South Frontenac Council focus on Hartington and Verona

Wilma Kenny | Nov 23, 2023

Deputy Mayor Sleeth conducted the meeting, as Mayor Vandewal was attending another function.

Pleasant Valley Municipal Drain Report

In 1985, this shallow drain was constructed across several properties in the Pleasant Valley area just west of Hartington: it was a community project carried out in accordance with provincial legislation, to be administered by the municipality on behalf of the landowners, who retained ownership of the drain.

An engineer’s Section 65 Report submitted by Robinson Consultants Inc (RCI) at the request of the Township in April ’22 indicated that drain assessment and maintenance must be completed prior to the development of the Hartington subdivision and planned incorporation of its storm water management pond.

RCI representative Lorne Franklin presented Council the results of the Engineer’s Report

The report indicated there are 2 beaver dams, 2 areas of erosion and 8 dead trees within the drain, and concluded with three recommendations:

1) Maintenance for the entire drain at an estimated cost of $88,457.42 (no indication as to how this figure was obtained);

2) Repair of deficiencies as outlined in the maintenance report (vegetation management and clean out, both full and partial), and 3) Culvert cleanout for the K&P trail culvert.

There was a recommendation that a meeting be conducted with the landowners within the drain system prior to beginning maintenance work. References were made to the Township’s ‘Drainage Superintendent’’, which is not a stand-alone position within the township’s staffing structure.

Councillor Leonard asked what impact this would have on Petworth Road; the response was “there should be no impact, but further work might be required.”

Morey asked if the beaver dams were old, or part of an active colony, and whether the presenter could recommend specific contractors for the maintenance work; the answer was; “Any contractor you are comfortable working with; find one with experience.”

Verona Housing: A Progress Report

A representative from J L Richards brought a progress report on the Verona Housing Water and Wastewater Servicing Plan, which evaluates various municipal options for servicing the Township’s proposed mixed-housing development project in the village. Currently, there are no municipal water or wastewater services in the village: existing services are provided through private well and septic beds.

In developing the preferred servicing solution, there is an opportunity to consider impacts to neighbouring properties, impacts to natural and social environment, infrastructure spending, operation and maintenance effort, climate change, and growth opportunities.

Sub consultant studies have included a desktop natural heritage study by Cambium Inc, which recommends further detailed investigations to support future phases of the environmental assessment process. Consultation with Pinchin Ltd and Quinte Conservation focused on ensuring that potentially proposed groundwater wells and subsurface wastewater treatment systems would neither impact nor be impacted by existing land uses and groundwater wells in the area.

This report also featured findings from a Public Information Centre (PIC) held April 19/23, which laid out several water-related alternatives ranging from doing nothing, to onsite or offsite surface or groundwater treatments. Phase 2 will fine-tune and assess these options.

A summary of the Public Information Centre showed a perceived community desire for a different format for future public consultation. 

In spite of various methods of public notification, including mail-outs to 83 property owners adjacent to the project area (within 120 m of the site), only 24 individuals came to the meeting. Some of these attendees said they learned of the event only by word of mouth. And the format, a self-directed open house, was clearly unpopular.

As a result, the Phase 2 PIC will be formatted as a presentation instead of a self-directed open house; it will have a slideshow, microphones for presenters and seats for attendees. Participants asked for more and simplified technical information, particularly in relation to local water quality and quantity, and wastewater treatment and disposal. The next PIC will be held this coming mid-January, and it is anticipated the project Master Plan will be completed in February: delays over the summer have led to a three-month extension of the completion date.

Mayor Vandewal, who had entered the Council meeting for this item, said that the Verona housing project was a high priority proposal in Ontario at the moment because it is a potential candidate for a communal water system. He said he has had recent meetings with Scott Reid and John Jordan, both of whom are interested in rural communal water systems. On Dec 23, Vandewal will be meeting in Toronto with twelve MPPs who want to hear ‘the whole presentation; this project is on everyone’s’ radar at the moment.”

Recent Events

Christine Kennedy phoned in recommending the Halloween evening closure of Mill Street be made permanent: she estimated that several hundred children had participated this year. CAO Fragnito said this would require direction from Council.

Councillor Leonard thanked the organizers of the Verona Remembrance Day service, and Deputy Mayor Sleeth likewise thanked the Sandhill and area community for the Storrington service.