North still interested in joining Central’s seniors housing project

Craig Bakay | May 25, 2022

North Frontenac Council decided to contact Central Frontenac for an update on its seniors housing project and their feelings about North participating in it at its regular meeting May 20 in Plevna.

“I just wonder how long it’s going to take for Central Frontenac to make a decision,” said Coun. Vern Hermer. “When you listen to the campaign promises, everybody’s promising affordable housing.

“It may take awhile but $332,000 seems like a no brainer to me.”

Hermer was referring to a County-controlled fund for seniors housing in North Frontenac that the North has offered to contribute to the project in return for guaranteed units dedicated to North Frontenac residents.

Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin suggested that if the provincial election results led to grants for Central project, a guarantee of spots might not be necessary.

“Once you get provincial funding, you can’t say no to anybody,” Martin said.

Hermer suggested that Land O’Lakes has offered to look at providing home care to seniors and it might be time to explore that option again.

“Land O’Lakes has been offering this service to Ward 1 for years,” he said.

“Land O’Lakes was prepared to come to this meeting to discuss it,” said Mayor Ron Higgins. “But we decided to hold off until we contacted Central.

“It is a concrete proposal and it’s my intention to draft something up and send it to Mayor Fran (Smith) asking for a response to our proposal subject to the County’s approval of the funds.”

Higgins’ proposal was approved.

Ovatvc Trail Permit

Council passed a bylaw to sign an agreement with the Ottawa Valley ATV Club to honour the OVATVC’s trail permit on the Crown Roads within the North Frontenac crown Land Stewardship Program.

Turtle Crossing Rejected

Council turned down resident Beth Reichlmayr’s request for Turtle Crossing signs on Robertsville Road in favour of Public Works Manager Darwyn Sproule’s plan to improve such signage at Township entry points.

“We’re working on some signs with more text so people won’t have to guess,” he said. “They apply to the entire Township.

“There was a study done on Hwy 41 that resulted in signs and protective measures but our Township is one vast area of turtle habitat.”

“Down along Malcolm Lake, it’s just a slaughterhouse every year,” said Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin.

Sproule said he wasn’t opposed to signs of individual roads but argued that the more of them there are, the less effective they become and so while any existing signs won’t be removed, they won’t be replaced if damaged either.

Septic Inspections

Council approved Mayor Ron Higgins proposal to become a delegation at the Association of Municipalities Ontario conference to push for septic inspections when a house is sold.

Boat Storage

Council approved the site plan control agreement for the development of a commercial boat storage site at 9630 Road 509.

Funding Rejected

Much to Mayor Ron Higgin’s surprise, all four councillors present (Dep. Mayor Gerry Martin, Coun. Fred Fowler, Vernon Hermer and Wayne Good) voted no to a proposal that would have transferred $6,250 from the economic development fund to support a Farmers Market and a Christmas-themed weekend.

“We’re not an agricultural community,” said Martin. “I just don’t see a Farmers Market.”

Manager of Community Development Brooke Hawley said the idea came from local businesses.

“It’s not just vegetables,” she said. “There’s honey, syrup and cheese.”

“If participants are going to make money, why should taxpayers have to pay for it?” said Martin.

“It’s for economic development, to get people into the community,” said Mayor Ron Higgins.

Funding Approved

Council approved grants to community groups in the amounts of $1,000 to the Land O’Lakes Garden Club for its Indigenous Commemorative and Healing Garden at the Barrie Hall grounds; $1,000 for the Land O’Lakes Lions Club to help with the cost of a marching band and new reindeer display for the Santa Claus Parade; $1,000 to the North Frontenac Historical Society to assist with preservation projects and $1,000 to the Back Roads Studio Tour to advertise and promote the 2022 Tour.

Coun. Fred Fowler, an artis himself who was on the tour before becoming a councillor, announced he wouldn’t be participating this year to avoid a conflict of interest.

Pickleball

Council approved the installation of pickleball courts at the rink in Plevna.

The courts should be ready for games in about a month.