Haliburton Rotary’s $200,000 makeover of Skyline Park has gotten a major boost from the park’s owner – the Ministry of Transportation.

Haliburton Rotary said on May 20 that the MTO will fund new, year-round accessible washrooms in the park. The building will replace seasonal, May to October, portapotties.

“We are delighted that MTO, the owner of Skyline Park, has stepped up in a big way with funding for the washrooms, one of the key elements of Rotary’s Skyline Park initiative,” said project committee chair Chuck Wheeler.

Committee member Jerry Walker added, “we also want to thank MPP Laurie Scott for her assistance behind-the-scenes in securing MTO funding. She has been a big supporter of the project from the get-go.”

Scott said she wanted to thank Haliburton Rotary for “their dedication to work with MTO to give Skyline Park a muchneeded makeover and beautification. Congratulations to all the members of Rotary for giving us a clearer view.”

Over the next three years, Rotary is planning the following improvements to the park for tourists and residents to enjoy: removing trees and brush to improve the view (in progress); repairing the broken concrete on the existing viewing platform (done); constructing extensions to the existing viewing platform; creating a new upper-viewing platform to accommodate people with mobility issues; building two new picnic pavilions with concrete pads and covered roofs; the washrooms; 13 lots left providing new benches and picnic tables (partially complete); improving pathways using recycled asphalt, which will not erode and is more accessible (partially complete); parking lines to indicate regular and handicapped parking spaces; creating designated bus parking that allows for safe and easy turnaround for tour buses; installing display boards, highlighting the community’s history and current attractions; and improving safety fencing and signage.

The project is being funded by the Haliburton Rotary Club, and through grants and donations.

“If you buy a Rotary car draw ticket, you are supporting our Skyline Park project,” said Rotary president Sue Collings. “We are also grateful for the grants we have received from the Haliburton County Development Corporation (HCDC), which has provided several generous Local Initiatives Program grants,” Collings added.

The project has also been a recipient of grants from the Rotary District, which the local club is a part of.

“Retailers have also stepped up to provide building materials and project supplies at a reduced cost to the project and we are grateful for their continued support,” Rotary member John Beachli said.

Rotary Club members have financially contributed to the project with their time and wallets, and the project has had a $5,000 donation from a local resident who supports the initiative.

If you are interested in financially contributing, or learning more about the project, e-mail haliburtonrotary@gmail. com.

Approximately 14 months from the implementation of a bylaw allowing non-waterfront homeowners to construct additional dwelling units (ADUs) on their property and Dysart et al council has signed off on a major change to the legislation.

At a May 27 meeting, councillors opted to amend the bylaw so that ADUs can be rented out on a short-term basis. When the program was rolled out in March 2024, the intent was that it would create more longterm rentals for locals, said planner Jeff Iles.

When announcing the More Homes Built Faster Act in 2023, premier Doug Ford said he hoped opening the door for ADUs would help the provincial government hit its target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2031. Iles said this change opposes that viewpoint.

“It’s staff’s opinion the proposed amendment will remove housing options for our community. Because of that, and because this proposal does not really comply with the priorities [of the original bylaw] or provincial policy, staff recommend this be withdrawn,” Iles said.

Coun. Pat Casey said he believes the decision over whether to rent a property short-term or long-term should rest with the owner, which deputy mayor Walt McKechnie and councillors Tammy Donaldson, Carm Sawyer and Barry Boice agreed with.

Sawyer said the township “has got to do something different” given the low uptake in new ADU applications thus far – Dysart had received three applications as of Jan. 30 – and the fact people are opting to leave already installed ADUs vacant rather than rent out long-term. “If people don’t rent it this way (shortterm), they’re not going to rent it at all… there’s no more [space in our] hotels, motels and resorts, the numbers there are dwindling,” Sawyer said. Donaldson added, “I think people forget that we’re a tourist [area]. We do have the Haliburton School of Art + Design here, and a lot of other things. I completely agree with [the change].”

Nancy Wood-Roberts was the first to speak against the proposal, saying, “there’s not enough living opportunities for people that work and live here. It’s nice to have space for visitors, but what about the people who are here in the community and don’t have housing?”

Township clerk Mallory Bishop advised council that since the decision goes directly against provincial policy it could be appealed. With Iles recommending against the update, she said it could be a “difficult” case to win.

Iles suggested allowing people to apply to make their ADUs short-term rentals on a case-by-case basis, rather than implementing blanket approval. When he told Casey that process would likely take up to four months, the councillor felt that was too long for people to wait.

“I say we run the ball and see what the province says. In terms of this generating housing, it’s been a… train wreck so far,” Casey said. “If people can make money, it increases tourism in the area. It’s the person’s civil liberties of their own property to do what they want within reason. I think we give it to them to see if they want shortterm or long-term.”

Some other nearby communities, including Algonquin Highlands and Kawartha Lakes, allow rentals of 28 days or less in ADUs. Iles said, “I don’t know how to make it work so that we comply with provincial policy, but there are ways to do it.” Council directed him to bring the amendment back to a future meeting for final approval.

Halls Lake resident Tim Kegel and wife, Laura, say it’s always been their dream to have a small hobby farm and be as selfsustaining as possible.

The couple are seeking to rezone their sixacre property at 1572 Little Hawk Lake Rd. When they first added animals in 2018, they thought the land was Rural-Exception (RU), which allows hobby farms. They had six to eight pigs per year, though stopped raising in 2023 after learning the property is zoned Shoreline Residential 2.

“Living off the land really appeals to us. We have an apple orchard, some gardens… we don’t have pigs anymore, but we want to raise four or five per year, butcher them in the fall and have the meat for winter,” Kegel said. “We also have about 10 chickens, which gives us way more eggs than we could ever eat, and honeybees.”

He says there were no issues with neighbours until 2023, after he clear cut a half-acre at the rear of his property, closest to the water, and used the leftover stumps to create a berm along his property line.

Kegel claims that after complaints over the berm went nowhere, his neighbours turned their attention to his pigs. Multiple people approached him about the smell in 2023, though he says he wasn’t doing anything differently from when he had no complaints.

After investing about $100,000 getting his hobby farm off the ground, Kegel has gone without his pigs for the past two years. He’s had representatives from the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food, and Agribusiness (OMAFRA), Algonquin Highlands township, and environmental consultants look at his operation. All have given him a passing grade, he claims.

He’s submitted environmental impact and nutrient management studies to the township, while also sharing a report from an OMAFRA officer, Jon Harris, who inspected the site in November 2023 after the ministry received complaints from neighbours worried that manure created bythe pigs may seep into Halls Lake.

“The setback from the area [the pigs were kept] to the lake is sufficient to meet any requirements and there are no indications of any impacts to the surface water… no corrective actions are required at this time,” Harris wrote.

Having lived on Halls Lake since 1988, when his family purchased Shalom on the Lake, Kegel said he’s just as concerned about the lake’s long-term health.

“We’re a big part of the community – I grew up on this lake. We’re rebuilding our home (following a 2023 fire) because I plan to live the rest of my life on the lake. I care about it just as much as everyone else.”

With concerns raised over the types of things RU designation allows, Kegel said he’s offered to include exemptions in his application, prohibiting him or any future owner from developing an asphalt plant, quarry, or other non-conforming use.

Kegel also wants to build a secondary residence on the property for his older children and keep shipping containers installed 12 years ago when he bought it – both are prohibited in SR2 zones.

“I think this has all been ludicrously overblown – we haven’t hidden anything. Any time I wanted to do something new or different, I reached out to the township. Because both my, and their, records stated the land is RU, I’ve always been told I can get on with it,” Kegel said. “We’re not directly on the water, we have specialists telling us our hobby farm won’t impact the lake… hopefully common sense prevails.”

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario’s (AMO) ‘healthy democracy project’ was launched in 2022; after several trends raised concerns about the strength of local democracy.

These trends were evident in Haliburton County, with fewer candidates running for election or re-election, and a corresponding increase in acclamations. Voter turnout was also lower.

AMO’s Petra Wolfbeiss and Henry Khamonde are coming to Minden Hills May 28 to talk about how people can create positive change in the community; discover ways to engage effectively with local municipal governance, and learn how many voices lead to meaningful change.

Wolfbeiss is the director, membership centre for AMO. The told The Highlander, “it’s really important the voices and experience of people across communities are heard and represented on local councils.”

She added AMO created the project to tackle two key objectives: increasing the diversity of council and candidates, and boosting voter turn out.

“We can move these forward by improving people’s understanding of municipal government and the impact is has on our daily lives,” she said.

AMO has developed a toolkit to help elected officials engage with local schools and share the importance of getting involved in community from a young age. “We know that cultivating future leaders also means listening to youth. Families can do their part simply through conversations at the dinner table with younger people,” the AMO representative said.

She added municipal government is closest to the people. “If you look out your window, almost everything you see is impacted by your local municipal council. Roads, trees, parks, housing, the water you drink, all of the planning decisions.”

She encouraged people to learn about municipal government, and understand what councils plan to do and what it means to their community.

“Municipalities are constantly inviting people to provide input and they work hard to provide this information where people will see it. We need to do our part. Connect with your local government, whether it’s signing up for newsletters, following on social media, or meeting with your councillor. If there is a topic you care about, join community groups that share your interest.”

With municipal elections slated for October 2026, Wolfbeiss encourages people to find out about their local candidates. “If they come to your door, have a conversation about what you care about.” She added municipal websites often have information about the local election.

“From then on, it’s mostly about paying attention. Does council need your support to get an important housing project completed? Do they need your help in putting on a great local event?

“It’s also really important to provide input that is constructive and respectful. It’s ok to disagree – because different opinions can result in stronger decisionmaking. But we have to put civility back into civil discourse. Remind yourself that at the end of the day, everyone just wants the best outcome for the community.

“So those are some of the key things: build your understanding, get involved, and respect difference.”

Wolfbeiss stressed that diverse opinions and diverse councils make for competent councils. “People with different life experiences bring unique insights to the conversation. It helps councils to understand the impact of their decisions on different people across the community. They can make better, more informed decisions. Everyone in a community matters. And this needs to be understood and reflected in discussions and decisions at council.”

Register by May 23

The event is hosted by the Township of Minden Hills, and supported by Aging Together as Community, the Haliburton Highlands Healthy Democracy Project/Haliburton County Community Cooperative and Telling Our Stories Speakers Series.

Minden Hills Coun. Pam Sayne said the event is “to encourage people to run, to vote; and to get engaged with our community. I think this is going to be a very important activity.”

Bonnie Roe of ATAC said, “at our strategic planning meeting, we discussed our need to engage with the municipalities and County on healthy aging as a whole, about what we do, garner their support, and focus on community action. I also asked Coun. Sayne to speak at our LGBTQ+ luncheon on diversity, equity and inclusion, or did she have any connections at OMA? We decided the topic was worthy of a larger meeting and they had this ‘health democracy project’.

Engaging in democracy is May 28, 6-8 p.m. at the Minden Community Centre, 55 Parkside Dr., Minden. Light refreshments will be provided. Register by May 23 at Eventbrite or agingtogetherhc@gmail.com