North Frontenac Not Too Happy With Alectra

In advance of the North Frontenac Council regular meeting last Friday (October 31st) Council, Staff, and some interested members of the public were expecting a potentially divisive vote on a proposed Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) project, at the Road 506 waste site.

Alectra Energy was asking Council to support their bid to the Independent Energy Systems Operator (IESO) a provincial agency responsible for the power grid in the province. Municipal support is necessary for the IESO to receive any bid under the terms of the current procurement process.

The matter was contentious throughout the township, with opposition to the project coming mainly from mostly seasonal, but some full time, residents living the vicinity of the 506 waste site on Mississagagon and Kashwakamak Lakes.

Councillors who had been listening to both the company, the township's lawyer, and residents opposing the project, would finally be in a position to debate, and vote, on the proposal.

But two days before the vote, Alectra sent a letter to the township asking that the project be put on hold and the council defer consideration of their proposal to an undefined future time, in order to give Alectra enough time to consider community input.

By the time the matter came to Council on Friday, Council was not particularly happy with Alectra. Alectra’s letter asked that Council pass a motion to defer consideration of the support motion.

Councillor Roy Huetl said “I’m not really surprised this happened”, and then said that instead of passing a motion to defer this, as they are requesting, we just receive their letter for information. That way if they want to come back, they have to start over again. I think it sends a proper message.”

Councillor Regent, attending the meeting over Zoom, said that she “would agree with Councillor Huetl. I fully support what he just said.”

Mayor Lichty said, “I agree, Alectra could have told us. Part of their letter said they have too much work to do, to get ready for a certain date. They could have told us that earlier, I think. We have spent thousands of dollars. I don’t know what the legal bill will be, but it will not be cheap.”

With that, Council voted to receive the Alectra letter requesting a deferral, for information. Council did not consider the original Alectra support motion at the meeting.

When contacted after the meeting (from the bush where he was deer hunting, thanks to the wonders of modern cellphone connectivity) Roy Huetl explained why he had said he was not surprised that Alectra had not followed through with their request.

“I think it was the amount of opposition,” he said, “I had no inside knowledge. But a couple of us were scheduled to go and see the Alectra BESS construction project in Guelph last week, and they canceled the tour early in the week, so that was also a hint.”

Appointment of Deputy Mayor for the Rest of the Council Term

Reluctantly Councillor Huetl accepted a nomination as Deputy Mayor until the new council is elected next October. Huetl was nominated by Councillor Hermer, seconded by Councillor Fowler, but said he was too busy with committee work, and instead of accepting the nomination, he nominated Councillor John Inglis, the sitting Deputy Mayor, to serve out the term.

“John has done a good job, and he can serve out the term perfectly well.”

However, John Inglis said he did not want to keep on in the role, and he did not accept the nomination either.

“Folks, this is not a big job. There were maybe three or four meetings this year,” said Mayor Lichty.

Councillor Huetl said he would take on the role, since no one else seemed to be stepping forward, and he was appointed.

“You know my wife told me not to do this,” said Huetl.

“I know, some people run without telling their wives,” said Lichty.

Pumper Coming Early

Fire Chief Adam Robinson reported that a pumper tanker ordered by the township is being delivered earlier than planned. Instead of selling what will be a surplus tanker, Staff will look to see if it can remain in service in some capacity.

EV Charges

Council had a further look at the fixed costs associated with operating an EV charging station, for the public at the township office. The station was purchased thanks to a federal/provincial grant which covered 90% of the price. But the delivery charge for power will result in the station running a deficit of as much as $28,000 for a year.

Manager of Community Development Brooke Ross, who has been working, as has the Mayor, on finding relief for this unexpected cost, said that the total cost is not known, but it will be less than $28,000.

That left the matter of determining where the money will come from. Ross recommended using a reserve fund established for the EV charger, but Council decided just to take the money from operating funds, hoping that it will be covered by a surplus at the end of year.

Meanwhile, Council will wait to hear back about what kinds of relief can be found for what could be an ongoing, unwelcome expense to the township. Part of that work included a radio interview on the matter, that Lichty and Ross participated in last week.