Feature Article - September 29, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 29, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Letters to the Editor: September 29, 2005

Re:Sydenham Water will leave a political legacy

Your editorial “Sydenham Water will leave a political legacy” (Sept 22) was very timely and raises a number of serious questions.

1. Who made the decision that Sydenham needed a communal water system back in 1998? The Provincial Government mandated that the four townships be amalgamated. I am certain that they did not demand that the water system be a condition of the change. I am equally certain that it was not the property owners in Sydenham, as over 90% of them opposed the plan. So that leaves the councils of the four former townships. Why would they make a decision that effectively undermined the total concept of amalgamation as your editorial so gently put it?

2. Why does the decision to have the property owners of Sydenham pay the whole cost of the water system appear to be written in stone (if it is written at all)? And if by chance it was written, why can it not be changed? Our council has no problem changing other by-laws.

3. Why is South Frontenac so afraid of the concept of amalgamation? The process of change is so slow that it challenges the proverbial turtle. Is it, perhaps, that with amalgamation the districts (former townships) would be expected to do what all other municipalities do in financing major projects and spread the cost over all property owners in South Frontenac as your editorial has suggested?

4. Why is the current council so committed to an old verbal agreement? Amalgamation is the future for the township. It is very difficult to understand why the past and current councils have stayed so committed to an agreement that freezes the districts into a decision making process where councillors spend all their time protecting their turf.

It’s not too late to rectify this paralyzing situation. If the current council has the courage and will to stop hiding behind this infamous agreement and spread the cost of Sydenham’s water project over the township, then South Frontenac will finally come into the 21st century. We could then start behaving like an amalgamated township using responsible long term financial planning to benefit everyone in South Frontenac.

- Bob Forbes, Sydenham

Absurd regulations threaten our Farmers' Markets

For many people in rural Ontario, the local farmer’s market is a long-standing tradition. In the days before grocery stores, it was the only place to purchase farm products. Today, many consumers are turning to farmers’ markets for products they can’t find at the stores, and for many family farms, the sales they make at the local market represent a vital supplement to the family income.

This traditional economic hub has been placed in jeopardy by a series of poorly designed provincial regulations. Ontario Regulation 562 prohibits vendors from selling prepared products—everything from muffins to preserves—beyond the farm gate unless it has been produced in a government-inspected kitchen. That’s right – every time you buy a few cookies or a dozen eggs from your neighbour at a farmer’s market, chances are you’re buying an illegal product. Unless it’s been prepared in a government-inspected kitchen, or (in the case of eggs) inspected at a government-approved grading station, provincial inspectors are mandated to shut down vendors.

Lest anybody think that this has anything at all to do with public safety, I want to point out that the government doesn’t ban farmers from selling uninspected eggs from the end of their laneway, or homemakers from preparing pies and raffling them off at a bake sale at the high school auditorium. If uninspected products actually represented a genuine health risk, it would be irresponsible—or even criminal—to allow people to poison their neighbours with uninspected food, including food sold from the farm gate or at the high school bake sale. If the health risk really existed, I’d be the first person to demand that every single Ontario muffin—with no exceptions!—gets that life-saving stamp of bureaucratic approval prior to being sold.

But of course, there’s no danger to you or me at all, regardless of the location at which we purchase farm produce. Which means that it’s preposterous to think that the farmer down the road whom you’ve known for years can drop off a home-baked pie or Christmas loaf at your house during the holiday season, but cannot sell that same product to you on a Saturday morning at the local farmer’s market. What’s even more bizarre is the fact that the provincial government draws an imaginary line between products sold at the end of a farmer’s laneway, and those that he takes to the market a mile down the road.

It’s time for the federal and provincial government to stop enacting laws and regulations to micromanage every aspect of a rural way of life. Regulation 562 is just the tip of the iceberg. It is a foolish attempt to protect us from a threat that never existed, by guarding us from the safe products we’ve always enjoyed. Worse yet, it threatens producers in our community and discourages the buying of local goods.

Regulation 562 must be amended to allow local producers to bring to farmers’ markets the same products they can sell at the end of their driveway. It is the only respectful thing to do, for our farmers, our communities, and rural Ontario.

For more information on Regulation 562, or to sign my petition calling on the provincial government to end the restriction on farmers’ markets, please drop by one of my offices; call 1-866-277-1577; or visit www.scottreid.ca.

- Scott Reid, MP

Sydenham Water – What Can We Do?

In response to the letter from the Sydenham Safe Water Association (Sept 15, 2005), I would like to focus on one comment. The idea of spreading the costs for the Sydenham water system across the whole Township of South Frontenac is a good one.

The skeptic may say, “Why should anyone other than the people getting the water pay for this?” My response is the whole township benefits from the water. For instance, we have been told by our council that our properties will go up in value because we have water. If that is true, then our property taxes will go up as well. The whole township benefits from this increase in taxes.

Also, we have been told by our council that water will bring growth. And with growth, there are more taxpayers, both commercial and residential. Again, the whole township benefits.

But the biggest reason we should spread costs out over the township is because this problem is just around the corner for Harrowsmith, Verona, Inverary, and many other small concentrations of houses in the township.

And when those villages need water and/or sewage, who is going to be there to help them? These infrastructure projects are incredibly expensive. Look at the history of the Sydenham project costs. The initial estimate from the consulting engineer was $5.6 million, with a projected 85% funding from the provincial and federal governments, leaving an $850,000 cost to the people. Well, four revisions of that number later, we are looking at a projected cost of $8.2 million, and the people’s share is a whopping $3.4 million.

So how about a little progressive thinking here. If Sydenham is the first of many villages to need these infrastructure projects, why not think a little further ahead than the end of next week? If we had created an infrastructure fund, like the SSWA suggested to our council over two years ago, and increased taxes by a mere $50 per household, we would be more than half way to paying off the costs of the Sydenham system.

And if we made this special fund an ongoing thing, imagine the resources we would have as a township to address things like the current issues with our landfill sites, as well as future water and sewage needs for the township.

It’s time our council started acting like an amalgamated township and stopped perpetuating the incredibly archaic view of independent fiefdoms.

- David Waugh

Feature Article - September 15, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 15, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Transfer stations debated: Central Frontenac Council Report, September 12, 2005

by Jeff Green

In August, Central Frontenac Public Works Manager Bill Nicol asked Council to decide if two of its landfills that are nearing capacity should be closed when they are full, or if they should be turned into transfer stations.

Council formed an Ad Hoc Committee, including Councillors Snyder, Gutowski and Murray, to consider the matter. Their report back to this week’s Council meeting made three sets of recommendations, and was ultimately tabled by Council, but the main recommendations had widespread support.

The Arden site, which will be full within a couple of years, is located within a short enough drive from the dump at Mountain Grove that the expense was not seen as warranted by the committee.

The Elbow Lake site is different, according to the committee.

“Some residents in the south western portion of the township are already travelling approximately 40 minutes to reach the site at Elbow Lake. When the Wilkinson site closed last year residents were not provided with new or alternate locations or options for disposal of recycling or household waste. It was felt that asking them to consider travelling to one of the other sites would be viewed as unreasonable and unfair and that there may be a risk of additional illegal dumping,” said the committee’s report.

For that reason the committee recommends asking staff to investigate the purchase of a garbage truck to drive waste from Elbow Lake to the township site at Crow Lake, and to maintain the recycling bins at Elbow Lake.

Closing costs for the Elbow Lake site are $160,500. The township will be facing these costs whether it sets up a transfer station or not. It will cost an additional $125,000 to set up a transfer station, (including the cost of a garbage truck) and an additional $550 per week to operate a transfer station.

While the above recommendations caused no controversy at Council, a proposal by the committee to maintain the Arden site as a recycling site only on a temporary basis was contradicted by a recommendation from Bill Nicol, and by several Councillors as well.

While Councillor Logan Murray said that “many people generate a lot more recycling than garbage and would appreciate the convenience of a recycling center free of flies and the smell of rotting fish”, Councillor Frances Smith asked, “If you are going to close the site for dumping, why would you want to keep it open for recycling? Don’t people want to make one trip, with their garbage and their recycling?”

The committee also made four general recommendations concerning waste management within the township. Mayor Bill MacDonald said these recommendations were outside of the mandate set for the committee, which was to consider what should be done about the Arden and Elbow Lake sites.

The four recommendations include: Making bag tags available at local retailers, setting up depots within the township for drop off of paints and batteries to encourage appropriate disposal of such items; moving to a clear bag system to encourage recycling; and directing the Public works Manager to put out a Request for Proposal for garbage pickup within the township.

With the Public Works Manager was not in attendance to discuss various aspects of the report, Council voted to table it to a future meeting.

Later in the meeting, Council decided to hold a Special Council meeting devoted to waste management on October 4th at 7 pm.

No dogs, please, and that means pigs as well – In response to several complaints about dogs at township beaches, Council decided to direct staff to prepare a bylaw prohibiting them from public beaches. Certain beaches apparently already have no dog signs, but they are not supported by a bylaw.

“Should we say ‘No Dogs’, or should we make it ‘No Animals’,” asked Mayor MacDonald. “There have been complaints in places about pigs, pet pigs I mean, and even about miniature ponies.”

A bylaw will be prepared prohibiting domestic animals from public beaches in Central Frontenac.

Oso Hall roof replacement – There was no response to a tender call by the township for the replacement of the leaky roof at the Oso Hall. Staff requested that Council allow them to directly solicit two quotes for the roofing job. Council agreed.

Kudos to swim program instructors – Council received a report from summer swim program instructors Aleris Cronk and Julia Kent. Attendance at the swim programs, offered at four locations, was 105 this year, up from 80 in 2004.

“The instructors did a first rate job this year; they are responsible for the improved numbers,” said Councillor Murray.

Winter Sand tender – Nedow Construction supplied the lowest bid in tendering for winter sand. Five hundred cubic yards will be supplied to two sites, the Godfrey and Olden Garages, at a total cost of $75,000.

Speed limit on Price Road – Councillor Nicolson told Council there is interest among residents in establishing a 40 km hour speed limit on the Price Road at Big Clear Lake and to the East past the Circle Square Ranch. Clerk/Administrator Heather Fox will look into the requirements for establishing such speed limits on rural roads.

Building boom continues – Even though the number of building permits issued in August, 18, was lower than the 24 issued in August of 2004, and 25 in August of 2003, the construction value of $750,000 for those permits far outstripped either year, pushing the year-to-date construction value to $6,247,000, a whopping increase of $2,300,000 over the same period last year.

Permits for 36 new residential units have been taken out so far this year, as opposed to 35 for the same period in 2004 and 21 in 2003.

Feature Article - September 29, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 29, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

OPPto organise public meeting on child safety:CentralFrontenac Council Report

In an immediate response to a request from Central Frontenac Council, OPP Detachment Commander Gerry Salisbury will be organizing a meeting for residents of Arden and others to deal with citizens’ concerns over the threat posed by Kelvin John Fischer, a dangerous sexual offender that is living near the village.

Commander Salisbury was in attendance at a Central Frontenac Council meeting, along with Sgt. Jeff McCann of the Sharbot Lake detachment, to give a report on OPP activities in the region over the past nine months. He was asked to remain in order to hear a delegation of citizens from Arden, led by Rhonda MacFarland, who were bringing community concerns about Fischer to Council’s attention.

She had Councillor Jack Nicolson read a letter, signed by nine concerned parents in Arden, outlining the fear and dismay they felt about Mr. Fischer living among them.

“As I drive through town I see the Watch for Children signs and think they should now read GUARD YOUR CHILDREN or PROTECT ALL CHLDREN,” the letter concluded.

Mayor Bill MacDonald said that while he sympathised with Rhonda MacFarland’s concerns, “the matter is not something that as a municipal Council we have any jurisdiction over. I can request that the OPP set up a meeting to deal with this if you like.”

MacFarland said yes, and MacDonald looked over at Gerry Salisbury, who said he would have to arrange for the right people from the OPP to come to the meeting, but that sometime in October it would be done. (Look to the News for details as they become available)

Crow Lake Schoolhouse refurbishment plans – Joe Slater led a delegation that included the entire Board of Directors of the Crow Lake Schoolhouse. Slater informed Council about a Trillium Grant application the Association is planning to submit next month. He also made certain requests to support the application. Since the township owns the building, a written commitment leasing the building to the Crow Lake Association for at least the next five years is required. As well, the Association requested that the normal building permit and debris dump permits be waived. Finally, a commitment of $2,500 for new wiring and the installation of a generator package was sought. The schoolhouse will then be capable of serving as an emergency centre for the township should a major power outage occur in the future.

Council approved all the requests without hesitation.

Free ice time for Grade 5’s – Wes Garrod from the Limestone District School Board came to Council to request that Council endorse a program whereby Grade 5 students will receive a pass for free skating time during public skates at the North Frontenac Arena. Garrod said this was part of a project to encourage active living among students. Grade 5 students have been chosen because the patterns set up at that age are more likely to take hold than at other ages. Mayor MacDonald said Council could endorse the plan but it is really the Arena Board that must make the decision. Councillor Bob Harvey, who chairs the Arena Board, said the Board was already in favour.

FEWR seeks leasing deal – Jim MacPherson of the Frontenac E-Waste Recovery Centre (FEWR) brought a four-minute video that was prepared when FEWR was awarded a prize for Community Development Projects by the Ontario Community Futures Development Corporations. MacPherson highlighted the activities of the Computers For Schools Program of FEWR, which has been involved in the establishment of computer refurbishing centres in over 15 countries. MacPherson introduced Mary Kahora, a Network Administrator from Strarehe Boys Centre with Computers For Schools Kenya, who is spending the next two and a half months in Sharbot Lake at FEWR learning new technology. A representative from Computers for Schools Sierra Leone, in Sharbot Lake to pick up a load of computers, was in attendance as well. MacPherson admitted that, in spite of all the endorsements from institutions and government officials, FEWR has been facing a funding crunch. FEWR signed a one-year lease for the use of the former township garage on Wagner Road for $1300 a month. MacPherson is seeking a lease extension, but at a lower rate. Council decided to have staff determine what the maintenance costs to the township of the facility are in order to determine a new rental fee.

Public Works Service Hotline – Township IT Manager Chris Matheson made a presentation to Council on the Service Request Hotline, which is now up and running. Township residents can phone the township office at 279-3935, push 5 when the recorded message comes on, and leave a message with a request for the Public Works department. The message is accessed by the Public Works Department before the start of the next shift. It is designed as a way of allowing the public to access service in the most direct way possible. The township will be presenting public information about the new service soon.

Arden dump to remain in service for two years – At their previous meeting, Council was unable to decide what to do with the Arden dump. It was agreed that the dump would have to close in the near future, and that a waste transfer station would not be set up, but two competing proposals were being considered. One, favoured by a waste management task force made up of three Councillors, called for closing the dump to garbage immediately, and maintaining the site as a recycling centre only, to be open on Saturdays. The other proposal, favoured by Public Works Manager Bill Nicol, would have seen the dump kept open for two or three years as a garbage collection site alone, with recycling being diverted to the Olden site.

Nicol was not present to explain his position at the previous meeting but he did attend this meeting. He explained that in order to get the maximum use of the Arden dump, it would be necessary to use of some of the space now occupied by the recycling bins.

“We developed a closure plan for this dump over a period of time, at great cost to the township, and it is based on the idea that we will max out the facility as a dump site before closing it.”

Nicol then said that it might be possible to move the recycling bins and keep the dump as both a waste disposal and recycling site for the time being, but that eventually the recycling bins would have to be moved to get the entire dumping life out of the site.

Councillor Logan Murray, who favoured turning the site into a recycling centre and entering into other measures designed to encourage recycling, noted that several emails in support of his position had been sent to Council.

Nonetheless, Nicol’s position prevailed. The Arden dump will remain a dump site until it is filled, and will then be closed down entirely.

Plan to Pave Roads - A report from Bill Nicol was presented to council, recommending that Council consider a 7 to 10-year plan to establish a budget to surface treat the township’s more heavily travelled seasonal roads that lead to waterfront properties. If the township continues to budget $400,000 per year for construction, $200,000 could be spent on pavement preservation and $200,000 to upgrade these gravel roads for surface treatment. Roads being considered are: Arden, Burney Point, Clement, Clarke, Eagle Lake, Elm Tree, Fall River, Guigue, Henderson, Kirk’s Cove, Mary Moore, Shibley, Second Depot, Wilkinson, Wagner, White Lake and Zealand.

Councillor Gutowski objected, calling the proposal a knee-jerk reaction to waterfront owners’ perceptions of lack of services. She said a strategic plan was needed and there should be consultation with the public. She also said she has received calls from waterfront property owners who do not want their roads paved because that would increase speed and perhaps bring accidents. Gutowski brought forward a motion to table the proposal, but it was defeated and the debate continued.

Councillor Murray said it was a good idea to pave roads, but a bad idea to pave certain roads just because 58% of CF taxes are generated from waterfront properties. He said the regular taxpayer also needs good roads to go to work.

Councillor Jack Nicolson pointed out that better roads would lead to economic development, and Councillor Frances Smith said that these roads were in the township’s initial plan.

It costs $300/km/yr more to maintain paved roads than gravel roads, but Mayor MacDonald pointed out that the difference might be offset by the cost of replacing some aging township graders at about $200,000 each.

The 7-10 year plan would not begin for a couple of years, and the proposal was accepted.

Truck to Van - The township’s mechanic currently uses a 1 ton diesel township truck, but it is too expensive to operate and council is looking into buying a smaller van. Councillors Murray, Snyder and Gutowski all disagreed with the policy of the mechanic using a township truck, but the motion to buy a smaller van was passed.

Feature Article - September 29, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 29, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Highway 7 upgrade revisited

by Jeff Green

Engineers from the firm Morrison Hershfield made a presentation to Frontenac County Council last Wednesday (September 21) concerning proposed improvements to Highway 7 on the stretch between Wemyss in Tay Valley Township and Road 38 (Sharbot Lake) in Central Frontenac Township. This project may come to fruition at some undetermined time in the future. A public meeting on the plans will be scheduled in October.

After waiting patiently through a detailed 20 minute description of paving plans, plans for two eastbound and two westbound passing lanes along the stretch, improved exits at virtually all side roads, and putting the infrastructure in place for a traffic light at Roads 7 and 38, Central Frontenac County Warden Bill MacDonald piped in.

“I’m concerned that this project was promised for 2004. It was to be completed in 2004, in fact, and now there is no time frame at all. I’m also concerned that the construction is planned to end at Road 38, just about mile from Road 509, the main corridor to North Frontenac, where there is a very busy exit off of Highway 7 with no left turn exit lane coming from the west after a long curve.”

Ed Horba, a project manager from the Ministry of Transportation, said “we don’t make decisions about when projects are completed. What we’re doing now is dealing with all environmental concerns, looking at property that needs to be purchased to widen the road, and carrying on all the required engineering. Once we’ve completed our work, it’s up to the Ministry to deal with financing the project and deciding when to go ahead with it. We tell them how to do the project, they decide when.

“As far as Road 509 is concerned, the roads are split up by the Ministry into sections, and that section is dealt with by another office,” Horba concluded.

Bill MacDonald apologized for complaining to Horba, “I know it’s not your decision when these things get done, but the stretch of Highway 7 that runs through Frontenac County hasn’t been done in, what 35 years, while the other sections have all been upgraded.”

“It has been a while,” Ed Horba agreed.

A public session outlining all the proposed improvements to Highway 7, is scheduled for the Maberly Hall on October 13, in the late afternoon.

A similar presentation was made to Central Frontenac Council this Tuesday (September 27).

Ed Horba reported that one change has been made to the proposal in the intervening week. It is now calling for the actual establishment of a traffic light at the junction of Roads 38 and 7 when the project is completed.

He also reported that the stretch of Highway 7 from Sharbot Lake to Kaladar is at the early stages of an upgrading study, and said that “in the circumstances, rather than slowing down the process we are working on, it is best to leave the Road 509 concerns to that other process.”

Feature Article - September 8, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 8, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Whatprice,COMRIF? Addington Highlands Council asks

by Jeff Green

This past winter, Addington Highlands submitted an application to COMRIF (the Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund) for 2/3 funding support for a reconstruction project at the Skootamatta Lake Road/Hughes Landing intersection. The funding proposal was rejected in round one of the funding program and Addington Highlands is considering resubmitting the application for round 2 of COMRIF later this month.

However, after receiving correspondence from David Behm, an Engineer with Tottenham Sims Hubicki, who prepared the first application, Council is reconsidering that decision.

Behm wrote that it would cost a further $21,000 to prepare an application for Intake 2, because this time a preliminary design for the road construction is required. As well, Behm suggests that the township should undertake a legal survey to define existing right of way limits in the area of the road.

“Is there any way we can find out what our chances are of getting the funding before we commit to this?” asked Councillor Bill Cox. “It’s like we are putting the money into a black hole.”

“Maybe David Behm has some idea whether we have a reasonable chance of getting the funding,” suggested Roads superintendent Royce Rosenblath.

Council decided to defer making a decision on submitting the application and paying the engineering fee until the roads committee meets later this week. In the meantime, clerk Jack Pauhl will attempt to contact David Behm and see if he has any information to offer on the matters raised at Council.

Jamboree – Organizers of the first Flinton Country Bluegrass Jamboree, held this past August long weekend, are gung ho to build on the inaugural event’s success in 2006, and have asked the township for the use of the Flinton Hall and adjoining lands next August 4-6. Council agreed.

Sand shed almost completed – Royce Rosenblath reported that construction of a new sand shed should be completed by the end of September. He also reported that a contractor said it would be possible to put a door on the shed for a cost of $8,000 as part of the construction project. Understanding that the cost of a door is not included in the budget for the project, he said that he would accept payment for the door in 2006. Council decided to have the door installed and have the cost included in the roads budget for 2006.

Business Breakfast planned for September 28 – Bill Brown, chair of the AH Economic Development Committee, said the next business breakfast is being planned, and the location will be announced by the end of the week.

- He also reported to Council that Hollee Kew has resigned as Manager for Economic Development for the County of Lennox and Addington and will be replaced shortly. Hollee Kew has taken a job with the provincial government.

- The petition being circulated concerning the need for cell phone service will be gathered up from area businesses after Thanksgiving Weekend and submitted to the two cell phone service providers.

- Bill Brown also reported there are a couple of developers that are considering the resort development proposal that the Economic Development Committee has been promoting for the past couple of years.

Wildfire truck over budget – Fire Chief Casey Cuddy reported that he has been looking for quotes from dealerships from Belleville to Perth for a 2004 or newer 1 ton 4 x 4 pickup truck to replace the aging wildfire truck that is used by the joint Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department. The only quote he received came from A&B Ford of Perth for $36,000 (plus GST, PST and all license fees) for a 2004 truck with 35,000 km. on it. This is over the $35,000 budgeted, but Cuddy said some of the provincial grant money that came this past spring for equipment and training can be used for the extra cost. He recommended that Council approve the expenditure pending an inspection of the vehicle by Cuddy. Council agreed.

Feature Article - September 8, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 8, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Mitchell CreekBridge can be kept open for the winter: SouthFrontenac Council, September 6, 2005

by Wilma Kenny

Township engineer Steve Archibald reported further deterioration of Mitchell Creek Bridge, but said the bridge could still be kept open for the winter if some temporary repair work were done and the speed limit lowered to 10 km/hr. He recommended this. Ross Sutherland read a letter sent by the friends of Mitchell Creek to Transport Canada, which argues that because the original bridge was legal (it spanned a swamp rather than a navigable waterway,) replacing the original girders and decking might well be an acceptable solution. Archibald noted that Transport Canada is addressing the fact that the present day bridge does span a navigable waterway. The long-range bridge issue remains unresolved.Trailer Saga Continues

CAO Gord Burns informed Council that because many trailer owners have ignored all notices concerning licensing or removal of trailers, staff is now taking steps to enforce the trailer by-law. They will institute legal action in all cases not resolved by September 15. As well, trailer owners must arrange to have the Public Health Unit inspect their sanitary facilities, to ensure the trailers are not polluting their sites. Fee for this inspection is $110. Letter of Credit not Required

Council passed a by-law authorizing the contract between the Township and Larmon Lawn Care for the provision of garbage pick-up in Storrington district. Storrington does not require a letter of credit from its contractors, thus setting a precedent for similar contracts in the other Township districts.Bedford Truck Replacement Deferred over Colour Issue

Having earlier determined that all township trucks should be orange, council foundered over the decision of whether to wait longer or pay more to get a truck of the right colour, or to assume the expense of repainting a new (non-orange) truck themselves. This will be further discussed at the Committee of the Whole next Tuesday evening.

Maintaining the orange theme, Council approved the use of the Battersea ballfield for the Pumpkin Festival on October 15.Council Saves $134.

Township Engineer Archibald recommended Council pay $177,132 out of a budgeted $190,000 for a tandem truck snowplow, which would be delivered November first. After much discussion, Council opted instead to save $134 by purchasing a truck that would not be delivered until January.Coyotes vs ‘Coons

Council confirmed that they would only pay compensation to property owners whose livestock had been murdered by wolves, coyotes or bears, as the Province will not reimburse the Township for offenses committed by any other creatures such as raccoons, mink, etc.

Feature Article - September 8, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 8, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Frontenac County not likely to keep gas tax rebate

by Jeff Green

North and South Frontenac Township Councils don’t agree on how nearly $2,000,000 (over 5 years) in gas tax revenue should be split up, but they do agree on one thing: the County should pass the money on for use by township Councils.

Earlier this summer, it was announced that the long promised gas tax rebate for municipal infrastructure was coming, and townships throughout Ontario will receive monies based on population. As well, County governments will be receiving an identical amount for their infrastructure needs. The complication in the case of Frontenac County is that it does not manage any of the infrastructure that the monies are designed to help fund: namely roads, bridges, sewage and water treatment plants, and waste management.

At the August meeting of County Council, an administration report was presented by the County Chief Administrative Officer Elizabeth Fulton. Her report says, in part, that allocations have been made to County governments “deliberately irregardless of the responsibilities held by the upper tier for transportation services”.

The report then says that, “a comprehensive assessment of potential projects is being undertaken by County staff. The review will culminate in an options paper for the consideration of Council.” Fulton’s report was received by County Council for information purposes at their August 10 meeting.

Subsequently North Frontenac Council met on August 18, and passed a two-part resolution. The resolution states clearly that Frontenac County “does not provide infrastructure services”, and asks that the “comprehensive assessment of potential projects being undertaken by County staff not be completed.”

Instead it recommends that the County share of the gas tax rebate be “distributed to the local municipalities”.

The Council of South Frontenac Township met this past Tuesday, and passed a motion that says, in part, “that the County of Frontenac apportion their share of the Federal Gas Tax Rebate to the lower tier municipalities…”

South and North Frontenac differ, however, on how they think the amounts to be transferred are calculated.

The gas tax rebate that has already been allocated to lower tier municipalities (townships) has been done based on permanent population. North Frontenac, with a permanent population of 1,800 will receive $146,308 over the next five years. South Frontenac, with a permanent population of 16,415, will receive $1,333,509 over the same period.

North Frontenac has complained that it will receive no funding for its seasonal residents, which number about 7,000.

As far as the way the County share of the gas tax revenue should be divvied out, North Frontenac wants the money to be allocated based on Current Value Assessment rather than population. In this way they will receive funding for each taxable property in the township.

This view is not shared by South Frontenac.

Gord Burns, Chief Administrative Officer for South Frontenac, prepared a report for Council, which concluded that allocating the County portion of the gas tax revenue by current value assessment rather than permanent residents would leave a net loss of to the Township of South Frontenac over the course of the five year period of $180,658.

“I can see no reason why distribution of the County share of the gas tax would be based on Current Value Assessment when the money was given to Frontenac County on the basis of population,” Burns said.

“It should also be remembered that the money is destined for infrastructure programs such as roads and bridges and given that the former County of Frontenac’s major infrastructure programs were former County roads and bridges which are now primarily located within the township of South Frontenac, it would seem only fair that the monies be distributed on a population basis,” he concluded.

County Warden Bill MacDonald did not want to comment directly on the resolutions coming to County Council from North and South Frontenac as regards the gas tax money.

“We haven’t had a discussion of the issues at the County level at this point,” he said. “That will happen later this month.”

MacDonald said that it might be possible for the County to keep a portion of the funds for certain projects that would be of benefit to all residents of the County, while still transferring much of the money to the townships.

Feature Article - September 8, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

September 8, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Addington Highlands offers to pay tuition to entice doctors

by Jeff Green

Last year representatives from Addington Highlands participated in five doctor recruitment events. This year they will have something more to offer: they will pay one year’s tuition for every a year a student doctor commits to spending in the township.

“Last year at the recruitment events the student doctors would come to our booth and ask if we have an incentive program. When we said no, they went to the next booth and asked the same question. We would like to be able to offer something when we go to those events this year,” Addington Highlands Reeve Ken Hook said in asking for Council’s support for the tuition fee proposal.

The tuition fee offer has the support of Dr. Tobia of the Northbrook clinic.

“Dr. Tobia suggested the outright cash incentives offered by some communities to attract doctors would not work at the Northbrook clinic since the doctors that practice there now would resent and object to a cash incentive being offered to someone new. However, he felt that a tuition incentive would be supported by the other doctors,” Hook said in a letter to Council in support of the scheme.

A similar program has been instituted in Bancroft. A formal contract is prepared and signed by both parties before any money is transferred.

“Dr. Tobia indicates that there are still 500 people in the area who do not have a family physician, so the need is there,” Reeve Hook told Council.

The incentive is not expected to become a burden to taxpayers, however. A fundraising golf tournament, similar to the Pine Meadow Classic, which raised $12,000 for the Pine Meadow Nursing Home this year, is envisioned as a way of funding the program.

The program could cost between $10,000 and $15,000 per year. Council unanimously endorsed Reeve Hook’s proposal and the incentive will be offered to prospective medical students at a doctor recruitment tour to be held later this month in Kingston.

(For more from Addington Highlands Council see page two)

Feature Article - September 15, 2005

Local Weather | Editorial Policy | About The Frontenac News

Feature Article

September 15, 2005 . | Navigate | .

Home

Archived Articles

Image Gallery

Municipal websitesLand of Lakes Tourist Association

Cottage Associations

Contact Us

. | Regular Features | .

Nature reflectionsby Jean Griffin

Night Skiesby Leo Enright

LEGALESE

A column of general information and opinion on legal topics by the lawyers of Rural Legal Services located in Sharbot Lake

Recent Legalese Articles

.| Special |.

David Brison:A Tribute

Recent Algonquin HistoryMurder at the Lake:summer fiction series

Would you like to be notified bye-mailwhen new articles appear on the NewsWeb?

Please send a note toThe Frontenac News and your e-mail address will be added to our notification list.

Witching Graves: the glamorous life of a township Councillor

by Jeff Green

When North Frontenac Township Councillor Dave Smith took over responsibility for the growing number of cemeteries that are now managed by the township, one of the first issues to be grappled with was locating grave sites.

In some cases, headstones have fallen over or been lost altogether; and many graves never had headstones and are not included in any existing cemetery plans or drawings.

A few months ago, Smith brought a brochure to Council for a machine that could identify the location of graves. The machine was available for rent, and Smith was considering trying it out.

A couple of council meetings later, Dave Smith told Council, “I can find the grave sites myself, don’t ask me how, but it’s not a problem.”

It turns out that Dave Smith had contacted the manager at the Cataraqui cemetery near Kingston who told him that graves can be witched in much the same way that well drillers witch the location of water.

Instead of using a forked piece of wood, Smith took two of his steel welding rods and tried it out.

“I tried it at first where I knew there was a gravesite, and as soon as I walked over the grave the front of the rods moved towards each other. When I was sure it was working I moved on to unmarked parts of the cemetery and began finding graves,” Smith said.

Dave Smith also uses a heavier gauge steel rod, which he can push through the earth until it hits something solid. It turns out that most of the caskets, at least at the Dempsey cemetery on Marble Lake road, weren’t buried more than 18 inches under the surface.

Finding graves is only the beginning of the process of mapping out cemeteries in order to determine where new plots can be sold.

Dave Smith and North Frontenac Township Clerk/Planner Brenda DeFosse have spent a few half- day stretches marking off grave sites, determining areas that need to have brush removed in order to reveal more sites, and going over old records.

Defosse hopes to solicit help from a school shop class to build crosses to mark the unmarked gravesites that are found. Tombstones that have sunk into the ground will have to be pulled up to the surface as well.

The township is continually accumulating more cemeteries as churches and cemetery boards turn them over, and the provincial government would like to see accurate records established and kept up.

For Defosse and Smith, it all adds up to a long-term project for the township which might take a decade or longer to complete.

When asked if this kind of work is in the job description of township clerk or a township councillor, Defosse and Smith both said, “It is now!”

Feature Article - November 3, 2005

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

November 3, 2005

. | Navigate | .

ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

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

Amalgamation rears its head:South Frontenac Council report

by Wilma Kenny

Amalgamation Rears its Head, & Spots an Election next Year

CAO Gord Burns recommended that Council advertise for a consultant to perform an organizational review for the Township. One part of such a review would examine services and staffing requirements: the other part would look at area rating and amalgamation, or "the extent to which the Township of South Frontenac now functions as a cohesive political entity."

There appeared to be a distinct lack of cohesion in the discussion that followed, although most of he Councillors agreed that amalgamation would never be achieved during the term of the present council.

The Township has amalgamated planning and zoning, the fire departments are united under the direction of one chief, and waste management practises, particularly recycling, have much more in common now. However, recreation, roads and management of waste disposal sites remain area rated, with separate district budgets. There was some agreement with Councillor Jack Barr’s opinion that outside objective advice might be helpful in moving toward full amalgamation. Others were of the opinion that this council had neither the cohesion nor the will to work toward consensus.

"It’s a waste to spend all that money for a report that will just go on the shelf," commented Robinson, "It’s certainly being filled, that shelf."

Councillor Del Stowe suggested that amalgamation might well be a significant issue in next year’s election. In the end, the motion passed with a split vote, with Vandewal, Smith, Robinson and Lake opposed.

Sydenham Water

In a heated exchange with Mayor Lake, Alastair Lamb of the Sydenham Safe Water Association asked to see a record of the agreement that stated the municipal portion of Sydenham water costs were to be borne by the residents of Sydenham, and not by the district of Loughborough or the Township.

Lamb also asked why the Council had not accepted some of the cost-effective measures recommended by the SSWA in regard to depth and material of piping, etc. Councillor Smith said it might have helped if the SSWA had attended the water committee meetings, where these questions had been discussed. Councillor Vandewal said he would like a letter sent out with the next tax bill, advising township residents who wished to contribute to Sydenham water costs that they would be issued a tax receipt for their donations.Portland Landfill Site Operation

Council passed an agreement with D&B Company of Harrowsmith for operation of the Portland landfill site for one year. (Councillor Robinson had declared a conflict of interest, and left the room). Councillor Smith said he recommended this one-year contract renewal, rather than going to tender, on account of the number of changes being made in the operation of the waste disposal site this year, and the importance of continuity being provided by a ‘supplier of record.’NF Arena Renovation Project Needs VolunteersThere will be a public meeting at the NF Arena Thursday November 3, at 7:00 pm, to determine whether there is sufficient public support for the project to be able to continue.

Property Assessment Information SessionMPAC will be holding an open house Thursday November 24, 7-9 pm at the municipal hall, Sydenham, to discuss the assessment notices recently sent to property owners in South Frontenac