North Frontenac Council Meeting Dominated By Police Matters

Craig Bakay | Feb 28, 2024

Sydenham Water: Annual Summary Report

“It’s important to me to see our officers get back in the community,” OPP SSgt. Scott Underhill told North Frontenac Council at its regular meeting Feb. 23 in Plevna. “We’ve suffered in the media . . . and often seen as the bad people.”

Underhill, who served for 21 years in Lennox & Addington became the new detachment commander in the Frontenacs and was at Council to present the 2023-2025 strategic plan and billing summary for North Frontenac.

“I only started here in January, so I have a lot to learn,” he said.

In terms of the strategic plan, he said they planned to have a people-oriented approach, focusing on resiliency, physical and mental health, and well-being.

He said they’ve added a second drug and property crime officer, new Black Cat speeding apparatus and will now have an increase in ticket writing. They will also now have two officers investigating domestic violence and plan to add more resources to the Mobile Crisis Response Team.

He said that the total weighted hours in 2023 were down to 1,484.8 from 1,931.2 in 2022. Hours spent on violent Criminal Code case were down slightly to 21 from 28 and property crime violations were down to 52 from 64.

“I commend everything you guys are doing,” said Coun. Fred Fowler, himself a former police officer. “I hope you stay a long time (because) in areas where people are spread out, there’s concern about emergencies.

Detachment Board Rep

With the new Frontenac OPP Detachment Board replacing CPAC, Council had to appoint a new member.

You’d think that would be a simple matter but when you have two councillors wanting the job (Fred Fowler and Stephanie Regent) and one member absent from Council (Mayor Gerry Lichty) the possibility of a tie vote loomed large. And that’s exactly what happened.

Fowler emphasized his experience, both in law enforcement and its resultant board structure. Regent presenting herself as fresh eyes with some experience as social services representative with an opportunity to tie both portfolios together.

From the chair, Dep. Mayor John Inglis called for a vote. Coun. Fowler, Vernon Hermer and Roy Heutl voting for Fowler. Coun. Regent, Wayne Good and Inglis voted for Regent.

Inglis suggested a second vote but a straw poll suggested nobody was going to change their vote.

“I’m afraid we don’t have a rep for this,” Inglis joked, adding “I think it’s great we have two people wanting this.

“It’s a great dilemma to have.”

It was proposed the matter be deferred until there was a full Council available but Heutl said: “There’s no guarantee we’ll have a full Council next meeting,

“We’re here, we have a quorum and there’s a precedent to pull the name out of a hat . . . I think that’s what we should do.”

Regent opposed the hat idea, saying it reduced the process to mere luck.

That sent CAO Corey Klatt pouring over bylaws to determine that, indeed, pulling a name out of a hat was listed as an option for such ties.

And so, with an orange ballcap procured, the two names were placed on separate slips of paper.

Klatt drew the name.

Regent emerged as the winner and becomes the Township rep. Lucky bugger.

Crown Land Stewardship

Manager of Community Development Brooke Ross’s report on the Crown Land Stewardship Program drew feedback from several members of Council.

“I see bookings are up but revenues are down,” said Coun. Vernon Hermer.

“That’s because the stays were shorter,” said Ross.