Canada Post is planning to cut 25% of its hours at the Parham, Godfrey and Maberly post offices.

The proposed cuts were announced via letters to township councils on January 8, and communicated directly to the postmasters involved by Glen Baldock, the local area manager for Canada Post in Kingston. The changes include eliminating Saturday hours in all three locations, and cutting overall hours from 36 to 27.

While the hours are somewhat different in all three locations, the changes would result in later openings and earlier closings on weekdays, with the notable exception being Thursday afternoons, when extended hours are being contemplated.

The postmasters at all three locations, who are unionized employees under a collective bargaining agreement with the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA), were reluctant to talk about the proposed changes, but they did say that they were not consulted about the proposals before Glen Baldock came to see them a week or so ago. Without going into detail, they said they did offer alternatives to Baldock, based on their own experience with their customers.

They expressed a concern, as did a number of customers we talked to, that the earlier closings in the afternoons, along with the Saturday closings, will make it difficult for customers who work 9am-5pm jobs to get their mail at the post office.

If the changes go through as contemplated, it will result in the Godfrey and Maberly post offices being open from 11 am – 4 pm Mondays to Wednesdays and on Fridays, and 11 am – 6 pm on Thursdays.

In the case of the Godfrey post office, this will not be possible, because the office is located within LD Powersports, which closes at 5 pm each day. The post office does not have a separate entrance so it must close when LD closes.

In Parham, where the current hours of operation are 9am until 12 noon and 2 - 5:30 pm on weekdays, and 9 am -12:30 pm on Saturdays, it is proposed that the hours will be 9 am until 12 noon and 2:30 to 4:30 on each day except Thursday, when the afternoon opening is to be extended until 6:30 p.m.

According to the letter Glen Badock sent to the local councils, “A careful review has determined that we have a very small number of local customers” during the hours of the day that Canada Post is planning to cut.

This review was based on the time of day when most sales are made at the outlets, which is tracked by the Canada Post computer, but the postal employees at the locations said that the data does not account for the use of the post office by customers to pick up their mail, which is not tracked.

In his letter to the townships, Baldock indicated that a final decision about the changes has not been made yet. “We will be holding discussions with the local representatives of our employees' associations, the Canadian Postmasters and Assistants Association (CPAA) and will communicate the results with you once these discussions have occurred. Rest assured that these potential changes will take our customers' and your constituents’ postal needs into consideration. We remain committed to providing postal services in urban and rural communities across the country.”

The News called Glen Baldock for comment but we did not receive a return call before our publication deadline for this week's paper.

Central Frontenac draft budget

The draft 2014 Central Frontenac budget, presented by Treasurer Michael McGovern to a special meeting of Council on Monday afternoon (January 20), carries an increase of just over $500,000 in the cost to taxpayers for local services, from $6.15 million in 2013 to $6.66 million in 2014, an 8.1% hike.

Inflation accounts for just under 1% of the increase, according to McGovern, and there are a number of investments that account for the rest. On Monday afternoon, the public works and fire departments presented their departmental budgets, and later in the week the other departments, including the corporate, IT, building, and planning departments will present their own figures.

Among the more expensive additions to the 2014 budget is a $200,000 contribution to the fire department capital reserve fund, which is earmarked for a new fire hall in Parham, slated to be built next year. There is also a $75,000 cost for a new emergency first response foam crew cab truck for the Henderson Fire Hall.

“The plan is to move the existing pumper truck from Henderson to Arden, and have something more applicable for our Henderson crew,” said Fire Chief Bill Young.

Aside from completing the $1.77 million Wagarville Road project, which is mostly covered by a grant from the province, Public Works Manager Mike Richardson proposed that $640,000 be put towards a reconstruction project on the four-kilometre stretch that runs north from Henderson.

“The Henderson Road is causing us a great deal of grief in maintenance,” said Mike Richardson. “The base is falling apart very quickly in sections; $640,000 does four kilometres - the worst four kilometres - of that road. We will have to entirely rebuild that road.”

The other major public works project in 2014 is the Johnston Road bridge, which will cost $330,000.

In terms of equipment replacement, the 2014 budget includes $210,000 for a new tandem truck and $165,000 for a new loader. The budget also includes the $10,000 purchase of an electronic speed street sign, similar to that which South Frontenac's road department has placed at the north end of Verona to encourage drivers to slow down before they reach Prince Charles Public School.

“We plan to put the sign at Crow Lake for several months and then maybe move it to some other location,” said Richardson.

All of the road and bridge projects in the township, as well as equipment replacement, is being done in line with five-year priority plans that are updated annually.

Mayor Janet Gutowski proposed that councilors refrain from making any decisions about changes to specific budget items until all of the presentations have been made, which will have taken place by the end of this week.

“Once we have heard all the presentations, and asked for clarification of all the numbers, we can get down to cutting or adding items,” she said.

Council will meet on Monday (January 28) and two days later if necessary to finalize the budget.

“All things being equal we will bring the budget to our regular council meeting on February 11 for approval,” said Chief Administrative Officer Larry Donaldson.

As the budget currently stands, Michael McGovern said the impact on the average ratepayer will be significant but not too substantial.

"Taking the median family income in the township, which is about $61,000, property taxes would represent about 4.7% of household income. The average house value in 2013 was $220,000 and the increase would be about $130 in 2014, as it stands now,” he said.

There were seven members of Council in attendance at the first budget meeting. Councilor Frances Smith was away due to a death in the family and Councilor Bill Snyder was ill.

School property the preferred site for new Hinchinbrooke fire hall

If Central Frontenac Fire Chief Bill Young has his druthers, by the end of next year there will be a new fire hall located at the corner of Wagarville and Long Lake Roads, in the parking lot and front grounds of the now vacant Hinchinbrooke Public School. The new hall will look almost identical to the hall that was built a few years ago near Mountain Grove, with easy access off two of Central Frontenac's arterial roads, within a few metres of Road 38.

“That would be the ideal location,” Bill Young said earlier this week at Central Frontenac Council, “but the alternative would be to use the site of the existing hall, although it is smaller and is not as convenient.  When there is a call there can be a dozen firefighters arriving at one time and the fire trucks have to have a clear path to the road as well, so there is a congestion problem.”

The availability of the Hinchinbrooke site is not in the township's hands, however.The school board has a protocol around disposal of surplus property and might be looking for a substantial amount of money for the school building as well as the grounds.

The possibility of using the school property was tagged as a sufficient reason to delay the project for a year.

“Bill and I have talked quite a little bit about the need for a new fire hall in the area. Even though we could possibly make use of the well and septic on the existing property the possibility of the school board property becoming available is enough incentive for us to put money aside and wait a year or so before building. When you consider that we are building something that will be in place for 50 years it makes sense to wait a bit and see,” said Larry Donaldson, the Chief Administrator of Central Frontenac Township.

Donaldson added that there has been discussion about a potential use of the school building for a community centre, and said the fire hall would not get in the way.

“At the end of the day maybe everything can be accommodated,” he said.

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 14, 2009 Survivors’ walk – the heart of the Relay For Lifeby Jeff Green

Participants in the 2008 Survivors' Walk.

At the beginning of each Relay For Life event, a special group of people walk the first lap around the track. It is called a "Victory Lap". The yellow-shirted Survivors, all people who have had cancer themselves, are the honoured guests of the relay.

“I think the survivors’ lap really galvanizes all of the participants in the Relay For Life. It very graphically, visually defines why they are all there,” said Adele Colby, who is the co-ordinator for the Survivors’ walk this year.

Colby knows a thing or two about the Survivors’ walk, and about cancer as well.

Adele was diagnosed with breast cancer in 1992, right while she was in mid-career as a senior advisor in the federal government.

“It was quite a journey,” she said in an interview this week, “it took me at least a year to start feeling that I wasn't going to die; the whole experience was somewhat brutal. Part of my healing was learning to reach out.”

Adele Colby recovered from her cancer and carried on with her life. In 2003 she retired, and moved with her husband to a property near Camp Oconto.

Shortly after that she was diagnosed with cancer for a second time.

“I was totally bowled over. I never thought that this would happen to me again after 13 years. My oncologist had been teasing me every year; when I had said I didn't think I needed to see him, he'd say 'We like you. We want to see you once a year'”.

As upset as Adele was with her second diagnosis, she “feels nothing but gratitude” to her oncologist and the staff at the regional cancer centre in Ottawa for being vigilant in her case, and starting treatments as soon as possible.

Over the past few years Adele has come to realize that her new community in Central Frontenac, a place she “moved to while dragging my feet as much as possible, is a really caring community”.

Adele has made use of her cancer experience as a facilitator with Breast Cancer Action Kingston. She facilitates a support group for women undergoing treatment. “I know that the more support people receive the better off they are, and truly only people who have had cancer know what it is like be diagnosed with cancer. We had one woman who came to our support group and said her family had told her she was going to die. She needed to be with people who were not willing to accept that; she needed to be surrounded by people who were fighters. They had all traveled a similar road and could support and encourage one another! She has a new lease on life!”

Adele's involvement with the Relay for Life started when the event came to the Parham Fairgrounds.

When Claire Macfarlane came to talk up the Relay for Life to a meeting of the “Friday Night Ladies”, a group of women who meet socially once a month and often make donations to worthy causes, Adele volunteered to head the Friday Night Ladies’ team at the first relay in 2007. After heading the team again in 2008, she decided to take on a larger role, and this year Adele is the principal organiser of the Survivors’ walk.

“What is being demonstrated at the survivors walk is very powerful. The people who are walking are saying 'yes, I have cancer, but there is life after cancer’, and that they will be back next year”.

There is a tent for survivors to meet each other, and where refreshments are served. As well, it is Adele's job to contact Survivors and offer them the opportunity to join the relay. “Not everyone wants to go public with their cancer, but for those who do, the Survivors’ Walk is a good experience,” Adele said.

The Central and North Frontenac 2009 Relay for Life is set for June 12 and 13 at the Parham Fairgrounds. For information on how to form or join a team or participate in another way, contact Sandra Clow at 279-2935 ext. 228 or Claire Macfarlane at 279-1133. 

Back to HomeFeature Article - May 28, 2009 Local riders “dash for cash”by Julie Druker

Jessica Nedow on "Sunny Dayze" dashes for the cash in Parham at the first of four NCRHC horse shows

Competitive and hobby horse riders had a chance to show off their skills at the Parham fairgrounds on Sunday at the North Country Riders Horse Club’s (NCRHC) first horse show of the season.

For a small fee riders could enter seven events including barrel racing, pole bending, musical tires and the grand finale: the “Dash for Cash“.

For many riders like Dale Mallett, the show offers a chance to get out on his horse and enjoy a hobby that he has always loved.

For others like 14-year-old Jessica Nedow of Heads or Trails Boarding Stables in Parham, who competes in shows every weekend during the summer, it is a chance to hone her competitive skills close to home.

Jessica recently placed first in the 3rd Division of the National Barrel Horse Association competition, an event that includes competitors from all over Ontario and Quebec. She enjoys coming out to these local events and is not shy to give it her all.

These types of show races are all about control and speed and Jessica and her horse Sunny Dayze most definitely had everyone else biting their dust. An accomplished rider who been holding the reins since she was two years old, it is not surprising, given her experience and dedication to barrel racing, that she won all seven events that she entered in Sunday’s show in Parham.

In the final event she and Sunny Dayze clocked in at 7.7 seconds and took home the $30 pot in the finale Dash for Cash event.

Rhonda Babcook, who owns a hobby horse farm in Sydenham, is president of the NCRHC. She explained that the shows are open to riders from ages four and up who are at various skill levels. “Everyone is welcome to enter these events and moms and dads can even enter their youngsters and get into the ring and lead them around.”

If you like to ride or simply are looking for a local event that is enjoyable and exciting to watch, the NCRHC shows in Parham are a great place to be. The riders are also often willing to let you get up close and personal with their horses, which for me is as good a reason as any to get out to the races.

Sunday's NCRHC show was the first of four scheduled to take to place in Parham this season. The second show will be held in Parham on June 7. For more information, visit the NCRHC website at www.ncrhc.piczo.com 

 

Back to HomeFeature Article - April 16, 2009 “Day Away” volunteer of the yearby Julie Druker

Catherine Tysick, NFCS Volunteer of the Year Joan Wyatt, and Candace Bertrim

Thursdays are days to look forward to for many local seniors who meet regularly for the Day Away Program put on by Northern Frontenac Community Services at the Free Methodist Church in Parham.

The gathering on April 9 was special. To celebrate the coming of spring there was the planting of tomato and Sweet William seeds for nature lovers in the group. There was also a special Easter lunch and after the meal seniors tapped their feet and sang along to live country music provided by Anne Banks and Tom Smith, who made the trip from Kingston.

It was also a chance for members of the group, other volunteers and for two members of the NFCS staff, Catherine Tysick and Candace Bertrim, to present long-time volunteer Joan Wyatt of Parham with their Volunteer of the Year Award.

A slide show of various trips and celebrations of the group’s meetings was presented prior to Joan being awarded with a plaque and a bouquet thanking her for her devoted service to the group. Joan has been volunteering with the group since they began meeting almost five years ago.

Tysick made the presentation and recalled how the group began with money that NFCS received from the Ministry of Health to begin a second Day Program for seniors. Parham was the chosen spot and Joan, who had been a member of the Happy Travelers, a Parham seniors group, offered her services on day one.

Joan recalled “Back then I knew I wanted to do something and I have good legs so I knew I could work.” Joan does not drive but lives in Parham within walking distance from the church.

Tysick elaborated on what Joan brings to the group. “She is incredibly hard working, fun, loves to sing, is a great cook and she thinks like we do”. Members piped in their appreciation and pointed out how Joan goes that extra mile by bringing in good ideas and suggestions to the group.

Candace Bertrim added, “She’s very tuned in to clients, is very observant and shares her knowledge. which helps us to follow up with clients”.

Joan was visibly moved by the presentation and said, “When I first started coming here almost five years ago, I never thought I would still be coming today. It’s been really wonderful…It’s a real privilege to come here”.

Joan used to cook for the group before the Meals on Wheels took over catering to the group, roughly two years ago. She also helps with daily projects that have included making wreaths, cookies and cakes, pies and other crafts.

Singing is a special passion of Joan’s and she often shares this passion with the seniors. “I love to sing and I know the words to all of the older songs which the group know and love, so I’ll often lead the sing-a-longs”.

Joan was humbled by the award and said, “There are so many good volunteers out there; to be picked is certainly an honour and I certainly didn’t expect it”.

She added, “These people have become just like my family. We grieve when they pass on and feel bad when they take ill and...well…you just kind of fall in love with them. I’ve always liked to be around older people. Meeting them and hearing about their lives is the most interesting thing. I love to get to know people”.

Wyatt, a 19-year resident of Parham who hails from Cape Breton and is a wife, mother of three and grandmother of four, has every intention of keeping up her work with the All Day Program. Judging from the reception she received at the meeting, her work is definitely not in vain.

Back to HomeFeature Article - March 26, 2009 Landmark Parham store is soldBy Julie Druker

Jean Graham, and Melville and Doris Good of the J.M. Good store in Parham

The J.M. Good store in Parham has been a landmark in the community since Melville Good bought it 62 years ago, in 1945, back when customers were purchasing their gas, sugar and meat with ration coupons.

The store is a reminder of general stores of yesteryear, its painted tin ceiling still intact, the original wooden counter still standing.

The most wear and tear can be seen on the rubbed off varnish on the window ledge, the seat where Melville holds court most days and where, he pointed out to me, “Lots of bums have sat to chat”, an occurrence that still happens numerous times daily and which remains a favorite pastime for Mel and his many visitors.

Melville Good grew up on a farmstead on Long Lake Road and purchased the store from Lester and Sue Bateman way back when he was 26 years old, when there was still a train station in Parham.

Along with store owner, one of the many hats he’s worn throughout his years included acting caretaker agent of the station from 1946 until the station closed in 1965. After that, from 1965-1985, Mel was postmaster when the Parham post office was run out of his store. For years he also continued to help out on his parents’ farm. It was only the dedicated help of his wife Doris and her sister Jean in the store that allowed Mel to wear so many hats in the community, his most famous perhaps being as the director of the Parham Fair for 50 years running.

Mel, Doris and Jean are quite the team and the store has not only provided their livelihoods but has also been their home. They live on the both the main and second floors of the building.

The store was never put on the market, but the three have been preparing for the inevitable move. Mel built a new home on the old homestead on Long Lake a few years back and he admits, “We’ve been planning to move there for some time now”.

So when Mel was approached by Hope Stinchcombe, daughter of King and Carol earlier this year, everything kind of fell into place. He recalled, “She just phoned one day and asked if I would be interested in selling the place.” The rest is history and as far as Mel can tell, “As of April first, it’s a done deal”.

Hope Stinchcombe intends to keep the business running as it has always been, which makes sense, since it was her great grandfather Earl Howes who built all of the original shelving in the store. She plans to keep the place intact and looking like the classic general store it remains while adding a few additional flourishes of her own. “I hope to add antiques and coffee and a ‘gossip corner’ with chairs so people like Mel, my dad and Glen Howes can come by and visit”.

She admits to having lots to learn from Mel, Doris and Jean and has ready acquired from them some helpful hints like making sure to order lots of Certo for the fall canning season.

Hope will be helped by Annette Howes, another local gal who’s also decided to move back to where her roots are.

It makes perfect sense for Hope, who found herself in-between jobs. She’s been looking for a career change since being laid off in July as a supervisor in an electronics plant and had been commuting daily between Ottawa and Glen Tay.

So… yes…. it is true. The J.M. Good store will be changing hands but it seems that no other drastic changes await. Rather and likely, to many people’s relief, the “Good” in the J.M. Good store will thankfully remain and if it does change, it will likely only go from "Good" to better.

Back to HomeFeature Article - March 26, 2009 Ambulance review calls for new base in South FrontenacBy Jeff Green

A review of the rural ambulance service in Frontenac County by the IBI Consulting Group has recommended that a new base housing a 24-hour ambulance be built in a central location of South Frontenac Township.

The review also recommends that the ambulance now located at the township garage on Hwy. 509 between Ompah and Plevna in North Frontenac, which is a 12-hour a day ambulance service (7:30 am to 7:30 pm) either be moved to a location in the vicinity of Ardoch at the junction of Hwys. 506 and 509, or have a new garage built at its current location. Currently the ambulance is exposed to the elements throughout the 12-hour shift and must be kept running all day in the winter time so the equipment will not freeze.

Jim Beam, the deputy mayor of North Frontenac, favoured building the new garage, and said, “I can't see how service to the east end of the township can be maintained if the base is moved to Ardoch”.

The IBI report said that the 24-hour ambulance located at the Parham station in Central Frontenac should be maintained.

Currently, calls generated from South Frontenac, almost 1,000 per year, are answered either by ambulances based in the City of Kingston (57%) or Parham (32%). The IBI report estimated that once a base in South Frontenac is up and running, approximately 65% of those calls would be answered by the South Frontenac base. This would speed up response times throughout the county because the Parham and North Frontenac-based ambulances would not have to be redirected to cover South Frontenac nearly as often.

According to Marvin Rubinstein, the IBI consultant who presented the report, the North Frontenac ambulance is relocated to the south for standby approximately once a day to cover for the Parham ambulance when it is sent on a call. A new base in South Frontenac would decrease the necessity for relocations.

The projected cost of the new base in South Frontenac is $750,000 and the cost of running a 24-hour ambulance is pegged at about $1 million annually. The building/renovation costs in North Frontenac are estimated at $750,000.

In the review of service in the north end of the county, consideration was given to moving the station to Cloyne, so more patients in the most populous region in North Frontenac would be served by Frontenac ambulances rather than cross-border service from the Northbrook and Denbigh stations.

“While that would lead to more local calls in that region, it would not speed up response times, and it would make response times slower in other parts of North Frontenac,” Marvin Rubinstein said, when presenting the report to a meeting of Frontenac County Council last week.

Rubinstein, who completed an extensive review for L&A County last year, pointed out that these projections in the western part of North Frontenac are based on the assumption that the Northbrook and Denbigh services would remain as they are after the L&A report is implemented, which may or may not be the case.

The L&A report presented several options for the northern bases, presenting an analysis of the cost per call for the low-call-volume base at Denbigh of almost $1,500. Cross-border billing rates were set by the Eastern Ontario County Treasurers at $170 in 2006, so the L&A report says there should be a cost-sharing scheme worked out with Frontenac County in order to keep the 12-hour Denbigh and the 24-hour Flinton ambulances in place.

A staff report in L&A in response to the IBI report is being presented to their county council this month.

Acknowledging that the shape of Frontenac County’s northern service is tied into what L&A does with their Flinton and Denbigh bases, Frontenac County Manager of Emergency Services, Paul Charbonneau said, “This report is just the beginning of that process. We have a long way to go”.

Land ambulance service operations in Ontario are funded on a 50-50 basis by the municipalities and the province. Capital costs, such as new bases and ambulances, are funded entirely on the municipal level. 

Would you like to make a difference in your community? Do you have some free time to devote to an interesting and fun volunteer project? Do you enjoy seeing people having fun? If you answered yes, then the Agricultural Society would love to hear from you. The Parham Agricultural Society hosts Central Frontenac’s largest and longest-running festival.

The Parham Fair has seen an increase in the size of events, exhibits and vendors over the past several years. This growth has, in turn, increased the need for the organization’s volunteers to help with the planning and running of this annual event. Some members of the board have been involved for many years, and will continue to support the event, but in a less active position or perhaps on a specific committee. Our primary annual event – The Parham Fair – needs your skills to continue making it a successful community event. We currently have four vacancies to be filled: President, Treasurer, Palace Chairperson and Fair Book Chairperson.

We are also looking for volunteers on our numerous committees. We meet every third Tuesday of the month to discuss business as it relates to the Fair and the Agricultural Society. If you have an interest in any of these positions or would just like to devote some time to the fair please contact us, if possible, prior to our Annual General Meeting being held January 17. Send a brief note outlining your interest along with contact information to: Secretary, Parham Agricultural Society, P.O. Box 38, Parham, ON, K0H 2K0 or by email at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. We look forward to hearing from you!

Editorial by Jeff Green

It seemed like it was only a matter of time before Frontenac County Emergency Services Manager Paul Charbonneau and the Council of North Frontenac Township would end up at loggerheads over the location of a new ambulance base to serve people in the northern part of Frontenac County.

Lennox and Addington County has recently confirmed they will be maintaining a 24-hour ambulance based in Northbrook and a 24-hour ambulance based in Denbigh. Until recently, Charbonneau had been advising that the best option for a new Frontenac County base is the intersection of Ardoch Road and Hwy. 509 in Central Frontenac. His position was supported by a consultant’s report and statistical information about call locations, volumes, and average response times.

North Frontenac rejected Charbonneau’s position, and called his statistics into doubt. When the matter was floated at Frontenac County Council in the fall, it appeared that the council did not want to pick a fight with North Frontenac over the matter.

Now, Paul Charbonneau has come up with what appears to be a rather elegant solution to the problem, although the people in Parham and Kingston City Council may have something to say about it.

In a report that is being presented to county council this week, Charbonneau is proposing to build not one, but two new bases, one in Sharbot Lake at a cost of $750,000, and one Ompah which will be co-located with a new Ompah fire hall, and will cost $300,000. This solution would bring response times to within the 30-minute framework, the standard for rural ambulance service, throughout the county.

With a new base coming in Sydenham, moving the current ambulance base in Parham about 15 minutes to the north becomes a viable option, and politicians will be happy because there will be a shiny new base in each of the townships.

That’s something to run for re-election on.

But there are political and financial complications.

While overall response times would be improved throughout the county under this plan, the residents in the Parham and Godfrey regions are not going to be pleased because response times to them will increase. Frontenac County has also spent money upgrading the Parham base over the past few years, and they will be abandoning a perfectly adequate facility.

All of these factors may cause Central Frontenac Mayor Janet Gutowski to face some flak if she supports this plan, which is never a good thing for a mayor who is running for re-election.

Then there is the cost, and that is where the City of Kingston comes in. Ratepayers from the City of Kingston pay for 81% of the ambulance budget.

The new plan would cost over $1.05 million to bring about, more than $800,000 of which would be levied to the City of Kingston.

The original consultant’s report allocated $750,000 to a new northern base at the Ardoch Road. The new plan, allocating that amount to a new base in Sharbot Lake, is really only $300,000 more expensive, the amount necessary to co-locate a new base in Ompah with a new fire department there.

The ratepayers from the City of Kingston would pay $240,000 towards that and Frontenac County ratepayers the other $60,000.

If Frontenac County Council gets behind this plan, it will all have to be raised at the Rural Urban Liaison Committee, (RULAC) which is made up of politicians from the City of Kingston and Frontenac County.

Even though this solution is not included in the consultant’s report into ambulance service, there is some pretty good supporting evidence that it would be a good operational plan for Frontenac County, and although it involves substantial capital spending, it would have no immediate impact on the operational side of the ambulance budget.

RULAC has already approved a new 24-hour ambulance for the Sydenham base that is being built this year.

This northern solution calls for a 24-hour ambulance in Sharbot Lake and a 12-hour ambulance in Ompah, the same amount of service, and cost, as the current system. 

 

Central Frontenac cool to ambulance plan

With several council members expressing anger about the plan, and none supporting it, Mayor Gutowski will not be supporting a plan to move the Parham Ambulance base to Sharbot Lake at Frontenac County Council any time soon.

In a presentation to Central Frontenac Council at a meeting on Tuesday, January 26, Frontenac County Director of Emergency Services Paul Charbonneau said, “Up until now the rural ambulance review has been peripheral to Central Frontenac”.

All of that changed on November 16, Charbonneau added, when a staff proposal to build a new ambulance base at the junction of Highway 509 and Ardoch Road was not accepted by Frontenac County Council and direction was given to Charbonneau to look more closely at putting a new base in Ompah,

The plan that he came up with would put new bases in Sharbot Lake and Ompah and see the Parham base close.

“This would provide service within 30 minutes, which is the accepted standard for rural ambulance, to 97% of the township,” Charbonneau said.

“I was just totally angry when I heard about this,” said Councilor Bill Snyder. “The Parham base has worked wonderfully for many years. I can’t see any sense at all in moving it to Sharbot Lake.”

Councilor Norm Guntensperger saw a connection between the ambulance recommendation and recent news from the local school board. “The coincidences just seem to build up. It looks like the small villages are doomed and everything will go to Sharbot Lake,” he said.

“We had a consulting group that recommended leaving the base where it is. We’ve got another case where we hire a consultant and then the study is put aside,” said Deputy Mayor Gary Smith.

Mayor Gutowski said, “North Frontenac refuses to accept a station anywhere but Ompah. They are still resolved, and perhaps Ardoch Road is not an ideal location. At this point I’m not prepared to accept this recommendation. I think it’s premature to make a decision. We need to study this some more.”

Council passed a resolution to send to County Council, which said it cannot support the proposed relocation of the Parham base at this time based on the information that has been provided to date.

NO 0.4% SOLUTION: Central Frontenac Council has routinely adjusted the employee salary grid to reflect changes in the Consumer Price index, which led to a 2.5 % increase in wages last year. The consumer price index for the year ending on January 1 has just been released, and this year it is only 0.4%.

When the matter was raised during the Committee of the Whole section of the meeting, there was no consensus among the six members of council who were present. Three favoured a 0.4% increase and three thought it was too low.

“It’s too low,” said Norm Guntensperger “I think we should treat our staff with respect and dignity. Other contracts reflect a 3-4% increase.”

“You’re not a farmer,” said Bill Snyder

EARLY BUDGET NUMBERS ARE SKY HIGH 

“This budget includes some wish lists,” said Chief Administrative Officer John Duchene as he handed out a thick budget binder. The preliminary budget, which was presented to Council for information purposes only, included an increase in the levy to ratepayers of $1.4 million, or 19.3%.

In order to bring the budget to a 2% increase to ratepayers, $1.25 million will have to be cut from the budget.

Public Works Manager Mike Richardson said that his budget, which makes up a large part of the overall budget, includes a number of projects that he put in for Council’s consideration and he expects Council will set their own priorities as the budget process moves forward.

SEPTIC REINSPECTION – Council considered an innovative septic re-inspection bylaw as a Committee of the Whole. The bylaw puts the onus on property owners to have their systems inspected every five years, and to present proof of that inspection to the township. Council approved the bylaw in principle and it will come forward to the next Council meeting.

$5,000 TO EOTA – A proposal to donate $5,000 to the Eastern Ontario Trails Alliance was warmly received, and will be brought forward as part of the budget.