The County of Haliburton is considering taking on some debt to better handle road maintenance during the winter.  

The county roads committee discussed the issue during a May 8 meeting. Director of public works Craig Douglas said due to the weather conditions, the county spent approximately $40,000 on patching this year up to May 1, compared to $15,000 up to May 1, 2018.  

Coun. Patrick Kennedy questioned whether a new approach was necessary.  

“Middle of May, we’re still driving on roads that are terrible in areas,” Kennedy said. “It’s not to blame, it’s because of lack of resources and time. Do we need to do something different?”  

Douglas said the patching has put the roads department a week or two behind on other work and prompted staff to explore solutions to help with spring road maintenance.  

“This year caught us off guard. What can we do for the same thing happening in the next spring? We’re doing what we can capital wise,” Douglas said. “It’s not going to be any different next year at this point.”  

CAO Mike Rutter said staff are exploring borrowing money in order to help with the roads situation in the future.  

“We’re looking at what some of the options are around a capital infusion which might be funded by debt and what that does to our long-term sustainability,” Rutter said. “Quite frankly, we know we need to respond more quickly.”  

County treasurer Elaine Taylor said the county is considering debt capacity as it relates to a forthcoming asset management plan.

She said the county has capacity it could utilize.  

“Council and staff will be weighing the options with respect to Asset Management Plan needs and the potential to utilize debt with its associated carrying costs to begin to close the infrastructure gap,” she said.  

Coun. Brent Devolin said Minden Hills is having a similar conversation on infrastructure.  

“Make sure there are some synergies between the county and any municipality if we’re going to embark on any of this,” he said. 

 Coun. Carol Moffatt said although the area municipalities are proud to have historically kept debt free, it may be time to change that.  

“Time is nigh. Borrow the money, build the things, fix the things,” she said.

Hydro One defended its use of the herbicide Garlon May 9 as the Dysart et al Environment and Climate Change Committee explores banning the company from using the substance in the municipality.  

The company presented to the committee about how it uses the product to prevent trees from extending into power lines.  

Transmission distribution specialist Brian Hill said they use herbicides responsibly.  

“I believe that to be one of our most environmentally friendly methods,” Hill said. “We do not do spray by air. We only trash incompatible brush. We’re only looking for the trees and brush that can go into the wire.” 

 The chemical is toxic to aquatic life, according to a manufacturer product page. The manufacturer recommends the product be kept away from any water bodies.  

Committee chair John Smith said there was concern about the impact if it flows into local waterways.

Hydro One’s use has also come under scrutiny in a number of other municipalities over the years, including Muskoka. However, Hill said they have limited alternatives.

If not using herbicides, he said Hydro One’s only option to get at the below-ground portions of the plants is removing the top layer of soil with heavy machinery.  

Ongoing maintenance using tools like chainsaws also poses problems, Hill said.  

“Firing up a piece of equipment that runs a diesel engine, these are polluters as well. Our carbon footprint when we go into this location is greatly reduced,” Hill said.  

Hill also said there is a 15-metre minimum buffer for using the substance by well water and three meters for other water bodies. But workers are trained to increase those buffers as needed.  

Hydro One superintendent of forestry services David Price said the company is trying to innovate.  

“We work year after year to apply less of the product,” he said. “We don’t stop trying to find better approaches.”  

Coun. Walt McKechnie said he was very impressed by the presentation.  

“Our waters are the most important thing we have here with our lakes. Needless to say, you’re on top of it with the environmental issues today,” McKechnie said.  

Smith expressed concern about the cumulative effect of multiple stressors to lake health, including Hydro One’s herbicides.  

“It’s not just Hydro One, we got a whole variety of various toxins,” Smith said. “It’s always about short-term cost savings. It’s always about making our life a little more convenient.”  

Mayor Andrea Roberts compared the herbicide use to the county using road salt, which is also harmful to aquatic life.  

“The county uses the salt … we don’t have a better alternative right now,” Roberts said. “We’re being as environmentally conscious as we can. That’s what I’m hearing from you guys.”  

The committee made no motions regarding the presentation.

Highlands East is backing a project headed by cottage associations to improve Glamor Lake Park.  

The Glamor Lake and Little Glamor Lake cottagers’ associations presented to Highlands East council May 14.

The associations seek to start an approximately $20,000 project to remediate the shorelines, manage trees and prevent unauthorized parking.  

Council voted unanimously to support the plan in principle.  

Little Glamor Lake Cottagers’ Association president Steve Cosentino said the area has many issues the associations hope to fix.  

“We have serious degradation there, decreased quality of the water,” Cosentino said. “We got trees that are ageing out, they need to be taken down and replaced. We got erosion issues.”  

The project will include the enhancement of the natural shoreline buffers, with 18 different spaces identified for work.

The associations hope to add things like river stones to help secure the shorelines.  

Environmental consultant Paul Heaven said the associations also want to accommodate current activities, such as by adding larger boulders for people fishing to stand on.  

“We don’t want to try to block traffic or stop the way thing’s work,” Heaven said. “What we try to do is look at the different issues associated with the different parts of the shoreline and come up with a mitigation plan.”  

The associations are also looking to add more natural buffers to stop people from parking outside designated parking areas.  

“This isn’t all about cottagers and the cottage association, this is for everybody,” Cosentino said.  

As the park is municipal property, the associations needs the municipality to apply for the necessary permits from the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to begin work. Council voted to direct staff to do so.  

Coun. Cam McKenzie complimented the associations for keeping in mind how people are using the park.  

“You took into consideration the present uses you want to maintain and in some cases, you are going to enhance them,” he said. “There was really no negative impact on current uses.”  

Cosentino said he estimated the cost could be significantly reduced by volunteer work and using municipal material and equipment.

Highlands East council made no financial commitment to the project.  

Coun. Suzanne Partridge said staff should examine the plan to identify what parts could be done in-house by municipal staff. 

Cosentino said the project stands to benefit everyone who uses the park, including fulltime residents.  

“This isn’t all about cottagers and the cottage association, this is for everybody,” he said.

John and Alisa Dermott want to transform Minden’s old go-kart track into a whole new experience.  

The pair purchased Pole Position Kartways in April and are working to remake and paint the facility, which also features mini golf and batting cages.

The location is now rebranded as The Minden Experience Adventure Fun Park and is having a grand re-opening ceremony May 18.  

John Dermott said having come to the place as cottagers with their kids for years, they decided to ask about buying it.

After moving to the area full-time in November, they finalized the sale last month.  

“Our dream has come true,” he said. “Having two young sons, it was a great time for them to learn business and have fun at the same time.”  

The facility’s previous owner Gerry Hogenhout had it for 20 years, running it  using third-party operators.

He said living in Toronto made it difficult to execute his vision for the property.  

“I came to the realization the property deserved to be in the hands of someone who not only shared my vision but was in a much better position to make it happen,” Hogenhout said. “I wish them the best and I really look forward to seeing them develop the property and maximize its potential.”  

The park is more than 50 years old.

Alisa Dermott said previous ownership did a great job maintaining it but her family is working to give it a fresh look.  

“We’ve been hearing from a lot of people that it’s just kind of got no presence. They weren’t sure if it was still open,” she said. “We just want to put the word out that yes, we’re here and yes, we’re making changes.” 

The pair hope to expand the park over time.

This year they are implementing a new snack bar and gift shop, with plans to add zip lines, archery, paintball and camping in years to come.  

“We have lots of space to keep adding fun things for locals and tourists alike,” John Dermott said.  “It’s happening, 100 per cent confident,” Alisa Dermott said. “We’re not going to all of a sudden have 10 new items. We’re going to slowly build it up.”  

The park is opening for the public May 18 at 10 a.m., with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at noon.  

“We want to build a business so we can retire and pass it down to our kids someday,” she said. “It’s a nice little getaway.”

Concerned residents of Highland Grove questioned the Highlands East Fire Committee over fears about the future of their community fire hall.  

The committee answered a series of questions from a resident delegation during its May 13 meeting.

The delegation spoke to their concern the municipality could decide to close the Station 2 fire hall in Highland Grove as part of a service delivery review. 

 A group of 10 people sat in on the meeting. Resident Angela Lewis said attending and asking questions sent a message.  

“Us being here, fighting for this, whether it happens or doesn’t, shows how important it is to us,” she told the committee.  

Residents spoke about the 2010 Peter Corfield and Associates Master Fire Plan Report, which recommended closing and merging fire halls to save costs, including Station 2.

Although the reports recommendations were not all acted on, it resurfaced at the fire committee’s first meeting March 11.

Previous fire chief Bill Wingrove also brought up the report in December 2016 and spoke to council in support of its recommendations.  

Council has tasked the committee with completing a fire service delivery review. But Mayor Dave Burton said he did not understand what the residents are fighting about, given the committee has not yet brought forward any recommendation. 

 “This isn’t a committee to go closing fire halls,” Burton said. “I’ll stand here as mayor and say that … we’re here trying to make a good service better.”  

He added his own concerns about the need to improve fire services and how a possible amalgamation at the county level might impact them.  

“You might have one fire hall in Highlands East if you amalgamate,” Burton said. “If we don’t do something, I guarantee the province will come in and do it.”  

Station 1 fire chief Wayne Galloway said the Corfield report was brought forward as background information, as many fire service members never saw it.  

“It was never intended to be used to make a decision,” he said. “Everybody here at the table will agree there’s information there (in the report) that was lacking.”  

Acting fire chief Chris Baughman said he does not want to reduce the level of service to save money.  L

ewis said she did not feel her discussion with the committee accomplished anything.  

“We’ll just keep fighting,” Lewis said. “We made our point, we’ll just keep going.” 

Committee discusses vehicle cuts

 
The committee also discussed how to start working toward a service delivery review.

 
“What’s driving the need for this?” Station 4 fire chief Brian Woods asked. “Is it we can’t afford the status quo?” 

Baughman said past studies have suggested that and the municipality is doing the review to find out for sure. 

Chair Cam McKenzie said the review would be a lengthy process. But he suggested one of the things worth exploring was whether the municipality needs three emergency vehicles at each of its five fire halls. 

“The major budget of a fire department is buying trucks,” McKenzie said. “Maybe we’re over-equipped to carry on the same service and we could do it with less vehicles.” 

Baughman later said he is also compiling updated statistics on fire calls at each station.