Mid-Year Report

As we start to begin summer in earnest, I wanted to wish one and all the very best, and to bring you up to speed on a number of things. Given that there’s a lot, I’ll list them as best I can:

1. Roads, gravelling, etc. – As with every spring, there is a great deal of road repairs to be done. Gravelling and grading are high on the list, but flooding (like what happened on Oak Flats Road) takes priority. As you may have read in news reports, the Township has prioritized a number of roads for gravelling. I was particularly glad that Oak Flats and Clow Roads are on that list. The folks along those roads have had to deal with potholes and a host of other issues. Getting relief to them should be a priority.

2. Septic Re-inspections – Recently, the township’s septic re-inspection committee delivered a report to Council, much of which outlined the argument for mandatory inspections. While I don’t have a problem with the idea in theory, if you consider the average household income of a Central Frontenac family with the potential cost of replacing a condemned system, there is a huge potential for problems. My comments can be summed up as follows “Demonstrate how a working family in this Township can afford the cost to comply.” Until that can be shown, I believe their work is incomplete.

3. The Parham Fire Hall – By now a lot of people could be forgiven for thinking that a new fire hall for Parham was as likely as snowfall in you-know-where. This was a priority issue during the campaign, and I am happy to say that it was also a priority for Mayor Frances Smith and every member of Council. The land has been purchased and the plans have been laid out. Before the end of 2015, the new facility should be a reality. For those curious as to what the future will hold, take a drive to Mountain Grove and look at their new facility.

4. Events and gatherings – While the calendar is starting to fill up, I will endeavor to try to make as many events as I can. Last Friday, I had the pleasure to attend a luncheon hosted by Southern Frontenac Community Services Corporation, marking the successful conclusion of their ‘Enhancement’ fundraising campaign. Many thanks to Julia Goodfellow (Hinchinbrooke’s own) for her kind invitation. Once upon a time, I was the Chairperson of SFCSC, so it’s gratifying to see how it has grown and expanded all these years.

I also had the pleasure of joining Mayor Smith and other councilors for the unveiling of the new patio at the Simonette Building in Sharbot Lake. The Robinson family have been big boosters of Sharbot Lake, and Central Frontenac Township, so this was a particularly happy occasion.

Over the next couple of weeks, I will be attending a number of lake association AGM’s and other community celebrations, so I hope to see some of you in my travels.

As always, if you need to reach me, I am always available at bcameron@centralfrontenac.com .

Best wishes to you and yours for a happy and safe summer season!