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HIRA BRIEFING NOTE- March 27, 2022

This is a brief note to HIRA members and other residents of Howe Island about the Township of Frontenac Islands regular council meeting held on Monday, March 14, 2022. The public was provided with Zoom access to the meeting and a couple of our HIRA directors called into the meeting. Only matters of particular interest to Howe Island residents are highlighted here.

• North Shore Road Resurfacing:

Contract for double surface treatment of North Shore Road, from Howe Island Drive east to Pat Norris residence, has been awarded to Miller Paving Ltd. Contract cost is estimated at $68,040. The contractor expects to complete before the end of June, 2022.

• Lower Side Road:

No change from our last briefing note.

Application of 2” of gravel to stabilize surface is to be completed as soon as stone is available from a supplier on Howe Island (cost considerations require use of a local supplier as it is very expensive to bring stone from the mainland). Completion is expected late spring of 2022.

We understand that brush will be trimmed back from the roadside over the course of the spring and summer of 2022.

Township council plans to pass a by-law at the next council meeting, scheduled for April 4, 2022, to lower the speed limit on Lower Side Road to 60 km/hr.

• Drive System Upgrade for County Ferry:

As we reported in our previous briefing note, Rob Dillabough, Public Works Manager, advises that bid specifications for a new drive system for the County ferry are now with Procurements Ontario and he expects the project to go out for bid by end of March 2022.  Stay tuned.

• Update on Norris Park upgrades:

As we reported previously, a final site plan has been completed.

Playground equipment has been ordered and will be installed in the spring of this year.

As we reported previously, fencing work has been completed.

A contractor is in place to complete the tennis/pickleball court and the basketball court. Installation is expected to be completed in the spring of this year.

With respect to the picnic/concert pavilion, staff are still engaged in preparing a Request for Proposal. The plan is the completed facility will be in place by late fall of this year.

Staff are still engaged in preparation of a Request for Proposal for the accessible washroom/storage building. The plan is for a completed facility to be available by late fall of this year.

LED lighting for the ball diamond has been completed.

• Howe Island Recreation Trail:

As previously reported application of stone is to be completed as local        stone supply becomes available. It is expected to take place in the spring of this year.

• New marine building at the township ferry landing:

No change from our last briefing note. Township staff are preparing documents to request bids for design work.

END of COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Other info of interest

• Water Level Data Sources:

With the arrival of spring, water level data becomes an important resource for many Islanders. The following links provide timely, accurate water level data for local residents:

1. The weekly water level bulletin (updated every Tuesday) here:

https://www.isdm-gdsi.gc.ca/isdm-gdsi/twl-mne/wb-bh-eng.asp

• The monthly water level bulletin here:

https://waves-vagues.dfo-mpo.gc.ca/Library/41036438_012022.pdf

• And if your need is immediate you can phone the Kingston gauge for an instant water level at:

 613-544-9264

END of BRIEFING NOTE

This is a brief note to HIRA members and other residents of Howe Island about the Township of Frontenac Islands regular council meeting held on Monday, February 14, 2022. In light of Covid-19 restrictions, the meeting was virtual. The public was provided with Zoom access to the meeting and a couple of our HIRA directors called into the meeting. Only matters of particular interest to Howe Island residents are highlighted here.

• By-Law 2022-04:

Council passed by-law 2022-04, being a by-law authorizing the township to levy taxes for the 2022 tax year.

• 2022 Budget Finalized:

The 2022 township budget was finalized and approved by council. The budget provides for an estimated property tax increase for Howe Island residents, net of development charges levied on new construction in 2021, of 3.0% (vs. an estimated net increase of 2.6% for Wolfe Island residents).

Given that Statistics Canada reported a year-over-year increase of 4.8% in the Consumer Price Index at the end of December 2021, we think township council is to be commended for bringing in the 2022 budget that has been passed.

• Progress re Drive System Upgrade for County Ferry:

Responding to a question from Deputy Mayor Bruce Higgs, Rob Dillabough, Public Works Manager, advised that bid specifications for a new drive system for the County ferry are now with Procurements Ontario and he expects the project to go out for bid within the next month.  Stay tuned.

• Update on Norris Park upgrades:

As we reported previously, a final Site plan has been completed and

playground equipment has been ordered and will be installed in the spring of this year.

As we reported previously, fencing work has been completed.

The bid process for the tennis/pickleball court and the basketball court has been completed. Installation is expected to be completed in the spring of this year.

With respect to the picnic/concert pavilion, staff are engaged in preparing a Request for Proposal.

Staff are also engaged in preparation of a Request for Proposal for the accessible washroom/storage building.

North Shore Road project: complete surface treatment. Bid has been advertised. Public Works Manager expects to have report before Council for award before the end of March.

Lower Side Road: application of 2” of gravel to stabilize surface to be completed as soon as stone is available from supplier on Howe Island (cost considerations require use of a local supplier as it is very expensive to bring stone from the mainland).

Howe Island Recreation Trail: application of stone to be completed as local stone supply becomes available. It is expected to take place in the spring of this year.

New marine building at the township ferry landing: Township staff are preparing documents to request bids for design work.

Grass Cutting Contract 2022-2023: Contract to cut grass at all township properties through the 2023 season has been awarded to Island Property Management.

New Firefighter Recruits: Fire Chief Mike Quinn reported, after conducting a community wide campaign to recruit additional firefighters, that eleven (11) new firefighters will be joining the fire department and will undergo a one-year probationary period.

END of COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

END of BRIEFING NOTE

This is a brief note to HIRA members and other residents of Howe Island about the Township of Frontenac Islands regular council meeting held on Monday, January 10, 2022 as well as a special council meeting held on January 13, 2022 to continue with the township’s 2022 budget process . In light of Covid-19 restrictions, the meeting was virtual. The public was provided with Zoom access to the meetings. A couple of our HIRA directors called into each meeting. Only matters of particular interest to Howe Island residents are highlighted here.

• Winter Parking Restrictions:

Council passed a by-law to impose winter parking restrictions on all municipal streets, roads and municipally-owned parking lots. Parking is not allowed between the hours of 1:00 a.m. and 7 a.m. during the period December 21 and March 31 in order to allow for winter snow clearing.

Interference with the removal of snow or road maintenance may cause your vehicle to be towed and impounded at the expense of the vehicle’s owner.

• Howe Island Garden Buds Funding 2022:

Council has approved a request for increased funding for 2022 submitted by the Howe Island Garden Buds. Funding from the township will be increased to $1,500.00 in 2022, an increase of $500.00 from 2021. Given the fine work performed each year by the Howe Island Garden Buds, the increased funding represents money

well spent.

• Norris Park Upgrades:

Site plan has been completed.

Playground equipment has been ordered and will be installed in the spring of this year.

Fencing work has been completed.

Requests for Quote have been issued for the tennis/pickleball court, the basketball court and the pavilion.

Accessible washrooms are expected to be completed in the spring of 2022.

Items identified as 2022 budget priorities for Howe Island include:

North Shore Road project: complete surface treatment

Lower Side Road: application of 2” of gravel to stabilize surface

Lower Side Road: cutting brush back from road

Howe Island Recreation Trail: application of stone

New marine building: at the township ferry landing

Estimated Property Tax Increase 2022: Preliminary estimates of property tax increase arising from the 2022 budget process called for an increase of approximately 2.7% for Howe Island property owners.

We understand that Council is considering a proposal to provide for a larger road reserve for Howe Island. If adopted this would result in a final 2022 tax increase of approximately 3.0% for Howe Islanders. A final determination is expected to be made at the next regular council meeting scheduled for February 14, 2022. We will provide updates as more information becomes available.

END of COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS

Other Items of Interest:

2022 FARE SCHEDULE FOR HOWE ISLAND FERRY OPERATION:

As we reported in last in our October 2021 briefing note, Council passed Bylaw No 2021-25 at their October 12, 2021 meeting to set fees and fares that will apply in 2022 for the Howe Island ferry operation. It is our understanding there are no changes in store for 2022. Fees & fares will be the same as those that were in place for 2021.

Howe Island County Ferry Out of service:

Frontenac County Marine Services has advised the county ferry will be out of service on Tuesday, February 8, 2022 between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. to allow staff to replace the main engine on the vessel. If you will be using the township ferry during those hours it would be advisable to allow yourself extra time to complete the trip.

END of BRIEFING NOTE