Cataraqui Trail Success Story

Councilor Del Stowe and Pat McNamee made a brief presentation acknowledging the 10th anniversary of the 108 km Cataraqui Trail, which follows an abandoned CNR track from Strathcona (near Napanee) to Smiths Falls. They described the trail as a highly successful project. It is used year-round by hikers, cyclists, horseback riders, skiers and snowmobile riders. It has become a part of the Sydenham triathlon, and will be the site of a bike and hike event on September 25 and a cavalcade of colour wagon ride on October 14. There are plans to develop a rest area near Harrowsmith where the trail meets the K&P trail going north from Kingston. Del Stowe acknowledged the many contributions of volunteers, committees, clubs and municipalities in clearing brush, maintaining and repairing culverts and bridges, spreading gravel, and putting up signs and fences. He noted that 40% of the trail passes through South Frontenac, and thanked the township and its roads department for their ongoing support.

Septic Pollution Reduction Committee

Council agreed to accept the committee’s recommendation to run the septic re-inspection project for 2010 at a cost of $13,000 and at a target level of 100 to 200 inspections. This year’s subject lakes will be: Cronk Lake, Little John’s Sister Lake, Fourteen Island Lake, and the islands in Bob’s and Devil lakes.

Land for High School Expansion

Recently, the Limestone District School Board has approached the county to purchase the property at the corner of Mill Street and Rutledge Road, as part of the planned expansion of Sydenham High School. The county bought this land in 1975, but because it had not been intended for road widening, it was not transferred to the township at amalgamation along with the rest of the county roads system. The county will sell the property to the school board, but only with South Frontenac’s permission. Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth has met with the board officials, and reported that the building design is not completed, but the board has agreed to respect the township’s site plan control process in addition to the usual building permit requirements. Deputy Mayor Vandewal said he thought a site plan would be important, to ensure good sightlines were maintained at a dangerous corner.

Councilor Hicks suggested it should be more than a verbal agreement. Council added an amendment requiring a site plan agreement, then approved the sale.

Municipal Bridge Infrastructure Data Collection

Public Works Manager Segsworth recommended the township apply for the provincially available $5,000 matching funding to help finance the (provincially required) collection of data on the condition of municipal bridge structures. Council agreed.

CAO One-Year Performance Review

Deputy Mayor Vandewal said he was developing a small survey to collect input from staff, which would be taken into account when Council prepared the CAO’s performance review. Councilor Bill Robinson objected strenuously: “Why all this BS? This is a whole new procedure, we’ve never done it before… it brings in a lot of back and forth, and people who shouldn’t be in it.” Mayor Gary Davison defended the process, saying that the staff and department heads, who work daily with the CAO, are best equipped to comment on strengths and weaknesses. Council would still have the final say. Councilors Alan McPhail and David Hahn agreed. Councilor Robinson remained opposed to the change.

(Councilor Fillion was absent from the meeting.)

In April, Ken Hook, manager of the Land o’Lakes Tourist Association, wrote a letter to council about waste pickup, canteen roof repairs and periodic inspection of the Northbrook Skate Park. Council agreed with Hook that the skate park should be inspected regularly for dangerous things such as broken glass, etc., but had difficulty deciding whom it could delegate to do the work. The matter was left with Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath, who will report back to council with a recommendation.The township’s application for a subsidy to complete a Municipal DataWorks project has been approved. The township will receive 50% of expenditures up to $5000, for a maximum of $2500. The project is a bridge inspection and roads needs study, and Jewell Engineering has quoted $8000 for the study. Council discussed getting another quote, but it was felt that since Jewell Engineering already is familiar with the township’s bridges and roads, as it has completed many such projects for the township, another company would be more expensive as it would have to start from scratch. Council appointed Jewell Engineering to carry out the DataWorks project.

Some landowners on the un-maintained portion of Clark Line Road approached Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch to ask for a load of gravel and the installation of a culvert. Royce Rosenblath reminded council that the same request was brought to council last year but was refused.Yanch asked how much it would cost to fulfill the request and Rosenblath estimated it would be about $500. The other councilors brought up the objection that acceding to this request would set a precedent for other un-maintained roads. Yanch said that for her the main consideration was that the landowners should have access to their properties, and she brought forward a motion to provide the culvert and gravel for the Clark Line landowners. However, none of the other councilors would second the motion so it was dropped.Council then continued to discuss the township’s lack of a policy for its many un-maintained roads, and decided to ask the engineers who will be doing the roads needs study for a recommendation.It was also suggested that the township could do spot improvements under an agreement for a fee.Royce Rosenblath also said that the township does have used culverts and could give the landowners one that is in good shape. Yanch said that would “show them that we are trying to do what we can.”

The 2010 tax by-law was adopted.

A by-law to authorize voting by telephone/internet for the upcoming municipal elections was deferred to the next meeting as Clerk Jack Pauhl said he is still waiting for an agreement to arrive. 

Central Frontenac to continue to go slow on septic re-inspections

“I believe that summer 2010 should be devoted to the collection of information,” Chief Building Official Ian Trickett said in a report to Central Frontenac Council on the subject of setting up a mandatory septic re-inspection program in the township.

While neighbouring townships have opted for programs wherein inspectors offered residents the opportunity to have their older septic systems inspected, members of Central Frontenac Council have pointed out for years that voluntary programs miss all the systems that really cause the problems.

Last fall Central Frontenac Township gave approval in principle for a mandatory inspection program. The plan was submitted to the township’s solicitor and the local conservation authorities for comment.

At the council meeting on Tuesday May 11, Trickett reported that “no adverse comments” have been received but that “some issues regarding enforcement and penalties for non-compliance require further input.”

He also said there might be conflicts arising from using KFL&A Public Health to administer new septic installations, and the Rideau Valley conservation Authority for re-inspections.

Trickett then proposed that during the upcoming summer two students could be hired and trained to use the township’s existing GPS (Global Positioning System) equipment with which they could position existing tanks, tile beds, well heads and other information for inclusion in the township’s electronic mapping system.

“Participation in the data collection program would be entirely voluntary; refusal would not be contested, but would be recorded,” Trickett said.

The program will focus solely on waterfront areas.

Trickett also proposed that an ad hoc committee be formed over the summer to work on developing a full-fledged inspection program. The committee will include a council member, interested residents, and representatives from lake associations, and will be chaired by Trickett.

In response to Ian Trickett’s report, Councilor Gary Smith said he is concerned that the township is “starting to shunt this onto a siding. We’ve had input and now we are going to seek more input. By putting in two students out there to do some mapping, I’m afraid the substantive matters will not be addressed until perhaps we are beyond the mandate of this council.”

Smith also said he was concerned about a committee of Council being chaired by a member of staff, and pointed out that the property owners associations had already been consulted and would see further consultation as a delaying tactic.

Mayor Gutowski said she supported the report. “I do think we need to conduct discussions with the Public Health Unit about this before we jump in. I also think it would be too late for us to engage a contractor, such as the conservation authority, to do the inspections this summer.”

Township Chief Administrative Officer John Duchene said that instead of a committee, staff might make efforts to contact the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority and the KFL&A Public Health to iron out the system.

With this change, Council approved Trickett’s report.

Province will not tolerate development on new private roads, planner says.

Central Frontenac Township’s planning consultant Glenn Tunnock made a presentation to Council concerning the creation of new building lots on private roads.

He said that the Ministry of Municipal Affairs would not accept the township’s updated Official Plan as long as the plan does not prohibit the construction of new private roads, and it is also not particularly keen on the addition of new building lots on existing private roads.

“The ministry is adamant that new private roads should not be permitted, but they are a bit more open on the development of new lots on existing private lanes,” Glenn Tunnock said.

There are 158 private lanes in Central Frontenac and they present a series of legal, financial and safety concerns for the township, Tunnock said.

The legal problems come from the question of who owns these roads, which often traverse several pieces of private property, and the financial concerns come from the question of who pays to maintain them. The safety concern comes from the fact that many private roads are too narrow for fire or emergency equipment to get through to the houses that are located on them.

Tunnock recommended that the township prohibit development on new private roads, except where a condominium agreement could be reached that would commit all the landowners involved to a specific maintenance regime. He also recommended that lot creation on existing private roads be permitted only under certain conditions and only where it serves to “round out existing development”.

Deputy Mayor John Purdon was not comfortable with these proposals.

“Most of the development we have had in recent years has been on private roads,” he said, “ and we do not know how many properties we have left on the existing private roads. I’m concerned that we would put a lid on development in our township if we did this, and we need more development,” Purdon said.

“I would like to see more information about our stock of building lots before agreeing to this. I also think we need a public meeting where we make our citizens aware that something as dramatic as this, something that could limit their ability to develop on some of their properties, is coming forward,” said Councilor Gary Smith.

“I think we have to face the reality of how we are going to have to get on with our lives,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski. “The province is insisting on this, and they call the shots. We will still have tools for development, such as ‘plans of subdivision’ wherein the road is built by the developer to the township standard and the township takes ownership of it, as well as the condominium agreements that we have already talked about.”

Council accepted Tunnock’s report and will be inviting a representative from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs to a future meeting, which will be advertised widely so the public can be made aware of the new rules.

Clarification re Oso dump life

At a previous meeting a report from the engineering company Golder and Associates estimated the life of the Oso dump on Crow Lake Road at between 8 and 24 years and councilors were concerned about the large discrepancy in potential lifetimes for the site.

A response from Golder explained the discrepancy. The 8-year figure comes from a car count at the dump that was supplied to Golder by the township. The 24-year figure came from “topographical survey methods” which are more accurate, but a detailed survey was done in 2009, before the closure of the Elbow Lake waste site, which increased the amount of waste coming to the Oso site.

The response said that a detailed topographical study is scheduled for 2011, and at that time a more definitive estimate about the dumping life of the site will be prepared.

Arden improvements – Councilor Gary Smith asked Public Works Manager Mike Richardson if his department could develop a plan for comprehensive improvements to the sidewalks, streets and other municipal infrastructure in the Village of Arden beyond the limited repairs on two streets that are planned for this year and next.

“Do we have a commitment from Public Works for Arden?” Smith asked

“The quick answer is yes,” said Richardson. “For the benefit of this and the future council we can look at a number of scenarios that demonstrate the work that needs to be done. But it will then be up to Council.”

Mayor Gutowski moved that the public works manager develop a plan and that Council adopt it.

Councilor Philip Smith wondered why only Arden would be considered for improvements. “Why not Parham and Tichborne?” he asked.

“Parham and Tichborne are hamlets with less infrastructure than Arden,” said Gutowski. “You can’t really compare them with Arden.”

The motion was approved. 

Public Works Issues

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth reported purchase of a rubber-tired excavator, which will also have a brushing attachment. After test driving machines from the three lowest bidders, staff recommended the third lowest bid ($263,290) as the best unit for cost and functionality.

Council approved the bid of Roadlast Sealing and Asphalt Maintenance to complete the crack sealing work on Sydenham Road. Segsworth said the process should extend the life of this heavily used road by ten years, before it will need a full re-paving. He said that while the surface ‘looks bad’, the skid resistance of the road has increased significantly. This, combined with the shoulder paving, has greatly improvedthe road’s safety. He reminded Council, “Our (Township road) needs greatly outweigh our resources.”

Metro Line painting was awarded the road painting tender on the basis of their excellent performance last year.

Portland Dump

Council agreed “To direct the Public Works manager in conjunction with AECOM to follow up on the process to amend the Certifi cate of Approval for the Portland Dumpsite to allow for the receipt of brush.”

Council also agreed to purchase land adjacent to Portland dump from Robert Leonard for the sum of $116,075.

Verona Health Services Council also agreed to establish the Verona and District Health Services Committee as a committee of the township, separate and distinct from the Verona Community Association.

Taxes jump by 6.7% in Addington Highlands

Addington Highlands Council will be increasing their net levy to ratepayers by $114,000 in 2010. In 2009 the total amount raised through taxation in the township was $1.68 million, whereas in 2010 it will be $1.79 million, an increase of about 6.7%

One of the major reasons for the increase, according to Reeve Henry Hogg, was a cut in a provincial transfer fund for municipal services. Payments to Addington Highlands from the Ontaro government under the Ontario Municipal Partnership fund (OMPF) decreased by $144,000 this year. “There was not much we could do,” said Henry Hogg, “we still have to cover all of our costs, even if the OMPF fund was cut back.”

The township will be completing work on the Denbigh garage and the Matawachan Road this year, both projects that were partially funded by grant money. A planned new fire hall in Northbrook will not go ahead this year, but money has been set aside for the construction in the future.

The extra levy will be covered by assessment increases that are being phased in over a four-year period.

Dump site to be mothballed? An inquiry has been received by the township about a small dump site that serves residents who live on Buckshot Lake. The localized dump, which is only active in the summer, does not receive recycling, only waste, and use is based on subscribers among members of the lake association. The complaint concerns maintenance of the dump.

According to Reeve Hogg, the site has been in existence since before amalgamation, and the Ministry of the Environment is aware of its existence. “I think this might mean that the site will have to be mothballed, and if it is we are going to have to pay the closure costs,” said Hogg, although as of yet the township has not been contacted by the Ministry of Environment about the Buckshot Lake dump.

“We would not consider that site for a transfer station if it were closed,” said Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath.

Although the matter was the subject of conversation, Council took no action on it. At this time, there are no plans to close the site.

LOLCS to pay for hall rentals – Land O'Lakes Community Services (LOLCS) requested a significant fee reduction for the use of township halls.

“What do they normally pay?” asked Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch.

“I think we normally waive the fees,” said Councilor Louise Scott.

“If we give them a very reduced rate, or free use of the halls, there is still the matter of the cost of cleanup,” said Treasurer Jack Pauhl. “But we do have a reduced rate for service groups.”

Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch moved that the service group rate be applied to all use of halls by LOLCS, and Council agreed.

Tender for coverall at Flinton rink – The impact of the Harmonised Sales Tax on the project has made it difficult for the township to determine if the tenders they have received for the Flinton Rink Coverall will lead to a cost over run, but there is a possibility that there will be a $5,000 extra cost.

The Flinton Recreation Committee has committed $63,000 towards the $125,000 municipal cost of the project, and will be doing fundraising for the rest. An infrastructure grant is covering the other $250,000. Council agreed to cover the extra $5,000 cost, should it be necessary.

Internet voting returns – Council decided to engage Intellivote to run the 2010 Addington Highlands Election. Residents will receive a PIN number in the mail, which will enable them to vote over the telephone or through the world-wide web. The same company provided service for the 2006 election, and voting went off without a hitch. 

Frontenac County sees energy production as economic driver 

Frontenac County Council is looking to the wind farm on Wolfe Island as the catalyst for the county to establish itself as “the alternative energy capital of Ontario”, according to Frontenac Islands Mayor Jim Vanden Hoek.

“This can be the equivalent in energy production to what the Waterloo region is in terms of technology,” he added.

These comments were delivered in response to a report to a meeting of county council on April 21 by consultant Kathryn Wood about a project that has been dubbed the “New Energy Project – Life as we'll know it”, which has been ongoing for the past six months.

A steering committee that includes representatives from Frontenac County, Queen's University, St. Lawrence College, Lennox and Addington County, the Kingston Economic Development Corporation (KEDCO) and the Frontenac Community Futures Development Corporation (FCFDC) has been meeting on an informal basis to consider developing the KFL&A region as an alternative energy hub.

The Wolfe Island wind project, a solar farm in Lennox and Addington, and the Kingston-based activist group SWITCH are all considered major assets to the project.

The next step for the group involves formalizing its structure, identifying medium and long-term goals, and a branding initiative for the region.

Kathryn Wood broke down the multi-year strategies for the group under five themes: green leadership, green power, living the green life, green works and green infrastructure.

Another initiative, this one with a more local flavour, was brought to county council at the same meeting. Councilors from three Frontenac townships – Fred Perry of North Frontenac, David Hahn of South Frontenac, and Matt Fines of Frontenac Islands made a presentation.

The three had attended a Federation of Canadian Municipalities Conference in Ottawa in February, and during that conference, along with Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski, and Elizabeth Savill and Anne Marie Young from Frontenac County, they struck up conversations between themselves and some of the senior bureaucrats responsible for municipal lending programs and green initiatives.

“Out of this meeting we came to the conclusion that a green energy task force or committee would be a good idea. It could include one or two members from county council and one or two county staff, a representative from each township, and one or two citizen appointees with specific expertise,” said David Hahn.

The proposed committee would have the initial goal of bringing at least one target project forward in the near term.

“An example would be the installation of solar panels on municipal buildings in Frontenac County,” Hahn said.

Other objectives include developing “mid-term targets for green energy project investments”, and identifying financial resources and partnerships that may be available in order to bring about larger projects.

Joe Gallivan, who is the sustainability planner for Frontenac County, is currently working on an assessment of renewable energy potential in Frontenac County for which the engineering firm Genivar has been hired.

Among other things, the project is looking at small-scale energy projects that are already “on the ground” such as the solar projects on the Leonard farm in Hartington and the Daski property in Mountain Grove. It will also focus on providing information and a list of funding programs for other potential investors in the county.

“The renewable energy assessment project, as well as the regional initiative that Kathy Wood was talking about, and what we are talking about here, should all help us move forward on this together,” said David Hahn.

“I think this is a very exciting initiative for the County,” said Warden Gary Davison.

“In terms of the townships and the county working together I see great value and I will offer my participation as a committee member,” said Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski.

“The grassroots is certainly looking for action. Let's get this thing going. I'm excited about this,” said Matt Fines from Frontenac Islands.

“Our municipality has some municipal buildings that could be used,” said Fred Perry from North Frontenac.

County Council approved the establishment of the local committee in principle, with details to be sorted out for the May county council meeting. 

Budget approved in North Frontenac

At a public meeting on April 22 preceding the formal adoption of the 2010 North Frontenac budget, Treasurer/CAO Cheryl Robson made a detailed presentation of the budget highlights, including the impact of Education and Frontenac County tax rates.

She explained that while the overall tax rate has decreased, by virtue of an increase in the average property assessment in the township, the township will be collecting more money, $92,500 or 2.5% more from North Frontenac ratepayers than they did in 2009.

Among the highlights from the spending side of the budget, Robson pointed to an Organizational Review that will be completed this year as well as the continuation of the township’s broadband project.

For the fire service, there will be an addition put onto the Barrie Hall, a new station built in Ompah in conjunction with an ambulance base to be funded by Frontenac County, and the purchase of a used 4-wheel-drive ½ ton to be used to fight wild fires and for other purposes.

The township will be purchasing and installing a communications tower for the fire department, thanks in part to a Joint Emergency Preparedness Program grant from the province.

Along with ongoing road maintenance, paving will be done on Robertsville Road (1 km); Myers Cave Road (3 km); Shabomeka Road 1km – and preparations on 2.2 more km. for next year; Head Road (1km); South Road (1 km); and Roads 506/509 (approx. 8km. depending on tender costs).

Other roadwork will be done on Harlowe Road, Boundary Road, River Road, Smith Road, Greer Road, Canonto Road, Gulley Road, and Buckshot Lake Road.

The township will also purchase a new ½ ton truck for the roads department and has put aside $88,100 for building a new satellite medical clinic in Plevna.

When it came time to vote on the budget, Mayor Ron Maguire invited public comment, and then offered each councilor the opportunity to comment.

Deputy Mayor Jim Beam said, “I’m not in favour of a 2.5% taxation increase for the township. If I decide to increase my household spending, say by buying a new truck, I have to do without something else, because I am on a fixed income. The township should work in the same way. The mayor says that ‘costs go up, that’s how it is’, but I disagree.”

Councilor Fred Perry responded to Beam: “When we left the last meeting, everybody agreed, but now you are having a problem at the last minute. I know it’s an election year, but that does not mean we should artificially lower taxes and have to raise them twice as much next year.”

Councillor Elaine Gunsinger said, “We all know it’s an election year, but we have to manage the township. There are projects to be completed.”

“This 2% is what we need to run the township and not go into a deficit,” said Councilor Wayne Good. “I think staff have done well”. 

Low Water Levels Likely

Nobody needs a deluge, but a little bit of a rain dance might be in order if people want to see the normal amount of water on the lakes in the Mississippi River watershed this summer, Gord Mountenay of Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) told members of North Frontenac Council last week.

Mountenay, the water management supervisor for MVC, has been dealing with water levels on the Mississippi since the early 1980s, and he made a presentation to North Frontenac Council in response to concerns by Councilor Wayne Good about the water levels on some of the lakes in Barrie ward, near the top of the watershed.

Mountenay said that lake levels were drawn down in early September as normal, and that logs were put into the dams on Shabomeka, Big Gull, and the other lakes on March 15 of this year, earlier than normal, because at that point it had become clear that there was a lower level of snow and the prospect of dry spring. “When there is a lot of water in the system, there are things we can do to try and alleviate potential flooding downstream, but there is nothing we can do when levels are low,” he said.

It is always a balancing act managing the system, Mountenay explained. Water levels for recreational use of the lakes between May 15 and Thanksgiving is a prime concern, as is flooding in the spring along the Mississippi and at Dalhousie Lake. Maintaining levels on spawning grounds during trout, walleye, and to some extent, bass spawning seasons is also a major goal.

Lake levels are about 80 centimetres below normal at this time, but the real concern is that the flow rates from the streams are way down, and unless there is a significant amount of rain the lakes will not rise between now and May 24, which is traditionally when the levels rise to their summer levels.

The impact of a mild, dry winter and what is turning out to be a dry spring has already affected spawning beds. “There will be no walleye spawning on Gull Creek this year, for example,” Mountenay said.

The likelihood is also high that the traditional water levels that MVC likes to maintain for recreation on the lakes will not be achieved this year.

FEASIBILITY STUDY FOR ONE METRE INITIATIVE – D'Arcy McKittrick from the Tourism Company, a consulting firm in Peterborough, presented his final report to Council on the market and financial prospects for the proposed observatory and visitors’ centre at Mallory Hill in the northwest corner of the township.

There was bad news and good news in McKittrick's report for proponents of the One Metre Initiative.

The bad news is that McKittrick's projections for attendance and revenue generation were a lot lower than those that were included in the business case report that had earlier been prepared by Frank Roy, who has been the main driver of the project. For example, Frank Roy's projection for revenue in the fifth year of operation was $1.56 million.

The Tourism Company considered the various scenarios if the observatory were to become an attraction of local, regional, or provincial/national significance. If it were of local significance, annual revenue of $250,000 could be projected; if it had a regional pull the projection would be $581,000; and if it had a provincial/national draw the revenue could be almost $1 million per year.

The reason for the discrepancy with Frank Roy's conclusions are varied, but D'Arcy McKittrick argued that pricing for activities would need to be lower than Frank Roy had projected and that the potential clientele was less than Roy calculated. The problem was not so much that Frank Roy was overly optimistic in his numbers; it was more that the consultants had access to more detailed information.

For example, Ministry of Tourism figures say that each year 180,000 people visit Bon Echo Park, a prime market for the One Metre Initiative. However, as McKittrick explained, the Ministry of Tourism counts every person day in the park as a person. So a family of four that stays at the park for a week is considered as 28 people coming to the Park. For D'Arcy McKittrick, the number of actual visitors to Bon Echo is 50,000 per year.

The good news in the consultants’report is that it concludes that, even with the new numbers, the project is viable, would have a major positive impact on the local economy, would be a boon to the Land O'Lakes Tourist Region, and would be a major draw for school groups from as far away as Kingston and Ottawa.

Even the revenue projection of $250,000 is seen by D'Arcy McKittrick as enough to make the project possible.

“I think, in looking at all of the issues, including the lack of supporting infrastructure in the local region, that the positives outweigh the negatives,” McKittrick said, “and this project can have a significant catalyst effect for the township and the Land O'Lakes.”

Strong Support for Verona Medical Centre

In February, John McDougall came to Council on behalf of the Verona and District Health Services Committee of the Verona Community Association. He spoke of the Verona community’s decision to purchase the Verona Medical Centre as an incentive to attract a doctor who would take over the clinic on Dr. Dempsey’s pending retirement. McDougall noted that the province’s discontinuation of the rural doctor incentive package has added to the difficulty of attracting a doctor to the Verona clinic, which serves 2200 South Frontenac residents. One of the possibilities raised in that discussion was the development of a township health services support policy.

This week, McDougall, Don Coleman and Jim Lansdell returned to hear Council’s discussion of their proposal that the township assume ownership of the medical centre, with all expenses being covered by a lease negotiated with the doctor or doctors.

Council was unanimous in their support of the general concept, and directed the CAO to bring a detailed report on the various issues and details that would need to be addressed. All agreed that the present community association would not be expected to manage the building.

McDougall was delighted that council also seemed willing to consider matching community fundraising dollar for dollar. Tax receipts would be issued through the township. The topic of the Verona Clinic will be brought to a regular council meeting for formal decisions.

Assistance Program for Upgrading Private Lanes

Public Works Manager Segsworth advised that the township’s assistance program for upgrading private lanes had been successful, but not heavily used last year. He recommended it be repeated this year. Under the program, resident associations that apply to the township may have up to 50% of their road upgrading expenses refunded. Applicant roads will be inspected both before and after the work is done, and the roadwork has to have been fully paid for before the rebate will be issued. Segsworth emphasised that the purpose of the program is to make private lanes safely accessible to emergency vehicles, and priority will be given to those most in need of improvement. The program is for shared lanes, not driveways. Councilor Robinson expressed disapproval of the program, saying that often, some residents along a lane are unwilling to share the costs of roadwork. “We’re biting off more than we can chew,” he said.

Segsworth said the township left sharing of costs up to the road associations to sort out, and repeated that all work had to be fully completed as agreed, and paid for, before the township would give the rebate. Application deadline is July 9; complete program details are on the township website.

Annual report re waste disposal sites

Guy LaPorte of AECOM presented his annual review of the township’s waste disposal sites. All sites are environmentally monitored: the MOE has shown particular concern about the surface water impact of the Portland site, referring to it as “an island of waste.’ Deputy Mayor Vandewal reminded Council that they had agreed to set up a brush disposal site, but had not done so yet.

Sydenham Library ground-breaking ceremony set for next week; Tenders come in over budget but savings are found

By Jeff Green

All of the bids for the construction of the new Sydenham Library came in over the $1.775 million construction budget.

The lowest bid, from Emmons and Mitchell, was $1.817 million, $42,000 over budget.

Architect Gerry Shoalts and project manager Patrick Thompson came to council on Tuesday night, April 20, and proposed that $20,000 be cut from the landscaping budget, furniture be reduced by $10,000, hardware and testing by $5,000 and professional fees be cut by $7,500.

This brought the project into line with the budget, enabling council to accept the tender bid by Emmons and Mitchell.

Construction for the project is slated to straddle the date when the new HST will come into effect (July 1) and it is still unclear what this will do to costs. Township CAO Wayne Orr said he had received information from the Frontenac County Treasurer that this might cost $35,000 extra, but South Frontenac Treasurer Deb Bracken was not convinced.

In order to deal with the possibility that $35,000 in extra tax might be needed, tentative plans for the stone siding of the building to be replaced with brick siding, along with other measures, will be implemented if necessary.

With these measures in place, South Frontenac Council accepted the tender. Other bidders included Wemp and Smith ($1.825 million), Cupido ($1.93 million) and TA Andre ($2.13 million).

In his report to Council, CAO Orr noted that the “project has a very tight construction schedule” and since the formal proponent of the project is actually Frontenac County, because it was the County that applied for an infrastructure grant for the project, the approval of the tender was finalised at the monthly Frontenac County Council meeting on Wednesday, April 21.

A ground-breaking ceremony is scheduled for 11:00 am Monday, April 26, at the site of the new library (adjacent to the SF township office) The public is invited and light refreshments will be served after the ceremony.

2010 BUDGET APPROVED WITH 2% INCREASE

Council formally endorsed their 2010 budget after a public meeting. The final budget was unchanged from the one they approved at their Committee of the Whole meeting last week. It contains a 1.98% increase in the total levy to ratepayers.

Councilor John Fillion and the one member of the public who spoke argued that the South Frontenac budget should be cut back to a 1.7% decrease in the total levy to ratepayers, in line with a draft of the budget that was presented to Council two weeks ago.

Councilor Del Stowe said that he was satisfied with the increase because it meant that reserve funds were at a reasonable level, and it would be unfair to saddle a new council with depleted reserve funds and possibly the need to increase the budget.

“It might look good for us in an election year to bring in a decrease, but we would only be making a new Council have to raise taxes 6% next year. That wouldn’t be fair at all; 2% is the rate of inflation. It’s a reasonable increase,” Stowe said.

The budget passed, with John Fillion casting the dissenting vote 

Committee of Adjustment ignores planner’s recommendations

by Wilma Kenny

In January, the Planning Department received consent applications to create a total of nine new residential lots on Holleford Road. Although technically they were being created from three different existing parent parcels, the lots were so close to each other that they would form a virtual subdivision.

A 2007 groundwater study done in South Frontenac had labelled the area in question “very highly sensitive’, and the township had agreed to require hydro-geologic studies whenever development proposals came forward in these areas. The Ministry of the Environment and Cataraqui Conservation Authority both agreed that the sites needed further study, particularly in regard to location of wells and septic systems.

Despite these recommendations, on April 8 the Committee of Adjustment approved the applications with no requirement for further studies. Township Planner Mills expressed his concern to Council that the municipality could be held liable if lots were created which were not build-able, or which developed water problems.

In a 5/4 vote, Council decided not to appeal the committee’s decision.

Sustainability Committee on the Line

Councilor John Fillion introduced a motion to dissolve the Sustainability Committee, on the grounds that it was dysfunctional, non-professional and useless. Deputy Mayor Ron Vandewal and Councilor David Hahn both supported the committee, agreeing that it had dealt with a wide range of issues, including hazardous waste, recycling pickup, and amalgamation of waste management for the township. They pointed out that these have been contentious, difficult issues to implement. Mayor Gary Davison said Council had received some good information from the committee but Council hadn’t always made it work. There was general agreement that the present Sustainability Committee should continue for the remainder of Council’s term; whether it would continue after that would be left up to the next council.

Livestock Compensation Appeal Upheld

Kevin Bovey, livestock owner in Storrington district, had claimed compensation for two heifers killed by coyotes over Christmas. The township evaluator had turned down his claim on the grounds that this did not appear to be a coyote kill. Bovey appealed the decision, and the provincial valuer upheld the appeal and recommended compensation of $1,173. Deputy Mayor Vandewal noted that this was the first time he could remember an appeal being made, and pointed out that the farmer hadn’t followed procedure in reporting the kills: “This case wasn’t exactly black and white.”

In January, the township applied to the province for financial assistance to help with clearing roads after an ice storm hit the township on Boxing Day. Also in January, Stephen Seller and Warren Sleeth from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (OMMAH) came out to tour the roads and assess the situation, but indicated at that time that in their opinion the township would not qualify for assistance. However, recently they have asked the township for the final cost of the brushing, so some money may be forthcoming from OMMAH after all.

The township has been accepted into the WEEE (Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment) Program and is currently accepting, free of charge, items such as televisions, computers, monitors, fax machines, printers, etc. For a full list visit www.addingtonhighlands.ca/WEEE2.pdf

The township will apply for funding to the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Bear Wise program, which gives financial assistance for prevention projects to reduce human-bear conflicts. Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath told council that bear problems have already started at the Vennachar waste site.

Council voted to go ahead in complying with a requirement from the KFL&A Health Unit that extra sinks be installed at the Denbigh hall. Councilor Janice Kerr of the Denbigh Rec. Committee, said that the committee had hoped to defer the requirement until after they heard what is going to happen with the Denbigh Public School. The township wants to prepare an offer to purchase the school from the Limestone District School Board, in order to use it as a satellite clinic for the Lakelands Family Health Team, but has not yet heard back from the board.

In the meantime, the Health Unit’s deadline for installing the new sinks is May 26, and Kerr said the timelines were too tight to wait.

Reeve Henry Hogg attended a recent meeting of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, at which they discussed a number of their aging dams that will need replacing. Hogg told council that this would likely mean a major increase in the MVCA’s budget.