South Frontenac Council - May 3/11

Jeff Green | May 05, 2011

South Frontenac squeaks budget through

Surprisingly, four members of South Frontenac Council voted against passage of the 2011 budget, but the over $21 million levy to ratepayers for township, county and education taxes was nevertheless approved in a 5-4 vote.

The overall levy increase for 2011 will be 3%. A flat rate in education taxes and 4% decrease in county taxes will offset an increase in taxes for South Frontenac taxes of about 5.6%.

Councilor Ron Vandewal objected to putting $50,000 in the budget for a new Public Works position that has not yet been approved. The money will sit in the capital reserve fund, and Vandewal argued it should be left in ratepayers’ pockets for another year.

Councilors Larry York, Bill Robinson, and Allan McPhail also opposed the budget.

The budget includes a number of road construction and waste management-related projects, although $1.4 million in road projects, which were slated to be done in accordance with a five-year roads plan, were cut from the budget in order to minimise the tax increase.

By-law Officer Suspects Chickens might be Pigs

Dianne Dowling, president of local 613 of the National Farmers Union, made a brief presentation to council, offering to consult with the township on reviewing their livestock by-law. This was a result of the township’s order that Nathan Smith get rid of the livestock he is keeping on an under-sized lot. Mr. Smith and his wife admit they are keeping 14 hens, one rooster and two ducks on a 2.5 acre lot, and came to council to obtain a few weeks’ extension so they could find alternate homes for their birds. Mayor Davison noted that the by-law officer had reported hearing what she suspected were the sounds of “small pigs” inside the shed on the Smiths’ property, and had submitted pictures of a manure heap that she thought was too large to have been produced by chickens. Davison said the matter would come up for discussion at the Committee of the Whole. When questioned later, Mr. Smith asserted that they did not have pigs. He said he and his wife had not been home when the by-law officer visited, and the chicken shed had been locked.

Private Lane Upgrading Program Popular

Public Works Manager Segsworth reported that his office is already getting queries about the private lane upgrading assistance program for 2011. The purpose of the program is to improve access for emergency vehicles, and is not meant to include standard maintenance. Accordingly, Segsworth asked, and was granted, Council’s permission to include itemized invoicing to application requirements. Full program criteria will be posted on the township website by next week: applications will be accepted until June 17.

Pleasant Valley Municipal Drain Clogged

Chief Building Officer Revill reported that over the winter, he had been able to perform an inspection of this drain, and found that in places, it was overgrown with reed canary grass, and filled with silt, brush and fallen trees. Council agreed with his recommendation that a contractor be hired by the tender process on a time and materials basis to carry out selective cleaning of the drain under Revill’s supervision and within the $10,000 budgeted allocation.

Township Lacks Official, Registered Coat of Arms!

Council passed a motion directing the mayor to “submit a formal letter to the Heraldic Authority of Canada petitioning for a grant of arms for South Frontenac Township.” The Corporate Services Committee is to oversee the development of the arms subject to council’s final approval. Cost will be $435 in 2011 for research and design, and an estimated $2,000 next year for the final artwork. The lack of an official, registered coat of arms had been brought to the township’s attention by Deputy Mayor Tinlin. Tinlin explained that the design presently used on township documents was merely a logo, as were the “items quilted by the women” presently hanging in the hall, representing each of the four districts which made up the amalgamated township.

A Master Plan For Loughborough Memorial Park

Councilor John McDougall said he had no wish to delay installation of the football field lights, but expressed concern that it is unclear how much of the park’s master plan has been accepted by council, and how much of it is piecemeal. He made a motion that capital budget items pertaining to the Loughborough Memorial Park’s master plan concerning development should be held in reserve until there has been consultation with the recreation committee, the Limestone District School Board and the community. McDougall estimated this could be accomplished in less than two months. The motion passed, with Stowe, Vandewal and Davison opposed.

Sydenham Water

The Sydenham water plant was switched over to the new cloramination treatment system on May 27: an information open house is scheduled for Thursday May 5: 5:30-7:30,at the township hall, Sydenham.

This Is Emergency Preparedness Week

An excellent booklet describing emergency planning, and listing items for basic emergency kits (even a few recipes) can be ordered from the website: www.GetPrepared.ca or by calling 1-800-622-6232.