Feature Article July 8, 2004
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ATV bylaw comes in like a lamb July 5, 2004
by Jule Koch Brison
Its been a long time coming, said Reeve Ken Hook when, after months of deliberation, Addington Highlands Council quietly became the first local council to pass an ATV bylaw.
Reeve Hook and Deputy Reeve Lorraine Berger both maintained their opposition to the move and voted against the bylaw, which allows ATVs to travel only on township roads or portions of roads specified in a schedule attached to the bylaw.
A Roads Needs study still has to be done and that may change the schedule. Nevertheless Councillors Cox, Scott, and Grant voted to start with the information on hand and the bylaw passed subject to any changes in the schedule.
Signs will be posted on all roads indicating where year-round maintenance ends, but there really are no examples of wording for council to use in deciding what the signs should say.
Building Inspector Ken Buxton brought to council the case of a property owner on Weslemkoon Lake who built a 12x20 building without a permit and with only a 20 ft setback from the water. The owner has now applied for a permit and has been required to pay the standard $200 fee for building without a permit.
However, the matter was not voluntarily brought to Buxtons notice; he had to investigate it, and when council asked how often this happens, he replied that every year he catches between 15 and 20 people building without permits. For some, the $200 is just the cost of doing business, Buxton said, and its usually the same people. Buxton explained that the fee is not actually a fine; it is an administrative fee. In order to fine someone, the township would have to take the person to court.
The building on Weslemkoon Lake has been completed and cost about $15,000. Council could force the owner to move or tear down the building, but Buxton recommended that council require it be registered on the deed that he is solely responsible for any damage caused by high water. This will lower his property value; however as Councillor Cox said, That will only matter to him if he sells. Deputy Reeve Berger agreed, saying People will just walk all over usId rather see it moved to show people they cant do this.
Councillor Eythel Grant felt that the cost of moving the building was too great a penalty and in the end council decided to follow the Building Inspectors recommendation.
However, they also decided to raise the $200 fee to $300 effective immediately.
Councillor Louise Scott has been asked by cottagers on Sheldrake Lake to see about fixing the Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) boat launch. She has called the MNR, without results. Roads Superintendent Royce Rosenblath said there are many old MNR boat launches in need of repair, but the MNR is refusing to take responsibility for them. The launches dont belong to the township, so the cottage associations will have to do the work themselves. However, Reeve Hook said it would only take a few loads of gravel to rectify the situation and that it would not be a large expense if shared among all the cottagers.
The Hartsmere and Ashby Lake roads will be tarred and chipped by late July or early August.
In January, Sherkston Shores, a large campground in the Niagara Falls area, made a request to the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, that MPAC assessment of recreational vehicles be stopped and replaced by a tag sticker program. The Committee then asked all affected municipalities for feedback. Addington Highlands Council decided not to support the sticker program because it would entail much policing and expense by the municipality. Council decided at first to send a letter to MPAC saying it supports MPACs assessment of trailers, but then changed the wording to say just that Council does not support the sticker program, because, as Councillor Cox joked, I would hate to think council supports MPAC.
North Frontenac Township will contribute $500 towards the doctor tour. Reeve Hook commented that he has received favourable feedback on the tour from citizens, who think it is a very good and important thing for the township to do.
A request by Edgar Adams that AH council install two culverts on Glastonbury Road, which forms the only access to their hunting camp in Central Frontenac, was deferred pending advice from the townships lawyer. The township maintained the road from about 1860 to the 1960s, but has not done so since then.
