“Neverending story” on Mayor’s plans just won’t seem to go away

Craig Bakay | Aug 16, 2017

It appears that much of North Frontenac Council has heard enough about Mayor Ron Higgins innovative and imaginative theories about how the Township might evolve. However, when the topic arose from Business Arising Out of the Minutes at last Friday’s regular Council meeting in Ompah, it also appeared at least one councilor still had a few things to say.
First, to recap, the Mayor has been researching some contemporary technologies (on his own, not as head of Council) which he believes can be successfully adapted to North Frontenac. He presented some of these three meetings ago when Council met in Calabogie.

Since that meeting represented considerable mileage, The Frontenac News contacted the Mayor about the meeting and during the course of the interview, a story emerged about thinking outside the box when it came to municipal governance.
But, some North Frontenac Councilors took exception to the Mayor’s candor and philosophies such that they requested he write an explanation that emphasized he was working at his own initiative and not the Township’s which The News published as an op-ed piece.
But that didn’t satisfy all of Council, and it particular Coun. Vernon Hermer.

“You (Higgins) stated there was a resolution, I don’t recall any such resolution,” Hermer said.
Hermer went on to question the nature of the Ubuntu philosophy and connecting it to the “Nelson Mandela Effect.”
“(And) you (Higgins) left out the source of energy,” Hermer said. “Is it noise?”
“Tell me where it says that,” said Higgins. “I’m not necessarily saying we’ll go that route.
“You assume it’s noise but I can’t discuss it because of a non-disclosure agreement.”
“We never agreed it was viable,” said Coun. Denis Bedard.

Higgins offered to send a correction to the paper if that was what Council wanted but the majority seemed to want to let this sleeping dog lie.
“This is three meetings in a row this has come before me,” said Coun. Gerry Martin. “It’s a neverending story.”
“I’ve seen enough of this in the paper,” said Coun. Wayne Good.
“It doesn’t need to go back in the paper, just your acknowledgement is enough,” said Bedard.
“At least you’re looking at options,” said Dep. Mayor Fred Perry.

Planner Megan Ruckwald told Council that the Township’s Official Plan is ready to go to County Council for final approval, barring any last-minute changes from the Township.
She said the final tweaking included a commercial logging restriction within 150 metres of a waterbody, some natural heritage comments from the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, some policy clarification and rewording and the updating of existing map layers.

Council approved a 50 kph speed limit for Brule Lake Road, Sunday Lake Road and Austris Road.
Coun. Vernon Hermer said: “The delegation wanted 40 kph. Several 60 kph signs are missing and at $500 a pop, that could get expensive.”
Public Works Manager Jim Phillips said: “We lose lake and road signs all the time — it’s a common thing.”

Council accepted the 2016 Ontario Structure Inspection Manual Bridge and Culvert Inspection report (488 culverts).
Public Works Manager Jim Phillips also took the opportunity to pitch a grant application to rehabilitate the Meyers Cave Bridge to the tune of $1.4 million (if successful, the Township share would be $140,000).
“It’s a good project, there’s a history of accidents there,” Phillips said. “It would involve a wider deck and then we’d redo the road on either side.
“If we don’t get the grant, Plan B would be to rehab it as our budget will allow.”
“Would there be bicycle lanes?” asked Coun. Wayne Good.
“There’ll be paved shoulders,” said Phillips. “Bicycles can ride on them if they want to.”