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There appears to be a lot of misinformation circulating around North Kawartha which in turn is generating some negativity.  I believe that some of this negativity stems from the “Whimsical Words from The Privy Council” article in the April issue of the Apsley Voice by Cathy Dudley “Flower”.  Among other things it stated that “our elected Reeve with the support of two other elected councillors does not want any citizens’ input into a 9 million plus MIII grant.”

Cathy Dudley did not attend the Council meeting that she is referring to or any other Council meeting this year or last. Her statement is deceiving and untrue.  As I am one of the councillors that she refers to, I’d like to provide the facts and share my thought process regarding the decisions I made at Council that day.

At the Feb 5, 2008 Council meeting 3 motions regarding the Multi-Use Culture and Recreation Centre Facility were tabled.

Grant Application

08-60 

MOVED BY – Councillor Amyotte SECONDED BY – Councillor Brown

That Council pass a by-law to apply for Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative Funding for a Multi-Use Community Centre Facility in the full amount as submitted in the report from the Director of Parks & Recreation.  

Recorded Vote:  

• Councillor Boyd – Yes
• Councillor Brown – Yes
• Deputy Reeve Rand – Yes
• Councillor Amyotte – Yes
• Reeve Whelan – Yes

Carried.

Multi-Use Community Centre Facility

08-62

MOVED BY – Deputy Reeve Rand SECONDED BY – Councillor Boyd

That a working group be created as soon as possible for the design of the Multi-Use Community Centre Facility.  Recorded Vote:  

• Councillor Boyd – Yes
• Councillor Brown – No
• Deputy Reeve Rand – Yes
• Councillor Amyotte – No
• Reeve Whelan – No

Motion Lost. 

08-63

MOVED BY – Deputy Reeve Rand SECONDED BY – Councillor Amyotte

That Council give consideration at the next budget deliberations to the cost implications of the new Multi-Use Community Centre Facility.             Carried.

Obviously Cathy Dudley is referring to motion 08-62.  My reasons for not being in favour of this motion were that I felt it would be inefficient to create an extra step in the decision-making process and generate more bureaucracy.  I also believed that forming a ‘working group’ and vesting it with the sole responsibility of designing the new facility was unnecessary, restrictive and not very democratic.  

I am in favour of following the normal procedure for projects like this.  It requires that a public ‘open house’ be held once the tendering process is complete, at which time all community members have an opportunity to provide input.  

To have Cathy Dudley accuse me of “not wanting any citizens’ input” for this project or any other is defamatory and false.  Especially considering that a first round of public input has already been received.

The issues regarding a new Multi-Use Culture and Recreation Centre have been discussed at Council’s regular, budget and strategic planning meetings for more than just this past year.  All of our meetings are public (and could be called “Town Hall Meetings”) including the minutes and agendas.  Through the course of these discussions, we further expanded the initial concept and design process to the public via 2 on-line surveys last fall.  Based on the input that we received and staff research regarding a new facility, we hired a consultant to help us organize and present this preliminary information in the best possible manner, so that we would be ready to apply for any future grants.

Well if you haven’t heard by now, Council was successful with its application and North Kawartha has received $9.4 million from the Province to build a Multi-Use Culture and Recreation Centre Facility.  We will now move forward with the tendering and a public ‘open house’ meeting.   In addition, Council also allotted time at its regular meeting on April 15, 2008 meeting for more public questions and comments.   

The negativity that has been generated in our community over this project baffles me.  Personally I haven’t been able to wipe the grin off my face since I heard the news.  I knew that our application for a new facility was a long shot at the time, but I also had a very positive ‘vibe’ about this grant and I believed that we couldn’t let the opportunity pass us by.  Now I am bursting with happiness over our success.  How could any North Kawarthan not be uplifted and joyous over this accomplishment?  We are the ‘little township that could’!

“Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” 

Helen Keller

Not having a family cottage to go to when I was a child, the prospect of living and working in cottage country wasn’t even a distant dream for me.  Now as my husband and I enter our 12^th year as the marina operators on Eels Lake, I find myself reflecting on the ups & downs of our life paths and wondering what the future has in store.  During the late 90’s the increase in winter activities like sledding and the trend of lake residents spending more time at their cottages during the winter, made the prospect of a year round marina operation seem viable and achievable. Yet the unpredictable weather of past few years and the rising costs of living, traveling and recreational activities has meant that the marina has become even more of a seasonal business.

  As my family and I adjust to these changes, the time between Thanksgiving and May 2-4 seems to go faster with each passing year.  It feels like we just finished shrink-wrapping boats, winterizing cottage water systems and doing the normal winter preparation chores.  Now the brighter and warmer days of late winter are here to remind us that spring and the return of cottagers is just around the corner.  Soon our days will be consumed with moving docks and fighting the black flies underneath cottages while hooking up water systems.  The race will be on to get the boats unwrapped, cleaned and serviced by the first long weekend.  All the while, praying that ‘Mr. Johnson’s’ motor will start, because you don’t want to be the one to tell him that his 35 year old outboard has finally given up the ghost!

  By the time July 1^st arrives the store is fully stocked in anticipation of those forgotten necessities like milk, worms, and bug repellent.  During the summer we have the regulars that come first thing in the morning for the paper and a coffee on the deck.  We wonder which kids will have passed the boat course and be proudly waving their new operator cards as they try not to ram the docks when pulling up with their boats.  From scooping ice cream to pumping gas, selling fishing licenses to counting out penny candy, our summer days are filled with the hustle and bustle of providing a variety of products and services to our cottagers, while they in turn provide us with a much valued income.  

  Even with the changing weather and business patterns, life at the marina has its rewards.  So many times I’ve had my customers tell me “you don’t know how lucky you and Jeff are to do what you do”.  And I always stop them and say ‘but that’s not true… I do know’.  The realization hits me every summer Sunday night as our cottagers fight the traffic to get back home for another week while my family and I sit on the dock watching the sun set, listening to the loons and going for an evening swim.  It is then that I count my blessings and give thanks that I am already home.