Council may sell Tory Hill fire hall

Posted By Terrance Gavan

Posted 9 months ago

The following are brief reports of items discussed at Nov. 10 meeting of Highlands East council.

An adverse water sample at the Tory Hill Fire Hall and Rec Centre – and the attendant costs involved for the processing of the water quality at the hall – launched a proposal from council to investigate selling the complex, and thus doing away with the costly site entirely.

He said that although the adverse sample did not present a risk to health, the problem requires that a comprehensive sampling and lab reports must be completed.

The municipality is also looking at replacing the UV system, a cost estimated at $500. Ellis said that there are other costs including heat, hydro, supplies and other costs that are also involved in the yearly upkeep.

"Why don't we just sell it?" Deputy-reeve Jim Mackie said.

"It's sitting there and not being utilized, so we should probably consider it," said Councillor Gary Stoughton.

Reeve Dave Burton said that it was his understanding that the building was being used for storage and concurred with council that it might be worth exploring the sale of the complex at the next council meeting, Nov. 24.

Legal action threatened over property lines

Ken Sanderson, who last petitioned Highlands East council at the Sept. 8 meeting of council, was back again in chambers Nov. 10 with a request to purchase a road allowance bordering a lot he owns in Cardiff township.

It's a purchase that he said is necessary in order to parcel his land, adding that the acquisition of the road allowance is a big part of his retirement plan.

During that meeting in September, Sanderson said, "My property is totally surrounded … by municipal property. I'm landlocked. I'm totally landlocked. I'm not obstructing anybody, I'm not harming anybody. These parcels are my old-age security part that I'm relying on to bring me in a dollar to live on. My pension is not sufficient."

Council at that time tabled his request for the November meeting. Sanderson was back last Tuesday, but was greeted with bad news.

Councillor Gary Stoughton told Sanderson that council had never sold roads in the past, and that he was concerned that selling this road allowance would set a precedent.

Council voted after a short discussion and Sanderson's request to purchase the road allowance was denied.

Sanderson hinted that he may have to seek out other alternatives. "I have a solicitor, and this may not be the end of it," he said.

Beaver dam damage on Minnicock Lake

Doug Stephens appeared before council to seek redress for washouts on Minnicock Lake Road, damage that he said was ongoing and detrimental to traffic.

Council agreed that the problem must be addressed, but added that some of the responsibility for the repairs should be shared with Dysart et al.

The motion was held over until council receives a reply from Dysart.

Recycling operation proposed

Greg Filtsos appeared before council with a proposal for a recycling operation in Highlands East.

"I'm here with an update," said Filtsos. "I was here about a year ago, and at that time we did not have a location for the operation." He asked if it might be possible to set up his operation in one of the municipality's existing landfill sites.

"I'm asking council for any suggestions," he said.

Chief administrative officer, Sharon Stoughton-Craig, said that council would need a business plan and some additional information before any move could be made to offer Filtsos an operating venue on a council landfill.

Filtsos said that the plan was not a problem, however a suitable location was a stumbling block.

"The business plan is not a problem, the costs for set up are not a problem, the machinery is not a problem, but the location is a problem," said Filtsos.

He said that he would return to council with an operational business plan.

Community Care gets grant for transportation

Gord MacDonald the executive director of Community Care North Hastings appeared before council with a petition for funds that would support a transportation program in the Highlands East catchment area.

MacDonald said that he was petitioning several municipalities with regard to a provincial gas tax rebate for public transport.

"As Community Care North Hastings provides wheelchair accessible transportation to your municipality, it qualifies us to apply for rebate dollars," MacDonald wrote in a letter to council.

He said that the Ministry of Transport (MTO) will grant the rebate provided the petitioner has joint support from municipalities or one municipality willing to take the lead.

MacDonald said that Bancroft has already agreed to take the lead, but he said that MTO requires that each municipality make a contribution toward transit service, affirmed by a resolution of council.

"Presently we charge $11 per ride from Cardiff and McGillvary Road to Bancroft, four stops in Bancroft and a return trip home," said MacDonald.

He said based on that paradigm they would be asking for an annual contribution of $6,057. He added that they could up the levy up to $15 per ride, a proposal that would reduce Highlands East's contribution to $4,057 annually.

Deputy Reeve Mackie said that a fare increase of $4 might be too onerous on the people involved.

Council agreed and passed a resolution to "Support the transportation program annually in the amount of $6,057 to begin Jan. 1, 2010."

The resolution also supports Bancroft receiving and being responsible for its annual share of dedicated gas tax funds from the province as the host municipality for the program.

Council also approved a one-time only donation of $4,000 toward the purchase of a new bus effective Jan. 1, 2010.

Survival training

in the works

Compulsory firefighter survival training may be just around the corner for the municipality's volunteers, the fire chief told council.

Bill Wingrove said the Highlands East volunteer fire department received notice of a possible provincial move to compulsory survival training.

Whether it's mandatory or not, the program is a good idea, he said. The province is looking for facilitators, firefighters that would be available to oversee the survival-training curriculum, he said.

Highlands East, like a lot of volunteer fire departments would be able to save a considerable amount of money if they had facilitators on board, firefighters able to take on the training of the volunteer contingent in this district.

The course entails a week of intensive training.

Costs include registration for $550 a person, plus accommodations and other expenses for the week.

Mackie – a long-time volunteer firefighter – said he would be willing to attend the facilitator course with another Highlands East firefighter.

In other fire department news, council authorized repairs to the roof of fire station two.

The cats are closer

to a home

Highlands East council remains dedicated to finding a home for the numerous feral cats that are roaming unrestricted through their dappled hills and dales.

Now, before you grin and grumble, there is precedent for such stoic action.

Google "parliamentary cats" and you will find reference to a colony of feral cats that live near the cloistered confines of Parliament Hill in Ottawa.

The Parliamentary Cats are a collection of stray cats living in the precinct of the Hill.

And so last Tuesday, council looked at a costing proposal for a shelter, based on a plan put forward by a local cat lover to locate a colony for feral cats somewhere on municipal land. Council had their planners draw up a building plan.

Council received a petition for the start up of a feral cat colony at an earlier meeting of council.

The plan specified a location on "municipally owned land without close neighbours who may be affected by the cats."

"All costs associated to the running and maintenance of the feral colony would be the sole responsibility of the colony caretakers," according to the plan.

The caretakers further promise to take on all liability issues including the specific costs associated with care and control, including trapping and neutering of the animals, food, water, vaccination, including transportation costs to and from vet clinics.

Total cost to the municipality including outside building, portable pet carriers and insulation is estimated at $6,010.

Stoughton suggested that one of the landfill sites might present the best possible site for the establishment of the cat colony operation. The colony would need access to electricity and Stoughton said that the landfill location would also provide a modicum of security for the colony. Council tabled the proposal for further study.