All We Are Is Dust (Suppressant) In The Wind

Craig Bakay | May 29, 2024

One line of questioning that every rural municipal council member is sure to encounter during their term of Council relates to dust suppression on gravel roads.

At the regular Addington Highlands Council meeting May 7, Council asked Roads and Waste Manager Brett Reavie to prepare a report, which he delivered at the May 21 regular Council meeting in Denbigh.

“As per a resolution from Council, there will be one application (of dust suppressant) (on applicable roads) per year between June 20 and July 15,” Reavie said.

In his report, Reavie included a list of roads that fall under this category.

He said that he personally hasn’t received a lot of requests “other than a lot of people would like to see it done multiple times a year . . . but there are costs associated with that.”

He said that any additional requests could be completed at the ratepayer’s request as per Council resolution 242/11.

However, he said, where dust caused by traffic n loose top road surfaces creates a negative impact on the surrounding environment, relative to the ambient condition of the road, that condition should not occur for more than the maximum lag time per year. For Class 4 roads, the maximum lag time is two months, for Class 5 roads it’s six months and for Class 6 roads, lag time is not applicable.

“This standard is not applicable where the condition occurs over a distance of less than 100 metres,” he said. “This standard does not apply to shoulders.”

But, he said, “if you’re getting dust for two months of a year, you would consider it for future application.

“(Nor) does it mean we’re going to wait two months, we’re going to do it every year.”

Other things that enter into it, he said, are if it’s in front of a house or they receive a number of complaints about a dangerous intersection.

And, over the years, they’ve adapted the policy in order to accommodate future grading.

“If we’re going in front of a house and there’s a short section we would normally have left before we get to the next house, we’ve been trying to do right through it because it’s too much of a pain to grade it if you’re jumping off all the time.”

“Fifth Concession south would be one of those roads,” said Coun. Helen Yancb.

“Yes, that’s basically what we do down there,” said Reavie.

Roads where all of the road is treated include Addington #2, Addington #3, Clear Lake Road, Lambert Street, Mill Street, Slate Falls Road and Snake Rapids Road.

Most of the other roads are only treated in front of houses and the first 100 from Hwy 41 and the hill at the intersection of Little Finch Lake Road are also done.

Risk Assessment

There are no changes to risk assessment or audit strategy assessment KPMG auditor Katie Mahon told Council concerning the 2023 budget year audit.

There were no significant unusual transactions, going concern matters, uncorrected misstatements or significant deficiencies, the report said.

“It was exceptionally not difficult this year in terms of numbers but there was a new audit standard that required a lot more of management’s time,” she said.

Cloyne and District Historical Society

Council approved the Cloyne and District Historical Society’s request for a $500 donation as well as waiver of rental fees and funding support for the North Addington Education Centre School Advisory Council’s sixth annual Fun Fair. Both items were already included in the 2024 budget.

Noise Exemption

Council approved the Denbigh Recreation Committee’s request for a noise bylaw exemption for the Horse Pull event June 1. The exemption period starts at noon and ends at 7 p.m.

Invasive Species Signage

Council approved installation of invasive species signs at the Skootamatta and District Ratepayers Association request at the boat launch off Jacques Bay Road.

Roads and Waste Manager Brett Reavie said time and costs would be minimal as the SDRA is supplying the signs.

“It’s too bad the MNR isn’t doing it on the whole,” said Reeve Henry Hogg. “I understand there’s a major problem on Mazinaw.”

“There’s problems with invasive species on lakes throughout Ontario,” Reavie said. “A lot of lake associations and environmental groups are trying to make people more aware of the situation.”