It’s fair to say that Frontenac Islands politicians have made their mark at Frontenac County.

The previous mayor, Jim Vanden Hoek, served as warden and also on the board of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario. As a member of Frontenac County Council, he was a booster of the county's role but at the same time he was highly critical of spending at Fairmount Home and of the way county staff operated at times.

On Wolfe Island, he will forever be associated with the still controversial wind project. Interestingly enough, though, it was not that controversy that resulted in Vanden Hoek being defeated in 2010 by the current mayor, Dennis Doyle.

“Vanden Hoek won the vote on Wolfe Island; it was the Howe Island vote that gave me the election over him. He did not pay enough attention to Howe Island,” said Dennis Doyle.

Doyle, along with his outspoken colleague from Howe Island, David Jones, has been a controversial force at Frontenac County. They have taken on other councilors and staff at times in opposing some spending initiatives. It was Doyle who moved the successful motion that killed the county's Green Energy Task Force, and he also unsuccessfully tried to eliminate the Sustainability Task Force.

He has also proposed that all of the money sitting in a temporary reserve fund at the county, in excess of $4 million, be downloaded to the townships rather than going towards any future needs of the county or a long-term project.

At the same time, he is the first to take advantage of any opportunities to make use of county services and is a proponent of more, not less, involvement of the county in areas that the other townships would like to keep the county far away from.

“We have a unique relationship with the county. We see county staff as helpful to us. It’s partly because of the history of the Howe Island ferry. The ferry is operated by the county, although it is funded entirely by the province and Howe Island residents. Ratepayers in Sydenham and Sharbot Lake are not on the hook at all.”

Frontenac Islands is the only township that contracts out its financial services to the county, and was the first to avail itself of planning services when they became available.

The Islands also uses county expertise in Human Resources, Health and Safety, Trails and Emergency Planning.

Even though at the county table Dennis Doyle has been a harsh critic of Treasurer and acting Chief Administrative Officer Marian Vanbruinessen, he talks about how helpful she has been to the Islands by attending meetings with the Minister of Transportation and the public on Howe Island to talk about problems with the Howe Island ferry.

“I dare say that we work closer with staff at Frontenac County than most of the other townships, and we look forward to doing more in the future,” he said.

While the three mainland townships have been careful to keep the county at arm's length as they pursue closer co-operation with each other on road maintenance and waste management services, Frontenac Islands looks to the county for collaboration, perhaps because the county office is closer to the Islands than the rest of the county is.

In that way, Dennis Doyle’s position regarding the county is closer to that of Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutwoski than to that of South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison, even though he is on collegial terms with Davison, and is one of the subjects of a lawsuit for statements he has made and motions he has supported against Janet Gutowski.

All in all, Doyle is not particularly upset about the bitter tone that has dominated Frontenac County Council this term.

“I think, when you look at it, we have made real progress at the county this term. A lot of stuff has been cleaned up and there are a lot of new opportunities for growth in the future. Frontenac Islands is too small to do things on its own. We have to work with the other townships and the county to move forward.”

He said that he is considering running for a second term as mayor but has not yet made up his mind. 

Filling the late Bill Snyder's council seat

Included in a motion where council (with great sadness) officially declared the seat of the late Councilor Bill Snyder vacant, CAO Larry Donaldson informed council of the rules in the Municipal Act regarding filling the seat. The two options are that council can appoint someone to fill the seat or else hold a by-election. Donaldson recommended that council forgo calling an election due to the short time left in this term and also because of the expense and time involved. He instead recommended that council appoint Philip Smith, who ran in the last election in Hinchinbrooke district and who has served on council previously. The motion was carried and Donaldson said that he would speak to Smith immediately to see if he would accept the position. If not then council will hold a special meeting to plan how to proceed with a by-election in a timely fashion.

Ground Maintenance Contracts

In a report to council, Chief Building Officer Jeremy Neven made a number of recommendations regarding the upcoming renewal of the three year long maintenance contracts for recreational facilities in the township's four districts from 2014-2017. Council had directed staff to prepare a monetary scale of upgraded service level costs (based on the three-year cost). In the report, staff recommended that Kennebec and Hinchinbrooke receive the same service level, at a cost of $26,000 and $24,200 respectively since no complaints were made by residents in these districts. It was further recommended that services in Olden district be upgraded to include raking the beaches twice instead of once at a cost of $24,000. Oso district will also be upgraded since it received the most complaints and the services there will include the beach to be raked once a day and the washrooms and floating raft to be cleaned twice daily at a total cost of $61,389. The total cost for the township comes to $124,580, an increase from the base cost over the last three year period of $23,200 with the additional services roughly costing an extra $15,000. Council passed a motion accepting these recommendations.

Council approves two tandem truck purchases and one new water tank.

Public Works Manager Mike Richardson made his report to council recommending the purchase of two snow plow tandem trucks at a total cost of $388,000 with one to be paid for by insurance and the second to be paid out of the capital budget. Richardson said he went with the lowest bid and the quickest delivery. In a last-minute report to council he recommended the additional purchase of a new water tank at a cost of $25,500. Richardson said that the new tank will save roughly 5% on gravel and calcium costs and the tank can be quickly loaded and unloaded, which will free up trucks for other uses.

Council reinstates regular schedule for amnesty loads

Waste Management Supervisor Kyle Labbett recommended that the township's Amnesty Load program be reinstated but that it take place once instead of twice per year and that it run from August 23, 2014 to September 7, 2014.

Labbett's earlier recommendation that the program be scrapped altogether for 2014 was defeated by council at an earlier date in a tied vote. This time around certain council members opposed the changing of the dates, citing that residents would be confused. Councilor Frances Smith argued for reinstating the program as it was in 2013. Councilor Norm Guntensperger requested a recorded vote on the motion that was based on Labbett's recommendations. That motion was defeated, with councilors Guntensperger, Smith, Fox, Millar and Mayor Gutowski voting against it and councilors Matson, Dewey and Purdon voting for it. As a result of the defeated motion, the Amnesty Load program will be reinstated as it was in 2013 at two different times during the year. The first is from May 11 until May 23 and the second is from August 23 until September 7.

Intelivote Systems chosen for 2014 municipal elections in North, Central and South Frontenac

CAO Larry Donaldson recommended that as a result of discussions regarding putting out an RFP for an electronic voting service provider, that council accept Intelivote Systems' offer of providing their service to voters in Central, North and South Frontenac. Two previous RFPs for the service put out by the townships of North and South Frontenac garnered just two and three bids respectively. By aggregating their services in the three townships, the company said they will be able to offer a discount of $1.65 per voter since the total number of eligible voters across the three townships amounts to over 31,000. Donaldson said that educating and training services would also made simpler and the voters across the three municipalities will be voting using the same system, which is also a benefit.

Council approves new projects for the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society

In a delegation to council Sally Angle, Chair of the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society, requested permission from council to carry out two new projects at their Railway Heritage Park in Sharbot Lake. The first will see a 15 by 40 foot paved and fenced area constructed at the park caboose's back entrance, which will allow for tables to be set up to display artifacts. The second project is to have two signs erected on Road 38, one at either end of the village to alert visitors to the park, which is located on Elizabeth Street across from the township offices. Council approved both requests and sign maker Rodger MacMunn then presented council with a display shelf he designed and built that boasts the Railway Heritage Society logo. He invited council to hang it in the township office to display some artifacts from the society's collection.

At a Committee of the Whole meeting last week (March 5), members of Frontenac County Council took turns expressing concern about a report about emergency communications that they received from the fire chiefs of the four Frontenac townships in mid-February.

The report, which was funded by Frontenac County on the request of the four local townships, was initiated in reaction to an upgrade to the communications system in both the City of Kingston and the County of Leeds Grenville.

What Council found most objectionable was the price tag of $5-7 million for an upgraded system that would be compatible with the neighbouring systems.

Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle wanted to see the ambulance and police services involved in a cross-jurisdictional solution to the needs.

Councilor John Purdon from Central Frontenac said the matter is the responsibility of the townships, and that's where it should be discussed.

Councilor John Inglis, from North Frontenac, wondered how this need for a new system had come about. “In all the time I served on the fire department we never talked about this issue, and we have never talked about it at council, and now we are faced with this huge cost,” he said.

North Frontenac Mayor Bud Clayton said, “It is all a matter of needs versus wants. We are only required to provide fire safety and education services as a municipality. Fire suppression is an optional service. This is another want, not a need."

Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski said the study and its presentation “are an example of how things shouldn't be done. This report is real geek; it is a technical report, which I do not have the expertise to evaluate. We miss-stepped in funding the study in the first place. The advancement of this should have gone through a different chain of command. Our staff could have brought forward the study, and presented options for how to deal with it. I suggest we refer this to our staff and the fire chiefs can work with their CAOs to see how we can cost share on this.”

South Frontenac Fire Chief Rick Cheseborough attended the meeting. He was given leave to speak after all the councilors had had a chance to comment.

“I would like to start by saying that under no circumstances is it the Township of South Frontenac or myself that is doing this. This is the largest joint project of the public works departments from all the townships. I am just the lucky one who got to speak for the group. We did not bring this to the county expecting a decision from County Council. It is just that since the county funded the study we thought we should report back to the county first ... we did not go into this expecting to see these kinds of costs, but the facts are what they are ... we are going to go to our individual councils with this and we will see what happens.”

Cheseborough pointed out as well that once Leeds and Grenville and Kingston bring their new system on line, firefighters from Frontenac County will no longer be able to communicate with firefighters from those jurisdictions. He also said that he does not know how Lennox and Addington and Lanark County are dealing with this matter.

While the reception at Frontenac County was rough, a presentation to South Frontenac Council a week later (March 11) found a more receptive audience.

Rick Cheseborough pointed out that the existing system is no longer being supported by manufacturers because it is basically an analogue system that is being replaced by a digital one

“In January the power to our main tower [located near Hartington] went down. Not only did we not have a battery backup, but it took two days to find some parts and three and a half weeks to find another part,” he said. “The current system will simply not be viable in the future.”

He added that the costing estimate that caused such consternation at the county is not based on any studies.

“The County insisted on seeing some pricing so we got that figure by using the $6 million that Leeds and Grenville spent and the $10 million that Kingston is spending. What we need to do is look at our own circumstances and do the technical studies to find some real pricing. Then we can figure out what we want to do and how we can pay for it.”

Mayor Davison, who missed the County meeting last week because he was on vacation, said to Cheseborough, “I’d like to publicly state that you did a good job with this report.”

North Frontenac to build new township office

A report, which was commissioned and completed before a heating oil leak caused the North Frontenac office to be vacated a few weeks ago, was received by North Frontenac Council this week. The engineering group Greer Galloway prepared the report, which noted many deficiencies in the building, including a number of health and safety issues for the office staff.

In the conclusion, the report said, “In its current state, it is our opinion that the building should only be used as a storage garage, as there are concerns of fire safety and the building envelope construction”. The estimated cost to bring the building up to an acceptable standard was pegged at $400,000.

An alternative plan, constructing a new office building and council chamber, was given a rough cost estimate, excluding land and water/septic costs, of $1.9 million.

Faced with the two options, council opted to move towards putting up a new building instead of retrofitting the existing space.

CAO Cheryl Robson said that the remediation of the present building in response to the oil leak will proceed regardless of the report by Greer Galloway and Council's response to it. “The environmental factors need to be dealt with, and even if we go in a new direction we will need a building to work in until then,” she said.

Ompah fire hall renovation woes continue

New tenders for the long awaited renovation of the Ompah fire hall came in this week. The lowest bid was $364,000.

Although a financial report from township staff shows that there is over $250,000 in reserve for the project, and the Ompah Community Volunteers Association made a commitment of $97,000 towards the project on March 3, a council directive has put a $180,000 ceiling on the project's costs.

According to Rose Boivin, president of the association, “The council can complete this project without having to find any added funds from the budget.”

The matter has been put over until April, when it will return to the council table.

Budget discussion

A rough draft of the 2014 township budget was presented this week. It calls for a 3.016% increase in the overall levy to ratepayers. Two percent of that increase is dedicated to putting money aside for long-term infrastructure replacement needs as was recommended by an asset management plan that was accepted by Council late last year. The remaining 1% increase was attributed by CAO Robson to fixed cost increases such as fuel and utility costs, as well as a lower budgetary surplus in 2013 than 2012.

Council will look further at the budget in early April.

Allocations made

In advance of the budget, council approved a number of allocations. They agreed to spend $15,000 a year for five years to recruit a doctor for the Lakelands Family Health Team. A previous campaign, which was a joint initiative with Addington Highlands Council, resulted in the recruitment of Dr. Anne Wilson, who is working at the clinic. The new campaign is aimed at finding a new doctor in the face of pending retirements.

Land O'Lakes Community Services will receive $19,000 from North Frontenac this year, up from $15,000 last year. The money will be used to help subsidize the delivery of Meals on Wheels, the Adult Drop In, and transportation and homemaking services for the 1,500 residents who live in Barrie ward.

Council also approved a $2,000 donation to the Outdoor Centre at North Addington Education Centre for the purchase of equipment.

Oy, yoy, yoy! Its not going to be an easy year!

Thats how Councillor Frances Smith summed up the bind Central Frontenac Councillors expect to find themselves in when they begin considering their 2005 budget in early March.

Smith was responding to a preliminary budgetary request from Mississippi Valley Conservation, which calls for an increase that is quite small in dollars at $777, but constitutes an increase of over 20% from what Central Frontenac paid to MVC last year.

The pre-budgetary hand wringing increased in intensity when a report from Township Treasurer Judy Gray was presented to Council, informing them property assessment in the township has decreased this year.

Last years tax rate with the new assessment would result in an overall reduction of $25,688. To raise the same amount by levy for municipal purposes as last year would result in a .7% increase in the Township rate.

This assessment decrease came about in spite of an excellent building year, with permits being issued for over $6 million in construction. The main cause noted for the overall decrease was the number of property owners who have successfully challenged their assessments through the property assessment appeals process.

A proposal was made to receive Judy Grays report, and to direct township staff to prepare budgetary requests that were less than or the same as what they received in 2004.

The message has to get out to staff to try and bring in the same budget as last year, said Councillor Smith.

Other councillors disagreed. We need to know what the options are. We need to at least hear what staff thinks should be done next year, and we can decide at Council what the priorities are, said Councillor Logan Murray. Mayor MacDonald agreed, saying, I dont want staff hiding any safety issues from me.

Clerk Administrator Heather Fox told Council she had taken down everything the councillors had said so staff will understand Councils concerns.

It was decided Council would simply receive the report from the treasurer and not directly tell staff to prepare 0% increase budgetary requests.

Mayor MacDonald then said he hoped many councillors would come to a meeting in Sydenham on Thursday night, where County staff will be outlining the County budget, which, he said, at this point stands at about a 10% increase.

Other items from Council

New rules for selection of Deputy Mayor: Councillor Bob Harvey requested at the previous council meeting that the procedural by-law for the selection of the Deputy Mayor be amended so that it is no longer stipulated that Deputy Mayor can not come from the same district as the Mayor.

Harvey said that the bylaw had been put in place at the time of amalgamation because of fears about the domination of council by the interests of one district, but that it is a restrictive policy that is outdated.

I dont like anything that is restrictive or divisive. I also dont like anything to be in place that ties future councils. I think the bylaw should be changed.

Harvey has been sitting as a councillor from Oso district for the seven years since amalgamation, and Frances Smith for five. Neither of them has been eligible for the job of Deputy Mayor because Mayor MacDonald comes from Oso district.

I dont want to be Deputy Mayor but I want to be able to be Deputy Mayor, said Frances Smith, pointing out that the mistrust that was behind the bylaw has dissipated over the years.

Just before voting on the motion to prepare a new bylaw, it was pointed out that three councillors were not in attendance, including Deputy Mayor Putnam, and they should have a chance to vote on the matter. The issue was tabled until the next meeting.

(Although the Deputy Mayors position is officially up for a vote on an annual basis, it has been the practice of the township to maintain the same Deputy Mayor for the three-year term of Council. From 1998-2000 the position was held by Lloyd Lee from Hinchinbrooke; from 2001-2003 by Jack Nicolson from Kennebec; and since 2004 by Faye Putnam from Olden. Putnam was confirmed in the position for 2005 on January 10.

Permits for Pools The cost of permits for backyard pools will be increased from $50 to $70, so that the township can include two videos Backyard Safety Pool Guidelines and Within Arms Reach with every permit. this has been done in response to a request from the Lifesaving Society, a charitable institution that distributes the videos.

Trapping permit George Teal has been granted permission to trap the pond located on the south side of the Hinchinbrooke Waste Disposal Site.

Wolf Kill Oliver Clow of Godfrey will receive compensation for the loss of two Charolais calves to wolves on January 16.

Feature Article January 27, 2005

Feature article January 27, 2005

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Community Needs study presented to North Frontenac Council

by Jeff Green

North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire is so enthused about the content of a Community Needs Study that was completed by Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS) that he would like to see it used as a starting point for the Strategic Plan of Frontenac County.

Linda Rush, who initiated the Community Needs Study for NFCS through a Trillium grant application in 2003 (the study was completed by Tara Hamilton in 2004) presented highlights from the study to a North Frontenac Council meeting last week.

The Council meeting was the last official function for Rush, who has just retired as Director of Adult Services for the agency in order to devote her efforts to making art.

She described the methodology of the Needs Study to Council. The study was based primarily upon 16 in-depth interviews conducted with individuals of different ages and socio-economic status who live in Central and North Frontenac or in the northern part of South Frontenac, the service area of NFCS.

The study was conducted partly in order to help NFCS itself determine how to effectively serve the needs of the community. NFCS provides services for adults, ranging from family counselling to services for the elderly, and through its affiliate agencies also delivers mental health counselling for women suffering from abuse. Through its Child Centre, the agency also provides daycare services and other childrens related programming. The Child Centre is also the home of the Ontario Early Years Centre which is responsible for delivering children and family-related programming service throughout the provincial riding.

In terms of strengths, the study makes reference to Northern Frontenacs ruralness, community cohesiveness, and acceptance, local resourcefulness, opportunities to share talents, community members connection to the land and the environment, family, the local economy, social and recreational opportunities and community based services and solutions (page 11).

It is in dealing with community needs that North Frontenac Township will be called upon to act. The study identifies gaps, including: local economic development, youth issues and demographic unsustainability, poverty and lack of opportunity, employment, transportation, medical services, affordable housing, and others.

The study documents certain factors that are familiar to councillors; the population is older, poorer and less educated than the provincial and national average, and population numbers are stable or decreasing while the provincial and national numbers are on a steady rise.

In terms of issues with government, the studys conclusions are things the Township Council is painfully aware of.

Another common theme identified by the participants dealt with the impact of changes and regulations at the municipal (and County) government level. People spoke about the northern part of Frontenac County being off the political radar screen, about increasing taxes, various permits, finding a balance between the needs of seasonal and permanent residents and challenges relating to the rural/urban divide within the County. (excerpt from page 22 of the study)

One of the functions that Northern Frontenac Community Services served in the past, before losing most of its funding in the massive provincial government restructuring that took place in 1995, was that of community development. Community development work, the ability to identify community needs and develop solutions, is something that the Community Needs Study identifies, and in responding to the presentation by Linda Rush, Township Councillors spoke of a desire to foster a closer relationship with NFCS to try to accomplish community renewal.

Councillor Betty Hunter said she would like to see more communication between Council and the NFCS Board, so we can be informed about anything we could be looking at doing to improve situations that NFCS is able to identify for us.

Mayor Ron Maguire reiterated his opinion that the Needs Study be used by the County of Frontenac as a starting point of its strategic planning exercise this year and requested that Northern Frontenac Community Services keep in contact with Council on matters where the agency and the township can work together in a fruitful manner.

Feature Article January 27, 2005

Feature article January 27, 2005

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Second draft of County budget calls for a 10% levy increase

by Jeff Green

It is still only a draft, but the budget presented to County Council by staff last week calls for a 10% increase in the County levy.

A 10% increase is very much in line with what other counties are experiencing, commented County Chief Administrative Officer Elizabeth Fulton. It doesnt help our taxpayers, but it is a common thread that I am aware of.

Among the pressures on the budget are an increase of about 5% that results from the pending arbitration settlement with the City of Kingston over the funding of shared services under the Local Services Realignment agreement. The City has argued that it was overpaying for the services as the agreement was originally written, and this has led to a long-standing dispute that is finally coming to a conclusion.

This increase in costs for shared programs is offset to a certain extent by funding from the provincial government that is paid directly to the townships, but that funding has covered less and less of the costs of those programs in recent years (see Community Reinvestment Funding)

The proposed increase, which amounted to 10.41%, included an enhancement of the ambulance service. If the enhancement does not survive to the final budget, it would cut the increase down by about 2%. The budget has been reduced from the original draft, which called for a 19.4% increase, by some trimming in various departments and by taking money out of accumulated reserve funds to pay for some one-time capital costs.

County Council discussed the draft budget on January 19, moving the discussion into an in camera session.

The proposed budget was presented to a meeting of councillors from all four townships in the County on January 27 at 7 pm at the Sydenham Council Chambers.

The County budget is should be approved on February 16.

Feature Article January 20, 2005

Feature article January 20, 2005

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ATVs now legal on North Frontenac roads

by Jeff Green

North Frontenac Council has decided to permit the use of 4-wheeled All Terrain Vehicles on township roads between 6:00 am and 11pm.

The new ATV bylaw passed at a meeting of North Frontenac Council last Thursday is similar to existing bylaws in North Hastings and Addington Highlands. Legalizing ATV use of public roads has become more and more prevalent just north of Highway 7. Lanark Highlands will be considering the matter very soon.

The only issue debated as the bylaw had its third reading centred on speed limitations. ATVs must travel at 30 km lower than the posted speed limits on public roadways. Councillor Dick Hook pointed out that the Highway traffic act says vehicles must travel at least half of the speed posted.

So, where we have 50 km per hour speed limits, ATVs will not be legal no matter what speed they travel at, Hook pointed out. A discussion occurred about whether it is all vehicles or just automobiles that are referred to in the Highway Traffic Act.

One of the arguments in favour of legalising ATV use of public roadways is that OPP officials have confirmed to Council that they are unwilling or unable to enforce the prohibition of ATVs on roads. An OPP officer told Council last year that they were not willing to endanger the life of someone on an ATV by chasing them. ATVs are also capable of turning off the road at any time, leaving a police cruiser behind.

In the end, Councilor Hooks was the only vote against adopting the bylaw.

Councilor Bud Clayton said he was glad the bylaw had been passed.

I can drive home legally now, he said.

Feature Article April 29

Feature article January 20, 2005

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Sydenham Water Steering Committee Reconvenes by Wilma Kenny

On January 14, the South Frontenac Townships Sydenham Water System Committee met to plan their next steps, following the recent Federal/Provincial funding update.

Funding Announcement

As recently announced, the two upper tiers of government will cover two-thirds of the cost of a water treatment plant and distribution system for the Village of Sydenham, as defined in the Tottenham/Sims/Hubiki (TSH) study, and not to include any growth component, up to a maximum of $2,394,993 each. The remaining cost, presently assumed not to exceed $2,394,993, is to be covered by the village residents, businesses and schools. Costs of running the water lines into homes, and ongoing water distribution costs are not presently known, and will be the responsibility of the consumers.

Status of Sept 2003 Tenders

Guy LaPorte of TSH reported that at least three of the four areas (water storage, treatment and distribution) would have to be re-tendered: only Kineticos bid for water intake may remain the same, due largely to the rise in the Canadian dollar. TSHs engineering prices have also risen.

Cost Saving Measures

LaPorte reported that his firm had identified a number of cost saving measures that, if built into the next tender call, might help offset increased costs in other areas. Some of the ones listed were: *Removing contingency costs from some of the individual areas (but holding a separate overall contingency fund to be used wherever needed in the project. He did not state the projected amount). * Deleting the truck loading station which would facilitate selling bulk water to water drawers ($6,000) * Deleting one of the two project signboards ($500), and the lettering on the water tank ($10,000). *Replacing the 10'x10' raw water well attached to the plant with a smaller precast chamber near the lake. *Replacing the $21,000 dehumidifier system with a $300 portable unit, which should work as effectively, for the summer period when it might be needed.. *Changing from shiny stainless steel to a dull finish (aesthetics). * Changing the flooring from ceramic tile to epoxy coating. *Eliminating a $36,000 waterproofing membrane in the reservoir, on the grounds that if the (concrete) tank cracked, the membrane would probably also crack, and because of water pressure in the tank, it would not be possible for unclean water to move into the tank if there were a crack. (No one asked why this membrane, or indeed some of the other items listed, had been designed into the system in the first place.) *Lowering the asphalt restoration costs by having all the village re-paving done at one time. * Replacing the five end-of-line hydrants with less expensive "blow-off" valves. (This would not compromise fire protection, as there would still be hydrants within 250' of every residence.)* Providing water meters directly, rather than through the tendered contracts.

Schedule

The project schedule proposes tendering going forward in February, contracts being awarded in March, and construction beginning in April. The system would be completed by April 06.

The engineers said this is a good time to go for tender bids, as contractors will want early projects, and summer is the best time for construction. The engineers defended the full year allowed for construction of the treatment plant, by stating they were allowing for 28 days concrete curing time at several stages, and anticipating slow delivery of equipment.

Outstanding Issues

Guy LaPorte listed a number of tasks for the water committee and council still to do: They include: Deal with residents exemption requests, tendering for system operator, so they would be on hand before start-up, and updating the water rate by-law to include the correct frontages of properties, as defined by the assessment office.

As well the township will be required to establish a by-law to regulate hook-ups: size of pipes, inspection schedule, and a by-law for monthly water billing. The township will also have to establish a well abandonment program. (The provincial subsidy for this has run out.) Finally, there should be a brochure drawn up with information for residents.

Concerns From the Floor

David Waugh asked whether residents would be given firm figures of the total project cost, including hook-ups and ongoing water rates. Committee member Forbes suggested there might be ways to get estimates of the hook-up costs, but other committee members were less certain this could be done.

In regard to concerns about hardship for individual property owners, Mayor Lake read a letter from Leona Dombrowskys office, describing an infrastructure financing loan of up to $2,000,000 available to the township under the acronym OSIFA, which could allow water start-up costs to be added to villagers tax bills over a number of years at a low (not specified) rate of interest. Details are not worked out, but the mayor stated that this sort of agreement would not entail placing liens against properties.

Waugh also reminded the committee that the previous council had said that the water project would be cancelled if the total cost were too high. "What is too expensive?" "Is there a cut-off point, and what is it?" he asked. The mayor replied that total costs would have to include hook-ups, which are separate from water plant construction costs.

Council Goes Forward

On January 18, Council passed the Water Committees recommendation that TSH be authorized to go to public tender for the various portions of the water project, amending the contract documents to incorporate the cost-saving design changes discussed at the Water Committee meeting.

Letters January 20, 2005

Letters January 20, 2005

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We appreciate your hard work

We live in interesting times. Since the early 90s downsizing has been the ultimate buzzword in North American Society. Everything from hospitals to municipalities has needed to live with the fact of downsizing.

It has been approximately 10 years since I experienced the full effects of downsizing. Though I served in a public capacity for 16 years, I feel fortunate because life did not end with the process of downsizing but moved into a different direction for my family and me. Now 10 years later, those I once worked with are living with the frustration of limited resources and the frustration of a public that wants to see things return to the way they once were. The sad truth is that our society will undoubtedly have to learn to live with the frustrations and make the best of the hand that we have been dealt.

My thoughts go back to those who remain in the public sector, those who plow our roads, those who remove our garbage, and those who try their best to govern with limited resources and bigger needs. We, the public, sometimes fail to see or understand the frustration of the public service workers who do their best in spite of limited resources. Try to put yourself in their shoes to get an understanding of the frustrations they face every day. Then, the next time you see a public servant doing the best they can, take the opportunity to thank them for a job well done. They deserve our thanks for all that they do.

For those who plow our roads, thank you for doing your best even when your family would like to see you more. You have worked around the clock because there are not enough drivers to give you a rest. To the volunteer fire fighters, thank you for being a help in times of crisis; you put your lives on the line for us and we want to say thank you. For the hospital support staff, the doctors and the nurses, we thank you for working under difficult situations day after day. For your smiling face that greets us when we are sick, thank you. To those who serve on our local government, we want to offer our thanks for all the hard work that you do. For serving the public even when the public fails to see that you are needed and that you help make our society a place where we can live our lives with our basic needs met. Thank You.

I am proud to live in a country that enjoys the many freedoms that our public service offers. I am thankful for their hard work and dedication and I want to offer my thanks. So, keep up the good work, you are appreciated!

- Rev. Ed BeattieWhy the Mayor bashing?

I address this letter to all who feel compelled to call the Mayor when something in your little corner of the world doesn't suit your expectations. It was prompted by the recent reports and letters from Leeanni Renaud and Kim Leonard.

We the taxpayers elected the Mayor to represent us mainly at the County Level in order to address issues such as police, ambulance & Fairmount Home that involve our tax dollars and the surrounding municipalities. He acts as chairperson at council and only votes on issues that have a tied vote. He is not a salaried CEO and should not be expected to be at your beck and call 24/7.

The councilors on the other hand were elected by Ward and seem in some instances to only be concerned for that wards problems, and less receptive to dealing with problems of the township as a whole.

Roads are at the mercy of the weather, which has produced more than its share of ice this year. The crews must be commended for the great job they have done considering what we give them to work with out of our roads budget. Got a complaint? Call your councilor and have him deal directly with the road foreman or public works manager. They are paid employees. Don't like the answers or the results of your complaint? Elect someone else, or better still jump in the fire and run for council.

Regarding the letter from L. Renaud that did some Mayor bashing, I am surprised. I would have thought Councilor Murray could look after himself in the council forum without the help of his neighbor's pen. Her issue with the roads should have been directed to him personally.

Kim Leonard, according to the published report in the Frontenac News, not only engaged in Mayor bashing but questioned the integrity of the whole council. Her quest for a provincial audit should be backed up by fact not assumptions and maybe she should post a bond to ensure it is not a witch hunt. As a former member of Hinchinbrooke Township council she should understand both the dump and road situations well.

Both of these people and others chose to go directly to the mayor on issues. In November 2000 the majority of the voters endorsed electing a council at large. It would seem that it is time for such a move and a fundamental change to our municipal government. Also a full time Mayor would be the CEO in the office 8 hours a day 5 days a week to be contacted instead of calling him at home. Downsizing council could offset the cost and streamline things. Taxes will always go up and if you want more youd better be prepared to step up to the plate and pay more.

It is time to make the change and get rid of the petty bickering between the old township mentality (wards) and build a better community.

For the record, in August the Mayor and I disagreed on an issue over which he had complete control and I will deal with that at the ballot box in 2006 not in the paper.

Bob PollardSeeking forgiveness

Jesus tells us in the Bible: If you enter your place of worship and, about to make an offering, you suddenly remember a grudge a friend has against you, abandon your offering, leave immediately, go to this friend and make things right (reconcile). Then and only then, come back and work things out with God. Or say youre out on the street and an old enemy accosts you. Dont lose a minute. Make the first move; make things right with him. (Matthew 5: 24-25). This is a good and sound teaching, for true worship requires a pure heart.

But what happens when a person knows someone has a problem with them, but they do not know who it is, what they have done or why?

Let me explain. While away for Christmas someone deliberately removed our mailbox from the post that contains both our neighbours mailboxes as well. Their mailboxes were intact--but our neighbour discovered ours lying in the ditch. When we arrived home we were told that there were footprints all around our mailbox only. Another neighbour had put our mailbox in our garage for safekeeping, but he couldnt understand why anyone would deliberately do something like that. My husband, Steve, installed the mailbox back in its place. No harm done. We forgot all about it.

Then on the evening of January 7, someone drove up and this time used a heavy object to put a hole through the roof of our mailbox. (Now let me explain--our mailbox is nothing special; just one built to look like our home, a plywood construction painted with tremclad.) The blow that hit our mailbox was strong enough to bend the T bar on the post that holds all three mailboxes, causing all of them to lean forward. Our neighbours boxes were intact--but ours has been deliberately destroyed. By whom, we do not know. Or why.

So as you can see, it is obvious that we have offended someone enough for them to take it out on our mailbox. This has saddened us and we truly want to know who they are and why, so we can be reconciled to them. So to whoever is angry at us, please call or write us. Please let us know what we have done so we can discuss it and get to the bottom of it.

No matter what has been done to us, we have already extended forgiveness to whoever has taken this action against our family. We are praying for you every blessing God can bestow upon you and your family.

In Christian Love,

Steve, Sonja, Morgan & Mitchell Alcock