Feature Article - October 27, 2005

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October 27, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Township easing into major role with Railway Museum

by Jeff Green

Norm Landry, the chair of the Central Frontenac Railway Museum Committee, came to Central Frontenac Council this week to give an update on recent efforts by the committee, as he has several times in the past. The last time the Railway Museum Committee appeared before Council, Council voted to approve in principle the building of a railway museum/library.

But this time Norm Landry wanted a commitment from council to actually make the project happen.

While he didn’t walk away with a formal commitment on this occasion, he might have one in as little as two weeks. Council passed a resolution asking township staff to work out how the township can offer assistance to the venture.

In the past year, as Norm Landry informed Council this week, the railway museum has conducted a membership drive. “To date we have over 200 members signed up, which we consider to be a great success.”

“We intend to proceed, in the new year, with plans for a broadly based fundraising campaign,” according to Landry’s report to Council, but “before we do so, we need certain undertakings to be made by Council.”

The museum committee made several requests of Council. First, it asks that Council provide a building site for the railway museum. The site where the Sharbot Lake railway station originally stood is owned by the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR), and the committee has so far been frustrated in its attempt to get the CPR to reveal whether it is wiling to part with the land. There is a parcel of land adjacent to the CPR land that is owned by the township, and this site would also be suitable for the museum.

The committee also requested that the township grant extra land for outdoor displays and storage. As well, the township is being asked to agree to buy the museum, for a nominal fee, once it is built, and to commit to maintain it as a museum. The museum committee would be free to oversee museum programming and its collection of railway memorabilia.

The committee also requested that it become a committee of Council, so that its activities could then be covered under the township’s liability insurance.

In bringing these requests to Council, Landry said, “Without these basic assurances from Council, our Committee is of the opinion that further progress on this project will be severely compromised if not entirely curtailed.” As a whole, Council was receptive to the Railway Museum’s requests as a package, with one notable exception: Councillor Bob Harvey said he opposes the Railway Museum entirely.

“I’m not in favour of the museum,” he said, “even though I grew up across the road from the railroad and recognise how important the railway is in our history. But, if you look at the Smiths Falls [Railway] Museum, you see that is not an attractive building, and it does not bring in the tourists, either. I do not think that, in the long run, it would be an asset for the community.”

“We don’t intend to put up an ugly building,” a surprised Norm Landry responded.

In contrast to Harvey, most of the other councillors were supportive, and understood that the township will be required to start putting resources into the project.

The fact that the museum is connected to the building of a new library carries an extra benefit for Mayor Bill MacDonald.

“We realize that we are in need of more administrative space,” said Mayor MacDonald, referring to the space taken up currently by the public library in the basement of the township office. We also have a library that is bursting at the seams. This project might help us to solve our own space problems.”

Councillors Jack Nicolson and Logan Murray again expressed concerns that a new library in Sharbot Lake had been connected in a library consultant’s report to the closing of libraries elsewhere in the township, but Mayor Bill MacDonald again assured them that those concerns are unfounded.

“I’ve been a member of the library board for 18 years,” MacDonald countered, “and I can assure everyone that none of the libraries in Central Frontenac will be closing.”

Staff was directed to evaluate the museum committee’s requests and prepare a township response for the next meeting of Council.

Feature Article - October 20, 2005

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October 20, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Fire Ladies want back in the loop:North FrontenacCouncil report

by Jule Koch Brison

The Clar-Mill Volunteer Ladies Fire Auxiliary, which has committed $100,000 towards the building of a new fire hall, sent a letter to council last week asking about the status of the fire hall project.

The township has been developing plans for a new Fire Hall for over a year, and up until this past May it seemed as if the Fire Hall would be located at Buckshot Road in Plevna, at a former Ministry of Natural Resources property that the township owns. That was the recommendation of a Fire Hall Task Force that Council had set up. However, before making a final decision and setting up a Request for Proposal process, Council had second thoughts, deciding to begin exploring the possibility of building a Fire Hall where the current Fire Hall is located, at the township office site on Road 506.

The letter from the Fire Ladies asked why the swing was made and said that rumours are rampant in the community that it was made because renovations to the township offices have superseded plans for the fire hall. “It’s time we communicated,” the letter concluded.

While the possibility of renovating the township offices had been discussed earlier, it seems the architect that the township hired to look at the possibility has said it is not advisable to go that route. The architect is preparing a final report, which will include a building plan and a site plan for the fire hall.

“Essentially we are waiting for the architect’s final report,” said Mayor Ron Maguire.

Councillor Will Cybulski, apologizing in advance for possibly stepping on anyone’s toes, asked for clarification on one point in the letter. He asked if the Fire Ladies were really saying in their letter that they would contribute $100,000 - provided the fire hall was built on Buckshot Lake Road.

Mayor Maguire replied, “I don’t think that’s the case. The former fire chief assured us he didn’t care; as long as a fire hall was built, they would contribute no matter where.”

Gertie MacDonald, President of the Fire Ladies, was in attendance at the meeting, and Mayor Maguire looked over at her for confirmation. She nodded in agreement.

Councillor Bud Clayton assured Gertie MacDonald that plans for the fire hall were not being shelved so the township office could be bigger and more grandiose, and that there would be a new fire hall.

Mayor Ron Maguire said that a reply would be drafted for the next council meeting, thanking the Fire Ladies for all their help and updating them on the chronology of events so far.

In a subsequent interview, Mayor Maguire said that once the architect’s report is received, the township would move forward with the project.

“We had been hoping to break ground this fall, but that is now unlikely. We do expect to have a request for proposal process underway by the end of this year, and that construction will be under way in the spring.”

Maguire also said that renovations to the existing township office, and plans for the space that will be vacated by the fire department when they move into the new building are excluded from the project at this time.

With a municipal election coming up in November of next year, Maguire said Council is determined to be finished their own work on the contentious Clar/Mill Fire Hall long before the campaigning starts.

Special Service Medal - Councillor Clayton was presented with a Special Service Medal with NATO bar for his service with NATO in Germany from November 1957 to October 1960.

MPAC - Beverly Disney, a Municipal Relations Representative from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) gave a presentation on the changes in property assessments. She said that assessments are based on market values, and when property owners get their assessments there is only one question they should ask, namely: “Could I reasonably expect to sell my property for this amount on the open market in its present condition?” If the answer is yes, then the assessment is correct. If no, they should contact MPAC and file a request for reconsideration, and/or contact the Assessment Review Board (ARB), an office of the Attorney General that is separate from MPAC. Disney said, “We’re here to work with you; we’re here to get it right.”

The assessment increases in North Frontenac are: residential 21.87%; commercial 27.07%; industrial, 18.02%; and farmland 32.04%, for an average increase of 21.70%. The surprising increase in farmland assessments is due to higher farmer-to-farmer sale prices.

The new assessments will be used to calculate municipal taxes for 2006.

Pond dried up - Don and Carolyn Ferguson presented council with photos of damage to their pond, which they say was done by the township when it attempted to lower the water level to avoid flooding of the road. The Fergusons said it was senseless to lower the pond just as the dry weather began; that it had been done in other years without problems, but this time the pond was gone and so were the beavers. The Fergusons had an agreement allowing township workers to enter their property and lower water levels, and asked for the agreement to be torn up.

Councillor Clayton asked if it were acceptable that no work would be done on the Fergusons’ property in future unless they were in attendance and Council agreed that they wanted a cooperative relationship.

The Fergusons also brought up maintenance of the Crotch Lake Access Road, saying there is no question that it is a township road. They also said there is no Stop sign or 9-1-1 sign there. Mayor Maguire said that council would look into the issues and get back to them.

Waste Water reinspection - Council has signed a septic agreement with Mississippi Valley Conservation that officially starts the township’s waste water program. There are 30 properties to be inspected this year; 100 next year and 100 the year after.

Minimum Funding thresholds - Thirty-seven municipalities have declared their support for a resolution drafted by Mayor Maguire, that minimum capital program funding thresholds be established for the smallest rural municipalities, which are less able than larger municipalities to bear the burdens of maintaining roads and bridges, and funding social programs.

Paving deferred - The Sand Lake Road and River Road construction projects will be completed in 2006. The roads have been prepared for paving, but the public works manager recommended that some construction areas be allowed to settle through a winter before paving takes place.

New Slogan - A graphic and slogan by Wendy Higgins has been chosen to be used in marketing North Frontenac. The graphic shows symbols of each of the four seasons, with the slogan “Four seasons Four reasons, North Frontenac … anytime!”

Feature Article - October 20, 2005

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October 20, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Letters to the Editor:October 20, 2005

Sydenham water – does anyone know where this project is going?

Township council has a bylaw in place to proceed with “safe water” for Sydenham village with the costs being borne by the small group receiving the “benefit.”

Now (October 6, page 3) the local MPP “sees the light” where the entire township should share this cost.

Is council now going to change the bylaw to involve the entire township? Will there be public meetings to allow all residents to voice their opinions on this project?

What do the elected officials plan to do about the fact that ground water will continue to be polluted by the end product of municipal “safe” water?

This is an ill-conceived plan to correct the problem of polluted ground water.

- Robert Fish, Harrowsmith

Superior local service

This letter is to express my gratitude and delight with the superior service I received from ‘Doug’s Antenna’ this week. After 19 months of frustration with Bell ExpressVu, I found it necessary to call in an ‘outsider’. Doug’s Antenna was able to fit me in within three days. They showed up exactly on time and proved to be friendly, competent and professional. It seemed they were happy to “go the extra mile” to satisfy me. In spite of all that, I was still amazed when I came home the next day and found a remote left at my door, with Doug’s business card, as a replacement for the faulty one that Bell would NOT replace.

I strongly recommend that anyone thinking of buying a Bell ExpressVu satellite system buy it from Doug’s Antenna!

- Jody Duffy

Inverary Water – 3 Strikes, You’re Out

In reference to the recent Inverary water crisis, I would like to point out a few things:

First, the people of the Sydenham Water Area, in an overwhelming majority of 92%, tell the South Frontenac Council, in no uncertain terms, to stay out of the water issue. In fact we have told them not once, but many, many times, in many many ways.

And what does our mayor and council do? They completely IGNORE the people and take full control, to the point of appearing like an autocratic dictatorship, then ram an inappropriate solution to the problem down our throats. Steeerrrrike One.

Second, the costs of the Sydenham project are skyrocketing out of control, from the initial estimate of $5.6 million, with an estimated people’s share of $800,000, to the now staggering estimate of $8.2 million, with an outrageous $3.2 million share for the people. So the people of Sydenham, other people in the township and our MPP Leona Dombrowsky have asked, multiple times, in multiple ways, to spread the costs of this project across the township.

And what does our mayor and council do? They completely IGNORE the people, and maintain their incredibly stubborn stance of making the people of Sydenham pay the bulk of the township’s share of this project. Steeerrrrike Two.

Third, recently, at least seven homes in Inverary have some tragic water issues. These people, and their neighbours, bless them, all ask council to help them with this crisis.

So what does our illustrious mayor and council do? They not only completely IGNORE the people, but they pull an amazing public 180 degree contradiction and tell the people that water is not their jurisdiction? Huh? I must have a hearing problem OR does this council only get involved in water issues when it suits them?

In the last three years of having to fight with our council over the Sydenham water project, we have been told repeatedly to the point of nausea that this council had to do something about the water in Sydenham. But now when the people of Inverary are actually in a crisis situation they are being told the exact OPPOSITE? Steeerrrrike Three.

Mayor Lake and those on Council supporting him, YOU’RE OUT.

You can either start listening to the people now, or you can listen to us in the next election when we unanimously vote for someone who is actually willing to operate in the PEOPLE’S best interest.

- David Waugh, South Frontenac elector

Re:Harrowsmith closing

My first thought when I read about the closing of the cheese factory in Harrowsmith was: why don't the employees buy the place and return to making local cheeses? Then, I found out that it's all about the milk quota. We used to have cheese factories in just about every village. Then the big boys (Kraft, etc.) started buying these small locations, and before you knew it, the local factory was closed, but the milk quota stayed with the big boys who moved the quota to one of their big operations where it was more efficient(?). It certainly gave them more economic clout. I'm sure that Saputo Inc. will not transfer all 89 jobs being lost to other plants. The purpose is to improve efficiency, after all. And, will they pay to transfer those families to their other locations? Or would employees have to take the chance that once they have paid the cost of a move, that their new jobs would not be declared redundant or moved to another location? Big business is all about the bottom line. We can never forget that.

Is there a homemade solution to Harrowsmilh's dilemma without having to acquire expensive milk quota? I understand that the Harrowsmith facility could be used to produce bottled milk and ice cream without having to buy quota. The dairy closest to Kingston is Reid's in Belleville. With the cost of fuel going through the roof, it might be economically viable for local dairy farmers to purchase the Harrowsmith facility, perhaps as a co-operative.

Another question I have is: why do cheese factories have to have milk quota? The dairy farmer has milk quota which allows him/her to sell a set amount of milk. What purpose is served by having cheese factories own milk quota as well? Especially now that there are so very few cheese factories left in Ontario. Could a way be found to give milk quota at no cost to special bodies (such as co-ops) under contract?

I imagine any solution would require help from government, either as grants, loan guarantees, whatever. I hope that the stakeholders will get together (local council, dairy farmers, businesses) and see what viable solution this community can come up with.

- Irene Backholm, Amherstview

Ontario Municipal Taxes

The Ontario government’s answer to downloading of tax burden from the federal government was to pass the load on to municipal levels along with increased responsibility and a new property assessment scheme described as a “fair taxation system”.

One has to ask, however, under this “fair taxation system”, are the municipal taxes paid in Central Frontenac--mostly by waterfront property owners--intended to be 1) a tax for services provided; 2) a wealth tax; or 3) simply a tax grab by the Ontario government?

If it is the first, why is there such a disparity of services in the township? Many lakefront property owners, paying disproportionately high taxes, have none of today’s basic communication services: no maintained roads, no mail delivery, no internet access. Without municipally maintained roads they, of course, do not have ready access to other municipal services such as fire, police, and health care. Central Frontenac taxes seem to go primarily to support an extensive road network that does not reach most of the heaviest taxed property owners.

If municipal taxes are intended to be a wealth tax, why again are the rates so different across the province? In Toronto, where most of the MPs who brought in this system live, the tax rate is only 0.88895%, whereas it is 1.513% in Central Frontenac, nearly double.

I might add that the Toronto taxes provide a much higher level of services including support for a public transportation system.

One can conclude that the answer must be #3, simply another tax grab by a provincial government that does not see beyond its capital city. One could also conclude from these facts that it is the rural municipalities, not the big cities, that need support from the federal infrastructure initiative.

- Roger Henry, Sharbot Lake

Feature Article - October 20, 2005

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October 20, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

South Frontenac Council report

by Wilma Kenny

Road Show Cancelled Due to Lack of Interest Mayor Lake announced that this would be the last regular Council meeting held outside the township hall in Sydenham. Since amalgamation, the second meeting of the month has traditionally been rotated throughout the district, to Bedford, Portland and Storrington, although very few residents come out to these meetings. One Storrington ratepayer complained that this made it awkward for local residents to attend Council meetings. He was assured that if there were an issue of strong interest to a particular area of the Township, Council would be prepared to meet in that district.

MOE Approves Mitchell Creek BridgeL. Broten, Minister of the Environment, has notified the Township (October 13) that it may proceed with replacement of the Mitchell Creek Bridge, without having to carry out an individual environmental assessment. The MOE will however require the Township to apply for boat speed restrictions in the bridge area, and to erect signs advising boats to proceed with caution, indicating that the area surrounding the bridge is a sensitive wildlife area. As well, the Township must hire a consultant to conduct an inventory of the area, to determine whether there are "Species at Risk or other sensitive wildlife" in the area. If such are identified, the Township must prepare and implement a protection plan under the supervision of the Ministry of Natural Resources. Fulfilment of these requirements is to be reported to the MOE.

Waste Management/Recycling DecisionsCouncil passed a by-law approving a schedule of fees for tires, appliances, furniture, etc brought to local waste disposal sites. As of November 1st, brush and leaves will no longer be accepted at any of the sites. Residents are reminded that all garbage bags must be tagged: as of November 1st, any untagged bags will be reported to the By-law Enforcement Officer for investigation. All residences have been issued enough tags for an average of two bags per week: additional tags will cost $3. It is intended that this enforcement of a garbage limit will encourage residents to recycle as much waste as possible, which in turn will lower the township’s overall waste management costs. On November 1st, the hours of operation for the Portland Site will be reduced to Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, and the recycling depots in Portland and Loughborough will close. Percy Snider has been awarded the contract for pick up and disposal of recyclables in the districts of Portland and Loughborough.

Here, Kitty, Kitty...Council receives a wad of information material each month that usually doesn’t require action. This month, they learned that although the official position of the Ministry of Natural Resources is that there are no wild cougars or pumas in the Oro-Medonte area (between Barrie and Orillia,) the Ontario Puma Foundation thinks otherwise. And so does the farmer in that area who’s claiming compensation for the killing of livestock by a cougar.

Suspicious Group Reported Hanging Around Cars Police followed up on this report, to find "a group of seniors had gathered to discuss the finer points of their vehicles."

Feature Article - October 13, 2005

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October 13, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Letters to the Editor:October 13, 2005

What can't we build on Sharbot Lake?

Nothing--according to our local councillors--9000 square feet or 9 feet from the water, it does not seem to matter to our local council. When are they going to start following the guidelines, you know--the guidelines and by-laws that are put in place to be followed? These by-laws are not recommendations--they are requirements, set in place so that if we have a council that cannot make an acute decision, they can fall back on the laws that are written in black and white. Our council does not use the by-laws, I guess? The days of breaking the law are done...I thought.

An update from the town council meeting held on September 27 regarding a minor variance for a building being built 15 meters from the high water mark on Sharbot Lake: Yes, Sharbot Lake, that sensitive ecological lake that is soon to become overcrowded with row housing such as the area in question on the west basin. Maybe the problem is with the definition of the word ‘minor’ meaning "as small as possible, lesser or comparatively small in size or importance." This was a major variance which there is no application for! Fifteen meters of a 30 meter setback is not a minor variance; thus the simplicity of a quick and majority ruling. I thought once again. The probability of Frontenac County going to a 60 meter set back in the next few years is imminent and yet we are approving 15 metre setbacks. We don't even need to talk about the rear and side setbacks, which look like something right out of an urban planned subdivision.

We need to nurture the lake, as it is a living and breathing organism that interacts with its physical surroundings. The interaction of people with the lake is critical to the future of our town. Hence the development of the Conservation Authority, who also missed the boat on this, as did council. I am glad I do not have to look back at the overcrowded lake and account for any of the decisions that were made to lead it to its demise.

My apologies are sent out to all the neighbors of the newly approved sub-division and all residents who live on Sharbot Lake.

- Eric Dinelle, Sharbot Lake

Lower the gas taxes

While soaring gas prices at the pump are a function of an international market there are still things that our government could, and should do to ease the burden on Canadians. Lower the gas taxes!

The Federal Liberal Government is currently awash in surplus tax income (over 9$ billion) and yet the government is refusing to return any of it to the Canadian taxpayer. A great deal of this surplus is due to gas taxes - we pay the 7% GST on top of the 10% gas excise tax (a tax on a tax). We are also still paying a 1.5 per litre "temporary" deficit-reducing tax, introduced by Paul Martin back in 1995. Martin likes to brag that he eliminated the deficit, so why won’t he eliminate the temporary tax?

Canadians deserve, and should be demanding, an overall tax reduction, and specifically a gas tax reduction. Canadians have the right, and the intelligence, to decide how to spend their own money -and surplus tax dollars belong to Canadian taxpayers, not to the Government!

- Bill Dyke

Feature Article - October 13, 2005

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October 13, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

CentralFrontenac reverses decision on mapping

by Jeff Green

Art Dunham of the FEP Art Dunham and Glenn Jackson of the Frontenac Environmental Partnership have been coming to meetings of Central Frontenac for over a year, in what has often seemed like a futile attempt to convince the Council to allow them a view of mapping data the Council receives from the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) for an internet-based lake planning tool for their member lake associations.

This week their persistence paid off as Council decided, in a unanimous vote, to allow the data to be released to them.

The story goes back to the spring of 2004, when Art Dunham made a series of presentations to Councils in Frontenac and Lanark Counties about an application of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) that would enable waterfront property owners to access maps that include all the properties surrounding their lakes, and allow data to be added to those maps. This data can include water quality information, the location of fish spawning beds, septic information, and other data that can be of use for conservation efforts. This application had been well received by cottage associations, and many joined the Frontenac Environmental Partnership, the group Dunham had developed this computer program for.

In order for the system to work as it was designed, the Frontenac Environmental Partnership required the land parcel mapping information that the townships received from MPAC. MPAC is publicly owned corporation that is funded by a levy from the townships it provides assessment information for. All municipalities in Ontario use MPAC’s services.

Art Dunham’s proposal was warmly received by all the townships he approached, who all agreed to release their mapping data to the Frontenac Environmental Partnership and the electronic mapping application has been up and running for FEP member lake associations in North and South Frontenac and Tay Valley Township. Not so in Central Frontenac, however.

Township staff pointed out that the contract Central Frontenac has with MPAC prohibits the release of the land parcel mapping that they provide to the township. No amount of cajoling from Art Dunham, and later from Glen Jackson, the President of the FEP and of the Silver Lake Property Owners Association, could change Council’s mind.

Earlier this year, Jackson and Dunham came back to Council again, this time armed with some new information. It seems that there is a loophole in the contact that MPAC has with the township as regards the parcel mapping data. The township is allowed to share the information with outside contractors that the township engages. Jackson and Dunham proposed that the township enter into a contract with the FEP regarding the use of this data.

This proposal was ultimately rejected by Council, after seeking an opinion from Beverly Disney, the municipal representative from MPAC. In a letter to Council, Disney described the proposal as an attempt to go “through the back door” to get around the stipulations of the contract MPAC has with Central Frontenac over parcel mapping.

The matter seemed closed. However, the FEP folks kept at it, and on July 5 of this year a meeting took place between the FEP, township staff, and Beverly Disney. Subsequently Disney wrote a new opinion, which Council received as an in camera document at a meeting in September. Terry Kennedy, the President of the Kennebec Lake Association, spoke directly to Beverly Disney about the contents of the letter. She told him on the phone, later confirming via email, that “should the municipality of Central Frontenac feel that there is a requirement to utilise the services of an outside source to enable the township to conduct their business, then the option does exist for the township to establish a contactor agreement/bylaw with the individual/party.” Absent was any reference to back doors.

This opened the door for a fresh debate at Council. Both Art Dunham and Terry Kennedy addressed Council.

Art Dunham assured Mayor Bill MacDonald that the information was going to be used exclusively for environmental purposes and no commercial use was planned. In his presentation, Terry Kennedy extensively quoted the township’s Official Plan, which says at one point that “Council shall continue to cooperate with other partners and commit reasonable resources to the tasks of regular water quality sampling of lakes which are subject to development activity.”

In the end, Council voted unanimously to release the parcel mapping data.

Glen Jackson attended the meeting but did not address Council on his occasion. Both Jackson and Dunham seemed relieved with the results but seemed to be exasperated by the entire process. “That took a long time, didn’t it,” Glenn Jackson said.

Terry Kennedy, whose lake association is undertaking the development of a lake plan, said “We really need this for our lake planning to take place. It would require thousands of volunteer hours just to get the information that has already been collected.”

Other items from Council:

Wedding Approved for Sharbot Lake Beach – Jennifer Tryon approached Council about getting Council’s approval for a special occasions permit for the Sharbot Lake beach for her wedding next June. Council’s Approval is needed before the Liquor License Board will grant the permit. She said that though she currently resides in Montreal, she would prefer to hold her wedding near her childhood home. Council agreed that, provided the tent Ms. Tryon will be renting is not located on either of the two septic beds on the site, and that necessary liability insurance is purchased, they would accept her request. A smiling Jennifer Tryon said, “You are all invited to the wedding.” She then left, with three other family members. Shouts of joy could be heard coming from the parking lot.

$200 off for LOLCN – In response to a request for a better deal in the rent paid for the use of the former Township garage by the Land O’Lakes Communications Network, a staff report indicated Council could reduce the rent by $200 per month, to $1,100 and still cover the township’s expenses for he site. A motion to that effect was approved.

Trailer in Parham causes concern – Council received a letter from Kathy and Noel Bateman concerning a trailer that was placed at the Parham Post office last June by Gerald Howes to be used as office space. The letter said that despite assurances Mr. Howes made to Noel Bateman “that the trailer would be made presentable in short order, this has not happened. As we sit in our living room and look out our picture window, we have a perfect view of this dilapidated piece of construction.”

The Batemans requested that the township ask that the trailer be removed. Council decided to acknowledge the letter, and inform the Batemans that a building permit for an office building was issued to Mr. Howes in May of 2005, and he has two years to complete the construction. Council will also request that Gerald Howes “proceed with the installation at all possible speed.”

Tenders for Wilkinson Dump Closure – A tender for the final topsoil covering and hydro seeding of the Wilkinson waste disposal site yielded only one quote, $44,000 from Crain’s Construction Limited. Councillor Logan Murray was not satisfied, saying the township should seek a second quote or open up the tendering process again. Mayor MacDonald and Councillor Frances Smith both argued that the tendering process had been done according to the township established policy, and the quote was acceptable. The tender was accepted by a majority cote of Council.

Date set for Roads tour – On October 26, Council will gather at Mayor Bill MacDonald’s house, bagged lunches in hand, to set out on a tour of roads that different councillors have suggested should be looked at for possible repairs. The long-awaited roads tour will take the entire day, and the township has hired a bus for the councillors to ride in. The Mayor volunteered to drive, to save the cost of hiring a bus driver.

“You all know where my house is?” Mayor MacDonald asked, “on the most desolate road in the entire township.”

“You’re welcome to move to my road,” said Councillor Jack Nicolson, who lives on a privately maintained laneway on Kennebec Lake.

“I couldn’t afford the taxes,” replied Bill MacDonald.

Feature Article - October 6, 2005

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October 6, 2005

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First Annual Timber Wolf Run celebrates new track at Land O' Lakes

by Jeff Green

Last year, the Parents’ Council at Land O’ Lakes Public School in Mountain Grove, led by chair Lisa Ferguson, decided the school needed a regulation 400-metre track for its running program. As Madelaine Tarasick of the Limestone District School Board said at the grand opening of the track last week, the Board is supportive of these kinds of projects but cannot pay for them.

That’s where fundraising comes in. Through various events the Council raised $2,800, and the school Board found $2,000 to kick in.

Normally $4,800 is not nearly enough money to build a 400-metre track, but that’s where local construction companies came in. Between them, four local construction companies made $4,200 worth of in-kind donations to the job, and other companies made monetary donations. Construction on the track began on August 2 and was completed by the time school started.

To help raise funds for the upkeep of the track, the Parents’ Council asked teachers Janet Revell and Brian Robertson to organise a race.

Last Wednesday, two streams of runners, competitive and recreational, from Land O’ Lakes, Hinchinbrooke, Sharbot Lake and Clarendon Central Schools descended on the field behind Land O’ Lakes School for a series of cross country races, which made use of the new track and the trail adjacent to the school. The race was a fun tune up for the Joe Goodfellow qualifying meet at Hinchinbrooke this week, and included runners from Grades 1-8.

A track Plaque of Honour will be erected at the school, listing sponsors of the track for $100 in either monetary or service value. The trust fund will be open at the board until the end of October. Anyone who would like to donate can make cheques payable to: LDSB Charitable Trust memo Land O' Lakes Running Track. Tax donation receipts will be issued for amounts of $10 and over. They can be dropped off at Land O' Lakes or sent directly to the LDSB.

The Parents’ Council would like to give special thanks to the Drew and Ferguson family crew members for the tree, brush, staking, fencing, raking, and backstop work on the track site.

Feature Article - October 6, 2005

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October 6, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Addington Highlands will sell sand, but won't deliver

by Jeff Green

The township of Addington Highlands has received legal opinion outlining the measures the township would have to take to protect itself from possible liability if it decided to offer sand/salt delivery to private businesses. This has led Addington Highlands Council to decide that private operators who want some of the sand/salt the township stockpiles at its Denbigh and Northbrook yards can pick it up themselves.

For commercial businesses there will be a minimum load of 10 tonnes of the 2% salt and 98% sand mixture that the township uses on their own roads, and price and pickup times will be set by the township.

Homeowners will not be left slipping on the ice, however. Individuals will be able to fill one or two five gallon pails free of charge.

The new policy is taking effect for safety reasons mainly. “Last winter there were too many half ton trucks driving around the sand pits while the roads department was trying to load up trucks with sand for the roads, and sooner or later something was bound to happen,” Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath has told Council.

The township will be paying $37,075 for sand this year. Nine thousand tonnes will be delivered, half to the Denbigh yard, and half to a newly constructed salt containment building at Northbrook. The new building is nearing completion, Rosenblath informed Council this week, and will be ready to receive salt later this fall.

Sand will be sold on a cost recovery basis to local private businesses only. “If we start to run out in the early spring, the businesses will have to look elsewhere,” Rosenblath told Council.

The details of the new policy, including pricing, will be worked out this month.

Crime down in Addington Highlands John Lathunge, OPP Detachment Commander for Napanee and Kaladar, brought a report on OPP activities in the township in 2005, and reported that violent crimes, break and enters, mischief and drug charges have all declined in AH this year, although motor vehicle collisions are up slightly.

Reeve Ken Hook asked Lathunge if any charges or ticketing has taken place in Northbrook on Hwy. 41 where there is a problem with illegal parking in the summer.

“No charges have been laid,” Lathnge said.

“Any reason why?” Hook asked, “Because there’s lots of cars parked illegally there, and there are No Parking signs posted. It’s right in downtown Northbrook. Everybody agrees it’s a hazard.”

“I think there’s a voluntary aspect to that. We have been giving out warnings, trying to get the public to refrain from parking illegally,” Lathunge answered.

Councillors Bill Cox and Louise Scott both commented that it was tourists who were parking illegally, not locals, so education was not the problem.

“This is taking place on Hwy. 41. We can’t do anything about it. It’s not our road, not our signage, not our jurisdiction,” Reeve Hook said.

Lathunge said he would look into the matter and report back the next time he reports to Council. He said he would set up a time for late in ’05 or early ’06.

New road standard?In response to a concern from ratepayers living seasonally on a part of 5th Concession Road South which is a township owned but not maintained stretch of road, the township is considering doing some remedial work on several hundred metres of road next year.

The road is not included in the township work schedule, and Road Supervisor Rosenblath recommended that Council consider coming up with a new category of roads to cover mainly un-maintained roads which require work once every several years to remain passable.

The cost of work on the road is yet to be determined, and Councillor Scot said she would approach the people who live on the road about clearing the brush on the side so Township trucks can get in to save the township the cost of brushing.

Action at Doctor Recruitment session Reeve Hook reported that a delegation including himself, Doctor Tobia from the Northbrook clinic and Ken Young attended a Doctor recruitment event in Kingston last week. The township is now offering to pay one year’s tuition for every a year a student doctor commits to spending in the township, and Hook said this had a good effect on the response by potential doctors. The township’s offer, which could be worth up to $20,000 per year, could be coupled with provincially funded incentives for rural placement that could be worth up to $55,000, making Northbrook a potentially lucrative location for a young doctor to start a career.

Feature Article - September 22, 2005

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September 22, 2005

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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright

Addington Highlands Council report, September 20, 2005

by Jule Koch Brison

“Maybe we shouldn’t get into the delivery business,” commented Councillor Louise Scott in a discussion on winter sand/salt at Monday night’s council meeting in Denbigh.

Addington Highlands is trying to set up a procedure for commercial operators to get township sand, and the discussion centred on whether the township should deliver it or whether people should get it themselves.

If the township sets certain days and times for sand pickup, there wouldn’t be adequate provision for storms in between those times. Reeve Ken Hook said, “We couldn’t leave equipment there to service them all the time”.

On the other hand, if the township delivers the sand, there would be liability issues with township vehicles on private property, and the township would also be liable if salt leached into wells.

One suggestion by Councillor Bill Cox was that the sand/salt be delivered onto a tarp to prevent leaching.

In the end, Reeve Hook said that because of the liability questions, council should consult the township’s solicitor on the issue. Council agreed to defer its decision.

Truck GoneAfter Council approved an over-budget purchase of a newer 1 ton 4x4 truck to replace the wildfire truck that is used by the Kaladar/Barrie Fire Dept., it was no longer available. Clerk Jack Pauhl is confident they will find another one for the same price.

Lingham Lake DamAlthough it had not been budgeted for, Council agreed to pay a levy for $1875 to Quinte Conservation for repairing the Lingham Lake Dam. Council could have spread the payment over two years but decided to pay it all at once.

Fifth Concession Road PetitionAt the Roads Committee Meeting on Sept 9, Carl Hasler presented a petition for council to make the road passable for pickup trucks. In response, Reeve Hook made a motion recommending to council that the township bring the end of the road up to seasonally maintained road standards. Councillor Cox, however, wanted the motion to be changed to just do what the taxpayers have asked for – make the road passable for pickups, and not bring it back into the system as a maintained road.

Reeve Hook was not sure if the bylaw would allow that, and commented, “So you’re suggesting we do maintenance on an un-maintained road?” to which Councillor Cox replied, “I suggest we please the taxpayers but not spend too much money.” Deputy Reeve Lorraine Berger agreed. “We don’t want to set a precedent.”

Council deferred making a decision until they could check into the relevant bylaw.

Business BreakfastAnother Business Breakfast will be held on September 28, 8am at the Kaladar Recreation Center. The topic for discussion will be Financing Your Business. The guest speakers will be Mike Wilson from The Bank of Montreal and Craig Desjardin of PELA/CFDC.Tickets are $6 each.

Feature Article - September 29, 2005

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Property owners association critiques township operations: North Frontenac Council, September 22, 2005

by Jeff Green

Cor Bakelaar Presentation to Cor Bakelaar – After 13 months as Fire Chief for North Frontenac, Cor Bakelaar received a thank you from the township for his services as Fire Chief at a Council meeting last week. Steve Riddell has taken on the Fire Chief’s duties.

Mazinaw Property Owners talk budget - A delegation from the Mazinaw Property Owners’ Association (MPOA) presented a comparative analysis of the spending and budgeting patterns for North Frontenac and Addington Highlands to the regular meeting of North Frontenac Council in Plevna last week.

Doug Pierce from the Association told Council that since Mazinaw Lake traverses both townships, the Association is interested in the budgeting practices of both.

“There is no relationship between municipal services provided to seasonal property owners and their taxes and we create no demand on the school system,” Pierce pointed out before making his comments on the North Frontenac budget.

While he complimented the township for some of its budgeting practices, and noted Mayor Maguire’s role in keeping the Frontenac County budget increase to a minimum, Pierce then said the 2004 budget process in North Frontenac lacked stakeholder input.

“Interested ratepayers and major stakeholders should have an opportunity to comment and voice opinions at the preliminary stages of priority setting,” he said.

He also noted that administrative spending has been increasing in North Frontenac, and is much higher than it is in Addington Highlands.

Township Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer Cheryl Robson said she would have to see more information before she could respond to some of the numbers that Doug Pierce had provided, such as the claim that administrative costs have increased 136% over four years. Robson said that didn’t correspond to any figures of which she was aware. She invited the MPOA to contact her to go over the numbers together.

Mayor Maguire thanked the MPOA for their presentation and the co-operative tone of their engagement with Council. The rest of the Councillors in attendance did not respond.

In 2005, the tax rate in North Frontenac was $1,406 for every $100,000 of assessment, while in Addington Highlands the rate was $1,492.

No dome for Clar/Mil rink – At the previous Council Meeting, Councillor Betty Hunter was given the authority to prepare a grant application to the Bell Sports Fund for $25,000 towards a roof over the Clar/Mill rink. However, Hunter reported that she had determined, with the help of Rick Kellar of Lookout Home Hardware, that the project would cost in excess of $100,000. With no prospects to raise the extra $75,000 that would be required if the grant were awarded, Hunter decided to forego the grant application.

Waste Diversion task force – Having received a grant for a feasibility study for a thermal processing plant (incinerator) for North Frontenac and Addington Highlands, a task force with representation from both townships has been struck. It will include Bud Clayton from NF Council, Reeve Ken Hook from AH, Elinor Duncan and a representative from Bon Echo Park.

Frontenac Shores/Twin Pines – Twin Pines Resort on Mississagagon Lake is planning to develop an innovative resort, that will involve building well- appointed cabins that are to be used for a few weeks each summer by several owners, in an arrangement that is similar to time share agreements.

In accordance with a report from the township’s planner, Council passed a resolution stating that the plan put forward by Twin Pines is a good plan, but that four conditions must be met before final approval can be granted. The conditions deal with landscaping, a road plan, an environmental assessment, and a storm water management plan.