Community Garden In Flinton Takes Small Step Forward

Craig Bakay | Dec 11, 2024

A community garden in Addington Highlands (probably in Flinton) became a little closer to reality after the Dec. 3 regular meeting of Council in Flinton.

Saying she’d like to see trees planted all over the Township, resident Marlean McLean encouraged Council to apply for tree-planting grants (“they don’t have to be fruit trees,” she said) but it was when she said she had some community members who’d like to get on board with the possible community garden project that the discussion picked up considerably. Council has already passed a resolution saying they’re in favour of a community garden if a community group or other residents take the lead on it.

“I’d like to talk about your purpose, your terms of reference,” said CAO Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed. “We have a motion on the books that if a sufficient committee came to Council for a community garden, we’d take the next steps — meeting with (Facilities Manager) Dave (Twiddy) — we would probably start small with some topsoil and timbers.”

“The best way for your group to get started is we have to find land,” said Coun. Kirby Thompson. “Something that’s suitable.

“We have land in Flinton and Northbrook.”

“We’ll need access to water and bydro,” McLean said. “And some sort of security.

“That’s why I thought of this location (the Flinton Hall/Municipal Building grounds).

“I have people saying to me ‘Council hasn’t designated a location. Maybe if you did that I’d get more involved.’”

“I think in the new year we were going to look at it,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

McLean said that because of the water and hydro access, the Flinton grounds would probably be the default location.

“I’m hearing you might have a group of people together,” said Reed. “The next steps from my perspective are for you to approach me.

“We can set up a time where we’re going to discuss how to move forward because we want to make sure there’s some supplies included in the 2025 budget for this project.”

“I’m hoping there will be come business say ‘I’m willing to provide some gravel’ or ‘I want to come and make your space,’” McLean said. “I’m not trying to put any burden on the taxpayer.

“What I really want is a little plot of land that has some room to grow and we can expand.”

“It’s great if we can get donations as a security blanket,” Reed said. “But it’s already on our radar.

“My suggestion is to follow up with me with the names and we’ll discuss how that’s going to look moving forward.”

Reed said additional insurance likely wouldn’t be needed as the group members would be considered volunteers and covered under the municipal insurance.

“It’s a very low risk activity,” she said.

“That depends on what you’re growing,” said Hogg.

Alcohol Sales

Council gave its permission for the Northbrook Foodland to sell alcohol on statutory holidays for the balance of 2024 and 2025.

Policing Costs

CAO Clerk-Treasurer Christine Reed told Council that she had received correspondence from the Attorney General’s office that the Township would be receiving an estimated $134,000 to offset the $150,000 increase in policing costs.

“The recommendation at budget time is not going to be to reduce the net amount levied to taxpayers but to put those funds into a reserve to be used for policing costs.

ATV for Fire Rescue

Council approved the purchase of an ATV (plus trailer) in the amount of $27,385.04 for the Denbigh Fire Department.

“Is that gold-plated?” asked Reeve Henry Hogg.

The budgeted amount was $40,000 and only one bid was received out of the 14 dealers contacted.

Fire Chief Casey Cuddy said the unit will be parked in the Denbigh garage and replace privately owned ATVs.

Eurasian Milfoil

Coun. Ken Hook reported on his Zoom meeting with Mazinaw Property Owners Association and the grant people from the Invasive Species Centre.

“The MPOA is going to apply for the treatment of the Eurasian milfoil,” Hook said. “But it’s a very competitive grant.

“There are hundreds of invasive species eligible for this grant and only $16,000,000 available for the entire province,” he said. “So, $50,000 will be a huge ask but they’ve talked about it being a three-year project so they can apply yearly.

“Also, the $50,000 has to be matched on a one to one basis in either cash or volunteer hours.”