South Frontenac Council - Jan. 13/09

Jeff Green | Jan 15, 2009

Grumpy over splitting costs of road repair

South Frontenac Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth brought forth a recommendation that South Frontenac agree to pay $4,127 to Central Frontenac to cover half the cost of bringing up the level of what Segsworth described as a “private laneway driveway in the vicinity of Arena Boundary Road.”

Segsworth wanted council to make it clear, however, in submitting the payment that “any future maintenance requirements on this laneway/driveway will be the sole responsibility of the Township of Central Frontenac.”

The road in question bisects the two townships, and it contains a low spot which had been subject to flooding due to persistent beaver damming on private lands in South Frontenac and some land that is under the jurisdiction of the Quinte Conservation Authority.

The property owner, Gary Morey, claims that the road is a public roadway and that the township has maintained it in the past. He also claims that an agreement exists whereby Central Frontenac is supposed to maintain the road.

Central Frontenac spent $8245 on the road in recent weeks, and both townships have blown up beaver dams as well.

In his report, Segsworth said that South Frontenac had indicated to Central Frontenac “that we were prepared to work with them to haul gravel to build this laneway up. We were not aware that they were going to hire a contractor and request that South Frontenac pay half.”

“We might as well be neighbourly,” said Councilor Bill Robinson.

“It’s hard not to,” agreed Councilor Alan McPhail.

“I don’t think we can set the precedent of doing work on a private laneway,” said Councilor David Hahn.

“Years ago Portland did work on that road,” said Mayor Davison.

In the end council approved the expenditure. Councilor Hahn voted against it, and two councilors, Stowe and Filion, were absent from the meeting.

Snow Disposal – Council agreed to pay $2,000 to Peter Darling for the use of his gravel quarry near Sydenham as a place to dump snow that is removed from streets in the village of Sydenham. The location is closer for township trucks than the Loughborough dump, which was used last year.

Blue Box – Council voted to support the position taken by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario regarding recycling. The position is that manufacturers take 100% responsibility for the cost of recycling the products and packaging they produce, up from the current 50%.

Construction figures in – The total value of construction in the township was $22,204,000 in 2008, down substantially from 2007, which was a record year at $29,217,000. But 2008 levels were still higher than 2006 ($18,867,000) and 2005 ($22,363,000). Seventy-four new family dwelling were built in 2008, which is the lowest number in the last 9 years.

Sydenham Water Committee – Council agreed to reformulate the Sydenham Water Committee. The committee is being set up as a communication tool, Council said, and will likely be made up of 2 members of council and 3 from the public. CAO Gord Burns will set out the parameters and bring a proposed structure back to the next council meeting.