HIRA BRIEFING NOTE- March 27, 2022

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

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