Bad internet disrupts North Frontenac Council meeting but they get through it

Craig Bakay | Jun 02, 2021

Nowhere was the need for better broadband service more evident than in North Frontenac Council’s regular (online) Friday, during which several spotty connections during the middle of the meeting made things nearly incomprehensible even to the point where Coun. John Inglis asked for a discussion on a item to be repeated.

The item in question was Inglis’s report on the recently constructed observatory at the Dark Sky Preserve on Road 506 and a request to spend $2,000 from the Economic Development Task Force’s Reserves of $24,800 for resurfacing of the mirror on the newly donated Fred Lossing telescope, some signage for the observatory and any other contingencies for unexpected issues as the telescope has not been in operation for a “fairly lengthy period of time.”

Inglis they didn’t anticipate any additional expenses (or establishing a fee for the public to use the telescope) at the operation was all volunteer work.

“I just wanted everybody to admire what we were able to build for $3,600 (donations),” Inglis said.

The request was approved.

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Mississippi River Conservation Authority General Manager ally McIntyre may regret asking Council to review and comment on the new Watershed Plan when she addresses Council on June 18 as it looks like North Frontenac may have a rather lengthy laundry list to be aired.

For example, Mayor Ron Higgins told Council he was concerned with a “real problem” with Eurasian milfoil, that he’d like to “get some help with.

Higgins is also looking for the MRCA’s input on septic systems.

“It’s my opinion that we don’t have a problem,” Higgins said. “I’d like to see if they have any data suggesting there is a problem.”

Coun. Wayne Good was concerned that the Kashawakamak dam is “way past its best before date” and also phragmites.

“And I want to talk to somebody about water levels,” he said. “The blocks were put in too late.”

“This is turning out to be a year of drought,” said Coun. John Inglis. “We’ve had only 20 millimetres of rain in May which is the lowest in years.”

• • •

Coun. John Inglis presented AGR Suspension on Myers Cave Road as this month’s business profile through the Economic Development Task Force. The business was started in 2019 by Adam Robinson and provides suspension services for all powersports vehicles as well as other services including snowmobile servicing and clutching, ATVs/UTVs.

“I’d never heard of this before, I hope he succeeds,” said Inglis.

• • •

Council passed a resolution backing the Municipality of Calvin’s request that firefighting equipment, training and apparatus be included as eligible categories to any further infrastructure programs (ie be eligible for grant funding).

“I wasn’t aware that fire apparatus was not eligible,” said Coun. John Inglis.

“It is not,” said Fire Chief Eric Korhonen.

“It should be,” said Inglis.

“I’m inclined not to support this as fire equipment is a municipality’s responsibility,” said Mayor Ron Higgins. “I think North Frontenac is not in the same situation as Calvin.”

“My concerns are the ever increasing costs of apparatus like our new tanker,” said Kohornen.

“The gas tax goes for road infrastructure but fire is not included,” said Treasurer Kelly Watkins.

“A tanker truck is just as expensive as a road maintenance vehicle,” said Inglis.