Addington Highlands Council Report

Jeff Green | Feb 13, 2025

Conservation Authority to discuss the Eurasian Water Milfoil situation on Mazinaw Lake and other local lakes.

“I don't imagine, with the election, that a meeting can take place until after the election. I guess April at the earliest,” said Reeve Henry Hogg.

Nonetheless, Council agreed to send off a new invitation in the hope that a meeting can be set up. The MPOA has taken the lead in seeking a remediation for the invasive milfoil, but it is an issue on all of the lakes in Addington Highlands and North Frontenac.

Mazinaw Powerline Snowmobile Club and the O'Donnell Road – as a member of the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs, Mazinaw Powerline is seeking formal letters to solidify access to land that it has used as snowmobile trails for its members.

One of those trails goes along O'Donnell Road. As pointed out to Council, although the road is considered a public road, it is not owned by the township the way most other roadways in the township are. The township has some jurisdiction, but not ownership, and the road is considered a “trespass” road. It is part of the Powerline trail network, however, but seeking legal access is complicated because the road does not have a clear owner.

Members of the Powerline executive came to the front to discuss the matter with Council. Everyone agreed the matter will take some time to sort out.

The township passed a motion in December to work towards a Memorandum of Understanding with the snowmobile club, but the township's lawyer is recommending that the motion be brought back in order for it to be rescinded.

The matter appears to be at an impasse and it does not appear that it will be resolved in the near future.

AHEAD Committee

Councillors Ken Hook and Helen Yanch will remain on the Addington Highlands Economic Development committee for the second half of the council term.

Waste Management Committee

Deputy Mayor Fritsch said it is disappointing that the new recycling program which is being run and financed by a consortium of producers, “has defined ineligible sources of recycling, and they include virtually all our businesses, our core businesses, commercial farms, churches, daycares, not for profits.”

He said the township is here to serve those businesses, and the committee would like recycling for businesses to continue to be done at township waste facilities.

The committee recommends that staff keep  looking at potential solutions. They also recommend that the township recommend that the provincial government make some changes  and businesses to a central depot. The third is for staff to prepare materials to help businesses deal with recycling.

The change is set to take place on January 1^st, 2026.

Councillor Hook said the goal is for their to be no, or little,  impact on the businesses who use the system.

Addington Highlands Community Centre Denbigh new canopy.

Chief Building Official David Twiddy reported on a process that was initiated last September. An engineering firm designed a new canopy for the Community Centre, but when the project went to tender there were no bids received to build. Twiddy recommended going back to the engineering firm and asking them to finalise details on the design, and to consider seeking a construction firm to complete the project.

“It makes sense to go to the company you have already worked with, and ask them for a price, which would come back to Council for approval.”

A motion to that effect was approved.

Twiddy also reported that a new county-run system for the issuance of building permits came into force on January 1^st, and thus far it is going very well.

Outside resolutions supported.

Council passed motions of support for a number of resolutions. They endorsed a motion from the City of Toronto opposing private, for profit, blood collection services being accepted in Ontario. They also supported a resolution from the Town of Aylmer opposing the provincial legislation on cycling lanes. Council also supported a resolution from the City of Peterborough, asking the Province of Ontario to amend Bill 242, dealing with encampments to require municipalities to provide enough shelters for those that require them.

And finally, Council enthusiastically endorsed the following resolution from the City of Halton: “The Town of Halton Hills seeks support of their resolution categorically rejecting any efforts by incoming President Trump or any others to undermine the sovereignty of Canada and standing united with Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for a Canada that remains strong, free independent and characterized by peace, order and good government.”

Backyard Chickens

Councillor Hook vetted a letter he planned to submit to the Frontenac News regarding backyard chickens in response to a previous letter that claimed restricting chickens amounted to restricting personal freedom. Reeve Hogg pointed out that a bylaw has already been in place since 2006, “so this is nothing new” and the new and old bylaws are in place to protect the legitimate interest and freedoms of all residents. Council was clear, as was Hook, that while the township has been notified about the letter, it is not endorsing or submitting the letter. It represents Councillor Hook's personal perspective.