Feature Article - January 12, 2006

Feature Article

January 12, 2006

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South Frontenac Council

by Wilma Kenny

Property Crime Rates Continue to Drop in S. Frontenac

According to preliminary numbers for 2005, South Frontenac Township had 81reported break and enters in 2005. This compares to 133 for 2004, and 214 the year before that. Frontenac Detachment’s clearance rate (cases closed) was above average in 2004: last year, it was the highest in Eastern Ontario. In his report to Council, Constable Hiles said the numbers in South Frontenac have progressively decreased over the past 5 years. He attributes this to a combination of " a little luck, Frontenac Detachment’s aggressive Break & Enter Unit of Don Davies and Bob Abrams, and continued public support."

Public Works Manager Resigns

At a special meeting on January 5, Council accepted Steve Archibald’s resignation as public works manager, effective March 10, 2006.

Committee of Adjustment

Members of the Committee of Adjustment/ Land Division Committee continue as last year: Hahn for Bedford, Deputy Mayor Vandewal for Loughborough, Robinson for Portland and Roos for Storrington.

Rezoning Requirement Questioned

Mrs Ethel McCann came to Council to protest the expense of rezoning a lot addition to her Hambly Lake property, on the grounds that staff had not advised her it would be needed, when she made her original application. (A deposit of $2000 is required for a rezoning application. This is used to cover administration costs such as advertising: the unused portion is returned to the applicant.) She noted that in 2003, her neighbour had not been asked to rezone a similar lot addition. In his report, Lindsay Mills, Planning Co-ordinator, said the neighbouring lot had been overlooked, and would be picked up in a pending ‘housekeeping’ amendment to the Comprehensive Zoning By-law, at no cost to the owner. After discussion and some concern about the danger of setting precedents, Council voted to treat Mrs. McCann’s lot addition the same way.

A proposal for conducting an Ecological Inventory around Mitchell Creek Bridge was received by council. The survey would gather information to determine if there were Species at Risk or other sensitive wildlife present in the area of Mitchell Creek Bridge. A decision was deferred until at least one other estimate could be obtained for cost comparison. Councillor Smith asked, “What are we going to do if they find something there?"

Feature Article - January 5, 2006

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Feature Article

January 5, 2006

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ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo EnrightTastes oftheOttawa Valley Courtesy of the Fall RiverPub & Grill, Maberly

McDonald's Corners Re-use centre gets new life

Who would imagine that nineteen people of all ages would come to take part in a 2–day cold, somewhat grubby, community project during the holiday season? Only those with passion and commitment to a cause, you may say…and you would be right!

The Lanark Highlands council voted to close the re-use centres in the landfill sites as of December 31, resulting in an instantaneous rumble in the communities involved. Over forty people showed up at the following council committee meeting in support of keeping the re-use centres open: quite a surprise to the councilors.

A group was formed and a petition was written and presented with the hope of reversing the previous council by-law decision. This was debated in council, and finally on December 13 a vote was taken to allow the McDonalds Corners Re-use Centre to remain open for three months, under the supervision of volunteers; no staff would be provided.

Hence the "re-users" were formed and a work party was called.Plans were set to undertake a complete overhaul of the re-use centre. The township agreed to fix the ‘office’ at the end of the trailer as a place where the volunteer’s fingers could be warmed and a cup of tea enjoyed.

On Tuesday, December 28,cars, pick-ups and vans drove into the site, and before long everyone was pitching in, finding a job, and things were under way. A great deal of ‘stuff’ was taken to the MERA Schoolhouse to be sorted into either bags of ‘good’ for our re-use centre, or 're-cycle' for other charitable organizations or 'junk' for landfill.

The trailer floor was cleared, swept and scrubbed. There was suddenly room to move, books were sorted onto shelves,stuffed toys were peering down from the shelves and as darkness fell on the second day a great feeling of satisfaction was achieved at a seemingly impossible job.

Community members are asked to continue to bring in their re-use articles and to visit the re-organized centre. More volunteers to attend the site are welcome, as we hope to have two people per shift, and as plans are developed to further improve the outdoor space.

Many thanks are due to all those who participated. For more information, please phone Chris Anstead at 268-2008 or Lynne Parks at 278-2739.

Feature Article - January 5, 2006

Home | Local Weather | Editorial Policy

Feature Article

January 5, 2006

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ArchiveImage GalleryAlgonquin Land Claims

Gray MerriamLegaleseGeneral information and opinion on legal topics by Rural Legal ServicesNature Reflectionsby Jean GriffinNight Skiesby Leo EnrightTastes oftheOttawa Valley Courtesy of the Fall RiverPub & Grill, Maberly

Clar-Mill Community Archives becoming a realty:North Frontenac Council, December 15, 2005

by Jule Koch Brison

New Councillor welcomed - The first order of business at the December 15 meeting was the welcoming of Wayne Good as North Frontenac’s newest councillor. Mr. Good is filling the vacancy left by departing councillor Cybulski.

Community archives - In 2004 Bethany Armstrong had her father Charles’ book “Away Back in Clarendon & Miller” republished. The book was first published in 1976 and is a fascinating history of the Ardoch/Plevna area. Since then over 500 copies have been sold. Bethany also realized that there were no local historical archives in the area, no public source of photos or historical material, and that people who still had many stories to tell were getting older. In August 2004, she proposed to North Frontenac Council that community archives be created with funds from the sale of her father’s book.

Bethany attended the last (and snowiest) council meeting of 2005 to give an update on the project, which has been undertaken jointly by North Frontenac Township and the KFL&A Public Library.

The objectives of the archives are to: a) conserve local materials currently in private hands; b) make them available to the entire community; c) provide a place for local history research; and d) encourage community pride and interest in local history.

The collection will be primarily print-based. They will be seeking books, letters, journals, directories, yearbooks, maps and photos, but cannot at present accept artefacts because of space limitations.

Bethany said that local librarian Heather White has been very supportive – she cleaned out a cupboard for the collection when planning was still starting. “We hope to get painting the cupboard in January, and have an official opening in the new year,” Bethany said.

The archives will be limited to Clarendon and Miller Townships. “If other areas want to come on board, ok, but I can only handle Clar-Mill.” said Bethany.

Mayor Maguire commended Bethany Armstrong on the initiative she has taken and council enthusiastically endorsed a draft letter to be sent to the KFL&A Library.

Community volunteers are needed for the archives, and anyone interested can contact Councillor Betty Hunter, Librarians Heather White and Janice Coles, or Bethany at 613-479-2867, 613-730-2369.

“Some of the older people wonder why we need this- we know these things but my daughter doesn’t know how a farm was run in the 1920s” Bethany concluded.

Council faces litigation - Two very frustrated people, Fritz and Ursula Nussberger of Quality Housing Construction, came to council seeking a permit for putting hydro and water lines under a township road as part of construction they are doing for Aragain Lodge.

According to the Nussbergers, on October 14 they contacted Roads Superintendent John Ibey and asked him what they had to do to dig under a township road. They said he told them to bring him a sketch, which they delivered 2 weeks later. However, they did not hear anything back. At a subsequent council meeting they addressed concerns that the road might have a dip in it as a result of work they did by saying they would take care of any problems for one year.

On November 15 they dug up the road as they had proposed to do in the sketch. By late afternoon the work was done and the road had been filled in again. Township Chief Building Officer Dave Young then brought a letter telling the Nussbergers to undo what they had done that day and put the road back in the same state it was in before. The Nussbergers said that within 24 hours a township crew was on the spot and undid their work.

On November 28 they made another approach to the township to solve the problem by seeing if an easement was needed; however, again they heard nothing back. “The mistake we made is asking. We can count six or seven projects that have done the same thing as us, but nobody bothered to ask… we are only asking for the same rights as everybody else,” said Ursula Nussberger. “We have been misled; no one told us what to do, just said ‘Stop”. There has been damage to our business goodwill – you should hear the rumours.”

Mayor Maguire responded that there were two issues – the work that had been done without permits and the work that the Nussbergers wanted to do in the future. He said that because of the township’s liability, they could not permit any private infrastructure under a township road. Ursula Nussbergerger then said they were considering further action. “Would that be litigation?” Maguire asked. “Yes,” she replied. Maguire said that council would consider the matter in camera and get back to the Nussbergers the following week.

Ursula Nussberger informed the News on Tuesday that they had received a letter from the township denying their request and were going ahead with litigation.

Firehall going ahead - An update was brought to council on the plans for the Firehall. CAO Cheryl Robson said although staff already had authorization to proceed, she was presenting the report as a courtesy to Council because once plans were finalized changes would be very difficult to make. Mayor Maguire thought that the scope of the plan had changed because a complex of offices was not part of it, but Cheryl Robson said that there was no scope change; that was the plan they had worked on.

“We need to set a date to dig,” said Councillor Bud Clayton. When Council was asked by Cheryl Robson if they wanted to slow the process down, a resounding chorus of No’s was the reply.

Website Changes - The township’s website and email addresses will be moving from Mazinaw Online. The new website will be www.northfrontenac.ca, but Mazinaw Online will redirect surfers for six months.

Feature Article - February 23, 2006

Feature Article

February 23, 2006

AddingtonHighlands Council:February 20, 2006

by Jule KochBrison

Township Clerk Jack Pauhl recommended to council that a UV water purification system be installed at the Denbigh hall. Tests of the water at the hall keep coming back with adverse results. “The coliform counts keep bouncing around,” he said.

Reeve Hook asked if the water is unsafe to drink and Pauhl replied, “That depends on whose opinion you’re asking. The count is over 5.” A UV system would cost around $4000 and requires less maintenance than a chlorine system, but an analysis would have to be done to see if it would work with the Denbigh water.

One consideration in relation to the cost of a UV system is that water tests are expensive, and three tests have to come back clear before the system is considered clean.

Fire Chief Casey Cuddy asked if a smaller purification system could be installed right in the hall, rather than at the well, which is on the other side of the highway. Reeve Hook also asked if bottled water would be an acceptable solution to the problem; however, as food is served at the hall, it may not be. “It’s the MoE that we have to satisfy,” said Jack Pauhl. He will look into the feasibility of both suggestions.

Hazardous Waste Solution in sight

The township wishes to have an agreement for hazardous waste disposal in place with Renfrew Town Council as soon as possible. The cost to AH will be around $1600/year, with no other costs to ratepayers. The service will run from the long weekend in May to the end of August. Councilor Eythel Grant will contact Renfrew Town Council to get the matter moving.

Denbigh fire alarm - The township must install an alarm system at the Denbigh hall, and Fire Chief Casey Cuddy is waiting for further details about from the only company that submitted a quote for the work to the township.

Cell phone petition - Reeve Hook received an email about the cell phone petition from Bell that said they’re working on a business plan. “If the numbers are ok, we’re in business,” Hook said.

Feature Article - February 9, 2006

Feature Article

February 9, 2006

Cell pohone tower petition sparks interest:Addington Highlands Council February 6

by JeffGreen

Thirteen thousand people put their names to a petition last summer that was circulated in Lennox & Addington and North Frontenac, asking that either Bell Canada or Rogers establish cell phone service to serve parts of both townships.

The petition was forwarded to the phone companies and to MPP Leona Dombrowsky and MP Scott Reid. This week, Council received a copy of a letter MPP Dombrowsky wrote to the Chairperson of the CRTC on the matter. After outlining the tourist economy in the region, and referring to the popularity of Bon Echo Park , Dombrowsky’s letter concluded by saying “I would ask that you take whatever action necessary to ensure that necessary cellular service is made available to the townships of North Frontenac and Addington Highlands .”

Along with members of the Economic Development Committee, Reeve Ken Hook attended a meeting in January with Leona Dombrowsky.

At a council meeting this past Monday, Hook said, “We understand that Bell and Rogers together are building a business case for a tower. Apparently they can now put equipment on existing towers and are asking for information about the location of towers throughout the region. It seems as if they are very interested, so all the letters and petitions might pay off in this case.”

Hook said that soon after the federal election ended, the township received a letter of support from MP Scott Reid.

Audible signal light As planning continues for a signal light at Peterson Road in Northbrook, MTO supervisor Dave Steed has responded to Addington Highlands Council’s request that the signal light include an audible feature so visually impaired people can use it safely.

The township has canvassed Doctor Tobia in Northbrook and Land o’ Lakes Community Services to determine if there is sufficient need, and is working with the CNIB. Doctor Tobia projected that up to 70 people would be served by such a device in the next few years, according to Reeve Hook, due to the aging population in the area. Others had somewhat lower numbers. Audible traffic signals are a rarity in rural Ontario and on provincial roads.

In his letter to council, Dave Steed asked for CNIB involvement. “The ministry is certainly willing to partner with the community if a need is determined and the intersection is suitable. If individuals, caregiver groups or the CNIB have approached Council, we would appreciate being able to contact them,” Steed wrote.

Reeve Hook said that the MTO would need much help from the CNIB if they are going to go ahead with this because this would be very unusual. “In fact, it would be a first in Lennox and Addington County ,” he said.

Three hundred metre setback on trout sensitive lakes Council has received a letter from Laurie Miller, of the Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs, requesting that the township’s official plan be modified in light of recent Ontario Municipal board hearings. The province would like all newly created lots on what are called At Capacity or Highly Sensitive Trout Lakes only be considered if the tile fields on the new lots are set back at least 300 metres (over 1,000 feet) from the water.

The amended section would currently only apply to Machesney Lake, which is located west of Highway 41 about halfway between Cloyne and Denbigh, but the Ministry of Natural Resources can designate lakes at any time. The section does not pertain to development on already existing building lots.

Councillors on the whole were not entirely pleased with this imposition by the province, and questioned whether the 300 metre setback is altogether necessary, but nonetheless supported it in order to keep the Official Plan moving forward.

Mississippi Valley Conservation draft budget The Conservation Authority is increasing its levy on municipalities within the watershed a significant amount in 2006, almost 20%. The impact on Addington Highlands is limited, however, because the township only pays 0.16% of the budget. The levy on Addington Highlands is set to rise to $1,898 in 2006, from $1,654 in 2005, an increase of $244.

new members for Economic Development Committee Dave Winney and Jane Muston will be joining the AH Economic Development Committee. There was an existing vacancy on the committee, and when committee chair Bill Brown, along with his wife Juanita, move to Kingston next month, another vacancy would have been created if new members had not been found. The committee will select a new chair when it meets next.

Feature Article - February 9, 2006

Feature Article

February 9, 2006

Wind power to be explored near Denbigh

by Jeff Green

Addington Highlands Council has given its blessing to a proposal by Vector Wind Energy and the Conestoga Rovers Engineering firm to look into wind power generation on Crown land near Denbigh.

The project’s proponents have obtained initial data identifying three one kilometre square cells where the necessary combination of high average winds and proximity to high power lines exists. They intend to apply to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources for tenure on those lands, and will then begin a rigorous investigation of the wind generation potential of those sites.

“This is not an overnight project,” said Mike Benson of the Conestoga Rovers, in introducing the project to council. He noted that it could take several years to move from the initial concept to constructing a functioning wind farm.

“The first part is figuring out - do we have a suitable site? What we are looking for is simply the township’s blessing to go ahead and do the necessary work to see if a wind opportunity exists. It is not a cost situation for the township.”

Benson introduced Robert Miller of Vector Wind Energy to present an overview of Vector Wind Energy to Council.

Vector Wind Energy is an Ottawa-based wind development company with different kinds of wind projects in various stages of development throughout Canada . In Eastern Ontario, they have three projects under development: at Carruthers Point in Kingston ; Taylor Kidd Industrial Park in Millhaven; and on Amherst Island . It is the general practice of Vector, and most wind energy companies, to develop wind power on private land. In the past, they have not ventured onto Crown land for their projects.

Thomas Levy, an Ottawa based wind engineer with the Conestoga Rovers, presented a wind speed map to council, pointing to three sites north and northwest of the village of Denbigh that have average wind speeds in excess of 7.0 metres per second at 80 metres above ground level. Once the partners are granted the right to explore the resource from the Ministry of Natural Resources, they will conduct more detailed studies of the topography and the wind patterns at the chosen site(s). At a later stage, if the project seems viable, an anemometer will be placed at a 60 metre height for a period of months to determine the viability of the resource.

Obtaining approvals to actually set up a commercial wind farm on Crown land could be complicated, and Mike Benson said that he considered it essential to have the township involved as an advocate for the project in order to secure provincial approvals down the road.

Reeve Ken Hook made reference to a factor that could complicate the situation further. Most of the Crown land in the township, including the pieces that are being looked at for wind power, is located within territory included in the ongoing Algonquin Land Claim.

Nonetheless Council was enthusiastic in its response to the presentation. “We’re in a very exciting time,” said Councillor Louise Scott.

Paul Isaacs, a community member with an interest and expertise in alternative technology, attended the meeting and exhorted council to make a strong statement in favour of the project.

“I would suggest that the municipality look at this as a great opportunity and decides to get on board early.”

Another parcel of Crown land in Addington Highlands, located in the Vennachar area, has received approval for exploration, but in that case whoever it is that has received approval has not contacted the township yet.

“We appreciate you people coming in through the front door,” said Reeve Hook to the representatives from Conestoga Rovers and Vector Wind Energy.

Council passed a resolution in support of the wind power application and decided to establish a standing committee on wind power.

Feature Article - February 9, 2006

Feature Article

February 9, 2006

South Frontenac Council

by Wilma Kenny

Former Pits & Quarries Rezoned: Council agreed to amend the Official Plan & Zoning By-law to redesignate four parcels of land (two in Portland , one in each of Bedford and Loughborough) from ‘Mineral Aggregate’ to ‘Rural” on the basis that these properties were no longer being used for aggregate extraction. This would remove the prohibition of residential land uses on or within 300 metres of the properties in question.

Township Recreation Guide

The publisher of the South Frontenac Recreation Guide received $1,000 from the township ($250 from each district’s recreation committee) toward advertising in the 2006 version of the Guide. The Township’s recreational resources are featured in the guide, as well as other township sponsored programs and services. Although the guide was originally intended to provide information about recreational programs only, feedback from the previous two issues have shown that it has also served to publicize the services of local social agencies. Councillor Robinson questioned the value of the Guide, commenting that newcomers usually went to their neighbours and post offices for information about local resources.

Environmental Assessment, Mitchell Creek : Council agreed to hire Ecological Services Inc .to carry out an environmental assessment of Mitchell Creek , for the price of $5,130.

Garbage Bag Tags: The Township’s Sustainability Committee recommended that 100 bag tags be provided to each township household for the 12 months beginning Sept. 1, 2006. The new tags will be less costly; just under 80 cents per hundred, and compact enough to be mailed out with the tax bill. Councillor Roos pointed out that bag tags help prevent unauthorized use of garbage pick-up and landfill sites. Also, they encourage diversion of recycling materials by limiting a household’s allowable amount of garbage. Councillor Smith agreed that the tags were a cheap way to help extend the life of landfill sites.The motion to support the bag tags passed, with Mayor Lake and Councillor Barr opposed.

Sydenham Water Donations: Council endorsed a letter to be sent out with the interim tax levy, making it possible for township residents who wish to donate to the Sydenham water system to receive a tax receipt as long as their immediate family members will not benefit from the donation. Any monies received will be used to offset the financial contributions of the property owners in the village who qualify for assistance based on income (confidentially) verified by an independent social service agency.

Bedford Plans for Canada Day: Bedford Recreation Committee received council approval for their application to Festival Canada for a grant toward their July 1st fireworks display.

Feb 21 Meeting Cancelled: There will be no Council meeting Feb 21, as most of the members of council will be attending the Good Roads conference that week.

Bubbles...?! Councillor Vandewal noted the police report for the week of January 20-26 included a recipe for a bubble solution, and tips on how to blow bigger and better bubbles. (The police report usually includes tips about safe driving and crime prevention, etc.) Perhaps they were celebrating a low crime rate (8 calls over the past 3 weeks) by offering council some tips for enjoying February??

Feature Article - February 16, 2006

Feature Article

February 16, 2006

Township questions proposed deal overK&PTrail

by Jeff Green

A proposal by the staff of the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority to turn over management of the K&P Trail is being questioned by members of the North Frontenac Council.

Deputy Mayor Gleva Lemke brought council’s attention to the proposal at a meeting of North Frontenac Council last Thursday. Lemke has been representing North Frontenac on the Mississippi Valley Conservation (MVC) Board for several years. She missed the last MVC Board meeting on December 22. At that meeting a staff report was presented to the board, recommending that management of the K&P Trail be turned over to the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, who would be better able to maintain and promote the trail. The K&P Trail runs through Central Frontenac, North Frontenac, and Lanark Highlands on the old K&P rail line.

Some board members at the December 22 meeting expressed concerns about the proposal, and it was also pointed out that Gleva Lemke from North Frontenac and Larry McDermott from Lanark Highlands were not at the meeting. The matter was deferred to a meeting on February 23.

Gleva Lemke invited members of North Frontenac Council to pass on their concerns to her to take to the February 23 meeting.

The Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance (EOTA) approached North Frontenac Council last year with a proposal to include the 56 km of Crown land roads that North Frontenac manages in their trail system, but the proposal was ultimately rejected by North Frontenac Council.

One of the concerns expressed by North Frontenac Council at the time was that the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance is primarily focused on ATV use of trails, which is not always consistent with other kinds of trail usage.

This point, in reference to the K&P trail, had been made at the Mississippi Valley meeting by Mary Vandenhoff from Lanark, who was concerned that an agreement with EOTA would lead to ATV use only.

“An agreement with EOTA is not the solution if the Conservation Authority wants to continue with multi-use of the trail,” Vandenhoff is quoted as saying in the minutes to the meeting.

North Frontenac councillor Betty Hunter pointed out that a 15-page promotional booklet circulated by the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance lists North Frontenac as a member municipality, “even though we have no connection to them.”

The booklet also lists the townships of Central Frontenac and Addington Highlands as member municipalities.

On page 3, under the heading “Economic Impact Study”, the booklet projects benefits from the development of the EOTA Trail system. It says, “Over a 10-year period the economic and tourist benefits could be $45.8 million and the creation of 1659 jobs.”

Feature Article - February 16, 2006

Feature Article

February 16, 2006

NorthFrontenac Council Report

by Jeff Green

Citing the success of a camping program in Haliburton County , members of the North Frontenac Crown Lands Task Force proposed that the township consider hiring someone to manage its 108 campsites on Crown land, as well as to be in charge of other recreation facilities in the township.

A consultant has been hired to prepare a marketing strategy for the Crown Land program, which includes 56 km. of roads on Crown land as well as the campsites. The marketing strategy will be completed within the next two weeks.

The township will pursue a grant from the Community Futures Development Corporation to fund the position. The hope is that by having someone to run the Crown land program, the program will ultimately generate the funds to pay for the position.

Septic Inspection Program A report has been prepared by Sarah Willie detailing the results from 30 septic inspections carried this past fall on properties in the vicinity of Kashwakamak Lake . Letters were sent out to property owners explaining the program and asking for their cooperation. A two-page questionnaire was included. Later a visual inspection was carried out. Septic tanks were inspected, but only with explicit permission to carry out the inspection. Of the 30, five were located too close to a well; three had tanks in poor condition; two had excessive plant growth; and two had roots in the tank. The program calls for 100 properties to be inspected this year.

Grants Council authorised the mayor and clerk to sign a grant agreement with the Green Municipal Enabling Fund for a feasibility study into a small incineration system for North Frontenac and Addington Highlands .

Council also authorised the mayor and clerk to sign the contract for the marketing study for the Crown Land Stewardship Program.

Feature Article - February 2, 2006

Feature Article

February 2, 2006

North Frontenac Council approves fire hall plans

by Jeff Green

At their meeting last week, North Frontenac Council looked carefully at drawings for a new four-bay fire hall, to be located at the township office site between Ardoch and Plevna. They set out a request for proposal seeking a contractor to come up with a price for building the fire hall this spring.

This is not the first request for proposal for the Clar-Mill fire hall. A year ago council came very close to accepting a proposal to build the hall in the village of Plevna, but backed down at the last minute. This time, however, it is more likely the project will proceed. Mayor Maguire has said that it is imperative that council complete the fire hall before municipal elections this coming fall, and at the presentation last week, none of the councillors expressed reservations about the site or the plans.

The only remaining question will be the price of construction.

Council allocated $125,000 towards fire hall construction in 2005, and that money is still available. The Clar-Mill Fire Ladies have also committed $100,000 from their fundraising efforts over the years.

The plans call for a 66’ by 66’ foot building with four 14’ garage doors. An upper level is included in the plans. The building includes secure space for equipment, men’s and women’s washrooms and showers, two offices, and a large multi-purpose room. There will be a total of 5400 square feet of space in the building.

Bids on the building contract will be opened on February 20, and council expects the building to be completed by June 1.

The construction contract does not include painting, or any furniture in the building. The gaps are expected to be filled in by donations and volunteer labour.

Other items from Council

Community Halls Task Force final reportAnother longstanding initiative of North Frontenac Council seems to be nearing completion. Councillor Bud Clayton, chair of the task force considering how the township will manage the five community halls in the township, submitted his report.

Last June, council agreed to two principles: that the municipality provide a meeting place for the community, and that a committee that is responsible to the township manage each community hall.

The final report calls for the establishment of management groups for each hall, and says that these management groups will be “responsible for the general maintenance of each hall building, including telephone, heating, cleaning, equipment, kitchen, painting, minor repairs, hall rentals, etc.”

The municipality will be responsible for the exterior of the building, hydro, heat, insurance, etc.”

The township’s Chief Administrative Officer/Treasurer will handle all revenues and the vast majority of expenses for the halls.

At this point, it is unknown how much it will cost the township to maintain the halls in this manner, and the management plan is proposed on a “trial and error basis for an initial one year period” according to the report.

Council accepted the report and will institute the new management plan on May 1.

Assessment information Council received information from Treasurer Cheryl Robson concerning the budgetary implications of the large assessment increase, about 24%, that was determined by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation for properties in North Frontenac. The total assessment increase in the township comes to almost $89 million, raising the total assessment for all properties in the township to a shade under $450 million.

For comparison purposes, Cheryl Robson applied the tax rate from 2005 to the assessment information for 2006. If Council maintains the same tax rate for 2006, the township will have $684,815 more to spend in 2006 than they had in 2005. Similarly, if the County of Frontenac retains the same tax rate as last year, they will receive $290,434 more from North Frontenac taxpayers. If the education rate remains the same as 2005, the ratepayers in North Frontenac will send an extra $287,495 to the province for education.

While North Frontenac Council may have plans for the extra money they could receive by maintaining the same the tax rate as last year, they will be pressured by ratepayers, specifically waterfront ratepayers groups, to lower the tax rate in the face of this unprecedented assessment increase.

In 2005, the total tax rate in North Frontenac was $1,406.53 for every $100,000 of property assessment. By comparison, the tax rate in Central Frontenac for 2005 was $1,513.06. For 2005, in the City of Toronto the rate was $906.74; the rate in Pickering was $1,380.54; and rates in different parts of Kingston ranged from $1,446 to $1,617.