Dysart visitor centre $100,000 over budget

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December 17, 2020

JQ - Visitor's centre budget - 1 — The new visitor centre the municipality is building outside Head Lake Park is going significantly over budget. Photo by Joseph Quigley.

Head Lake Park is projected to go $100,000 over budget due in part to rising construction material costs.

Staff reported Dec. 11 that construction costs have gone up to about $550,000. Coun. John Smith said the deficit figure includes $60,000 for materials due to pandemic-related price increases and $26,000 for an HVAC system not originally accounted for.

Deputy mayor Patrick Kennedy, who heads the committee overseeing the project, reported Nov. 24 that overruns could be $60,000. He added he would like to apply COVID recovery funding to the budget given the pandemic’s impact on costs, which staff said they would investigate.

“The numbers showing in the budget today are quite shocking to me, honestly,” Kennedy said. “The ball lands squarely at my feet.”

The Rotary Club of Haliburton originally proposed the centre and is providing $75,000, while the federal government is granting $375,000. CAO Tamara Wilbee said the $100,000 figure is not necessarily final and there are still invoices coming in. She said the pandemic spike on material costs could not be anticipated. She later added the building is also 20 per cent larger than originally planned.

Treasurer Barbara Swannell said they could explore additional grant funding to cover the expense and the taxpayer impact should not exceed $60,000.

Smith criticized the build and asked how the process could be changed to avoid something such as this in the future. He further asked about councillors getting further input on projects such as this.

“It’s more than 20 per cent over budget. That ought to be a concern because taxpayers are picking up the tab,” Smith said. “What lessons do we learn from this experience? Because it’s hard to say it’s been well-executed.”

Mayor Andrea Roberts defended the building and said the rising cost of materials is impacting all types of construction.

“It’s something we can be proud of,” Roberts said of the welcome centre. “If overall it costs the municipality, the taxpayers, the (2021 tax) levy, $60,000 or even a little bit more, that’s very good value for what we’re getting, and I think we have to be a little more positive.”

Less spin, more delivery

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 17, 2020

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In my many years of journalism in Ontario, I have never seen a provincial government that manages the message as well as the Ford Conservative government.

They have taken their spin-doctoring to an even greater level during COVID-19.

Every day throughout this pandemic, Premier Doug Ford has taken to a podium with one or more of his Cabinet ministers.

Many of these video ops involve some form of funding announcement.

Daily.

Some are a tad misleading. Take for example the Dec. 8 announcement by Minister of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries, Lisa MacLeod.

She started her Zoom announcement by saying the government was handing out $3.2-million.

In actual fact, they were giving $350,000 of new money. The rest had already been spent.

MPP for Haliburton-Kawartha LakesBrock, Laurie Scott often attends the pressers involving her constituency.

However, you’ll note she hasn’t held a press conference to discuss her government’s role in what environmentalists and critics say breaks a promise to protect the Greenbelt from development, or any of the other Bills that have been passed by her government under somewhat questionable circumstances.

But when it comes to announcing money, Scott and the provincial Conservatives are unparalled.

Further, it should be noted that they rarely announce where the money is coming from. One can presume that the lion’s share is taxpayers’ dollars, though. So, in essence, the government is announcing that it is giving you back your money for some project or program, all the while patting itself on the back.

What is often lacking in these announcements as well is the ‘when.’

You need look no further than Haliburton Highlands Health Services to see examples of moneys promised, but not yet delivered.

The HHHS board met Dec. 11 and member, David O’Brien, quite rightly criticized the province while discussing the organization’s $455,000 operating deficit.

O’Brien said the financials as of Sept. 30 are due to COVID-19 expenses.

He said about $424,000 in the deficit is related to lost revenue with service closures that the province has deemed not eligible for provincial funding. Another $31,000 is from increased overtime due to staff recruiting and retention problems.

He said the province did provide some reimbursement for expenses up until July but he’s disappointed the province has not provided more – in the six months since.

O’Brien said the board, staff and HHHS executive has done everything it’s been asked by the province.

However, funding isn’t keeping up with that provincial ask.

When announcing their budget Nov. 5 – another big media splash – the Conservatives pledged an extra $572 million for hospitals to support pandemicassociated costs.

And yet, surprise, surprise, HHHS has not received any formal communication about how many dollars will flow its way, or more importantly, when those actual dollars will hit their accounts.

While we understand the bureaucracy in translating press announcements to the real thing in Ontario communities, maybe less time could be spent on the bling and more on the details of ensuring much-needed dollars get to where they have to go in a timely fashion.

Arena and community centre drive 2021 budget

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Lisa Gervais

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December 17, 2020

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LG-Minden Hills budget — Minden Hills council held first round budget talks Dec. 10

Minden Hills council pre-approved spending another $200,000-plus at the S.G. Nesbitt Arena and Community Centre during its first round of budget talks Dec. 10.

The money includes up to $60,000 for office furniture, preparation of a request for proposals for the design, purchase and installation of fitness equipment; other costs to get the centre up and running of $93,600 and COVID-19-related sanitization and cleaning expenses of $47,900.

Where the money will come from, whether a loan, reserves or taxation is yet to be determined. In addition, there is outstanding money from the Ontario Trillium Foundation and the fundraising committee has resumed meeting and may contribute to the bottom line.

New director of community services, Craig Belfry, said the first draft of the 2021 budget for the Community Services Department includes a $693,232, or 58 per cent, increase over the 2020 budget of $1,194,910. The proposed net budget for 2021 is $1,888,142.

“The majority of this increase is associated with operationalizing the new recreation complex, including equipment, supplies and staffing,” he said.

CAO Trisha McKibbin said the cost of staffing the new centre represents 52 per cent of the departmental increase as of the first round of budget talks.

“The S.G. Nesbitt Arena Project was the largest project undertaken in 2020 and remains a prominent component of the 2021 budget,” she said.

Mayor Brent Devolin said there will be phasing in.

“Given COVID and a number of other constraints, we’re not going to incur a full year’s cost in some of these things,” he said.

Coun. Bob Carter pointed out the budget anticipated a full year’s expenses commencing Jan. 1, 2021 but deferred revenues so was misleading.

“If we compare back to 2019, we’re talking about an increase in the budget here of over 90 per cent so it’s a tough pill to swallow and I think we have to examine this in great detail … we have to recognize what it is that we can afford or what it is we can do to increase revenue or do some things to offset these large costs,” he said.

Overall, McKibbin said the first draft of the budget came in at a 17.5 per cent increase from 2020.

The most significant increase to the 2021 budget is wages and benefits, showing a combined cost increase of $879,407.

The CAO said, “staff recognize that this is not an acceptable increase and look forward to budget discussions in order to work with council on reaching a final budget target.”

Gun-wielding suspects rob pharmacy

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 17, 2020

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LG-armed robbery — A large police presence at The Highland Pharmacy

OPP are continuing to investigate an armed robbery at the Haliburton Highland Pharmacy Dec. 9.

The Haliburton Highlands detachment said that about 6 p.m., they responded to a report that two masked suspects had entered the Highland Street business brandishing a firearm. The suspects demanded, and received, narcotics. They then fled the scene. The employees were not injured.

The OPP Tactics and Rescue Unit, Canine, Emergency Response Unit and Forensic Identification Services all swarmed the site.

Shortly before 7 p.m., OPP tweeted they were conducting an ongoing investigation in the area of Haliburton to Tory Hill with a large police presence and requested residents stay inside and avoid the area if possible. A second tweet at 7:15 p.m. said the police presence was clearing.

The pharmacy declined comment on the incident, referring all inquiries to the OPP.

The Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre, which is co-located in the space and operates the medical clinic, was closed at the time of the alleged robbery, CEO Sonya J. Lockyer said. “As such, I cannot comment on as we do not own/ operate it,” she said of the pharmacy.

Dysart et al Mayor Andrea Roberts said she was driving by and noticed the large police presence.

“It was a little bit shocking,” she said. “I knew that something was up.”

She believes thieves are becoming more brazen and that drug-related crime has increased in the County.

Mayor: ‘crime affects all of us’

“Crime affects all of us. I feel for the people who work at that pharmacy. They had to deal with that situation. How frightening and scary for them.”

Haliburton BIA president, Luke Schell, said while the armed robbery was “concerning … I don’t think that it is something that is going to happen a whole bunch of times in Haliburton.”

He added, “I don’t think the drug problem we have in Haliburton County is any worse than many, many other towns such as ours. I quite honestly feel that most retail businesspeople around here feel like we’re in one of the safest communities going.”

Investigators are asking anyone with information about the incident, or the suspects’ identity, to contact them at 705-286-1431; toll-free at 1-888- 310-1122 or anonymously at Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477)

National award winner not singing the blues

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 16, 2020

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JQ - Pat Monaghan - 1 — CanoeFM radio host, Patrick Monaghan, earned an award Nov. 9 for his Blues show on the station. Photo submitted.

Dressed in CanoeFM garb, radio host Patrick Monaghan reached a culmination of five years of work when he accepted the award for best Jazz and Blues Programming from the National Campus and Community Radio Association Nov. 9.

Monaghan’s Buckslide Blues Cruise show has attracted an audience stretching from coast-to-coast online.

“I was honoured to be elected, even in the final, and thrilled to be the winner,” Monaghan said. “I put a lot of hours into it. I put a lot of time promoting the show, building the show.”

That effort has paid off for Monaghan, who began his radio career just five years ago. The former operator of Buckslide Dog Treats, Monaghan was plucked from the farmers market by CanoeFM personnel, who praised his voice and suggested he should try out.

“There was an opening in the Blues area, which is my passion,” he said. “When I was in my teems, I realized years later, the music I listened to was rock, but it was very blues-based. ZZ Top, Rolling Stones, bands like that.”

Monaghan said he grew his audience, with listeners hailing from both sides of the border in places such as California and Ohio. He has also journeyed away from the studio, taking his show on the road, getting involved in concerts and events around the province.

“I spend more time promoting the show than I do putting the show on,” Monaghan said.

Station manager, Roxanne Casey, said it was good to see Monaghan get recognition.

“He does such a fabulous job on his program and he puts his heart and soul into every week’s show,” Casey said. “He does a really great job of delivery.”

Although his program has experienced rising success, the past year has come with hardship. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer in September 2019. As he treated it, the pandemic came along, ending his events and live studio sessions.

“The culmination of the effort I’ve made and everything’s all coming together,” he said of his show’s rise. “Then I got sick, and then the virus. It was like a double whammy.”

Still, his show has carried on despite the difficult circumstances – including his cancer recently coming back in his lung. A GoFundMe also raised more than $5,000 to help with his travel and treatment costs, with a benefit concert in November 2019 in Collingwood.

“It was overwhelming,” he said of the effort. “I couldn’t talk without welling up in tears. Just so overwhelmed with gratitude.”

Monaghan is still regularly in studio, making a concentrated effort to help promote new artists unable to rely on concerts due to the pandemic.

“I can’t carry a tune in a bucket,” he said. “This is one way I can be involved in something that I love so much.”

Highlands East must confront centralization questions

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 16, 2020

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JQ - Highlands East mid-term - 1 — Highlands East council is sworn in December 2018. File photo.

Onerous questions about centralization and efficiency – in the face of challenging geography and limited budgets – have so far defined this term of Highlands East council.

In Oct. 2019, Savino Human Resources Partners recommended cuts to fire halls, the need for centralized administration and culling some municipal buildings. These ideas have yet to be acted on and council has not indicated a direction, with the pandemic undoubtedly curtailing progress. But a fraught process on fire halls has made it clear that centralization is no easy task. The uncertainty of council’s perspective on this has led to some mistrust and it is not clear how they will navigate this going forward.

Two years ago, Highlands East citizens maintained their faith in a slate of incumbent councillors – Mayor Dave Burton, Deputy Mayor Cec Ryall and councillors Cam McKenzie and Suzanne Partridge. Along with newcomer Ruth Strong, their experience is clear, and they have led the municipality with a steady hand for most day-to-day issues.

But The Highlander has highlighted the exploration around cutting fire halls, principally at Highland Grove. Despite efforts to not put the cart before the horse, our reporting shows there is some push from within the municipality for closures before all the evidence is gathered – whether from council, staff, or both. That may or may not be the right way to go, weighing feasibility versus safety concerns. But whichever way council leans, it should be frank and firm in its position, rather than the ambiguity to date.

That goes for centralization across the board, whether it be administration offices, or reducing the number of small library branches as recommended at the County level. Highlands East’s size is challenging. From observing council, it is hard to say where councillors lean on these issues. That can be positive. These are big decisions that should not be made hastily. But given how thorny these issues can be, letting things go unanswered for an extended period of time can erode public trust. At the earliest opportunity, council would be well-served to decide what direction it is going and commit to it firmly, even if it will take years to implement. If the vision of this council is to start centralizing, it would do well to convince the public of it sooner rather than later.

Despite that uncertainty, this council has buckled down and gotten a fair amount done. Most recently, it pushed ahead to fix the Cardiff pool – arguably a Bandaid given consultant recommendations to consider a $2.5 million replacement. But it is a good compromise and the project should keep the pool going for years to come. It also deserves kudos for pushing ahead on short-term rentals despite some outspoken pushback.

Although we have yet to see a bylaw, the township’s survey has shown there is a public appetite for municipal action. Other noteworthy achievements include: an overhaul of the clean and clear bylaw; progress on a new Herlihey Park; implementing needed fireworks restrictions and addressing outstanding septic issues at some properties.

Navigating a pandemic as a municipality is not easy, let alone with so many big decisions sidelined. This council has experience but that will be challenged to either convince the public about centralization, or figuring out how to avoid it.

Tie break delivers warden’s chair to Danielsen

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 15, 2020

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By Lisa Gervais

The luck of the draw delivered the warden’s chair to Algonquin Highlands deputy-mayor Liz Danielsen Dec. 15 following a four-four tie vote between her and Minden Hills Mayor Brent Devolin.

To break the tie, the mayor of the township with the highest weighted assessment, Dysart’s Andrea Roberts, had to pick the winning name.

“This is not fun,” Roberts said, before drawing Danielsen’s name from an envelope containing both warden candidates’ names on equal sized pieces of paper.

The random selection delivered Danielson a third term as County warden, a post she will hold until Dec. 14, 2021.

Danielsen said, “to be absolutely honest, I wasn’t really prepared to make a speech today.”

However, she said she was pleased and proud to continue to represent the County.

“The County means an awful lot to me and I just want to assure everyone that I will do my level best.”

She said she looked forward to continuing to work with her County colleagues and thanked Devolin for putting his name forward. She said it was great to see the council actually having an election after not having one for a number of years.

She further acknowledged it was rather extraordinary to be warden for three years running. However, she said “it’s extraordinary times for us all.”

She said they had some incredible challenges ahead of them, starting with the pandemic and continuing to deal with that.

“It’s sad to say that despite the fact there are vaccines coming, we’re gong to be dealing with this for months yet to come,” she said, adding it will make their jobs that much more difficult.

She said they have a province that is rapidly going further into debt and they are going to have to take part in being part of the solution to that problem for some time to come.

“So, I think we can look forward to changes and challenges that we’re all going to have to deal with in the best way that we can possibly can.”

She touched on the service delivery review, “and an incredible number of decisions and thinking to do about how we go forward.”

She said that makes it important to work together and to communicate as best they can. She said they had promised to do that in the past, and had made some strides in that direction “but I know we can all go further in working together because we do all have a common [goal].

She said she also looked forward to continuing with the Eastern Ontario Warden’s Caucus.

“I just want to thank all of my friends, and my colleagues, including all of you for your continued support of me, and I will do my absolute and level best.”

Highlands East offering winter burials

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 15, 2020

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JQ - HE Winter Burials - 2 — Kevin Baker and Jeff McIntosh from CemeCare Complete Cemetery Solutions speak during a workshop Feb. 4. Highlands East is contracting the company to offer winter burials in the pandemic. File photo.

Highlands East has become the first local township to offer winter burials – but only on a temporary basis due to COVID-19.

Council approved a bylaw Dec. 8 to contract CemeCare, which provides winter burials to several municipalities. The move stems from the direction of the Bereavement Authority of Ontario, which has asked for cemetery operators to offer burials as far into the winter as possible. This is to alleviate body storage capacity due to concerns about increased deaths due to COVID-19.

Coun. Suzanne Partridge praised the move and said it is something the environment committee has hoped to enact.

“I highly recommend that we do this,” Partridge said. “It will be a wonderful service to the people in our community so they don’t have to wait until the spring.”

Previously, no local townships have offered winter burials due to difficulty working with frozen ground. Burials are usually closed off from November to May, with families needing to choose other options or store their loved ones to get a local burial. There is no cost for the municipality, but those who use the service will have to pay CemeCare. Clerk Robyn Rogers said it is about $1,250 for the opening and closing of the grave.

She further said the Emergency Operations Centre has discussed the issue.

“There are so many conditions that can really affect whether to do it safely or not,” Rogers said. “It’s somewhat of a backup plan, I guess. If we can’t do it and we have an influx of individuals, unfortunately, passing away, that we do have a plan in place to be able to bury these individuals.”

Green Burial Society welcomes news

Haliburton’s Green Burial Society has pushed for winter burials alongside environmentally-friendly ones. It hosted a winter burial workshop Feb. 4 with councillors from all local townships to encourage them to adopt the practice.

CemeCare presented at the workshop. Society president Terry Moore said even though Highlands East is planning this as a temporary measure for now, it is welcome news.

“Hopefully, that will encourage more opportunity for it to be offered,” Moore said. “Hopefully, it’s the toe in the door, that will open the door wide to get year-round green burial options in place.”

He said townships need not necessarily contract the service out and they could do it internally but added CemeCare is a way to offer the service at a modest cost for now. “Good on Highlands East for moving on it.”

Century 21 Granite Realty Group changing hands

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 14, 2020

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Andrew and Anne Hodgson are turning over the keys to Century 21 Granite Realty Group Ltd.

Andrew Hodgson said they’ve sold the business to Brandon Nimigon and his wife, Megan Zwart. However, Hodgson will continue to sell real estate. “I love selling real estate. I’m not retiring,” he said.

However, he said it was time to find someone else to own and operate the four real estate offices in Haliburton County and nearly 30 realtors.

At 57, Hodgson said it is a lifestyle choice but also about good succession planning; selling to a young professional who was born, raised and educated in the County, went away to acquire some world experience, and then came back home.

Hodgson himself had only been a realtor for three years when he and Anne purchased the business from Derrell and Kim Stamp 11 years ago.

“We’re really overwhelmed by the support we’ve had owning a business in Haliburton County. The community really accepted us and we’ve been able to have a wonderful 11 years,” Hodgson said.

He added they were fortunate to buy into a business that had been run by “wonderful” realtors with an “exceptional” reputation. They simply had to follow the Stamps lead.

Hodgson, who’s involved in a number of community groups, said they often talk about the challenge of youth attraction and retention.

He said they could have sold to an outside company but they’re “excited a young, local family want to take this on. Brandon’s a good professional, a good realtor, he does things the right way, he is decent and cares about people and clients. That’s part of what started making my mind up, how he’s developed and matured.”

Hodgson added with changes to the industry, including the need for technology during COVID, and the influx of city dwellers to the County, “Brandon gets where the world’s going.”

Nimigon said the prospect of taking over the business Feb. 1, 2021 is “exciting, scary and every other feeling.”

He said when Hodgson approached him, he knew it would be a big step for he and his wife but they felt it was a good fit.

He said they plan on staying in the County for many years to come and it is a good way to get even more involved in the community.

Practicing real estate for just 5.5 years, he said having Hodgson stay on as a realtor gives him peace of mind.

He said his strength lies in the company’s digital footprint going forward. “

I want to take our company to the next level, make sure our websites are top notch, get a lot more into the Google analytics side of things, any new technology that comes out to help our clients.”

He’s a big fan of Facetime, doing virtual walk-throughs with GTA clients to rule out properties that don’t fit. It saves everybody time.

He is also pleased that as a young professional, he has been able to not only return home but have an opportunity such as this.

“When you grow up in a small town, everyone has that mindset they want to get out, go to the city and live there. Then you realize Haliburton is a pretty great place. And I want to provide that opportunity for people to come back and raise their families and have jobs to come to. Real estate is a great way to support the economy and bring tourists in. It’s all about keeping Haliburton growing ad keeping business thriving.”

County must answer two-tiered questions

By

Lisa Gervais

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December 13, 2020

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To be one, or not to be one – that is the County’s question.

To become one and amalgamate, perhaps ending the lack of unity and inconsistency on important issues between the townships. Or to remain separate, but together, maintaining township independence and culture, and finding some other way to iron out the trouble spots of the two-tier system.

County council finally had a look Nov. 25 at its long-anticipated services delivery review. That may eventually lead to a discussion on amalgamation, which Coun. Carol Moffatt has maintained the council is open-minded about it. We shall see.

We have written about some of the follies of the two-tier system. Things that should be consistent across all four townships are not. Short-term rentals have been a major problem for years, but only recently has there been any indication the County might take it on. Other matters such as septic inspections or fireworks bylaws led to strange instances of townships wanting to peek at other townships’ work when a more easily unified approach at the County would seem appropriate. We understand jurisdictional hurdles, but it can still feel nonsensical at times.

We recognize there are downsides to amalgamation – a loss of community identity, potentially increased distances to services, perhaps weaker public representation. Whether a unified municipality will be more efficient is uncertain. But it is worth exploring.

It has otherwise been an eventful two years for County council. They pushed forward a unified climate change plan – some would criticize it as not nearly ambitious enough, but it is at least something concrete to address the biggest crisis of our time. Improved connectivity is also making good progress at the County level and above through the Eastern Ontario Regional Network and although it always feels too slow, it is progressing. They have also helped secure the future of local daycares, drastically improved our ability to recruit new doctors, advanced affordable housing and progressed local tourism, all positive steps.

Other issues have fallen through the cracks. The County royally messed up when it comes to transportation, squandering the chance with a dedicated group of volunteers who burned out after years of effort trying to make a unified system happen, to no avail. There is now a transportation piggybank being built-up to wait for upper-government funding to do something, but we feel skeptical about whether that day will come.

The most controversial part of the County’s term has undoubtedly come in its shoreline preservation bylaw. Environmental groups and the construction and landscaping sectors are all pressuring the County about the bylaw and how strong it should be. Thus far the council has managed it prudently, but tough decisions are imminent. We hope councillors can strike a good balance, but ensure the bylaw is strong enough to rein in the reports we hear of out-of-control shoreline developments.

Much of the second half of the term will be about addressing shared services. Resolving the inconsistencies of the two-tier system should be a top priority and finding efficiencies could be a boon as we try to recover from the pandemic. The council might feel the urge to kick the question of amalgamation down the road, for the next council to handle. But we hope we can at least have the decision made, even if not implemented, so we can close the book on the debate once-and-for-all.