South Frontenac Council - Sept. 25

Wilma Kenny | Sep 27, 2012

Bedford Roads

Qasem Mahmud, Manager of Long Bay Camp in Bedford, came before Council with a petition from local cottagers asking that the narrow sections of Burridge and Richie side roads be widened, to make them safer. Neither Council nor Public Works manager were unsympathetic, but as Segsworth put it, “Bedford roads are challenging: the need far exceeds the resources.” He is presently trying to get traffic counts, to help determine the most heavily used roads, which will be given priority in the Public Works capital budget, to be presented to Council in November. One of the biggest issues is the lack of proper drainage: “some of these roads just seem to follow the old cow paths.”

Verona CIP Succeeding:

CAO Wayne Orr reported that the Verona Community Improvement Plan was a little past its half-way point and going well. This program, funded by the township in conjunction with Federal Gas Tax dollars has stimulated a wide range of projects by both businesses and individual property owners, which include new business signs, storefront renovation, painting, porches, windows, awnings, etc. Deputy Mayor McDougall noted that numerous improvements are already evident in Verona. The program has two parts: a grant, up to a maximum of $2,500, and the option of a loan. To date, a program investment of $38,100 had stimulated sixteen projects valued at a total of $612,061. Other interested Veronians are encouraged to consider applying: information is available from the township offices.

Cemeteries Report:

Presently, the township has three cemetery boards, which operate a total of eight municipal cemeteries. Record-keeping is inconsistent, rates vary between districts, and the revenues do not cover the costs of operation. Staff and the Corporate Services Committee presented a report recommending that one cemetery board be created for the township, having one set of by-laws, and new rates sufficient to fund the administration of the cemeteries. Also, separation of the three service components into administration, grounds and excavation. This would not prevent one person from tendering for all three areas, but would provide an option for the work to be separated.

Council directed staff to discuss these recommended changes with the three cemetery boards and report back.