Feature article April 7, 2005

Feature articleApril 7 2005

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Sydenham Water Project Ready to Rolland other notes from Council

by Wilma Kenny

Peter Stewart had earlier told the Frontenac News that he planned to speak to council on behalf of the Sydenham Safe Water Association, reiterating their concern about proceeding on the basis of an error-riddled engineering report. However, Stewart set his presentation aside, saying to Council that he had been told at the Township Water Steering Committee earlier in the day that "Council had made their decision, and nothing he might say that night would change it." Accusing Council of unprofessional behaviour, Stewart left the meeting.

Council passed a resolution to sign contracts with Galcon Marine (water intake), Landmark Structures (elevated water storage), J.C.Sulphur Construction (water treatment plant) and Len Corcoran Excavating (distribution system). Only Councillor Roos was opposed.

Villagers will learn details about individual cost estimates and financing options at an Open House on April 7. Construction is expected to begin May 1st.

Verona Community Association

Verona Community Association was recognized as a Committee of Council, which will allow them to be covered by the Townships insurance.

Mitchell Creek Bridge

Council authorized the Mayor to write to MPs Scott Reid and Peter Milliken requesting their support with Transport Canada to maintain the current height of the deck of the Mitchell Creek Bridge

Feature article,April 7, 2005

Feature article April 7, 2005

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"Rage Against the Municipal Machine" by W.Kenny

Thats the title of an article in the February 2005 magazine Municipal World. Its written by George Cuff, a Management Consultant in municipal matters, and Rick OConnor, Deputy Clerk and Legal Counsel of the City of Ottawa. Part of this article was included in South Frontenac Councils information package this week. Here are some quotes: "Regardless of any other good that a council might do in a term of office, if it does not pay attention to connecting with citizens, the tenure of elected officers will be short indeed. ..If avenues of discussion and debate are not kept open and accessible, it is highly likely that council will hear a public eruption...Ultimately a council and their administration must be mindful of their responsibility to serve the publics needs as expressed through the election, petitions, public hearings, council delegations and the like. Those serving the public must exhibit ...care for community concerns, (and) a desire to seek out the will of the majority...When these are not in evidence, the publics rage may well be expressed by angry outbursts or protests at council meetings, heated exchanges at the front counter, nasty letters to the editor..."

Sound familiar? Meeting after meeting, delegations from the Sydenham Safe Water Association have expressed frustration that their pleas, suggestions and offers of cooperation have been ignored or made fun of. Petitions and presentations asking for traffic calming measures in Sydenham were met by jokes about fast drivers all being local. Offers to help develop a system of trails and connecting roads as a compromise to opening all township roads to ATV use are brushed aside. Letters to council go unanswered. Angry and rude outbursts from the back of the hall are familiar to regular council observers, but have drawn a horrified "Does this sort of thing happen often?" from out-of-township visitors.

Sadly, the positive achievements of South Frontenac Council are being grimly overshadowed by the unfortunate perception that election to public office seems to mean one need never admit to being wrong, or that there just might be a better way of approaching some problems. Granted, a politician can never please everybody, and there come times when unpopular decisions have to be made. But when the same negative patterns repeat so often, it may be time to ask what could be done differently.

Feature article,May 5, 2005

Feature article May 5, 2005

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Muddying the Mitchell Creek waters

by Jeff Green

Three people appeared before South Frontenac Council this week, urging the township to stick to its guns and insist on a simple repair to the Mitchell Creek bridge rather than cede to the wishes of the Federal Department of Transportation and build a larger 1.5 metre high bridge.

While the Council listened to the presentations, Public Works manager Steve Archibald responded for the township by saying I would like to coordinate a group of concerned citizens to deal with mitigation [of the effects of building the higher bridge], which the township has already been moving towards.

While two of the three presenters did talk about mitigation as a last resort, all three exhorted the township to bring the Department of Transportation to heel, and force them to justify their refusal to allow the bridge to remain basically as it is, a one lane bridge that is only high enough for canoes or small boats to pass under.

Lori Gordon spoke on behalf of the Friends of the Mitchell Creek. She outlined a litany of concerns, including the danger and inconvenience the two-month road closing will bring to residents on the far side of the bridge, and the threats to species, notably loons that could come with larger, faster boats on the creek,. As well, she talked of the safety concerns posed by increased driving speeds over a two lane bridge, and of the fact that the footings for the new bridge might eliminate the Mitchell Creek Canoe Launch, which is how campers access some campsites in the adjacent Frontenac Park.

Robert Lovelace then spoke as a representative of the Family Heads Council from the Ardoch Algonquin First Nation. He said that Mitchell Creek was important to Algonquin peoples because it is unspoiled land, land that contains evidence of occupation by Algonquin peoples going back 2,000 years, and we seek to work with our neighbours to maintain the integrity of this territory. He said there are some plants that are important to Algonquin medicines in Mitchell Creek and in the lakes that it leads to, and said the Federal government is forcing what he called incremental development on South Frontenac Council, which is what happened to the Algonquin people 160 years ago, with devastating impact on them.

He then said, You are being indianized by the Federal Government, and urged Council to resist.

Finally Ross Sutherland addressed Council. He brought their attention to section 10 of the Navigable Waterways Protection Act, the very Act being cited by Transport Canada in their insistence that access to the Mitchell Creek waterway be improved with a new bridge.

Section 10. (1) of the Act reads Any lawful work may be rebuilt or repaired if, in the opinion of the Minister, interference with navigation is not increased by the rebuilding or repairing.

It is time to insist that Transportation Canada send a representative to a public meeting to explain why this section of the Act does not apply. It seems to justify repairing the bridge exactly as it is, which would maintain navigation exactly as it is now.

Sutherland exhorted the township to go slow, and said the cost of waiting would not increase the cost of the project in any substantial way.

On this point Public Works Manager Archibald disagreed, pointing out that Timing is a concern. If we dont repair the bridge this fall, it might mean further weight restrictions on the bridge, perhaps meaning limiting use to cars and light trucks. This would be a health and safety concern if ambulance and fire vehicles had to detour around the bridge.

The township has completed an environmental assessment, and plans for commencing construction of a 1.5 metre steel arch culvert in line with Ministry of Transportation demands on September 4 is considered the preferred option at this point. The public has 30 days, from April 30, to request a further environmental impact study from the Ontario Ministry of the Environment on the proposed construction project.

Before the issue was laid aside for Council to proceed with its agenda, Deputy Mayor Hahn told the assembled supporters of the Mitchell Creek activists that he would be presenting a notion of motion later in the meeting, informing Council of his intention to ask them to request a visit from a Transport Canada official to explain to Council and the public why the Mitchell Creek Bridge must be made bigger and not simply repaired.

Feature article,May 5, 2005

Feature article May 5, 2005

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Dick Hook resigns from North Frontenac Council

by Jeff Green

A little over one year after contracting a still undiagnosed illness that has seriously affected his health, Councillor Dick Hook of Barrie district has tendered his resignation from North Frontenac Council, and a replacement will be appointed later this spring.

Hook was away from Council throughout the spring and into late summer, but returned for several months. He has been away from Council for the past couple of months.

Councillor Dave Smith, a friend and colleague of Dick Hook who has served with him on several major committees in previous Councils, such as roads and waste management, described Dick Hook as the dean of North Frontenac Councillors.

Dick Hook served for at least two terms on Barrie Council before North Frontenac was established in 1998, and he was involved as a member of the transition team that helped determine the makeup of the amalgamated township. He was elected to North Frontenac Council from Barrie ward three times, in 1997, 2000, and by acclamation in 2003.

Since the election in 2003, Dick Hook has been joined as Barrie Councillor by rookie Councillor Will Cybulski, and the two often drove together to various meetings.

I certainly appreciate the conversations that we had driving to and from meetings, Cybulski recalls, Dick knew a lot of the background to issues that were coming forward, and that saved a lot of trouble for me.

Dave Smith first began working with Dick Hook on the 911 committee, and that was a ton of work over five years, he said. Every household was visited about five times, and there are a lot of properties in Dicks ward.

Dick Hook has been involved in waste management issues for several years, and has pushed for alternative waste solutions, including the possibility of a jointly owned incinerator with Addington Highlands that is still being pursued by both Councils.

North Frontenac Mayor Ron Maguire said Dick ha always had an eye on economy, which I very much appreciate.

At Council Dick Hook has always had strong opinions, which were not always shared by other Councillors, and he displayed a sharp wit as well.

North Frontenac Township is seeking applicants to replace Dick Hook on Council (see ad on page 13). Preference will be given to applicants from Barrie Ward.

The Municipal act gives us the option of making an appointment or holding a by-election, the latter being expensive. We chose to make an appointment, Ron Maguire said.

During the previous Council, Walter Wilson, a counsellor from Palmerston/Canonto, died while in office, and Dave Smith, who had placed behind Wilson in the election for that council, was appointed as his replacement.

In this case, there was no election in Barrie ward, as both Dick Hook and Will Cybulski were acclaimed, so it is expected that a member of the community at large will be appointed. Interested parties are encouraged to contact the township office at 479-2231.

Feature article,May 5, 2005

Feature article May 5, 2005

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Addington Highlands to approve budget on May 16

by Jeff Green

Addington Highlands Council met on April 18 and on April 2 to discuss the 2005 budget, and deliberations have progressed to the point where Clerk Jack Pauhl can put together the budget for 2005.

The tax rate for the County portion of the tax bill for Addington Highlands ratepayers will be increasing by 10.2% as a result of the approval of the County budget estimates on April 27.

Two thirds of the County tax increase is directly attributable to the growing cost of services transferred from the Province, stated County Warden Clayton McEwen. Even though the two Counties have different structures and scopes, The Lennox and Addington County increase was in line with a 10% increase brought in earlier this year by Frontenac County.

The county levy accounts for about 1/3 of the tax bill, about 1/3 is taken up by the education levy (which will not be increasing in 2005) and the township budget accounts for approximately 1/3 as well.

While Clerk/Treasurer Pauhl did not know what the final tax rate for Addington Highlands was going to be when asked on Monday, just an hour after the budget meeting ended, Reeve Hook did say there would be an increase but it will be minor, only a very few percentage points.

Individual property taxes are determined by the composite tax rate, which is affected by the County, township, and education rates, multiplied by the value of properties as determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. For 2005, most properties in Ontario have been given the same assessment valuations as they had in 2004. The only exceptions are new properties or those that have undergone renovations.

Council supports Petition - In accordance with a request from a business owner at the recent Business Breakfast, Council decided to begin circulating a petition for the implementation of cell phone service from Bell, Rogers or Telus. The petition will be circulated throughout the township, and Reeve Hook said he had received a positive response when he approached Bruce Bateman, the superintendent of Bon Echo Park, about circulating the petitions at the Park, although he said he will have to check with his superiors before going ahead Hook informed Council.

There is also a lack of cell phone service in North Frontenac and AH Council will approach North Frontenac Council about circulating the petition as well.

Feature article,May 12, 2005

Feature article May 12, 2005

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Transportation study underway

by Jeff Green

Sheila Sim has been making the rounds of council chambers in the past week seeking input for a transportation project she has taken on for Northern Frontenac Community Services (NFCS).

Sim was in Sydenham last week; appeared before Central Frontenac Council on Monday; and will be in Plevna on Thursday. She explained to Council that transportation to small and larger centres to deal with social, medical, and other needs has long been recognised as a challenge for poorer residents in the northern Frontenac area.

Although Northern Frontenac Community Services has limited, volunteer-based transportation programs for both adults and children, Sim has been given the mandate to look to other agencies and to the townships to seek transportation solutions for the community as a whole.

So far various models have been considered, and at this point Sheila Sim said she is thinking the program will require a person to do some driving and some organizing. This person would co-ordinate with organizations that have some funding for their volunteer driving services to augment the fee-based service.

Sim told Council that We will be looking for funding to kick start the service, probably through an application for a Trillium grant. She was not looking for money from Council, but said she might come back to Council at a later date looking for a motion of support. In the interim she wanted to hear Councils ideas about transportation.

Council was receptive to Sims presentation, and she was encouraged to contact the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre, the Legions in Sharbot Lake and Arden, and the Lions Club.

One of the reasons cited when the Sharbot Lake Medical Centre was named as Family Health Team were the transportation issues people face having to travel to Kingston and Perth for treatment and diagnosis, said Mayor Bill MacDonald, but it is still 50 km from Plevna to Sharbot Lake, so transportation remains a concern there as well.

A survey had been circulated to Councillors with a request that they fill it in. Well do whatever we can for you, MacDonald said as he handed in his survey, short of spending any money. I might even volunteer to drive, but not until the end of this term of Council.

OTHER COUNCIL NOTES:

Trees at Cenotaph: Council has gratefully accepted a request by Legion Branch 425 that the Legion be allowed to plant hardwood trees on either side of the Cenotaph in front of the Oso Community Hall.

Harassment Policy: A policy designed to ensure that all municipal employees enjoy a work environment that is free of personal and sexual harassment has been adopted by Council. the policy defines different kinds of harassment, and bullying as well, and outlines informal and formal means of rectifying abusive situations.

Building permits up in April: A report from Ian Trickett shows a marked increase in building permits for the month of April as compared to 2004. There were 32 permits issued this April, for a construction value of $1,094,000 as compared to 17 permits for a value of $548,000 one year earlier. However construction activity in 2004 dropped from the level in 2003, when 25 permits were issued for a $961,000 construction value.

So far in 2005, 49 permits have been issued for $1,759,000 worth of construction, which is 40% higher than this time last year and 15% higher than 2003.

Feature article, May 19, 2005

Feature article May 19, 2005

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Eastern OntarioTrails Alliance tries again at North Frontenac Counciland other items from Council

by Jeff Green

Cindy Cassidy of the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA) appeared once again before North Frontenac Council last Thursday, for about the fourth time in the past year she recounted, to propose a partnership between North Frontenac and EOTA.

Cassidy outlined the success EOTA has had in promoting tourism through the development of trails for ATV touring. Through partnerships with municipalities, EOTA has developed an ATV trail system that links communities such as Bancroft, Tweed, Belleville to Sharbot Lake and the edge of Perth and North to Calabogie.

EOTA is interested in working out an arrangement whereby its members, who pay a $125 annual fee, can obtain legal access to the Crown Land roads that are managed by North Frontenac under an agreement with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Currently, the township charges $40 for non-residents and $20 for residents to make use of Crown Land access roads either with cars, trucks, or ATVs.

In exchange Cassidy said that EOTA would provide funding for road maintenance on those Crown Land roads.

EOTA has been a government funding magnet. Cindy Cassidy described a $160,000 marketing campaign that is underway this year through ATV Ontario, with billboard ads in major centres, heavily distributed maps, and other advertising initiatives.

Council expressed concerns that entering into a partnership with EOTA would jeopardise the revenue they currently receive through the Crown Land Stewardship Programme.

To this Cindy Cassidy responded by saying, We are prepared to help with maintenance costs. We need you to let us know what kind of arrangement would be in your interests and we can work something out.

Other concerns of Council centred on the environmental impact of ATVs on a sensitive wilderness area.

Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke said if we do increase ATV use, there is a danger that the Madawaska Highlands Land Use Committee might shut it down. There are various environmental sensitivities within the area.

There is an ATV club that has its base in North Frontenac, The Ottawa Valley ATV club, which has 100 members currently, according to its President, Michael Pastor. The club buys crown land passes from North Frontenac for all its members, and they also join EOTA, allowing them to ride in North Frontenac and throughout the EOTA trails network. Pastor appeared at Council with Cindy Cassidy, encouraging Council to take up a partnership with EOTA to make things simpler for his association, and as a way of promoting ATV trails and tourism in North Frontenac.

Currently, Pastor told the News in a subsequent interview, members of the Ottawa Valley ATV club pay a $110 membership fee. The club then purchases a $40 pass from North Frontenac and pays $60 to EOTA for a pass to the EOTA trail system.

But it is a cumbersome system, Pastor said. Its in everyones interest for people to join ATV clubs, participate in proper trail etiquette and pay a share of trail costs. Wed like to see the township move in that direction by partnering with the Eastern Ontario Trails Association.

The greatest economic impact of the Ottawa Valley club in North Frontenac is in Ompah, where on some weekends Alices place is really hopping and Double S Marina has line-ups for gas. The impact is minimal in villages like Plevna, which do not have trail access.

People can get to Plevna by riding the roads, (North Frontenac passed a bylaw permitting ATVs on roads this past winter), but nobody wants to ride the roads; we prefer trails, Pastor said.

Councillor Will Cybulski expressed the concern that the roads in question are managed by the township, under an agreement with the Ministry of Natural Resources, to enable access to camping and fishing locations on Crown land. Our agreement says nothing about ATV trails, or ATV tourism. We would have to get an opinion from the MNR before we went ahead and changed the use of the roads, Cybulski said.

A report from the Crown Land Stewardship Program Committee recommending that the township refuse to enter into an agreement with EOTA was scheduled for consideration by Council later in last weeks meeting, but since Cindy Cassidy had brought new information about potential benefits to the township that could come with a partnership, it was decided the committee should reconsider the matter.

The Crown Land Stewardship Program, which was intended as a break-even program for the township, has lost money every year since it has been in place.

Clar/Mil Fire Hall Report

The Fire Hall Task force brought another report to Council. They recommended that Council revisit a Request For Proposal process they had undertaken a couple of months ago in order to solicit proposals for pre-engineered buildings. The previous process had been for design of a renovation to an existing building and the construction of a new building. One of the bidders submitted an extra proposal for a pre-engineered building that proved attractive, and the task force would like to see further proposals for that type of structure. Council is in the throes of a difficult budgeting process; they have had several long meetings on the budget in recent weeks, and a public meeting scheduled for two days after the council meeting, so they decided to defer any further decisions on the Clar/Mil Fire Hall until after the public meeting. Budget deliberations should be completed by the end of May. Any consideration of a large project like Firehall will be dependent on the townships financial position. So far Council has approved, but not spent, $24,000 for the design stage of the project. $8,000 of that money is being supplied by fundraising dollars from the Clar/Mil Ladies Fire Auxiliary.

At the public meeting on May 14, the Fire Hall issue was discussed at length, with proponents and opponents of the new Fire Hall Project arguing their case.

Policing Task Force Will Cybulski presented the final report of a Task Force on Policing that has been meeting throughout the winter. The township has at its disposal two options as regards policing arrangements with the Ontario Provincial Police. They system already in place, which is known as status quo policing, by which the OPP provides a level of service determined by their current practices, or a policing contract, through which the township could pay for whatever level of service they deem necessary. Given the size of the township, and its tax base, the task force concluded that a policing contract would increase the policing budget by several hundred thousand dollars each year, and recommended maintaining the current arrangement, with one alteration. It recommended that the township set up a Community Policing Advisory Committee to meet with the OPP detachment on a regular basis. A motion to that effect was passed, and will be forwarded to the OPP to start the ball rolling on setting up a committee.

Replacement Councillor

The deadline for applications to replace Councillor Hook, who recently resigned, is today, May 19. As of Tuesday, there were reports that two people were applying for the job. Council is expected to appoint a Councillor quickly, perhaps this afternoon.

Feature article, May 19, 2005

Feature article May 19, 2005

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Addington Highlands approves 2005 budget

by Jule Koch Brison

The tax rate for the Township of Addington Highlands will basically stay the same for 2005 after Council approved the 2005 Budget at its May 16 meeting in Denbigh.

However, due to a 10.2% increase in County taxes, which accounts for 1/3 of the tax levy, ratepayers will see higher tax bills.

The increase would have averaged about $50 per household; however Addington Highlands has also received a one-time $51,000 provincial grant, which is mostly an adjustment for 2003 and 2004 policing costs.

Council decided, in a 3 to 2 vote, to take $10,000 out that grant and apply it to offsetting the tax increase. This will reduce the increase by around $10 per household.

Councillors Eythel Grant and Bill Cox opposed the decision, arguing that a $10 break for taxpayers is minor and the entire grant should be put into general fund reserves.

Deputy Reeve Lorraine Berger said, It might not sound like much, but it could mean a lot to some people. Reeve Hook and Councillor Louise Scott agreed, and a motion to apply $10,000 to decrease the tax levy and put the remaining $41,000 into reserves was passed.

In the end, County residential taxes have been increased from $471 (for every $100,000 in assessment) in 2004 to $522.50 in 2005, while township taxes have been decreased from $679 in 2004 to $674.80 in 2005. The education tax rate has remained the same at $296.

This will result in a cumulative tax rate of $1,493.30 for every $100,000 of property assessment, an increase of $47.

Delegations: EOTA seeks ATV loops in AH

Cindy Cassidy, General Manager of the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, and Andy Anderson, owner of the Kaladar Hotel and Restaurant came to council, seeking the use of certain AH roads to make bigger loops for ATV travel in the growing multi-use trails network.

The roads include the Old Addington Road from Kaladar to Flinton, the ODonnell Road, the Flinton Road, and others.

Reeve Hook pointed out that ATVs are not allowed on the Flinton Road, as it is a County road, but Cindy Cassidy said that EOTA would ask the countys permission to use it since it is north of Hwy 7.

EOTA carries $5 million in liability insurance, and the townships solicitor will examine EOTAs insurance policy. If we would be in the clear, then theres no reason why we shouldnt endorse this, said Reeve Hook.

Cindy Cassidy stressed that EOTA volunteers work very hard to keep the trails safe for ATV travel, keeping them well signed, cutting brush, fixing holes, etc., and EOTA also pays for some of the maintenance to be done. ATV use is growing 4 to 1 over snowmobiles, and trail permits are expected to generate over $120,000 this year. This will greatly help in maintaining the trails.

Cindy Cassidy told of a motel in Tweed that has tripled its business since it adopted ATV packages. Andy Anderson said that at his business, Im turning away about 50 ATVers a week that would like to go north. They turn around and go back down. This is so important for the economy.

Cindy Cassidy said that the Trails Alliance works closely with the local OPP detachments and health units to educate riders and promote ATV safety. The Canadian ATV Association is also developing an environmental program.

Council will wait to hear from the townships solicitor about the insurance issue.

Later in the council meeting, Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath wondered if the township could have a quid pro quo arrangement with EOTA whereby landowners could also use the trails to access their properties.

LITTERING

Councillor Cox is looking for ideas on how to stop littering. He asked if the fines could be raised, but Reeve Hook said that the amount of fines have to be approved by the Attorney Generals office. Cox even considered a Snitch Line, but Reeve Hook said that informants would have to testify and it basically would come down to one persons word against another. Councillors agreed that it was necessary to educate the children. Denbigh Public School students have recently cleaned up the village, but Reeve Hook said he was appalled by the amount of garbage at NAEC.

Feature article, May 19, 2005

Feature article May 19, 2005

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South Frontenac Council

br Wilma Kenny

South Frontenac Council cleared the way for recycling pick-up in Loughborough and Portland districts with two resolutions Tuesday evening. One authorized the Sustainability Committee and the Public Works Manager to negotiate a contract with Percy Snider for collecting recycling. Snider was the low bidder in a recent tender call. The other approved purchase of blue boxes, bag tags, composting bins and information hand-outs to facilitate both recycling and household composting programs. In order to encourage recycling, the three districts with garbage collection will provide households with 100 bag tags each a year. Residents will be required to purchase more bag tags if needed. Loughborough and Portland households will be given one large blue box each, and may buy additional blue boxes. (Storrington already provides both garbage and blue box pick-up to its residents, and Bedford offers neither.) The Province requires the entire Township to encourage household composting through both education and provision of reasonably priced compost bins. To this end, Council has agreed to order 75 Earth Machine compost bins which will be offered for sale to residents on a first come, first serve basis. (The original committee recommendation had been for 200 bins, but several councillors feared there would be very little demand for them.) This particular bin is the one offered by the city of Kingston to its residents. It has a large capacity, good security against animals, is constructed of recycled plastic and includes an excellent information booklet. Interested residents can place their orders at the township office.

Council commended Terry Shea, of Land OLakes Tourism for their excellent area map and visitor guide, both of which are available throughout Frontenac and Lennox and Addington.

Judy Reynolds asked to see the by-law that made trailers illegal in Portland district. Councillor Hahn read out the relevant parts, and Councillor Smith suggested that Reynolds trailer, which was built in 1970, and was on the property when the Reynolds purchased it in 1994, might well have been placed on the property prior to 1979, when the anti-trailer by-law was enacted. If Reynolds can provide proof of this, her trailer would be considered a legal non-conforming use, and could stay, as long as she pays the required annual fee. Mayor Lake said Council has agreed to a temporary freeze on removing trailers, until they can review the by-law.

R&D Nelson General Maintenance of Sydenham was awarded a three-year contract to clean the Township building in the village.

Only councillor Barr was in favour of a resolution that would have approved Sunday deer hunting, although there was general agreement that the deer population was reaching nuisance levels. Most felt that it would be advisable to raise the number of deer which hunters would be allowed to kill, but no action was taken.

Feature article, May 26, 2005

Feature article May 26, 2005

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Sunday hunting shot down again

by Jeff Green

Bill Guigue doesnt give up easily.

The Central Frontenac Councillor was so incensed by the decision of Council several weeks ago to reject calls from the Ministry of Natural Resources for townships to legalize Sunday Gun hunting, that he took the unusual step of requesting that council bring the matter back up for discussion.

That required a two-thirds majority, and Council chose to accommodate Bill Guigue by agreeing to bring the matter back on the table.

Guigue then implored Council to pass the resolution in favour of Sunday hunting, saying the reasons given for rejecting the proposal in the first place were totally off the point. Remember, it is a proposal to allow hunting on private land. The argument about bird watchers not being able to do their bird watching is wrong. Logan Murray can watch all he birds he wants on his own land. This Sunday hunting would be the best thing the township could do for economic development. It would bring more people into the township.

Councillor Logan Murray said, The problem is that people dont know where the boundaries are between different peoples land, and Crown land. My own land is 1,000 feet wide by a mile and half long. Rifles can fire more than 1,000 feet. By the way I only said Bird Watchers might come into the township as tourists just as hunters come in. Im not a birdwatcher, the only birds I watch are at the end of a shotgun.

Mayor MacDonald reiterated his position that it would be preferable if Crown land were included in this proposal because hunters dont know where private land ends and Crown land begins.

I will support the motion, mind you, he said. Dont forget folks, were not just talking about the Sunday in the middle of Deer hunting season here. Were talking all hunting seasons, from September 1st to mid January. This time Sunday Gun hunting garnered four votes in favour while four Councillors voted against. The tie vote meant the motion was defeated. Councillor Bill Snyder was absent.

Confusion over tender

Council considered several tenders, all of which were straightforward, save one. It was decided to award contracts for a truck cab and chassis to the Kingston Truck Centre for $99,414.26, and for plow equipment to Champion Road Machinery at a cost of $72,144. The total cost of $171,558 is within the budgeted framework of $190,000 for the purchase.

A tender for cutting the grass on over 550 kilometres of township roads was awarded to the lowest bidder, Scotts Snow Ploughing and Grass Cutting, at a cost of $13,600, which is also within the budget of $15,000 for grass cutting.

Council had difficulty, however, in deciding about the tender for surface treating of roads. Smith Construction, which has done all the resurfacing work for the township in the past, submitted a bid for $294,000.

Rockwell, a company out of London, Ontario, submitted a substantially lower bid that no one in the township, including the Public Works Manager, had ever heard of. The Public Works Manager solicited a list of work completed by Rockwell, and had received the list back in time for the meeting, but had not yet phoned the customers to confirm the quality of the work.

We normally pay 10% of these contracts up front by certified cheque; the rest is paid upon a satisfactory completion of the project Nicol said in answer to a question from Councillor Guigue about how the township safeguards itself when entering into construction contracts.

After kicking the matter around, Council decided to award the tender to Rockwell, subject to a check on references by Public Works Manager Bill Nicol.

Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre request refused

Ann Marie Wilson of The Katarokwi Native Friendship Centre sent a letter to Council requesting support for a funding application for an aboriginal community development worker and a nurse practitioner.

The goal is the provision of culturally appropriate primary health care services to the off-reserve aboriginal population of Southeastern Ontario Wilson wrote. The letter noted that recent census data puts this population at approximately 10,000.

The two workers would be based in North Kingston, and both positions would involve extensive community outreach work to establish links and work with other community groups and agencies involved in service delivery and/or health promotion programs, Wilson wrote.

I think we need to improve health care services for everyone, said Councillor Bob Harvey.

I would like to se us approve this, said Mayor Bill MacDonald, its similar to what is taking place with the Family Health Care Team in Sharbot Lake.

The vote on sending a letter of support was split 4-4, and was declared defeated.

Hiring Policy

Council spent about 45 minutes debating the current hiring policy, and two proposals for changes, one contained in a resolution from Councillor Logan Murray, and one contained in a staff report by Chief Administrative Officer Heather Fox.

At issue was Council involvement in the hiring of department heads and supervisory personnel. In the end only Councillor Murray supported his own motion, and the staff proposal was declared defeated after another tied vote, 4 in favour and 4 against.

Staff will continue to submit proposals until Council finds something that they can support, said Heather Fox.