North Frontenac Council Reacts To Whopping Opp Bill For 2025

Craig Bakay | Oct 30, 2024

North Frontenac Council added its voice to the growing chorus of municipalities unhappy with the bills they’ve received from the OPP for police services in 2025 at its regular meeting Oct. 25 in Plevna.

For North Frontenac specifically, the anticipated cost is $1,013,404 ($84,450) which represents an increase of $178,294 (21.39 per cent) over last year and a 2.5 per cent levy increase on the 2025 budget.

“I was reading through this and it seems we’re looking at 0.08 per cent more for the whole province,” said Coun. Fred Fowler. “It just seems to me that we’re looking at a lot of extra expense and I just couldn’t see where the data is to justify this.”

“There was an OPP information webinar set up for Monday (Oct. 28) morning and afternoon but as of 11:10 last night (Thursday, Oct. 24) it was cancelled,” said Mayor Gerry Lichty.

“I was really hoping that because it (the info session) was cancelled . . . I don’t know and I hate to even . . . but I really hope this is because it is being somewhat reconsidered,” said CAO Corey Klatt. “I know from talking to the Treasurer (Kelly Watkins) that the treasurers’ emails have just blown up.

“I saw one from Addington Highlands Treasurer Christine Reed (and) this is huge for everybody.

“We’re not even at the top of the rung here. There are much higher increases than us.”

“For me, the issue is the general lack of accountability from the top,” said Dep. Mayor John Inglis. “Where does it go from here?

“How are we supposed to plan the future. This is a huge provincial organization over which who has control

“Is there a civilian oversight body? I don’t know.”

Inglis said he heard a statement from the Attorney General on the news this morning and described it as “infuriating.”

Somewhat tongue in cheek, Lichty offered this solution: “Why don’t we just not pay them and see what happens?”

Then, he added: “We’ll have to pay them eventually. Years ago, the Ministry of Education would just say ‘here are the increases’ and the increases were out of control. Municipalities were fighting them and the courts came down and said ‘these are the increases’ and we’d have to choice but to pass them on (to ratepayers).

“That’s what would happen here. Not paying them is a nice thought but I don’t think it’s an appropriate thought.”

Coun. Roy Huetl suggested sending a letter to the Attorney General expressing Council’s disapproval of the hefty increases.

“I suspect a number of municipalities will be doing the same thing,” said Inglis. “This will get taken up by AMO (Association of Municipalities of Ontario) but right now we need to send a letter.”

“I agree,” said Fowler. “We have to make a little bit of noise over this and maybe that will help in the long run.”

“There was no warning,” said Lichty. “We were expecting maybe $20,000 but all of a sudden — bang!”

Klatt reminded Council that these figures were just ‘anticipated’ figures and since 2017, actual figures have been $1,000 to $6,000 less.

Council passed a resolution to send letters to the Attorney General, Municipal Policing Board, the Premier, MPP Joe Jordan and all other municipalities objecting to the large increase.

Eurasian Milfoil

Recognizing that getting MPs, MPPs, senior level representatives of MNRF, the Department of Oceans and Fisheries and the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority into one room at the same time will be a “tall order,” Council nevertheless agreed to try.

The suggestion came from the Mazinaw Property Owners Association (MPOA) calling for government action on Eurasian milfoil invasive species.

Council also deferred a request from MPOA to apply for a grant from the Province until after it confers with Addington Highlands on the matter.

“I’d like some clarification as to what the grant will be used for,” said CAO Corey Klatt. “This is not free money, it’s a one to one grant.”

“Aren’t our waterways the responsibility of the feds and province?” said Coun. Vern Hermer.

“Yes, we’re just offering to take the lead,” said Mayor Gerry Lichty.

“This is just a starting point,” said Coun. Stephanie Regent, Township liaison to MPOA. “I’d be happy to ask the board what the money would be used for.”