Report to Ratepayers and Residents - February 2019

Good afternoon, all:

It seems that even though all of us are done with winter, it isn’t done with us! Despite that, warmer (and nicer) days will come sooner or later.

This time of year tends to be busier than most, and all the more so with a new term:

1. Budget Talks – Council has already had one day-long session on the 2019 Budget, specifically on ‘capital projects’. In normal talk, that covers things like buildings, roads, equipment and vehicles. Our next session in March will deal with ‘operations’, which is more along the lines of how much we spend for heat, hydro, staffing, fuel for vehicles, etc.

One thing that should be pointed out is that the budget - at this stage – is still evolving. We talk about a number of things (and quite candidly), but until the final budget has been drafted and approved by a Council vote, it should be considered a work in progress.

2. Frontenac Heritage Festival – Sincere congratulations to Councillor Kelsey, Janet Gutowski and all of the organizers and volunteers who worked so hard to make the Festival a success for another year. It is a large undertaking, and the effort really shows. We are lucky to have such dedicated souls in our community!

3. Frontenac Community Arena – As you may have read in the Frontenac News, the FCA has purchased a new ice resurfacer, with delivery anticipated in the summer. The current Olympia has served us well, but has gone beyond it’s useful lifespan. Its replacement is an Engo Red Wolf and is electric. We estimate that over the course of its lifespan, the combined purchase price and operational / maintenance costs make it significantly cheaper to operate. And – unlike the current propane model – we won’t have to run exhaust fans every time it’s used as there are zero emissions.

4. Piccadilly Hall – If you drive by the Hall, you’ll notice that the windows look different. Of course, we are in the midst of a significant renovation that will improve the structure, warmth and energy efficiency of the Hall for years to come. My colleague, Councillor Gowdy, has already suggested a community potluck in the coming weeks in order to celebrate its completion, which is the perfect way to unveil the completed project.

5. Roads – This winter has been particularly bad on our roads. On top of the usual headaches with snow removal, we’ve had temperatures that fluctuate between 5 and minus 20. Add to that rain, freezing rain and melted snow, and you get a situation where the road base gets wet, freezes, thaws, and freezes again. Potholes, cracks, washboards and pitting thrive on this sort of thing.

A lot of you have been very patient as our staff endeavour to keep on top of it all. We also realize that despite all of the hard work, a great deal remains to be done. Those of us around the Council table are working with Public Works to find solutions – including what projects and equipment need to be a priority for 2019 and subsequent years. Believe me when I say that we take every call and every issue seriously, and that every situation is worthy of attention.

The challenge is to try to get the problems resolved within a reasonable time and with the resources we can marshal – always with a mind to doing it better. Both Council and staff are committed to that.

In the meantime – as always – take care of yourselves and stay safe.

Cheers,

Brent