Central and South Frontenac townships are both coming into the modern age when it comes to waste management.

Both townships have held committee meetings over the past couple of years to design new processes for dealing with different streams of materials, from glass and plastic, to tires, electronic and hazardous waste, and household garbage.

Waste Diversion Ontario, which supplies rebates to municipalities based on the amount of recycled materials they collect as compared to the amount that ends up in landfill, has required that a “waste cycling strategy” be developed. Mark Segsworth, the Public Works Manager in South Frontenac, and Mike Richardson, who holds the same job in Central Frontenac, have both taken this requirement as the catalyst for revamping and modernizing the entire waste management systems in their townships.

Segsworth will be releasing his draft plan next week, and Mike Richardson presented his to Central Frontenac Council on Tuesday.

Richardson’s 40-page report, which takes as its starting the 16 recommendations from a Waste Management task force that completed its work in 2007, will be considered by members of council over the next two weeks.

“I know that some of these measures are going to be controversial,” said Mike Richardson. “Waste issues often are, so I want members of council to read the recommendations and send me their comments. If there are parts of the new waste management bylaw that council cannot agree on, I don’t think that should stop us from making those changes that council can accept now. At least that way we will have a current bylaw.”

Among the measures that are not likely to cause much disagreement are proposals to have the township accept household appliances, including fridges with freon still intact, at no charge.

The most controversial aspect of the plan is the recommendation that clear bags, with the township name on them, be sold to residents in place of the bag tags that are currently for sale. If implemented, this would mean that all waste in the township would have to be brought to the waste sties in clear bags, and waste attendants would refuse to allow any materials that can be diverted from the waste stream to go into landfill.

Proposed tipping fees include $1 for a 30” by 38” clear bag, and $2 for a 38” by 50” bag.

Before making any final decisions about changes to waste management, the township is seeking public opinion. A simple survey has been prepared by Golde and Associates, the township’s waste management consultant. The survey will be available on the township website late this week, and for News readers living in Central Frontenac, a copy of the survey has been inserted into this newspaper. Residents are asked to complete the survey and return it to the township office.

Mike Richardson’s complete report is available on the township website as well.

Budget process under way: Council looked at some preliminary numbers for the Information Technology, corporate and financial services, council, and recreation budgets at their meeting this week.

Treasurer Judy Gray, attending her final meeting before her retirement at the end of the week, again warned council that they will be facing a shortfall because of a cut in the Ontario Municipal Partnership Funding that the township receives from the province, and the fact that the township’s reserve funds have been depleted.

The recreation capital budgets include requests for improvements to facilities in each of the four districts as recommended by members of the four district recreation committees. Included in the request for new money are totals for spending that was included in last year’s budget but was never done by the committees.

“We wanted to show a commitment to projects over a long term, even if they cannot be completed in one year,” said township CAO John Duchene.

“Have those budgeted funds been held over in a reserve fund?” asked Councilor Frances Smith.

“Not this year,” said Judy Gray, “because our overall spending was higher than we budgeted, so we ran a deficit.”

“So it’s not real money,” said Smith.

In total, the District 1 (Kennebec) Rec. committee proposes $32,700 in spending, $2,600 of which is left over from uncompleted 2010 projects. The largest part of that request is $20,000 for the playground at the Arden ball field to be replaced. $6,200 is also requested for repairs to the Henderson Hall.

In District 2 (Olden) $41,500 is being requested, including $11,700 that was budgeted but not spent last year, and $5,000 from District 2 Recreation reserve funds. The largest project being contemplated is the construction of a new ball field near the Mountain Grove Fire Hall at a cost of $32,000.

In Ward 3 (Oso) $30,500 is being requested, including $7,350 in unspent funds from last year. Some large projects are included: $7,000 for a wood stove and chimney at the Crow Lake Hall, $6,000 for docks at the Sharbot Lake beach, and $9,000 for painting and refinishing the floors of the Oso Hall

The District 4 (Hinchinbrooke) request is the largest at $64,300. Of that, $4019 was budgeted last year but not spent, and $5,000 is slated to be drawn from District 4 Recreation reserve funds. The largest part of the funding request is for improvements to the Parham Fairgrounds and ball field: $25,000 for a new canteen/washrooms, $14,000 to enlarge the existing playground, and $6,000 for new bleachers.

South Frontenac Council seemed receptive to a proposal for a new 2,600 square foot 10-unit commercial storage facility on the two-acre site of the car wash near Hartington that is owned by Scott Asselstine.

However, several councilors expressed the concern that Scott Asselstine has not yet complied with a site plan agreement that he signed with the township when he was seeking a zoning amendment for the car wash. Among other things, that site plan required that a berm be constructed at the south-west edge of the property, which is where the proposed storage building will be located.

“Essentially, the building will accomplish what the berm was intended to accomplish - block the light from the car wash for the neighbours to the south,” said Lindsay Mills, the township’s in-house planner.

 “Now that he’s switching from a berm to a building, what’s to stop him from dong nothing and coming back in three years with another plan?” asked Councilor Del Stowe.

“That’s why in my report, under ‘Further Recommendations’, there is a provision for a security to be submitted to the township prior to the zoning bylaw being passed,” said Lindsay Mills.

The proposed bylaw says “If neither the new building nor the berm, fencing and landscaping is constructed by June 30, 2011, the township would use the security to do the work to construct the berm, fence and landscaping.”

While Scott Asselstine was not able to attend the meeting, Linda Stewart, one of the neighbours of the car wash, did address council. She said, “I recognise that the building can become a buffer, providing there is no lighting at the back of it.”

“We can make that part of the agreement,” Mills said.

Mayor Davison then told Linda Stewart that the township is responsible for the original agreement being left un-enforced. “We were a bit remiss in not having our people follow up. I agree we dropped the ball. We won’t this time,” he said.

The council accepted the planning report for information and will consider the zoning amendment bylaw at a future meeting.

Offices near Sydenham – Council considered a bylaw to allow the zoning for a 3,040 square foot building to accommodate 11 offices on the same site as the Silverbrook Garden Centre on the edge of Sydenham village.

While the proposal was favoured by council, passage of the bylaw was delayed to allow for a consideration of the cost of extending public water to the site.

Councilor Ron Vandewal said, “We should at least find out what the cost would be to extend the water system that far. I wouldn’t ask the developer to pay the whole cost; we could cost share if it is viable. We should at least price it out before passing this.”

Waste recycling strategy – Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth appeared before council briefly to give a heads up that a proposed waste diversion strategy will be presented to council in draft form at the next meeting, on February 15. “In order to receive funding from Waste Diversion Ontario for the amount of material we recycle in our Blue Box program, we need to have a strategy for an integrated waste management system and we will be coming forward with one to the next meeting,” he said.

He also said he plans to solicit public comment through the township’s website and work is being done on a South Frontenac Reuses website as well.

In May, the township plans to open a permanent hazardous waste disposal site, and an e-waste disposal site is in the early planning stages.

Library sign – Council agreed that a sign in front of the new library will say Public Library instead of Kingston Frontenac Public Library, for reasons of simplicity.

Meetings – Council will not be meeting on March 1 because a number of councilors will be at the Good Roads conference in Toronto. There will be a Committee of the Whole meeting on March 8, a council meeting on the 15th, and budget deliberations on March 22 and 29.

Media chastised – At the end of the meeting Councilor John McDougall asked leave for what he called “some silliness”. He said he took exception to one line in a column that appeared in a rival newspaper by a writer whose name we cannot mention for reasons of professional courtesy, but whose initials are CB (as in Craig Bakay). The line in question went something like, “Let’s face it, no one comes to Frontenac County to shop”.

McDougall then read out an extended ode to the retail establishments in South Frontenac, which waxed poetic about the impressive number and variety of services and goods on offer.

We leave our readers with a small sample from McDougall’s writings: “If you didn’t buy your appliance at Trousdale’s or Verona Rona, you paid too much”

He concluded by saying, “if you can’t get it in South Frontenac, you don’t need it.

Members of council cheered, and CB joined in the ovation.

Another tough year ahead for Central Frontenac budget

It may not be any easie for Central Frontenac Councl to avoid a tax increase this year than it was last year, when the increase in the amount of money that was levied to ratepayers for township delivered services increased by $532,000, almost 11%, and the overall increase in municipal taxes, including County and Education taxes, was 9%.

This year, as the newly elected Council prepares for a series of budget meetings, they received some preliminary information from Chief Administrative Officer John Duchene that indicates budgeting will be a difficult chore again in 2011.

A Provincial grant to the township that offsets policing and other costs, which is called the Ontario Municipal Partnership fund, is down by $128,000 this year. At the same time the townships insurance premiums are up by $53,240 over last year, and pension and benefit costs, as wll as salary adjustments and he cost of living allowance will all cause increases in the payroll costs the township must cover.

Duchene also reported that the townships reserve funds are down, partly as the result of surprise costs (such as the Echo Lake Road washout) but also because the funds were used last year to keep the overall tax increase under 10%.

“Our current level of reserves is low and staff believes that a start to replenishing reserves,” Duchene wrote.

On he bright side, Duchene told Council that in preliminary talks with the Frontenac County treasurer Marion Vanbruinessen.

“She raised the possibility of 'grants' from the County to the townships, recognizing the uploading that has taken place of county costs the province which creates budget room for the county,” he said

the the posst to the townships of some of the savings the County has realized from the uploading of costs of the Ontario Disability Support Program may be in the cards.

Council received Duchene's report and set budget meetings for February 8 (to discuss the council, corporate services, information technology, and recreation budgets), February 22nd (public works – roads and waste management), March 8 (Fire, Planning and buiding, economic development) and March 22 (Final review).

All of the meetings will take place on Tuesdays and will replace Committee of the Whole meetings. They will start at 3:00.

Notes – in a debate about the proposed procedural bylaw for Council, a question was raised about how a new five minute limit on speeches by members of Council will be enforced. Councillor Jeff Matson said the township could do what they do at the annual good roads conference in Toronto.

“They have a big lighting standard. When it is green you can talk, the the yellow comes as a warning, and when the red light comes on you have to stop talking,” said Matson.

“Great idea. It would be the first stop light in the township,” said Mayor Gutowski.

Emergency response plan – Fire Chief Mark MacDonald presented an updated emergency response plan the he has been working on.

“The new plan incorporates some changes because of new legislation,” said MacDonald.

He also said that his department is “trying to build relationship with Frontenac County to talk about emergency response. We are trying to see if we can network together, and the County is trying to find ways they can help us. They may have access to different funding sources as well.”

Frontenac County to keep Green Energy task force alive

Frontenac County will be renewing the mandate of the Green Energy Task Force, while taking care to integrate its efforts with other sustainability initiatives the county is undertaking.

The task force was established in June of last year with the goal of promoting small-scale local green energy initiatives, including solar rooftop projects under the Ontario MicroFIT program. It is comprised of politicians from the Frontenac townships as well as local residents, and one of its first goals was to push each of the four townships to bring at least one rooftop solar project to a municipal building.

With the end of the four-year council term in November, the task force went into a state of limbo, and two of its members, John Kittle from Snow Road in North Frontenac and David Hahn from Canoe Lake Road in South Frontenac, made a pitch for a new mandate at a meeting of Frontenac County Council in Glenburnie on January 19.

The two made a powerpoint presentation to council highlighting where they would like to see the task force continue to focus its efforts.

First, they want to continue encouraging the county and the townships to put in 10 kw solar generating systems in “highly visible” municipal locations.

Secondly they are collecting data in order to be a resource for individual property owners or businesses in the county to purchase and install solar systems, and they are also trying to put together an inventory of systems in the county, which could be integrated in the county mapping and GIS systems. Finally, they want to look at other, non-solar, opportunities for energy production.

“Our broad mandate is to fundamentally increase the capacity of the community to take advantage of the opportunities that come with the Green Energy Act,” said David Hahn. “As you know, Frontenac County is in one of the more favourable locations for solar in the country, but there are other possibilities, such as switch grass production for bio-fuel and river run hydro, which are worthy of exploration.

“A number of micro-FIT systems have sprung up in the county. Some of them you can see from major roads but others are tucked away on back roads. We would like to share information and show the world what we are doing here,” said Kittle.

“This is a full committee, a very busy committee, and it should continue. My only question is how are we going to tie this in to the ICSP [Integrated Community Sustainability Plan]. Maybe we need to be flexible. I don't want to see more than nine members on it. I'd also like to put my name forward, and also want the committee to look at tele-conferencing to save on travel time,” said Deputy County Warden Janet Gutowski.

“A staff report on the task forces associated with the ICSP might be in order. We could bring that forward in February,” said County Administrator Elizabeth Savill.

Council agreed to consider the composition of the Green Energy Task Force at their next meeting and said they would get back to Kittle and Hahn, who both indicated they would like to stay on it.

Letting go of Ford Lemons – Emergency Services Manager Paul Charbonneau sought council's permission to accelerate the replacement of three ambulances that were purchased between 2005 and 2007 from Ford. While the older model Ford Diesel engines were ”the industry standard” according to Charbonneau, the new model, introduced in 2004 “quickly developed issues and Ford, in an effort to keep customer loyalty, offered extended warranties ..”

The engine model has now been discontinued but the Frontenac ambulance service is still running them.

Of the seven that were purchased by the county, one was involved in an accident and was written off; one has been assigned to Wolfe Island and has extremely low mileage; and two have reached the end of their life cycles. That leaves three vehicles: two three-year-old vehicles and a four-year-old vehicle that are of concern.

“The estimated repairs for these three vehicles over the next three years is $218,000. That is above normal maintenance costs,” Charbonneau said. “The reality is that the 6.2 litre diesel engine is a lemon.”

He recommended replacing the three vehicles now, instead of following the normal course of replacement every seven years, and replacing them with 3 new GM gas vehicles at a total price of $375,000.

Council agreed and advanced the funds from the ambulance vehicle reserve fund.

“Kilometrage” rate up to 48 cents.

A staff recommendation to increase the “mileage” rate paid for the use of personal vehicles for county business from 47 to 48 cents, which will increase the overall mileage budget for the county by $450 a year, engendered two responses.

Both county council members from North Frontenac, Bud Clayton and John Inglis, favoured dropping the rate to 40 cents.

“Land O'Lakes Community Services pays 40 cents to their drivers, and Northern Frontenac Community Services also pays 40 cents. A lot of people in the community are providing service for 40 cents and if we move up to 48 cents, we are becoming elitist,” said Clayton.

“I don't think we are being extravagant at 48 cents. I think you are getting a great deal if you are getting 40 cents,” said Warden Gary Davison.

Councilor John Purdon from Central Frontenac had a more linguistic concern. "Forty years after bringing in the metric system, it is time we stopped using the term mileage, especially since we pay by the kilometre. The term kilometrage would be preferable,” he said.

The 48-cent rate was approved, but the question of whether it is to be called mileage or kilometrage was left unanswered.

by Wilma Kenny and Jeff Green

Velo-Quebec sets its sights on Sydenham

Quebec has been promoting cycling in urban and rural Quebec for 40 years, and since 1994 Velo-Quebec Voyages has been organizing bicycle tours in Quebec, the US northeast and around the world. Tours range from 1-2 days to 30-day cross-continent cycling marathons.

This year, among the 70 trips being organized there is a 7-day Grand Tour of Ontario, which will start and finish in Brockville. Many of the Velo-Quebec tours include stays in hotels, but this one has a tenting option. The itinerary includes a planned stopover in Perth and if arrangements can be made with South Frontenac Township and the Limestone District School Board, it will also include a night at the Point in Sydenham on August 7.

Ashley Brown, the relatively new recreation co-ordinator for South Frontenac, was approached by Velo-Quebec about the event back in October, and she met with representatives from Velo-Quebec and Sean Lehman from Sydenham High School. She first informed council about the planned tour in December.

As Ashley Brown pointed out in her report to council, the impact on Sydenham would be large, because the stopover in Sydenham would take place on August 7, in the middle of the summer season, and there could be as many as 2,000 riders and 250 employees and volunteers.

Among the considerations for the township that she noted in her report were: the need for a liquor license for the bistro marquee tent that will be set up at The Point; the use of municipal equipment and services; excessive noise potential at The Point; The Point being closed to the public during the event; public concerns over usage of the park; and security concerns.

Potential benefits include an economic boost for local business, short-term employment for youth, and the promotional impact of exposing Sydenham and South Frontenac to 2,000 new visitors.

In making her presentation to council on January 18, Ashley Brown said she had just learned that the high school can’t be used because of construction planned for the summer, and that any further planning had been put on hold until the board decides whether or not Loughborough Public School would be available.

Councilor Bill Robinson expressed concern about the effects of having a beer tent for 2,000, and commented on the way another event, the Sydenham triathlon. obstructed roads last summer.

Councilor Vandewal asked what other local feedback there had been related to last year’s triathlon.

“The football field’s underground sprinkling system could be damaged by tent pegs,” said Mayor Gary Davison. Councilor John McDougall asked Ashley Brown to consider contacting communities where Velo-Quebec tours have overnighted to get their reactions to the event.

Budget time’s around the corner...

As a reminder to the new council of the next big challenge, much of the January 18 meeting addressed budget-related issues. Vicky Leaky, an accountant with KPMG, reviewed the 2009 audit. She explained that this audit had been delayed due to the huge task of assembling an inventory of all the township’s tangible capital assets, from trucks and tools to land and buildings, along with current values and depreciation rates, where relevant. She reported that the books were in good order, and raised no concerns or issues with township management. (For an auditor, this amounts to strong praise for a job well done.)

Mayor Davison followed with his thanks to CAO Orr and the department heads for their work.

Later, Treasurer Deb Bracken gave a brief year-to-date review of the 2010 budget: so far, all departments except waste management are coming in within budget, and the garbage overage was anticipated, due to the inclusion of Bedford, and other changes to the system. She added that nothing can be finalized yet, “for the bills still are coming in with every mail.”

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth presented a multi-year plan for upgrading roads and bridges, based on an assessment of the township’s more than 800 km of roads. He discussed some of the benefits of a long-range plan, which could be changed to adapt to needs, and which has the primary goal of preserving the township’s considerable investment in its roads and bridges. The plan attempts to equalize expenditures over the four districts, and recognizes that road reconstruction is the best time to also upgrade existing related infrastructure such as sidewalks, guard rails, paved shoulders and types of surface treatment. Council gave conditional approval of the 2011 roads and bridges construction program in order to allow the roads department time to prepare to tender out this year’s work as soon as possible.

Verona Community Improvement Plan - Council passed a motion giving the green light for a consultant to begin work on the plan.

Addington Highlands Community Centre – Denbigh (AHDCC): Councilor Tony Fritsch reported that the cleanup of the Centre is complete and the transfer of the utilities to the township is well underway. Drawings will be prepared to determine the layout of the Family Health Team’s (FHT) quarters in the building. Fritsch also said that a major part of the project will be to reverse the orientation of the building and move the main entrance and parking to the north side.

Presently the main entrance is on the south side, where there is a steep slope, and also, the well and septic are both located there. The north side, however, is level and has ample room for parking. Dr. Tobia and the FHT have agreed to the change and Fritsch asked for council’s endorsement of the plan.

Councilor Adam Snider, however, suggested that “subject to MTO [Ontario Ministry of Transportation] approval” should be added to the motion, and a discussion ensued as to whether MTO approval would be required or not, as the south entrance is off Centre Street and not directly off Hwy 28.

Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath said that because of the existing entrance it was a “gray area”. He could not predict how MTO would respond if their approval were needed.

Fritsch said that the Family Health Team would be put on hold waiting for a decision from MTO. In the end Snider withdrew his amendment and council voted to support the change of orientation of the building.

Reeve Hogg later said that the township will consult with MTO at some point in the future.

A tour of the community centre, followed by a meeting to receive the public’s input and form a Denbigh Community Advisory Committee is planned for tonight, January 20. Sign up sheets for the committee will be available.

Bill MacDonald visits: Liberal MPP candidate Bill MacDonald attended the council meeting in Denbigh to find out what issues the municipality sees as being the most pressing. He said that, of course, he was also asking for their support and cited his many years of experience as a municipal politician and in the educational supply business. He said that there is a “missing link” in the provincial government, namely someone who would voice the concerns of rural municipalities, and he asked council what he could do to help out if he were elected.

In response, Reeve Henry Hogg identified long-range infrastructure support as the township’s biggest need. He said that roads and bridges are the township’s biggest long-term deficit, and that the province gives a portion of gas tax money to cities for transportation but rural municipalities get nothing. Addington Highlands has over a million dollars in bridge needs alone but no funding to pay for the work.

Hogg said that social services have been uploaded to the province, but as the township has had its Ontario Municipal Partnership Funds (OMPF) reduced, there is no net benefit to the township. The OMPF assists municipalities with their social services costs.

Denbigh Homecoming: Bonnie Thompson attended council to ask for their support for a Denbigh Homecoming event that is planned for July 27 - 29, 2012. Thompson is part of a group of friends who are organizing the Homecoming, and they are asking local merchants, organizations and groups to take part in, and perhaps run some of the different events of the weekend. She said the group’s plans have received much support and enthusiasm from residents and former residents, and that the Homecoming is for everyone, not just for people who attended the Denbigh school.

She asked for council’s permission to use the township facilities: the community hall, the recreation park and the new community centre, and whether there would be a charge for their use. Council agreed that as it is a public event there would be no charge.

The question arose, however, of whether the Homecoming could be covered under the township’s insurance. The suggestion was made that the Denbigh Recreation Committee could run the bar and the Saturday night dance but Councilor Helen Yanch pointed out that a similar question was investigated before and it was found that the rec committee was not automatically covered by the township’s insurance.

The township’s insurers will be contacted about the Homecoming.

Deputy Reeve Bill Cox asked Bonnie Thompson whether she could come back with more specific details. She replied that the group does have a more specific schedule but she did not want to bring it to council before she found out whether council would agree to the use of the facilities.

Loss of long-time employee: Royce Rosenblath spoke of the loss of Mike Kerr, a 20-year employee of the township, who died suddenly on January 6. Rosenblath said Mike’s death had left a big hole in the crew. Council appointed Cameron Lloyd as lead hand in Mike’s place.

Blue Box Recycling: Rosenblath reported that the Blue Box recycling is going well and is working as intended to reduce contamination in the recyclables. He said that people can now easily spot, and take out things that should not be in the recycling bins.

Bridge issues predominate at first meeting of the year

Addington Highlands Public Works Manager Royce Rosenblath presented a report on bridge inspections, prepared by Jewel Engineering, to the first council meeting of the year on January 4 in Flinton.

The report notes that of the 14 structures studied, including bridges and major culverts, one was recommended for immediate closure. The Syman’s Bridge crosses over the Skootamatta River on Concession 5, which is technically a township road, but since there are no residents living on the road, it has not been maintained by the township for many years. The road is mainly used for recreational purposes. The bridge has been closed, and Jewell Engineering has pegged the cost of replacing it at $450,000.

Complicating matters as far as the Syman’s bridge is concerned, is the fact that it is used in the wintertime by snowmobilers, and is part of the north-south route on the snowmobile trail that is run by the Mazinaw chapter of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC).

Tom Shepherd from the snowmobile club appeared before council concerning the possibility of shoring up the bridge enough for use by snowmobiles in order to keep a trail open between Kaladar and Cloyne this winter.

“Because the bridge has been condemned we would need an engineer’s letter saying it is safe for use by snowmobiles before we allow it to be used,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

“What if we have the OFSC insurer add the township as a user on that bridge for the snowmobile season alone?” asked Tom Shepherd.

“I'm not so concerned about the insurance as the danger. I don’t want someone to phone me and say they went through the bridge, whether we are insured or not,” said Henry Hogg.

“I think the due diligence is for there to be some comfort that the bridge is sound,” added Councilor Tony Fritsch.

The cost of an engineer’s letter is estimated at $2,000, and Shepherd said that the snowmobile club could put up about $1,000 and use volunteer labour to shore up the bridge if the township could cover the other $1,000 for a letter.

“That is the only trail that allows people to get from Kaladar to Cloyne and Denbigh,” said Deputy Reeve Bill Cox.

Tom Shepherd took down the phone number of the township’s contact at Jewell Engineering. He will talk directly to them about plans to shore up the bridge and have a letter prepared.

If the plan does not work, Shepherd said the local club would have to appeal to the OFSC to pay for a repair to the bridge, but that would not happen this winter.

“In the meantime do you want us to put some closed signs up there?” Shepherd asked.

“You can if you want. We’ve put them up a couple of times and they keep coming down,” said Henry Hogg.

The possibility of rebuilding the Syman’s Bridge will be considered at budget time, but “I don’t think it is something we will do this year” said Henry Hogg.

Two other structures, the Ruttan’s Road Bridge ($450,000) and the Freeburn Road culvert ($175,000) are also slated for closure in one to five years.

The cost of bringing a number of other structures up to provincial standards ranges from $35,000 for the Hartsmere Road bridge to $162,000 for Trepaniers bridge, for a total cost of $420,000.

Rosenblath said he would consider traffic counts, the number of residents served, and other factors in framing some recommendations for budget consideration this spring.

The township recently rebuilt two bridges, the Wager’s bridge and the Flinton bridge at a cost of over $1,000,000 each, but they accessed matching federal and provincial grants for those projects.

“I don’t see any of those kinds of grants coming our way for quite a while,” said Reeve Hogg.

Denbigh waste site opening delayed by red tape

Royce Rosenblath informed council that he received letter from the Ministry of the Environment last week outlining measures the township needs to take before it can re-open the Denbigh waste site.

“We need to do some ditching and put in a clay liner, which are small items, but we also need to do some water testing in the spring and in the fall before we can accept waste at the site. The frustrating thing is that the letter is dated August 5. If it had been sent to us then we could have tested last fall and in the coming spring, and the site would be open this year. As it is it will be another year until we can open it,” Rosenblath said.

Public input sought over use of the Denbigh school house

A public meeting will be held on Wednesday, January 20 to gather input and ideas on the long-term use of the facility and surrounding property at the former Denbigh school house now that Addington Highlands township has taken possession of the property, which is now called the Addington Highlands Community Centre (Denbigh).

The Lakelands Family Health Team will be occupying part of the building for a clinic, but no decisions have yet been made about other uses.

The comments made at the public meeting will form part of the deliberations of a short-term committee, which will meet weekly between January 27 and February 17 before presenting a draft report to council on February 22. That committee will include representative from the township, the AH library Board, the Lakelands Family Health Team, the AH Recreation facilities committee, the Denbigh Rec. Club, and community representatives.

Anyone interested in the process is encouraged to contact the township or just come to the meeting, which will take place at the Denbigh Hall, starting at 7:00 pm.

Davison returns as warden

It took a bit longer than it has in the past to swear in the members of Frontenac County Council at their inaugural meeting on December 15, 2010, because even though one new member of council was sick, there were still seven to be sworn in this time around, when there used to be four.

The mayors from the four Frontenac townships were joined by a second representative from each township as selected by the members of the township councils. The 8th councillor, John Purdon from Central Frontenac, missed the meeting because he was ill.

The selection of a warden went relatively smoothly. South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison was nominated by Mayor Janet Gutowski from Central Frontenac, seconded by Mayor Bud Clayton from North Frontenac. Frontenac Islands Councilor David Jones from Howe Islands nominated his own mayor, Dennis Doyle. However Doyle's nomination was not seconded and Davison was acclaimed as warden. Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski was chosen as deputy warden.

Although Davison and Gutowski were appointed for four-year terms, Davison indicated that he only intends to keep the position for 2011, “in order to give someone else a chance at it.”

Ever since amalgamation in 1998, it has been the practice for the warden to step down after one year.

Davison, who served as warden in 2010, said, “I am humbled, and honoured to accept this position. Continuity will be a big asset this year, particularly as we work with the Eastern Ontario wardens on completing the Eastern Ontario broadband project, which is a $150 million initiative that is important to all of our constituents.”

Before the warden and deputy warden elections took place, the new members of council were given the opportunity to make statements. In general they talked of the county’s potential and expressed optimism about the expanded council.

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton made a thinly veiled reference to the troubled relationship his own council has had with Frontenac County in recent years, which culminated in North Frontenac making a request of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs that it be given leave to hold a referendum on secession from Frontenac County.

“Bridges have been burnt between North Frontenac and Frontenac County. It is my solemn pledge to rebuild these bridges. We have been part of the county council since 1861. It is our intention to play a constructive and active role over the next four years,” he said.

County council also made appointments to boards and committees at their meeting. Two citizen representatives were appointed to the Kingston Frontenac Library Board. Wilma Kenny of Sydenham is a returning member on the board, and she will be joined by Paige Cousineau from Ompah. Ralph Gatfield, who has been a representative for a number of years and had put his name forward again, was passed over this time around. County council also has a direct representative on the library board, and John Purdon from Central Frontenac will fulfill that role.

John McDougall (South Frontenac) will sit on the Affordable Housing Development Committee, and Bud Clayton (North Frontenac) will sit on the KFL&A (Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington) Public Health Board.

The Frontenac County representative to the Algonquin Land Claim is John Inglis (North Frontenac). Gary Davison (South Frontenac) will sit on the Frontenac County Youth justice Advisory Committee, and David Jones (Frontenac Islands) on the Rideau Corridor Landscape Strategy Steering Committee.

Warden Davison, Deputy Warden Gutowski, and Dennis Doyle (Frontenac Islands) will sit on RULAC (the Rural Urban Liaison Committee). RULAC is a joint committee with Kingston City Council that oversees a complex set of relations surrounding the Frontenac Land Ambulance service and the Fairmount Home, as well as Ontario Works and other social service functions that the city operates for the county under an agreement that dates back to 1998.

Photo:Caroline, Brodey and Sarah

Nicki Gowdy, parent council chair at Prince Charles Public School in Verona, would not let the last-minute cancellation of a dunk tank dampen the festive spirit at this year’s Panther Palooza.

So an eleventh hour brain-storming session gave birth to the “wet sponge toss” event, which by far proved to be one of the most popular at this year’s Palooza. Principal Frank Girard, Prince Charles’ fearless leader, smilingly took a 15-minute turn “in the hole” and was repeatedly lambasted with soaking wet sponges. That event on its own likely raised a considerable portion of the total $2,800 that was raised on June 17.

Mrs. Gowdy was “tickled pink” with this year’s Palooza, which after a one-year hiatus, came back with a vengeance and once again proved to be the parent council’s biggest and most profitable fundraising event of the year. A plethora of additional engaging children’s activities entertained the youngsters, and throughout the evening the 10 top acts from the school’s talent show, which had been held earlier in the week, peppered the set of local band favorites Bauder Road. Also worth mentioning were the themed gift baskets compiled by each class in the school, which attracted countless wannabe winners.

The funds raised this year will go towards sprucing up the outdoor play area, more specifically on the sand box area, picnic tables and new outdoor toys for the younger students. Kudos to the parent council and staff at the school, to all who came out to the event and to all of the members of the community who generously donated their time, talents, and trinkets to help support this year’s Palooza.

Sydenham traffic woes

“My attention soon shifted from our wounded pet to concern for the safety of the vet, his assistant and my husband. The passing cars were so close they splashed us with our dog’s blood, and none of the traffic even slowed down.” Christine Sinclair, who lives with her husband and three small children on Rutledge Road just west of Sydenham, made a powerful plea for council to address the issue of speeding along Rutledge Road.

Both she and one of her neighbours have had crashed vehicles land on their front lawns: “We don’t allow the children to play in front of the house any more.” Sinclair herself had her vehicle struck from behind while she was stopped, waiting to turn into her drive: the other driver admitted he had been speeding, and had not seen her car. “Why is such speeding going unchallenged?” she asked. Admitting she had no answers to the problem, Sinclair asked Council to give serious consideration to possible options, such as: lowering the speed limit, better enforcement, education, or traffic calming devices. She gave council a list of concerned neighbours.

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth confirmed that traffic and speeding is a problem throughout the township: he gets complaints every week.

Earlier in the meeting, Joe Galloway, planner for Frontenac County, had summarized a recent study, which projected population and housing growth over the next 25 years. In brief, he confirmed that South Frontenac’s growth rate was greater than either Kingston or the province, and is projected to remain so. He also noted that the majority of housing development continued to be outside the existing hamlets, with the majority of residents commuting to Kingston for work. The study’s parameters did not include corresponding traffic increases. (The entire report can be downloaded from the website: directionsforourfuture.ca. )

Segsworth hopes to bring a report to the August council meeting, addressing some of the township’s traffic issues and concerns.

What’s a Hamlet?

Mark Segsworth reported that the CFCDC has provided funding for a village beautification project again this summer. The township has hired a student for eight weeks, to paint, plant and clear weeds in Harrowsmith, Sydenham and Battersea. This service is available to businesses that are willing to provide paint and materials.

Discussion of this program and Verona’s Community Improvement Plan proved too much for Councilor Del Stowe, who plaintively asked why “Bustling Burridge” was not included in the list of township hamlets. CAO Orr said it was not presently recognized in the official plan as a hamlet, but council could choose to pass an amendment. Deputy Mayor Tinlin said that one definition of hamlet (British) was “a community without a church.” Further research suggests that in Canada, a hamlet is “an unincorporated community within a larger municipality.” Councilor Ron Vandewal asked whether a hamlet could ever lose its status. No one seemed willing to address this.