Feature Article - February 21, 2008

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Feature Article - February 21, 2008 South Frontenac Committee of the Wholeby Wilma Kenny

South Frontenac Council agreed to endorse in principle a proposed 5-Year Road and Bridge Reconstruction Plan as presented by Mark Segsworth, the Public Works Manager at a meeting of the Committee of the Whole on February 12.

At that time Council had had a number of questions regarding the plan, and Segsworth agreed that there would be need for ongoing review as the program was developed.

Roads have always been of primary interest at election times, and their maintenance and improvement uses a large portion of tax revenue. The roads departments have remained area rated since amalgamation: i.e. each district has its own road budget, and the Councillors from each district are responsible for deciding how that budget will be used.

Appointment of a Public Works Manager and a Technical Advisor (Randy Ferguson) have been beginning steps toward amalgamation. However, Council has resisted any further steps toward amalgamating the roads departments because although the roads in Portland, Loughborough and Storrington are in reasonably good repair and mostly paved, Bedford lags far behind, with only 8 of its 160 km of roads paved. (Bedford also has a much smaller proportion of township-maintained roads than the other districts.)

Bedford Councillor David Hahn provided an historical background to the bumpy status of Bedford’s roads in a telephone interview this week.

In the past, Bedford had a much smaller population base than the other parts of what is now South Frontenac, and many of its taxpayers were seasonal residents. Hahn said that seven years ago, when he and Del Stowe were elected to represent Bedford as a district in South Frontenac, roads were a priority with their constituents.

The population has increased substantially as cottagers retire to live permanently in the area, bringing with them expectations of better roads and services. Both recent arrivals and long-time residents complain of broken shocks and springs. More emergency services, both fire and medical, are available now and require good access roads.

Hahn said the Bedford Councilors who had been in place before he and Stowe came into office had transferred $100,000 from gravel roads to reconstruction, which although bringing improvements in some areas, led to deterioration in others.

Realizing that they needed both maintenance and improvement, they raised taxes, gradually increasing the Bedford road budget to $300,000. This has paid off: ten years ago, none of the Bedford roads could accommodate a tandem truck on a plough: now three routes are upgraded to accommodate large trucks. 8 km of roads have been paved, and the preliminary work has been done to pave 8 more this year. Hahn said they would like to have 40% of Bedford roads hard-topped in the next 10-15 years.

Although this will mean an increase in taxes for Bedford ratepayers, it should certainly help pave the way toward eventual amalgamation of the township roads department.

McMullen Park Improvements: The Portland District Parks and Recreation Committee has undertaken a project to improve the facilities and park area in Verona. As a first step, Council accepted the tender of Percy Snider (low bidder) for demolition of the cottage at McMullen park. The Recreation Committee plans to construct a new building to include washroom facilities, storage and space for day camp and swim programs. Portland has adequate funds in their parkland reserve funds: the building is to be completed by July 2008, in time for the summer programs.

Playground Inspection Procedures for 2008: Chief Building Official Alan Revill will conduct annual and monthly inspections of Township playgrounds, beginning in April. District parks maintenance staff will make and record brief weekly inspections, reporting any damage or hazards to Revill.

Roadwork Tenders: Council authorized the Public Works Manager, Mark Segsworth, to issue tenders for 2008 line painting, surface treatment and hot mix paving requirements on the understanding that the awarding of tenders is subject to Council and budget approval.

Opinion of Private Planning Consultant Sought: Township Planning Coordinator Lindsay Mills had recommended a zoning by-law amendment for the Czychun property on part of lot 1, concession 1, Bedford, to waive the severance requirement of a 400 foot building setback from the water. Council disagreed, on the grounds that the original severance had been granted allowing the formation of a lot with a very small waterfront only on the condition that any development on that lot would be along the road frontage, not the waterfront. The unusually deep setback had been imposed to ensure this. In the case of Council disagreeing with their Planning Coordinator, there is provision to seek an outside opinion. Meantime, decision on the zoning application has been deferred.

There will be no Committee of the Whole meeting next week.

Feature Article - March 6, 2008

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Feature Article - March 6, 2008 South Frontenac Council – Mar 4/08By Wilma KennySydenham Water: Annual Report

Kevin Riley of Utilities Kingston presented Council with the 2007 annual report of the Sydenham Water Treatment Plant. Three issues stood out.

The trihalomethane (THM) levels are still not consistently within the range considered acceptable by the province. THMs form when chlorine interacts with organic matter, and one of the three major THM compounds presents a threat to women in the first trimester of pregnancy.In December 07, a new coagulant was introduced with the goal of further reducing the organic matter in the filtered water. Although initial tests were promising, two recent samples have been high. Riley noted that the low rate of flow means it takes several weeks to move enough water through the system to be able to accurately test the results of any changes made at the plant. This, combined with laboratory turn-around time, means that it is almost a month before the results of any attempts at improvement are known. Riley says it will be easier to keep the system in balance once it has more users. In his notes to council, CAO Burns said the Ministry of the Environment has requested that they develop a secondary plan to address the THMs, and Utilities Kingston has suggested that they engage the firm of XCG Kingston to assist in preparing such a plan, if the current adjustments are not successful. They are waiting for test results from the most recent adjustment.Lead testing has been required by the province, and Sydenham is required to test the water of twenty users in Sydenham before April 30. They are looking for volunteers: phone the township offices at 613-376-3027, if interested.Pump Problem: The water system has three pumps that are used in the high lift section of the facility. All three are showing premature and severe pitting or “cavitation” of the impellers. The cost to redo the pumps is $15,000 each. (Replacement would be double that.) TSH and Utilities Kingston are meeting with the pump supplier (FLYGT) to attempt to resolve the issue.

Painting Tenders: OPP Building

Council accepted the bid of Barry Hawley Painting and Decorating to complete the painting of the OPP building in Hartington.

Plastic Bale Wrap Recycling

Kevin Bovey of the Frontenac Cattleman's Association made a lively presentation to council, requesting they set up a means to recycle the opaque white plastic used to wrap hay bales to preserve the feed quality. The same material is also used to cover boats and contain products on skids. At present, it is being burned, buried or added to landfill sites: as Bovey pointed out, none of these methods of disposal is environmentally acceptable.

The Cattleman's Association would like the township to create a drop site with a collection area where the plastic could be compressed and baled, then shipped out to be recycled into plastic lumber, playground equipment, etc. Council agreed that this sounded like a good idea: they will refer it to the Sustainability Committee for specific recommendations of how it could be implemented.

Letters - March 20, 2008

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Letters - March 20, 2008 LettersMarch 20

Re:Pan Fish, Fred Gardner

Re: Pan Fish, Joanne Pickett

North Frontenac Township Commitment, Edith Beaulieu

Open Letter to Dalton McGuinty,Wanda Recoskie

Thanks to Those Who Cared For Us this Winter, Rev. Art Turnbull

New Landowners Association, Edward Kennedy

Nuclear Versus Solar,Carl Winterburn

Nuclear Energy: Not Safe, Clean, or Affordable,Susan McLenaghan

Re: Letter From Mayor Ron Maguire,John Kittle

Re: Pan Fish

I am writing in response to the article published in March 13, 2008 edition of the Frontenac News -(Local Resort Owner Raises Alarm Over Pan Fish Limits).

The Ministry of Natural Resources carefully monitors fish stocks all over the province and if they feel that a limit is necessary, I believe them. We must remember the health of an eco-system is dependant on the management as a whole, and that pan fish are only one piece to the puzzle. Mr. Spirala and other resort operators have to wake up to the new paradigm of Resource Management in a modern age.

This is not the 40s or 50s. It is about time we put some limits on our fisheries and stop allowing the pillage of our natural resources by local and foreign anglers alike. You would think Mr. Spirala would be more ecologically and environmentally conscious about the effects of the old no limit fishing regulations and wouldn't be so short-sighted. Responsible management of the fish stocks secures the resource for future generations, which in turn secures a future for the operation of his resort. Or maybe Mr. Spirala is more concerned with short-term gain and when Lake Kennebec has no more fish, he plans on selling and moving on to another lake.

Fred Gardner, Friend of Lake Kennebec

Re: Pan Fish

Before you let Cezar Spirala get the last word on the issue of limits on sunfish, please get some facts from the ministry and give them some press also.

I remember as a little kid the hordes of sunfish we fed at the end of our dock - big ones too, with fillets way bigger than the size of a potato chip. We caught them as food fish too but we certainly didn't need to harvest vast quantities even to feed our family of 9.

I never see those big sunfish anymore and the number of little ones has declined considerably over the years. Our lake association has (regrettably) held several sunfish derbies over past years but the notion of hundreds of tourists hauling away freezers full of sunfish each and every year is appalling. As we all (should) know, sunfish play an important role in the aquatic food chain and unchecked fishing of any species cannot be a good thing for the sustainability of our fish stocks.

I think we can probably blame the cost of fuel and the low American dollar above all else for the decline in the number of American tourists in recent years.

Perhaps Mr. Spirala could direct some of his energy toward the movement against uranium mining in Sharbot Lake. A uranium mine down the road - now THAT would be bad for tourism.

Joanne Pickett

North Frontenac Township's Commitment?

As President of the Ompah Community Centre Organization I believe I speak for most of our local citizens in congratulating Mr. Ladouceur on last week's letter to the editor. It reflected the exact sentiments of most of the people in our community with respect to the lack of township funding for the fire hall, its equipment and the community centre.

At a recent township council budget meeting we were told that the Ompah community would be expected to raise a portion of the money needed to construct a new fire hall. Does the council not appreciate that this community has already donated the whole complex that exists as the Ompah fire hall and community centre? That includes the land, the buildings, all fire trucks, the air ambulance pad, and the majority of the equipment. Over 30 years that amounts to much more than $100,000. This money came from organizations such as the Volunteer Fire Auxiliary, the Skidoo Club, the Community Centre Committee, the Volunteer Firemen, local small businesses, personal donations and memoriams for deceased relatives and friends. The township got it all for free.

The township's demand that we raise more money for a new fire hall is insulting to those who have already worked so hard and given so much. Who would support new fund raising initiatives besides these very same people? It is time that council faces the fact that the free ride on Ompah's generosity is over. Everyone who benefits from the services of our fire department should pay their share through taxes. The funding burden should not rest on a few of us tired volunteers.

Mr. Ladouceur was right. Our community has shown their support and commitment. Instead of demanding more and more, it would be nice if the mayor and councilors could give us something back.

Edith Beaulieu

Open letter to Dalton McGuinty

Well, Mr. McGuinty - it turns out that we Southeastern Ontarians are initially right and you are initially wrong. Now that we have the support of the mayors of Toronto, Kingston, Ottawa, along with the mayors of 10 communities around us in Lanark Highlands, it is obvious that there should never be uranium exploration or uranium mining where thousands of people live.

So it is therefore quite ironic that you have legislated non-smoking in vehicles with children to protect them from second-hand smoke, yet you are more than willing to let the air they breathe, the water they drink and the lands they enjoy all around them to be decimated with radio-active pollution.

I am appalled at your lack of insight to the dangers of uranium mining and exploration after all the information that has been sent to you – showing you that 80% gets exported and we only keep 20% for Canada - and you want to let our lands be destroyed for more uranium? I will tell you what - why don't you contact the Deline Village of Widows, the Natives on the Serpent River in Elliot Lake, the Navajo peoples of Arizona, and while you're at it - fly over the 10 lakes filled in around Elliot Lake with 175 million tons of radio-active waste which is leaching into Lake Huron via the Serpent River, and check out northern Saskatchewan. Perhaps you also are too blindsided by the rich mining corporations. You are not doing a very good job for us Southeastern Ontarians by ensuring we would continue to live in a healthy environment as you said in your letter to me.

Well, we will not be brainwashed by false statements of safety bullcrap provided by uranium mining companies, nor geologists who say that uranium rock is safe no matter what is done to it. It is only safe if it remains undisturbed. Instead we will rely on and believe those who are suffering and the true photos of Robert Del Tridici that clearly show one of the 10 lakes in Elliot Lake with a 30-foot-high wall of radio-active waste. We also choose to believe well renowned, well respected world-wide scientists who have studied for 20–30 years the dangerous elements of decaying left over uranium rock, namely Dr. Gordon Edwards, Dr. Syd Brownstein and Mr. Jim Harding.

You have eroded our faith in the democratic, political, and justice systems, which has definitely proven that we have no rights to protect our lands or our environment and the people who live in the area where the devastation will take place have NO SAY! What part of "We don't want uranium exploration or uranium mines in Southeastern Ontario, Lanark Highlands, or Frontenac Ecosensitive area" do you not understand? Please tell your Minister of Tourism to stop putting out pamphlets advertising Land o' Lakes Tourist area in Lanark Highlands. Because it will be open pit mining, there will be NO tourist area left.

Wanda Recoskie

Thanks to those Who Cared For Us This Winter

This winter has been particularly difficult. One snowstorm after another with spells of thawing followed by freezing made roads and pathways treacherous.

During this winter a few people in each of our communities worked hard to keep the streets and sidewalks open. In particular I would like to acknowledge the hard work of Mr. Percy Snider and his employees who did snow removal in the Sydenham area. Within a day after each storm the roads were widened as the men worked around the clock. Within 48 hours of even the heaviest snowfalls the sidewalks were passable. Mr. Snider and his crew are appreciated.

Others also need to be acknowledged. The men and women who collect the garbage and recycle material never missed a pickup all winter in my area. The highway snow clearance was done by dedicated people who kept the roads safe. Our emergency response medical and fire employees and volunteers never missed a call. The police were present throughout the county ensuring our security.

In theory, winter has come to a close and spring is here. We can be grateful that the people and equipment are at the ready just in case Mother Nature does not know that it is time to stop snowing.

Thanks to good workers and neighbours, we have come through a tough winter. Easter this year is a good time to express appreciation to those who cared for us all winter.

(The Rev.)Art Turnbull

New Landowners' Association

I notice with suspicion many local sessions about “clean water” and water sources, and especially at town council regular meetings.

A lot was heard last provincial election about the Clean Water Act and the ramifications of this on rural property owners, specifically the intent to “meter” rural wells and have yearly inspections of both them and septic systems. While the liberal candidates across the province shrugged this off as something that would never happen, these provisions of that “ACT” are still integral to its content, and can be used at any time. The Sydenham water fiasco was a typical example of impositionally decreed tyranny/financial hardship imposed on rural town dwellers, an assault on freedoms, and bureaucratic meddling run amok.

Like the “sword of Damocles”, the provisions of this and other “Acts” concocted by Queen’s Park lie threateningly over the heads of rural dwellers, landowners and country vacation property owners. Land appropriations continue, while urban spread increases across the land. The increase in urban land area from 1971 to 2001 was 4300 square kilometers, an area the size of Prince Edward Island. Bureaucrats, those typical meddlers and enemies of freedom through the imposition of more and more rules on all of us, waste upwards of $250,000,000 yearly in tax dollars spent on lodging at resorts. Figures for 2003/2004 for number of rooms that our tax dollars paid for in Cancun was 800, in Barbados 636, in San Jose 523, and in Jamaica, 167. So while bureaucrats enforce more and more laws, we have to not only pay for their enforcement by bureaucrats, but also fund vacations for these types.

These are but concerns that few are thinking about, being more focused on personal matters that take their time and efforts. While we have elected a liberal government in Ontario, things in rural Ontario have continued to decline but Landowners Associations have sprung up and prospered, buoyed by their message and resulting actions of defending freedoms, and rural rights, while opposing meddling bureaucracies and government injustices.

While there are roughly 17 Landowners associations across the face of Ontario, we have not had any in this riding of Frontenac, Lennox and Addington. That is about to change, as a preliminary meeting held March 8 at the Newburgh Community Hall brought a round table meeting of several grassroots people together to discuss plans for the formation of the new Frontenac, Lennox and Addington Landowners Association.

The dream will become reality with the first meeting slated for the Kaladar Community Center, already booked, for a meeting in early April. This organization will be affiliated with the Ontario Landowners Association, bringing the power, numbers, expertise, and organized strength of 17 other established Landowner organizations across Ontario into our sphere of influence and allowing rural people the ability in organized numbers to protect our rights, effect change, and oppose bureaucratic meddling in our affairs.

An advertisement will be run in this paper in the next few weeks announcing the time, and location, scheduled speakers, and a listed email and telephone number to contact for info.

Governments are, by and large, urban institutions of organized hypocrisies, with “ignorance on autopilot” when it comes to rural affairs. Our goal is to change that and judging by the many successes of our sister/brother Landowners organizations, change that we will.

Edward Kennedy, Harrowsmith

Nuclear Versus Solar

The pathetic race (40 years ago) to be best with our nuclear program ended with Ontario Hydro somewhere around $40 billion in debt. Nuclear is very high tech, any mistakes or break downs can be deadly and very expensive. The programs result in a lot of pollution at and around the mines, refineries and Chalk River Research facility.

To even suggest three more reactors in or near Toronto is unconscionable! Accidents and miscalculations will happen. Look for reference on the internet for happenings around mine sites, refineries, and Chalk River problems. Toronto’s citizens don’t deserve this!

When are terrorists going to select a reactor for their next disruption of our society?

Hydro One estimates residents use 40% of their household electric bill heating water! I was recently told that 40% of all electricity produced went to residential use. It follows then that 16% of all energy produced goes to heating water in Ontario. This is a great way to go green.

Recently Chrysler laid off a large number of people. There are others doing the same thing. More and more people can get only part-time jobs. We are in a down-turn. Building refineries and reactors employs relatively few people and takes decades. Making and installing solar and wind generation takes a few weeks giving us almost instant alternate green power.

I’d recommend solar voltaics as the extra energy reaped - can all be reaped. e.g. charging batteries for emergencies. e.g. electric cars. It is my understanding that Europe (especially Germany and Holland) are way ahead of us.

Solar and wind are pure green and low tech to build and install. They have a life expectancy of 40 some years. They are easy to repair. Solar can start easing our energy problem now. A green win-win situation.

The same money that would be spent on nuclear reactors would pay 50% of putting a solar water heater on every residence in Ontario. And set up a long-term industry making, installing and maintaining the installations, just like an appliance repairman.

Subsidize solar or wind 50% and you get double the economic effect.

Jobs versus big money squandered on nuclear.

- Carl Winterburn

Nuclear Energy – Not Safe, Clean, or Affordable

That Bob Lovelace, one of the leaders of a peaceful, principled resistance to uranium prospecting/ exploration in the Mississippi watershed remains incarcerated and subject to heavy fines should strike fear in the heart of every ordinary Canadian. If nothing else, the refusal of the Ontario government to respond to legitimate concerns voiced by many is indicative of the level of power and influence the nuclear industry holds in the halls of government in this country.

The nuclear industry (of which uranium exploration/ mining is a part) promotes itself as clean and safe…a solution to climate change. However, consider this:

There is no known way to effectively sequester and monitor radioactive mine tailings for the thousands of years they remain active. Bear in mind that radioactivity is undetectable to the human senses and compromises all life on our planet.There is no proven and safe long-term storage solution for the spent nuclear fuel that is accumulating around the world. Did you know that governments/ industry are now proposing that producers of uranium "rent" the yellowcake to consuming nations and then "reclaim" it for storage? In addition to mountains of radioactive mine tailings, how would you feel about a nuclear fuel storage facility in the headwaters of the Mississippi?Canada sold Candu reactors to India, Pakistan, China, South Korea. India and Pakistan then used the technology and spent fuel to develop nuclear weaponry technology…a small example of Canada's complicity in the proliferation of nuclear weapons and the development of an Asian arms race.Uranium from Canadian mines finds its way into the military-industrial complex in the United States through the use of depleted uranium in modern weaponry. The US illegal war in Iraq is leaving Iraqi civilians with a vicious legacy of nuclear contamination that will endure for generations…ditto Afghanistan.Nuclear energy is inefficient, expensive and subject to massive subsidization by various levels of government that makes it appear economically viable. Witness the recent $300 million dollar federal government payment to Atomic Energy of Canada Limited (AECL) in the 2008 budget, another $500 million for waste management, another $100 million over the last three years and $100 million annually for R&D. That debt retirement charge on your Ontario Hydro bill? Ask Dalton McGuinty how much in total (including refurbishment) the Pickering generating station has cost Ontario taxpayers. The billions of tax dollars that goes to support the nuclear energy system in this country is money that is consequently unavailable for conservation, energy efficiency improvements and the development of clean, safe, inexpensive renewables (solar, wind, tidal etc).

Governments are very much into "accountability" these days. How about a little (make that a lot) on the nuclear energy system file?

- Susan McLenaghan

Re: Letter from Mayor Ron Maguire,

I wish to comment on Mr. Maguire’s position on uranium mining affecting North Frontenac’s future. In his letter enclosed with the recent tax bill, he states that this issue is “properly the responsibilities of the Ontario and Canadian governments” and that North Frontenac will “remain guided by their decisions and actions”. This seems to imply that council has no role to play in challenging the province’s mining decisions on behalf of North Frontenac taxpayers.

This must be Mr. Maguire’s personal opinion because last fall a majority of North Frontenac Council voted to petition the province for a moratorium against uranium exploitation in eastern Ontario.

North Frontenac Council has added its voice to 12 other eastern Ontario councils, plus scores of organizations and thousands of people demanding that the province stop uranium exploitation in eastern Ontario. Perhaps Mr. Maguire believes that due democratic process and public opinion are not important.

I hereby request that Mr. Maguire set the record straight by mailing out a retraction of his misleading statements related to uranium mining and to properly inform taxpayers that North Frontenac Council has petitioned the province for a moratorium against uranium exploration and mining in eastern Ontario.

John Kittle

Feature Article - March 20, 2008

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Feature Article - March 20, 2008 Addington Highlands Council – March 17, 2008 By Jule Koch BrisonBrian Shier, the landowner who has become involved in a dispute with neighbours after he closed a section of the Cross Lake Road that gives them access to their properties, attended Monday night’s council meeting in Denbigh along with members of his family and a friend, Bob Beyers.

The group was not on the meeting’s agenda, but Beyers asked for permission to address council. He said, “The Cross Road business is really wrecking this family… it wouldn’t take a whole lot to widen [the Addington Road] so people would stop hounding them.”

The Addington Road also provides access for people living on the Cross Lake Road beyond Shier’s property, but it is very rough.

Reeve Henry Hogg said that council was waiting for surveys, but it hasn’t been possible to do the surveys because of the winter.

Brian Shier then said he had the surveys that council needed, and asked if he could show his deed, which he had brought with him, to the councilors. Permission was granted and Shier took the documents to the council table, where he spent some time showing certain details to the councilors.

Reeve Hogg maintained that council still needed a survey, but said that council would act once they had it.

The Shiers and Bob Beyers then left the meeting.

Denbigh Ambulance: Reeve Hogg told council that he recently found out two things about the Denbigh Ambulance Service that he previously did not know. The first was that for the last few months, when the Northbrook Ambulance is called out, the Denbigh Ambulance goes to the Northbrook base to stand by, a practice that council is concerned about because it creates too long a response time for emergencies in Denbigh. A taxpayer, Suzanne Lee, had sent a letter to council about the matter.

“They have to have washroom facilities when they’re on standby so they go to Northbrook,” said Hogg. Council decided to arrange for the ambulance attendants to have a key to the Cloyne fire hall so they could stand by there.

“But I can tell you there’s going to be a county-wide needs study on ambulance service between now and October,” said Henry Hogg, “and it is not likely going to work out well for us up here because our call volume is so low.”

The second discovery was that the ambulance did not have snow tires. “Someone at Pringle Ford told them they didn’t need snow tires on dual-wheeled vehicles,” Hogg said. Pringle Ford is a Napanee dealership.

Letters to obstructers: Roads Supervisor Royce Rosenblath brought photos to council of a road that was obstructed by a homeowner blowing snow back onto the roadway after it had been plowed. Besides the cost of having to send the plow out a second time, he said the practice also creates a danger, as unsuspecting vehicles could run into the snow. Rosenblath sought council’s approval for a letter he had prepared to send to those who are known to create the problem.

Rosenblath also showed council photos of cars that had been left parked on County Road 30, creating problems for the plows. He had prepared a second letter to be laminated and put on the cars’ windshields. Council approved the distribution of both letters.

Hartsmere Bridge: The Hartsmere bridge construction is going well, Rosenblath reported. He said the bridge would be erected on Wednesday of this week.

Flinton Hall parking lot: Deputy Reeve Yanch said that she had received some complaints because the snow has diminished the parking lot’s capacity. Royce Rosenblath said it costs about $5000 a day to remove snow and it would take more than a day to clear the lot. “It’s quite an expense for 2 – 3 weeks,” he said. Yanch pointed out that when people rent the hall for functions they also rent the parking lot, and said the township should have a policy to deal with the situation. Councilor Louise Scott also pointed out that the Recreation Club’s Easter dinner is coming up this Saturday and usually draws 600 – 700 people.

Council will formulate a policy and Rosenblath said he would try to push the banks back.

Feature Article - March 27, 2008

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Feature Article - March 27, 2008 ICSP plan approved with amendment By Jeff Green

The framework for a Frontenac County integrated community sustainablitity plan was presented to a meeting of county council on Wednesday, March 19, by Don Grant from the consulting firm Jacques Whitford.

Two of the four muncipalities that make up Frontenac County, Central and North Frontenac, had passed motions requesting that the framework not be adopted until the two township councils had a chance to consider its implications.

Instead of putting a hold on the process, county council approved the draft framework, and in the approving motion they added an amendment, which called for a consultative process involving the townships more directly.

Later that evening, at a joint meeting of county and township councils. Don Grant of Jacques Whitford outlined how he envisions the integrated sustainablitly plan proceeding. He noted 12 areas where small committees could come together to advise the county as to where the citizenry would like to go. Among the 12 are such broad topics as water, energy, health, governance, transportation and waste management.

Jacques Whitford, whose job was complete as of the tabling of its framework report, recommended that the township invest $50,000 in developing a final plan. Don Grant said the county would be eligible for a $25,000 grant and could put $5,000 in in-kind contributions towads the process, so it would only cost $20,000 in county funds. This money would not come from county tax revenue; it could be taken from the gas tax rebate the county is receiving from the federal government.

The integrated community sustainablity plan is something that must be developed by recipients of gas tax funding, and one of the prime functions of the Frontenac County plan will be to determine which projects within the county gas tax money can be used to fund.

At a meeting of mayors and township councilors that followed the regular county council meeting last Wednesday, councilors were skeptical about the integrated sustainabilty plan, wondering how it is that 12 citizens’ committees, with representatives from each of the townships, would be able to get together.

“There is a concern that people get consulted out,” said one councilor.

Still others argued that gas tax rebate money should be spent entirely on road and bridge work.

“We need roads culverts and bridges, gas tax was made for roads, not spending it on all this foolishness,” said South Frontenac councilor John Filion.

Dianna Bratina, the Manager for Economic Development for the county, explained that in order for the county to spend these dollars on the infrastructure requirements that are the reponsibliity of the individual townships, there needs to be a planning structure. “Otherwise we can only spend the money on things like capacity building,” she said.

Gas tax money can be used on projects in the individual townships, such as salt sheds, or retrofitting township halls to be more energy efficient, or on waste management projects, for example, but there needs to be a county plan in place first, Bratina said.

Feature Article - March 27, 2008

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Feature Article - March 27, 2008 Councilors give warden's vision the cold shoulder By Jeff GreenFor the past three months Frontenac County warden Jim Vanden Hoek has been promoting a plan for a new economic development role for Frontenac County. One of the pieces in that plan is the establishment of a fund to be used as seed money for viable projects which could enhance tourism and address the lack of commercial property assessment in the county.

Part of his plan has been to engage township councilors from throughout the county. To that end he visited each of the four township councils during the winter, and also made a presentation to a joint council meeting in Sharbot Lake that was attended by at least half of the township councilors from Frontenac County.

Last week, at a subsequent joint county council meeting at Fairmount Home, Vanden Hoek put some questions to the township councilors.

He prefaced his request by projecting a sharp increase in municipal taxes in future years if the tax base in the county is not broadened through commercial assessment. “The premise that I've been coming at is that our tax rates are going up, have been going up for a number of years, and unless we do a number of things, they will continue to go up,” Vanden Hoek said.

He then listed three ways to reverse this trend: “One, the province invests heavily; two, we invest in economic development and spur growth in investment; and three, we cooperate on service and administrative delivery to create operating efficiency. We need to be aggressively pursuing all three strategies.”

Strategy number two was dealt with at the meeting.

Vanden Hoek asked for a show of hands on the plan in general, and received majority support thanks mainly to the councilors from South Frontenac and Frontenac Islands. The vote was 11-7.

However, asked whether they would support a $50,000 special levy as part of the county tax bill, which Vanden Hoek said would amount to $2.50 per ratepayer, there was no support.

There was some support to a further request that the fund be established using county-controlled gas tax rebate money, even though this would limit the kinds of projects the fund could support, but even then most of the councillors sat on their hands.

To a final question, how many of the councilors were opposed to the initiative entirely, no hands went up.

A second aspect of Warden Vanden Hoek's initiative has to do with the makeup of county council. His decision to go directly to township councilors with his financial request is coupled with a stated intention to seek a reform of the council structure. The issue of reform has been more warmly received by township councilors than the financial request.

Currently, the mayors from the four Frontenac townships make up the county council. This even number complicates voting procedures. In effect, if more than one mayor opposes any proposition, the proposition is killed. Other concerns have been raised about the small number of councilors, and from the perspective of South Frontenac Township, which contributes 60% of the assessment base but has only 25% of the vote on council, the issue of fairness has been raised.

David Hahn, a long-time councilor from the Bedford District of South Frontenac, said. “We're doing way better now than we did seven years ago. I think it's a good effort, and I appreciate it”, he said.

Gary Smith, from Kennebec District in Central Frontenac, said, “The four-member board, with a rotating chair, is not a good structure. When the name was changed from Frontenac Management Board to Frontenac County in 2003, the functions had changed. The magnitude and responsibilities of the county had changed, and the political process should change as well.”

Warden Vanden Hoek said that he would be bringing the subject of the makeup of council forward. “My understanding is that any changes must be approved one year before a municipal election in order to take effect with that election,” he said, “so we do have some time to consider what we want to do.”

The next municipal election is slated for November of 2010.

South Frontenac Mayor Gary Davison said that Jim Vanden Hoek's initiatives of the past few months have been important, and point the way to future reform of the county. “I'd like to thank Jim for having the courage to try and engage the councilors. I commend him for this process; it is now a more open forum than we've had in the past.”

Feature Article - March 27, 2008

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Feature Article - March 27, 2008 Central Frontenac Council -Mar 24/08 By Jeff Green

New public works manager the key for Central Frontenac

Late last year Central Frontenac underwent a major organizational review, and the resulting report was presented to council at the end of January.

This week, at their regular meeting, Acting CAO John Duchene presented council with an implementation plan in response to the report. The first item on his list of priorities is filling a position that has been vacant for 14 months: that of public works manager.

A hiring process that took place a year ago did not yield a suitable candidate, and a second attempt is now underway. Duchene underlined how important this hiring process is to the municipality when he wrote in a report to council that, “The most significant ‘organizational’ changes facing the municipality occur in management within this department. It is hoped that this person should be in place, no later than the end of May.”

Duchene also pointed out that the new person should be allowed to “develop a degree of ownership over the suggested management changes” furthering the view that major changes to the public works department should be delayed until a new public works manager is found.

Interviews for the position are scheduled for the next couple of weeks.

The organizational review noted that morale in the public works department is a concern, and pointed as well to logistical problems in the current operations of the roads department.

Duchene did recommend that certain measures can be taken in public works before the manager is hired, including a review of job descriptions and salaries.

In non-public works related activities of the township, Duchene recommended that steps be taken in short order.

An organizational chart (excluding public works) will be presented to council at their next meeting. New job descriptions, again excluding public works, are expected by July 15. The appointment of township staff to those positions is to be confirmed by August 1, and the salary review completed by September 15.

Duchene’s implementation report included a four-page summary of all the consultant’s recommendations, broken down into departments.

“I think this process is huge,” said Mayor Janet Gutowski, “it’s important, and we have to start somewhere.”

“The process John recommends is good. I think the major changes are in public works and we need a public works manager first. I agree with the report,” said Councillor Frances Smith.

Duchene asked that a three-member steering committee of councilors be appointed to oversee the steps he has proposed.

“It is a three-meeting commitment, maximum,” Duchene said, “but there may be a lot of reading.”

Councillors Gary Smith, Bob Harvey, and Frances Smith volunteered to sit on the steering committee.

Other notes from council:

Rural Routes request for funding - A letter, along with a request for $15,000, was received from the Rural Routes Transportation Service. Although the service is active in other jurisdictions, the vast majority of its rides are delivered in Central Frontenac, some 2890 in the eight months between July ’07 and the end of February ’08.

The request was deferred until budget deliberations. Rural Routes representatives also asked to make a presentation to the budget meeting, but this request was denied because it is not available to other groups who are seeking funding support. Rural Routes has been invited to a regular council meeting on April 14.

Clow zoning – Further to the plan for a seniors’ residence in Hinchinbrooke, the township planning consultant has confirmed that the Clows, who are planning to expand an existing seniors’ residence to accommodate 10 people, will need to have their property re-zoned, and before that can take place a water investigation will be necessary to determine the quality and quantity of water at the location. The zoning change will need to take place before other permits are considered.

Feature Article - March 27, 2008

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Feature Article - March 27, 2008 South Frontenac Council still divided over Official Plan By Jeff Green

Members of South Frontenac Council met this week to try and hammer out their differences on two issues in their Official Plan review which deal with the ability of property owners to develop lots.

They did plenty of hammering, but very little agreeing.

The first issue was that of so-called back lot development. As part of the review, township planner Lindsay Mills proposed that non-waterfront development on private lanes not be permitted.

In the three open houses that have taken place over the Official Plan review, many of the 100 people who attended commented on this issue, arguing that this kind of development should be permitted, as did a petition with 107 signatures

The petition also referred to the second major issue that has divided council, the so-called “starting the clock over” request. When the Official Plan came into effect in 2001, any property was permitted to be severed three times, to create three new lots and one retained lot, provided all the lots were 2 acres or larger and had sufficient road frontage. “Starting the clock over” would mean that after the revised Official Plan is approved, three new severances would be permitted even on properties that had already been severed since 2001. Those properties could be severed three more times.

In his reply to the petitioners and to the public, Lindsay Mills said that making the changes would “violate … existing provisions of the Plan”. Essentially, Mills argued that permitting non-waterfront development on private roads, and “starting the clock over” regarding severances, would have a detrimental effect on the “rural character of South Frontenac which the Official Plan is designed to enhance”.

According to Mills’ report, rural character is embodied by “large, un-crowded residential lots; private water and septic systems; mixture of woodlands, bush, agricultural fields and open landscapes; major service being located in adjacent cities; industrial activities limited to those which support the local economy; residential activity either singularly or in small subdivisions/hamlets; limited municipal services”.

The two measures that he advocates are both designed to curtail certain kinds of development, which he argues could lead to uncontrolled development, and which he maintains the township would have trouble dealing with in the long run.

Everyone on council had an opinion or two about back lot development.

Councilor Larry York said, “I don’t have a problem with back lot development, as long as it’s looked at carefully.

For Mayor Gary Davison, the problems will arise when the township is asked to take over roads that have become heavily populated. “We are having issues already on township roads,” he said.

Councilor David Hahn said, “People who have purchased cottage lots have not had to deal with back lot development, and they don’t want to.”

For Councilor John Filion, it is a matter of taxation in future years. “I look at facts projected through statistics. Between 2002 and 2112 we will see a 70% increase in taxes in this township. The only way around that is through economic development, and economic development means building new houses and increasing our tax base. Storrington has had the largest increase in houses and its taxes are less than the other three districts. We need to have that tax base, and if you can’t see it I’d say you are bad managers.”

“I must move to Storrington where the sun shines every day,” said Mayor Davison.

A consensus vote was taken and the proposal to prohibit back lot development was defeated in a 5-4 vote, with councilors Hahn, McPhail, Robinson, and Mayor Davison in support, and Councilors York, Filion, Hicks, Stowe, and Vandewal opposed.

A similar debate took place over liberalizing rules over severances, and the proposal to leave the Official Plan as is, and not “start the clock over” was defeated in a 6-3 vote. A variety of alternate approaches were discussed, and they will be considered at a future date. A few other, less contentious issues around the Official plan review, including those related to the lands around the Rideau Canal, were accepted.

Council will meet again on April 8 to discuss the Official Plan. A budget meeting is scheduled for either March 31 or April 2, depending on councilor availability.

[Editor’s note: a quick survey of the South Frontenac website revealed that in 2005, the most recent year for which tax rates are listed, the Storrington district rate was the highest of the four districts]

Feature Article - March 13, 2008

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Feature Article - March 13, 2008 Central Frontenac Council wants to slow the county downBy Jeff Green

With Mayor Gutowski, Deputy Mayor Bob Harvey, and Councilor Norm Guntensperger away for a pre-spring break, the remaining six Central Frontenac councilors have tried to put a roadblock in front of the county’s sustainability plan.

At a council meeting in Mountain Grove on Monday night, which was presided over by Councilor Frances Smith, Acting Chief Administrative Officer John Duchene brought information to council about action that the County of Frontenac is poised to take next week.

“It is my understanding that at county council on March 19, they hope to adopt the integrated community sustainability plan framework.”

This framework will be used, among other things, as the basis for a points system whereby the county share of federal gas tax revenue will be allocated to individual township projects, and perhaps to other community groups as well, Duchene added.

“I'm just trying to make sure that this local council understands the process. I'm not sure that there has been enough input from the local councils,” he said.

The county is slated to receive almost $2 million in gas tax revenue by 2010 (an identical amount is being allocated directly to the townships).

But neither the county nor the townships are free to spend this money on anything they want. The money is earmarked for infrastructure projects that promote sustainability.

“The strange thing about all this is that the county doesn’t have any roads or bridges or other kind of infrastructure,” said Councilor John Purdon. “A couple of years ago there was talk that the county should just turn over the money, but this process they are setting up is rather onerous.”

“There were a number of concerns raised about this at a joint county meeting last month, and I’m not necessarily comfortable with the county acting as a funding agent for all and sundry” said Councilor Gary Smith.”

“Maybe we should look at slowing the process down,” said Councilor Frances Smith.

“We are at a disadvantage in talking about this when our county representative is not here,” said Gary Smith in reference to the fact that Mayor Gutowski was away on vacation, “but we are not going to be meeting before the county meets to adopt this framework.”

A motion was then prepared which reads:

That the Corporation of the Township of Central Frontenac respectfully request that the Council of Frontenac County defer adoption of both the County ICSP Framework (including screening criteria) and the County Community Consultation Plan until such time as all lower tier municipalities within the County have had the opportunity to understand and discuss these reports within their respective Councils and have submitted written responses to the proposed documents.

The motion was unanimously supported by the six members of council who were present.

Other items:

Council received a report from Fire Chief Mark MacDonald concerning an inspection he did of the Clow property in Hinchinbrooke. The owners of the property had applied for re-zoning in order to renovate their building and establish a 10-person seniors residence, and council had asked for a report as part of the re-zoning application.

In the report MacDonald pointed out that renovations to the property are ongoing even though a building permit has not yet been issued.

The report talks about fire code regulations that will have to be adhered to and also about the need for the facility to attain Class B occupancy in order for anyone with mobility issues, even relatively minor ones, to live in the residence. This will require a sprinkler system to be installed.

The Clows were in attendance at the meeting, and they asked to address council. They said they had received inconsistent information about what is required of them from different township officials, and were unclear as to where the process is headed.

Acting CAO John Duchene told them to call him directly and he would try to steer the process forward.

Deputy Chief Building Officer hired – the township has hired Alan Revil, the Chief Building Official in South Frontenac, to provide support to the building department to cover overflow, vacations, and illness in their one-member building department.

Feature Article - March 20, 2008

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Feature Article - March 20, 2008 South Frontenac Council –Mar 18/08by Wilma Kenny Lead Testing: Who Pays?

Council agreed to endorse Amherstburg’s resolution requesting the Province of Ontario provide immediate and necessary funding to Ontario municipalities to finance the cost of the mandated lead testing for municipal water systems.

Cancellation of Automatic Aid Agreement with Township of Rideau Lakes

Fire Chief Chesebrough expressed concern that South Frontenac is required to pay an annual standby fee to Rideau Lakes for fire protection mutual aid assistance in a portion of Bedford district. Chesebrough has discussed this with the fire chief in Rideau Lakes, but the latter is not prepared to renegotiate the agreement. Mutual aid agreements with other neighbouring townships do not call for prepayments, and normally are based on the understanding that either party will assist the other when required. Council agreed to withdraw from the agreement and will inform Rideau Lakes Council of their reason for doing so.

Congratulations to Road-Clearing Crews

A letter from residents of Shales Road has been circulated to the roads department, thanking them for their work through a difficult winter: "Congratulations are in order to all the drivers of the snow plows as they have had an extremely heavy and busy season and have done an excellent job." Councillors Vandewal and Robinson both noted that they had had several phone calls making similar positive comments about the winter roadwork.