Latest / North Shore News / April 9th, 2025

Transcript

April 9th, 2025 · North Shore News

0:07
Welcome to North Shore News and Interviews on
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Amherst Island Radio. Each week we keep you updated
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on newsworthy events, happenings and conversations
0:18
that we've had with people in the local community
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and beyond. Amherst Island Recreation Association,
0:28
a brand new volunteer group on the island, presented
0:31
their first year -end report at Loyalist Township
0:33
Council, highlighting successes. Members of the
0:36
association noted the $5 ,000 in community grants
0:39
they received from the township, as well as other
0:42
expenditures and profits from the year. They
0:44
noted a total of just over $25 ,000 in expenses
0:47
for the year and nearly $27 ,000 in revenue.
0:50
Volunteers in the association are made up of
0:52
three executive members and six others. Over
0:55
the course of 2024, the association gained over
0:57
1200 followers and subscribers across online
1:00
platforms. Lynn Wimminga, a member of the association,
1:04
explained some of the work they did in 2024,
1:06
highlighting how many residents were engaged.
1:08
In 2024, we had 12 programs, either weekly or
1:12
monthly. Six community events, 242 private Facebook
1:19
members, over 1 ,200 island Facebook members,
1:22
and this is part of how we get the word out about
1:26
our programs and our events. Several Facebook
1:29
chat groups for the different weekly programs.
1:32
82 newsletter subscribers with a lot of engagement
1:35
here, there, and one engaged community. Treasurer
1:39
for the Association Mike Walhout spoke about
1:41
community support. It's going well. This is our
1:44
first year and we're getting our feet under ourselves.
1:47
There's been some extra cost getting the not
1:49
-for -profit set up and that sort of thing. It
1:51
needs to be pointed out that everybody on Amherst
1:54
Island that comes to our events and especially
1:57
the hold down was our first licensed event again
2:00
at the school for a number of years. And Chelsea,
2:05
our chair, made a speech and there was a huge
2:07
round of applause. The community is very much
2:10
behind getting back and using the community center.
2:14
Walhaut mentioned the fundraisers they ran through
2:16
the year, noting grants they received as well.
2:18
Our fundraisers, you know, we were successful
2:21
in the fish fry and the hoedown. And then we
2:24
have the Canada Day through the community grant,
2:27
as well as the Jingle Mingle. We were able to
2:31
apply for the community grant as well for that
2:34
one. And then we, outside, we were able to...
2:38
to get this sports equipm quite filled that grant
2:41
y us some equipment that we community as well.
2:46
Women the programs they ran in rec programs were
2:51
youth vo we had five to eight partic we did 16
2:57
plus volleyball, all ages sports, basketball,
3:04
50 plus pickleball, another popular one, youth
3:08
soccer, a winter walking club so that people
3:11
could walk indoors without slipping, youth art
3:15
classes, drama workshops, community cards once
3:18
a month, and yarn and Yammer once a month as
3:21
well. Wimingo went on to mention the events the
3:24
association ran in 2024, noting the number of
3:27
participants. The events that we held were a
3:30
community game night, a fish fry and bingo, and
3:33
I checked the numbers on that we had about 117
3:36
people there, Canada Day barbecue music and fireworks.
3:41
It's a high holiday on Amherst Island. The Island
3:44
Autumn Hoedown, we did an eight -hour dance.
3:47
So 223 people came throughout the day. Jingle
3:52
and Mingle, and we had about 80 participants
3:55
for that, which was great. And the Parade of
3:59
Lights at Home, we had about 27 entries on our
4:03
map that people could go around and see. Weminga
4:07
described the mission of the association. Our
4:10
mission is of the Amherstown Recreation Association.
4:14
We're exclusively volunteer based and we're supporting
4:17
the health and wellness of Amherstown residents
4:19
and residents of the Loyalist Township through
4:22
the provision of recreational program. By creating
4:26
opportunities for social connection and physical
4:28
activity, we aim to promote a healthy lifestyle
4:31
and contribute to the development of a united
4:34
and thriving community. In addition to recreational
4:37
program, our organization seeks to support community
4:41
projects and events on Amherst Island and considers
4:44
the needs of the community as a whole, as well
4:46
as special interest groups. Deputy Mayor Nathan
4:49
Townend noted the work the association is doing.
4:52
A good first year and appreciation to everyone
4:56
who works hard. You know, it's an example of
4:58
good collaboration between the township and the
5:01
community group doing good work. For Amherst
5:04
Island Radio and the Local Journalism Initiative,
5:07
I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore News. Loyalist
5:20
Township will be following strategies set in
5:22
place by Lenox and Addington County to mitigate
5:24
the effects of U .S. tariffs. Council's latest
5:27
motion regarding tariffs has set a standard for
5:29
how they'll approach procurement and economic
5:31
development as the situation continues to change.
5:34
The report noted the effects felt locally in
5:36
Loyalist Township. Going forward, staff will
5:39
be investigating the implementation of a bi -Canadian
5:41
procurement policy, including comparing approaches
5:44
from other municipalities and completing a solicitor
5:47
review. Township staff will be working with county
5:49
staff, as well as the other lower -tier municipalities,
5:52
to share information. A report will then be brought
5:55
back to Council at a future meeting. Director
5:57
of Finance and Treasurer Shelley Steadall noted
6:00
the Township's plan going forward. this item
6:02
is fluid so a report was written on April the
6:06
1st and of course there's been changes since
6:08
then you know going forward the recommendation
6:11
is to follow the strategies that are outlined
6:14
with the with Blandingston -Addington County
6:17
that we follow their lead and work with them
6:20
and also that we continue to investigate the
6:24
implementation of a bi -Canadian procurement
6:25
policy some of the different policies they've
6:28
been changing and we haven't really found one
6:30
that we've adopted and if we do find something,
6:33
then we will take it back to our solicitor to
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make sure that it is valid because there's so
6:38
many tariffs. different trade agreements that
6:41
we have to make sure we're compliant. Currently,
6:43
the Township procures over 95 % of its goods
6:46
and services from Canada. However, items such
6:48
as software, water meters, and other utility
6:51
supplies such as UV bulbs come from the U .S.
6:54
The report states that U .S. software is the
6:57
largest ticket item in the Township. Staff noted
6:59
it is the most difficult to change suppliers
7:01
as well. Changing to other software can result
7:04
in large acquisition and implementation costs.
7:07
Most standard software charges are licensing
7:09
fees. Steadall noted how they'll be informing
7:12
the public of work that's being done. The other
7:15
item is the direction for staff to be directed
7:17
to send a mailer out to Loyalist Township for
7:20
the commercial and industrial customers, notifying
7:24
them of the work that's being done by the county.
7:26
So that's just to inform the public as to what...
7:30
we are doing. I know it's very fluid and you
7:37
know I think we just have to get it out there
7:39
that we're just a small cog but we need to push
7:43
Canadian first. I think The fluidity of the situation
7:53
is is multiform. It's not simply what's happening
7:56
south of the border Obviously, we're in the middle
7:57
of a federal election. I think what's important
8:00
to most most citizens is that there's a team
8:03
approach. And obviously, whoever happens to be
8:08
elected on April 28th will have a particular
8:11
strategy. I think the strategy that our municipal
8:13
associations are taking in Ontario is that whatever
8:16
those strategies happen to be, that municipalities
8:20
need to be and want to be a part of the team.
8:22
And I think that's the important message. Mayor
8:25
Jim Hagedorn spoke about the fluidity of the
8:27
situation and the many factors involved. The
8:29
CAO and I had some discussions and we thought
8:31
this would be good for us to take a good review
8:33
of that's been done. And I agree with the recommendation.
8:39
There's still a lot of factors in play as well.
8:41
There are trade agreements that have never been
8:43
nullified. They've just been walked on a little
8:45
bit, for lack of a better term. There's so many
8:48
factors. It's so fluid. I mean, it'll be changed
8:51
probably by dark tomorrow. So we have to be prepared
8:54
for anything. So I think this is a good exercise.
8:56
So we know where we are to know where we could
8:58
go. For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
9:02
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
9:05
News. Council approved an extra $200 ,000 for
9:17
the Amherst View West's secondary plan. The extra
9:20
funds will go towards water main and sewer work.
9:23
The estimated total project cost is now $570
9:25
,000 compared to the original $350 ,000 approved
9:29
last year. Engineering and Environment Manager
9:32
Luke McDonald admitted the difference in cost
9:34
came as a surprise to staff, citing the nature
9:37
of the work. He noted reasons for the miscalculation
9:39
in their budget process. It was significantly
9:43
off and it's something that we're going to work
9:44
to address. Nothing changed in the scope of work.
9:47
We were a little surprised about the cost. We
9:50
think it's primarily coming down to a few things
9:53
that we just missed in when we were preparing
9:57
the estimate. And so it's the nature of the work.
10:01
So we prepare our cost estimates based on recent
10:04
tenders that we've completed in past years and
10:06
imply inflation and stuff like that. But all
10:09
the recent tenders we have completed in the previous
10:11
years have been for much larger projects. So
10:14
you get economies of scale that drives down your
10:17
unit rates. So that's part of it. And then it's
10:20
also just the township's unfamiliarity in recent
10:24
years of working on county projects for traffic
10:28
control and things like that. So we're trying
10:29
to get better at carrying estimates for that
10:32
as well. McDonald explained the scope of the
10:35
work. Extending the water main primarily at three
10:38
locations, Kildare, Amherst Drive, and Walden
10:41
Pond. from the existing orientation on the east
10:46
side of County Road 6 across to the west side.
10:49
We're also installing a sanitary sewer extension
10:53
down at the old dance hall properties, what is
10:56
now the Lakeside Phase 8 subdivision that's under
11:01
construction. And similarly, that'll be going
11:03
from the east side to the west side. McDonald
11:05
noted with timelines quickly approaching, they're
11:08
looking to align work with construction the county
11:10
is currently planning. taking part in. The intent
11:13
of the project is working with the county. We
11:16
identified that they had been planning on doing
11:19
some service level reconstruction of County Road
11:21
6 from Highway 33 up to the the new roundabout
11:26
and knowing that these lands for the secondary
11:30
plan will be serviced in the near future. We
11:33
identified that it would be preferred to construct
11:35
these extensions across the road that would then
11:39
eliminate the future need for a road cut. It
11:42
helps extend the life of the county's assets
11:45
and obviously it's beneficial from a timing perspective.
11:49
Due to regulations, staff and developers have
11:51
had to repeat testing procedures throughout the
11:54
process. McDonald explained this was another
11:56
unexpected cost. Because we're dealing with not
12:00
just a smaller scope of work than the other projects,
12:03
but it's almost four individual project sites.
12:06
And so what happens is when we're installing
12:08
the water mains on a larger project, you can
12:11
kind of commission larger sections of water main,
12:14
you do your pressure testing, you do your bacteriological
12:16
testing all together. But in this, because each
12:19
section is its own, that means we're actually
12:21
repeating that process a few times. And so that's
12:25
not reflected in our previous unit rate costs
12:27
that we got previously because there's again
12:29
it's economies of scale in that process as well.
12:33
McDonald spoke about the bidding process for
12:35
choosing a company to work with and how the costs
12:37
affected their overall budget. We have an existing
12:41
roster that we use of pre -approved contractors
12:43
that have been screened for work experience,
12:46
health and safety and various criteria. So this
12:49
project was posted to that roster for bids. We
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received six bids following that process and
12:56
Mulroney was identified as the low bid and then
13:01
therefore the preferred proponent. The low tender
13:05
price was $468 ,000. So once we add in contingencies,
13:12
staff time, and those various items, we come
13:14
up with a required project cost of $570 ,000
13:20
compared to the approved budget of $350 ,000.
13:24
For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
13:27
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
13:30
News. Napanee's Arts Advisory Committee is taking
13:41
over Music by the River, a live music series
13:44
in Napanee. The committee noted they'll be scaling
13:46
back to just two performances throughout 2025.
13:50
Councilor and member of the Arts Advisory Committee,
13:51
Bob Norrie, explained the role the committee
13:53
is taking in running the event. He noted that
13:56
through other venues that wouldn't affect their
13:58
budget, there would be more than two performances.
14:00
We scaled it right back, or the thinking of it,
14:02
to just twice, once in July, once in August,
14:05
two entertainers each time. I've spoken to the
14:08
sound person. He's charging the same as last
14:10
year. He's been very fair and we're looking for
14:12
local talent. So we've scaled it back to just
14:14
what we think is good and we're working closely
14:16
with Michelle Hauser for other venues. So there
14:19
will be music done there more than just twice
14:20
but that's what the group has come to. The committee
14:23
has partnered with a company called Harmony to
14:25
look after sponsorship for the event. Norrie
14:27
noted the company is responsible for lining up
14:29
the sponsorships while the committee pays the
14:31
artists. Norrie mentioned the committee's small
14:33
budget and a study they did last year to monitor
14:36
attendance. We just have a small budget with
14:38
a limited budget for advertising as well. We
14:41
did a study of how many people came last year.
14:44
Appreciate those that come and the amount of
14:46
people it takes to set up and you need some of
14:48
us there. So we decided we're going to try it
14:50
twice this year and then piggyback with what
14:53
happens with Harmony. CAO Matthew Grant explained
14:56
how the committee's budget works. As part of
14:58
this effort, they are looking to expend a portion
15:01
of their budget as yet undisclosed towards that
15:04
effort. They do have $5 ,000 that has been budgeted
15:06
through the town's municipal budget process.
15:10
Should there be a desire for any further support
15:13
from the town that would come in the form of
15:16
a recommendation from the community to council
15:18
for approval such as staff time or other resources.
15:28
and sit and listen to the music. I just think
15:30
that anytime that we can promote anything around
15:34
our river, that natural beauty we have in this
15:36
town, we have to utilize that much more than
15:38
what we are and I think we're on the right way.
15:40
Come on in by boat, tie up and listen to it and
15:43
it's just great. So anytime that I can help promote
15:46
that, I'm all for it. Councillor Mike Schenck
15:48
was hopeful the event would be able to expand
15:50
again in the future, noting public input. I fully
15:53
support what Bob and the Arts Committee, our
15:56
advisory committee is doing. I live so close,
15:58
right on the water along Highway 33 in Loyalist.
16:01
They have a bath every weekend they have, and
16:06
it's very well attended there. So if it's very
16:08
well attended here and it's a takeoff here, we
16:10
can increase those dates. You know what I mean?
16:12
Because I've had some phone calls where they're
16:14
saying, Jones, you know, why is there only two?
16:17
Why can't there be five? Well, the committee
16:19
is the one. I'm not part of that committee. I
16:21
let the committee go through its process. process
16:22
and go from there." For Amherst Island Radio
16:25
and the Local Journalism Initiative, I'm Ted
16:28
Evans. This is North Shore News. Staff at Loyalist
16:40
Township will be looking for public and stakeholder
16:42
feedback on how to spend the $3 .58 million they
16:45
were awarded through the Housing Accelerator
16:47
Fund in November 2024. They presented five different
16:51
options for grants. Director of Corporate Services
16:54
Jenna Campbell explained the different options.
16:57
The first option... is a tax increment equivalent
17:00
grant or TIG which grants back a portion of the
17:03
property taxes resulting from increased assessment
17:06
of a property due to improvements. The second
17:09
option is a development charge grant where the
17:12
builder would pay the development charge and
17:14
all or a portion would be granted back. The third
17:16
option is an imposed fee grant which is similar
17:19
to the development charges grant except that
17:21
this is for charges related to connections to
17:24
municipal water and sewage systems. but the charge
17:29
is also based on the type of use rather than
17:32
the construction value. This grant would not
17:34
apply in rural areas of the Township because
17:37
it is only charged for those connections to the
17:39
municipal systems. The fourth option is a building
17:43
permit fee grant where all or a portion of the
17:45
building permit fee associated with new construction
17:48
or renovation would be granted. So similar to
17:52
the TIG, this option is tied to the value of
17:55
construction. And the fifth and last option that
17:59
we're looking to consult on is an additional
18:02
residential unit grant. So this is a grant in
18:06
a specific amount that would be used to incentivize
18:09
existing homeowners or builders to create additional
18:12
residential units that could then be rented out.
18:16
Campbell spoke about how the funding works. It
18:18
is possible that multiple options including the
18:23
additional residential unit inclusion may require
18:26
increased use of half funding. The initial funding
18:30
allocation of $385 ,000 would fund approximately
18:34
26 units at an average incentive of $15 ,000
18:38
per unit. The use of additional half funding
18:40
can be further assessed and the recommendations
18:42
provided by staff when we come back to council
18:46
for consideration in May. The Township's Housing
18:50
Accelerator Fund Action Plan identified eight
18:52
key initiatives aimed at increasing housing supply,
18:55
including the implementation of an affordable
18:57
and purpose -built rental housing community improvement
19:00
plan. The Township has committed to implementation
19:02
of the plan by June 30th and program completion
19:05
by December 11th, 2027. This will include adding
19:08
615 housing units over the next three years.
19:12
Deputy Mayor Nathan Townand showed his support
19:14
for staff's work. really exciting. It's frankly
19:19
a demonstration in my mind of the municipal sector
19:24
being leaders on key issues like housing and
19:29
addressing the fact that the market isn't going
19:31
to deliver everything that we need. So I'm really
19:33
excited to see this. The additional residential
19:39
unit, I would love to see that in there because
19:41
it just makes sense to help people maximize space
19:45
they already own. We already serve it with water
19:48
and sewer. It could make a lot of sense. For
19:51
Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
19:53
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
19:57
News. Concerns raised by neighboring property
20:08
owners of a proposed development on Bridge Street
20:11
West were brought to staff at the County of Lenox
20:13
and Addington, but the proposal town staff made
20:15
was ultimately denied. Bash Developments has
20:18
proposed a residential subdivision with 138 single
20:21
detached dwellings, 124 townhouse dwellings,
20:25
and mixed -use buildings consisting of 10 live
20:27
-work units. The development would include the
20:29
creation of new roads, park space, and stormwater
20:32
management ponds. Residents were mainly concerned
20:34
about the increase of traffic in the area. At
20:37
a public meeting last month, three residents
20:38
brought up the concerns of their own and their
20:40
neighbors. Those who spoke also noted they bought
20:43
their homes realizing there may be future developments,
20:45
but were only expecting they would be low density.
20:48
County staff ultimately decided the layout as
20:50
proposed is the most technically feasible from
20:52
a traffic management perspective. Michael Nobes
20:55
with the town's growth and infrastructure services
20:57
department explained the proposals staff made
20:59
and the outcome of their meetings with county
21:01
staff. We've had a few conversations with the
21:04
county transportation staff about potentially
21:07
reorienting roads and making new connections
21:09
to Cherrywood to alleviate new connections to
21:12
Bridge Street. There's significant resistance
21:15
around that. We proposed a number of mitigation
21:17
measures, but they're unfortunately not willing
21:20
to accept any new connections and intersections
21:23
south of what has been shown. So we've really
21:26
done as much as we can to try to mitigate those
21:29
concerns that were brought up. But unfortunately,
21:31
given what the class of that road will be, they're
21:33
not supportive of any new connections to. essentially
21:37
reroute traffic from that subdivision's south
21:39
end to put that traffic onto Cherrywood from
21:43
that southerly area. So unfortunately we weren't
21:45
able to see any changes there with the county.
21:48
Nobs noted that residents are welcome to provide
21:50
their input at any time. Staff are always open
21:53
to receiving comments up until the time at which
21:57
an application is brought back to council. I
22:00
would encourage any residents to send any comments
22:03
to development services at greaternappany .com.
22:07
So that goes to a number of staff. So we'll be
22:10
sure that we get eyes on it and that we can provide
22:13
pertinent responses to the resident ahead of
22:17
any recommendation meeting. But any comments
22:20
that come into that email address will be included
22:23
on any future council agendas where staff are
22:26
making any recommendations regarding applications.
22:29
So I would encourage any residents to send to
22:32
that email address. Nobz mentioned when staff
22:34
were looking to bring the matter back to council.
22:36
We'll make sure that those comments are captured
22:39
and included on council agenda when we bring
22:42
this back for recommendation. We were targeting
22:45
in April 8th, so the next meeting of council
22:48
bringing it back for recommendation. From a technical
22:52
perspective, we've reviewed everything and the
22:56
comments that were brought up during that public
22:57
meeting. We have responses to those and we'll
23:00
build that into our. recommendation report but
23:04
any comments that do come in will strive to get
23:06
responses directly to those those residents ahead
23:09
of that meeting so they at least can see that
23:12
and ask any further back and forth questions.
23:14
Staff also asked the developer to add additional
23:16
buffering on the north side of Bridge Street
23:18
West and that they seek authorization from landowners
23:21
on the south side of Bridge Street West to add
23:23
plantings on their properties. This would help
23:26
address concerns related to headlights entering
23:28
into dwellings and provide a visual buffer with
23:30
the new development and an existing development
23:32
on the south side of Bridge Street West. For
23:35
Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
23:37
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
23:41
News. Greater Japanese Arts Advisory Committee
23:52
will be reintroducing their arts awards after
23:54
it had been shut down by the pandemic. The awards
23:56
will run every two years with the possibility
23:59
of moving to an annual event. Staff's report
24:01
noted the awards are to recognize the efforts
24:03
of local artists and those that support the local
24:05
arts and culture scene. There will be several
24:08
categories with submissions made and vetted by
24:10
volunteers. Winners will be selected by the committee
24:13
and awarded during a ceremony at Town Hall. In
24:16
the event the hall is not available due to renovations,
24:19
staff recommended making the conference area
24:20
at the Best and Bash Arena available for the
24:23
event. Town staff will participate in promotion
24:25
of the event and its winners. The report noted
24:28
the impact on staff resources is anticipated
24:30
to be four hours or less. Consideration may also
24:33
be given to broadening the awards initiative
24:35
in the future to include recognition of other
24:38
areas including heritage. CAO Matthew Grant explained
24:41
how the town views the event and noted staff's
24:44
support. When I take a look at this particular
24:46
request and the mandate of advisory committees,
24:49
this would be a... corporate endorsed events
24:53
run by volunteers, but I would see this in the
24:57
vein as something that the municipality both
24:59
supports and encourages and would likely have
25:05
some of our branding on it as this is an advisory
25:07
committee that is advising the activities of
25:09
the town and staff is quite supportive of the
25:13
recommendation. Councillor Bob Norrie highlighted
25:15
the work of the committee. This has been discussed
25:17
since the start of this term. They're very passionate
25:20
about it. They started what they wanted, large
25:22
-scale ball and that, and they've realized that's
25:24
possible. So we're starting small. And they just
25:26
want to recognize local artists as best they
25:28
can. And they're coming up with some good ideas.
25:30
So I really appreciate this report. And I know
25:32
they'll be looking forward to working on that.
25:34
For Amherst Island Radio and the Local Journalism
25:37
Initiative, I'm Ted Evans. This is North Shore
25:40
News. This has been North Shore News and Interviews.
25:46
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25:57
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