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, July 11, 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:
As we reported in our briefing note last month, public works staff acknowledge the need for repair and rehab on the stretch of North Shore Road from Lower Side Road east to Byrne Point Road. Council has indicated this will be a priority for the 2023 road budget and will be discussed at length by council and staff during the fall 2022 facilities tour of Howe Island.
- Lower Side Road:
Calcium will be applied on the southern half of Lower Sideroad over the summer to mitigate dust hazards.
We understand that brush will be trimmed back from the roadside over the course of the summer of 2022.
- Roadside Mowing:
The first round of roadside mowing has been completed around the entire island and staff is also working on trimming around guiderails.
- Drive System Upgrade for County Ferry:
Bid specifications for a new drive system for the County ferry have been provided to Procurements Ontario and the project is still out for bid. We understand bidding was extended to July 8, 2022.
We also understand the county plans to have the new drive system installed in the fall of 2022 at the same time the county ferry undergoes its out-of-water inspection.
- Norris Park upgrades:
Playground equipment has been installed.
As we reported previously, all fencing work has been completed.
A contractor is in place to complete the tennis/pickleball court and the basketball court. Asphalt work has been completed. Backboard, hoop and net lines are to be completed in the near future.
With respect to the picnic/concert pavilion and the accessible washroom facility, construction work on the accessible washroom building began on July 4, 2022. Construction work on the pavilion will begin as soon as the washroom/storage building is completed.
LED lighting for the ball diamond has been completed.
We understand the plan is for a completed facility to be available by late fall of this year.
Potential candidates may pick up Nomination Packages at the township municipal office or you can download them from the township website.
C.A.O. Darlene Plumley advises the following candidates have filed their nomination papers as of July 6, 2022:
Candidate for Mayor : Judy Greenwood-Speers
Candidate for Township Council (Howe Island): Bruce Higgs
NFPA regulations require that Howe Island Fire & Rescue retire their front-line fire pumper truck in the very near future. Utilizing the GovDeals on-line auction site, Chief Quinn was able to purchase a replacement pumper truck from the Town of Gananoque. The replacement truck exceeds all specifications and testing requirements and is expected to deliver seven years of front-line service (it is in mint condition). Purchase price for the new truck is $23,400.
At the same time, Chief Quinn was able to sell the outgoing pumper truck, again using the GovDeals action site, to a fire and rescue service in Saskatchewan. The purchaser is assuming all shipping costs to get the outgoing truck to its destination. Selling price for the old truck was $21,201.
Talk about value-for-money spending….the net cost of both transactions to the township is $2,199. Nice work indeed Chief Quinn!!
END of COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS
Other info of interest
- Ferry Service Updates:
If you are not receiving email notifications re ferry service issues and updates and you would like to be included on the county email list please contact:
Dakota Thompson,
Manager, Marine Services
County of Frontenac
(613) 542-4959
email: dthompson@frontenaccounty.ca
END of BRIEFING NOTE
PLEASE NOTE: If you are a member of HIRA, thank you for your support. If you are not a member, please consider joining at $10 per year. Yearly membership dues are due on January 1 of each year. If you have paid, thank you.
If you have not paid, please send or deliver a cheque payable to HIRA to one of our Directors or place a cheque into the HIRA mailbox at the roadside at the Township Office. You can also pay by e-transfer to memberservices@howeisland.org.