LAURIE WEIR
The Township of Rideau Lakes addressed several community issues during its community services committee meeting on Jan. 13. These items will return to a future council meeting for final approval.
Sidewalk plans deferred
Council opted to seek more information before committing funds to a proposed sidewalk connecting the OPP building in Portland to the Country Roads Community Health Centre on Highway 15.
Previously, a path maintained by custodians at the former Portland school (Rideau Centennial School) provided a safe walking route for students. However, the path has since become overgrown, with snow further obstructing access during winter.
Steve Holmes, manager of facilities and parks, recommended postponing the project after discovering an old email in the former manager’s inbox referencing the pathway.
Councillors agreed that gathering additional details, including land ownership and input from business owners in the former school building, are recommended before making a decision. The committee referred the matter back to staff for further investigation.
Vandalism at Elgin rink
A new metal-framed exterior door was recently installed at the Elgin rink building to deter vandalism, according to Holmes. However, Coun. Joan Delaney reported that the door had already been vandalized.
Delaney suggested installing surveillance cameras, while Coun. Linda Carr requested that security measures be revisited during the 2025 budget discussions.
Fire station oversight sparks concerns
Council reviewed issues with the township’s newly constructed fire Station No. 2 on Otty Lake Road, where a rear door opens directly near the septic bed.
Coun. Jeff Banks questioned why this issue wasn’t identified before project completion and suggested better oversight through progress reports.
Mayor Arie Hoogenboom noted the problem stemmed from either the architect’s engineer or township staff overlooking the issue—or both.
Coun. Deborah Ann Hutchings expressed frustration, emphasizing the township paid experts to design and oversee the project.
Deputy Mayor Paula Banks proposed a checklist for large projects to catch similar oversights in the future.
Chief Administrative Officer Shellee Fournier pointed out that council can exempt itself from site plan controls, adding, “This is one of the reasons we should not.”
While the issue is now “water under the bridge,” according to the mayor, some councillors suggested that regular site visits during construction could have identified the problem earlier.
Debate continues on Chantry office retrofit
Discussions on retrofitting the Chantry municipal offices continued, with council reviewing proposed concept drawings.
Mayor Hoogenboom voiced his preference for a “greenfield rebuild” rather than a retrofit, citing concerns over budget transparency and the lack of public consultation. The mayor suggested deferring the project for two to three years, in line with the township’s strategic plan.
The motion to proceed with detailed design work passed 5–4, with Hoogenboom, and councillors Ron Pollard, Joan Delaney and Marcia Maxwell opposing it.
Council pushes back on 14% tax hike
Councillors rejected a proposed 14 per cent tax hike, citing the need for additional information on the asset management plan, reserves, borrowing costs, and year-end finances.
The library’s proposed 3.9 per cent budget increase was also reviewed, but a motion to reduce it to three per cent or less was defeated.
Pre-approval granted for new brush chipper
The roads department secured pre-approval for a new diesel brush chipper, costing $76,064. Public Works Manager Dan Chant noted that the current chipper is 20 years old and nearing the end of its service life.
The new chipper exceeded the budget by $1,064, but Chant said the quoted price was only valid for January, making it the best time to buy.
Road repairs under consideration
Portland, Settlement, and Fairview roads will receive further attention during budget deliberations after Coun. Linda Carr brought forward a motion to prioritize repairs.
Carr urged council to assess the roads in person, saying, “Residents on those roads will back me up 100 per cent.”
Cost-saving measures for calendar distribution
To reduce postage costs, the township is exploring a new distribution method for its calendars. Residents are encouraged to pick up calendars at local businesses or view them online.
Bag tag redesign approved
The township will soon roll out redesigned bag tags, which are smaller and lack the cut-out loon, phone number, and printed price. The changes saved $2,634 in production costs compared to 2023.
While the new tags will still cost $2.50, the township has asked staff to compare bag tag costs to garbage collection expenses.
Flag policy debate
Council discussed whether to limit flags flown at township properties to the Canadian, provincial, and municipal flags after a request to fly the Christian flag in December.
Councillors expressed concerns that accommodating such requests could lead to a flood of similar appeals.
Requests for flag-raising have previously come from organizations such as the United Way, humanitarian efforts for Ukraine, and Pride celebrations.
No decision was made, but the Christian group’s request was received as information.
