South Frontenac Council - Oct 03/23

Wilma Kenny | Oct 11, 2023

Property Rezoned to Provide Water Access

A property on the East side of Mica Point Lane with waterfront on Bobs Lake was rezoned to Limited Services Residential Waterfront (RLSW), in order to permit parking and docking facilities for four water-access only parcels, and accessory buildings for their secure storage of a boat and marine accessories (e.g. motors, paddles, life jackets). Currently, there are many seasonal water-access-only properties on Bobs Lake, and limited opportunities for mainland access. This rezoning will permit a maximum of 12 parking spaces, 4 storage sheds and a path to the dock. There will be no sewage facilities. “This is a win-win,’ said Mayor Vandewal; “deeded access and parking is required in order to develop waterfront properties.”

Thanks from SHS 150th

Chris Hammer thanked Council for all the Township’s help, both financial and hands-on, to make SHS 150th such a successful event. Overall, more than 1500 people attended, the closing pancake breakfast alone had more than 400 attendees.

Naming of Petworth Bridge

Delegate David Brown of Petworth was not so pleased with Council, in his presentation asking why it has taken more than two years to deal with Petworth’s Sept 2021 request to the previous Council to name the steel bridge at the edge of the village in honour of a Petworth man, Corporal David Ira Boyce, of the 20th Canadian Infantry, who died in Europe the day before WW1 ended. The request was supported by a petition signed by 53 village residents. Referring to Petworth as an historic village, even though Google calls it a “ghost town’, Brown noted that it has the only overhead steel structure bridge in South Frontenac. “Why has it taken two years to get to this, why did (the Council of the day) say that adding a sign to the bridge would be too confusing to motorists? There are no signs there now other than the height restriction and a single lane sign that is so old it doesn’t reflect light, (and) the Township sign is disgusting, with a tree growing in front of it.” Listing other towns with named bridges, Brown said they had not requested the sign be attached to the bridge itself.

Mayor Vandewal said it had been Council’s understanding that the original request asked for a sign on the bridge itself: Brown’s presentation has clarified this is not so. He added that it should be noted that the CAO has taken ownership and apologized for the delay.

Wilmer Road Culvert Replacement

Council approved the bid from Crains Construction Ltd. In the amount of $563,632.87 for the Wilmer Road Culvert Replacement. Originally, the 2023 budget included $375,000, based on the original scope of the project, which did not reflect the need for a larger box culvert to support the design flow, and the renewed steel guide rails. The additional $303,921.89 of the expense will be funded from the Asset Investment Reserve through a reallocation from the Guiderail Program along with savings from the Battersea Road Reconstruction Project.

When queried about the doubling of the original estimate, Troy Dunlop, Manager of Engineering and Capital Projects, said the causeway had been an unplanned project added at the last minute to the budget following the collapse of part of the retaining wall in January of this year. Lacking availability of a specific engineering study, the cost estimate had been based on a similar sized 2021 Township culvert replacement.

In response to Mayor Vandewal’s query, Dunlop said he anticipated the road would have to be closed for five days; “We will do our best to see if we can include scheduled school PA days in that timeframe.”

Animals at Large, But Not Necessarily Large Animals…

Council amended its Animal By-Law to include a $250 penalty for the trespassing of “any animal, excluding cats or dogs.” This was prompted by a recent rise in complaints of nuisance behaviour in relation to trespassing chickens.