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Feature Article - May 31, 2007Sydenham High School student council co-presidents become co-achievers
by JeffGreen (with information provided by the Limestone School Board)
Stephanie
Doornekamp and Zannah Matson were two of seven winners of the Limestone
Student Achievers awards which were presented at the May 23rd
School Board meeting. The awards recognise students who have excelled
in the following categories: the arts; athletics; leadership; and
academic standard.
In addition to serving as student council co-president, a job she prepared for by being involved in the school leadership camp and school council for the previous three years, Stephanie has excelled in athletics and music.
She has played basketball, rugby and volleyball over the years, and helped bring her rugby team to victory in the Ontario championships. She has also played in the school band every year she has been at the school, playing a number of instruments. She also plays music at her church and at Kiwanis festivals as a representative of the school.
In addition to serving as student council co-president this year, Zannah Matson has been busy engaging in politics, the arts, and a number of local initiatives. She has won awards for public speaking, is a member of the Ontario Youth Parliament, was involved in the parliamentary reform exercise in Ontario through the youth wing, and started a newspaper at Sydenham High School, among other ventures.
Her high academic standing has stood her in good stead in planning for her future. Zannah applied for and received several lucrative scholarships, to Queen’s, McGill, and other universities.
Her name was also submitted for a scholarship to the University of Toronto, under the National Scholarship Program, which covers four years’ tuition plus living expenses in Toronto.
Zannah was familiar with the program because her sister, Ainsley Head, a former student at KCVI in Kingston, received the same scholarship five years ago.
The application process includes the submission of a piece of writing. In Zannah’s case she submitted a piece she had written for high school course on the psychological and sociological impacts of torture. When she was short listed for the scholarship she spent five days in Toronto with 29 other applicants. After a one-on-one interview with a U of T academic about her paper, “we talked about all kinds of things,” Zannah recalls, and an interview with a four-member panel on a variety of topics, Zannah was one of 15 people who were chosen for the scholarship.
So, next year she will be living in a suite-style residence at Innis College in the Annex, and will be studying in the international Development department of the university, under the Social Sciences umbrella. Her goal at this point is to take Peace and Conflict studies in her upper years at the university, “but I might find that goal will change if I find something else that interests me in first year.”
In their final year at Sydenham High School, Stephanie Doornekamp and Zannah Matson worked together on many projects on student council and otherwise, including organizing a LIFE night to empower young women.
“It was a great year, a great concluding year for us,” Zannah Matson recalls.
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Feature Article - 24, 2007North Frontenac '07 tax rate up 4.28%
by Jeff Green
What a difference a year makes.
In 2006, thanks in large to part to a whopping increase (24%) in assessed property values, North Frontenac Council was able to increase spending by 3% while decreasing the tax rate by 15%. This lowered rates to $1,191 (per $100,000 of assessment), down from $1,406 in 2005.
In 2007, the tax rate will be $1,242, a $50 increase over last year, most of which is the result of a local township budget increase.
With property assessments flat in the political fallout from the Ontario Ombudsman’s report into the workings of the Ontario Municipal Property Assessment Corporation, North Frontenac staff and council were faced with an uphill struggle as they began to consider this year’s budget.
Property assessments actually decreased marginally (0.36%) this year in North Frontenac. As well, the township was helped by $236,000 one-time provincial grant in 2006, which was not repeated in 2007.
Among projects being funded in the 2007 budget are $200,000 in road reconstruction projects, details of which will be determined next month. This is almost $100,000 less than the road reconstruction work done in 2006.
Among new initiatives, the township is putting $50,000 into a reserve fund for a proposed new fire hall in Ompah.
Other expenditures include the building of a communications tower, with partial funding from a provincial grant.
Purchases that have been approved by council in the run up to the budget included the purchase of a new tandem dump truck; a large used bulldozer (15 tons heavier than the current dozer, which will be traded in); and the replacement of a 1991 dump truck with a 1995 tandem dump truck.
A late-minute addition to the budget was extra monies for fire suppression in light of the recent fire on Wintergreen Road, which required Ministry of Natural Resources water bombers. The township may be billed up to $100,000 for the bombers.
In furthering the multi-year budgeting process that has been a goal of both Mayor Maguire and CAO/Treasurer Cheryl Robson, township staff has prepared a preliminary budget document for 2008 outlining certain expenditures that are envisioned for that year.
After not passing their budget until August in 2005, and the beginning of July in 2006, this year’s budget was approved on May 17, which puts North Frontenac more in line with neighbouring townships.
In presenting the budget, Mayor Maguire made reference to ongoing work by the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus, on which he is sitting this year as the Warden of Frontenac County. The caucus continues to lobby for the removal of social service costs from the municipal tax rolls.
“Our council controls only 56% of the tax dollars we collect. The rest goes to education and county budgets, over which we have little or no control,” he said.
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Feature Article - 24, 2007Davison straightens out county over K&Ptrail funding
by Jeff Green
A staff report was presented to Frontenac county council last week on how a $289,000 rural infrastructure grant should be spent. The grant is earmarked for the purchase and development of the K&P rail line into a trail.
The long moribund K&P trail initiative was given new life late last year when the City of Kingston purchased their portion of the line and entered into a management agreement with the Cataraqui Trail Authority. Kingston then approached South Frontenac Township, urging them to look into purchasing the portion of the line in the township.
With the offer of funding support from Bedford District’s parkland reserve funds, South Frontenac allocated $100,000 towards the purchase of the line and trail development in this year’s budget.
In discussions with county staff, it was determined that the county could support the initiative by applying for an infrastructure grant. The grant application was successful.
At that point, it was suggested that all of the line that falls in South Frontenac should be purchased. A complication arose because the former rail line runs into Central Frontenac at the Arena Boundary Road in Piccadilly, and re-enters South Frontenac about 20 kilometres further north, on the other side of Tichborne.
Even though Central Frontenac council decided to stay out of the trail purchase for now, county council was so keen on moving forward that it agreed to purchase the Central Frontenac portion itself, with the understanding that Central Frontenac might be interested at a later date.
All of this was acceptable to South Frontenac, but when the staff report was presented to county council last week, it proposed spending $179,000 for trail upgrades, and only $110,000 to pay for surveys and acquisition of the entire Central Frontenac portion and as much of the South Frontenac portion as it could cover. Whatever else is required for the South Frontenac purchase would then come from the $100,000 South Frontenac has allocated.
“This was South Frontenac’s initiative in the first place, and the county applied for the grant at our request, but now it looks like we are left to pay for our share of the trail, and a lot of the grant is going to Central,” said South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison in response to the proposal
“As I understand it, the acquisition and survey costs are clear,” said Frontenac County CAO Elizabeth Fulton, “The upgrades, however, are significant, including bridgework and potential realignment. This money will not open the trail.”
“As I see it the initiative started in South Frontenac” Davison reiterated, “I’m still on the hook for at least $70,000. Is Central Frontenac putting any money in?”
“No,” said Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski, “this issue has not been a priority item for us. However we want to co-operate and remain active in it. But we haven’t put any money towards it.”
“I suggest that we amend the recommendation, so that the grant will go towards the entire cost of surveying and purchasing the portion of the trail in South and Central Frontenac, and whatever is left over be devoted to trail upgrades,” said Elizabeth Fulton.
With Davison somewhat mollified, the amended proposal was accepted.
Numerous hurdles to developing the K&P trail remain, including fencing (for which the county might now be liable); the construction of several bridges; opposition from some neighbouring residents; and dealing with parts of the abandoned rail line that have been sold off. For example, a section of the line at the north end of Tichborne is privately held.
The county initiative also does not include the portion of the K&P line that runs from the very top of Bedford District to join with the Trans Canada Trail at Sharbot Lake. Much of the rail line in that stretch is privately held as well.
In addition, the Trans Canada trail is managed by the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, a proponent of multi-use trails with an emphasis on ATV use, whereas any K&P trail that emerges will be managed by the Cataraqui Trail Foundation, which runs non-motorised trails.
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Feature Article - 24, 2007Addington Highlands passes budget, "mothballs"Denbigh dump
by Jule Koch Brison
Under pressure from the Ministry of the Environment (MoE), at its May 22 meeting, Addington Highlands Council voted to temporarily close the Denbigh Waste Disposal Site, effective July 1, 2007.
The Waste Management Committee had met with Jon Morish, an MoE inspector, on May 8. The MoE is still awaiting the results from water sampling, but Morish said that in the meantime the Denbigh site is over capacity and recommended that the township “moth-ball” or close the site. Morish made it clear that he wanted an update from council on the site within a week or two.
Councilor Louise Scott said, “I’m afraid that if we don’t set a date, they’ll just come in and close it.” Reeve Henry Hogg agreed that was a likely scenario. Councilor Helen Yanch proposed a motion to moth-ball the site until further notice, effective July 1. Reeve Hogg then asked for a recorded vote, and the motion passed unanimously.
The township is still investigating the possibility of expanding the Denbigh site in the future Councilor Eythel Grant said that surveyors had started work there on Tuesday. Council also decided to expand the hours at the other waste disposal sites to lessen the impact of the closure. The Waste Management Committee will meet to set the new hours.
• Council debated how to respond to a map that was given to them by AHEAD (Addington Highlands Economic Advisors for Development). ATV traffic is legal on Addington Highalnds Township roads, but not on county roads. At the May 7 council meeting, AHEAD had requested that a portion of County Road 29 be made legal for ATV traffic in order to connect two trails in the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance network. Reeve Henry Hogg had told AHEAD that he would bring the proposal forward at the county council table if they provided a map showing exactly what is being requested.
“It goes right through the village of Flinton,” Hogg said. Councilors Grant and Scott supported passing the request on to county council, but Councilors Yanch and Kerr opposed it, so the request was defeated.
• The Land o’ Lakes Lions Club will be holding their annual voluntary toll in Northbrook on June 28, 29 & 30.
• The council meeting was enlivened by the presence of about 16 students from the NAEC Grade 10 Civics class, along with their teacher Joel Hasler. After the meeting, the students were asked what they thought of it. One replied that he had learned something, while another said she had found it interesting.
Three percent increase
in tax rate approved
Addington Highlands ratepayers will be paying more in taxes this year, an increase at approximately the rate of inflation. An increase of 3.5% in the county levy was responsible for some of the increase, which township expenditures will rise from $1,542,984 in 2006 to $1,593,981 in 2007, and increase of $51,000, which translates into a 2% increase in the local tax rate.
With education taxes being unchanged, the overall levy increase will come in at 3%.
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Feature Article - 24, 2007Panther Palooza at Prince Charles
by Jeff Green
Panther Palooza at Prince Charles
By Jeff Green
The school council at Prince Charles Public School in Verona has come up a new event to bring the community together, raise money for the school and the Christmas for Kids campaign, and celebrate the beginning of summer.
Panther Palooza is an outdoor dance, community barbeque, and silent auction scheduled for Friday night, June 1t, starting at 6:30 pm at the school.
Hamburgers, hot dogs and drinks will be available, and music will be provided by top-notch bands “Bauder Road”, “Condies All Stars”, and “The Slick Tricksters”.
Among the 43 items available at the silent auction are golf passes to several courses, camping passes to area campgrounds, passes to the Ontario Science Centre, Canada’s Wonderland, and the Ottawa Aviation Museum, a BBQ, and a pressure washer.
One of the highlights of the evening will take place before the bands take the stage. The Prince Charles’ Idol contest, thanks to the efforts of Grade 5 teacher Mrs. Aarsen-Bruhns will take place on Monday May 28, and the five top finishers will be performing at Panther Palooza before the bands take the stage.
“This is a new event for us,” said School Council Chair Nikki Gowdy, “and we really want it to bring the community into the school, which is so central to everything that goes on in Verona.”
Nikki is also happy to report that none of the proceeds from this event will have to go to the new play structure, which is now paid off. “While we have been working hard to pay off the play structure, lots of other things in the school have been let slide,” she said, “so the money we raise with Panther Palooza will go to a fund for field trips, classroom supplies, refurbishing the library, that sort of thing.”
Twenty-five percent of proceeds will go to the Christmas for Kids Campaign, a local charity venture that is much appreciated by the school council.
Admission to Panther Palooza is $2 per child, $5 per adult, and $10 for families.
Weather permitting; all events will take place out of doors, except the silent auction, which will take place in the gym.
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Feature Article - May 3, 2007Letters to the Editor
Global warming works for me
Having celebrated yet another birthday recently, I couldn't help but compare the weather with that of past birthdays. When I was a little girl, my birthday parties always got rained on. We were forced inside by cold rain and chilling winds, most unkind to little bare legs. I used to wish for warm sunny days on my birthday, but never got one single sunny birthday for over 40 years, no matter where I was, Ontario or elsewhere. So you can blame me for global warming ’cause now my wish has come true. For the past two years, in fact, I have had lovely warm sunny days to celebrate the milestone of another year on Planet Earth.
But seriously, with all the talk, do we really know what is causing global warming or climate change? The arguments have raged for years but only now are in the limelight, a frequent topic in the news or talk shows after the recent release of the UN International Panel on Climate Change report.
There seem to be two main camps in the debate: one side says it is yet another cycle in the many cycles of Mother Nature; others say it is a man-made phenomenon, caused by our careless, extravagant consumption of fossil fuels and other toxic substances. Some people say it is some combination of both which may or may not involve divine retribution for our ways. A fourth point of view, seldom considered, is that at least some of this unusual weather is man-made, not accidentally but deliberately in order to control the weather and use it as a weapon. Search terms such as "weather modification" and "weather warfare" on the Internet and you will find ample articles and compelling evidence.
It is beyond the scope of this letter to even begin to get into the physics and politics of such a concept. It is so repugnant and far-fetched to most people that just the suggestion that such a thing is real is too much.
If you know how to use Google and other search engines, the Internet can be a very useful library. Here are a few more terms to get you started: HAARP; ionospheric heaters; Professor Gordon J. F. MacDonald; Thomas Bearden.
Jennifer Tsun
Re: “Frontenac County to buy K&P Trail in Central Frontenac” April 26 2007.
Members of Central Frontenac council need to be reminded they are elected to represent all the constituents of this township and not a select few. I find it ridiculous to accept the statement that a surprise phone call was placed to Central Frontenac Township with the offer of funding from grant monies, to proceed with the purchase of the lands from Bell Canada from Piccadilly to Tichborne. Was the mayor of this township asleep at the county meetings when this particular line of strategy was being formulated or does she simply suffer from lapses of memory? Now it appears the strings are pulled a different way, in that the county will now purchase. At any rate, considering the motion put forth by council and duly approved, I suggest the mayor and council now tender their resignations as they are not fulfilling their duties as representatives of the entire township.
The saga of the purchase of this corridor has taken as many turns as the route of the line itself. Mr. Knapp and company had it all signed, sealed and delivered a number of years ago after making so called well-documented presentations to the Interministerial Committee (IMC) of the Ontario Government. After the IMC became aware of the problems existing on this corridor and acting on the advice given by their researchers, the entire project was dropped. The Cataraqui Conservation Authority was an eager participant in the previous attempt. It appears they are jumping in with both feet again. I assume the Cataraqui Trail is still in debt and I further ask the question “Who actually owns the Cataraqui Trail (Trans Canada Trail)?" The Trans Canada Trail has relinquished all titles to the corridors they so earnestly coveted in the Prairie Provinces, the reason being they were too expensive to maintain.
However, this is not the bone of my contention at this point in time. Council only heard one presentation and therefore one side of the story. I strongly object to a mayor and council who did not have the courage, the courtesy nor the decency to give the people of this township the opportunity to exercise their democratic right to voice their concerns before accepting in principle something that could prove detrimental to many.
- Frances Thurlow, secretary, Frontenac Landowners
Re: Frontenac County to buy K&P Trail in Central Frontenac, April 26, 2007
Here we go again. It seems that the dirt-bike and ATV lobby found a friendly ear somewhere else. After their unworkable plan came off the rails in Central Frontenac, they have obviously hoped to do an end-run through the County. As landowners adjacent to the former K&P, our family had hoped to enjoy the coming summer like all other citizens. It looks like we’ve got work ahead.
Let’s be clear on the issue. Plans to run a year-round, around the clock, motorized gravel strip within yards of our homes, past our farms, livestock, and cottages is completely unacceptable to adjacent landowners. This is not about a “multi-use” trail. Snowmobilers already have access to hundreds of kilometres of negotiated trail in the area. Hikers have two provincial parks and three conservation areas. Bicyclists have endless back-country roads and cross-country skiers cannot ski on a snowmobile track. Who really wants this? A handful of dirt-bike and ATV riders.
Some elected officials seem to have fallen prey to absurd, and unsubstantiated, claims of economic spin-off arising from a motorized track. Even if this was true and it is not it would be robbing Peter to pay Paul. How does devaluating millions of dollars of property, ruining people’s homes, cottages and farms, and subjecting citizens to endless trespass, noise and environmental pollution lead to economic development? It’s worse in this scenario. Peter loses his shirt, Paul gets the bill.
I hope Frontenac County did their homework. Pushing ahead with a motorized track means that they will become caught in challenges to an illegal transfer of un-surveyed land, be on the hook for hundreds of thousands of dollars in fencing costs, face environmental assessments to remediate creosote-soaked lands, pay enormous liability and insurance bills, be subject to lawsuits for property loss-of-use, face zoning challenges at the Ontario Municipal Board and be called to account for inappropriate use of infrastructure funding.
A $289,000 grant was received to improve infrastructure. Are there not roads, bridges, waste management systems, community centres and parks that could use the money? Hope you enjoy your summer. We simply cannot, too much is at stake.
Bill Murnighan
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Feature Article - May 3, 2007SouthFrontenacCouncil
by Wilma Kenny
Federal Response re Mitchell Creek Bridge
The Honourable Lawrence Cannon, Minister of Transport, in a response to Mayor Davison’s letter of December 6, reconfirmed his ministry’s requirements for the project. Frequently referring to the Navigable Waters Protection Act (NWPA), he made the following points:
a) navigable water is defined as any body of water capable of being navigated by any type of floating vessel for the purposes of transportation, recreation or commerce;
b) because the present bridge is over 70 years old and not a lawful work under the NWPA, it is not a legally approved bridge, and therefore must be brought up to standard. Anything less would "compromise the safety of the boating public;"
c) approval has already been given for clearances below those stipulated by the Navigable Waters Protection Program, which states that minimum safe clearances for small, unpowered vessels should be 1.5 metres vertically and 3 metres horizontally. Because of its design, the Mitchell Creek bridge will be 1.5 metres vertically but only 2 metres horizontally.
d) COMRIF funding, which will provide 2/3 of the cost of the bridge building, requires full compliance with NWPA regulations.
Cannon’s letter also said that the environmental assessment, which examines potential impacts on local species such as adverse living conditions for Northern Map and Stinkpot turtles, has recommended specific (unspecified) mitigation measures and on-going monitoring. "Environment Canada has indicated that implementing mitigation measures is in fact expected to enhance the turtles’ existing habitat, which may in turn increase the local populations of these species," states the Honourable Lawrence Cannon.
Fortunately, two weeks ago the South Frontenac Environmental committee outlined their plans to order several ‘turtle crossing’ signs for the Township.
(see response from Mitchell Creek Association below)
Township Commissions Waste Management Study
Council agreed to adopt the recommendation of the Sustainability Committee that the Public Works Manager be asked to develop terms of reference for a township waste management study, to be carried out by the firm presently reviewing the landfill sites (Totten, Sims & Hubicki). All but Councilors Robinson and Hicks were in favour.
To Spray or Not to Spray?
Last fall, council passed a resolution asking Hydro One not to spray herbicide on township property. Mayor Davison suggested that they might wish to revisit that stand in view of the recent information brought to Committee of the Whole by Hydro One last week. Council agreed to discuss the issue at the next Committee of the Whole (May 8). Councillor Hahn reported that the required separation distance from an organic farm for the type of hand spraying done by Hydro is 8 metres. However, he expressed concern that there was no requirement to notify a farmer of any herbicide treatment on adjoining properties.
Food Down the Road
Kim Perry, chair of the Frontenac Farmers’ Market, and Andrew McCann of the National Farmers Union made a brief presentation about the local food movement, which is a part of the increasing interest in supporting local family farms. Kim Perry described the enthusiastic reception of the first three Feast of the Fields events, which have showcased local foods and farms. All have been sold out ahead of time. A recently published directory, "Eating Close to Home" lists farms which sell locally, and what they sell. The NFU is planning a local food summit this fall, and McCann invited councillors to come to the final of four "Food Down the Road" seminars on May 10, 7:30 pm at the Memorial Hall, Kingston City Hall, when Lori Stahlbrand and Wayne Roberts will discuss the structures that support local food development. Perry also reminded council of the Farmers Market every Saturday morning at the Verona Lions’ hall, a lively place to come for breakfast, sociability and an opportunity to buy directly from a variety of local producers. Both speakers asked council to support the local farmers by keeping in touch and staying informed.
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Feature Article - May 3, 2007North Frontenac Council meeting, April 26, 2007
by Jeff Green
Malcolm Lake Association Ron Higgins, a resident of Malcolm Lake, which is located near Ardoch, told council of the pending establishment of a lake association that he hopes will be established on May 19. In appearing before council, Higgins was seeking some pertinent information that will be of interest to the association.
The first thing he wanted to ask about was future prospects for development on the lake. Clerk-Planner Brenda deFosse said that all of the properties on the lake are currently zoned residential-waterfront, and any individual planning a commercial development on their property would have to make an application for a change in zoning, a process which would include a public meeting.
The only exception is the Malcolm Lake trailer park, which is zoned commercial. The trailer park was in existence when the township was established, and was accepted by the township at that time. DeFosse said that unless the trailer park’s owners attempt to upgrade the facility, the township has no way of knowing how many trailers are on the site.
Higgins also wanted to know about a proposed development on Ardoch Lake, a.k.a. Green Lake.
Last year, there was a delegation to council concerning Ardoch Lake. A sketch of a proposed subdivision of lots along the lake was brought before council. “I recall they were proposing a great many lots, and they backed down immediately when we looked at the sketch, saying it was only preliminary,” said Mayor Maguire.
In order to create a subdivision of lots, a process involving the County of Frontenac must be entered into.
“Thus far we have not heard from the county that an application for subdivision has been received for Ardoch Lake,” said Clerk-Planner Brenda deFosse.
Higgins’ final question concerned the Ardoch dump. He was told that the dump has an estimated 26 years of life left in it, and that it is regularly tested for leachate and other potential environmental impacts by the Ministry of the Environment.
Tomvale Runway As part of the agreement between the township and the Tomvale Airport, the runway was ploughed after the most recent snowstorm in April. The ground was soft at the time, and damage was done to the runway and the ground near the runway.
Claudio Valentini, the airport’s owner, sent an email to the township saying he had told the contractor not to plough the runway in this case, “knowing that it is soft at this time of year, and that the snow would soon melt. He informs me that you instructed him to do so in any case.”
Valentini then said that the runway has been trashed and wanted to know how the township would like to proceed.
After considerable debate, during which Councillor Olmstead argued the township should get out of the agreement with Tomvale entirely, it was finally decided that the township should deliver 7 tonnes of cold patch material to Tomvale as was agreed initially, and should pay for the contractor’s time to complete the repair.
Taking recycling in-house Council discussed a report from Public Works Manager John Ibey concerning the recycling system. Currently the township is employing the services of Frazer Hauling to bring recycled material to a depot in Napanee.
While there has been a problem over the past two summers with recycling pick up being sporadic, leaving large amounts of material lying about, it was the previous contractor, MANCO, that was responsible for the problem, and Frazer Hauling has been more reliable.
“In fact it was Frazer who bailed us out when MANCO couldn’t do the pickups,” Ibey said.
Nonetheless, in consideration of the different bin sizes the township is now using for recycling, the overall cost of hauling, and the fact that the township does not currently receive payment for any material of value, Ibey recommended that the township purchase a hoist system to be attached to one of its trucks so both sizes of bins can be taken by the truck, and hire a driver to do the hauling of recycling.
Council discussed the matter for a time. Finally, Deputy Mayor Beam asked John Ibey, “Are the savings in hauling costs going to pay for this new employee?”
Ibey said yes and the proposal was approved.
Beaver Dam committee A task force has been set up to look at the township’s responsibilities in regards to beaver dams on township lands. The issue was brought to council recently by the Fergusons, who live on Ardoch Road, and have been subject to flooding.
The budget is coming CAO/Treasurer Cheryl Robson informed council that she would have a draft budget available by next week. Council has scheduled special meetings, starting on May 8, to go over the budget and order changes if necessary.
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Feature Article - June 28, 2007Central Frontenac Council
by JeffGreen
HERITAGE FESTIVAL GETS ITS OWN COMMITTEE Tom Dewey addressed council with what he thought would be a simple housekeeping matter when he requested that the Heritage Festival be separated from the Economic Development Committee.
The Heritage Festival was put on for the first time this past February, with most of the events taking place in Sharbot Lake. Tom Dewey said that the organizers for the event plan to attract volunteers who will bring the event to other parts of the township, but feels encumbered by being tied to the Economic Development Committee, which has a broader agenda.
Councilor Frances Smith expressed concern about setting up a township committee for a single event. “I think I could live with an events committee, but I fear that if we accept this we will set a precedent and we may end up with committees for every single event,” she said.
Councilor Philip Smith said, “The Parham Fair and the Festival of Trees do quite well and they have no relationship to the township.”
Mayor Janet Gutowski said that the Heritage Festival was able to get up and running quickly because it could “apply for grants and access insurance easily because of the relationship with the township. To become independent would slow the momentum of the event.”
Although Smith and Smith remained opposed, the proposal to set up a Heritage Festival Committee received the support of the other councilors. Terms of reference and a bylaw will be prepared for the next council meeting.
ELBOW LAKE TRANSFER STATION Jon Morish from the Ministry of the Environment has received the township’s request to turn the Elbow Lake dump site (south of Parham on Road 38) into a transfer station while the township attempts to expand the site, which has reached the capacity of the land now designated for it. He recommends that the township prepare an application for a transfer station by the end of July. It will take 6 9 months, or perhaps as long as a year, for the transfer station to be approved by the Ministry, Morish has informed interim CAO John DuChene.
ARDEN ROAD RESURFACING The township received a tender of $166,000 for the resurfacing of part of the Arden road, and an extra $40,000 to repair a faulty section of the road that had been paved last year without being properly prepared for paving.
The township had budgeted $165,000 for the project. Although Bryon Dawn of the Public Works Department recommended that only the first part of the job be done in order to remain within budget, he also said, “The other part of the road is breaking up due to logs from the existing corduroy road pushing up through the surface treatment. This will increase maintenance costs and it will eventually have to be repaired anyway, at a potentially higher cost.”
“I think we should repair the road properly, since it is a major access road to another township,” said Kennebec councillor Gary Smith.
Bryon Dawn said that there have been savings in other parts of the public works budget, which can cover most of the extra $40,000.
“I’m ready if the Kennebec councilors will sign a little treaty that they will not ask for more road construction for 5 years, so other parts of the township can get caught up,” said Oso Councilor Frances Smith.
Council approved the two contracts, and for the second time in the meeting councilors Frances and Philip Smith (no relation) cast the only opposing votes.
WAGNER ROAD GARAGE In a hint as to how large a police contingent is coming into the area for the planned Algonquin events in North Frontenac scheduled for tomorrow, CAO DuChene informed council that he has been approached by the OPP about the use of the abandoned garage at Wagner Road for office space over the next few days, weeks, or months.
Council agreed to let the OPP use the space.
DONATION OF TRUCKS Council is donating a 1967 fire truck to Circle Square Ranch, which they were unable to sell earlier this year when they advertised surplus equipment, and which Fire Chief Mark MacDonald said has no monetary value. The truck will be fixed up and used to water the grounds and as a historical artefact for the campers to enjoy. A second vehicle, an old van and chassis that was originally purchased for $1,000 several years ago as a first response van for the Olden department, is being donated to a volunteer fire department in the Palmer Rapids area. The van has no monetary value to the township.
BURN BARREL DEBATE TO GET ITS DAY In response to the fourth letter fro Heather O’Reilly in the past two years, council has decided to hold a public meeting on August 9, at 7 pm in the Mountain Grove Hall to discuss the pros and cons of burn barrels. Burn barrels are not permitted in Lennox and Addington and parts of Lanark Counties because of the potential for pollution from low temperature burning and the burying of inappropriate materials. ■
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Feature Article - June 21, 2007Letters to the editor
RE: Road Access to Mosque Lake
Thank you for raising our concerns about the sudden lack of maintenance on Hydro Lane Road leading in to Mosque Lake in your edition dated June 7, 2007, following North Frontenac Council’s meeting on May 31. Without warning and effective immediately, the North Frontenac Council informed us in writing on February 26, 2007 that it would no longer be responsible for the upkeep of our road.
As full residential taxpayers who contribute regularly to the local economy, we feel we have been abandoned by our council members, who have basically dumped the road back in our laps and told us to takeour concerns to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
To add insult to injury, ongoing maintenance by council over the past several years has generally declined to a point where the road is in the worse shape it has ever been and it is now in need of serious repair to bring it back to a reasonable level. All we are asking is that Council return Hydro Lane Road to the condition that it was in when they took it over several years ago.
Patricia McCarron, President, Mosque Lake East Shore Cottagers’ Association
Why close the Denbigh waste site?
Why close the Denbigh waste site? It’s not any fuller than it was a couple of years ago, and it’s not near water like other dumps I’ve seen. Oh, yes, and who’s going to pay our gas mileage to go to another dump? I guess the council will do that when we send them the bill. What makes Mr. Morish and the council think another dump wants our garbage. I thought the councillors we voted in are to work for our area, not against it. Why should a city person, Mr. Morish, come and tell us in the country what to do? Doesn’t make sense.
- Vivian Liedtke
