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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright
Official Plan to get five-year review: Central Frontenac Council Reportby Jeff Green
It’s been five years since Central Frontenac adopted an Official Plan, which, along with the accompanying comprehensive zoning bylaw, sets out a framework for how the township deals with a variety of land use planning matters, from lot size to zoning, and gives the staff and Council guidance for their dealings with individuals and developers that come to their door.
Official Plans are designed to change as townships develop, and the township’s planning consultant, Glenn Tunnock, appeared before a meeting of Council this week to outline his proposals for conducting an Official Plan Review.
His proposal includes plans to consult with staff, Council, and the public in order to identify issues that have arisen in the past five years, and which Council might want to see addressed in the Official Plan.
“Several issues have arisen in the past five years that were not envisioned when the Official Plan was being developed, “Tunnock said, “including the whole exercise for lake planning that some lake associations have undertaken. As well, there are issues as far as what is an appropriate standard for private roads - issues about the viability of private roads as far as access for emergency personnel are concerned. Should we allow private roads at all, is a question that might be worth looking at. Do we bite the bullet and say, no more private roads?”
Tunnock said that he appreciates that 2006 is a municipal election year, so he was hoping to receive a mandate from Council to proceed quickly.
With waterfront property owners having such a strong stake in the future development of Central Frontenac, Mayor MacDonald suggested that as part of the Official Plan Review process, one or more public meetings should be held after the first of July, preferably on a Saturday morning.
Council approved Glen Tunnock’s planning review proposal.
Council goes in camera to talk about Trans-Canada Trail
Representatives from the County of Hastings and the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance came to Council to talk about the portion of the Trans-Canada Trail that runs through Central Frontenac along Highway 7. Central Frontenac paid $32,000 for the trail but decided not to take possession of it, because residents on another piece of trail the township owns, the K&P trail north of Sharbot Lake, invoked the Line Fences Act to force the township to undertaken expensive fencing along the K&P. Fearing astronomical costs, the township has backed away from the trail along Highway 7.
Although the discussion was held in camera, Hastings County and the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA), have both trumpeted their ability to negotiate inexpensive arrangements for fencing with local farmers and the Ontario Federation of Agriculture. They both see trails as beneficial for economic development, with EOTA being very active in promoting ATV tour packages along a network of trails that they have developed throughout eastern Ontario.
Council took no action in open Council in response to an hour-long discussion with their guests.
Henderson Hall – The lease with the United Church Women in Henderson has expired after 25 years and Council decided to offer a five year lease to the United Church Women.
Building permits drop in November – In contrast to last year, when 23 building permits were issued for $763,000 worth of construction, only 13 permits were issued this November, for $464,000 worth of construction.
The year-to-date picture remains positive, however, with 217 permits issued in 2005 for a total of $7,621,000 of construction value compared to 196 permits for $6,004,000 in construction value in 2004, and 161 permits for $4,618,000 in construction value in 2003.
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County seeks township's support for economic developmentby Jeff Green
A proposal is making the rounds of Frontenac Townships Councils that would see a more co-operative approach towards economic development in Frontenac County.
Dianna Bratina, the Manager of Economic Development, for the County has proposed that an Advisory Committee set up this year to determine key target areas for development within the County, be maintained for another year, and that each township maintain their representative on that Advisory Committee. Councillor Del Stowe has been representing South Frontenac on the committee, Councillor Janet Gutowski Central Frontenac and Councillor Betty Hunter North Frontenac.
As well, Bratina is asking that the townships endorse a co-operative approach to an Official Planning Process.
Finally, Bratina wrote to each council requesting “that a reserve fund be established to support specific economic development initiatives as recommended to Council by the Manager of Economic Development in consultation with the Advisory Committee.”
Dianna Bratina has been the Economic Development Manage for Frontenac County for one year now, and she has learned that the township councils are wary of any action by the County that looks like it might be an attempt to supersede the townships.
“It’s very clear they [the townships] don’t want a county- wide approach to Economic Development,” she said in an interview with the News last week.
She made it clear that her proposal about taking the first steps towards a County of Frontenac Official Plan are not designed to impinge on the Official Plans that the townships already have in place. On the contrary, she said “if the County has an Official Plan in place, it will make it easier for the townships to amend their own Official Plans. It will alleviate the need for them to seek approval from the provincial government.”
A Frontenac County Official Plan would be a useful document in the drive to promote the County to outside developers, according to Dianna Bratina
In seeking that the townships establish reserve funds for Economic Development, Bratina has been careful to maintain those funds in township hands, so townships are free to decide at a later date which county-driven initiatives they would like to participate in.
A project that is being proposed for the coming year is a Business Retention and Expansion study. It would involve seeking input from business owners throughout the county in a comprehensive survey, using a generic database that has been developed by the provincial government.
The project is projected to cost $35,000, but there are sources of funding already in place to cover most of that cost. The Rural Economic Development Program will cover $17,500; the Community Investment Support Program $14,000; and $3,500 is being sought from the four Frontenac townships and the county. Each township is being asked to contribute $700 towards the project.
This initiative is intent on working with existing businesses to see how growth can come about.
“Even though commercial and industrial growth in the Frontenacs has been relatively slow, what growth there has been has come from local or internal expansion or diversification. Consequently, the local business community would provide a good indication of the latent demands as well as barriers to development.”
To support the proposals, Dianna Bratina has been making the rounds of Council meetings, attending in South Frontenac on December 6 and in Central Frontenac on December 13.
Both Councils accepted the premise of her proposals. South Frontenac Council agreed to appoint Councillor Del Stowe to a County Advisory Committee for an additional year and to taking a co-operative approach with the County as far as planning is concerned. They said they will consider a reserve, but were unclear if they needed to commit more than the $700 Dianna Bratina is requesting for the Business Retention and Expansion study.
Central Frontenac Council agreed with all three proposals, and will consider the size of reserve they would like to establish for economic development during their 2006 budgeting process.
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Letters to the Editor
Re: Where is Christmas Going?
As a non-Christian who came to Canada from another country, it is quite clear that Canada is a Christian country in the same way that Iran is a Muslim country and Bhutan a Buddhist country. The attitudes and social fabric in each of these countries reflect the religious values and cultural norms held by the majority of the population.
Many factors contribute to the high degree of religious tolerance and harmonious multi-culturalism which has defined Canadian society in recent decades, not the least of which is a broad-based Christian teaching emphasizing respect, and even curiosity for the beliefs of others.
In Canada we are also living in a post-industrial age where many people feel no connection to their ancestral religion and are groping for some sense of identity. It is unfortunate that this lack of belonging is finding expression in self-deprecation, devaluation, and a new form of intolerance.
There are growing numbers of politically correct, well meaning Canadians who misguidedly believe that all the world’s religious, social and economic differences can be eradicated and seamlessly reblended into a projection of their bland and homogeneous utopian dream world where everyone co-exists on a theoretical ‘level playing field.’
Democracy is not about the wishes and aspirations of vocal minorities being rudely imposed on the majority. In characteristic form, the Canadian Government is unwilling and unable to take a definite stand on this issue, and is naively attempting to please everyone. How about a little tolerance towards the Christian majority who opened the doors of immigration to people of other faiths, giving them the opportunity to practice their religion freely in this land?
- Raphael Kerem, Burridge
Ompah fire station will miss John Hawe
In mid-November the Volunteer Fire Department in Ompah lost John Hawe as its Deputy Chief and its best firefighter. Suffice to say North Frontenac's Township Council fired him because he drove the rescue van to an emergency when he did not have a driver's license to do so. This is not an expose on what council did or should have done -- that's a tale that might be written another day. This is a tribute to our good friend John.
Part time mechanic, electrician, plumber, carpenter, John gave volunteer services that have been crucial to the whole community as well as to the fire department. The Ompah Skidoo Club, the Ompah Conservation Association, the Ompah Community Centre — literally every local organization has benefited from his dedication. He gets to all the meetings, helps at the dinners, the parades, the road tolls, the work bees, the fish hatchery, skidoo trail maintenance, chicken barbecues — whatever and wherever the work may be, John will, of course, be there. If something's wrong or something needs fixing — we all just call John.
John moved to Ompah in 1979 and became a firefighter in 1980. Many temporary fire chiefs have come and were soon gone, but John has been the real glue and continuity that kept the department going. In 1992 he was made Ompah's Deputy Chief responsible for Wild Fires and eventually Deputy in charge of the whole Ompah operation. Consider 25 years of service with all the fire emergencies, all the courses, all the meetings, all the training, emergency medical first response calls, keeping trucks rolling, ensuring equipment was maintained and operational, budget and records keeping - he's done it all. As firefighters we often asked "What would we do without John?" We never dreamt township council would cause us to find out so abruptly and unceremoniously.
The following is not really a fire department story but it gives an insight into what John is like. In 1990 the Ompah Conservation Association convinced him to ride for them in a charity skidoo run. Not being much of 'church guy' he balked a bit when we said the proceeds were going to the Ompah United Church but (afraid of the wrath of God we supposed) he showed up. His skidoo was an old Elan one banger, most of the plastic shroud was missing as was half the windshield and some of the seat. John wore a sign on his back which read 'Riding for the OCA' and a helmet that looked like it was last used in the 1926 Grey Cup game. He had no food for the whole day's ride but he came prepared with three things:
Moth balls for the gas tank (the gas in the tank was slightly skunky at three year's old); nylon panty hose in case the drive belt gave out; and a ratty old tow rope. "I have to be at the hotel by 4 o'clock, so let's have at her," he said. At the end of the day he towed us and our new machine home. Project completed in John's normal way.
As the saying goes, now for the rest of the story: Like most of us, John could not afford a trail permit but the OCA did not fire him as their rider. He was not pulled off the trail because his skidoo might have been an environmental risk. No one worried about what the liability issues were because his helmet was slightly below the current safety standard. And he did raise over $100 for the United Church. Times have certainly changed!
Real volunteers do not want or expect recognition, but Ompah Station firefighters and emergency first responders wanted this article written and published. It is not to embarrass him but to give tribute to and say thanks to our Deputy Chief John Hawe. He was fired for doing something we all do in every fire or medical emergency — he responded based on the circumstances in the quickest and best way possible to help someone in need.
- Leo Ladouceur
Agricorps makes life difficult for farmers
A recent story that appeared in the Kingston Whig Standard demonstrates another example of how the provincial government has let down farmers and farm families. Farmers who spend thousands of dollars on crop insurance through OMAFRA’s Agricorp are unable to collect on legitimate claims. The problem stems from an argument over how much rainfall is recorded in an area. The farmer knows there has been little rain for his crops, and those who monitor rainfall in the area are in agreement. Agricorp, however, claims that the rainfall greatly exceeds that measure, and refuses to honour the claim.
The problem comes from how Agricorp measures rainfall. First, they divide the province into 350 zones, then they take the average rainfall for the entire insured period, and from that they come up with a number.
You don’t have to work the land to know what the problem with this plan is. Unless you live right next to the place where the data for your area is collected and the amount of rainfall for each month is exactly the same, you are likely not going to have your claim treated fairly by Agricorp. Double the rainfall in August is of little use if your crops were scorched to a crisp in July.
The solution will not come from Agricorp’s area representatives. Their hands are as tied as those of anyone else. The solution lies in the hands of Agriculture Minister Leona Dombrowsky.
As the minister responsible for Agricorp, she can deal with this problem. If the past is any indication, Dombrowsky will argue that Agricorp is a crown corporation and that she, as minister, is restricted as to how much influence she may bring to bear on Agricorp’s management.
No problem. Agricorp was created by an act of the legislature, and it is through an Act of the Legislature that Agricorp can be compelled to change its method of adjudicating claims.
While Dombrowsky is free to decide how this situation is handled, here are some helpful suggestions. First, stop taking rainfall averages over a four-month period. Take readings every month and determine from there. Second, increase the number of measuring stations. In fact, why not include some form of monitoring equipment when farmers sign up for their insurance plan, provided that the plan is valued over a certain amount? Most times, the Weather Office uses little more than a glass tube with measurement markings on the side. Given that some large farms each pay upwards of $3000 in premiums, Agricorp should be able to spring for a glass tube, as well as a tamper-proof means of monitoring the data – either by remote electronic monitoring, or site inspection by OMAFRA staff.
The bottom line is that farmers pay into a crop insurance system and expect to be compensated if their claim has merit. To lose compensation because of a change in how data is either collected or tabulated by Agricorp is an unfair burden on an industry that has been burdened for far too long.
- Brent Cameron
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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright
County draft budget calls for 13% increase
by Jeff Green
The four township mayors who constitute the Council for the County of Frontenac received an eight page preliminary draft budget from County staff at a special meeting last week.
The draft budget calls for an increase in excess of $1 million to be paid by Frontenac County taxpayers - an increase of 12.99% over last year’s budget, which was 10% higher than the year before.
The mayors reportedly greeted the budget proposal in a muted way, as the detailed reports in specific line items in the budget were not yet available. The budget will be looked at again in December, and will ultimately be finalised early next year.
Last year the preliminary budget presented by staff contained a 20% increase in the requisition from taxpayers, but the final budget was whittled down to a shade under 10%. But in order to accomplish that, the County had to dip into its reserve funds.
County budget increases next year are less likely to result in tax rate increases for taxpayers than they did in 2005, because the total value of property in Frontenac County has been increased this year through property reassessment. Last year the County tax rate for residential ratepayers edged above $330 for every $100,000 of property assessment.
Frontenac County Council will meet again on December 14.
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South Frontenac to ask for Sydenham Water donations with tax bills
by Jeff Green
South Frontenac to ask for Sydenham Water donations with tax bills.
In what seems like an odd way to mount a fundraising campaign, South Frontenac Council has agreed to include a note with the first tax bills of 2006 asking all ratepayers in the township if they would like to donate towards mitigating the cost of the Sydenham Water Project for Sydenham residents.
The idea was put forward recently by Councillor Ron Vandewal.
Sydenham residents will be funding the municipal portion of the water project. Although costing is not finalised, residents could be facing costs of up to $10,000 or more as their share of the project costs, depending on the circumstances of their individual properties. Some township residents have taken the stance that ratepayers from throughout Loughborough District, or the township as a whole, should pay for the project.
Council has decided to give those people a chance to voluntarily donate.
At their meeting this week, Council deferred making a decision on how to distribute the money once it comes in.
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Sir John A. MacDonald's funeral train will return to Sharbot Lake
by Jeff Green
Well, a picture of it anyway. Actually it will be a 10’ high by 28’ long mural, to be affixed to the Stedman’s store in the village. The mural will re-enact the day Sir John A. Macdonald’s funeral train passed through Sharbot Lake. Several cars were part of the funeral delegation, including the one that carried Macdonald’s remains. They were pulled to Sharbot Lake by a CP train, and in Sharbot Lake, they were released and attached to a train from the K&P Railroad for the trip down to Kingston. The mural will depict the passage of the Macdonald funeral cars through the Sharbot Lake Station.
The mural is a project of the Central Frontenac Council’s Economic Development Committee, but funding for the Project has come entirely through a fundraising drive. An application had been made to the Trillium Foundation to fund a series of murals throughout the township, but it was not accepted.
The Committee has raised $4,600 through various means, and has received commitments of $3,500 from local businesses towards the project. They have also been promised a $3,000 grant from the Eastern Ontario Development Fund, provided all the necessary funding to complete the first mural is in place by the end of 2005. The total amount raised is $11,100 and the project is budgeted at $12,700, leaving a $1,600 shortfall.
Councillor Janet Gutowski presented a report on the fundraising progress to Central Frontenac Council this week. She also mentioned that individuals living in the region that have deep roots might be interested in arranging for a picture of their relatives to be included in the mural. For $200, anyone who had a relative that could have been present on the day Sir John A. Macdonald’s funeral train passed through Sharbot Lake, can have a portrait of that relative painted into the mural.
In another fundraising initiative, reproductions of sketches of local train stations drawn by artist John Deschenes, are being sold at the township office and other locations, with all proceeds to the mural project.
After Janet Gutowski presented her update to Council, Mayor Bill MacDonald proposed that Council provide a loan to the mural project should the fundraising drive not reach its goal by the end of December.
“I would hate to see us lose the $3,000 grant over a timing problem like this,” MacDonald said.
This proposal led to some debate on Council. Councillors Murray, Smith, and Nicolson were not present, leaving only six councillors at the meeting. Three of the six, Councillors Guigue and Harvey and Deputy Mayor Putnam made it clear they did not want to see public money going towards this project.
“That’s what the bank is for, to lend money,” said Councillor Harvey.
Councillor Guigue asked “Are you sure this is a loan?”
Deputy Mayor Putnam said, “They can call it a loan if they want to but is it really a loan? They are a committee of Council so how can it be a loan?”
Township Chief Administrative Officer Heather Fox said that it is possible to set up a sort of internal loan through the township’s accounting system.
“When it comes to budget time next year, if the money has not been repaid, Council could take it out of what they would normally give to the Economic Development Committee, I suppose,” she said.
The motion passed, with five voting in favour and Councillor Harvey voting against it.
Other Council notes – Railroad Museum SurveyIn keeping with a commitment made to the Central Frontenac Railroad Museum Committee, staff brought information about the cost of surveying the land the township owns on or near the proposed Museum site. The price is $1,000 and Council approved having the survey completed.
Tichborne rink – At their previous meeting, Council deferred decision on a tender they had received for building a change room at the Tichborne rink because the total was higher than the budget for the project. Councillor Gutowksi recommended refusing the tender in order to consider a cheaper proposal that has come to light. Council did so.
The new proposal calls for purchasing and moving a portable that is located near the Parham Post Office. The portable, which is owned by Gerald Howes, has been the subject of complaints by neighbours. Mr. Howes informed Councillor Gutowski that he no longer needs the portable and is willing to let it go for $3,500. With the cost of moving, altering and securely placing the portable in place for use as a change room, the cost of the proposal comes to $12,500, well within the budget for the project. Township staff have determined that the portable is sound, and are prepared to do the work necessary to have the new change room in place, probably by the end of the year.
Before Council voted on the proposal, Councillor Guigue said, “I know that no one will agree, but I have to say that I think it’s a bad idea to maintain small rinks in several villages. You see one or two kids on the rink in Tichborne when you drive by, if that, and the same in Mountain Grove. Why not put resources towards making a really good rink, say in Mountain Grove, which people will be motivated to drive to and spend the day?”
Councillor Guigue was correct; no one did agree, and in a 5-1 vote the Tichborne change room project was approved.
Drug safety request denied – Brian Rutherford, from Community Safety Net, is working with the Royal Canadian Legion and the OPP in presenting a Drug Safety Program in local schools, and requested that Central Frontenac make a donation to support the program. Citing a long standing policy not to support charitable enterprises with taxpayers’ money, Council rejected the request.
Building starts – Maintaining a year-long trend, the value of building permits in October was up significantly over values in 2004 and 2003. The number of permits issued in October, however, was down to 15 from 19 in 2004.
Year to date construction for 2005 is $7,157,000, which compares to $5,241,000 in ’04 and $4,115,000 in ’03. So far in 2005, 44 new residential units have been started, compared to 40 in the same period in ’04 and 25 in ’03.
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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright
Few hands make light work:NorthFrontenac Council, November 24, 2005
by Jeff Green
Mayor Ron Maguire and Councillor Dave Smith were both absent from last week’s North Frontenac Council meeting, and the vacancy left by departing Councillor Will Cybulski has not yet been filled. Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke presided over a meeting attended by three councillors, and instead of running from two to three hours in open session as most North Frontenac Council meetings do, this one was all over in 45 minutes. But several items were deferred until the next meeting.
Kash Lake residents concerned about their shoreline: James Credicott appeared before Council to ask if the township has jurisdiction over the shoreline in front of their cottage. The Credicotts are having problems with their neighbours, claiming the neighbours have been removing rocks from the shoreline in front of their cottage to use for the crib of a new dock the neighbours have constructed in front of their own property. The Credicotts came to Council because it is the township that owns the water and everything that is underneath the water. The situation is complicated by the fact that the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority have jurisdiction over watersheds, and removing rocks can affect wildlife habitat. The township will contact the MNR and MVCA to clarify jurisdiction in this matter. Meanwhile the Credicottts are considering legal action.
Community Policing Advisory Committee – Early this year, Council considered changing their relationship with the Ontario Provincial Police and establishing a formal contract, which would have enabled the township, through a Police Services board, to more directly determine the level of policing within North Frontenac. The cost was prohibitive, however, and the decision was taken to maintain the current relationship, which is known as status quo policing.
To improve communication with members of the police forces, the township has established a Community Policing Advisory Committee, and the committee was constituted at this Council meeting. Members include: Jim Wilson (community member), Councillor Bud Clayton, Constable Helen Lamont (Kaladar OPP Detachment) and Constable Carl Wagar (Sharbot Lake OPP Detachment)
Truck purchase deferred – Clerk/Treasurer Cheryl Robson brought forth a proposal to purchase a used pickup truck for use by the newly hired Foreman for the Public Works Department. The vehicle was a 1993 F250 Diesel Pickup, with a 7 1/2 foot snow plow attached, from Bence Motors. The cost is $9,000. Councillors had questions about the use of the snow plow, which Robson said could be used on other trucks owned by the township. With so few Concillors in attendance, it was suggested the purchase be deferred until the December meeting. Robson informed Council that this particular vehicle will not likely be available. Nonetheless, Council decided not to proceed with the purchase at this meeting. “There are other pickups available,” said Councillor Bud Clayton.
Ten-year Capital Budget Plan to cost $15,000 - $16,000 Council considered a proposal from their auditors, KPMG, to prepare the financial reporting groundwork for the development of a Ten-Year Capital budgeting plan and multiple year operating budgets from North Frontenac. The cost is between $15,000 and $16,000. It is proposed that the 2006 township budget be approved by the end of February. The 2005 budget was approved this past July.
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Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo Enright
Logan the lonely road warrior:Central Frontenac Council ends the year as they started it -- arguing about roadsby Jeff Green
Back in January, at the first Central Frontenac Council meeting of 2005, Council heard complaints over how the roads department had dealt with icy road conditions resulting from a series of mini-ice storms over New Year’s.
At a packed meeting in Mountain Grove in mid-January, icy roads and how the township deals with them was a hotly debated issue.
While Council dealt with many issues throughout the year, roads issues continue to surface from time to time. Under pressure from Councillor Murray, the township even established a roads committee this year. Yet, at their final meeting of 2005 this past Tuesday, roads issues dominated again, with Councillor Murray complaining about how the roads department reacted to snowy roads in Kennebec district following the first snowfall of the 2005-2006 winter season.
Logan Murray said he received phone calls on the morning of Thursday, November 24, after a snowfall on the previous evening, from people in the Elm Tree region of Kennebec, asking if the roads were going to be plowed. He brought forward the concerns, via phone and email, to the township office, about how constituents in the region were upset that the roads were not plowed, and were again not plowed by the time they left for work on the following morning, November 25.
A series of e-mails between Councillor Murray and Township CAO Heather Fox ensued. Councillor Murray told the News that he wanted to know “what the roads crew was doing on November 24.”
Through e-mail CAO Fox informed Murray that the amount of snow that fell on that day did not exceed the amount that requires plowing on secondary roads according to the minimum road standards that the township has adopted, but nonetheless gravel roads were plowed on the following day.
“That did not satisfy me,” Logan Murray told the News, “I think we can do better. People want a fairly high service level and I think they should get it.”
Again through email, Murray asked Heather Fox if he could see the timesheets of the township’s road crew for November 24.
A motion to grant Councillor Murray access to the timesheets was brought forward to Council this week, and was soundly defeated, with several councillors saying it is not the job of council to interfere in the workings of the roads department.
“We are here to set policy, not to micro-manage,” said Councillor Bob Harvey.
“I keep getting complaints about roads,” Murray said, “and I think it is my job to bring these complaints forward.”
This prompted CAO Heather Fox to say, “You keep saying you receive complaints, Logan, but we need to receive those complaints in the office in order to respond to them. If we don’t hear directly, there’s not much we can do.”
For the record, Mayor MacDonald asked Public Works Manager Bill Nicol to tell Council what procedure the roads department had followed on November 24.
Nicol said, “Road crews started plowing the hardtop roads at 10:00 am [Thursday Nov. 24], the snow stopped at around 2:00 pm, and crews kept working on the hardtop roads until 8 pm. I then sent them home, and they started again at 4 am [Friday morning], and then we did everything.”
Roads Committee disbandedLater in the meeting Council considered a motion by Councillor Harvey that the Roads Committee, which was set up in the spring and has met about six times, be disbanded.
“We’ve accomplished nothing,” Harvey said.
Councillor Frances Smith said the committee “was supposed to review and set policy. It’s turned out to be basically about which roads should be worked on, and that’s not what we are elected to do. I think we under mine staff at these meetings.”
Councillor Bill Snyder disagreed: “We finally had our first meeting at Piccadilly recently, and I think a lot of important things were discussed, and even though the location of the meeting wasn’t advertised there were quite a few people there to find out what is going on.”
Councillor Murray said “I believe we have a large problem with roads, which is the most expensive and most important function of the township. I don’t believe we have any system for managing the roads and I believe it is Council’s fault. That’s why we need a Roads Committee.”
By a vote of 6-3, the Roads Committee has been disbanded. Councillors Murray, Snyder and Gutowski voted to retain the committee, and Councillors Harvey, Nicolson, Guigue, Smith, Deputy Mayor Putnam and Mayor MacDonald voted to disband it.
Later, Councillor Murray told the News, “This Council has refused to take the tiniest step towards improving the road maintenance situation. I think we are wasting a good amount of money in the roads budget”.
With the Roads Committee having been disbanded, Murray said he will be encouraging members of the public to bring roads problems to the Council table.
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Feature Article
January 26, 2006
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Addingon Highlands EconomicDevelopment Strategic Plan
by Jeff Green
Forty or so business people from the Highway 41 corridor met in Kaladar early last Thursday morning. They spent the morning considering the strengths and weaknesses of the township as a place to do business. Using laptop computers and a network hook-up, a consultant kept track of individual opinions, slowly constructing a coherent strategy for economic development in the township.
The strategic planning initiative was funded by the Prince Edward Lennox and Addington Community Futures Development Corporation (PELA CFDC). The session was organized by the Addington Highlands Economic Development Committee, under chair Bill Brown.
At the planning session, which coincided with a business breakfast, Bill Brown announced that he will be leaving the area to move to Kingston at the end of March. Brown has been living in Addington Highlands for seven years, and he was the founding Chair of the Economic Development Committee,
The Committee has been very active in recent years, particularly in promoting a resort development initiative. Just last week, committee members travelled to Golden Lake, with a developer, to talk to the Council of the Pikwakanagan Algonquin First Nation in an attempt to convince the Pikwakanagan Council to join Addington Highlands in trying to convince the Province of Ontario to free up some Crown Land for the project. (Most of the Crown Land in Addington Highlands is included in the ongoing Algonquin Land Claim).
Lake_elected
Feature Article
January 26, 2006
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Lake elected Frontenac County Warden
by Jeff Green
Mayor Bill Lake of South Frontenac accepted the nomination of Warden at a County Council meeting last week, offering his thanks for the vote of confidence from County Council. Warden Lake thanked past Warden Bill MacDonald for the excellent job he had done as Warden in 2005.
“It is an honour and pleasure to be appointed Warden for 2006. I am looking forward to working with the mayors and staff to serve the interests of the County and its residents in dealing with both challenges and opportunities for the County as a whole,” he said.
At the same meeting, Mayor Ron Maguire of North Frontenac was elected Deputy Warden of the County.
Mayor Lake told the News that he intends to carry on the activist role the county has had on both the regional and provincial levels. Immediately upon his election, he attended a two-day meeting with the Eastern Ontario Wardens Caucus.
He will also be carrying on former Warden Bill MacDonald’s efforts in trying to change the provincial regulations regarding lunch breaks for emergency personnel. A ruling by the Ontario Labour board last year regarding lunch breaks has led to increased ambulance costs for the County of Frontenac. It has also slowed plans for enhancements aimed at lowering response times for ambulance service, in both the rural and urban areas served by County of Frontenac Paramedics.
As the Mayor of South Frontenac, Bill Lake represents the entity that supplies 58% of the municipal levy to the County, and Bill Lake said that “even though I am Warden that won’t stop me from representing South Frontenac’s viewpoint to the County, particularly on the budget.”
Last year, Mayor Lake was instrumental in sending the budget back to staff on the day it was supposed to be passed, saying his Council would not accept an increase in excess of 10%.
Eventually, the budget was passed with an increase of 9.95%.
Mayor Lake also said he will heed the previously expressed intentions of South Frontenac regarding the way the County portion of the Federal gas tax rebate is divvied up, although he will listen to County staff recommendations regarding how some of the money can be used for specific county-wide projects.
South Frontenac passed a motion last fall asking that the County’s portion of the gas tax revenue be passed directly on to the townships on a population basis.
