Little-Used Roads Won’t Be Upgraded In North Frontenac

Craig Bakay | Feb 08, 2023

“Asset management is a journey, not a destination,” North Frontenac Treasurer Kelly Watkins told Council at a special meeting Feb. in Plevna to go over the Township’s 10-year Capital Plan.

The meeting began with a report from Public Works Manager Darwyn Sproule on the status of Quackenbush and Struthadam Roads.

Sproule said he’s received several concerns/requests for service on both roads.

The Level of Service Bylaw (89-13) identifies Quackenbush as being seasonally maintained for 2.5 km with no winter maintenance.

“The Township has completed very limited maintenance on Quackenbush for a number of years,” he said. “Recent maintenance has been completed primarily by logging companies with operations in the area.”

He said the status of Struthadam is similar to Quackenbush with about 6 kilometres identified as seasonally maintained.

“The Township has completed very limited maintenance on the seasonally maintained section,” he said. “In response to the concerns of property owners in 2022, the Township did complete very limited work (gravel and ditching) on Struthadam Road,” he said.

Both roads require considerable work, including brushing, ditching, drainage, granular and grading.

According to the 2022 Road Needs Study, the price tag for Quackenbush comes in at $1,091,000 and $1,475,000 for Struthadam.

Both costs are substantial for a small rural municipality, he said, and as such he was recommending a multi-year staged approach with a committed annual expenditure to initiate capital upgrades.

“I am recommending $20,000/year for Struthadam and $50,000/year for Quackenbush,” he said. “The recommended duration is 10 years with the need to be reassessed at that time.”

“I’d like to move that we reconsider the Level of Service Bylaw,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “Quackenbush is a dead end and Struthadam is a trail.”

He also suggested having a look at the maintenance of Russ Brown Road if they were going to start altering the Level of Service Bylaw.

“In the long run, it might be feasible if we need more development and people will be wanting to access their property,” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

“People bought there knowing the status,” said Coun. Wayne Good. “It’s like buying on an island.

“We have to look at our tax base, it’s not very high.

“If you think it’s for the future, look at your base.”

After some more discussion, mostly centred on what vehicles councillors could get down the roads, Sproule amended the ask to $15,000 for Quackenbush and $25,000 for Struthadam, for just this year.

Council approved that and amended the resolution to ask for a review of the Level of Service Bylaw with respect to the three roads mentioned.

“If you’re considering changing that bylaw, we will need a legal opinion,” said CAO Corey Klatt.

Communication Towers

Director of Emergency Services/Fire Chief Eric Korhonen fared a little better in his request for funding of communication towers at Big Lake and Ompah. However, he did have $152,928.988 left over from the Municipal Modernization Grant to work with. Still, he said, there is an estimated $109,500 still required for additional expenses not originally considered.

But, not only will the upgrades increase radio coverage to 90 per cent from 60 per cent, the Township would have a savings of about $9,100 annually as they will no longer have to rent a tower and radio frequency from Bell Mobility.

“During the derecho, we lost communications because Bell didn’t have a back-up,” he said. “And, these towers don’t require navigation lights.”

Council approved spending the residual balance of the Municipal Modernization fund and the additional requirements from the Infrastructure Sustainability Reserve Fund.

Budget Report

In her report, Treasurer Kelly Watkins projected average annual capital spending at $2,866,729 from 2023 to 2032. In 2002, the figure was $2,419,277 not including and sales of surplus vehicles. The difference between the 2022 figure and the projections is $447,452 or 18.50 per cent.

“We’re not recommending an increase in taxation,” she said. “Funding will go through reserves.

“It all flows through the reserve fund.”

“I’m in support of the numbers you’re using,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “I was in favour of smaller reserves when I started this job 12 years ago.”

Watkins said there is about $2 million currently in discretionary reserves, some of which may have to be used to fund the $250,000 in damages caused by the derecho.

Emergency Vehicles

Fire Chief Eric Korhonen when asked if he was prepared to look at used vehicles as replacements: “If it has four wheels and hamsters, I would be willing to drive it.”