North Frontenac Council

Craig Bakay | Apr 12, 2023

As directed in an August, 2022 resolution, economic development officer Matt Walker presented the results of a business survey and a community survey to North Frontenac Council at its regular meeting April 6 in Plevna.

The surveys were held online for the period of Jan. 6 to Jan. 31, 2023 and each survey offered respondents the opportunity to win a prize pack of North Frontenac promotional items.

“Both surveys were designed to gather local economic data and identify opportunities to address gaps in product and services availability,” Walker said.

The business survey had 17 participants and marketing and government regulations were each identified as the top business challenge (29 per cent each), followed by financial (18 per cent), supply chain (12 per cent) and both cell service and upgrades at 6 per cent each.

And 24 per cent of respondents indicated that in the next 3-5 years they will likely invest more than $300,000 into one business initiative in North Frontenac.

“There is capital out there,” Walker said.

The most common average age of the workforce indicated by respondents was 45-54 at 35.3 per cent followed by 55-64 (23.5 per cent), 35-44 (17.6 per cent), 25-34 (11.8 per cent), 16-24 (7 per cent) and 65+ at 5.9 per cent.

“Half of our workforce is over 45,” he said.

When respondents were asked for ideas to improve the local economy, they responded:

• Incentives for local businesses such as restaurants
• community improvement committees
• better connections between businesses
• make it easier to develop subdivisions, ecotourism, encourage more home businesses, improved signage, less red tape, municipal campground, promote tourism

The community survey received 97 responses with 55 per cent of respondents having lived here less than 20 years.

Respondents indicated that the most needed products are food delivery, groceries, physiotherapy, dentist, more contractors, more gas stations, Canadian Tire, recreation/tourism attractions, car wash, walk-in clinic, stores, restaurants, takeout food, boutiques, salons, family doctor, hot tub/pool supplies, banking, attractions, clothing store, sports lounge/bar and hospital.

2013 meeting schedule

Council approved its 2023 meeting schedule which includes 5 p.m. Thursday meetings during the summer.

The schedule is: Friday, June 9, 9am, Thursday, June 29, 5pm, Thursday, July 20, 5pm, Thursday, Aug. 17, 5pm, Thursday, Sept. 7, 5pm, Friday, Sept. 22, 9am, Friday, Nov. 3, 9am, Friday, Nov. 24, 9am,

Friday, Dec. 15, 9am

Marking Ed’s passing, and thoughts on trees

It started with a request from residents Paul and Sandy Thiel to have the kitchen at Clar-Mill Hall dedicated to the late Ed Schlievert, president of the Clar Mill Volunteers. Complete with a plaque that Dep. Mayor John Inglis suggested Thiel would likely create. It progressed from there to a full-blown discussion of how to remember and commemorate current and former members of Council and community members and in the end, a motion to create a policy died in the grim resolution that such things were likely left to an ad hoc decision.

For example, nobody could decide who would pay the $300 for a commemorative plaque, $600 for a commemorative tree or $2,000 for a commemorative bench, let alone who would approve such things and/or decide where they would go.

The issue of flags being at half mast also spawned contention.

“I have to admit, I had a little bit of trouble reading this and thinking about what it meant,” said Mayor Gerry Lichty. “Do you have to die in office?

“I didn’t get elected mayor to die.”

“After hearing all this, I’m coming to the conclusion that a policy won’t work,” said Inglis. “In the words that Gerry Martin said often: ‘this makes us look like big brother.’”

While there was no consensus on a policy, a motion to create one was defeated and the question of how to honor Council members Gerry Martin and Fred Perry was left up in the air.

What we did learn is that Coun. Vern Hermer doesn’t want a commemorative tree, even if he does die in office.

“Bad things happen to trees . . . and fire hydrants,” Hermer said.

Coun. Wayne Good agreed, he wouldn’t want a tree either.

However, Coun. Stephanie Regent said she’d be fine with a tree.