South Frontenac Township - Dec. 3/13

Wilma Kenny | Dec 04, 2013

Township Planner pans County Plan

South Frontenac Planner Lindsay Mills presented a highly critical assessment of the second draft of Frontenac County’s Official Plan to a meeting of South Frontenac Council on Tuesday night (December 3)

“This is supposed to be a high level document,” said Mills, “but the County is setting policies, rather than directing the townships to set their own policies.”

Some of Mills’ concerns: Although the County plan addresses commerce in hamlets and resorts, it does not mention roadside/highway commercial use. It still wants all housing development to occur in hamlets. It introduces a 150-metre set-back from shorelines, and assigns far too much authority to lake plans, which in Mills’ opinion, tend not to be sufficiently objective.

According to Lindsay Mills, the County appears to want to take over approval of Community Improvement Plans: “Why?” he asks.

Council agreed that the county and township roles in planning were not being clearly configuration of this document.

Lindsay Mills will be presenting his position at a meeting of Frontenac County Council this week.

2014 budget finalised

At the last Committee of the Whole, Council directed staff to make further budget cuts, in response to a greater than expected drop in provincial transfer funding. Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth was asked to cut his budget by $77,000. Segsworth reported that he could do this by cutting $20,000 from gravel resurfacing, $10,000 each from building maintenance at Keeley yard, and equipment maintenance at Hartington yard, and

$37,000 from Keeley sand and salt supply. “I think what’s proposed here is reasonable,” said Segsworth.

Council agreed with Fire Chief Chesebrough’s recommendation to purchase a 3/4 ton truck for station 5, and to replace the chief’s 1/2 ton truck, after Chesebrough listed the extensive repairs needed by both current vehicles.

Council passed the revised preliminary 2014 combined capital and operating budget which will require raising $13.6 million in taxation, a $700,000 increase from 2013. The impact of that increase on ratepayers is buffered by growth in the township. The acerage property will see and increase of 2.91% in their taxes. 1% of this increase will go directly into capital reserves.

Private Lane Upgrading Assistance Program

Public Works Manager Mark Segsworth recommended Council approve payment (a total of $60,000) to seventeen private lane associations to assist with work done on their lanes. These township grants, which do not subsidize gravel resurfacing, will cover up to 50% of the total cost of private lane improvements, once they have been completed. Segsworth said many residents on private lanes still do not seem to be aware of this program: for more information check the Township website or call the Public Works Department.

Portland Waste Disposal Site

Mark Segsworth, in consultation with AECON engineering and Quinte Conservation Authority is recommending a 5 metre sand buffer zone and partial capping of the Portland waste disposal site to manage the seep at the edge of the landfill.

Standardized User Fees for Township Recreation Facilities and Halls

Council approved standardized user fees and user agreements for Township facilities (halls and playing fields), as recommended by the South Frontenac Recreation Committee. These agreements will provide a record of use and operating costs of the various facilities.

Dog Agility Trials Approved for Bill Day Farm

Council approved a special event for dog agility trials to be run by organizer Jennifer Laird, on the weekend of June 6-8, on the Bill Day property just east of Harrowsmith. This will include overnight accommodation for up to 20 travel trailers/campers.

Vandewal becomes Deputy Mayor

Councillor Ron Vandewal took the oath of office as Deputy Mayor for 2014.