South Frontenac Township – Mar. 16/10

Wilma Kenny | Mar 18, 2010

Rutledge Road Study

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth brought a recommendation that a transportation and intersection improvement plan be developed for the 4km of Rutledge Road from east of Sydenham Road to the Loughborough/Portland border.

There are several planned and proposed developments along this corridor. The Gordon commercial project, the Sydenham High School expansion and the ambulance station are already approved, and four subdivisions (Gordon, Zanet, Morgan and Alton) have been proposed.

This portion of Rutledge has five one-way stop intersections, one school zone and one two-way stop intersection.

Mark Segsworth noted that in spite of many changes in the building environment, transportation modes, traffic control technology and other factors that influence intersection design, there have been little or no changes to the facilities at many of these intersections. The purpose of the study would be to assess existing conditions specific to each of the six intersections, and outline any modifications necessary to improve the safety and traffic flow along Rutledge Road. Segsworth also said that such information would have the additional benefit of helping the township be in a better position to negotiate with future developers and better apportion the costs of some of the upgrading.

The firm of AECOM has traffic expertise, and could complete the study by mid-April at a cost of $14,500, which would be drawn from the 2010 roads budget.

Deputy Mayor Ron Vandewal said he agreed with the need for the study, but didn’t like to approve it before the 2010 budget was finalized.

Councilor Larry York said he thought any study would just be guesswork: “We should do it in parts as we go along.”

Councilor John Fillion said he thought the township already had plenty of studies, and didn’t need another.

“We don’t have anything similar to the one being proposed,” Mayor Gary Davison responded.

Councilor Bill Robinson said he didn’t understand why township staff couldn’t do the study, and wondered what use it would serve. “Will it just go on the shelf?” he asked.

Council narrowly agreed to proceed with the study, with Councilors Fillion, Hicks, Robinson and York voting against it.

STORRINGTON ISSUE: Over 30 members of the Sands Road Residents Association, Storrington, brought their concerns to Council about a proposed 15 lot subdivision. Speaking on their behalf, Kelli McRobert listed issues including effect on wells, small size of lots, potential destruction of wildlife habitat, and increased water runoff.

Mayor Davison said there was no subdivision application before Council yet, only preliminary drawings. He said the proposed lot sizes were unlikely to remain unchanged, as they were smaller than normally required. He thanked the delegates for their “excellent presentation”, assuring them that there would be a public meeting before any decision was made.

SYDENHAM WATER TREATMENT PLANT: Kevin Riley of Kingston PUC presented the annual report on the Sydenham Water Treatment Plant, which was accepted by Council.

CAO Wayne Orr reported that the engineering firm XCG is still working on the detailed design and tendering stages of the treatment plant upgrades, but one aspect of the project that can move forward independently is the improvement in the computer operating system, which includes new hardware, software, programming and engineering. These upgrades are designed to allow for improved control for the plant operators who manage the system.

The vendor of record is Dakins Engineering group, and this component of the project is within the scope of the overall budget for improvements to the plant, and is part of the Build Canada Fund proposal. Council approved it.

TAX DOLLARS AT WORK? Council members each had been given a booklet from the Rideau Valley Conservation Authority, describing the Rideau Lakes Watershed Plan: several councilors objected to the unnecessary expense of such an elaborate publication.