Report to Ratepayers and Residents - August 2020

Dear neighbours and friends,

Although it has been a summer unlike any other in our collective memory, I hope all of you have found ways to reconnect with loved ones and enjoy the good weather (when it hasn’t been dumping down rain like a fire hose).

In terms of the local scene, life – and work – go on, so it’s a good time to do a little catch-up on what’s been going on.

Work has been progressing on Oak Flats and other roads in the area. Many will have noticed the work on the shoulders of 38, and the new gravel that should help keep the edging of the pavement from cracking. Construction values are up year-to-year, and the reconstruction of streets, storm drains and sidewalks in the downtown core of Sharbot Lake is preceding ahead of the initial schedule.

There are, of course, many other areas that need attention. Public Works has been identifying priority roads for work, and it is my hope that the further along we go, the shorter that list will become. In particular, I am eager for when we can get to Westport Road, which is a heavily used route connecting us to South Frontenac, Westport, and the villages of the Rideau Lakes area.

In terms of COVID, moving to Phase 3 has meant a modified reopening of services and facilities in the Township. While we are still required to wear masks and practice degrees of physical distancing, we have a bit more freedom and latitude to go about our daily routines. Still not normal life, but closer than we were a couple of months back.

At this time, I would like to take a moment to address the announced closure of the Frontenac Community Arena for the upcoming season. As a member of the Arena Board, I participated in that decision, and I can assure everyone that it was not taken lightly. The Arena is, for many families, the heart of the community – multiple generations have first laced up a pair of skates on that rink, and our hockey leagues have provided countless moments of enjoyment and celebrations of achievement. That factored into our minds.

Our task, however, is two-fold – to provide a facility that is safe and secure, and one that will last for years to come. We had planned on major reconstruction work on the Arena floor and the in-floor piping for the coolant starting at the end of the 2020-21 season. In updating our cooling system (from an ammonia-based brine system to a glycol-based system) we discovered that some of the pipes were partially blocked. Chemical flushes did not work as well as we hoped, which means that we have taken the decision to move up work already planned and budgeted for the end of this season.

The health and safety of our patrons are of primary concern, and as regrettable as the cancellation is, we are confident that it was the best choice. It also means that when we resume normal operations in September, we will have a facility that can support our Flyers, Fury and Phantoms families for years to come.

As Chair of the township’s Economic Development Committee, I have been working with a great group of people as we embark on a ‘Downtown Revitalization Project’ for Sharbot Lake, which is part of a larger effort that includes the current construction work being done on the streets, storm drains and sidewalks in the village. We have hired a coordinator who is working with our committee as well as the Public Works department on a master plan that will allow us to use this reconstruction as a springboard for more economic activity and investment.

It is important to note that the work we do on this project will form the template for a larger effort across the township. Lessons learned in Sharbot Lake will help us craft strategies for Parham, Tichborne, Godfrey, Arden and Mountain Grove. It is my contention that the bigger value of this project will be measured by how much we can apply this knowledge for all the villages and hamlets in Central Frontenac.

Going forward, there are a number of challenges that we will be facing, made even more pressing with the after-effects of COVID. As much as the work of council deals with the ‘here and now’, it is important to think about what we may face over the next 10 to 20 years. I wanted to share some of the things I’m thinking about:

• Development: With an aging population, we were already seeing a great deal of development occurring with the renovation and upgrading of summer properties into year-round residences. I believe that due to COVID, we will see younger people join this trend as remote working, or “telecommuting” becomes a more desired option. Will this mean a significant growth in our year-round population? What will be the impact on assessments and taxation? More importantly, what will be the impact on services, such as snow removal or use of community facilities? What will be the impact on landfills and recycling costs with a larger off-season population? Will such ideas as communal services (such as septic) in villages and hamlets be part of the answer?

• Connectivity: With more people working from home, and schools – from elementary to secondary to colleges and universities – getting into more distance / online instruction, what do we need to ensure residents have the internet service they need to learn and earn? I wrote a piece for the Frontenac News earlier this year that outlined some of my concerns. High speed internet is now as indispensable as a road network. It could be the answer for Central Frontenac and other rural areas trying to rebuild local communities and economies. Without it, we risk being left further behind than we already are. So how do we ensure that we have the connections we need to survive and thrive in a digital world?

There are, of course, many other issues and topics that could be discussed, but these are some of the items I believe we need to think about when planning for our future. Everyone will have their own list, so I encourage you to post your own in response to this report. Feel free to join in the conversation with your own thoughts on the future of this Township. Where do you see things in 2040 or 2050?

You can drop me a line via Facebook or email me at: bcameron@centralfrontenac.com

In the meantime, please take care of yourselves and one another.

Brent