CKL COUNCIL NOTES
By Kirk Winter
A smorgasbord of items was discussed at Council during their almost two-hour meeting on January 28. Here are the highlights:
Announcements
Councillor Richardson:
February 9 Manvers Township will be hosting a 3 on 3 Pond Hockey Tournament
Councillor Ashmore:
The passing of Percy Robertson, a world-renowned draft horse aficionado was shared
Councillor Ashmore will be meeting with Parks Canada in February regarding the wild rice issue in local lakes and was hopeful of a “solution to the issue” for this summer
Ab Carroll, a local auctioneer from Downeyville, did very well at the World Auctioneering Championships held in South Dakota
Councillor O’Reilly:
The Boys and Girls Club of Kawartha Lakes will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2020 with multiple events throughout the year to commemorate this milestone
The Lindsay Downtown Business Improvement Association met recently and discussed the infrastructure repairs that will dominate downtown life for the next 2 to 3 years
170 campsites will be built on the Lindsay Fairgrounds property with 100 hopefully available for the 2020 International Plowing Match
Deputations
Two deputations were presented by Luke Woud and Paul Cross asking Council to reconsider the proposed sale of a portion of municipally owned land adjacent to Elgin Park, Lindsay. Council decided in 2019 that this piece of property would be listed and sold to the highest bidder in a public real estate sale.
Mr. Woud and Mr. Cross, who have been leasing the above property from the City for almost two decades, asked the City if they could purchase the property directly from the City as it is vital to the operation of both of their enterprises. They promised to work together and pay full market value for the property, all real estate fees and all other fees associated with the transaction. Mr. Cross also promised to “improve” the look of the property and make it more attractive to the eye.
Much debate ensued with input from Councilor Dunn, Mayor Letham and the City Solicitor.
A decision was made that as long as the City received maximum appraised value for the property and all closing costs were picked up by the buyers, Council would approve a direct sale to Mr. Woud and Mr. Cross.
City Code of Conduct and Ethics
Councillor Ashmore wanted to know when the City would present a report on the new Code of Conduct for citizens who sit on CKL Advisory Committees.
The City CAO Ron Taylor shared that new Codes of Conduct were already in place for staff and councillors, but “because of an ongoing court case soon to be settled” the Code of Conduct for Advisory Committees “will be issued soon.”
Ashmore wondered whether the City Solicitor was able to craft the new Code of Conduct on her own, or whether CKL would need to bring in the provincially appointed Integrity Commissioner. The Solicitor and the CAO believe that “everything could be handled in house and that a final report should be available by summer.”
Kawartha Lakes Strategic Plan
Councillor Richardson called for the City to add the following statement to the Strategic Plan. The statement, she believes, would better recognize the City’s commitment to the environment: “The City will consider the environmental impact of all municipal projects in accordance with best management practices.”
The addendum was strongly supported by Councillor Seymour-Fagan and Councillor Elmslie. Seymour-Fagan went on record stating, “Everyone sees what is going on…..let’s start doing something.” Councillor Elmslie added, “The environment needs to be front and center in the strategic plan. We need to take steps to help and a simple sentence insertion into the Strategic Plan is a good start.”
Councillor Dunn spoke strongly against the suggestion. He said, “We are already do it. We are already environmentally conscious. The motion suggests that we are doing nothing and I am angry that something like that would be suggested. That statement will come back and be used against us on issues like ditching procedures.”
Councillor O’Reilly asked CAO Taylor about the impact for staff of the inclusion of Councilor Richardson’s words and was assured that “he had no concerns about it.” Taylor added that “the statement was not a guiding principle and only acted as a highlight or a 'pay close attention' to suggestion.”
Councillor Yeo supported the idea proposed by Councillor Richardson but wanted to see the exact wording that would be inserted and where in the Strategic Plan it would be added. A mock up of the wording was created for Councillor Yeo. He was satisfied with the change made to the Strategic Plan, and withdrew his request to have the discussion on the Plan held over until February.
Council voted to support Councillor Richardson’s concern for the environment and the final copy of the Strategic Plan will reflect that.
Sewage backups and a City response
Councillor Dunn took the lead on this issue, as his Ward was the one most directly affected by the ghastly sewer backups that flooded approximately 30 homes on Lori Blvd. and Victoria Avenue East.
Councillor Dunn shared that he had toured many of the affected properties that flooded on January 11 and, whether he wanted to or not, “had learned a lot about sewers.”
Dunn said that a number of the homeowners either did not have backup insurance or their coverage was inadequate. Many of the Lori Blvd. residents are looking at repairs over $50,000. Some with no insurance are trying to do the cleanup themselves.
Councilor Dunn wanted CKL to figure out how and why these properties were flooded, how it can be prevented from happening again, and what the City can do to help those who suffered backups.
Dunn received support from Council that all tipping fees for affected residents would be waived or refunded during the ongoing clean up. Dunn also received support from Council to study a subsidy program that would assist homeowners to install check valves that would have likely prevented the backups from the record storm on January 11.
Councillor Elmslie asked staff to check to see if that subsidy program was already in place. Elmslie remembered a similar flooding in Fenelon Falls seven or eight years ago and the City response to it upset residents. Elmslie thought he recalled that check valves could be installed on a sewer line for “about $1,200.”
Staff was asked to see if the Flood Prevention Subsidy was already in place and, if not, to report what kind of program needed to be in place to get more properties connected to City sewers protected by a check valve.
Mariposa Fire Hall
Council approved the awarding of a $2 million tender to MVW Construction for the designing and building of a new fire hall in Mariposa Township.
Before Councillor Yeo could vote in favour of the motion, he wanted to see in closed session the rejected bids and scoring for companies not accepted.
Mayor Letham seemed surprised at the request and said to the best of his knowledge that wasn’t City policy.
Yeo, a long time Councillor, said it had been the policy previously and wondered why it had been changed.
Senior staff confirmed that Councillors were presented in the past with full details of City buying, and had an opportunity to not only look at the successful bid but also the bids that were rejected.
Yeo believed for a project as expensive as the new fire hall, Council should have all the information at their fingertips regarding the bid process.
A possible change to what kind of information Councillors may be able to access regarding City buying was referred back to staff for an upcoming report.