South Frontenac to explore waste diversion optimization

Craig Bakay | May 03, 2017

South Frontenac Council gave its support to a proposal to explore optimization of waste diversion in Frontenac County at its regular meeting Tuesday night in Sydenham.

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth told Council the proposal was put together by North Frontenac Public Works Manager Jim Phillips and that it came out of a joint meeting between township CAOs and public works managers.

“We felt collectively this was a most reasonable approach,” Segsworth said. “And it’s an opportune time as there is money set aside in the County budget for one of its strategic goals and there is funding available through the Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF).

“Jim Phillips did a great job putting this all together.”

The proposal is to have Cambium Inc., the current waste management consultant for North, Central and South Frontenac, put together a report as to how to improve efficiencies for all of the townships in the County from a financial, social and environmentally sustainable perspective as well as implications from the Waste Free Ontario Act.

“As an aside, this wasn’t approved by North Frontenac at its meeting Friday,” Segsworth said. “I’m a little frustrated with North Frontenac.”

“So, their public works manager is in favour of this but the Council isn’t?” said Mayor Ron Vandewal.

“They defeated the motion,” said CAO/Clerk Wayne Orr.

“Well, I heard there were some frivolous comments and our public works manager set them straight,” said Vandewal.

By comparison, South Frontenac Council was enthusiastic about the proposal.

“This has been four years in the making and I appreciate all the work that has gone into it,” said Coun. John McDougall. “It’s an excellent initiative.”

“I just think this is a good idea,” said Dep. Mayor Norm Roberts.

Segsworth said that at a recent meeting hosted by the City of Kingston and attended by Brockville, Ottawa and Frontenac County representatives, the idea of bringing all recyclables to Kingston received support.

Currently, North and Central Frontenac ships their recyclables to a facility in Belleville.

Campbell Development
Council passed a bylaw to remove the “H” holding symbol from the Campbell development in Inverary so that it may proceed, however staff still had concerns they wanted addressed before any construction begins such as lighting, how a nearby gas station will operate during construction and the location of two doors near a loading area.

So, staff recommended that while the bylaw be passed, the words “subject to the satisfaction of the Mayor and CAO” be added.

Zoning bylaw amendments
Council also passed zoning bylaw amendments that will allow a farm implements operation at the corner of Perth Road and Davidson Road and improvements at Hiawatha’s Hideaway resort on Dog Lake.

Joint meeting
South Frontenac has invited the three other township councils to a joint meeting May 31 at 7 p.m. in Verona’s Lions Hall to discuss an expected move to digital in-field communications as current analog systems become more and more inadequate.