South Frontenac Council - Apr. 5/11

Jeff Green | Apr 07, 2011

Council likes trailhead centre idea. Will the public?

By Jeff Green

Landscape architect and designer, Scott Wentworth, presented the concept drawings for a trailhead centre at the junction of the Cataraqui and K&P Trails in Harrowsmith to South Frontenac Council on Tuesday night, April 5.

Wentworth was hired by Frontenac County to come up with a design concept for the centre. The presentation was the same one that he gave to Frontenac County Council in mid-February and comes just a few days before the first public open house about the plan, which is scheduled for Monday, April 11, between 6 and 8 pm at the Social & Athletic Club in Harrowsmith, just down the road from the site of the proposed centre.

The plan, which Wentworth made clear was only in the concept stages, includes some parkland and a small open structure. It also includes a 20 by 40 foot building that in Scott Wentworth’s vision would not be a replica of the train station that once stood on the spot, but would have design features so that it would echo the look of the Harrowsmith station.

Accompanying Wentworth at the presentation were Anne Marie Young from Frontenac County and Rob Gerritson from the Cataraqui Region Conservation Authority.

Very preliminary costing for the project is $600,000, and the Conservation Authority, South Frontenac Township, Frontenac County, and even the City of Kingston are all potential partners in bringing it about.

The plan was well received by most of council, although Councilor Bill Robinson merely asked a few questions about public involvement and logistics but did not express any support. Councilor Ron Vandewal said he liked the idea, as did Councilor Allan McPhail, but McPhail directly expressed a concern that Vandewal had alluded to.

“This will only work if there is community involvement from the residents of Harrowsmith. It will have to be a project they are part of,” he said.

Councilor Del Stowe, who is the chair of the Cataraqui Trail Management Board, said, “I really like this plan. I hope the people of Harrowsmith do too.”

Mileage for SF Central Recreation Committee

by Wilma Kenny

SF Central Recreation Committee has asked that its members be reimbursed mileage costs for attending meetings, as of Jan 1, 2011. Annual cost at $.55/km is estimated to be $2400. In response to CAO Wayne Orr’s concerns that this could set a precedence for other committees, Councilor Ron Vandewal pointed out that unlike other committees, the members of this committee have been asked to attend meetings in Sydenham, which is outside the districts of all but two. The SF Committee of Adjustment already pays mileage to its members. After further discussion, Council endorsed the motion unanimously.

Website Improvement Funding Sought

The newly formed Corporate Services Committee (Councilors Mark Tinlin, Ron Vandewal and Larry York) have recommended that $10,000 be added to the 2011 budget, for redevelopment of the township website. This is in acknowledgment of the need for improved communication with the public. Council agreed to include this amount in their budget deliberations next week.

Multi-year Road Plan to Reach Beyond Township Boundaries

South Frontenac’s roads department is facing major funding issues. The 2010 roads budget drew heavily from reserves, and 2011 budget discussions include sharp cuts to the roads department. As well, the current annual funding of $600,000 for arterial roads in and out of Kingston will end in 2013. In response to a suggestion from Councilor Vandewal, council passed a proposal to direct their staff to meet with neighboring municipalities to develop a joint multi-year strategy for both road construction and funding. One advantage would be a stronger political voice for improved provincial funding.

Waste Recycling Strategy Approved

The township’s Waste Recycling Strategy has to be annually approved by Council, in order to receive maximum blue box funding from Stewardship Ontario. It is a living document, regularly seeking and incorporating public input. Its current emphasis will be on increasing waste diversion through improving public education and promotion. One goal is to add 10 years to the life span of township landfill by diversion: i.e. putting more waste into blue box recycling and less in the garbage. Others are to make recycling services available to all residents, encourage more people to recycle, and to reduce recycling costs by 10% per tonne over the next ten years.

Proposed Public Works Department Restructuring

As requested by council, Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth submitted an outline of job duties that would be assigned the proposed new position of Solid Waste and Facilities Supervisor. He noted that new programs and chronic understaffing had contributed to under-maintenance of township facilities and buildings.

Councilor Vandewal said that although he agreed the need seemed real, he was not in favour of hiring any new staff until the amalgamation of the township offices, in the hope this would achieve some new staffing efficiencies.

There was general agreement to refer Segsworth’s request to the Public Works and Services Committee for their consideration and recommendation. Vandewal also suggested that the $50,000 (half-year) salary be included in the 2011 proposed budget, so if the position were to be approved, funding would be available. This was carried.