We wanted to update you on what is happening with the NF Municipal Office complex, as there have been changes to this initiative since our May and September 2016 communications.

At our request the township has made available all studies and meetings (111 pages) related to this project on their website:  http://www.northfrontenac.com/ .  Scroll down to the Bulletin board and select the link  ‘Municipal Office Complex timeline’. We encourage you to learn more by visiting the NF website, talking with your councilor or attending any upcoming meetings (agendas are made available on the NF website).

The building has been studied since 2005 at least 4 times, by different companies looking at the condition of the building for employees, the public, energy audit, etc.

• Many concerns were raised e.g. heating, ventilation, energy consumption issues; mold; accessibility issues, health & safety concerns, insufficient space, etc.  
• Many options were presented (e.g. renovate the existing building, renovate/refit existing building, build new)

In the end Council voted for a combination of renovation and 1500 sq ft addition with a starting date of April 1, 2017.  The work was assigned to the lowest bidder who came in at approx. $1M.  The total cost of the project is set at $1.3M, with the extra costs for an Architect, site prep, septic system, water treatment, furnishings for Council Chambers.

Two funding applications to federal and provincial agencies were unsuccessful which left the township to fund the total project through a loan $700,000 and $600,000 from other accumulated NF township funds (reserves and federal gas tax rebates for road maintenance).

The Frontenac News report from Feb. 3, 2017 *) notes this year’s tax increase will be 2.39% representing a total increase of $134,331.  The annual repayments of the $700,000 loan are estimated at +/- $50.000 decreasing from year to year. For example the first year repayment represents  .8% of this year’s 2.39% levy increase. Of course, the borrowed monies from the NF township funds will have to be repaid at some time - after all these funds were accumulated for specific projects, needs and purposes. The only source for that would be cuts to the budget or further tax increases.

As the MPOA we have been in contact with the township on several occasion asking for clarifications. We have also written formally to the Mayor and Council raising our concerns that the township has not published any projections how this building project will affect the property taxes in years to come.  You can read this letter and the response provided by the NF Mayor here.

On April 7, at 10am there will be a meeting of the NF Council at the Barry Township Hall in Cloyne. Among other delegations Kip Van Kempen requested as a concerned rate payer to speak to Council “on budget matters and lack of communication with Voters.”


With best regards

Arndt Kruger
MPOA President


*) Link to the Frontenac News item:
http://www.frontenacnews.ca/north-frontenac-news/item/11179-2-39-proposed-increase-for-north-frontenac-local-budget