Special to The News | Apr 22, 2020


North Frontenac Council held its regular meeting Friday morning with Mayor Ron Higgins, Clerk/Planning Manager Tara Mieske and Treasurer Kelly Watkins in the Council Chambers. The rest of Council and staff members participated via Webex conferencing software.

First up on the agenda was a request from residents Bernie and Peggy James, a couple in their late 70s, to waive the fees for three minor variances, in order to rebuild their cottage on Bear Island on Big Gull Lake. The James cottage, originally built in 1969, was destroyed in a fire last Thanksgiving.

The minor variances required are to locate their existing septic system within 30 metres of a waterbody; upgrade the existing 600L tank to 800L and add a dormer style roof to the side of the “A” frame cottage, an addition that would increase the overall volume of the building but not its footprint or number of stories.

In a letter to Council, James wrote: “As you know, we have been seasonal residents of this community for many years. My wife and I are in our 70s now and we find ourselves faced with this immense challenge: we suffered a traumatic fire and a tremendous loss and we are having to rebuild 40 years of work in a short period of time.

“Now, given the financial effects of Covid-19, we are having to do so with significantly less financial stability than we had a few short months ago.”

The letter continues on to as the Township to waive the minor variance process or, if they cannot do that, to waive or reduce the fees associated with making the application and obtaining the subsequent building permit.

Coun. Fred Perry suggested perhaps the applicant’s insurance coverage should cover said fees and he had other concerns.

“Would we be setting a precedent here?” Perry said. “There will be costs to us such as an inspector having to go to the property by boat.”

“They’re just trying to re-establish what they had,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin. “I did visit the property after the fire and I don’t think it’s the right thing to do to charge fees.”

Mieske told Council that the only thing they would be deciding in this motion would be whether or not to charge the minor variance fees. All other considerations, such as whether or not covid-19 induced building restrictions would come into play, timelines, etc would be determined by staff once the fees question was addressed.

Coun. John Inglis moved the fees be waived, seconded by Martin.

Council voted 5-2 to waive the fees with Coun. Wayne Good and Perry voting against.

(Under the electronic meeting procedures protocol, if any council member indicates they want to vote against a motion, all votes become recorded votes.)

 

• • •

A request by a resident for new signage regarding bicycle safety was referred to staff to determine cost and to see if “industry standard” signs are available after questions from Good and Martin, who said: “I’m not in favour of a sign that shows two cyclists riding side-by-side.”

 

• • •

A request from Gord Hunter, executive director of the Kingston Humane Society to temporarily waive animal at large fines was unanimously defeated.

“I can hear dogs running at night at my place,” said Good. “And does are heavy with fawns at this time of year.”

“I agree with Wayne,” said Martin. “Dogs are running deer.”

“I agree,” said Perry.

“I was not aware we were fining people,” said Inglis. “So my original thought was, sure, we’re not handing out fines anyway.”

“My neighbour was fined,” said Martin.

CAO Cheryl Robson said she’d received one complaint about dogs running at large.

 

• • •

In his capacity as liaison with the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority, Inglis reported that even though all conservation authority sites are closed, the Authority has asked for help at the Waites’ Beach site.

“There’s no tape or anything there and some irresponsible ATV operators have been tearing up the beach,” Inglis said. “MVCA has asked if we could put up some barriers.

Manager of community development Corey Klatt told Council that he’d been in touch with the Authority.

“I told them that if they could supply the barriers, we’d see that they were installed,” he said.

 

• • •

Klatt also told Council that although the Township hasn’t opened its Crown Land campsites for the season yet, in light of the Province’s decision not to allow camping on Crown Land until the Covid-19 crisis is over, any who has already paid for a campsite this year can ask for and receive a refund.

 

• • •

In his capacity as second rep on Frontenac County Council, Martin reported that “There is no issue with Covid-19 at (County owned/operated seniors home) Fairmount Home.

“Thank God.”

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