Hilton Township Council Minutes

012

Regular Council Meeting

September 11, 2002 - 7:30 p.m.

Council met in the Meeting Room of the Municipal Building on the above date. Present were Reeve Rod Wood and Councillors Annette Fischer, David Leask and Jim See. Councillor Pat Garside was absent with notice. Lyn Garside, Road Superintendent, attended as well.

Moved by David Leask 2002-101

Seconded by Annette Fischer

Resolved that we do accept the Agenda, as presented.

Moved by Jim See 2002-102

Seconded by David Leask

Resolved that we do approve the Minutes of the meeting of August 7, 2002, as presented.

Reeve Wood opened the Public Meeting scheduled to address the sale of shoreroad allowances lying in front of Lots 26, 27 and 28, Registered Plan M-261, owned by Anthony and Cynthia Sabelli. The Clerk confirmed approvals from the pertinent agencies had been received. Reeve Wood declared the Public Meeting would remain open for the next half hour to allow any latecomers the opportunity to be heard.

Road Superintendent, Lyn Garside, presented Council with two options for purchasing a replacement grader. Lyn invested considerable time researching the availability of used graders across the country. He narrowed down the best deals to a 1994 Caterpillar 140 G in Winnipeg and a 1995 Caterpillar 140 G in Saskatchewan. The grader from Saskatchewan had 3,000 less hours on it. When taking into account that our municipality operates its grader for approximately 400 hours per year, this difference in machines equated to almost seven years township use. Council decided the 1995 grader was the better deal. The final cost represented an increase of almost $15,000 over what was budgeted this year. The Clerk confirmed the additional funds were available but suggested the annual contribution to the Roads Equipment Reserve Fund be waived in the year 2003. Lyn confirmed he had already made arrangements for our 1979 Champion Grader to be sold to a private contractor.

Moved by David Leask 2002-103

Seconded by Jim See

Resolved that we do agree to purchase a 1995 Caterpillar Grader, Model 140 G, (Serial No. 072V17342) from Kramer Ltd., Regina, Saskatchewan for a cost of $102,000 plus taxes and shipping.

Reeve Wood closed the Public Meeting held for the proposed shoreroad purchase. As no objections had been received and no one was present either in support of or against the by-law, the following resolutions were passed.

Moved by Jim See 2002-104

Seconded by Annette Fischer

Resolved that we do give first and second reading to By-Law No. 751 being a by-law to close, stop-up and sell the original shoreroad allowance lying in front of Lots 26, 27 and 28, Register Plan M-261, Haight Subdivision, Township of Hilton.

Moved by David Leask 2002-105

Seconded by Annette Fischer

Resolved that we do give third and final reading and pass By-Law No. 751 being a by-law to close, stop-up and sell the original shoreroad allowance lying in front of Lots 26, 27 and 28, Register Plan M-261, Haight Subdivision, Township of Hilton.

The Road Superintendent confirmed that the order of signs, approved at an earlier meeting, had arrived. The signs reading "Not For Vehicular Use – Private Property – Not To Be Used Without Authorization From Hilton Township" do not pertain to those roads that are publicly maintained. The signs will be erected to warn users that various road allowances opened up off of these maintained roadways are not intended for vehicular use. Snowmobilers use these road allowances with the permission of the municipality. The Township will erect these signs as an effort in due diligence to warn users of the potential dangers associated with travelling an unmaintained road allowance as well the need to first obtain permission because they are privately owned by the municipality. 

The Clerk advised Council she had been in contact with the Ministry of Transportation regarding the erection of two street signs along Highway 548. The sign for Garside Road West would be provided at no charge to the municipality because the Township maintains the road on a seasonal basis. The sign for Old Orchard Road would require an annual fee of $20.00 from the municipality because it is not maintained by the Township. The annual fee is intended to cover any maintenance to, and potential replacement of, the road sign. Council did not agree any fee should be required when the main purpose of erecting these signs is to aid emergency workers in reaching residents in need. The Clerk was asked to write to the Minister of Transportation noting Council’s objection to the required fee.

Three items of correspondence were received from Doug Leask, Walker Engineering Inc., on behalf of the developers of the proposed Tenby Bay Subdivision. Two of these letters addressed the construction of the planned cul-de-sacs; the location and size of the drainage easements; groundwater supply assessment; as well as confirmation that they were still awaiting official written comments from the Ministry of Natural Resources. The third letter questioned the municipality’s choice of lot regarding the provision of property for parkland. The developer does not feel the lot chosen by the municipality is appropriate because it will have a value well in excess of the calculated monetary equivalent. The Planning Act provides that five percent of the land included in the plan shall be conveyed to the local municipality for park or other public recreational purposes. It also states that the council of a local municipality may require the payment of money to the value of the land otherwise required to be conveyed. The value of the land is to be determined as of the day before the day the first building permit is issued in respect of the development. Some council members felt that asking for a prime lot would deter these, and future, developers from pursuing such endeavours within our municipality. Some council members felt that taking full advantage of the legal entitlement to five percent of the planned development would help to strengthen the financial position of the municipality for future years. A decision was made to wait until the comments from the Ministry of Natural Resources have been received that may identify particular concerns regarding specific lots. After consideration of all the information, council will meet with the developers to negotiate the parkland issue.

The Clerk confirmed she had received telephone confirmation from the contractor who had been asked to haul away the large trees inadvertently removed from the unopened road allowance off Haight Road. Assurance was given that the work would be completed as soon as possible.

A request was received from an area real estate agent, on behalf of his client, that council authorize an entrance be installed off Hilton Road, providing access to Lot 3, Plan H-530, Haight Road. The original entrance to Haight Road off of Hilton Road was closed in 1999 for safety reasons. The location of that entrance in relation to the hill and the curve in the road produced hazardous conditions, especially given the fact it served as the entrance/exit for approximately thirty seasonal residences. The Road Superintendent advised Council he had inspected the site and with some clearing of trees along the roadside, felt that one entrance located south of the exit that had been closed, would not compromise our safety concerns. Council restricted the entrance to providing access to Lot 3 only and noted that the laneway created was not to intersect with Haight Road.

Notice of an application for consent to sever approximately two acres from a 435 acre parcel consisting of Lots 1, 2, 3 and 4, Pointe au Gravier Concession was received from the Planning Board. It was noted that the application had already been reviewed and approved at the Planning Board’s meeting in late August.

Not all members of council had had the opportunity to complete their performance evaluation for the Clerk and the matter was postponed until next meeting.

Correspondence was received from Great Lakes Power in response to the letter sent regarding the extended power outage on Hilton Road on August 1, 2002. Great Lakes Power assured us that any future power outages in the area would be given high priority.

Correspondence was received from an individual regarding the grounds at the Grace United Church Cemetery.

Correspondence was received from an area business clarifying its dissatisfaction with the calcium application. The Road Superintendent confirmed that the two tanks of calcium chloride we order are full tanks and the majority of it is required simply to cover the township roads. As a result of surface treating several roads this year there may be an excess next year that could be offered to area businesses, provided the Township does not assume maintenance on any additional roads.

Correspondence was received from the Ontario Provincial Police advising council members of the promotion and transfer of Detachment Commander, Mark Andrews.

Correspondence was received from the St. Joseph Island Planning Board advising the Board will be reviewing the issue of seasonal residential zoning for new waterfront development in the rural areas at it next meeting.

Moved by David Leask 2002-106

Seconded by Annette Fischer

Resolved that we do approve the payment of Township bills for the month of August, 2002 in the amount of $113,823.05 as per Voucher No. 08-02. The bills were made up of the following: Administration - $4,459.70; Building - $193.61; Fire - $1,116.04; Miscellaneous - $3,429.77; Parks - $131.24; Police - $2,778.00; Recreation - $1,663.65; Roads - $100,051.04.

Moved by Jim See 2002-107

Seconded by David Leask

Resolved that we do adjourn, Council to meet again on October 9, 2002, or at the call of the Reeve.

_______________________________ 

Rodney I. Wood, Reeve

_______________________________

 Valerie Obarymskyj, Clerk Treasurer

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