HIRA BRIEFING NOTE- June 30, 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, June 13, 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:
Double surface treatment of North Shore Road, from Howe Island Drive east to Pat Norris residence, was completed by Miller Paving Ltd. on June 24, 2022.
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:
Application of 2” of gravel to stabilize surface was completed earlier in June. The road was graded and rolled at the same time.
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 new tractor acquired by the township for use by Howe Island staff has been placed in service. 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 ferryhave been provided to Procurements Ontario and the project is still out for bid. We understand bidding will close on June 28, 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:
The Howe Island Recreation Committee met on June 14, 2022.
A final site plan has been completed.
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, the township has accepted a bid from UBCON Construction Limited to complete construction of both structures. Contractor has ordered material and construction is expected to begin in the near future.
No timelines have been provided by the contractor yet. We understand 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:
Trail has been completely mowed for the first time this year. We have been advised that township staff will complete application of stone on the trail in the near future.
· New marine building at the township ferry landing: Township staff are still waiting on design plans for the building.
· Website upgrade for Township of Frontenac Islands:
As we reported in our May 2022 briefing note, Township Council have approved a plan to overhaul and upgrade the municipal website.
It is expected the upgrade will take approximately 6-9 months to complete. The upgrade is expected to deliver a website that is more informative and user-friendly than the one currently in use.
· Township request for provincial subsidy re 2021 ferry costs:
The township has submitted its annual request to senior levels of government for a subsidy in respect of 2021 operating costs for the Howe Island ferries. The amount of subsidy requested is $455,758.89.
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
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