Addington Highlands Council – Mar 4/25

Jeff Green | Mar 12, 2025

When a snow plow driver puts his plow into a ditch while clearing snow, it usually does not lead to receiving heartfelt thanks from the Public Works Manager and Council, and local residents, but that is what happened at a meeting of Addington Highlands Council last week (March 4).

During his report to Council, Public Works Manager Brett Reavie reported about the road department’s response to snow events in the previous two weeks, which he reported had generally been well received by township residents.

Then he mentioned a truck rollover that took place on February 27.

“As I was preparing this report, I received a letter from a resident that I think I should bring to Council's attention.” Reavie then read an email sent from Don Hitchcock, who lives on Jacques Bay Road. The letter described how Hitchcock and his wife were walking on the road, when he fell and hurt his leg, badly enough that he could not get up. His wife left him to go home and bring their car to try and get him back home. While he was laying on the side of the road, in a location that Hitchock described as “the bottom of a very short, steep hill,” a township snow plow driven by Mamby came over the hill towards where he was laying.

“Cody saw me on the ground and swerved to the side of the road to avoid hitting me. The snowblade caught a snow bank, and pulled the truck off the road, causing the truck to roll onto its left side. Cody managed to get out of  the truck via the passenger side window and came over to where I was lying on the ground. By the time my wife was on scene with our vehicle, Cody basically picked me up and got me into the vehicle. Cody's decisive actions probably saved me from more grievous injury, or worse. Please accept my apologies for being the cause of this incident and convey my heartfelt thanks to Cody,” Hitchcock said in his letter.

“I thought it deserved a little bit of time here,” Reavie said, “the guys don't get appreciated a lot for the work they do. They do the best they can, and in this case I think uh, I'd sooner pay for a little damage on a truck than take somebody's life. Those things can be repaired and fixed, and lives can't be given back”.

Reavie went on to start talking about load restrictions, which came on in Addington Highlands on March 8th, when Deputy Reeve Fritsch interrupted and said that “a lot of things must have gone through Cody's mind the split second when he came over the hill and saw what was going on, and to be able to make the right decision in the circumstances, to protect this person's life, and that just doesn't always come easy ... thank you very much for making great decisions in a bad situation.”

Brett Reavie went on to say that while he thinks it is great for residents to get out and walk along the roads, if people “are able to wait until the plows come by, it would make things safer for everyone.” He added that the truck is in a repair shop at the moment but it does not appear that it suffered significant damage.

Mobile Dental Clinic

Earlier in the meeting, Clerk/Treasurer Christine Reed brought forward a proposal from South East Public Health SEPH (formerly Kingston Frontenac Lennox and Addington Public Health – KFLAPH) to set up a pilot project for a mobile dental health clinic, aimed at low-income seniors, in the parking lot of the township office in Flinton.

Reed said that the requirements for public health include access to washrooms and a waiting area, as well as lots of space for parking. The mobile clinic itself is self-contained. She said that public health has already sent people out to Diners programs, put on by Land O'Lakes Community Services, to get the word out to seniors about the clinic.

Council was happy to approve the use of the parking lot and public areas of the township office and hall, for the clinic, which should be coming to Flinton later this year.

County Budget and Council Remuneration

In receiving the list of items in correspondence, Councillor Hook noted that a report on the Lennox and Addington County Budget, which makes up a large portion of the Addington Highlands tax bill, is up by 4.17% for 2025. Council will meet later this month to go over the local budget, which is slated for approval on May 6.

Christine Reed presented her statutory annual report on council remuneration. Reeve Hogg received $32,808 in salary in 2024, $34,985 with travel and per diem costs to conferences, added on. Deputy Reeve Fritsch received $23,496 in salary, $26,327 with travel costs added. The other three members of council all received $16,385 in salary. With travel expenses, Helen Yanch's total was $17,717, Councillor Kirby Thompson, $18,861, and Councillor Ken Hook, $18,250. Councillors Yanch and Thompson both received over $1,000 extra for their expenses related to attending Conservation Authority board meetings.

Reed also reported on major loans the township is carrying. The township still owes just over $300,000 for the medical centre in Northbrook that was purchased in 2011. The loan is set to be paid off in 2030. The township also owes over $800,000 for the Northbrook Fire hall, which will be paid off in 2045.

All other long-term financing has been arranged through infrastructure Ontario, using fixed terms and lending rates.

Report on Denbigh Fire Department

Fire Chief Casey Cuddy reported that after a recruitment program last year resulted in enough interest to keep the Denbigh Fire Department viable, the new recruits have been working their way through accreditation programs to enable them to deal with medical calls and fire calls as well. A wild fire course is set for this month.

Emergency Preparedness

Council received a draft updated emergency preparedness bylaw, and policies, and discussed at some lengths how the bylaw will be applied in the case of a range of emergencies. They agreed that flexibility is needed, under direction from an emergency control group of staff and council appointees, in case of a broad range of emergencies. The policies were adopted and the bylaw will come back for approval.