North Frontenac Council – Sept. 23, 2016

Jeff Green | Sep 28, 2016

Township to host Ontario ATV Association AGM

In early June 2017, all available cottage, lodge, and Bed & Breakfast spaces in North Frontenac will be filled when 115 delegates and their families come to the township for the Annual General Meeting of the Ontario ATV Association.

Councilor Denis Bedard made the announcement at a meeting of North Frontenac Council last week. Securing the AGM for North Frontenac has been a project that Bedard, along with the Ottawa ATV Association, which manages the ATV trails in the area, have been working on for months.

“They are keen to come here because not only do they want to have a meeting, they want to ride as well. It will be a good opportunity to promote our trails, as each of the delegates represents many other riders,” said Bedard in making the announcement.

Bedard said that Darwin Sproule of Ompah has been co-ordinating accommodations for the delegates.

“There are quite a few lodges and cottages around, and Darwin is confident he will be able to find suitable accommodations for everyone with what we have here,” said Bedard.

The AGM is set for June 3 & 4, but Bedard said most delegates will arrive on Friday, the 2nd, or earlier in the week.

“Many of them want to come early to ride,” he said.

Official Plan down to the short strokes

Frontenac County Community Planner Reid Shepherd presented a draft version of the soon to be completed North Frontenac Official Plan update, which will be the subject of a Public Meeting in October. The goal is to adopt the plan before the end of the year.

There was little controversy over the draft plan, with the only item that generated any debate being the question of whether the minimum lot size of 2 acres and the minimum water frontage of 200 feet should remain in the Official Plan or be reserved for the Comprehensive Zoning bylaw, which will follow in the new year. A number of councilors wanted to see them in the zoning bylaw because that provides them with more flexibility.

Shepherd said he would take the comments into account when bringing back the final version.

Once Council has approved the plan it should have easy passage at Frontenac County because the same planners who are preparing the plan will be providing advice to the county over its final approval.

Cloth-backed or vinyl, should the decision be made by the SPCC?

The South Palmerston Community Centre Committee, which oversees the operations of the Snow Road Hall, has raised $2,800, which they propose to use for 70 new folding chairs at the hall.

Since the chairs will become township property, the township will have to buy them and be reimbursed by the SPCC.

Councilor Gerry Martin asked whether the committee is looking at vinyl or cloth-backed chairs.

“Cloth-backed chairs don't last as long and since they will become township property we will have to replace them eventually,” he said.

Corey Klatt, manager for Facilities and Recreation, said there are both vinyl and cloth-backed chairs at other halls, “and both kinds seem to be standing up pretty well.”

Gerry Lichty, from the SPCC, said he would take Martin's comments into account before making a final recommendation.