Ompah library committee still wants their 2 hours

Marily Seitz and Janice Arthur came to a meeting of North Frontenac Council this week seeking further support in their battle to restore two hours a week to service at the Ompah branch of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library.

When the Plevna branch was closed for almost two years due to mould problems in the Clar-Mill Hall where it had been housed, Ompah's hours were upped from six to 10.

“During that time frame use at the Ompah branch doubled,” said Marily Seitz.

A new Plevna branch was constructed in what had been a portable classroom at Glenburnie, which was relocated to Plevna, and the new branch includes an enhanced computer area. In order to encourage use at the Plevna branch, the library board decided to open it for 10 hours a week, and cut the Ompah branch’s hours back to four a week, two less than it had before the Plevna branch was closed.

The Ompah library users want those two hours back, but several appeals to the library board have fallen on deaf ears.

“North Frontenac Council and Frontenac County Council have sent recommendations to the library board and they have not been responded to. Two motions to reinstate two hours were rejected by the library board,” said Marily Seitz. “We feel that we are taxpayers too and we are not receiving the library services we are entitled to.”

A petition asking for a return of the hours, signed by over 100 Ompah residents, was also sent to the library board.

“What happened with the petition?” asked Councilor Fred Perry.

“The library devoted staff time to vetting the list, and they determined that only 24 of the people who signed were library members and therefore they discounted it,” said Marily Seitz.

One member of Frontenac County Council sits on the board of the Kingston Frontenac Public Library (KFPL) and the council also appoints two community members. When the new four-year community appointments were made last fall, Paige Cousineau, a member of the Ompah Library users group, was one of the appointees, along with Sydenham resident Wilma Kenny. The county council member on the library board is John Purdon from Central Frontenac.

“So what do you want done now?” asked Mayor Bud Clayton. “We could restate our position by affirming our motion asking for the hours to be reinstated, and be prepared to look at further steps.”

“I think you will have to be prepared for further steps,” said Seitz. “Library staff say it will cost $3,000 more a year for two more hours and if the library won't budget for it maybe North Frontenac can.”

Other items from North Frontenac Council -

Business Development Association formed – Councilor Betty Hunter informed council that the first meeting of a new business group has taken place. The first thing they looked at was the township’s business directory, which requires an update. More meetings are planned and Hunter said that the Addington Highlands committee might be approached to work with North Frontenac. A second meeting is planned for March 29 (see Northern Happenings).

Policing Advisory Committee: Two members of council and one member of staff attended a meeting in Smiths Falls with the OPP Regional commander Gerry Salisbury. Councilor Gerry Martin reported that he felt better informed about how the OPP is funded by local tax dollars and provincial dollars, and said that once a policing advisory committee is up and running the township may be able to have more input into the strategic planning direction at the Sharbot Lake detachment.

The township received a letter from Bob Bateman from Shabomeka Lake about maintenance on an un-maintained township road that runs between two pieces of private land that is used extensively in the summer and periodically in the winter by seasonal residents. Township CAO Cheryl Robson proposed that the township respond to Bateman with a letter stating that the township is not going to do maintenance on that piece of road and that in order for him to do it he must demonstrate that he has obtained $2 million in liability insurance. Mr. Bateman will be invited to a meeting the township is setting up with a number of residents that have issues with maintenance on pieces of un-maintained township roads.

New deputy chief: The township has appointed Denis Bedard as Deputy Fire Chief for the Ompah station.

Bear Wise: the township has applied for funding from the provincial Bear Wise program to cover most of the costs for a 2,600 square foot solar-powered electric fence to deter bears at the Plevna waste site on Buckshot Lake Road. The grant would pay $18,244, leaving about $2,000 in in-kind costs for the township, such as for brushing, removal of trees, etc. along the fence line.

Recreation bites South Frontenac Council

South Frontenac Council ploughed through a heavy agenda at their only formal council meeting this month. Then they put the brakes on public works spending in anticipation of tackling the entire public works budget next week (March 22) in the context of a draft budget that calls for a 26% increase in taxation, an increase that a number of councilors indicated they would be chopping considerably.

And just when everything on the agenda had been reconciled nicely, a dispute over recreation raised the temperature in the room.

Planning issues:

The zoning for the subdivision in Sydenham on Rutledge Road, west of Stagecoach Road, which will create 20 building lots and eight seniors’ housing units, received final approval. At a public meeting, one member of the public argued that the engineers who had prepared supporting documentation for the application regarding the water levels at the lower end of the property had underestimated the extent of the flood plain in a wet year, but council passed the zoning nonetheless. The plan of subdivision still needs to be approved for the project to move ahead.

Scott Asselstine's proposal to alter a site plan agreement with the township in order to build storage units on his car wash site on Road 38 south of Hartington was also approved, with the deadline for construction being set for October.

 A subdivision, long in dispute, on Collins Lake in Storrington, has been approved as well, after the developer and his neighbour, who farms, came to a settlement after several years of acrimony. “If they are both happy, then I am happy,” said Councilor Ron Vandewal.

Finally, the zoning was approved for an office building on Rutledge Road near Boundary Road

Council also approved a tender by Upper Canada Stone House Group for the shoring up of the bell tower at the Hartington Schoolhouse at a cost of $14,396.

Public works:

Public works Manager Mark Segsworth received Council's blessing to enter into an agreement with Ontario Electronic Stewardship, which will allow the municipality to receive a rebate for electronic waste that is properly handled and sent to an approved site. The first site to be listed under the program will be Keeley Road, but others will follow. The plan should save the township some money.

Segsworth also received approval to hook into an electronic based re-use strategy that will be housed at a new web address southfrontenacreuses.com. The site can be accessed directly or through the township’s web site. There is no cost to the township to use it for one year.

In other matters, ones where there was a cost involved, the public works manager was asked to wait until the budget is finalized.

He proposed awarding the contracts for the engineering and design of four bridges to four different consulting engineers with a view towards doing construction in 2012 or later.

The bridges in question are Clair Road Bridge #36 ($17,488 in engineering costs), Petworth Road Bridge #35 ($13,750), Maynard Bridge #48 ($22,000), and Hardwood Creek Bridge ($27,920)

“Is there any danger in us waiting until after our meeting next week before deciding to award these contracts?” asked Councilor Larry York after a number of councilors suggested they wanted to look at the entire Public Works budget before approving anything.

“I'll sleep very well until next week,” Segsworth said.

Finally, an $818,000 paving contract with Smiths Construction was also deferred until the budget.

Recreation woes – The ongoing relationship between the township, public works, the district recreation committees and the central recreation committee blew up last week over a proposal to tender the maintenance of the grounds and buildings in Portland District, leading a member of the Portland Recreation Committee to resign in anger.

Council bandied the issue around and was on the point of sending it back to the Portland Recreation Committee for clearer direction when Clerk Wayne Orr, who seemed to be feeling the heat himself, explained in detail how the decision to tender the job had come about.

Council approved tendering out the work, with both Portland councilors voting against the proposal.

Council approves Denbigh Schoolhouse ‘concept’ plan

A 14-member community advisory committee has put together a plan for the redevelopment of the former Denbigh Schoolhouse as a community hub.

The concept plan, which was accepted in principle by Addington Highlands Council at a meeting on February 23, is anchored by a medical clinic, which will be constructed this spring and occupied as a satellite clinic by the Lakelands Family Health Team.

Currently the Family Health Team (FHT) is offering services in the former administrative offices in the building, and no other renovations to the building will happen until the FHT clinic is completed and occupied in the space that at one time was occupied by four classrooms.

The main elements of the concept plan are: to relocate the Denbigh library to a new location across the hallway from the medical clinic; to maintain use of the gym in the building and add banquet facilities to it; and to build a 390 square foot kitchen adjacent to the gym.

Other possible uses that could be housed in the facility are an ambulance base, which would have to be constructed as an addition to the building; a potential drop-in centre / coffee area / gift shop next to the library; a meeting room-classroom; space for the local food bank; and two or three possible locations for commercial office or retail space.

In addition to fitting all of these possible uses into the building, the advisory committee has put together a sequential implementation plan. The building will be called the Addington Highlands Community Centre – Denbigh (AHCC – Denbigh).

According to Addington Highlands Council member Tony Fritsch, who chaired the Community Advisory Committee, the 14-member group “really bonded well as a group to come up with this concept plan. We wanted to then look at the way the project could move forward so the committee, and the community, can see that this will take time, and commitment, to come to life. We didn't want the community to expect everything to be built this spring or summer.”

Among the first priorities is changing the entrance to the building so that is accessed off Highway 28, which involves a new doorway and parking area. The gym will then be oriented to the front entrance. It will not take that much to being the gym back into use, and it is hoped that will happen by the fall of this year. Giving the gym the capacity to function as a large meeting hall will be the next step. To give it the ability to serve as a banquet hall will take longer, because it will require the construction of a 390 square foot kitchen, which will take time and money. The tentative date for the kitchen construction is the fall of 2012.

Moving the library is a priority for this year, and with the effort of the library board it is envisioned that a design and cost estimate can be completed in time for a Trillium Fund application at the end of June. If that application is successful and all the necessary funding can be put in place, construction could start this fall or early in 2012.

The idea of moving the Denbigh ambulance base, however, is something that will be decided by Lennox and Addington County. The emergency services department of the county, which runs the ambulance service, will be looking at the building, and if an addition is built to accommodate an ambulance base adjacent to the clinic, it would be funded by the county. That would be a decision of L&A County Council.

Other potential commercial uses of the building are dependent on business people coming forward with investment proposals.

It is unclear at this point what impact the concept plan will have on the 2011 Addington Highlands budget, which will be considered by council later this month. Money could be put in reserve for the project if council decides to do so.

One thing the advisory committee did not do is make any recommendations regarding the existing Denbigh Hall. The committee did make the following statement, however, in their final report: “There is a strong attachment to the Community Hall. As the AHCC evolves over the next couple of years, it will become more apparent as to the options for this hall.”

One other thing that interested the committee was the idea of seniors' housing. Although the committee quickly realized this initiative would involve a completely separate facility and was thus out of their scope at this time, the community interest in this could lead to a new process.

Other items from Addington Highlands Council – Council met for what ended up being one of the shortest meetings on record in Flinton on Monday, March 7. Reeve Henry Hogg had to leave early, and the agenda was light, so the meeting took less than 15 minutes (normally meetings range from 60 – 90 minutes).

Eythel Grant, the township appointee to Quinte Conservation, reported on a recent meeting. He said that Quinte had considered whether the Flinton dam would be a suitable location for a micro-hydro project, but the up front capital costs would outstrip potential revenues.

Deerock, Deerrock - Quinte calls the whole thing off Eythel Grant said that he had brought the Deerrock signage issue, a pet peeve of Councilor Helen Yanch, to the attention of Quinte staff. All of Quinte Conservation's signage and mapping used Deerock, and Yanch has pointed out for several years that the Lake is named Deer Rock not Dee Rock.

Grant reported that Quinte Conservation “will be looking at the historical record to see what the lake was called in the past, and in any event will not be making any changes until they do new mapping.”

“They can look as hard as they want,” said Yanch, “but it is called Deer rock.”

Central Frontenac facing 13.7% tax increase

Central Frontenac Council went over the Fire, Public Works, and Planning Department budgets with senior staff in some detail at a budget session this week, but they did not get down to making any cuts to the various proposed expenditures.

Efforts to cut the budget may come at the next session on March 22, or at subsequent meetings in April.

As it stands now, the proposed budget calls for $5.77 million in taxation this year, up by $700,000 or 13.7% from 2010, a year which also saw a double digit increase for local services in Central Frontenac.

Among the items discussed in the fire budget was a new $250,000 tanker, which is being purchased over time. $60,000 will be paid towards it this year. Council also put $15,000 aside, to be funded through surpluses in other budgets or reserve funds if there are no surpluses, towards a new fire hall in Parham.

Knowing there was a budget problem, Township Chief Administrator John Duchene asked Public Works Manager Mike Richardson to trim $850,000 from the public works budget. Richardson did this by deferring a planned culvert project in Crow Lake and the purchase of two tandem trucks. Richardson had already informed council that he was not planning on taking on any large road projects this year, focusing instead on equipment replacement. The budget still includes two backhoes, and equipment to repair pot holes on surface treated roads.

In his notes on the budget, John Duchene accounted for $622,000 of the $700,000 increase. Increased costs for inflation ($135,000), a deficit carried over from 2010 ($210,000), a reduction in provincial operating grants ($128,000), and increases in insurance premiums and loan payments ($64,000 each) are the largest items.

“Are we headed in the direction?” asked CAO Duchene.

At least one councilor did not think so.

“This is not acceptable,” said Councilor Norm Guntensperger, “not even close to it. I think we need to aim way lower than that. At least that’s my opinion.”

Clear bags coming to Central Frontenac Waste Sites

Clear bags, which are being touted by the township’s Waste Management Committee as a way to increase recycling levels, were approved by the Central Frontenac Committee of the Whole this week.

Some details may change when the clear bag provision comes to council as part of a comprehensive waste management bylaw later this month, but as of now the township plans to sell the bags at local outlets. The bags will include the township logo, and the township will stop selling bag tags.

“One of the advantages of doing it this way is that it will bring full time and seasonal residents to local stores, and while they are there they might purchase milk or bread, all of which is good for the local economy,” said Mayor Gutowski, who supported the proposal.

John Purdon, a member of the Waste Management Committee, said that over the last three years the township has recovered an average of 221 tons of recyclable material per year out of 1650 tons of waste, a 13% diversion rate.

“This puts us way behind several of our neighbours, such as North Frontenac, Addington Highlands, Stone Mills and Westport, all of which use clear bags. The diversion goal in Ontario is 60%. We’ve got a long way to go,” said Purdon.

“The problem I have is that unless we are going to police clear bags then all we are doing is trying to guilt the people into recycling. People won’t change their ways unless there is some penalty. I would like to support this but until now it has only looked like change for the sake of change,” said Councilor Frances Smith.

“The reality is that you are trying to get 90% compliance with this kind measure. There are always 10% who just don’t care, but I tell the dump attendants not to get discouraged because the 90% can make a difference,” said Public Works Manager Mike Richardson.

While Frances Smith and Deputy Mayor Tom Dewey both expressed their misgivings about the plan, when it came to a vote everyone supported it.

The roll out of clear bags could take a year.

The comprehensive waste management bylaw has been in the works for several years.

Golf course and complex proposed for Hollywood Farm

by Julie Druker

Sharbot Lake resident Rudy Hollywood and his business associate Rick Beasley presented to council Mr. Hollywood's hopes of developing the 150-year-old, 200 acre Hollywood family farm located at the corner of Road 38 and Shibley Road near Sharbot Lake into an “active lifestyle adult housing complex and 18 hole golf course”.

In a letter to council Mr. Hollywood outlined his desire to “create a lasting legacy for the Hollywood family while also supporting the community with a development that would be a major attraction for golfers and tourists ...and one that would also offer alternative housing to those wishing to retire to and/or remain in Central Frontenac.”

Beasley said to council that the development would not only attract people from all over Canada to the area but would also create a number of long and short term jobs in the community and would greatly benefit existing local businesses as well as the township through a newly created group of tax payers.

In order to pursue research into the development, Mr. Hollywood has formed the Hollywood Legacy Corporation and as its president came to council not just to inform them of his proposal but also to request their consideration in making a section of township-owned land adjacent to the Hollywood property available to him. He added that the purchased lands would not be used for homes but either for the golf course, storage and/or maintenance facilities.

Following the presentation Councilor Purdon pointed out that the Crow Lake waste site is located near the property under consideration.

“The waste site requires a 500 meter zone of influence around it that would have to be respected. An environmental assessment and or impact study will be required before any development can take place,” he said

Mayor Gutowski said more information will definitely be required but overall she is impressed with the proposal and the potential it holds for jobs, revenues and additional housing in the township.

Council passed a motion accepting the information and requesting that staff be directed to obtain an opinion from the municipal planner and waste site engineering consultants regarding the feasibility of the use of the township-owned lands adjacent to the Hollywood property.

Lane Name Change

After considering a number of options put forth by CAO John Duchene regarding the renaming of Waller Lane and Conner Road. A proposal to rename Waller Lane, Waller/Conner Lane was defeated in a 4-4 vote. Council then put forth a second motion - to keep the current name, Waller Lane. This was passed, ending an 8-year debate. Mayor Gutowski stated that council’s decision was made primarily to meet emergency services safety concerns.

Solar Panel Project Proceeds

Council passed a motion to proceed with the preparation of an RFP for the installation of a $70,000 10kWh micro-FIT solar panel project on the District 3 fire hall. The project will carry on independently of the 2011 budget and potential financing arrangements, including grants are to be pursued for the project. The pay back period is estimated at 6 years with an annual return of $12,000 and with Hydro One paying 80.2 cents/kWh.

New Chief Building Official appointed

Jeremy Neven was officially appointed as the township’s new chief building official. He lives in Battersea and has been working for Tackaberry Construction where his most recent position was as head of the company’s design team.

Photo: Seniors’ advocate Christine McMillan

In an effort to get feedback from the grass roots on the Ministry of Health and Long Term Care's recommendations for rural and northern health care for seniors, Christine McMillan, who is on the board of the Kingston and Frontenac Council on Aging and who also chairs the Council on Aging Network of Ontario, held a public consultation at the Sydenham town hall on March 1.

The meeting was sparsely attended but those who did show up had a chance to respond to the government recommendations on health care for seniors in rural areas and to voice other concerns that might have been missed. “Our goal is to see if these recommendations will indeed help seniors in these rural communities, but it is also to identify other issues that might have been overlooked and then come up with innovative solutions to address them,” McMillan said.

Those present agreed with 10 of the 12 recommendations, which included: establishing and integrating innovative human health resources; increasing the integration of Emergency Medical Services (land and air) and Public Health Services at the provincial and regional levels; supporting local hubs of health; improving collaboration among health providers in referral networks; including local communities in the decision making process with the Local Health Integration Networks (LHIN) regarding health issues and issues of capacity; targeting improvements in all aspects of inter facility transfers; reviewing community based non-urgent transportation solutions; and improving provincial information management, as well as clinical and education technology availability.

Issues brought up by the public that were not addressed in the recommendations included: improving the availability of various medical therapists, increasing the public awareness of health care providers, increasing the availability of preventive medicine, and increasing funding for wellness programs.

Some innovative ideas were also suggested, including encouraging medical professionals from Kingston Military College to also serve the rural communities.

McMillan is well versed in the ins and outs of the government health programs and has worked on the Council on Aging for years advocating for seniors on a number of issues. Roughly five years ago the council made a presentation to the government highlighting the fact that many seniors would not have pensions when they retired. “We told the government that no matter how much these workers try to save independently they would never have enough to support them in their retirement. We suggested a voluntary government-sponsored pension program, which is now going to be established.” The council also started up a program of supported living for seniors in Kingston. The successful program now supports 49 seniors in a Kingston building with three in-house personal support workers and a regular meal program run through St. Lawrence College. The program costs the government just $15 per day per person.

For anyone wanting their issues addressed,

McMillan will be holding another public consultation in Sharbot Lake area in the near future. Watch the Northern Happenings for a listing. The recommendations gained from these public consultations will be passed along to the South east LHIN, and the Ministry of Health.

26% tax increase in South Frontenac draft budget

South Frontenac Chief Administrative Officer Wayne Orr tried to ease members of council into his preliminary budget presentation at a meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Tuesday night, March 8.

“Last year the tax increase was minimal,” he said. “I’ll call that one an election year budget. Council was well aware of the significant draws on reserve funds that were used to keep the tax increase to 2% in 2010. This year it will not be as easy.”

Orr said that staff were given instructions by council to prepare three budgetary options: a bare bones budget, a budget to reflect the needs of the township, and an ideal budget that would set the township up for the future.

“We never got to the last two options,” he said, “because the base budget still requires a significant increase.”

Projected revenues from grants and other sources are down by $4.1 million this year, Orr said, and while projected expenditures are down as well, by over $1.5 million, that still leaves a shortfall of $2.6 million, which translates into a 26% increase in the amount of money that needs to be raised through taxes.

“The reality is that we have been funding ourselves with money that we’ve saved for a rainy day. We could say it is time to face the music,” he said.

In terms of options to reduce the increase, Orr noted that council could opt to reduce service levels; they could decide to increase the garbage charge from $100 to $150; or they could consider deferring road projects.

The roads budget accounts for over $5 million, about half the overall budget.

Wayne Orr reminded council that the roads rehabilitation plan, which was approved by council last year, calls for that amount of spending. “In order to narrow the gap between where the roads are now and where they should be. If we cut into that, we will only widen that gap,” he said.

Council will not receive the detailed budget until next week, and will go over it on March 22, but members of council did have a few things to say in light of the proposed 26% tax increase.

“Maybe this is the time we need to consider a user-pay garbage system,” said Councilor Ron Vandewal, “but I really would like to see all of this on paper. I’ve got to see all the numbers before I can decide for myself if this is really the way to go.”

“I agree with Ron,” said Councilor Larry York. “We need to see some figures on paper. We do have a strong pubic works budget. I think we might look a little more long term at some of that work.”

“I have some concerns about comparing budget numbers to 2010 because it was a funny year with all that federal grant money,” said Councilor Del Stowe. “I’d like to compare costs to the 2009 budget.”

Wayne Orr said he fully expects council to look for savings when the budget is set before them in detail.

“There was no expectation from staff that you were gong to say ‘job well done’, let’s go with this,” Wayne Orr said.

“Any further comments?” asked Mayor Davison after a relatively short, low-key discussion took place.

“I think everybody is still in shock. I know I am,” he concluded.

User pay for fire department emergency service

South Frontenac Fire Chief Rick Cheseborough presented an amended version of a bylaw that enables the township to bill insurance companies when the fire department is called out to motor vehicle accidents.

The proposed amendment would allow the township to reverse those charges in cases where no insurance claim was filed by the driver in an accident as long as they receive a letter of confirmation from the insurance company.

The amendment is a response to a complaint by a member of the public who received a bill of $1,600 from the township one year after his car slid into a ditch and the fire department was called in to help out. The man did not submit an insurance claim for the incident and has been billed for the cost of equipment use and the hourly pay for firefighters.

“I’m troubled with the whole concept of this,” said Deputy Mayor Mark Tinlin. “If I slip off the road and then someone else calls in the accident, I can’t ration how much equipment comes out, how much personnel comes out. But yet I pay, or my insurance companies pays, even though I already pay for the fire department through my taxes. I’m not supportive of this on any level. I’ll oppose this when it comes to council for a vote,” said Deputy Mayor Mark Tinlin.

Fire Chief Rick Cheseborough reported that other municipalities charge similar fees for motor vehicle accidents.

“This is not something we came up with on our own. Kingston does it; so does the province,” he said.

$114,000 was billed to insurance companies by South Frontenac for fire services at motor vehicle accidents in 2010, of which $60,000 has been collected thus far.

Also at South Frontenac Committee of the Whole

Council received a report on the cost of bringing township water to a proposed office development at the Silverbrook Garden Centre Property on Rutledge Road. A zoning change request has been waiting for third reading pending council receiving the information. The cost of extending Sydenham water another 450 metres to the site would be $400,000.

“That’s obviously more than we can charge the applicant,” said Councilor Ron Vandewal, “but we have to decide as a council if we are gong to expand Sydenham water or leave it the way it is. If the municipality wants the water system to grow it has to shove it out there and make it happen. It takes a commitment. I know it’s a big step but if you never take the step you will never get the growth.”

“I don’t think we should have this debate over this single proposal,” said Councilor Allan McPhail, “but we should look at this.”

In the end the zoning bylaw will go forward to the next council meeting for approval with no requirement that the proposed Silverbrook development be hooked up to Sydenham water.

LOLTA looking to community revitalization -

The Land O'Lakes Tourism Association (LOLTA) has been serving a diverse group of tourism-related member businesses in Frontenac and L&A Counties and the Municipality of Tweed for over 60 years.

It receives funding from membership fees and contributions from local municipalities, and periodically runs granting programs from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Rural Affairs - Rural Economic Development Program (OMAFRA-RED).

Currently, a program that is tied in to the provincial government’s priority of accessibility for physically handicapped people, the “Accessible Wilderness” initiative, is helping to fund construction of accessible infrastructure for LOLTA members.

As that program winds down later this year, LOLTA is looking towards a new two-year “community revitalization” initiative. This idea is currently being floated to member municipalities.

In a letter from LOLTA General Manager Ken Hook that made the rounds of local councils over the last two months, the tourist association asked some easy questions, and one harder one.

First, the easy ones. Would the townships welcome LOLTA creating a full-time position of Community Events/Festival Co-ordinator “to help retain and develop new events and festivals in the nine municipalities that we serve” at no cost to the municipalities?

As far as community revitalization projects are concerned, Ken Hook asked the townships to identify projects that they would consider supporting, which amounts to putting together a bit of a wish list for local communities.

Then the costing questions came in. First the councils were asked if they would be willing to contribute 60% of the costs for identified projects, and then they were asked, “Over a two-year program, what dollar amount would you be interested in obtaining?”

At North Frontenac Council, this last question was problematic.

“How do we answer this?” asked Mayor Bud Clayton. “Does it mean we have to commit money in this year's budget?”

“There might be money that we already spend that would count towards our 60%,” said Treasurer/Administrator Cheryl Robson. “The letter mentions upgrades to community facilities, even ones that are going to be required anyway under new legislation.”

Robson suggested that Cory Klatt, the recreation/facilities co-ordinator for the township, contact Ken Hook and find out what counts as a municipal project.

When contacted, Ken Hook provided some clarification about the money question. LOLTA is not looking for any kind of formal budgetary commitment at this point.

“We just want to have some idea about how much the townships might be looking at spending, just so we know how much to apply to OMAFRA for,” said Hook. “There is no financial commitment involved at this early stage.”

Police Advisory Committee for North Frontenac – Mayor Clayton advised council that he has contacted representatives of the OPP from the Sharbot Lake and Kaladar detachments to participate in a community policing advisory committee, which is set to meet in May and September of this year, and about three times a year thereafter. There were five applicants from the public seeking to represent the township on the committee.

Frontenac County Strategic Planning Day -

Councilor Inglis made a report on the outcome of a strategic planning day that had taken place on February 23 at the Frontenac County offices. The eight-member county council was joined by eight county staff members in a six-hour session that was led by Rob Wood, an outside facilitator. Inglis and Mayor Clayton are the North Frontenac council members on the county body.

“The county basically runs two large operations, the Frontenac Land Ambulance Service and the Fairmount Home,” said John Inglis, “but that was not what we talked about yesterday.”

Inglis said that the day focussed instead on some of the initiatives that are included in the “Directions For Our Future” booklet that was produced in conjunction with the county’s sustainability plan two years ago.

“We came to a list of six or seven items that we want to proceed on,” said Inglis. “It was a good session over all. One of the biggest pushes seems to be for a county Official Plan.”

“There is a real push for that,” agreed Mayor Clayton. Clayton said that Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski and County Warden / South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison both seemed supportive of the idea.

North Frontenac Clerk/Planning Co-ordinator Brenda Defosse was surprised by this development. “A few years ago the county had a choice between doing an Official Plan or an ICSP (Integrated Community Sustainability Plan) in order to decide how to spend the gas tax money they receive. They decided on the ICSP. Now they want an Official Plan. I don't understand that,” she said.

“They seem to want one,” said Bud Clayton.

John Inglis has posted an account of the session on his blog site “JohnInglis.net”. In the blog post he makes reference to some of the negative perceptions about Frontenac County that prevail at the township level.

He also wrote the following more optimistic comment: “On the other hand, there is a dedicated and talented staff available down there in Glenburnie, and they do need a direction. There seems to be a feeling around the council table that this new group of eight people is working better than expected. No fights, no lines of division, many different ideas, not even a split of power between mayors and second members,”

Ompah ambulance/fire hall question going back to Frontenac County – Mayor Clayton said that the question of how to sort out a cost sharing agreement between Frontenac County and the township for construction of an ambulance base/fire hall in Ompah will be going back to Frontenac County Council in March.

The county and the township agreed on the joint project last February, but the project has been delayed. The township balked at a county directive to hire a project manager for the building, and to make it compliant with the LEED Energy/Environmental standards. The township has now agreed to both of those conditions, leaving one remaining matter to resolve: who will pay what percentage of the costs?

Brian Steel from the Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association, supported by a number of members of his executive, presented a letter (Central Frontenac Softball) to council in response to a presentation that was made by Cory Thompson at the previous council meeting.

Thompson had asked if the township would be able to extend insurance for an alternative softball league that would hold games only in the township and not travel to locations in South Frontenac, and would be mainly for children in Mountain Grove and Arden.

Brian Steel explained that the association would prefer to set up a league that was exclusively local, but the numbers of kids registering made it impossible to do so.

“If another league starts up do you think it will have a negative effect on the number of kids your league attracts?” asked Councilor Frances Smith.

“Dramatically,” said Brian Steel, “I feel that if this continues it is only gong to bring about confusion. Parents won’t know what to do or who to join; it will have a profound effect on both groups.”

Steel was not asking council for anything in particular. “I just wanted council to be informed about what is going on,” he said.

On a positive note, Brian Steel also reported to council that the softball association has been talking with the Central Frontenac Soccer Association about ensuring that the soccer and softball seasons do not overlap this year, which would encourage more athletes to play in both leagues.

Cory Thompson was present at the meeting. He talked informally with members of council when the meeting ended.

Afterwards, he said that he is considering running something that is less formal than a league to avoid interfering with the softball association, perhaps more of a weekly family-oriented baseball game to be held at different parks in the township throughout the summer.

“A lot of kids, especially in Arden, aren’t playing ball at all. I want to get them to come out and have fun playing in a low-key atmosphere,” he said, “and once they learn the game and get some skills they might want to join the softball league. We want more kids playing ball, not less,” Thompson said.

Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association

Submitted by Brian Steel

We need to hear your voice, Central Frontenac. Register your children with the established Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association (CFMSA). We, the executive members of the CFMSA acknowledge there is a desire to play softball locally. We have an established policy that we adhere to regarding local play. That policy is and always will be that if there are enough registered children in a particular age group, we will embrace local play as a viable option. And we will love it.

Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association is a part of the Softball Ontario program, which establishes the fundamentals for a safe, fun experience for our children of all ages. Softball Ontario has a proven record of success from amateur sports all the way up to the Olympics. As an amateur organization, we have an obligation to maintain professional standards in safety. Those standards range from maintaining proper equipment, catchers’ gear, bases and home plate, softballs, even flour for the lines, utilizing registered umpires and above all having proper insurance to protect the future of our children. One injury can change a child’s life forever. Their safety also hinges upon organizing the children into proper age groups.

Successful management of the CFMSA unfortunately requires money, since we are a volunteer-driven, not-for-profit organization. In the season of 2010, the executive had $5,784 of operating costs to cover. Some of our expenses were covered by the generosity of the following:

John Lowery Memorial Fund; Robinson and Associates; Sharbot Lake Home Hardware; Ram’s Esso; Joe and Marg’s Parham; Wayne Bush; Anonymous.

On behalf of the executive, we thank all of you for your continued support.

President: Brian D. Steel; Vice-President: Shawn Craven; Secretary: Lesley Smith-Merrigan; Treasurer: Sherry Whan

Raise your voice Central Frontenac. We need to hear from you. Registration for the established Central Frontenac Minor Softball Association will be held in your area very soon.

A few months ago, enthused by some improvements to the sidewalks and roadways in the middle of the village, Arden resident Dorothy Proctor issued a challenge to her fellow Ardenites to come together and try to revitalize the village.

That led to a public meeting in November, which drew over 70 people to share ideas and plans for the future.

A follow-up meeting last week, on Thursday, February 17, drew 60 people according to Adrian O’Connell, one of the organizers.

“The turnout for the second meeting is encouraging,” O’Connell said, “and there is a bit of a concern that these meetings not become talking shops or that people go off and start doing things that overlap with things that others are doing, or that the township should be doing.”

To counter that possibility, a set of small committees has been formed to move different initiatives forward. The committees include: maps and signage (chaired by Art Dunham); clean up and property standards (Jim Duthie); coffee shop/store (Janina Fisher); and public works (Glen Matson).

A couple of projects that are aimed at enhancing the tourism potential of Arden were discussed at the meeting, including constructing a covered walking bridge and the possibility of development of a 400 + acre site off the Arden Pit Road as a recreational area. The property, which is known as the Arden Canyon, was purchased by Kennebec Township years ago, and Glen Matson has kept the idea of doing something with it ever since he was the Reeve of Kennebec. Pictures of the property were shown to those attending the meeting. It includes a picturesque gorge, hence the moniker, Arden Canyon.

Expansion of the role of the Arden and the Arts concept is also being looked at.

Terry Kennedy, the chairperson of the Kennebec Lake Association, is another of the members of what he calls “the start up group”.

“Each of the committees has picked something they will be trying to accomplish right away, to keep up the momentum,” Kennedy said.

A delegation will be going to a meeting of Central Frontenac Council next month to keep council apprised of what is being planned in the short and medium term.

The two Kenebec ward councilors, Jeff Matson and Tom Dewey, attended the meeting, as did Mayor Janet Gutowski.

Another public meeting will likely be called in June, at which time Kennedy said it might be time to form a formal steering committee for what has this far been an informal process. 

Public works favouring equipment over paving in 2011 

In presenting his proposals for the 2011 Public Works budget, Central Frontenac Works Manager Mike Richardson said that by virtue of stimulus funding grant money over the last two years, the township has done a lot of road work and surface treatment projects.

“This year I propose we address our equipment needs, which have been growing, and focus on road maintenance, and take a break from expensive reconstruction projects,” Richardson said.

He proposes purchasing two one-ton flatbed sander/plow trucks at a cost of $62,500 each; two tandem trucks at a cost of $200,000 each; two backhoes at a cost of $120,000 each; a hot box machine for fixing potholes at $25,000; a pavement edger for $7,000; and a steamer for $12,000.

“The resulting budget is slightly more than double the normal amount we spend on equipment, which is $350,000,” said Richardson, “but what it would do is bring us back into line with our equipment replacement schedule. If we fall any further behind, we will be digging a hole that will be expensive to get out of in future years.”

In 2010, the township spent $363,000 on equipment although only $240,000 was budgeted. Richardson’s proposed cost for 2011 is $841,000, an increase of over $500,000.

In order to balance the Public Works budget, major road construction projects are restricted to a $280,000 expenditure to replace the Crow Lake Road bridge at the railroad tracks. Last year over $2 million was spent on road and bridge projects, although many of them were 2/3 funded by grant money.

The overall proposed road and bridge repair and maintenance budget for 2011 is $5.3 million, down from $5.9 million in 2010.

Waste bylaw – easy stuff passed, clear bags debate left for next meeting

Council quickly approved a number of changes to the waste management system in the township. They approved new site hours, and approved accepting tires at all three sites, e-waste at the Wemp Road site only, and white goods and appliances with freon at no charge.

Council also agreed to close the waste sites on Good Friday, Canada Day and Thanksgiving Monday. Historically the sites have been quiet on those days, and this will give some extra holiday time to site attendants. Council also agreed to continue the practice of one free truckload of waste per property owner per year.

“You’ll notice I did not include the clear bag issue this time around,” said Richardson. “That will require some debate and I wanted to get the other housekeeping issues out of the way first. The waste management committee will be meeting on Thursday and will decide whether to recommend clear bags to the next Councilmeeting.

“Can I recommend to the waste management committee that they communicate clear reasoning as to why they are recommending clear bags - if indeed that is what they do?” asked Mayor Gutowski. “It will help us to decide.”

Garrison Shores – The township approved the latest proposed plan of condominium for the ill-fated Garrison Shores Property owners, who have been seeking legal deeds to their properties for 30 years.

The plan includes provisions which state that because of the state of some of the roads at Garrison Shores, the township does not guarantee that fire and emergency personnel will be able to answer emergency calls on the properties.

“That’s not to say volunteers would not make every effort to get in there,” said the mayor.

“Some of those roads are simply impassable for our equipment,” said Planning Coordinator Cathy MacMunn.

The plan will now be forwarded to Frontenac County for consideration.

Parham Canteen – Chief Administrative Officer John Duchene reported that in the opinion of the District 4 Recreation Committee and the acting Chief Building Official Alan Revill, the canteen at the Parham Fairgrounds is not worth fixing.

He asked for approval to have a carpenter remove the roof and trusses and have the works department demolish the building. The rec. committee will be devoting their 2011 budget to replacing the building this year.

Council approved the demolition.