At the very start of the Central Frontenac regular council meeting last Tuesday (March 10) Councillor Duncan McGregor announced that he was resigning his position on council, effective immediately.

McGregor said that he is moving to a new house his family has been building on a property in Bradshaw, which is just over the township boundary line with South Frontenac, and as such is no longer going to be a Central Frontenac resident.

He thanked the other members of council for the opportunity to serve.

“I've realised that Council often has an impossible job. There is never enough money to do everything, and the expectations from the community are constantly growing ... Thank you for everything you do, very few people understand the amount of work you do behind the scenes.”

He also addressed township Staff.

“Your service to this municipality is vital. I know I haven't always been the easiest person to deal with, and I truly appreciate your professionalism and the way you have handled the challenges I have thrown your way.”

Mayor Frances Smith responded.

“We are going to miss you,” she said, “You have been one of the more challenging councilors that I've had over the past 39 or 40 years that I've been here. But, your heart is in the right place and your heart is with the community, and we very much appreciate that.

McGregor said that he is happy to stick around with any committees or projects that he is working on, and Mayor Smith said the township will take him up on that.

To that end, he said that on April 4, everyone is invited to the second annual Easter Egg Drop at the Sharbot Lake ballpark, sponsored by the local recreation committee. McGregor is also maintaining his involvement with the township Economic Development Committee, according to Councillor Lynn Klages.

Later in the meeting, McGregor's seat was formally declared vacant, and Council also opted not to hold a by-election to fill it, but to make a direct appointment instead. The cost factor of a by-election was noted.

The matter of how to make that appointment will come to the next meeting of council, on March 24.

This is the second resignation during this term of council. The first was also from Oso Ward (Ward 3). Craig Middleton resigned his council seat in May of 2023, six months into the term.

At the time, Council opted to offer the position to the losing candidate who came in third place. CAO Cathy MacMunn contacted the candidate, Duncan McGregor, who took up the position and held it until last week. If McGregor had turned down the offer, MacMunn would have offered it to the 4th place candidate in the 2022 council election, Bill MacDonald.

If Council takes the same view as it did in May of 2023, the position will be offered to MacDonald again.

Bill MacDonald is no stranger to Central Frontenac politics. He served as mayor between 1998 and 2006, and also had a stint as a member of council in the 2010s. He also ran provincially for the Liberal Party of Ontario on two occasions, 2011 and 2014, each time finishing in second place behind the Conservative Party candidate, Randy Hillier.

In the 2022 election, the results for Oso Ward, where two members are elected to council were as follows: Susan Irwin received the most votes in the ward, 413, followed by Middleton with 400, Duncan McGregor finished 3rd with 268 votes, and Bill MacDonald was 4th with 239 votes.

It willl be up to council to decide if it wantys to sue the same process this time around, or opt for anothjer model.

Council Briefs

Sharbot Lake Beach Washroom/Change room

The project is being completed by the township, under the supervision of the washroom subcommittee. A report to Council from committee co-chair Alison Robinson was submitted on February 26.

“Projected completion of the building is early May /2026 in time for the May 24,2026 Long Weekend,” the report concluded.

Used Motor Grader

Public Works Manager Steve Gould, recommended that the township purchase a used motor grader.

“Staff have identified a 2021 Caterpillar 150 AWD motor grader currently available through Toromont in Sudbury, at a purchase of $435,772,” said Gould's report.

Gould's report added that “this unit as it represents the lowest-hour machine within this model year currently on the market,” and said that a new grader from Caterpillar would cost over $800,000.

The grader also comes with three attachments; a wing, a blade and a multi-shank ripper, which add to the value of the deal. In answer to questions from Councillor Philip Smith, Gould said that the grader has about 5,000 hours of use thus far, and in his experience the average lifespan of a grader is 10 to 14 thousand hours, and 15-20 years. The machine has been inspected and comes with a 2 year motor and power train warranty.

Micro-Surfacing

At a cost of $286,000, Greenwood paving will be doing micro-surfacing to extend the life of Road 38. They will do the section from Fish Creek, south of Tichborne, north to Bradshaw Road, and the sidewalks and roadsides in Tichborne will be included.

Grounds contracts: Grounds maintenance contracts were awarded in all 4 wards. The Kennebec contract went to Kennebec Tree and Lawn, $11,400. The Olden contract also went to Kennebec Tree and Lawn, $10,550. The Oso contract went to Hamilton's Carpentry for $28,000. The Hinchinbrooke contract also went to Hamilton's Carpentry, for $10,225

Septic Reinspection Report

96 septic inspections, on 78 different properties on Kennebec Lake, were completed in 2025. 117 properties were approached.

“48% of the systems inspected had no septic system concerns at the time of inspection, 37% required remedial work, and 15% of systems inspected required replacement or major repairs. It should be noted that age was not a significant factor in the system deficiencies identified,” said the report, which was prepared by Eric Kohlsmith of the Mississippi-Rideau Septic System Office.

Upon receiving the report, councillor Philip Smith asked about the portion of the program's costs that are borne by the township. Property owners are charged $120 each for the inspections, which are mandatory. The annual cost to the township will be determined in short order, said Councillor Irwin, who chairs the septic reinspection committee of council.

Part-time firefighters.

At the next meeting, a motion will be brought forward that, if accepted, would direct Staff to undertake a review of the volunteer firefighter model with a view towards transitioning to a paid, on-call fire fighter model. A transition of this sort was completed in South Frontenac in 2025.