Central Frontenac Confirms Commitment To Develop Former School Site In Sharbot Lake

Dec 18, 2024

Central Frontenac Council passed a resolution confirming its commitment to development of the former Sharbot Lake Public School site as “a wide range of housing options including housing for seniors” at its regular meeting Dec. 10 in Sharbot Lake.

Coun. Lynn Klages began the discussion by stating her opposition to the wording of the resolution.

“Why are we centring out seniors housing and not having something that’s housing for all?” Klages said.

“When we started way back, there was seniors housing money set aside both at the County and lots of work done with CMHC about funding of seniors housing,” said Mayor Frances Smith. “This does say a wide range including seniors so it’s not saying just seniors.

“There was a survey done in 2019 and that showed a need for us to work on seniors housing . . . so there’s money out there for seniors housing.”

“I think it should say ‘affordable housing for all,’” said Klages.

“Every time we’ve talked about it, there’s been a seniors housing component,” said Phil Smith, chair of the Central Frontenac Housing Committee. “That doesn’t preclude that there’s a commercial component as well as others but the primary focus will be residential with a seniors component.”

But there was other opposition as well.

“While supportive of the municipality taking steps to address the need for new housing options, I do not believe the Sharbot Lake Public School site is the right location for this purpose,” said Coun. Duncan McGregor. “It does not improve our downtown core, increase tourism, create jobs or provide recreational opportunities.”

He said he wanted to see a mixed space and asked Council to defeat the motion to have the committee come back with a new resolution.

“If you were a fly on the wall during committee meetings you would have heard exactly what you just said spoken,” said Mayor Smith. “We have talked about commercial, library, what storefronts there should be, what should go on the 38 side and what should go on the Garrett Street side.

“This resolution simply says we’re going to talk about a wide range of options.

“Nothing is cut in stone and we had public meetings where all this was brought out by the community as to what they want.”

“There were 857 surveys completed and 1206 responses,” said CAO/Clerk Cathy MacMunn. “Some talked about having a small commercial component like a hairdresser.”

“We came to Council because there are financial considerations and we have to make decisions on whether we’re going ahead with this project or not,” said Phil Smith.

“I think this is important that we need to send a message to people that we are serious about housing and if we defeat or defer this motion I guess we’re not concerned about it,” said Mayor Smith. “Do we need a housing committee or do we just quit?”

The motion carried.

Everett named Deputy Mayor

As per its procedure bylaw, Central Frontenac Council rotated the Deputy Major’s position and this time it goes to Olden representative Bill Everett.

Mayor Frances Smith asked Everett if he’d like to make a speech and he responded: “thank you Madame Mayor I would not.”

“He’s going to be a good Deputy Mayor,” said Smith.

Mayor Disappointed Over Festival Loss

After complimenting the Festival of Trees, Mayor Frances Smith thanked Dep. Mayor Susan Irwin for standing in for her for the draw.

“My name wasn’t draw (and) I don’t understand it, but that’s OK,” Smith said.

New Snowplow On Fast Track

Council deferred a motion for the ‘emergency purchase’ of a new snow plow ($370,000) until the budget meeting Dec. 17.

Public Works Manager Steve Gould said the current truck will not pass its annual MTO inspection and will be taken out of service Dec. 31, 2024.

He said they have been following a replacement schedule and is due to receive a new truck in March. However, after looking around, they found one in North Bay that will be available in February.

He said they can complete plowing with what they have now but “it will take longer and you’ll get calls.”

He said the route the truck had been plowing is “in the south end.”

When asked if a contractor could pick up the slack, he said he didn’t think the contractor had the trucks to do it.