Fire and protective services
Carleton Place council received the second-quarter fire and protective services report on Aug. 11 during the Committee of the Whole.
The fire department has had a full slate of public education events.
“The fire department was very busy with public education events, a couple of Mighty Machines, the Senior Expo and McHappy Day, and I didn’t make Mighty Machines, but I understand it was the biggest turnout they’ve ever had,” said Dave Joy, acting director of Protective Services.
The department also conducted 369 inspections and issued 123 orders.
“Prevention doesn’t make headlines the way a fire does, but that’s where we can potentially save lives and prevent that $1 million in property loss. I’d like to thank the department for that,” said Coun. Linda Seccaspina.
According to Joy, the fire department is now operating with a full complement of paid volunteer firefighters and has several candidates in reserve.
On the bylaw enforcement side, personnel are making themselves more visible and approachable.
“By increasing their hours on e-bikes, our Law Enforcement team has significantly boosted their visibility and community approachability while cutting greenhouse gas emissions compared to traditional patrol vehicles,” Joy wrote in his report to committee.
In May, residents were reminded to prepare a 72-hour emergency kit to see them through any emergency while the department monitored weather events closely.
Parking restriction
A tight curve with considerable vegetation on Stonewater Bay could soon become easier to navigate.
Carleton Place staff are proposing new parking restrictions after a July 13 complaint raised concerns about vehicles blocking sightlines around the bend. Bylaw enforcement officers investigated the section and found that parked vehicles, combined with roadside vegetation, make it difficult for drivers to see oncoming traffic.
The recommendation is for a no-parking zone along the curve on the west side of Stonewater Bay, from 22 metres south of Willowshore Way to 60 metres south of the intersection.
“So we’re just recommending that no parking zone be installed on the north side of the road around that curve so that it alleviates the safety concern,” said Guy Bourgon, director of Public Works.
Because no homes front directly onto that side of the road, staff do not expect the loss of parking to create problems for residents.
If approved by council, the Traffic and Parking Bylaw would be amended. The only cost would be signage and installation, funded through the Public Works operating budget.
“We’re looking at a relatively small section of road where parked vehicles, the curve and vegetation are creating a slight blind problem. I think the important thing is that we deal with the safety issue before somebody gets hurt rather than waiting for an accident to tell us what we already know,” said Coun. Linda Seccaspina.
Carleton junction
A small piece of Carleton Place’s railway past could become a permanent part of Carleton Junction.
Town staff are recommending Carleton Place amend its 45-year Ottawa Valley Recreation Trail lease with Lanark County to include the “Team Track,” a short section of rail running parallel to the multi-use pathway on the east side of the Junction.
The track became available while the county was working on an agreement with Canadian Cooperative Wool Growers. CCWG indicated it did not need exclusive use of the section, prompting the county to ask whether the town wanted to keep it. Otherwise, the track would be removed.
Recreation staff recommend keeping the rails and incorporating them into Carleton Junction, home to the pump track, skateboard park, pavilion, sports pad and playground.
“It was an important part of Carleton Place and the growth of Carleton Place. And that’s kind of the only thing, physically, we have to show for it. So I fully support accepting that into the municipality for future maintenance and taking care of it,” said Coun. Mark Hinton.
There is no immediate cost to amend the lease, although future maintenance costs are currently unknown.
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