After nine years of trying to improve Haliburton’s public transportation options, Lisa Tolentino is ready to call it quits.

The longtime member of the advocacy group Rural Transportation Options (RTO), as well as the county Transportation Task Force, is stepping back from both. RTO itself is going on hiatus, with the future of the task force uncertain after reaching the end of its mandate March 31.

“I just don’t have the time, energy, or frankly the gumption anymore, given this is volunteer work,” Tolentino said.

The county opted not to proceed with an implementation plan for a transportation system made by consultant IBI Group this year. The county budgeted $50,000 to continue work on transportation in 2019 but has not allocated the funding to anything more specific.

“We’ve provided ample time for them to step up to the plate,” Tolentino said. “In order to continue, the municipality still has to play a key role.”

The task force discussed its future at an April 5 meeting. Councillors on the committee said they will discuss transportation at the April 24 council meeting, after which they will have a better idea of what happens next.

“We should discuss whether there will or will not be a task force,” county Coun. Cec Ryall said. “If there isn’t going to be a task force, is there going to be anything at all that’s going to guide this thing? Without
guidance, we’re just going to be a slow death.”

Minden Hills Coun. Pam Sayne said there is still a need and a desire for transportation.

“I don’t think the community, although they’re burnt out, has any less kind of feeling that this needs to continue,” Sayne said. “The question is, does the county have any appetite to support the administrative work that needs to be done to keep this afloat?”

New grant up for grabs

Task force co-chair Michael Andrews brought forward a grant opportunity should the county proceed.

Andrews said funding could be available through the Ontario Labour Market Partnerships program. It aims to address labour market issues, but Andrews said another jurisdiction has used it for transportation as a way to help address labour shortages.

“The idea here is to help mitigate the risk municipalities would have in terms of funding transportation projects,” Andrews said. “The envelope is for three years. It could be $300,000 or more, it could be less. It really depends on what we ask for.”

County Coun. Brent Devolin said committing to work on such a grant would have to wait until the April 24 meeting.

Rural Transportation Options winds down

RTO and task force member Heather Ross said RTO’s three members decided to stop meeting for now, and with that, will stop running the Haliburton Rideshare website.

“We do feel as a group we’ve probably done all that we can do,” Ross said.

However, Ross said the group will watch how transportation develops and step in if needed.

“Regardless of where this goes or doesn’t go, your efforts have been appreciated,” Devolin said.

Tolentino highlighted the county deciding not to apply for a five-year, $500,000 provincial grant for transportation in 2018 as a missed opportunity. At the time, the municipality was wary of the five-year commitment required.

Tolentino said it can be difficult for municipalities to see the tangible benefits of transportation.

“There seems to be fear about making a commitment but someone has to bite the bullet at some point,” she said. “I think they’ll get there eventually. I just can’t keep going.”

The community applauded the efforts of Trent University students to explore the county at the 21st annual U-Links Celebration of Research March 23.

The annual event offers a glimpse at the work done by students through the U-Links Centre for Community Based Research. The 23 research projects investigated topics from wetland protection, healthcare and plastic use. More than 40 people attended at the Minden Hills Community Centre.

Project co-ordinator Amanda DuncombeLee said she was pleased with the turnout.

“It’s amazing to see everyone gather around the posters and try to find out more,” Duncombe-Lee said. “The students did a great job, from what I’ve seen, explaining.”

Guest speaker Ray Letheren talked about a model for single-use plastic reduction in communities. Letheren’s model is being examined by Dysart et al through a U-Links project. A report will soon come forward to the municipality about it, he said.

“If you don’t read anything else this year, read that report,” he added. “Our hope is that every community in Ontario will soon join us in this campaign.”

U-Links co-chair Larry Clarke said the projects this year were excellent, with many centring on environmental issues. He added the research is critical for small communities to address their needs.

“It’s something very important to this particular community because that’s our future. We have to have research and data that enables us,” Clarke said. “It at least provides some tools and solutions for us to push some of these needs up to a level of government, so that perhaps (we) can see some change.”

The day also featured a presentation from Emily Anon, who discussed her thesis on the impact of U-links research in the county. She found the centre had led to many useful outcomes, including policy changes, programming and organizational learning.

“I have no doubt that all this work will go on to do important things in Haliburton County. Taking it a step beyond the purely academic pursuits to the kind of research that connects and strengthens our world for everyday people,” she said.

Minden Hills council is expected to pass its 2019 budget at its next council meeting following a public meeting and fourth draft on March 28.

The tax levy increase is currently sitting at 6.48 per cent.

“The residential rate, based on the current draft, would increase from $3.54 to $3.65 per 1,000 of assessment,” CAO/treasurer Lorrie Blanchard said in a written report.

She went on to provide a table outlining the municipal (only) tax impact on a residential and commercial property initially assessed at 300,000, which is the approximate mid-point average assessment for residential properties on and off water.

“A mid-range three per cent increase in ‘phased-in’ residential assessment would result in a $64.92 increase in taxes (municipal share only) or approximately $5.41 per month, and a five per cent increase in phased-in residential assessment would result in an $86.81 increase in taxes (municipal share only) or approximately $7.29 per month,” Blanchard said.

For commercial properties, the same formula would see increases of $96.25 ($8.02 per month) or $128.71 ($10.73 per month).

The County of Haliburton rate has been approved in principle and the township is awaiting the education rate.

Staff is further recommending an approximate five per cent increase in water and wastewater rates for 2019.

The tax levy increase dropped slightly from seven per cent during round three budget talks. Blanchard attributed it to $5,000 in building inspection fees that are no longer required, an extra $27,300 in OMPF funding, and more bank interest income and penalties on taxes. Insurance deductible was moved from one account to another (no net change), and $20K of arena heating costs were moved to reserves (no net change).

It was also confirmed the township will borrow $11,890,000 for the arena renewal project over 30 years with loan repayments. This number is exclusive of any available and successful loan applications or fundraising activities.

The current draft budget also includes a 7.61 per cent increase in wages and a 10.77 per cent increase in benefits versus the 2018 budget estimates.

Blanchard noted that landfill costs represent a large increase in costs, up 36 per cent, or $247,410. She said money will be spent on hazardous waste removal, seagull remediation, grading and cover bulldozing-related expenditures; the transportation of recyclable material, bin movements, and cardboard processing; contractual wage rate changes related to landfill attendants and transportation of non-recyclable material; shed and miscellaneous equipment rentals.

“You can see our primary focus is landfills, economic development and programs and the arena project,” Blanchard added of the overall 2019 budget.

Coun. Bob Carter stressed that while the levy is going up 6.48 per cent, the tax rate is only increasing by 3.02 per cent.

Coun. Pam Sayne said the public has been asking her about the state of Sunnybrook bridge repairs, potholes and boat launches. The Sunnybook bridge project has been shelved for this year, but there is talk of putting it in for the new Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP).

As for potholes, roads director Travel Wilson assured Sayne they are in the budget as part of regular maintenance.

Director of community services Make Coleman said his department is currently doing an inventory of boat launches and will bring a report back to council later this year.

Students expressed their concern at upcoming provincial cuts to education with a protest outside Haliburton Highlands Secondary School April 4.

More than 30 students from the school walked out of class and gathered in solidarity with province-wide protests
against the cuts, including proposed increases to high school class sizes from 22 to 28 students.

HHSS student organizer Chloe Samson said students are worried about having fewer teachers in their school.

“We wanted to do this because if we didn’t get out and show our freedom of speech and freedom of assembly, then we weren’t really exercising our rights as students,” Samson said. “We just felt we had to do something about it and we made the right move coming out here today.”

Trillium Lakelands District School Board (TLDSB) communications manager Catherine Shedden said when the board learned of the student-organized event, they established parameters. Those included students being marked absent if participating and demonstrations not being allowed on high school property.

“While it is not sanctioned by the school board, schools are not denying the rights for students to protest,” Shedden said. “School administrators encouraged students to consider alternatives to a walkout – including writing a letter to their MPP or to the Minister of Education.”

The province has suggested teachers’ unions may have been behind the demonstrations.

“This isn’t about class sizes, I’ll tell you,” Premier Doug Ford said during question period April 4. “This is about union bosses telling the teachers and the students what to do.”

Samson said the teachers and school staff did not offer much response to students about the effort.

“Most of the teachers weren’t at liberty to share their opinions to the students,” Samson said. “But we did have positive reinforcement.”

Province proposing education reforms

The province is exploring a series of education reforms, including an increase in the funded average class size from 22 to 28 in Grades 9-12 and from 23.84 to 24.5 in Grades 4-8.

“The government is committed to achieving greater financial sustainability in the education system without involuntary front-line layoffs,” Deputy Minister of Education Nancy Naylor said in a memo to school authorities March 15. “The proposed changes to class sizes may have implications for teacher staffing in Ontario school boards.”

The change has school boards preparing for staff reductions. The Toronto District School Board said March 21 the changes would result in the loss of about 800 of its teachers.

TLDSB director of education Larry Hope said it is estimated the board there will be 24 fewer high school teaching positions across its board due to classroom size changes.

Samson said students think they need every teacher they have.

“If we had less teachers, then we would have less opportunity,” she said.

With the potential for newfound money under the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), Dysart is expected to apply for money to do work on a 1.2 km long corridor between the fire hall and former college in the downtown.

Public work director Rob Camelon said the ask would be for the engineering, design and reconstruction from South Street to 1 Sunnyside St.

He said the arterial route that runs through the village of Haliburton gets more than 7,700 vehicles a day.

Camelon suggested the estimated $15,000 for engineering costs to prepare the application come from the infrastructure reserve.

“The municipality does not have any ‘shovel ready’ projects ready for submission, therefore, engineering costs will be incurred to have a proper application finalized by the deadline,” Camelon said in a written report.

The recently-announced ICIP is a $30 billion cost-shared program, with 50 per cent federal, 33 per cent provincial and 17 per cent municipal. Applications are being accepted until May 14. Municipalities should find out if they are successful in the fall and projects must be done by the autumn of 2026.

Camelon noted the project has been knocked back twice for engineering funding through the Connecting Links Program.

The work could include things such as road grade improvements, CCTV inspection of storm and waste water assets, a drainage and hydrology report for the storm system at Victoria Street/Maple Avenue, replacement of sidewalks, road resurfacing, curb and gutter replacement and an assessment for accessibility improvements, for example, pedestrian crossovers.

“It’s anticipated that the entire project would be staged over three years. Financial construction costs are unknown at this time, but are expected to be $1 million or more depending on engineering recommendations,” Camelon said.

Deputy mayor Patrick Kennedy asked if other projects could be considered, such as badly-need road work on Irish Line and the Fort Irwin Road. Coun. Walt McKechnie also felt the road to Fort Irwin should be a priority.

Camelon said they already had data for the Connecting Link project and Mayor Andrea Roberts thought the focus should be “to prioritize the main artery through our town.”

Coun. John Smith asked about a possible bypass from the Industrial Park to Highway 118. Roberts said past councils had discussed it and always decided ‘no’ since the main street would suffer. She said while the village gets congested with traffic in summer months, it is only for six to seven weeks. McKechnie said it would a “kiss of death” to the downtown and questioned why it was even being discussed.

Highland Grove residents expressed concern over a perceived threat to the future of their fire hall at a public meeting March 29.

Highlands East Station 2 firefighters explained their worries to more than 30 people about a 2010 report brought forward at a fire committee meeting March 11. The report recommends the closure of Station 2 in an effort to save costs by amalgamating municipal fire services into fewer stations.

Station 2 Fire Chief Doug Bowen questioned why the report was the first thing the committee was exploring.

“I was told the information was outdated and might not necessarily address today’s concerns. That no decisions have been made,” Bowen said to the audience. “After discussing it with my fellow firefighters, we are unanimous in doing anything possible (against) one of the recommendations (the report) made to council, to close Station 2.”

Mayor Dave Burton said in an interview the report was brought forward as a starting benchmark for the committee. He added council does not yet have any intentions regarding the municipality’s five fire stations.

He further said that in a separate meeting with the Station 2 fire department, he assured them the municipality was not going to close or amalgamate fire halls.

“It’ll be up to the committee to give some recommendations brought forward for council’s consideration. But there’s been no decisions, no recommendations,” Burton said.

The 2010 report also recommended the closing of Station 5 in Tory Hill, which was eventually done. It also suggests closing Station 1 in Bicroft, moving its operations to Station 6 on Highway 28.

After 2010, the plan surfaced again in December 2016, when fire chief Bill Wingrove presented to council in favour of its recommendations.

The report said the fire stations are costly to maintain and “the desire to provide consistent fire and first responder emergency services, in the present format … is operationally very challenging and quite possibly financially impossible.”

“Three fire stations, fewer fire trucks and fewer firefighters will bring positive results in the long term,” the report concludes.

Highland Grove resident Angela Lewis said the community has pushed against the closure of Station 2 before.

“This is my third time around fighting for this,” Lewis said. “It’s up to us to just keep fighting … we have been fighting for everything we have in Highland Grove.”

Burton said the municipality is undertaking a review of all of its facilities in search of efficiencies.

“The halls that we have were put there for a reason. I’m not sure if amalgamating is the answer,” he said.

But he noted maintaining equipment at the halls is pricey.

“I have pretty well three vehicles in each one and that’s very expensive to replace,” Burton said.

Before the first committee meeting, acting fire chief Chris Baughman said the group aims to help identify improvements that could be made to service delivery.

“We have five halls with duplicate equipment that respond in three response areas,” he said. “(The committee) will also aid in determining if there is any unnecessary duplication of equipment or services attending the same incidents.”

Station 2 firefighter Stephane Stern said closing halls would increase response times, which are important in an ageing community.

“We don’t want any hall taken away,” Stern said. “If we’re planning on improving services, improving doesn’t mean removing.”

An online petition opposing the closure of Highlands East fire halls has 61 supporters as of April 3.

The next fire committee meeting is April 8 in Wilberforce at 7 p.m.

The County of Haliburton revealed the steps it will take to create a new municipal climate change plan March 27.

Staff presented a report on the plan at a county planning committee meeting. The plan would detail how the municipality would mitigate and adapt to climate change.

The report recommends the plan be built and implemented in phases.

The committee said it was supportive of the plan and voted to recommend council direct staff to create a project scope document and timeline.

“It’s pragmatic, strategic, step-by-step,” Coun. Brent Devolin said. “It appears not to try to get the cart ahead of the horse, so I’m supportive of it.”

The report said it will include vision and actions for a 10-year period, to be revisited every five years.

It proposes the municipality develop three different plans towards an overarching climate change plan. First, municipalities will outline how to mitigate the impact their services have on the climate and environment. Second, municipalities will create measures to adapt to climate change while reducing the impact of services. Finally, the county will create a plan to guide and educate businesses as well as residents about climate change in the municipality.

“What we found is we’re biting off a big chunk here,” director of public works Craig Douglas said. “Break it down to pieces, you’ll see success sooner.”

Coun. Carol Moffatt said as the project moves forward, it would be important to ensure what is being done is “achievable and sustainable.”

“There are some that would believe that we should just do something. Do it today.” Moffatt said. “There are certain limitations within our operational world that prevent us from doing everything today.”

Warden Liz Danielsen said she looks forward to receiving positive input in the community.

But she also expressed concern about community discussion over civil disobedience with respect to climate change action.

“I was a little bit horrified,” Danielsen said. “That’s no way for us to solve this.”

Environment Haliburton had a meeting March 12 which explored civil disobedience tactics employed elsewhere to encourage action on the issue.

Staff plan to talk to the lower-tier municipalities seeking resolutions of support for the project in May. Once the scope of the project is finalized, staff recommend hiring a climate change co-ordinator in the fall. This year’s budget has $40,000 for the initiative, with $125,000 proposed for the 2020 budget.

“I’m really happy to see that this is finally coming forward, that we’re taking action on it,” Danielsen said.

Municipal planners unveiled the future of Herlihey Park at a special Highlands East council meeting March 26.

North Design Office Inc. presented the new master plan for the multi-year park development. The park, situated around Dark Lake, will feature walking trails, a beach, a picnic pavilion and recognition of the history of the area.

“It has phenomenal potential to be a really incredible waterfront park,” North Design Office founding partner Pete North said.

North said the plan has been adjusted based on feedback gathered last summer. Changes include doubling the size of the proposed beach, adding shoreline walking trails and sports facilities such as volleyball nets.

North also highlighted the plan to make the shoreline ecologically resilient, as well as including gardens and forested areas of the park.

“Herlihey Park will be the defining recreational amenity of Wilberforce’s waterfront through a lively mix of programs, activities, and healthy ecologies,” North said.

The plan also includes a nod to the area’s history, as the park is being built on the former site of Wilberforce Veneer and Lumber.

A pumphouse in the park could be used to depict the history, either through murals or historical photographs, he said. He added the images could be put throughout the landscape.

“There were so many really beautiful, historic images of the town,” North said. “This has the potential of taking on some of those images.”

Hilda Clark, one of the residents in attendance, said it is a wonderful plan. But she expressed concern about how much the park would really recognize the history of what it is built on.

“I don’t see … anything that will tell me anything about the lumber industry,” Clark said. “Lumbering and veneering was the heart of this town, of this whole area … nothing is going to pop out unless there are some signs explaining.”

“That’s really, really important. We’re completely inspired by that history,” North responded. “There’s nothing in your face, you’re right and that could certainly be improved or incorporated. The framework allows for that.”

Council voted unanimously to adopt the master plan.

Mayor Dave Burton said the park will be built in phases and is expected to be finished in 2022. The budget has $100,000 allotted to start building the park in 2019, with an expected total cost of approximately $500,000.

“Everybody’s getting excited about it,” Burton said. “We’ve managed to put pretty well everyone’s comments and concerns into the project … I’m looking forward to working on it.”

Highlands East councillors disagreed over new restrictions of the political activity of councillors on social media, which passed in a contested 3-2 vote.

Staff brought forward adjustments to a new code of conduct policy at a March 26 meeting. The policy, originally passed Feb. 12, was changed based on consultation with the new integrity commissioner hired by all Haliburton municipalities. Deputy mayor Cec Ryall and Coun. Suzanne Partridge voted against it.

The policy originally stated council and committee members are to refrain from negative statements against the municipality, staff, a member of the public or council on social media. However, the change extends the restriction to include political parties and other levels of government, including their officials.

Ryall questioned the measure and said councillors should be able to comment on decisions that impact municipalities.

“We have the right to criticize the government above,” Ryall said. “If you do it effectively, intelligently and respectfully.”

Chief administrative officer Shannon Hunter said it is meant to be a commonsense approach.

“No one is saying you don’t get to weigh in. Just do it in a positive way,” Hunter said. “You still have a right to say ‘I am disappointed.’”

Partridge questioned if that was really the case based on policy wording.

“I’m disappointed in the actions of the government’ is a negative statement, so we can’t say that,” Partridge said. “I really object to not being able to be politically active.”