Letters: November 19

Nov 19, 2009

Artden Should Be First in Line for 2010 Budget, Patrick Maloney

Re: KFL&A Public Health Unit & Septic Inspections, Gary Evans

Memory Lane, Sydenham, Joannne Ankers

Arden Should Be First in Line for 210 Budget

The quote from Mayor Gutowski at the end of your article about the Arden refurbishment delegation (Central Frontenac Council, Nov.12/09) pretty much sums up the absurd disconnect that we are battling.

Arden is dying the death of a thousand cuts. First the railway, then the school, then the seat of local government, then the roads department, then the last store and the ongoing neglect by the new amalgamated township as upgrades go first to Sharbot Lake then dribble out everywhere else, but not to Arden and Kennebec.

“A new road will not make Arden sustainable. A new school or a new grocery store will do that,” Gutowski is quoted as saying.

Arden and surrounds pay enough local taxes to “sustain” Arden quite nicely, as it did pre-amalgamation, if those funds ever made it back from Sharbot Lake. The vital infrastructure repairs highlighted by the Arden delegation, which should have been addressed long before now, will allow Arden to once again present a respectable face to any prospective entrepreneurs who would consider re-establishing a village store. Gutowski’s mention of a school is remarkably silly and trivializes the issue, which was perhaps her intent.

Nobody who lives here expects to return Arden to its heydays of the last century or the one before that. People continue to live here; there is a thriving seniors’ group, a famous choir, a well-respected artisan group (two of whom have been producing their craft in Arden to wide acclaim for over 30 years), the Legion, two churches, a library, a post office and a busy community centre that provides space for a broad range of activities.

Mayor Gutowski wants to focus upon increasing assessment (like a pyramid sales scheme with Sharbot Lake at the top) but can’t quite figure out the connection between selling something that looks like crap and selling something that’s got a new coat of paint. Here’s a tip, Madame Mayor: the dilapidated roads and sidewalks and bridge guardrails are the “crap” part.

All we’re asking for is our fair share of the pie that we have been paying into for the last 10 years. Kennebec joined amalgamation debt free and with reserves in the bank. We are not now, nor have ever been, the poor cousin at the table. The same cannot be said for all of the other 3 townships. Council has spent at least $1.5 million on capital improvements everywhere else but we can’t even get our sidewalks and pavement fixed.

We presented a list of necessities that would bring Arden back to the 20th century, then we included a few ideas, such as solar pv panels on the community hall (that not only pays for itself in 10 years but then pays the building’s ongoing operating costs) which would bring us into the 21st century. Value-added with no depreciation for a guaranteed 20 years.

We pay our share and we want our share: value-retained and value-added. We’ll start with value-retained. Barring that, we’ll be active during the election next November.

Patrick Maloney

Re: KFL&A Public Health Unit & Septic non-inspections 

News that the Kingston & Frontenac Health Unit intends to no longer provide its expertise and resources to properly review and issue permits for new septic system installations in Addington Highlands Township (Addington Highlands Council, Oct 22/09 and Addington Highlands Council, Nov 5/09) is a very real concern. Is the Health Unit really that short-staffed, or, is it positioning itself to get out of all septic system related work, (given the apparent desire by the Frontenac townships to press ahead with re-inspections of existing septic systems, with the very dubious claim that the Ontario Building Code provides the authority for such programs too)?

The KFHU website points out that their installation inspection service has been historically provided to eight municipalities, (including AH), each of which contribute a portion of the health unit operating costs, (shared with the province).

Is Addington Highlands the only loser? Why now, and without prior consultation? The area is thinly populated, with virtually no commercial tax base and sits smack on the Canadian Shield – providing a real challenge to find any suitable area for a suitable septic leeching bed, especially on waterfront properties, (of which there are many – owned by seasonal residents, like our family). Tax revenue is derived in large part from recreational land use – exactly the resource at risk if improperly designed or installed septic systems become the ‘new norm’.

Sure, all levels of government and their agencies are struggling to provide mandated services, but public health is not a ‘frill’. There should be no doubt after the Walkerton tragedy, that the installation and operation of septic systems are, indeed, a matter of public health. Regulations under the Ontario Building Code set out the criteria for installation of a proper septic system, but any regulations are subject to interpretation. As an autonomous body, with the training, skills and legal authority under the Ontario Health Protection Act, a local health unit is the obvious choice to issue septic system permits.

What will happen if the Health Unit does pull out? The township has indicated they will ask the local building inspector to do the job. Sorry. No joy here. Like many rural townships, AH can only afford a part-time individual, who is already overworked trying to cover an existing workload that spans hundreds of square kilometers. Small wonder that the local council continues to be tempted to ‘turn a blind eye’ to any type of development that could bring in much needed tax dollars – just to provide basic services that most urban dwellers take for granted.

I hope Dr. Gemmill, the Medical Officer of Health, will take up this issue with his provincial masters before making a final decision that will further disadvantage the already under-serviced residents of Addington Highlands.

Gary Evans

Re: “Bear Shock”, Frontenac News, Nov. 5/09

I just wanted to clarify my position after reading the responses (Letters, Nov 12/09) to my letter to the Editor from November 5th. I appreciated all the heartfelt responses and opinions on bear hunting, and found the variety of opinions very informative. I wanted to make it clear that I am not against hunting -- in fact, I grew up in Northern Ontario in a "hunting family" - our main source of protein throughout the winter months was moose meat.  Seeing that hanging, dead, gutted bear did 'shock' me, because I have never seen that before- I don't think it means I have to move to "another part of the country"!  I honestly thought that a bear hanging out in the sun for 7 or 8 days in those very warm temperatures would not be edible, and it was therefore strung up on the highway for the travelling public to see as a trophy. 

Andrea Dickinson