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Jeff Green | May 01, 2008

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Central Frontenac will not reimburse resident for OMB hearing costs

David Daski appeared before Central Frontenac Council this week to request that the township help cover the costs he has incurred challenging one of their decisions at the Ontario Municipal Board.

Daski is opposed to the establishment of a portable concrete facility by Thousand Island Concrete on a lot on Hwy. 7 that is located 1.7 kilometres from his own property. He plans to develop a tourist resort.

He launched a challenge against a bylaw the township passed approving the concrete facility back in the fall, and because the township recently repealed that bylaw and replaced it with a new one, which he is also challenging, he feels the township should reimburse him the $4,000 he has spent challenging the original bylaw.

“The township should not have passed the first bylaw. It was done because of a staff error, but it leaves me out $4,000 and facing more costs to deal with the new bylaw.

“Do you think my wife and I should bear the cost of the OMB hearing when it came out because of miscommunication by council? I see what the strategy is; you wait for a young family to go broke, and then you can do what you want.” Daski said.

Mayor Janet Gutowski then said, “I took a drive from Kaladar to Mountain Grove last week, and along that stretch I saw a closed restaurant, Mitchell’s Auto Sales, an abandoned restaurant, and the Trillium Motel, which has an auction sign. It’s been a challenge. Past the Thousand Island site, I drove 1.7 kilometres and came to your property. On the east side of your site is Gibbs Gas. There is nothing that is really flourishing in the vicinity, and our public works yard and major waste site are 3 km from your property. I look at the planning and I don’t find that the concrete plant conflicts with the existing use.

“The costs you have incurred taking this to the OMB are your choices. You are saying we need to take responsibility for our staff. We do sir, whether they are pushing a plough or making expensive engineering decisions. We are accountable, every four years.”

Council voted to receive Mr. Daski’s submission for information purposes.

Budget approved – Council formally approved their 2008 budget, with a tax rate of $1,400 for every $100,000 of assessment, a marginal increase over 2007.

New building permit fees – Chief Building Official Ian Trickett presented proposed new fees for building in Central Frontenac. “The object of the exercise is to keep the building department revenue neutral. If fees cover all costs, including administrative costs, the taxpayers are not subsidising the builders.”

Trickett’s proposals, which will be posted and advertised prior to returning to council to seek approval, include an increase in the permit fees for new houses to $12 per $1,000 of estimated construction costs from the current $8. The cost of commercial construction is slated at $10 per $1,000 in construction costs, and there are flat fees for various other activities.

Household hazardous waste day – Mark July 26 on your calendars. On that day, at the Hinchinbrooke public works yard will accept household hazardous waste (paint cans, batteries, solvents, etc.) free of charge.

Public works manager - John Simcott has been hired as public works manager, a job that has been vacant for 15 months. He will start work next week.