South Frontenac Council - Nov. 12/13

Wilma Kenny | Nov 14, 2013

Petworth Road subdivision emerges from the shadows

For months Hartington residents living in the vicinity of Petworth Road have been raising alarm bells about what they thought was coming, a proposed subdivision on Petworth Road that they say will affect the delicate water table in the area. And for months Mayor Davison and other members of Council have said Council can’t respond until an application for subdivision approval is brought to the township. Now, that has happened.

Township Planner Lindsay Mills informed Council that he has received a 49 lot proposal that would connect Boyce Road To Petworth Road, and run along the west side of the K&P trail line has . Mills emphasized that there are still a number of issues to be resolved before the plan can be considered for formal approval: Mayor Davison advised the local residents who were attending the meeting that there will be a public meeting for their comments before any decisions are made.

Mills also brought forward preliminary information about a proposal for 16 lots in Incerary.

Sydenham Water: Rates to Rise

Treasurer Louise Fragnito quoted the Sustainable Water and Sewage System Act (SWSSA) which “seeks to introduce the principle that having consumers pay the full cost of providing water…services will promote water conservation and greater awareness of water and environmental protection.”

However Sydenham residents are using, on average, only 3/4 of the volume that they are paying for, and a raise in rates will be an unlikely incentive to use even less. (35 cubic metres actually used per quarter, vs the 54 cubic metres per quarter for which residents are being charged a base rate of $125.28)

Nonetheless Fragnito argued that in order to bank some reserves toward the calculated annual depreciation of $165,423, and to cover the estimated inflation of operating rates, water rates will need to increase.

Most councillors leaned toward a plan which would see commercial rates set higher than household ones (commercial use is almost three times higher than residential). Councillor Mcdougall said that classing the two seniors’ non-profit apartments in Sydenham as commercial might jeopardize affordable housing. Council was also divided on the question of whether those Sydenham residents who have not connected to municipal water should pay a penalty for non-use of the system.

None of the proposed rate increases would be enough to cover all projected eventual major repair costs. Councillor Vandewal said he was not too concerned about the projected shortfall, as long as current running costs could be covered, with some reserves set aside.

“Even the city of Kingston goes to the (higher levels of government) for help with infrastructure repairs,” Vandewal said.

The next step in the water rates saga will be a public meeting with Sydenham residents.

Dog Tags

CAO Orr reported that the fees charged by the Kingston Humane Society have “dramatically increased” in the past two years, while at the same time the voluntary purchase of dog tags has decreased, resulting in a shortfall that has to be covered from general taxation. As a result, Orr recommended an increase in dog tag and kennel license fees, and in the charge for reclaiming dogs from the KHS, as well as shortening the present five days for reclaiming dogs to the legally required three.

Council seemed to favour these changes, but did not agree with Orr’s recommendation that the deadline for purchase at the least expensive rate be moved forward so it would not coincide so closely with the property tax due date. Although this would have relieved pressure on the township office staff, many people, as Councillor Barr pointed out, would prefer not to have to make two separate trips to the municipal offices.

CAO Orr took advantage of this opening to make a plea for residents to pay their taxes directly through the bank: “Some people get their tax money from the bank, and carry it over to us, so we can carry it back to the bank.”

Budget Note

Saturday November 17, Council is holding a special all-day meeting to work their way through next year’s budget: Orr distributed the proposed budget developed so far: as it stands, it would represent a tax increase to the ‘average property’ of 2.91%.