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North Frontenac Council - Oct. 11by Jeff Green
Sand contract – Earlier this summer, the township received an offer to screen, stack, and load sand into the township sheds for $34,000 from a company called Weir Construction. Public Works Manager John Ibey recommended to council that through a request for proposal process, the contract could be awarded to Weir construction, saving the township the cost of loading the sand into the sheds, which has been the normal practice.
This suggestion was rejected in favour of a tendering process for winter sand.
John Ibey tendered the project for screening, stacking, and loading this year, hoping to find a price similar to the one Weir had proposed in June. However, when staff opened the tenders, only one vendor had submitted a bid even though five had inquired, and the offer was $67,500, almost double the earlier offer. Weir Construction did not answer the tender, saying they had taken on other work in the meantime, and were no longer interested.
This caused Public Works Manager John Ibey to recommend that the township take care of the loading themselves, as in years past. The resulting cost will be close to $50,000 all told, more than the $34,000 that had been proposed in June, but a lot less than the $67,500 that came about through tendering the whole job.
“We need to do it this way if we are going to stay within our budget,” John Ibey told Council.
The proposal was acceptable to council, although Councilor Bob Olmstead asked why the tenders had been opened by CAO Cheryl Robson and Public Works Manager John Ibey.
“Why were they not opened here, in front of council?” Olmstead asked.
CAO Robson responded that, “according to our procurement bylaw, tenders that are under $100,000 can be opened by the CAO and the relevant department head. It is only the larger tenders that need to be opened with Council present.”
This conversation led Councillor Wayne Good to confront the question of why council keeps insisting on a tender process in place of a request for proposal system. “We had a cheaper price before one particular councillor insisted this go to a tender process, and now we are paying more because of it. This is the second time this has happened this year. We should let staff get on with the job, instead of meddling in their business in the first place,” he said.
“I don’t care. Things should be brought to tender,” Olmstead said.
Signs – Norcan Signs has won a contract to construct 10 entrance and 27 hamlet signs for the township. Each sign will cost $250 and there will be a cost of $2,000 for poles and $3,000 for installation.
The signs will include the Land O’ Lakes Tourist Association logo, which will enable the township to receive grants to help fund the project. There is money in the 2007 budget for the project.
Christmas Break – Council approved the closing of the township office between Christmas and New Year’s, as has been the practice for the past 6 years. The office will close at noon, on Monday December 24, and will remain closed until 9:00 am on Wednesday, January 2. Treasury staff will work during this closure to ensure that all monies are deposited and recorded for year-end.
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Central Frontenac Council Contemplates Moveby Jeff Green
It took a lot of discussion, but Central Frontenac Council has agreed to hold one meeting in Arden and one meeting in Piccadilly next year.
Concerns about inconveniencing staff, the possibility that a meeting will not generate much interest among residents, an ill-fated proposal to make them “mixed meetings” to incorporate public input, and Mayor Gutowski exchanging seats with Deputy Mayor Bill Snyder in order, were all included in the discussion over moving the two meetings.
The proposal to break up the practice of holding meetings on the evening of the second Monday of each month in Mountain Grove, and the morning of the fourth Tuesday of each month in Sharbot Lake, was made by Hinchinbrooke Councillor Philip Smith in response to requests from some ratepayers.
Mayor Gutowski took the unusual step of abandoning her position as Chair for a few minutes in order to express the opinion that the township should be moving towards unity instead of divisiveness.
“Will this unite us as a community?” she asked of council.
Several councillors recommended that the township try the modest plan out for a year, and then revisit it.
Six councillors supported the proposal, Councillor Bob Harvey and Mayor Gutowski voted against, and Councillor Gary Smith expressed his opposition by not voting.
More bumps on County trail – Interim Clerk/Administrator John Duchene brought the draft terms of reference for a Frontenac County K&P trail planning committee which had been forwarded to him from the county’s Economic Development Officer Dianna Bratina.
The trail planning committee will be established “to draft the master plan for the trail system in the County of Frontenac for presentation to the public”. The county became directly involved in rail issues when it received an infrastructure grant that is being used to purchase the north-south K&P rail line, which runs from Kingston, through South Frontenac, and into Central Frontenac.
Council was uncomfortable with the committee as proposed, partly because it did not include any reference to the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance, which runs east-west trails in Central Frontenac. Central Frontenac has also been reluctant to take on any responsibility for the K&P trail, which is being purchased by Frontenac County. The trail will remain in the county’s hands until such time as Central Frontenac decides to take it on.
John Duchene said he would express the township’s concerns at the next meetings he has with the other township administrators in Frontenac County.
Back roads on back burner – A staff report delineating 31 un-assumed public roads in the township, totalling 36 km in length and containing 470 properties, was presented to Council in line with a request for the information that was made in June.
The information was requested as part of council’s consideration of a request for financial support towards road maintenance from the Blue Heron Ridge Road Association.
None of the councillors were willing to support asking staff to move further on the issue, citing a decision by Tay Valley township not to fund a similar proposal.
Earlier in the meeting, Wayne Jackson had addressed Council as a delegate, and he complained bitterly about problems on his township maintained road, the Bell Line Road, which Council agreed needs more gravel and ditching work.
“We can’t seem to keep up with the roads we already have,” said Councillor Norman Guntensperger.
Michael Wise, who has been the prime mover in the push to receive some financial support for maintenance of un-assumed roads, was given leave to address Council briefly.
He pointed out that according to the criteria set out in the proposal he made last year, the roads on the list presented by staff would cost no mote than $28,300 and probably a lot less. He said he will provide more information at a future meeting.
Clean audit – Vicki Leakey from KPMG found no issues in the township’s accounting practices or financial position as the result of an audit of the 2006 books.
She said that the township is in good financial shape, based on the information she has received.
“It is good, very good,” she said. “Right now you have solid reserves.”
In 2009, all of the township’s infrastructure assets will be considered as part of the audit procedure, including township halls, equipment, fire stations, etc.
“It will be very interesting to see how maintenance on these assets and replacement costs will affect the township’s reserve position,” Leakey said.
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Addington Highlands Council, Oct. 1by Jule Koch Brison
Norine Traynor, a resident of Cross Lake Road near Kaladar, accompanied by some neighbours, brought a petition to council to stop the impending closure of the part of the road that gives them access to Oliver Road. Traynor and her husband are the only year-round residents on Cross Lake Road and have lived there for 6 years. The closure would effectively leave them with no road access. The property is being sold and a sign has been posted that the road will be closed effective Oct. 16, but Traynor says, “The road has been open for 100 years”.
Hunters who would also be affected by the closure, recently bulldozed a trail on the old Addington Road to open up another access, but it is not a solution for Traynor and her husband, and council agreed they would be in a difficult situation if the road were closed. Reeve Henry Hogg said, “ It isn’t an acceptable way out.” Neither the Addington or Cross Lake Road is serviced by the township.
Hogg said that council needed to get a legal opinion on the status of the Cross Lake Road, and would contact the township’s lawyer. Reeve Hogg later said it wasn’t clear who owns the road. “If they say it belongs to Mr. Shier we’ll have to go to Plan B,” he said, without specifying what Plan B was.
In the meantime, Norine Traynor is asking council to pay $450 for a surveyor’s report on the road. Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch asked if it was an actual survey, or an opinion - a survey would cost several thousand dollars. Although it is a report, not an actual survey, Councilor Eythel Grant said he thought that council should spend the money to try to clarify the situation. The other members of council agreed, passing a motion to pay for the report.
Larry Pealow, Chair of the AHEAD Committee (Addington Highlands Economic Advisors for Development), recommended that council approach North Frontenac Township to set up a joint doctor attraction committee, as many people from North Frontenac use the medical services. Reeve Hogg said he has suggested a joint committee to Mayor Maguire, but there’s been no time in Maguire’s schedule yet to discuss the matter. Deputy Reeve Helen Yanch suggested that Addington Highlands should also ask North Frontenac about working together as a larger community on other things, such as economic development. Towsnhip Clerk Jack Pauhl said that historically that’s been tried but didn’t work. “A doctor attraction committee is one thing, but economic development’s another,” he said.
Larry Pealow also handed out nomination forms to council for the first annual Community Builders Award. Anyone in Addington Highlands can nominate anyone in Addington Highlands who “has made a real and positive difference in our Township”. Nomination forms are available at Addington Highlands businesses along Hwy. 41,the Land O' Lakes Tourist office and the township office, and the deadline is Oct 31.Council agreed to have a plaque made to go along with the award.
Fraser Haulage has offered the township a 3-year contract to provide the Kaladar waste site with three used, self-contained packer units and one power unit for cans, plastic and cardboard, and pick up all the recycling from the site for $2080 per month. At the end of the three-year term the township could purchase the equipment for “a nominal fee”. “A ‘nominal fee’ could be any amount,” commented Jack Pauhl.
Councilor Eythel Grant said that the cost for Kaladar this August, the busiest month of the year, was $2325. In the past, the township was investigating making an agreement with Renfrew for recycling, but nothing has come of that so far. Council decided to get more information from Fraser Haulage on exactly what the nominal fee would be.
Council passed a bylaw to appoint Brian Donaldson as the township’s Municipal Investigator of closed meetings.
Council was unclear about requests in a letter from the Skootamatta District Ratepayers Association that the township bring in a load of gravel for the boat launch area, and about plowing out a parking lot area in the winter. Council needs more information about exactly where the gravel and plowing is needed.
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One item that was not included in the $35 million Frontenac County draft budget last week was any money for the Pine Meadow Nursing Home.
Representatives from the home had asked for a commitment of $25,000 each year for 10 years to help cover costs for planned renovations. A similar request was made to Lennox and Addington County.
County council should seriously consider this request.
Even if Pine Meadow is located outside of Frontenac County, it serves people from both Central and North Frontenac, and the county funds two other institutions that are not located within its own boundaries.
The Kingston hospitals, which will be receiving $54,000 each year from Frontenac County for the next 10 years, are located outside of the county but were successfully able to argue that they serve county residents.
The case of Fairmount Home, which serves the same population of seniors that Pine Meadow serves, makes for a more complicated comparison. Fairmount is located outside of Frontenac County, just as Pine Meadow is, but Fairmount is owned and managed by Frontenac County.
The complex long-term care sector in Ontario includes private for profit, not for profit, and municipally owned homes, and municipalities are required to support the municipal sector. This can be done through financial support to a home owned by a neighbouring municipality, or as in Frontenac County’s case, by owning and supporting a facility.
This year county ratepayers will spend over $1 million helping to make Fairmount Home a caring facility for the aged. From the limited exposure I have had to Fairmount Home, and from anecdotal reports I've received from people who have made use of the home, it is far superior to comparable institutions in the Kingston region, and the money county ratepayers spend each year on the home help the staff to concentrate on care.
However, the request from Pine Meadow, a 72-bed facility, is only $25,000 - 40 times less than the county will spend on Fairmount this year.
Pine Meadow is a community owned, not-for-profit home, but it is not part of the municipal system, so Frontenac County has no obligation to provide support.
But for families who need long-term care, distance from the community is the major factor, and people in the northern part of the county use Pine Meadow Home to care for their aging relatives. They reasonably expect that some of their tax dollars should be spent supporting Pine Meadow.
The county is also looking at some neat new ideas in IT, such as video-conferencing equipment at a cost of $22,000.
There were some indications at last week's preliminary budget meeting that county council might look favourably on the Pine Meadow request.
Here's hoping they do
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Sunday Hunting
"I was born and raised with guns, I’ve shot at people, I’ve slept with guns." Councillor Robinson led off the Sunday hunting discussion with a bang, and no further clarification of this tantalizing opening volley. Following last week’s delegation from hunters requesting the right to hunt on Sundays, councillors discussed the issue and will bring a motion to next week’s meeting for a vote.
Councillors Hicks, Hahn and Robinson had all conducted informal polls, and found that 75% to 95% of the residents they spoke to were opposed to Sunday hunting. Hahn noted that if one combined turkey, duck, deer and bow-hunting, for a large percent of the year there would not even be one day a week when one could walk in the woods without hunters nearby. If there was a need to control the deer population, why not extend the open season for a week? Stowe and Hahn both said their wives had weighed in against Sunday hunting. Stowe will vote ‘yes,’ Hahn, ‘no.’
Councilors Robinson, McPhail and Hicks all commented that South Frontenac was becoming more populated every year, leaving less large areas for hunting. Mayor Davison said most of his friends were in favour of Sunday hunting, so he would vote for it, although he wished that some of the township could be designated shotguns only. Claiming that "It’s a poor hunter that shoots a dog or a person," Councillor Fillion said he was elected by Sunday hunters, and would support it. Councillor Robinson will vote no.
Sydenham Water: Good News/Bad News
CAO Burns announced that as of December 10, there has been a 44% drop in THMs in Sydenham water. This is attributed to a change in filtering agents, which has also led to the need for less water treatment chemicals, lowered turbidity and improved colour in the water being delivered to residents. 137 properties, or 51% of village properties are presently connected to the system. The bad news? Water capital cost bills will be mailed in mid-January.
Hydro One Suggests a Compromise
John Bowen of Hydro One came to Council with a proposal that they consider allowing Hydro to use a glysophate-based herbicide (such as Round-up) on hydro right-of-ways. Although not as overall effective as Garlon 4, it would still prevent stump-sprouting. He said it would be applied selectively by hand-spraying, painting stumps, or injecting stumps near water-courses. Glysophate is considered to be of very low toxicity, harmless to insects and earthworms, and quick to be neutralized when it contacts earth.
It is toxic to fish, and has to be kept away from watercourses. If Council agrees to this compromise, Hydro will continue to notify adjoining landowners, and will spray only selected plants, leaving berries, etc to form a low groundcover. Bowen noted that unless some form of chemical control can be used under the hydro lines, maintenance costs will go up. Council will bring this proposal to a meeting for decision.
Proposed Municipal Offices/Library Renovation
Council would like to combine all municipal offices under one roof, and the Sydenham library is sadly undersized for the population it serves. Architect Ray Zaback presented four preliminary sketches showing possible ways in which the present buildings could be expanded to accommodate both needs. Council went into camera to discuss their opinions and options.
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Ludwig Ratzinger and Joe Slater appeared before Central Frontenac Council representing the Crow Lake Schoolhouse Committee, which has been working to upgrade the schoolhouse as a community facility for several years now. Their efforts culminated in a renovation project that was partially funded with a grant from the Trillium Foundation.
Ludwig Ratzinger said that the Crow Lake Schoolhouse Committee has had a difficult time covering all of the capital costs involved in bringing the hall up to standard, as well as some fixed operating costs. And they are struggling to get an $8,000 debt, left over from the construction project, paid off this year.
“We feel like we want to move forward but we have a cinder block on our backs,” Ratzinger said. “We want to provide good programs, and workshops for the local people, and once we pay our debt, we feel we can cover our expenses.”
The committee is asking for financial support in six areas. The most expensive is the $9500 cost of re-siding the main building in order to make it similar to the addition that was built. The list also includes $700 for repainting the interior of the building, $800 for ceiling fans, and $3,400 for an electric generator to power the facility so the schoolhouse can be used as a local emergency center. As well, there are two items that are annual costs: the committee would like the schoolhouse to be covered under the township’s insurance, thus saving $1,200, and would like the township to cover the $700 cost of yard maintenance.
The total of all the requests is $16,000.
“This does not all have to be done, or all done right away,” Ludwig Ratzinger said.
Councilor John Purdon said he was unfamiliar with the relationship between the township and the school house.
Joe Slater explained that the school closed in 1964, and it was owned by Oso Township after that. The villagers ran the hall under an informal agreement. After Central Frontenac came into existence, a simple lease was developed.
“These are things we have not covered in the past, and will have quite a significant budgetary impact,” Mayor Janet Gutowski said to Ratzinger and Slater. “Council will have to look at how we proceed. We run the other halls on our own, and if we got into this we might find a different relationship would result. I would certainly like to see some support, but what form it takes we will have to see.
The township owns and manages four other halls, and pays all costs and collects rental fees for them out of the township office.
Council Briefs
Organizational Review in Central Frontenac
Consultant Bill Winegard appeared before Central Frontenac Council this week to brief council on the organizational review process he has been hired to oversee.
Winegard outlined the tasks that his team has been charged with and said he expects to present an interim report to council in January. “We intend to bring the report to a public meeting for comment at that time,” Winegard said, “and we should have a final report, with cost implications, to you by February.”
The Organizational Review is something that Mayor Janet Gutowski has been trumpeting ever since she was elected one year ago. There were five rookies among the nine new councilors after the election, and Gutowski was new to the mayor's position. In addition, Clerk-Administrator Heather Fox left, and an interim clerk, John Duchene, was hired. Public Works Manager Bill Nicol also resigned, but a replacement has not been found.
While it has been a difficult year for the township, the lack of people in a couple of senior positions will create more flexibility for the administrative review.
“We don't expect to approach this by recommending you hire a lot of people,” Bill Winegard said.
The consultants will comment on the terms of reference of staff, the “capacity of the organization, the so-called bench strength”, and will be looking at how the personnel are clustered together. Making the most efficient use of existing staff will be a major feature of the recommendations, according to Winegard
One thing that Winegard said the review would not likely be recommending is a change in the number or makeup of council itself.
“We were asked to look at the size and makeup of council and we don't see that the costs of council are out of line with other townships, or that the wards are unfairly represented since they all have similar populations. While we will make recommendations, it is a fairly minor issue,” he said.
The review team has met with the fire chief and deputies; with representatives from the recreational committees; with some staff members; and individually with some councilors. An in camera meeting with the entire council is taking place this week as well.
Mountain Grove Fire hall – According to a project list, the Mountain Grove Fire hall is slated for completion by the end of January, but the project is about a month behind. “The contractor is still hoping to catch up,” said CAO John Duchene.
One of the budget items connected to the fire hall is $10,000 for bringing hydro to the hall. “However, there really aren’t any hydro poles that are close to the hall,” said John Duchene. The township will be looking to see if a contractor can be found to put in the required poles at a lower cost than Hydro One can offer.
Councilor Norman Gutensperger wondered if there were any savings when the well was drilled for the hall, but it turned out that the well drillers had to go 200 feet deep before finding enough water, so there were no savings.
Tariff of fees – Township planner Cathy MacMunn presented an outline of the actual costs the township incurs when preparing planning applications. Under the current system, applicants pay a fee, and are then charged an additional amount based on the amount of other staff work that is sometimes required to complete the process.
“If we have a tariff of fees, applicants will know up front what the costs will be, which is something people have said they would prefer,” MacMunn said.
The proposed tariff of fees, which council has yet to approve, is as follows: minor variance - $500; site plan approval - $3,200; Official Plan amendment - $2,200; Zoning bylaw amendment - $2,000; Plan of subdivision - $4,200; Consents - $550; and part lot control or validation of title - $700.
Absentee Deputy Mayor – the old adage about never missing a meeting or else you’ll get appointed to something came true for long-serving Oso Councilor Bob Harvey. He was unable to attend because of illness, but was appointed as Deputy Mayor for 2008 nonetheless.
“I spoke to him today, and he said that he was interested in the position,” said Mayor Gutowski.
Heritage Festival Committee struck – Council formally appointed Jane Drew, Tom Dewey, John Purdon, Carol Coupland, Marcel Giroux and Janet Gutowski to a committee that will run the second annual Frontenac Heritage Festival from February 18 - 24. The committee has already been meeting and planning of the festival is well under way. Anticipated events include a pond hockey tournament, a variety show, a Family History Evening, and outdoor activities such as cross country skiing.
Building report – With one month left in 2007, and snow now firmly entrenched on the ground, the construction season has basically wound down. Permits for 40 new homes were taken out in Central Frontenac so far in 2007, as compared to 31 at the same time in 2006, and 47 in 2005.
The total value of construction in 2007 now stands at $8,808,000 (including the $1.5 + million medical centre project). At the same point in 2006, the total was $6,893,000, and in 2005 it was $7,621,000.
The total number of permits this year has been 183, as compared to 162 last year, and 217 in 2005.
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Feature Article - December 20, 2007 South Frontenac Shoots Down Sunday gun hunting by Wilma Kenny It was much closer than last time, when almost the entire council rejected a proposal by the Ministry of Natural Resources and supported by the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters (OFAH) to allow gun hunting on Sundays in South Frontenac.That was under the previous council, and with four new councilors in place, a presentation was made at the last council meeting by OFAH and a local farmer that council reconsider their position.
Council agreed to reconsider, and last week they carried out a major debate during a Committee of the Whole meeting. This week it was time to vote.
Councilor Dave Hahn of Bedford District, a hunter himself, argued against the proposal. He said that people should realize that Sunday hunting would not apply solely on two Sundays a year, during deer season, but would include all other forms of hunting, including duck, turkey, and goose hunting seasons.
Storrington Councilor john Fillion supported the proposal, arguing that an individual should have the right to hunt on private property with permission when they want to.
Deputy Mayor Bill Robinson took his cue from canvassing his constituents in Portland District. He says they are opposed to it now, as they were 18 months ago when it first came up.
Forty hunters, most from Portland district, packed the meeting to show support for Sunday hunting.
Councilors Fillion, York and Stowe and Mayor Davison voted in favour, while Councilors Hahn, McPhail, Hicks, Vandewal and Deputy Mayor Robinson opposed the motion. The motion was therefore defeated, 5 votes to 4.
Water Rates
Council passed a by-law to establish water rates for the hamlet of Sydenham. All rates remained the same, at a flat rate of $41.76 per month up to 18 cubic meters, and $0.25 for each m3 above that amount per month. The administration is waiting for financial information from Utilities Kingston, which will allow the rates to be adjusted to reflect the actual cost of the water system operation. CAO Burns noted that once more residents were on the system, so that revenues were higher, they hoped to be able to introduce a ‘conservation rate’. No one commented on the fact that all households were presently paying the flat monthly rate, whether or not they were using the water.
Committee of Adjustment
Council named the members of the land division/committee of adjustment for the coming year: councillors Hahn, Vandewal, Robinson and York, and community members Rich Philips, Len McCullough, Larry Redden and Larry Garrett.
Township Committees
Council agreed to increase the honorarium to non-council members on township committees to $25. per meeting, and suggested that committee size be restricted to no more than ten members.
Road Allowances, Open or Otherwise
Council agreed to reopen discussion of the motion to extend Boundary Road south of Rutledge: this motion had been defeated earlier this month. Then, council fell into disarray and noise over the issue of a turning circle at the end of Ramparts Road in Storrington, finally agreeing to defer making a decision.
Hydro One’s Spray Program Approved
Further to discussion at Committee of the Whole last week, Council approved Hydro One’s proposal to use a glyphosate-based herbicide under hydro lines on township road allowances with the understanding that "all safety and environment precautions will be complied with." As well, Hydro will be asked to give three days’ notice of spraying to all farmers with land abutting road allowances to be treated. Councilor Hahn asked that this last clause be added to help organic farmers, in particular.
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Feature Article - December 20, 2007 North Frontenac CouncilBy Jeff Green
Tent and Trailer Park Expansion
Gerald Colton from Woodcrest Tent and Trailer Park on Kashwakamak Lake addressed North Frontenac Council last week. Along with his parents Arnold and Mary, he was looking for preliminary approval for a planned 200-campsite expansion to the 20-year-old park.
The proposal is in the process of being vetted by the Ministry of the Environment (Ontario), the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, and Public Health.
“We are celebrating our 20th anniversary next year, and we would like to have this in place,” said Gerald Colton.
Colton told council that work has been done over the past several years in anticipation of this proposal, including the installation of a large water system in 2002. Weekly monitoring of the septic system has been done in the summer time to get a sense of the flow rate that 300 camp sites would entail.
Colton mentioned the potential benefits to the township from increased tourist traffic in the summer months and an increase in tax assessment. “We have also spent thousands of dollars working with engineers, and we had a site visit by some councilors and the township planning consultant, Glenn Tunnock”, he said.
In order for the project to progress though the next group of regulatory hoops, Woodcrest needs an amendment to its certification of approval from the Ministry of the Environment, and the mayor needs to sign a document saying council is aware of the proposal and is not opposed in principle.
“You mentioned Mississippi Valley Conservation. Have they expressed concerns about density on the lake?” asked Deputy Mayor Jim Beam.
Gerald Colton recalled that Alison Symond of Mississippi Valley had said the maximum density for this kind of operation is 10 sites per acre, and Woodcrest is a 40-acre park proposing to build 300 sites. He also said that a grey water system would be part of the proposal.
“The major concern seems to be phosphorous going into the lake. Kashwakamak Association information shows that phosphorous levels have been coming down,” he said.
Council agreed to authorize the mayor to sign the necessary document, and are planning to do another site visit in the spring to see for themselves what is planned.
Insurance for the use of township halls – Council heard a presentation by Paul Dorman from Jardine Lloyd insurance on changes to the kinds of services the company is providing. The township's insurance policy is up for renewal in April, and Dorman said the company would be offering a 3-year rate at that time.
Later in the meeting, recreation co-ordinator Cory Klatt presented a report to council on the matter of insurance for groups using township facilities. After being informed that the township is liable for injuries that might occur when groups rent township halls, earlier this year, the township began insisting that groups have event insurance before renting the halls.
“Many of the groups who rent our facilities are small and the average cost of insurance is approximately $150. That appeared to be unreasonable to each of the user groups,” Klatt's report said.
After talking to Jardine Lloyd on several occasions this fall, Klatt was informed on December 6 that for an extra $500 annually, the township’s liability can be covered, as long as the hall is not being used for a licensed event. In that case the group will need to obtain their own insurance.
Council approved the expenditure.
Ompah transfer station – When the Ompah dump closed and a transfer station was established, council decided to try this for a limited time only, in order to be assured that it was working well.
“Council was concerned because it was the first time North Frontenac has had a transfer station,” said Clerk/Planning Co-ordinator Brenda DeFosse, “but it has worked well.”
Council decided to maintain the transfer station.
“Will this come back up again?” asked Councilor Bob Olmstead.
“Not unless council decides to bring it up,” said DeFosse.
Crown Land Stewardship – There was good news for the embattled Crown Land Stewardship program. Revenue from campsites was up by more than $15,000 this year, to $85,252, leaving a modest operating surplus of $1,400 for the program this year.
Last year, sales had dropped after the township had invested about $30,000 in an online reservation system.
Although there are still problems with the system, and a protocol for operating when the system is down still has to be developed, Klatt reported that, “for the most part things went well”.
His report went on to discuss comments made by users, council members, and local permit vendors on the program, which includes a network of 58 kilometres of roads, and 184 campsites on 12 lakes.
Council is seeking a meeting with Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) officials in January to discuss the program.
The Crown Land Stewardship program is operated by North Frontenac Township under a land use permit (LUP) from the Ministry of Natural Resources. The LUP is renewed annually, and it comes with limited funding support from the MNR.
Animal Control Contract – Council agreed to renew the Animal Control and Bylaw enforcement contract with Frontenac Municipal Law Enforcement, a company owned by Ken Gilpin of Perth Road Village, at an increase rate of $350 per month, up from $300 per month in 2007
Staff Remuneration – After receiving a report concerning the average rate increases for pay in neighboring municipalities, council agreed to a 3% cost of living increase in 2008. This puts North Frontenac in line with South Frontenac and the Frontenac Islands (Central Frontenac has yet to decide on 2008 staff pay)
Mileage rate up – The mileage rate, which applies to staff and councilors traveling outside of the township to meetings, etc. is going up to 47 cents in 2008 from the 2007 rate of 45 cents.
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After hearing presentations from Carl Grant, a dairy farmer from Portland District, and Greg Farrant from the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, South Frontenac Council unanimously agreed to bring the issue of Sunday gun hunting back for consideration at a future meeting of the township’s Committee of the Whole.
In the spring of 2006, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources embarked on a campaign to convince rural townships to permit Sunday gun hunting in time for the popular deer hunt in November. Many councils in townships bordering on South Frontenac agreed, including North and Central Frontenac, Addington Highlands, Stone Mills, Tay Valley, Rideau Lakes, and Leeds and a Thousand Islands; but South Frontenac Council rejected the proposal.
Carl Grant presented a petition with 261 names on it, urging council to reconsider. Greg Farrant presented several points, making similar arguments to those that were made a year ago.
“There are four overriding reasons why this issue was brought forward by the MNR and the OFAH,” Farrant said.
The first reason is crop predation. Farrant said that, “Each year approximately $45 million in damage is caused by wildlife, most notably deer, raccoons, coyotes and waterfowl … In 2004 the Federal Agricultural Advisory Committee recommended the addition of Sunday gun hunting to Ontario as a means of reducing wildlife populations and losses suffered by farmers.”
The second reason is wildlife management. “The Ministry of Natural Resources has repeatedly stated that hunting is the most effective wildlife management tool,” he said.
The third reason is that of public safety. Greg Farrant referred to Ministry of Transportation statistics that calculate there is a deer/car collision every 38 minutes in Ontario; that one of every 18 collisions in Ontario involved some form of wildlife; and that the number of vehicle/wildlife collisions has increased from 13,700 in 2003 to over 15,000 in 2006. Ninety percent of these collisions occur on two-lane roads outside of urban areas.
The fourth and final reason is economic. “Hunting in Ontario represents $15 billion in annual economic activity,” Greg Farrant said.
Council did not have any questions after the presentation, and quickly agreed to bring the matter back for consideration.
Council briefs
Long-serving Portland District Councillor Bill Robinson is the new Deputy Mayor of South Frontenac. Tthe practice of council is that the position rotates annually, going to the councillor from each district that received the largest number of votes in the previous election.
Tire rebate proposal rejected – A request for support from the Township of Morris-Turnberry only led to confusion among councillors and was ultimately denied. Morris-Turnberry proposed that the province set up a rebate program for tires. Councilor David Hahn thought this did not make sense. “Tires aren’t a rebate item; they cost money to dispose of,” he said.
Hahn proposed the motion be amended to ask the province instead to support townships in dealing with the cost of recycling tires, but both the amendment and the original motion were defeated.
The matter will be referred to the Sustainability Committee for a made in South Frontenac proposal to come forward.
“Let’s let them come up with something, and then we’ll reject that,” joked Councilor Ron Vandewal.
Photocopier – the Planning Department’s colour photocopier is finished, and the department cannot wait until the new year to buy one in the 2008 budget year. Council approved the purchase of a new photo-copier/scanner at a cost of $919.
Christmas holidays – The township office will be closed from December 24 to 26, and December 31 and January 1.
Sydenhan Water Rates - Because of rules set out in the municipal act, Sydenham water rates must be renewed this month even though information from Kingston Utilities is not yet available. So rates identical to the current ones will be set at the next meeting. New rates will be determined in the New Year.
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Feature Article - November 29, 2007OPP Come to Central Frontenac Councilby Jeff Green
Detachment Commander Gerry Salisbury and Administrative Sergeant Jeff McCann of the Sharbot Lake detachment paid a visit to Central Frontenac Council this week, and for once they did not have to answer questions about a lack of police visibility in the territory.
A large number of police cruisers have been in and around the township in response to the long running protest at the Robertsville mine, and on two occasions in July, up to 25 officers were called in to manage protests on Highway 7.
Inspector Salisbury said the local detachment deserves credit for the fact that there have been “no incidents at the Robertsville site.”
“Everyone has their own theory about what the police should do, but my position is that if we can do something proactively that will protect the citizens of Ontario, we will do that,” he said.
The intensive amount of policing at Robertsville, which “has demanded a tremendous amount of resources, has not affected other police services to Central Frontenac,” Salisbury said.
In presenting some of the incident reports from the latest six-month period (April to November) Inspector Salisbury pointed to certain trends.
The number of criminal charges laid by the local detachment in the past six months is 202, which Salisbury described as “very high for a small detachment,” but he added, “This does not reflect a criminal problem, not at all. It reflects proactive work by the police force.” This is particularly true in the case of drug enforcement, he said.
He also pointed to what in policing circles is called a clearance rate - the percentage of offences that police clear by laying charges.
The clearance rate for break and enters, of which there were 29 in the time period, was 35%, which Salisbury said is twice the provincial average, and for mischief under $5,000, of which there were 40 incidents, 235 were cleared, which he said is also well over the provincial average. Of 47 incidents of theft under $5,000, only 4, or 8%, were cleared. There were no incidents of theft or mischief over $5,000 in the time period.
There were 113 motor vehicle collisions, and the most common type was car/deer collisions. “This is a huge issue we face throughout the Lanark and Sharbot Lake regions, which have the second highest rate of car/deer accidents in the province. We are working with the MNR on things like road signage. In New Jersey, a police force tried reflective signs, but that didn’t seem to work,” Salisbury said.
“I guess the deer don’t read the signs,” said one of the councilors.
“On the positive side, there have been no fatalities from car-deer collisions,” Salisbury said.
Councilor Gary Smith asked Inspector Salisbury if he had “any comments on the legal status of the smoke shop on Highway 7.”
“It’s probably not a good idea to comment in public on that. It is under investigation,” said Salisbury.
In August a cigarette store was opened in Highway 7 near White Lake by members of the Shabot Obaadjiwaan First Nation.
Last week a representative from the Kingston Frontenac Public Health Unit was contacted by the News about the smoke shop, and said they were involved with the OPP and the RCMP in an investigation.
One final point that Inspector Salisbury made was to mention that Sergeant McCann has received a citation from the OPP for life saving, after coming to the assistance of an individual at the Sharbot Lake Freshmart last year.
Trail committee: Eldon Hamiton wants in – Frontenac County is setting up a committee to oversee trail development, and long-time Frontenac ATV club stalwart Eldon Hamilton wants to be on it. Hamilton wrote a letter to Central Frontenac Council asking to be included. He lists his 16 years on Portland District Council and 14 years on the Napanee Conservation Authority as credentials. It is unclear why Hamilton sent his letter to Central Frontenac Council since he lives in
South Frontenac where the trail initiative is strongest, and the committee is connected to Frontenac County. Steve Knechtel, General Manager of the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority, which manages the Cataraqui Trail and is touted as potential managers for the K&P Trail in South Frontenac, responded to Hamilton’s request in an email. He said, “Membership in the trail committee is to include a representative of EOTA (The Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance). EOTA has strong links to ATVing in the area and can probably represent those interests.”
Although the groups who will have representatives on the committee have been determined, the individuals who will serve have not been named.
“The ATV groups will be consulted as part of the process,” said Mayor Gutowski, “but not as part of the committee.”
