000 commitment from the County, had been done without commitments by the townships.

“This application is consistent with the one we put in last fall. I don't think the other municipalities put any money in to that one,” Vanden Hoek said

In addition to a $97,000 commitment in 2009, North Frontenac also asked the County for $21,400 for an outreach program in 2010 and 2011, but that part of the request was deferred.

Back to HomeFeature Article - January 29, 2009 Frontenac County Council -Jan 21/09By Jeff Green

Frontenac Council is “a bit unique” says governance consultant.

Doug Armstrong, whose company is being paid $35,000 to make proposals for how Frontenac County should be governed in the future, appeared before County Council last week in advance of his final report, which is due later this winter.

He said he will be laying out several options for County Council to consider.

“Frontenac County is one of few who have taken the initiative to look at governance since municipal amalgamation took place over ten years ago, and you should be commended for your initiative,” he said.

“The County is a bit unique,” he added, “when I drive passed Sharbot Lake as I go from my home in Peterborough to Ottawa, I don't think about Wolfe Island. Mayor Maguire from North Frontenac probably left home at the same time I did this morning from Peterborough to get to this meeting.”

(Frontenac County Council's offices are located in Glenburnie, which is in the jurisdiction of the City of Kingston)

Armstrong also said that after amalgamation Frontenac County was basically dismantled and became known as the Frontenac Management Board, only to re-attain County status five years later.

“It was originally going to be only an agency to distribute shared funds, but the province being what it is, they still went ahead and transferred services down to the County, so as something that was headed in one direction and got pushed into another you've done quite well.”

Armstrong has met with councillors and the mayor's from each of the four townships that make up the County as background for his report, and has looked at governance in other Ontario Counties.

“The size of the council, with only four members, and its configuration, ere the major issues that the people I talked to were concerned about,” he said.

Among the ideas that were presented to him by township councillors was adding the Deputy Mayor’s from each township to the council, which would double the size of the body.

“But one of the things that happens is townships change their Deputy Mayor every year and that would not do much for continuity on the County Council,” he said.

Another popular proposal, which came from many parts of the County, Armstrong said, “was giving some extra membership on council to South Frontenac.”

For his part, South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison made it clear he does not seek or support extra members or extra authority for his township at the County level, even though South Frontenac ratepayers pay 58% of the County levy each year.

“Frontenac County is a vast piece of geography. It's been that way for 100 years. I think the ability to govern it is here, right around this table. We all have our niches, but you win some and you lose some. I think all we need to do is try and make it work. I'm not looking for any extra authority for South Frontenac. I don’t think there should be a weighted vote. I think we need to make good decisions,” he said.

Doug Armstrong also noted that some of the people he has interviewed were highly critical of the County, talking particularly about the great distance and separation between the north and the south

“Many of them thought the County is redundant, however, redundant or not it is a two tiered format in Ontario and it will stay that way,” said Armstrong.

Armstrong’s report will be brought back to a steering committee within the next month and will come to full Council in March or April.

Any changes that the County makes to its governing structure must be in place by the end of 2009 in order to be in effect for the next municipal election, which takes place in November of 2010.

County of Frontenac: Fresh with Opportunity Growing vibrant, innovative, natural, sustainable placesNo it’s not a new store in Harrowsmith, but it is selling something

It’s the proposed vision statement that the people working on the Integrated Community Sustainability Plan for Frontenac have come up with thus far.

Anne Marie Young, the Manager for Economic Development for Frontenac County, and Graham Halsall, the County sustainability co-ordinator, introduced the statement to a meeting of County Council last week.

The statement will be further considered as the sustainability plan is finalised over the next few months.

Five steering committees, each one looking at a different aspects of County life, will hold meetings this week, and will continue meeting over the next months.

The final plan is due in June.

The County will be mailing out information about the process within the next month.

Budget debate this week

Frontenac County Council is having its major budget meeting this week, but in receiving the draft budget for information from treasurer Marian VanBruinessen last week, County Couuncil saw that they are facing an increase of as much as $380,000, or 4.6% in the amount of money it will be asking from ratepayers, unless major cuts are made.

Of that increase, $180,000 comes from a projected decrease in interest payments that the County will receive in 2009, an impact from the global economic downturn.

The increase had originally been slated at almost $1 million, or 11%, but County Treasurer Marian VanBruinessen has recommended that reserve funds be used to bring the number down by almost $530,000.

One of the reserve funds being used was set up a couple of years ago to put money aside for the impacts of an economic downturn, and VanBruinessen says it can be used this year because more money for social transfers is slated to come from the province next year, so the reserve will be replenished.

One member of County Council would like the County to look at a new expenditure.

North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire asked that funding for upgrades to the Pine Meadow Nursing home, be put on the agenda at this weeks budget meeting for consideration. Pine Meadow is located in Lennox and Addington County, but half of its residents come from Frontenac County. Last year, County Council refused a request for a grant of $25,000 per year for ten years for the Pine Meadow project.

A similar request to Lennox and Addington County was successful.

Both Frontenac and Lennox and Addington Counties own and run their own long - term care facilities

Observatory sparks interest

Frank Roy and Peter Mackinnon from the Elektra Observatory project, a proposed high tech observatory for Mallory hill near Vennachar, at the far northeast end of Frontenac County, were seeking an endorsement for their project to help them raise the $2 million they will need to complete it.

The proposed instrument, nicknamed the one metre initiative, “would be the most advanced telescope in Canada,” said Frank Roy.

Even though the scope would be devoted to scientific use and would be remotely controlled, Roy pointed out that a similar project in Quebec, at Mont Megantic, has been the catalyst for a major tourism initiative .

The major attraction of the site for the Elektra Observatory people are the dark skies. Frank Roy presented a map which showed that the location is the darkest in southern Ontario.

“I think this complements perfectly what we are hearing from the public,” said County Warden Janet Gutowski. “We would certainly do everything we can do for it. Let’s hit Nike mode. Let’s do it.”

County Council endorsed the initiative.

There is a website: www.elektraobservatories.org with extensive information about the project.

Council does not concur with Rogers over Tower

Rogers Communications would like to put up a cell phone tower at Harold Burke Road and Highway 7, on property that is owned by the Ministry of Transportation.

They sent a letter to the township asking for a “statement of concurrence” but the townships’ planner, Glenn Tunnock, recommended that the township refrain from providing the statement because Rogers refused the townships request that a site plan be prepared for the tower.

Rogers said they are not obligated to do anything more than they’ve done.

Interim Township Chief Administrative Officer Cathy MacMunn said that when “Bell Canada put their tower in, they did seek an agreement with us. They didn’t have to, but they did. Rogers has not seemed interested in even consulting with us at all.”

Council decided to heed Glenn Tunnock’s advice and passed a motion to turn down Roger’s request at this time.

Hall repairs -

Chief Building Officer Ian Trickett appeared before Council to discuss the Parham Fire Hall as well as the Oso and Kennebec Community Halls.

He reported that the roof repair at the Parham Fire Hall has been proceeding, but will not be completed until the weather warms up.

“The repairs that have already been done are sound,” he said.

The Oso Hall has been damaged in recent days due to frozen pipes and flooding. Trickett said the problem is two-fold.

“The pipes froze because the overhead radiant heaters were left on after someone left the hall. That meant the furnace did not come on and the pipes froze in the basement.”

Tricket said that the controls for the radiant heater have now been locked, and the burst pipes and damaged bathroom floor have been repaired. All of this cost $1,000.

Trickett also pointed out that the water pump and tank are not properly installed and are located next to an external door that lets cold air pour in. He recommended moving the water system to an internal room where the furnace is located.

Council accepted the recommendation.

As to the Kennebec Hall, which was the subject of an angry letter to Council two weeks ago, Trickett said the foul smell in the Hall is due to an un-vented, inadequate plumbing system, which needs replacing in the spring. He also talked about other work that is required at the hall as soon as possible.

“Any plumbing that we do, any construction that we do on the Halls, requires permits. We cannot tell other people to get permits if we don’t get them ourselves,” Trickett added.

2008 construction down marginally –

Final construction figures for 2008 show that total construction in the township was valued at $7.07 million in 2008, down from $7.35 million in 2007 and 7.34 million in 2006

Household Hazardous Waste Day – The township will be holding a hazardous waste recycling day on July 25th. The date had to be booked because the company that provides the service is very busy this coming summer. The location of the hazardous waste depot is yet to be determined.

Surplus equipment donated – A surplus 1975 Pumper, the first one used by the Oso Fire department, is going out of service and will be given to the Oso Volunteer Firefighters Association for use in parades, etc. An old Webber Extrication Spreader and Power unit will be donated to the Cavendish, Newfoundland Fire Department.

Controversial, yes, but Guntensperger to represent Township at PARC

The Limestone District School Board requested that Council name a representative to its northern schools Program and Accommodation Review Committee (PARC) which will be meeting over the next few months to determine the future of schools in Sharbot Lake, Parham, Mountain Grove, and Plevna.

Deputy Mayor Gary Smith recommended Councillor Norm Guntensperger, a teacher at Land O’ Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove, as the Council representative.

Guntensperger said he was prepared to put his name forward.

“I looked at this and I don’t se a conflict of interest in me standing for this role. The PARC cannot have an impact on my job, except it could come out that I had to teach somewhere else, but I cannot lose my job because of it.”

“I have concerns about a vested interest,” said Councillor Bob Harvey. The school already has a principal and a teacher on the PARC, so why should we be putting another teacher there.”

“I hate to disqualify him, because of his intelligence and his background,” said Gary Smith. “I think he’s be passionate about it. He’d show up to meetings.”

“I do believe that the public would think that a school teacher would have a vested interest,” said Mayor Gutowski. “I must say that I am disappointed that we don’t have another member of Council stepping forward. I would like to say that I would commit to this. I am sorry but I cannot do everything on your behalf. Perhaps you all need to think it through further.”

Councillor Philip Smith then piped in.

“Saying none of is passionate about this is unfair” he said. “I’m very passionate but I think Norm would be the best representative of this council.”

With no one else running, Norm Guntensperger was chosen as the township rep to the PARC.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Historical society has plans for Cloyne’s 150th.

Carolyn McCulloch and Marg Axford brought three issues to North Frontenac Council last week, to warm response.

The first was what they have dubbed the “Viking Lodge” project. It concerns a historic log cabin, located on Big Gull Lake on the property of Bob and Lori Cuddy. “It's a near-perfect example of the homes that were built in the 1860s” said Marg Axford, “the logs, which are up to 24 inches wide, are in quite good condition.”

The historical society would like to move it to the site of the museum in Cloyne so it can become, in itself, a display, and it can also house some of the artifacts currently housed in the museum and outdoors. “We have someone who is willing to do the move and the reassembly. We are asking for permission from Council to move this building, and if you can find it in your hearts to waive the fees that would be much appreciated”, said Axford.

The second item is the 150th anniversary of Cloyne and a plan to hold a birthday party for the village in conjunction with the Cloyne Showcase artisans’ show at North Addington Education Centre from August 7-9.

Cloyne was founded in 1859 and named after the village of Cloyne in Ireland. The moderate temperatures and rich farmland of Cloyne, Ireland have never been a feature of Cloyne, Ontario, but the village has prospered for 150 years nonetheless, and the anniversary promises to be a fitting celebration.

“We are planning to celebrate by having non-stop music and displays,” said Carolyn McCulloch.

Preliminary plans include renting a large tent to be located between the museum and the Barrie Hall. The committee would like to have township staff member Cory Klatt on their committee, and asked for a $2,000 donation from the township as well. Council agreed, subject to budget deliberations, which should wrap up later this month.

Finally, Marg Axford addressed Tappin's Bay.

“I know you are all sick of hearing about Tappin's Bay,” she said. Council has been debating traffic at the Tappin's Bay dock on Mazinaw Lake for several years but the historical society’s interest in the bay is less controversial. Records show that it was named after the Tapping family, and was misnamed Tappin's Bay. The historical society suggested that the name be changed to Tapping's Bay. “It will not solve all your problems, but it will be more accurate,” Axford said. Council agreed.

Long Service Awards – Certificates were handed out at the start of the meeting to long-serving township staff & volunteers. 25 Years of Service: Judy Tooley – Employee, Barbara Sproule – Committee Member, Leo Ladouceur – Fire Volunteer,Ruby Smith – Committee Member, and Stan Seitz – Fire Volunteer 15 Years of Service: Colonial St. Pierre – Fire Volunteer, George Clement – Fire Volunteer, John Ibey – Employee, Kevin Wheeler – Fire Volunteer, Randy Schonauer – Fire Volunteer, Scott Gemmill – Fire Volunteer, Tom Olmstead – Employee, and Dale Gemmill – Fire Volunteer 10 Years of Service: Linda Flieler – Fire Volunteer RonJones – Committee Member Steve Hermer – Employee, Christine McMurdock – Fire Volunteer, Gregg Wise – Employee, Norm O’Brien – Employee Roger Millar – Fire Volunteer, Tamara Vladimorova - Employee, and William Hermer – Employee.

Plevna Library – Council has authorized Cory Klatt to make the required arrangements for a portable classroom, currently located at the Glenburnie School in the City of Kingston, to be donated to the township. $26,000 will be set aside, pending budget deliberations, to be spent moving and outfitting the portable for use as a library. The proposed location is the former MNR site, located near Plevna on the Buckshot Lake Road. “I just wanted to ensure that the school board keeps it for us” said Klatt, noting that the building cannot be moved until a concrete pad is built for it, which cannot take place until after the frost is gone.

New roads task force – Councilors Olmstead, Watkins and Perry will serve on a roads task force. Council defeated a proposal to hire a consultant to complete “a cost benefit analysis re: road classification and maintenance levels”, opting for a councilor-led initiative instead. Members of the public will be invited to join the task force.

Helipad agreement cancelled, new one to be built.

An agreement with Tomvale Air Services, on Road 506, which has enabled the township to use the Tomvale Airport as a helipad for air ambulance, has been cancelled at the request of the airport's owner, Claudio Valentini. The helipad will still be available to the township through the winter months, and Council pre-approved a $25,000 expenditure in their 2009 budget to construct a new helipad on land they have purchased in the Ardoch area.

Broadband Application – An application for a major grant towards the establishment of wireless broadband service in the vast unserved areas of the township will be submitted in early February. The project will have a total value in excess of $1 million, with 1/3 of the money coming from municipal sources. Frontenac County is committed to paying the lion’s share of the municipal portion of this money.

An application for funding to cover broadband gaps in Central and South Frontenac and the Frontenac Islands that was submitted last fall was successful. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ursula Nussberger appeared before council to ask the township to “share the cost” of an application she and her husband Fritz had made last year to amend the township’s Official Plan and Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw to allow multiple residential zoning.

In September 2008 the Nussbergers submitted a plan to the township to build apartments on the back of an office that they are constructing to house Land O’ Lakes Community Services (LOLCS). However, since the Official Plan does not allow multiple residential zoning, they had to hire a planner to prepare an application for an amendment, which would have necessitated that public meetings be held.

Shortly afterwards the Nussbergers withdrew the application but received an invoice for just over $1700 from the township for the work that was done before the cancellation.

Ursula Nussberger commented to council on Monday night that the omission of multiple-residential zoning from the Official Plan (OP) “was a planning mistake, as other townships have that”, and asked if the plan was going to be revised. She also offered to help in any review of the plan.

Reeve Henry Hogg said that the Nussbergers were aware that there was a cost to their application but they went ahead with it. He said, “The planner was hired at your request”.

He also said that the Official Plan had only been in effect for two years, and that reviews are scheduled every five years. Township Clerk Jack Pauhl said that although amending the Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw would be “less cumbersome” than the original, an official review would still cost from $5,000 to $10,000.

Councilor Janice Kerr commented that there wasn’t much council could do about the invoice.

Council voted to receive the request from the Nussbergers.

Council approved two drafts from Quinte Eco Consultants for the Landfill Monitoring programs of the Denbigh and Mackavoy Lake waste disposal sites. Quinte Eco recommends increasing the monitoring from annual to triannual for Denbigh and biannual for Mackavoy. “This is ongoing - we’re no closer to knowing if anything is going to happen,” commented Reeve Hogg.

Council approved a request from Fraser Haulage Recycling for an extra $165 in tipping fees for recyclables. The extra fees are being incurred because of the plunge in the recycling market.

The Flinton Recreation Club asked for a reduction in the rental fee for the Flinton hall. The club supports the Early Years Playgroup by paying the fee, which they said had increased from $15 to $55 per day. Council agreed to the reduction.

Councilor Janice Kerr said that the Denbigh Recreation Committee would support a Poker Run that will take place at the end of January by holding a licenced dance. She also commented that although a ruling was passed that everyone who holds licenced events has to purchase extra insurance, it was a “sore spot” that committees of the township should have to purchase extra insurance.

The insurance alone for the Denbigh Country Dance had cost $400, leaving the committee with very little in profit. Kerr said she agreed that individuals must obtain their own insurance, as the township has no control over what happens at private licenced events, but that the committee is very careful in overseeing the events they sponsor.

Council agreed to contact their insurance company about the matter.

Councilor Kerr also brought forward a request to install streetlights on Lane Street, which leads to the Denbigh rink. She said that when children walk to the rink in the winter or to the ballpark in the summer they are in total darkness once they leave Hwy 28. Council agreed to get prices on the streetlights.

The township’s levy from Quinte Conservation will be $12,467 this year. Council deferred the matter to budget deliberations.