Feature Article October 17, 2001
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North Frontenac Council - October 9, 2001by Will CybulskiA full slate of Council and an audience of 13 attended the October 9 meeting at the 506 Municipal building.
Auditors report
The first hour of the meeting was given over to Martin Secker and John Hunniford, who provided their report to Council as auditors for the municipality. The figures that they presented will be going to the local media under a later release. In summing up, their final observation was that the municipality had set a good budget for this year, going from a deficit to the positive side.Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department sub-committee report
As our municipalitys representative on the sub-committee that is responsible for determining a new Chief for the joint Kaladar/Barrie Fire Department, Councillor Gleva Lemke reported that significant progress has been made to date. Councillor Lemke sits on that committee with Addington Highlands rep Ethyl Grant, and Fire Department members Bill Salmond and Sheila Perry. She stated that the Ontario Fire Marshalls office (OFMO) had provided information to assist in developing a job description for a Chiefs position, as well as interview questions to aid an interview panel. In meeting the Departments original stand that applicants for a Chief be sought from within its ranks, the job opening will be posted for four weeks at the Northbrook and Cloyne stations. If no qualified person is found from within, the Department wants the position to be advertised locally, followed by an outside search until the posting is filled. A short list committee will be made up by a representative from each municipality, and one each from the Fire Marshalls office and the Fire Department. Following any short listing, an interview committee will then be responsible for selecting the successful candidate. The committee will consist of the Municipal reps, a KBFD member, and two senior officers from a comparable Department, as recommended by the OFMO. Remuneration for the incoming Chief is still under consideration.Winter sand tenders
Gemmill Sand and Gravel of Snow Road was awarded a $4,172 tender to screen and stockpile 2,000 yards of sand at the Municipal pit. The material will be used during the winter in Ward 1. At $1.95 per yard plus GST, Gemmills bid was the lowest of three offered; the others being RJ Seele of Douglas at $2.64 a yard, with GST costing out over $5,600, and Cranes from Maberly quoting $6.95 plus GST per yard for a total just under $15,000.Septic re-inspection program
Councillor Lemke reported being at a meeting where attendees looked at the feasibility of septic re-inspection programs. She advised that nine cottage associations had indicated an interest. The task would not be a small one, and such projects would have to be driven by these types of associations, as they would be too costly for the municipality to undertake. Some of the primary areas mentioned were identifying systems on which to focus, inventory and data collection; essentially, a how-to-do program.911 appreciation night oversight causes concern
Plans to hold an appreciation night that didnt include the many volunteers for the 911 project caused some consternation around the council table, with the matter being sent back to Committee for resolution. Council learned that such an event was planned for November 23 in Sharbot Lake, but only 911 Committee members, Council and staff, and representatives of North Frontenac Telephone were going to be invited. The function was not initiated by anyone from our council, and the planned celebration did not receive any support when it was learned that those who volunteered their time and labour had been overlooked.Snow Road fire station gets new well
At Councils September 10meeting, Dale Gemmill had reported that the Snow Road fire station was experiencing water shortages. The station was hooked up to the South Palmerston Community Centre well, and during a number of functions at the Centre, the water source had gone dry. Gemmill had also advised that sometimes members of the Department could not even wash fire vehicles due to such shortages. The existing well, which was drilled in 1978, was 154 feet deep with a return rate of only 2 gallons per minute. At its October 9 meeting, Council learned that a new well had been drilled on Community Centre property, which allowed access to Special Park reserve funding to pay for the work. The well has been located close to the fire station, and at a depth of 220 feet, the drillers had tapped into a flow of 8 gallons per minute. Councils next meeting is on October 22 at 7:00 p.m., at the municipal building on Road #506.