Central Frontenac Ok’s .5M Dollars For Brushing Equipment

Craig Bakay | Oct 16, 2024

Central Frontenac’s regular Council meeting Oct. 8 meeting was a sprint, not a marathon clocking in at just under 18 minutes (17.59).

There were no delegations, public meetings, no deferred items or bylaws but they still managed to spend $505,258.34.

In his report, Public Works Manager Steve Gould said that while the cost of a Kommunal Tractor, three attachments and a front-mounted brusher arm is well over the $265,000 allotted in the 2024 budget, a warm spring resulted in a savings of $250,000 in the salt/sand budgets meaning that the Township won’t have to dip into reserves to fund the purchase.

“In 2024, the cost of brushing a 6-kilometre road by a contractor was $48,000, using bigger equipment which requires more staffing support.” Gould said in his report. “With the new, smaller tractor and attachment that would require less staffing support, we believe we would have a reduction of 85 per cent in operational costs.”

He said that with this new tractor and a new brusher on the older tractor more brushing will occur.

“This will take awhile but having the option of two brushers going year-round would certainly be beneficial,” he said.

The price for a front-mounting brusher and arm for the existing tractor is $120,094, which is included in the $505,248.34 total price.

“We saw the brusher and it was awesome,” said Coun. Duncan McGregor. “Is there an electric version?”

“No Duncan,” said Coun. Nicki Gowdy. “I remember you asked that day when we were there for the demonstration, and he told you no.

“The only thing they had that was electric was a grass cutting machine done by remote control.”

Council approved the purchase.

“We’ll expect to see brush flying,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

Safety Concerns at Hwy.7

Council approved a staff plan to meet with EMCON Road Service (the contractor assigned to maintain Highway 7) and the OPP to discuss safety concerns on the highway, especially where it crosses through Sharbot Lake.

“Certainly, with the number of accidents and first responders sent out, we need to have this discussed,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

“I know I’ve had numerous concerns from residents on speed and whether or not we could do something with that corner,” said Coun. Dan Meeks. “Especially on Fridays and long weekends.

“Whatever we can do, I think we should try.”

Building report

Chief Building Official Andy Dillon reported that they’ve issued 185 building permits this year, compared to 85 last year and 111 in 2022.

“Forty-nine of those were septic permits,” he said.

“We’re still up considerably,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “The (material) costs are coming down and the bank interest rates are coming down.

“That’s all good.”

Road Closure

Public Works Technical Assistant Amanda Fellows reported that Beaver Lake Road will be closed Oct. 23 from 8 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. to replace a failing culvert.

“We’ll put up detour signs for residents and I’ll notify the buses,” she said.

“It was known to be getting bad and it got bad quicker,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

Bever Dam washouts

Public Works reported that on Sept. 7, two beaver dams collapsed, washing out Baker Valley and Richardson Roads. Both roads required emergency road closures.

“Fire and Emergency Services, Council, and residents were notified of the closure via email and social media posts,” the report said. “Crews worked diligently to fix the damage, and the roads opened early on Sept. 8.

Fall River, Cannon, Zealand, Ducharme, Anderson, Wilson, Cross and Townline Roads have all been graded this month and crews worked on restoring Thompson and Hill Top Roads with recycled asphalt.

Recycled asphalt or reclaimed asphalt pavement has been removed from driveways or roads and crushed the same way aggregates are crushed.

Once the asphalt has been crushed, it is ground up to a gravel-like consistency, allowing it to pack like pavement.

Now she knows.

During her Mayor’s Remarks segment, Mayor Frances Smith said: “another thing that happened in our community that hasn’t happened in many, many years is the blood donors clinic.

“If you didn’t sign up this time, we’re hoping to have another one,” she said. “It’s quite the production.”

Actually, though, her worship didn’t get to donate this time around, although the spirit was willing.

“I got all the way to the point where I was going to do it but couldn’t do it because I’d had blood work that day,” she said. “So, if you want to give blood, don’t go and have blood work the same day.”