Libraries facing staff shortages

By

-

February 17, 2022

The Haliburton County Public Library may not have enough staff to keep branches running regularly, or open at all, in coming weeks.

In a letter to the community on Feb. 10, library board chairperson Sally Howson said “The Haliburton County Public Library (HCPL) is currently, like many businesses, experiencing staff shortages. This may result in the reduction in hours or closure at some branches on short notice.”

At a Feb. 9 board meeting, CEO Christopher Stephenson said the library had 16 staff when he assumed the role in 2021. Now there are 10.

“I just need to be honest: we don’t have enough people,” he said. Administration staff have begun training in order to fill service gaps.

He said the shortage is due to recent retirements, staff pursuing post-secondary education, and leaves of absence.

“These layers have put stress on the group, and that has repercussions when we don’t have a lot of on-call standing by,” Stephenson said.

Patrons have called to voice frustrations over curbside pickup services.

“People are really upset right now, and they’re upset at library workers and it’s unfortunate,” Stephenson told the board.

The library has requested County funding for two full-time positions and one parttime position in its 2022 budget.

“My focus on hiring is focused on reestablishing what we had years ago,” Stephenson said. His goal, he added, is to have locals staffing each library, which would cut down on travel costs associated with library workers travelling between branches.

The library board suggested checking the HCPL website for updates before going to a library branch.

“Please know that HCPL staff will continue to do their utmost to provide services in a safe manner,” Howson said.

Stephenson and Howson thanked library workers for their hard work and urged patrons to be patient.

Branches could be reviewed

County warden Liz Danielsen said the announcement about staffing shortages means the board needs to “talk about the number of branches we’ve got.”

She pointed to circulation levels in Highlands East, which are much lower than that of Dysart et al or Minden Hills.

“It was a challenge 12 years ago, people have dug in their heels and done the best they can,” she said. “We need to face the fact that something needs to give.”

With new methods of delivery available, such as the soon-to-launch book lockers in Dorset, Danielsen said there are options to consider, rather than eliminating services completely.

Fundraising committee restarts

A relatively small tax-paying population paired with a large service area poses challenges to HCPL funding levels.

The board discussed how restarting the library’s fundraising and advocacy committee could be a way to raise extra funds and partner with the Friends of the Haliburton County Public Library.

“We’ve got a budget that will get us through the year, if we get additional funds, that’s great,” said Danielsen.

The committee met in 2020, but it’s been dormant since. Howson suggested the first step might be creating terms of reference.

“This is not for the faint of heart, and we don’t have to expect that we’re going to raise $5 million in a couple of months,” she said.

Stephenson suggested the committee would work on a “strategic approach” to fundraising, possibly involving long-term and ongoing projects.

“From the libraries’ perspective, I think perhaps we would want to make a plan for different avenues of fundraising. I do have ideas so I can bring those,” he said.

Danielsen said a good first step might be publicizing areas the library could use help.

“I don’t see any harm in letting the public know there are financial challenges associated with the library system,” she said.

“You never know what might come in just from that.”

The board will discuss the committee structure at a future meeting

Minden approves safety and well-being plan

By

Sam Gillett

-

February 17, 2022

0

Minden Hills council stamped its approval on the County’s externally-developed community safety and well-being plan (CSWB) Jan 10.

Councillors Bob Carter and Pam Sayne said parts of the plan could be improved to better reflect the Minden community.

Carter said the report was full of “consultant speak,” without enough specific plans for data collection on issues such as substance abuse or unemployment.

“I’m pretty disappointed in this,” he said. “The issue I have is in the report itself, along with work plans and goals.”

He pointed to Census data reporting 2,500 more people in Haliburton County than in 2016, about a 14 per cent bump to Minden’s population.

Without action plans for things such as new doctors and increased housing, Carter said the report is “terrific from a consultant’s perspective that could sit on a shelf, [but] not really a lot of action items that could help the County.”

The report outlines various ideas for improving services such as mental health support and addictions counselling, including a permanent virtual care clinic.

Other action items include developing employment and training placement programs for low-income groups and individuals.

A proposed police detachment board would include council members and the OPP detachment commander, along with one County-approved resident and a provincial appointee.

Sayne said that is too “top-heavy,” and more community stakeholders should be included.

“This does not bring any kind of consultative factors to the local municipalities, which I think is really critical in understanding our full community,” she said.

Including frontline workers, such as paramedics, would help the group “pivot, make decisions quickly and develop policies and programs that would help the community,” Sayne said.

She and Carter said they supported the drafting of the plan other than their specific concerns.

Mayor Brent Devolin said his initial skepticism has turned into whole-hearted support.

He said the plan represents a “change philosophically from a reactive to a proactive stance to dealing with issues like housing and food insecurity.”

Council unanimously supported the plan, with only Sayne voting against a subsequent motion of support for the seven-member detachment board.

Dysart passes budget

By

Mike Baker

-

February 17, 2022

0

Dysart council approved its 2022 budget Feb. 11, passing a 3.84 per cent tax levy increase to local ratepayers this year.

In tabling a third draft, treasurer Barbara Swannell said staff had worked hard in recent weeks to reduce the bottom line and arrive at a number more aligned with council’s expectations. A first draft in December called for a 7.56 per cent increase.

The new rate represents an increase of $11.41 per $100,000 of assessment for homeowners, with increases of $16.92 for commercial and $19.60 for industrial.

The typical residential property in Dysart was valued in 2016 at approximately $193,000 by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC), the organization tasked with carrying out home assessments for tax purposes in Ontario. Using that total, the typical ratepayer in Dysart will see an increase of approximately $22.10 on their tax bill in 2022.

Councillors John Smith and Walt McKechnie felt that number was high. McKechnie called on council to try and achieve a levy increase of less than three per cent, while Smith brought forward a few suggestions that would have drastically reduced the final number. His call to take $200,000 from a “substantial” 2021 budget operating surplus and apply it directly to the tax levy, rather than see it transferred into municipal reserves, did not pass.

“That would have gotten us below a two per cent increase,” Smith said of his idea. He then made a new suggestion, to take $100,000 from the surplus and apply it to the levy, bringing the tax increase down to around 2.8 per cent, but his motion failed.

Deputy mayor Pat Kennedy successfully lobbied for a slight budget reduction earlier in the meeting. Originally, council had intended to complete an $80,000 sidewalk project connecting the Gardens of Haliburton to Victoria Street using general tax funds, but given the municipality was sitting on around $290,000 of unspent federal money through the Canada Community Build Fund (CCBF), he suggested a change. Using $40,000 from the CCBF to subsidize the project, council was able to bring the budget increase down from the 4.22 per cent Swannell proposed at the beginning of the meeting.

Smith drew the ire of McKechnie when he said council could achieve further savings by looking closely at the Haliburton Highlands Museum budget. He wondered if the $22,900 allocated to repairs at Reid House was a good investment.

“I certainly don’t object to preserving some elements of our history, and we have a role as council in doing that, but if there’s really support for the museum and things like the Reid House, where are the other sources of funding?” Smith said, pointing out the township currently picks up approximately 95 per cent of the museum’s annual costs. In 2022, Dysart is projecting to spend just over $207,000 maintaining services at the museum.

“I’m tired of listening to negative arguments about our wonderful museum,” McKechnie retorted.

Council then went back on an earlier decision to not contribute to the chair lift fundraising program at the Haliburton Legion. Originally, the Legion had requested $10,000 to support the project, which is slated to cost about $105,000. Council denied that request Jan. 14, but decided last week to make a $2,000 contribution.

All in, the municipality projects to spend $18.49 million in 2022, with transportation services ($6.2 million), protective services and transportation services (both $3.7 million) representing the most significant expenditures.

AH gets to work on docks and landings

By

Mike Baker

-

February 17, 2022

0

Algonquin Highlands staff are seeking public feedback over the summertime use of the Skin Lake boat launch as the township gets going with its docks and landings improvement program.

Addressing council Feb. 3, Chris Card, parks, recreation and trails manager, said the Skin Lake site was the first location identified through the municipality’s asset management plan for upgrades. Presently, the site has a gravel approach down to the lake, retaining wall and wooden dock.

Card wants to replace the existing launch and fixed dock with a more environmentally-friendly option, something that councillors seemed to appreciate.

“It is possible that the current level of service could continue to be provided by removing the retaining wall and cantilevered dock feature, naturalizing the shoreline area to the extent possible and installing a gangway to [a] floating dock,” Card noted in his report.

The municipality will be putting out an RFP to bring a consultant in to advise on the project, while Card will be distributing a questionnaire to the 34 waterfront property owners fronting Skin Lake to hear what they’d like to see done with the redevelopment.

He hopes to complete the planning phase during the spring so that construction can be done in September. The municipality has set aside $95,000 for the project, although Card noted that amount was based on a like-for-like replacement of the launch, rather than what he was now proposing.

Mayor Carol Moffatt was pleased to hear property owners in the area would have a say, but warned that just because they have a voice doesn’t mean their every demand would be followed.

“We may not be able to address all the needs and wants. I feel like we need to set the table here – this is the first time we’re working through this process and it could change from one landing to another,” Moffatt said. “The purpose [through the questionnaire] is to gather information that will allow for decisions to be made. It’s not for people to say ‘I want this in blue, that in green, and my own personalized parking space.”

Card said there will be eight questions on the survey, with an aim to finding out the extent of winter use of the site (snowmobiles and ice fishing); extent of day users versus lake residents or property owners; if there’s a need for additional parking; historical water level information; and identifying any other locations on the lake residents launch from that can be used during construction.

There are 27 municipal docks and landings across Algonquin Highlands slated for improvements through this program.

County reserves lagging behind peers

By

Lisa Gervais

-

February 17, 2022

0

County council decided to put $500,000 of unspent money from 2021 into reserves during a meeting Feb. 9. The move came after a presentation from an accountant saying the municipality was in last place out of 18 comparable municipalities when it comes to reserve contributions.

Oscar Poloni of KPMG delivered a sobering reserve and reserve fund analysis during last week’s committee of the whole meeting.

“The intention of the analysis is to provide the County with insight into its reserves and reserve funds in comparison to other counties, as well as some potential courses of action that could be considered by the County as part of its broader financial planning,” Poloni said.

In the last 10 years, the County’s reserve balances have increased from $4.3 million to $6.8 million, due in large part to provincial funding, such as modernization and the Safe Restart program.

Poloni said under $2 million is in working funds – a contingency for unexpected needs – and the rest is “other”.

However, the size of the County’s budget has increased as well, with reserves and reserve funds now representing a smaller percentage of total expenditures.

In comparison to 18 other Ontario counties with 50,000 or fewer households, the KPMG report found Haliburton County’s reserves and reserve fund balances “towards the lower end of the group.”

In fact, they were dead last in reserve funds – $6.8 million compared to an average of $51.4 million – and last in reserve funds per household – $321 versus the average of $1,532. They came in 15 out of 18 as a percentage of expenditures and 17 out of 18 as a percentage of TCA cost.

Poloni said the challenge is that “ultimately, the County’s reserve and reserve fund policy needs to balance its financial needs with the issue of affordability.”

That being said, he noted the County’s residential tax rate was the second lowest among the counties studied.

He suggested three courses of action:

• A long-term financial plan that outlines planned operating and capital expenditures and associated funding sources, allowing the County to introduce a phased-in approach to adjusting reserve and reserve fund levels.

• Adopt a formal reserve and reserve fund policy that outlines: types of reserves and associated uses; minimum and maximum balances; policies for financing and reporting.

• Consider alternative approaches to financing that can supplement reserves and reserve funds, such as debt, development charges or special levies.

Councillors respond

Warden Liz Danielsen said, “I know we’ve done a lot of work to put ourselves on an appropriate path to sustainability but it’s quite obvious from your numbers that we’ve got a way to go.” She said she welcomed the suggestion about a reserve fund policy. Further, “it’s becoming more and more apparent that we really do need to investigate or take a deeper dive into development charges and see how that will support our moving forward.”

Coun. Pat Kennedy noted some of the County’s challenges include a high percentage residential tax base, versus commercial and industrial. He noted the municipality “has jumped seven years into the future” in terms of growth. It’s required more staff and the hiring of consultants. He thought special levies and development charges were worth looking into.

Coun. Brent Devolin asked CAO Mike Rutter about the work involved in a formal reserve and reserve fund plan. Rutter said treasurer Andrea Bull had been working on it for a couple of years and they could have something for the council to consider before the end of its term.

Coun. Andrea Roberts commented that a combination of reserves and debt is probably a better mix. She also spoke in favour of looking into development charges. Coun. Cec Ryall questioned whether there was a recommended debt to reserve average. But Poloni said it is very much a municipal perspective.

Later in the meeting, during a discussion about a $500,000 surplus from the 2021 budget, Devolin suggested that money go into reserves.

“Given Oscar’s discussion that he had with us today, I would put forward that we move that money into reserves … does the rest of council have an appetite to add a half-a-million dollars in one stroke of a pen to that with a tax rate increase that I think is definitely lower than inflation, given the rate of inflation, is quite good?” he asked. Council passed its 2022 budget at the meeting with a 3.22 per cent levy increase.

“I don’t think that Haliburton County wants to be the lowest,” Roberts said of being 18 out of 18.

Provincial grant funds arena equipment

By

Sam Gillett

-

February 17, 2022

0

The Minden arena will soon be open at full capacity and thanks to a $150,000 provincial grant, it’s now stocked with sports and exercise equipment for Highlanders eager to get moving.

“It’s to get more people active and help flesh out this fantastic arena and community centre we have now,” said MPP Laurie Scott, who attended a Feb. 15 press event.

Delivered through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the fund helped purchase hockey nets, ball hockey sticks, soccer balls and basketballs, fitness equipment and basketball and volleyball nets. It also funded the construction of a retractable stage and roll-up curtains for the gym.

In a press release, director of community services Craig Belfry said, “this grant will allow the township to foster more active lifestyles in the community, as this initiative is helping with infrastructure for unstructured and structured physical activities, and will have an impact on the lives of residents for years to come.”

The grant was awarded in 2019 but pandemic-related delays mean equipment is still arriving.

“I’m going to be extremely excited that everybody in the community can come use [the arena] to its full potential,” said Mayor Brent Devolin.

Opened in 2020, the arena has been primarily used by the Haliburton County Junior A Huskies and as a mass vaccination clinic.

Devolin said while he wished the public had full access to the space earlier, he was glad it could play a role in the COVID-19 pandemic.

“In the end, it worked out well, but the path to get here was anything but what was predicted,” he said. Soon the arena will be allowed to open at full capacity.

“We’ve been prepared all along. We’ve gotten our staffing in place,” said Belfry. He added they’re planning on increasing hours and announcing new programming soon, as well as an official opening event. “We’re excited, we’re ready,” he said.

HCSA discourages trail use due to poor weather

By

Sam Gillett

-

February 17, 2022

0

Snowmobiles on Head Lake — Snowmobilers ride across Head Lake in Haliburton Feb. 12

The Haliburton County Snowmobile Association urges riders to stay off trails due to overnight rain and mild weather.

In a Feb. 17 press release, the HCSA said it has suspended trail grooming operations until further notice.

“Any kind of traffic in these conditions will damage the trail surface and create ruts when the refreeze occurs. While the forecasted snow is encouraging, it will take several hours for the HCSA to assess when trail grooming can resume,” wrote the HCSA

Snowmobilers are encouraged to check trail availability at www.hcsa.ca

Minden Hills municipal offices reopening

By

Sam Gillett

-

February 16, 2022

0

Minden’s municipal offices will open its doors to the public once more Feb. 22.

The township has not offered in-person services since Dec. 2021.

“Residents and customers are encouraged to continue to access municipal services online at mindenhills.ca or by phone at 705-286-1260 as much as possible to support physical distancing,” the Township said in a Feb. 16 press release.

The release added that “the municipality will continue to communicate all information by means of media broadcasting and media releases to radio stations, local newspapers and our website.”

Ontario accelerates plan to end proof of vaccination requirements, eases capacity limits

By

Sam Gillett

-

February 14, 2022

0

Close-up medical syringe with a vaccine. — Vaccinations are underway in the County. Photo via Flickr.

Starting February 17 Ontario will increase gathering limits and remove capacity limits at places where vaccination certificates are required.

On March 1 businesses won’t be obligated to check proof of vaccination certificates though mask-wearing will continue to be enforced.

“Given how well Ontario has done in the Omicron wave we are able to fast track our reopening plan,” said Premier Doug Ford in an Oct. 14 press release. “This is great news and a sign of just how far we’ve come together in our fight against the virus. While we aren’t out of the woods just yet we are moving in the right direction.”

In a Feb. 14 press conference, Ford insisted the acceleration of the reopening plan was “in spite” of the ongoing anti-mandate protests, and not because of them.

Ford and Christine Elliott, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health said declining case rates and hospitalization numbers are behind the decision.

“Thanks to the province’s high vaccination rates and the continued sacrifices of Ontarians, we are now in a position where we can move forward in our plan earlier than anticipated,” said Elliott. “With hospitalizations and ICU admissions continuing to decline, we are committed to maintaining a gradual and cautious approach to protect our hospital capacity and ensure patients can access the care they need when they need it.”

The Haliburton Kawartha Lakes Pine Ridge District health unit reported similarly optimistic trends in recent weeks.

“We are seeing multiple indicators that things are improving and that COVID-19 transmission is decreasing,” said chief medical officer of health Dr. Natalie Bocking.

As of Feb. 14, COVID testing, now limited to high-risk people and settings, showed a case rate of 114 cases per 100,000 people, considerably lower than over 500 cases per 100,000 people in early January.

“We are now in a position to lift more public health measures, but it is important to stay vigilant, as we don’t want to cause any further disruption to people’s everyday lives,” said Ontario’s chief medical officer of Health Dr. Kieran Moore. “We must continue to prevent the transmission of COVID-19 in our communities by following the measures in place and by vaccinating those who have not yet received their doses.”

Rundown of reopening

Effective February 17, 2022

Ontario will further ease public health measures, including, but not limited to:

Increasing social gathering limits to 50 people indoors and 100 people outdoors
Increasing organized public event limits to 50 people indoors, with no limit outdoors
Removing capacity limits in the following indoor public settings where proof of vaccination is required, including but not limited to:
Restaurants, bars and other food or drink establishments without dance facilities
Non-spectator areas of sports and recreational fitness facilities, including gyms Cinemas

Meeting and event spaces, including conference centres or convention centres
Casinos, bingo halls and other gaming establishments
Indoor areas of settings that choose to opt-in to proof of vaccination requirements.
Allowing 50 per cent of the usual seating capacity at sports arenas
Allowing 50 percent of the usual seating capacity for concert venues and theatres
Increasing indoor capacity limits to 25 per cent in the remaining higher-risk settings where proof of vaccination is required, including nightclubs, restaurants where there is dancing, as well as bathhouses and sex clubs
Increasing capacity limits for indoor weddings, funerals or religious services, rites, or ceremonies to the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance. Capacity limits are removed if the location opts-in to use proof of vaccination or if the service, rite, or ceremony is occurring outdoors.
Capacity limits in other indoor public settings, such as grocery stores, pharmacies, retail and shopping malls, will be maintained at, or increased to, the number of people who can maintain two metres physical distance.

Effective March 1, 2022

Capacity limits on all indoor settings are lifted.

Proof of vaccination rule will be lifted.

Blues keep Pat going

By

Sam Gillett

-

February 11, 2022

0

Three hundred shows. That’s a milestone Patrick Monaghan thought he might not achieve before he slipped on the headphones Jan. 25 to start another edition of the Buckslide Blues Cruise.
Monaghan was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in 2019.
Difficult months of cancer treatment, surgery, and recovery meant many past hobbies were out of reach. His weekly twohour deep dive into the world of blues kept him going.
“It’s really been a blessing. I can distract myself and get buried into the next blues show I’m working on. It’s given me a reason to go forward.”
Monaghan was spotted by CanoeFM volunteers at the Haliburton farmers market five years ago. They said his voice was perfect for radio.
Monaghan agreed to the gig, and Blues was the genre that fit him best.
As a teen, Monaghan didn’t know his favourite rockers could trace their musical lineage to the Blues. The Buckslide Blues Cruise sails from “Lead Belly to Led Zeppelin,” Monaghan said. “And there’s a lot of music in between.”
He’s a bit of a perfectionist: pouring over his CD collection, crossreferencing notes on artists and songs and ensuring he adds some trivia to the mix: ask him how Led Zeppelin got its name.
“I enjoy teaching [listeners] something they didn’t know,” he said.
Since Monaghan took over the Blues slot at Canoe he’s dived into the Blues community. He won a National Campus Radio Award for the Best Jazz or Blues Music Show in 2020.
In producing the show he’s developed a network of listeners and friends who love the soulful songs and bassy rhythms of the Blues too.
It’s meant he’s been able to work directly with Blues bands across Ontario, lining up shows at festivals and clubs, as well as developing relationships with studios that will send music for Monaghan to check out, and hopefully play, on his show.
“They’ve come to trust me. I have a few bands that will give me a call and ask questions. I never thought my opinion mattered, but obviously it does and I’m rather proud of that.”
Friends in the Blues put on a benefit concert for Monaghan in 2019, raising money to fund the expensive burden that is cancer treatment. “One of the most difficult things was to get up on stage and keep my emotions together,” he said.
“I thought I was just … bugging these people. I became part of that community and I became very grateful. That’s something I’ve loved all my life and I never imagined being on the inside.” In 2020, Monaghan went to Memphis, Tennessee for the International Blues Challenge.
Photos from the time show him flashing his signature thumbs-up beside up-andcoming blues talents from Canada and the U.S. nearly always dressed in CanoeFM hats and shirts.
“I try to colour-coordinate,” he said with a chuckle.
He recorded nearly 200 “stingers,” with musicians lending their voice to segments played on the CanoeFM show regularly. “I kind of think with what I’m dealing with, when I’m well enough to go to these events, that’s my reward for dealing with the disease,” Monaghan said.
As he hit show 300, Monaghan said he wanted to extend “gratitude to all the people involved” in his Blues journey. “Whether it be the people at the station, the listeners, the promoter.”
Every Tuesday he’s able, Monaghan will slip on the headphones and thumb through his notes, bringing listeners far and wide on a journey of rhythm and soul.
“My job is to go out there and keep the blues alive,” he said. “For the past while, the Blues has been keeping me alive.”