| Mar 18, 2015


Environmental report shows extended lifetime on landfills

Mary Spencer, from AECOM, an environmental management company, spoke with council this week and updated them on the life expectancy of the township's waste sites. In 2014, AECOM started monitoring the waste distribution by basing it on the average number of bags recorded at the sites.

Overall, the waste sites that are active in the township are filling slower than anticipated, with 2014 being the smallest waste accumulation experienced in the previous five years. Spencer explained that landfill continues to decline, recycling numbers are mostly staying level or rising and more waste is being diverted from the landfill than previous years, which is a good sign. Spencer suspected that the trash compaction equipment that the township acquired in 2010 is starting to show its benefits now and is expanding the life of the landfills.

Estimated life spans of the sites are: Mississippi Station (46 years), Kashwakamak (43 years), Plevna (19 years), and Hwy 506 (13 years). These estimates are based on current population in the township and would fluctuate with a change in the number of residents using the sites.

Aecom, who sends these reports to the Ministry of the Environment, monitors the waste sites by test wells that are drilled into the ground. Twice a year they check for groundwater contamination and three times a year they check the quality of the surface water.

Proposed wind farm project in North Frontenac seeks support from Council

Three representatives from NextEra Energy, an American-owned energy supply company, made a presentation to Council on Monday regarding their bid to create a 150 turbine wind farm in North Frontenac and Addington Highlands.

Nicole Geneau, Ben Faiella, and Derek Dudek from the company were there to explain what their company is hoping to do in the area, how the bidding process goes, and the timeline for the project. The proposal they made includes 50 turbines in North Frontenac and the balance in Addington Highlands. The company hasn't decided what size turbines will be in place yet in North Frontenac but Faiella suggested that they would be around 2MW per turbine, therefore generating 100MW for NextEra in North Frontenac alone.

The company set up 15 meteorological towers around the two townships just over a year ago and have been tracking weather data and wind activity. This information will be used to choose the best locations for the windmills as well as to help them project how much electricity can be generated at the sites. They weren't able to comment yet on the specific locations of the proposed turbines but suggested that they might be off Buckshot Lake Road.

The turbine specifications are still under review and so NextEra couldn't provide specifics on tower height, length of blade, etc.

The company hopes to create six to ten full-time jobs with the wind farm and intends to build a 5000 sq. ft. building, located within a 20-minute drive of the turbines.

NextEra has already secured lease-agreements for 10,000 acres from landowners in Addington Highlands, although the majority of the land where the proposed turbines would go is Crown Land.

NextEra has until the end of August 2015 to submit their bid and one of the determining factors in the selection process is whether the municipality is on board with the project. They hope to sign an agreement with the township saying that the North Frontenac Council support NextEra's bid to create the wind turbine project. In the lead up to them signing an agreement with the township, they plan on providing an information session and community open house in late May 2015. The contract will be awarded by the end of this year. NextEra estimates that their project will bring an extra $146,000 in assessment taxation to North Frontenac Township.

Budget re-cap

Angela Millar, Deputy Treasurer, presented the budget summary in a public meeting, highlighting some of the changes coming to the township's 2015 budget. She explained there is an increase in dollars needed to be raised through taxation to the tune of $274,820, or 5.29% The biggest increase here comes from the OPP's new billing model, which brought an increase of $132,215. The township set aside funds for buying equipment, completing the renovations on the Ompah Fire Hall and for other road construction/public works projects. NF Council also decided to make investments into eco-tourism in the area with upgrades to the Plevna heli-pad and star gazing area, as well as to install four privies throughout the township.

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