Frontenac County will be taking more money from ratepayers in 2014 than it did in 2013

It won't be finalized until later this month, but after four sessions, Frontenac County Council is set to vote on a budget that is little changed from the one originally presented to them by Treasurer Marian Vanbruinessen.

In December, Council passed a motion asking for two versions of the 2015 budget, one with a 1% increase, and one with a 1% decrease.

What they received, and this caused some friction, was a budget that included an increase of over 3.5%, with some proposed costs for Council to discuss.

“I'm confused and disappointed by this,” said South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison. “Maybe I missed something but we asked for 1%. Were there no meetings of senior managers to look for small savings in their budgets?”

“We brought items forward for you to discuss in closed and open session which would have brought that outcome about. You are aware that we started in a bit of a hole because last year $150,000 was taken from reserves to keep the levy down, which is not something that is sustainable as a budgeting practice,” replied Vanbruinessen.

“I suppose it was wishful thinking on our part, but we were hoping that staff could find a way to get the budget to where we wanted it without cutting service,” said North Frontenac Councilor John Inglis.

Among the cuts that Vanbruinessen proposed was the option of turning down a request for an extra $10,000 from Frontenac Transportation Services, but Council left the money in. Another option was to delete $12,700 for an end of term warden's reception; however that was cut to $5,000.

Although the bulk of the proposed cuts, none of which were approved, were discussed in lengthy closed session meetings, it did slip out in open session that one of them was to close the Wolfe Island ambulance base. This did not happen.

As well, sources indicated that downgrading some management staff in the county administration, which would have meant pay cuts for the people in those positions, was also on the table.

Vanbruinessen did find some savings and brought the budget from its initial 3.5% impact to 2.5%. She also said that growth, mostly in South Frontenac, would cover 1.5% of the increase, leaving the final increase at only 1% over growth.

The County budget represents about 20% of property taxation. The county increase is trending lower than the increase in most Frontenac township budgets. Central Frontenac and South Frontenac are both sitting at increases in the range of 5% and North Frontenac is just now starting to look at their 2014 budget. The county rate, at 2.5% along with a flat increase in education taxes, will end up tempering the cost for ratepayers in 2014.

Reserves freed up

While some members of council did not feel they had much success in reining in the 2014 budget, council did get a chance to deal with the state of the county's reserves. Of the 30 reserve funds the county has for various purposes, there are a half a dozen that have become larger than was ever intended. So, at a budget meeting on February 5, Council took some time to look at the reserve.

Based on recommendations from a consultant's report, they cut the working fund reserve to $1.2 million, enough to cover any potential cash flow issues without having to resort to borrowing. This left a pool of $2.7 million, which was parked temporarily in a holding fund. After going through the rest of the reserve funds, that pool now sits at $3.5 million.

Frontenac Islands Mayor Dennis Doyle proposed that $2.7 million be transferred to the local township councils for local projects (roads, bridges, buildings, etc) but this was not supported.

County Warden (and North Frontenac Mayor) Bud Clayton said that the county should look at putting the money towards long-term replacement of capital assets to keep future residents from budget increases as ambulances bases, Fairmount Home and County offices age.

In the end, Councilor John McDougall, who was chairing the budget sessions, suggested that the allocation of the $3.5 million could take place after the budget is completed.

“My suggestion is that that discussion not happen during our budget discussion, our object is to get the budget straightened around,” said McDougall, and council concurred.

Building out the K&P trail between the border with Kingston to meet the Trans-Canada Trail in Sharbot Lake has been a goal of several generations of Frontenac County politicians.

Thanks to some provincial grant money as well as an allocation of Frontenac County's share of gas tax rebate money, the trail is now complete as far as Craig Road on the north side of Verona and a work plan has been approved to extend it to White Lake Road in Central Frontenac by the end of 2014

From that point on the project has some hurdles to overcome.

The terrain will become more challenging, and a number of pieces of the former K&P rail line that is being used as the base of the trail have been sold off to private landowners. Although some of the landowners may be willing to grant easements for the trail to pass through their land, there are others who are opposed to the trail passing anywhere near their property.

Added to this impediment, South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison said at a meeting of Frontenac County Council last week that gas tax funding from the county may be a fleeting source of funds for the K&P Trail.

“I really think that as far as the trail goes, the gas tax needs to be eased up on. There are a lot of needs in the townships besides dumping money on the trail. I think we need somehow to find another funding model,” Davison said.

The county has about $900,000 in gas tax rebate money in a fund, but that money is from accumulated gas tax funds that were transferred to the county by the federal government between 2007 and 2011. Since then the county has been transferring all gas tax revenue directly to the townships and county council is committed to continuing that practice in the future.

Still, the idea of cutting off funding to the trail brought out a seldom-seen combative streak in John Purdon, who represents Central Frontenac on the council.

“Now that the trail is about to reach Central Frontenac, South Frontenac says we can't put more money in. I find that interesting,” Purdon said.

Purdon added that the one major purpose of spending on the trail has been to link up trails that pass through Kingston with the Trans-Canada Trail, which passes through Sharbot Lake.

“It makes no sense to stop now,” he said.

Provincial funding may be available to step into the breach should the county pull away from K&P Trail funding.

Last fall Premier Kathleen Wynne announced a major trail funding initiative aimed at completing the Trans-Canada Trail, which a completed K&P Trail would be part of, as a legacy project attached to the Pan Am Games coming to Toronto next year.

At a meeting called by opponents of a proposed subdivision near Hartington a couple of weeks ago, members of South Frontenac Council said they had not been apprised of the details surrounding the subdivision application.

That all changed this week when a report by Malroz Engineering was presented to a Committee of the Whole meeting in Sydenham on Tuesday night (February 11)

The Malroz report had been commissioned by the planning department of Frontenac County in response to a hydro-geological (hydro-g) study on the land slated for the subdivision, which was done by ASC Environmental and submitted to the County by the developer. The study was then forwarded by the county to South Frontenac Planner Lindsay Mills.

The question at the heart of the hydro-g study is whether there is sufficient water available to service the proposed 49 lots in the development, which is located on a 45 hectare (111 acre) site.

While pointing out that they did not do any independent analysis of the data gathered for the hydro-g study, Malroz found more than a few gaps in the data and conclusions that the report drew. They pointed to six general items that either need clarification or confirmation of the data, as well as six items related to groundwater quality on the site, 10 items related to groundwater quality, and three items related to analysis of the terrain.

As well, Malroz felt that although the hydro-g report said that a communal system was not feasible for the site, and “would result in excessive infrastructure costs … in our opinion further evaluation [of that option] is required due to the environmental suitability of the site for proposed private systems, and the density and complexity of the development.”

Opponents of the subdivision, most of whom are homeowners living nearby, have claimed that the subdivision, as proposed, will affect their water quality and quantity.

While the Malroz peer review report does not provide any evidence to support the opponents' position, it does put the onus on the applicant, Terry Grant Construction, to prove them wrong.

South Frontenac Council received the Malroz report for information purposes.

Parkland or "Cash in Lieu"?

In another matter relating to the proposed subdivision, Planner Lindsay Mills wrote that Council should consider, at an early stage in the process, whether to hold the developer to the requirement to hand over 5% of the land to the township as parkland before the plan of subdivision is approved. The alternative would be to accept a cash payment in lieu of the land transfer.

“In the case of this subdivision, the parcel would be 5.5 acres,” Mills said.

Since the land in question is flat and abuts a major road (Road 38) within the hamlet of Hartington where there is very little in the way of public parkland, Mills' report suggests that establishing a park may be in the public interest.

“For long-range planning purposes, parkland for public purposes should be acquired wherever possible before land values increase,” Mills wrote. He said that council should consider whether they want the parkland, which might cut three lots out of the subdivision, before the design of the development progresses any further

Feature Article - January 26, 2006

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January 26, 2006

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Central Frontenac Council embraces LakePlanning:January 24, 2006

by Jeff Green

There was a time, in the not too distant past, when township councils viewed Lake Planning initiatives by property owners’ associations with suspicion, on the assumption that they were designed to curtail any attempts to develop waterfront properties.

That time has passed in Central Frontenac. This week, Central Frontenac Council warmly received a presentation by the Kennebec Lake Property Owners’ Association concerning the comprehensive Lake Management plan they have undertaken in partnership with Quinte Conservation. Council talked about promoting the plan as a template for plans on all other lakes in the township. The Kennebec Lake Association will be bringing their perspective to the review of the township’s Official Plan that is taking place this year.

Terry Murphy, the General Manager of Quinte Conservation, said that Quinte Conservation has “an overall goal to develop a watershed management plan, but we don’t have the staff to do it. Working with volunteers who have expertise, we can co-ordinate and receive good data. We don’t always do studies to prove there is something wrong. Mostly we are finding that things are good, and we can learn what has to be done to keep them that way.”

The agreement between Quinte Conservation and the Kennebec Association stipulates that Quinte will provide expertise and training to ensure the quality of the data the Kennebec volunteers will produce. In return, Quinte will receive invaluable data.

So far, volunteers have studied 80 properties in the vicinity of Kennebec Lake, for soil erosion, shoreline degradation, water quality, etc. They have also generated an etiquette brochure which is available locally in Arden.

The planning process the Kennebec Association has undertaken is extensive, and it is designed to determine appropriate development opportunities for the lake.

Council received the report from the Kennebec Lake Property Owners’ Association and expressed their support for the Lake Planning initiative.

Sustainable Communities Resource Centre The Sharbot Lake Tire house is one step closer to reality. Council has approved a zoning amendment for the 1.16 acre lot on Road 38 where a proposed Sustainable Communities Resource Centre is planned. The building, which is to house office and demonstration space, and possibly a small caf is designed as a demonstration site for alternative building, heating, and waste disposal techniques. It is to be built using a combination of straw bale and reclaimed material (used tires) construction.

There were four conditions attached to the approved zoning change: A professional site plan must be developed, the sewage system must be approved by the Health Unit, certain landscaping must be completed, and provisions for a 15 car parking lot, off Road 38, must be made.

Public meeting Waste Disposal fees A public meeting will be held on February 27, 7 pm at Oso Hall to discuss whether to change or keep the fee structure for dumping garbage. Currently Central Frontenac charges one dollar for a bag tag.

Final building stats for 2005 Construction values for 2005 were a shade under $8 million ($7,943,000). This compared to $6,038,000 in 2004, and $4,656,000 in 2003. Forty-nine new residential units were started in 2005, compared to 45 in 2004, and 27 in 2003.

More on roads Councillor Murray initiated a further discussion on winter road maintenance in the wake of further ice storm events since the previous Council meeting. Murray insists that the Public Work Department needs to address how it operates during winter storms. Mayor MacDonald mounted a spirited defence of the road crew and their procedures, blaming road problems on bad weather. The exchange became heated at times.

Feature Article - January 26, 2006

Feature Article

January 26, 2006

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SouthFrontenac Township council report

by Wilma Kenny

In late December, Council approved a single day event Hazardous Waste Day program at an estimated cost of $6400. This will take place at the Keeley Road garages: the tentative date is Saturday June 3rd. There will be no fees for South Frontenac residents to bring hazardous waste for disposal on that day. (Presently, township residents can use the Kingston recycling facilities for a $30. per load fee.) There have been numerous requests for a hazardous waste depot in the township: this one-day event will serve as an indication of the actual demand for such a service.

Wireless Internet Transmission on Water TowerThe Township is entering into an agreement with Kingston On-Line Services, to rent space on the Sydenham Water Tower for wireless internet transmission equipment. The $200/month rent will go toward the operating costs of the Sydenham Water System.

New County WardenMembers of Council congratulated Mayor Bill Lake on his election as Warden of Frontenac County for the year 2006.

Alternate Energy: Why Should We Care, & What Can We Do?The Township Natural Environment Action Committee has invited Steve Lapp, local resident andCoordinator of St Lawrence College's new Energy Systems Engineering programto present a seminar at Sydenham Town Hall on Monday January 30, at 7:00 pm. We’re all aware of rising oil, gas and electricity costs, threats of power failure, smog, and changes in global weather. Phrases like "alternate," "renewable," " cleaner" energy have become so familiar they are in danger of losing their meaning. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and helpless. Steve plans to focus on the positive actions we can take, both as individuals and members of society, to improve our energy situation. He will encourage discussion and questions. There is no charge for this seminar: everyone is welcome.

Feature Article - January 26, 2006

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January 26, 2006

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Tichborne resident incensed at Council refusal

by Jeff Green

Danka Brewer thought she was making a reasonable request of Central Frontenac Council when she wrote a letter asking that the fee be waived for two “Slow - Deaf Child at Play” signs in Tichborne for her nine-year-old son Alexandar.

Alexander has a disorder called “Central Auditory Processing Disorder, which means that Alexandar’s brain does not process sounds between 55 and 80 decibals. Most traffic falls within this range and Alexandar cannot hear oncoming cars,” Brewer said in a letter to Council. “I feel that signage is necessary in order to ensure my son’s safety, …”

Noting that she is in a “Special Needs” circumstance, Brewer requested that the standard $100 per sign fee be waived in her case.

At first it seemed as if Council would be sympathetic to Brewer’s request. Councillor Gutowsi said that Danka Brewer lives on a fixed income and faces special costs for her son, so cannot afford the $200 it would cost for the signs, and Councillor Murray said, “I’ve been known to drive too fast, but I always slow down at Children at Play signs.”

Councillor Harvey then said, “I have a tough time with signs. It’s a proven fact that signs don’t do anything. Only police pressure can make a difference.”

Councillor Gutowski pointed out that Constable Grant from the OPP has been contacted, and extra patrolling has taken place in Tichborne to enforce the 50 km speed zone, with some effect.

“I have mixed feelings,” said Deputy Mayor Smith, “I don’t think a sign will promote safety.”

Councillor Putnam said “I think there are handicapped children in every Village, and we don’t have free signs for all. Besides, I don’t think they work.”

Mayor MacDonald said, “Notwithstanding the sympathies I have for this situation, I don’t know about this. I dare say that if I took off my hearing aids, I wouldn’t be able to hear the traffic in front of my house.”

In a recorded vote, Council rejected the request for an exemption from the cost of signage, with Councillors Harvey, and Putnam, Deputy Mayor Smith and Mayor MacDonald voting against, and Councillors Snyder, Murray and Gutowski voting in favour. Councillors Guigue and Nicolson were absent from the meeting.

Danka Brewer was flabbergasted when she found out about the decision. “I don’t know what we pay the Councillors for,” she said, “if they refuse to look at things individually. My son has special equipment at school, where they recognise his problem. He needs to cross the road in order to go to his bus in the morning, and he can’t hear cars coming on the road. I don’t have the income to pay the fee, but I need the sign.”

Feature Article - January 26, 2006

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January 26, 2006

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Letters to the Editor

Polygamy being considered?Thank you once again for your great little paper that has become my window on back home happenings!

I read of so many peoples names I remember from my early life in Mississippi Station. However, those mentioned are no doubt some of the children of the actual people I knew.

As I remember, I do believe while the debates were in parliament about whether same-sex marriage would pass, I wrote a short letter in response to others on this issue. I suggested that if these rights were given because of our charter of rights and freedoms it would not be long before others of faiths who believe in polygamy would step up taking their demands for their “rights” to the Supreme Court. That is exactly what is being talked about now in the circles of our constitutional lawyers. And it will be happening soon!

Is it possible that our desire for fairness and equality in our laws can go too far? Is it possible that some would use these rights to make it legal to do things we simply don’t believe in or practice because to do so would be a backward step, even to create a society we did not want, was oppressive, and one we long since left behind? On first glance these possibilities seem to be what’s now happening. Who knows: on January 23, 2006 things may change and perhaps for the better. Thank you.

- Bill Deacon

No one considers CF road crews

Reading past issues of the Frontenac News, letters to the editor, the Central Frontenac council minutes, as well as hearing the frustrations of the public concerning the maintenance of icy roads makes me very angry about how vicious and heartless people are. To begin - no one stops to consider how the public works management and work road crew get themselves to work at 3-4 o'clock in the morning on the icy roads. There is no one out there sanding their paths for them to report to work. Individuals have ridden their ATV's to work in the pouring rain and then worked for 8 -12 hrs in soaking wet clothes. People don't stop and think of the many young families that spend holidays alone and the many late nights worrying if their husband/family member has made it into work safely or worrying that they might have slid down an embankment with a big truck and are hurt. Many of the employees have very young children and it would be nice for people to consider them when they are making their vicious comments. Just because they are employees of the township does not mean that they are not human. It is stressful enough for the employees to manoeuvre the big trucks over the icy roads, let alone be answering calls from people who are cursing and carrying on because their road has not been sanded.

For you individuals who are doing all the complaining, it's plain to see that you are not looking at the whole picture. There are over 600 kilometres of road in Central Frontenac to be maintained and every household wants their road done first. This is impossible; for this to be done, more equipment would have to be purchased and more bodies hired to operate the equipment. As for sanding the roads in the rain - this is very wasteful, as the sand just washes off and more would have to be applied, therefore increasing your taxes to pay for services which you are complaining about and then you will be complaining about the increase in your property taxes. Remember, before you make your next rude phone call, it is your choice where you live and if you don't like your service, you are free to move to another township; or, if you feel that you can do a better job, it is high time that you apply for these positions and quit your complaining.

For you, Mr. Murray -- you stated that you have received many phone calls concerning the road conditions and as you were told, you should be directing these individuals to call the Hot Line so that these complaints can be handled by the Public Works department. It is very unfair of you or any other council member to be calling the Public Works management and telling them how to do their job. They were hired as educated trained professionals and know more about and how to do the job. If you or any other council member has a problem with how the Public Works Department handles its job, it is something that should be discussed at a council meeting and not addressed by you alone. I believed that all council members should do a ride-along in the big trucks during an ice storm so that you can experience first hand the thrill and stress that these drivers are under; maybe then you would be more supportive to the road works department.

Thank you to the individuals who take the time to call or stop by the office or garages to say thank-you or that they have done a good job. This shows that there are individuals who do understand and care. It gives support and encouragement to these people who are already over stressed.

- Tammy Scott

Feature Article - January 12, 2006

Feature Article

January 12, 2006

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A break with tradition:Central Frontenac Council, January 9, 2006

by JeffGreen

In a break with tradition, Central Frontenac Council has named a new Deputy Mayor for the final year of its mandate. Councillor Frances Smith, who represents Oso district, had her name put forward by Councillor Bob Harvey, and Council accepted it. Faye Putnam, who represents Olden District, served as Deputy Mayor in 2004 and 2005.

Previously a bylaw was in place that prohibited representatives from the District where the Mayor resides from having the role of Deputy Mayor, but that stipulation was removed last summer, paving the way for Smith to become Deputy Mayor even though Bill MacDonald resides in Oso District.

There have been three terms of Council since Central Frontenac was established in 1998. In the first term, 1998-2000, Lloyd Lee, representing Hinchinbrooke District, was the Deputy Mayor for the entire life of the Council, and in the second, 2001-2003, the post was held for three years by Jack Nicolson, representing Kennebec District.

Councillor Faye Putnam told the News that she had no problem with Frances Smith taking on the Deputy Mayor role, and supported the resolution.

The Deputy Mayor stands in for the Mayor when necessary, but as Faye Putnam pointed out, “Bill MacDonald doesn’t miss many meetings.”

Rideau Valley asks for an increase The Rideau Valley Conservation Association (RVCA) wrote to inform Central Frontenac of their plans for 2006, and included a budget summary. Even though RVCA plans to dramatically increase expenditures in 2006, and will be constructing new offices, an increase in funding from the Province and a deal with the City of Ottawa to finance the new office construction has enabled them to avoid any large increase in their municipal levy.

Municipal funding for the RVCA is split among the 18 jurisdictions that have territory within the watershed, but it is divided on the basis of property assessment. The City of Ottawa will pay over $3 million to RVCA this year, while Central Frontenac has a levy of $6,291, up from $5,976 in 2005, an increase of 5.2%.

South Frontenac has a levy of $12,157.39 in 2006, up from $11,365.01 in 2005.

Council received the report from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, and deferred the matter to budget deliberations in March.

“At least the increase is lower than it was for the past two years,” said Councillor Bill Guigue, who is the Central Frontenac representative to the RVCA.

Gas Tax Agreement Council passed a bylaw that puts in place an agreement with the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO), enabling money to flow from the Federal gas tax transfer initiative. In order to be forwarded, the money must be allocated to a project that fits the criteria of the gas tax rebate program. Township CAO Heather Fox recommended that the monies be allocated to the township’s ongoing road repaving program, which seems to fit the criteria.

“Since our repaving program is already budgeted for, we can apply the gas tax monies to it, and free up money to put towards whatever other initiatives Council identifies in the future,” Fox told Council.

Central Frontenac will receive $44,429 for 2005, and is slated to receive an identical amount in 2006. In 2007 the program is slated to be worth $59,352 to Central Frontenac; in 2008 $74,035; and in 2009 $148,071.

Insurance costs jump sharply In 2005 Central Frontenac Township paid $82,869 for Insurance. In 2006 costs will jump to $108,923, an increase of 32%. The major factor for the increase is an 84% increase in the cost of liability insurance, from $19,028 to $35,012.

More road maintenance complaints Councillor Logan Murray told council that he has received 50 complaints from ratepayers about icy road conditions over the Christmas season.

“I told each person to phone the township’s roads hotline, but then one of the people phoned back and said the hotline wasn’t working because the mailbox was full.”

Mayor Bill MacDonald responded by noting that, “It rained for 24 hours straight on the day you are referring to. We have 650 kilometres of road in this township, and 13 pieces of equipment, 2 of which were broken down. I think our roads department is doing as good a job as they can under the circumstances. There is no point putting sand on a road while the rain is coming down because the sand washes out in ten minutes and the road is as slick as before.

“Don’t forget that our roads crew has been dealing with horrendous weather right through the Christmas season, and have been working 24 hour shifts”

One of the people who complained to Logan Murray and Bill MacDonald about the ice storm on December 28 and 29 was Rod Drapeau who lives about 3 kilometres in on the Tryon Road south of Sharbot Lake. Drapeau, who runs a fire protection business on Road 38, was upset that the Tryon Road was not sanded in time for him to drive to work on Thursday morning and said that several of his employees were iced in on back roads and this cost his business dearly on that day. The road was sanded at around noon on Thursday and again in the early evening.

Rod Drapeau told the News that he has never called the township with road complaints before but that he is fed up with what he calls the “minimum standard service” in Central Frontenac. “I need to get to work in the morning,” he said. “I lived in Plevna for years, and I never missed a day’s work because of the roads.”

Drapeau said he is considering moving his business and home to South Frontenac where the road service is superior, in his view.

Feature Article - January 19, 2006

Feature Article

January 19, 2006

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Addington Highlands Council:January 16, 2006

by Jule Koch Brison

Mohammed (Tex) Rind, who has applied to the township for a licence to open a wrecking yard on Hwy. 41, came to the Denbigh council meeting bringing two letters of support for his application.

Mr. Rind bought a property that had been a wrecking yard, and in 2002 he applied for a license to reopen it; however, he failed to appear at a hearing and letters were received from neighbouring property owners that did not favour granting the licence.

Mr. Rind came to the Jan 3, 2006 meeting in Flinton and again applied for a licence. At that time, council asked him to bring three letters of support from the owners of the properties adjacent to the site.

Mr. Rind brought two favourable letters. Reeve Hook said he had contacted the owners of the third property, who stated that they were not in favour of the wrecking yard.

Mr. Rind then said, “I’ve done everything legally. The people who owned it before didn’t do a good job and I shouldn’t be punished for what they did.” He said if he’d known what the objections were, he could have moved his fence 20 metres or more. He said he was running out of time and money.

Councillor Grant made a motion to grant Mr. Rind the licence, but no one seconded it. Reeve Hook then advised that the matter should be moved to the closed session at the end of the meeting, as there were things about the situation that couldn’t be discussed in a public meeting.

Mr. Rind agreed to wait until the end of the meeting and discuss the matter with council in closed session. When contacted the next day Mr. Rind told the News that council had refused his request.

Hazardous Waste: Councillor Eythel Grant drove to Renfrew on Jan 4 for a scheduled meeting with the Renfrew Town Council on Hazardous Waste Disposal. When he arrived, he found that the meeting had been cancelled; however the person in charge of the program gave Eythel Grant two hours of undivided time and explained the whole system to him. The cost to AH would be based on population, and if the use were the same as last year, it would be about $1600 per year. Considering that the township had been looking at a cost of $1600 for running a single day of hazardous waste disposal, Reeve Hook commented that the price was very good.

Councillor Grant was told that if the township had a lot of one type of hazardous waste they could obtain bins, keep them on site and take them to Renfrew once they were full. Reeve Hook asked if AH could legally transport the hazardous waste without a licence. Councillor Grant said the man told him that the townships Renfrew deals with have no problems storing the waste, and they transport it the easiest way possible; to which Reeve Hook quipped, “That’s ok as long as you don’t get caught.”

Councillor Grant also said he had been contacted by a company that will come in and shred tires. The shredded tires could be used to cover dumps, and in building roads. M. Rind commented that he knew of a company that would bring in a trailer, leave it until it was filled with tires, and haul the load away for $2500 (about $1 per tire). He will obtain the contact information for council, and Councillor Grant will enquire into the price of the tire shredding.

Council passed a bylaw to approve short-term borrowing in order to meet the township’s current expenditures for 2006 until taxes are collected. Township Clerk Jack Pauhl commented that this is the first year since amalgamation that AH has carried no borrowings forward.

Feature Article - January 26, 2006

Feature Article

January 26, 2006

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Wireless broadband inSydenham and beyond

by Jeff Green

Kingston-Online Services (KOS) was one of the first Internet service providers to set up shop in Eastern Ontario when they started providing dial-up Internet service in 1993, and they have been aggressively developing a wireless broadband network in an increasingly wide area around Kingston over the past 12 months.

Now, thanks to the 97 foot high antenna on the Sydenham water tower, they will be expanding their service to a wide swath of properties around Sydenham.

At this week’s Council meeting, South Frontenac Council approved a bylaw renting space on the Sydenham water tower to KOS to set up equipment on the water tower that will be able to send a signal to any property within a line of sight to the tower, and many that aren’t even within sight of the tower.

Not wanting to waste any time, KOS had plans to set up their equipment this week in order to have service available as soon as possible. The company has a waiting list of customers in the immediate area, from Sydenham Village to Railton Road and beyond.

“Until we put the equipment up, we won’t know how far the signal will travel,” said a company spokesperson, “but we are hoping to be able to reach Harrowsmith.”

The wireless broadband service that KOS offers is not a satellite based service, and is thus less susceptible to interference due to inclement weather. The company claims the service is comparable with cable or DSL based services in terms of speed, reliability and price.

The equipment in Sydenham will allow a link to the 300’ tower that KOS recently installed on McAdoo Lane, just north of the 401 at Division Street.

KOS has plans to expand services to the north towards Verona in the near future.

South Frontenac Mayor Bill Lake said that the Sydenham water tower was built with rentals such as the KOS one in mind. “There is space for about three more rentals,” he said.