West Eels Lake Road Ratepayers - Full
Deputation to Council (July 18) and Letter of Apology to Local Businesses
| Council News Background Information
... continued from page 6 ... There are two items on this page. First, the full Deputation (submission) from the West Eels Lake Road Ratepayers to Council on July 18'th. Second, is a copy of a Letter of Apology that WELR sent to local businesses. Deputation from WELR to Council on July 18'th WEST EELS LAKE RATEPAYERS DEPUTATION TO NORTH KAWARTHA COUNCIL July 18, 2006 at 10:00 a.m. In July of 2004 the North Kawartha (NK) council rejected the request by the West Eels Lake Road (WELR) ratepayers to have WELR assumed by the Township. Council replied that they were not in a position to take ownership of WELR We requested more explanations as to why this was but did not receive a clear explanation. In 2005 Bob and Inga Berrey made a deputation requesting clarification of council’s previous replies. The best response we could get gave us 2 reasons for their decision. The cost to upgrade the road to municipal standards was over $1,408,000.00 and this cost was too prohibitive. The second reason was winter maintenance that would be a liability issue with the large hills on the road. We have considered your reply and we feel we have an equitable solution that will satisfy both North Kawartha council and the ratepayers that use WELR. We request that 12 km of the 16 km of WELR will be assumed. We request that the South 8 km of WELR between Eels Lake Road and Fire Route #74 be assumed. The next 4 km of WELR will not be assumed but still maintained as a minimum summer maintenance road. This section of WELR starts at FR #74 exit and ends at FR #73A exit. We also request that the North 4 km section of WELR between FR #73A and Highlands East border be assumed by North Kawartha. What does this Proposal Offer ? WELR is a highly engineered elevated 2 lane gravel base road. In 1999 the Township consultant and the township included WELR as an M4 class road in by-law10/99. It was at that time an M4 road until NK council later amended the by-law. WELR is used by a large number of households. North Kawartha 911 documents list 150 households. This does not include water access properties, island properties, and landowners with no 911 identification, many hunting camps and over 18 households on Monmouth Lake. There are more households that use WELR than any other gravel road in North Kawartha Township. It is the most heavily used gravel road in North Kawartha. This proposal allows the heavily traveled sections of WELR to be assumed and give an equitable access road to the ratepayers on the most heavily housed gravel road in North Kawartha. The 4 km section which will not be assumed has all the hills that exceed the desired gradient limit for hills as per by-law 10/99 section 1.5. No hills in the sections to be assumed have a gradient that exceeds the limits in by-law 10/99. The 1.4 million for reconstruction of the hills in this 4 km section is not required. Council should have limited financial concerns regarding assuming the remaining 12 km of WELR. Council expressed liability concerns due to the grades of several hills which would not allow for safe operation of winter maintenance equipment. By not assuming the 4 km with all the steep hills there will be no liability or safety concerns on WELR. It is understood that North Kawartha Council strive to treat all ratepayers in North Kawartha in a manner that would be equitable to all. The ratepayers of the most populated gravel road in North Kawartha have not received equitableness. The 2006 budget for WELR will give the WELR ratepayers $918.00 per km. The Average Cost Per km on gravel roads in North Kawartha is $3,410.00. Is this equitable? WELR should have an annual road budget of (16km x $3,410.00) $54,560.00. This year council has a budget of $14,694.00 for WELR. The WELR budget spends $97.96 for each of the 150 households on WELR. Clydesdale, Jeff, Rose Island budget spend $889.00 for each of the 88 households that use this road system. Is this equitable to the ratepayers that use WELR? The most heavily used gravel road in North Kawartha receives the least funding per km of road and the least funding per household in all of North Kawartha. The 2006 budget offers the ratepayers of WELR 84% less funding per ratepayer as the Clydsdale road system. This is not equitable and the WELR ratepayers deserve and expect more for their tax dollars. Should not the gravel road with the most number of household in North Kawartha receive the highest road funding in the township INSTEAD of the LOWEST ROAD FUNDING?? The total property assessment in 2006 for the 150 users of WELR is $25,810,000.00, (this does not include islands, water access properties, properties with no 911 listing or the 18 properties on Monmouth Lake). The 150 ratepayers will pay $253,575.65 in yearly property taxes. Thirty-seven and one half percent (37.5%), $94,728.00 of this goes to North Kawartha. If market value assessment continues we will not only pay more taxes each year but will pay a higher percentage of NorthKawartha's budget each year. Council has little control over the assessment process but they can treat ratepayers equitably when road access funding is concerned. Why is this not being done? WELR presently is a poorly funded, seasonal access road with no signs of conditions ever improving. There is not enough gravel on the road to permit effective grading. This council has not allowed any gravel to be put on the road during their term of office. The potholes that return within a week of grading the road are not only a safety concern but are causing substantial damage to the users vehicles. Without gravel the road bed is deteriorating quickly. Why is council allowing WELR to deteriorate? There are road washouts that close the road. We have no assurance that the township will make repairs. The brush and trees have been growing for 8 years on the side of WELR and there is no indication that this serious safety concern will be corrected by North Kawartha. With no line of sight vision on many of the corners it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs on this heavily traveled road. The uncertainty of a passable road makes 911 services uncertain for ambulance, fire and police services. WELR has had 2 washouts this year. One caused by beavers blocking a culvert, this happened to the same culvert last year and is expected to occur next year. North Kawartha Roads Dept suggested a larger culvert as a solution. Council has done nothing to resolve the problem on a permanent bases. Council refused to repair this washout and expected the MNR to fund the repairs. The repairs to the washout were eventually funded by a user of WELR. NK council's actions are unacceptable. The second washout occurred a few days after a 911 ambulance call was made. Council again initially refused to make any repairs to the washout. Eventually the MNR agreed to split the funding for the road repair as the road was needed by the MNR for an ongoing bear study in this area. Had the road been closed the delay in emergency response time could have been fatal. This raises serious liability issues with councils neglect for ratepayer’s health and safety. Should not the gravel road with the largest number of households in all of North Kawartha expect to be treated with more safety consideration? Many lesser populated roads in North Kawartha have well maintained year round access for 911services, garbage pickup and recycling pickup. It is time that the ratepayers of WELR receive equitableness! Has council made plans or does it have any long term objectives with regard for the future needs of growing areas such as WELR. The permanent resident base is growing each year. What long term planning is council considering? This is a good time for council to act on assuming WELR. Our proposal has removed the restrictive funding concerns that council had. There are also new infrastructure funds available through "Move Ontario" and "Renew Ontario". "Move Ontario" announced in March 2006, 400 million dollars, for roads and bridges in municipalities primarily outside the GTA. There is special emphasis on rural and northern communities. Will council investigate to see if this funding could be available to assist in assuming WELR? By not assuming WELR council is reducing the business opportunities for the Apsley area. A failure of North Kawartha council to work with the WELR ratepayers will have an impact on local business. The ratepayers can simply choose to use the excellent roads supplied by Highlands East to go to the Bancroft area. Does the North Kawartha council not support area businesses? WELR is an area access road to Eels Lake, Monmouth Lakes and the Pencil Lake hunting camps (FR#72). The area access roads to Chandos Lake are via county roads 620, 504, and 54. The area access to Jacks Lake is county road 52 and Jacks Lake Road, Stoney Lake has county road 56 and Hwy 28. Beyond these road systems Council also maintain many of the roads that go to the lakes from these area roads to the cost of over 25% of the municipal road budget. (Over $250,000.00) WELR users are only asking for area access. We are not asking for any funding for the over 25km of road that connect WELR to our properties and lakes. We will continue to maintain these roads privately. WE ARE ONLY ASKING NORTH KAWARTHA TO SUPPLY AN AREA ACCESS ROAD! We are not requesting the level of service these other lakes now receive. The ratepayers of WELR have answered your initial financial and liability concerns. We have given many reasons why the present road maintenance is not equitable or safe for WELR users. We are still only asking for an area access road that was promised to WELR users in 1998. Please consider our request to have the 12km of WELR assumed by North Kawartha. If council has concerns the ratepayers of WELR will work with you to resolve them. If Council chooses not to Agree to our request, or provide other options, to resolve this issue, it is incumbent to provide us with a complete written explanation as to why and a reply to the following questions and concerns: 1. If costing is still a concern we request a detailed breakdown of the costs involved? Please include details for any hills or corners that require reconstruction and why this is needed. 2. Will council be increasing the annual maintenance budget for WELR? The ratepayers request equitable funding compared to the lesser populated roads in NK. We expect to receive fair funding for the over $94,000.00 that North Kawartha receives directly from us in property taxes each year. 3. Why does NK not give equitable road access or road funding to the WELR ratepayers? 4. Council promised to assume WELR in 1998. Please supply an explanation as to why council reneged on this agreement? 5. Will NK council budget to have the brush cleared on WELR? This is a safety concern to the ratepayer’s and municipal vehicles that use this road. 6. Will council be making repairs to the culvert that has been plugged by beavers and caused the road to wash out in the spring of 2005 and 2006? The road superintendent advised that a larger culvert is needed. Will council correct this known problem and others that are apparent? 7. Will wash outs on WELR be repaired on an urgent or timely basis by NK? 8. What is the actual number of ratepayers? You have disagreed with our 150 plus number. Your council on March 1/05 stated approximately 126 property owners. The NK 911 documents lists 150 properties that use WELR. Our five private road associations as well as residents and hunt camps on the WELR indicates a number over 160.Our figures do not include water access properties, island properties, landowners with no 911 identification, many hunt camps and over 18 households on Monmouth Lake. 9. What were the results of the road count in October 2004? We asked previously for the results. Our observation was that the timing, before and after Thanksgiving long weekend, would not reflect a fair count. 10. Monmouth Lake “ Surveyor Rd" has 18-20 properties using WELR for access. Has NK requested or considered asking for co-operation from their Township (Highlands East) in the form of some funding and or maintenance contribution? 11. The 1.4 million dollars to bring the WELR up to standards is a concern to everyone. This figure was estimated based on a simple drive through and multiplied by $88,000 per km. Please give us the documentation that supports this? There would be consultants road reports and North Kawartha staff reports for council to pass by-laws 10/99 and 42/02. Can we also see these documents? 12. Considering accountability and the amount involved (>$360,000 + material) there has to be documents and agreements between the MNR and North Kawartha to upgrades WELR. Please provide us with access to these documents or explain why you will not? 13. Considering the circumstances why was NK not obliged to assume ownership of the WELR under for former Municipal Act? Your equipment, material and staff have maintained it under by-law from 1999 (or prior) to the present time. 14. We would appreciate an explanation as to why NK denied winter maintenance assistance (road assumed or otherwise, given our taxes). For example: a) Funds for snowplowing by a private contractor. An equitable cost per Km compared to the rest of NK? b) Sand for our contractor for icy conditions? 15. NK wants to encourage progress, business and development in the community. In 2005 it reported it did not have funding for the WELR or the 7 million dollars it required for roads they own. What plans or objectives have council put in place to deal with such community needs and in particular the WELR issue? What about infrastructure funds available through "Move Ontario" and "Renew Ontario" infrastructure plans. We feel it is incumbent on council to come up with other options to deal with the WELR ownership issue. WELR Letter of Apology This information was submitted to The Apsley Voice on July 23, 2006, The West Eels Lake Road Ratepayers. have also sent this Letter of Apology to the following businesses: Donia's, Andy's Haulage, Wellington Street, Guardian Pharmacy, Prestons and Amtech. Apology to Apsley area business community: In July the West Eels Lake Road Ratepayers had sent you an email or fax with our deputation to North Kawartha council. The cover letter stated “The West Eels Lake Road ratepayers do support the business community of Apsley and area. We will try to keep you informed of our area access road concerns as a reliable road will only increase your business opportunities.” At the council meeting on Tuesday, July 18, 2006 North Kawartha council demanded that we would apologize for blackmailing the business community into supporting our West Eels Lake road issue. Council refused to inform us why or what in the deputation brought them to this conclusion. The West Eels Lake road ratepayers regret this misinterpretation by the council as this was certainly not our intent. We do apologize to the Apsley business community, for whatever in our deputation suggested to council we are blackmailing you into supporting our issue. We would be pleased to answer any of your concerns or questions. There are contact names on the cover sheet of the deputation. We am sure council would appreciate if you were to acknowledge that you have received our apology. West Eels Lake Road Ratepayers. |
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