A reminder that town halls will take place this month, Check the website at loyalist.ca for further information.
September 4th Planning and Permitting Committee CRCA
September 5th Budget Review Committee CRCA
September 6th Community BBQ
September 10th Truck Roadeo
September 10th WJ Henderson Recreation Centre Renewal Fundraising Committee September 10th Council and Committee of the Whole Meeting
September 11th Amherstview Fire Station Tour
September 18th Site Tour Violet Landfill
September 18th Staff appreciation BBQ
September 23rd Conservation Ontario Meeting
September 24th WJ Henderson Recreation Centre Renewal Fundraising Committee
September 24th Council and Committee of the Whole Meeting
September 25th Tour of Bath Sewage Treatment Plant
September 25th CRCA Full Authority Board Hearing/Full Authority Board Meeting
September 4th Planning and Permitting Committee CRCA
The following reports were presented to the committee
Lake Ontario, St. Lawrence River and Lower Great Cataraqui River Floodplain Mapping Update Implementation (Report IR-092-24-PPAHC)
Policies for Implementing O. Reg. 41/24 – Five Year Review – Third Draft Revisions (Report IR-093-24-PPAHC)
September 5th Budget Review Committee CRCA
The following reports were presented to the Committee
Cataraqui Conservation 2025 Fee Schedule (Report IR-094-24-BRC)
Cataraqui Conservation Proposed 2025 Operating Budget & Capital Forecast
(Report IR-095-24-BRC)
September 6th Community BBQ
Despite the terrible weather a hearty crew of township residents showed up for out second annual Community BBQ. Activities were held in the Leisure and Recreation Centre and food was served indoors. Despite the rain the kids enjoyed the great outdoors as who can't resist a lotta ran and a little mud?
September 10th Truck Roadeo
I attended the annual staff Truck Roadeo at the County Road Six Garage. Employees got their chance to run the course with the township snow plows as a practice for the upcoming season. Twenty plus staff ran the course with the winners moving on to the regional competition. I passed on the chance to drive one of the plows as my skill level would only cause damage to machinery and personnel. Be assured your roads crew is ready for the upcoming season.
September 10th WJ Henderson Recreation Centre Renewal Fundraising Committee
Rebecca Murphy, CAO provided an update regarding the Fundraising Coordinator Working Group and the request for proposal process. The successful bidder from the proposal was BNP Goldie Canada. She introduced Fundraising Consultant George Stanois, Senior Vice President, BNP Goldie Canada who provided an overview of the fundraising strategy. The minutes of he meeting can be found at
September 10th Council and Committee of the Whole Meeting
Presentations
Rebecca Murphy, Chief Administrative Officer presented the Certified Municipal Manager Accreditation Certificates to Loyalist Township staff. Lyndsay Tee, Manager of Heritage, Culture & Tourism & Amber Meyer, Cultural Development Coordinator.
Statutory Public Meeting
Council approved the Zoning By-law Amendment Application submitted by George Kattar for property located at 4945 Taylor Kidd Boulevard.
Council approved the Lakeside Ponds Phase 2 Zoning By-law Amendment Application submitted by Barr Homes.
Items for Consideration
Council supported a motion for The Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF). This funding allows local communities to make strategic investments in essential infrastructure, such as roads and bridges, public transit, drinking water and wastewater infrastructure, and recreational facilities. Loyalist Township has over $670 million in core infrastructure assets and, like other municipalities, its infrastructure is aging and in need of upgrades and replacement. The CCBF supports community growth by providing funding to infrastructure projects that can contribute to the increase of housing supply and affordability.
Council approved the following items: 2025 Council and Committees Meeting Schedule Council approved the Part Lot Control request by Loyalist Meadows for Aura by the Lake Subdivision, Phase 1, Lots 47, 48, 51 and 52. This subdivision consists of a number of semi-detached lots.
Committee of the Whole
Cemetery Price List Loyalist Township operates 10 cemeteries including recently acquired Morven Cemetery and Violet Cemetery. The municipality is considered an operator under the Funeral, Burial and Cremation Services Act, 2002 (FBCSA). Staff conducted a review of the fees and recommended a price increase for several items with the intent to adjust the fees to cover the cost of providing the service and some general maintenance and repair costs incurred to operate the cemeteries.
Development Agreement Surety Bond Council directed staff to bring forward a comprehensive review of the Development Security Requirements Policy for consideration and in the interim of the policy review staff to accept a combination of a development agreement surety bond (up to 90% of the security required for cost of on-site works) and letter of credit as a form of security for development in the interim, using a form of agreement that is satisfactory to legal counsel and the Director of Finance/Treasurer.
Items approved through the Consent Agenda
Building Activity Report - July 2024
Minutes of the August 13, 2024 meeting of Council and Committee of the Whole
Minutes of the August 29, 2024 Heritage Committee Meeting
Procurement By-law for The Corporation of Loyalist Township
Appointments
Mayor Hegadorn and Jessica Jones appointed as members to the Lennox & Addington OPP Detachment Board
Alex Bennett appointed as the Deputy Fire Chief - Training & Support Services for the Loyalist Township Fire Department
You can view the Council and Committee of the Whole Meeting meeting on YouTube including the Agenda Package at
September 11th Amherstview Fire Station Tour
Staff tours were offered which gave us opportunities to view the various pieces of equipment and to ask questions about the various aspects of the Emergency Services Department. Join Department members during Fire Prevention week at the sites on October 10th.
September 18th Site Tour Violet Landfill
While not a popular activity, the staff had the chance to visit a landfill site last month. During the visit, we received a presentation about the site and the waste management procedures employed there. It was emphasized that the landfill has a finite lifespan, and residents are urged to contribute to its sustainability by engaging in recycling and composting practices.
September 18th Staff appreciation BBQ
A staff appreciation BBQ was held at the Bath Fire Hall for all staff. Equipment was on site from Emergency Services and Public Works. I had a chance to ride on the Emergency Services Transport vehicle but I was reluctant to try out the back hoe for fear of injury-to others. We have a dedicated staff at Loyalist Township who should be congratulated for their great work!
September 23rd Conservation Ontario Meeting
I attended the quarterly session as one of the representatives of Cataraqui Conservation and the outline below gives you an idea of the items in discussion that day.
Budget Status Report: As of August 31, 2024
Conservation Ontario’s Proposed 2025 Annual Workplan
Request for Approval: 2025 Operating Budget & CA Levy
Conservation Ontario’s “Policy Guidance on the Process for Administrative Review Under Section 8 of Ontario Regulation 41/24”
Conservation Ontario’s Draft “Annual Reporting Guidance and Template – Permit Timelines and Regulatory Compliance”
Flooding and Flood Mapping Initiatives and Presentation
Conservation Ontario Nature Smart Climate Solutions Initiative
Adaptation to Coastal Hazards Across the Great Lakes Region Project
Great Lakes St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Mayors’ Commission on Coastal Resilience/ Conservation Ontario
Tree Planting and Forest Management Initiatives 4
Conservation Ontario’s comments on the “Proposed Modernization of the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act”
Conservation Ontario’s comments on “Improving Accessible Built Environment Standards”
Update: Policy & Planning Program
Update: Business Development & Partnerships Program
Update: Drinking Water Source Protection Program
Update: Marketing and Communications Program
Update: Information Management Program
September 24th WJ Henderson Recreation Centre Renewal Fundraising Committee
Fundraising Consultant, George Stanois of BNP Goldie Canada gave an update of the Timeline and the procedures and methods for the fundraising committee.
September 24th Council and Committee of the Whole Meeting
Items for Consideration
Council approved the following items:
In early 2024, Council approved a Strategic Plan that will guide initiatives from 2024 through the end of 2027. Staff provided a Fall Update on the Strategic Plan, detailing the progress of various initiatives. Council directed staff to focus on Priority 3: Balanced Growth, which will include developing a plan for more affordable and attainable housing.
The Kingston Humane Society (KHS) has been contracted by the Township to provide pound services, as required by the Dog Control and Licensing By-law. Council authorized the Pound Services Agreement, which will be in effect from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2029. KHS has raised concerns about the increasing number of stray cats and kittens in the Township and recommended that the Township explore strategies to improve the welfare of these animals. In response, Council has directed staff to consider establishing a municipal spay/neuter program for cats. Additionally, Council directed staff to increase public awareness about services provided by KHS through various communication platforms, including social media posts and local media ads.
A low-volume Bulk Water Station will be established at the existing site on Country Road 6 and TaylorKidd Boulevard. This location was chosen for its convenience, allowing vehicles to easily fill their containers, and because it has the necessary infrastructure for installation. Customers will be able to fill containers up to 1,000 liters at this site for a reasonable fee. Staff anticipate significant interest in the station, as many residents of Loyalist Township have requested this service. The station is expected to be fully operational this fall and will only accept electronic payment methods, similar to the current bulk water station. Payments can be made using debit or credit cards through a simple tap system.
The Amherst Island Recreation Association Service Agreement will support recreational programming on Amherst Island. This is a three-year agreement that will automatically be renewed for an additional year. The 2024 operating budget includes $5,000 in funding for this service agreement, and it is recommended that future annual operating budgets also allocate funding for it.
Retaining A Producer Responsibility Organization for Loyalist Township produced Blue Box Material. In accordance with regulations, Loyalist Township is designated as a producer of Blue Box Materials. After evaluation of several Producer Responsibility Organizations, it was determined that Ryse Solutions offered the best option to meet the Township's needs and regulatory compliance. Council directed staff to negotiate further agreements with a PRO for a preferred rate of collection, management and reporting of 2023, 2024 and 2025 producer management targets. Council approved the transition of the Blue Box program to full producer responsibility, including the decision to opt-in for depot collection services on Amherst Island, based on the revised available options. Authorization was granted to enter into a Depot Operations Agreement with Circular Materials Ontario for the collection of Blue Box Materials at the Amherst Island Landfill.
Items approved through the Consent Agenda
Statement of Development Charges Reserve Fund Balance as at December 31, 2023
Building Activity Report - August 2024
Review of 2024 Summer Season Museum Operations Minutes of the September 24, 2024 meeting of Council and Committee of the Whole
Minutes of the September 10, 2024 W.J. Henderson Recreation Renewal Fundraising Committee Meeting
Correspondence from the Cataraqui Conservation Authority related to the full-service tree planting program
Appointments
Stephen Mailloux appointed as Acting Deputy Chief Building Official for enforcing the Building Code Act within Loyalist Township.
By-Laws By-laws approved at this meeting can be located at the following link:
You can view the Council and Committee of the Whole Meeting meeting on YouTube including the Agenda Package at
September 25th Tour of Bath Sewage Treatment Plant
Lots of interesting learnings visiting the sewage treatment plant. All systems can be monitored from multiple places on site and remotely to ensure compliance to all guidelines. Paper trials are also kept as a backup to the electronic file. The middle picture depicts a treatment cell that is currently offline while the one on the right shows one currently in service with a few ducks enjoying the day. Eventually the treatment moves from there in the system ending up in a blue violet treatment system cleansing the water before it is released back into the water stream.
September 25th CRCA Full Authority Board Hearing/Full Authority Board Meeting
The following presentation and reports were presented to the board
2024 Invasive Species Projects Presentation
Full Authority Board Meeting - Reports
Report IR-096-24, General Manager’s Monthly Progress Report – September 2024
Report IR-097-24, Operating Variance to August 31, 2024, and Estimates to Year End Report
Report IR-098-24, Outdoor Centre Architectural Assessment (PR 00321)
Report IR-099-24, Records Retention Policy and Schedule
Report IR-100-24, Facilities Ad Hoc Committee
Report IR-101-24, Marsh Risk Control Visit - Memo
Report IR-102-24, Proposed Capital Project – Lemoine Native Plant Nursery Shed
Report IR-103-24, Kingston Regional Biosolids and Biogas Facility Update
Report IR-104-24, Report from Planning and Permitting Ad Hoc Committee Meeting of September 4, 2024
For details go to https://crca.ca/wp-content/uploads/2024-09-25-Agenda.pdf
Schedules and bus route information can be found at
Engage Loyalist is a place to learn about and give feedback about Township projects and initiatives. Go to https://engage.loyalist.ca to participate.
Cataraqui Conservation information can be found at
Lennox & County Council agendas and minutes can be found at
A reminder that the Violet Landfill will be open on October 26th 8am - 3pm for more information loyalist.ca/landfills
CamSafe Launch
A reminder that the OPP launched CamSafe the security camera program in our township. Registering your camera with CamSafe allows the OPP to locate cameras that may be of assistance instead of going door to door in a neighbourhood looking for info. This is a totally volunteer program which is available to all residents and no cost and can be withdrawn from at anytime. . For further information go to https://www.loyalist.ca/en/news/camsafe-program-launches-in-loyalist-township.aspx or https://camsafe.ca/
A reminder that our accessible transportation web page www.loyalist.ca/accessibletransit is packed with information so please provide the link to anyone who is looking for more information. I met with some concerned members of the community about our transportation plans going forward. Discussion focused on the report "Bringing Commuter Public Transportation to Rural Kingston, Gananoque, South Frontenac, and Loyalist". We hope to be rolling out our plan in the fall.
Loyalist Township uses the CodeRED notification system to help us get important messages to you quickly when an emergency is happening. CodeRED is a notification system you can sign up for. When you subscribe you will get alerts about emergencies and other important situations happening near you. We can deliver alerts to you by phone, text, email, or TDD for the hearing impaired, depending on what you choose. To sign up go tp the following link.
Check out the following link to find to stay update with consultations going on in Loyalist and sign up for email information.
On air with CJAI 101.3 Amherst Island Radio in the noon-2:00pm time slot on Thursdays. Spinning some tunes interspersed with some local talk. If you know of any potential guests in the area who may wish to join me drop me a line! On the internet at cjai.ca
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