By Angelica Ingram

Published Dec. 13 2016

The following are brief reports of items discussed at the Dec. 12 meeting of Dysart et al council.

Councillors got a look at the results of a traffic calming study done by the Communities in Action committee at the end of September at the Highland Street entrance to the Head Lake parking lot.
Presented by Sue Shikaze the pop-up project was done to help determine the vehicle and pedestrian traffic at the intersection and safety concerns by using pylons and barriers to create a more clearly defined entrance into the parking lot.

Held on Tuesday Sept. 27 from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. the study saw traffic entering the parking lot peak between the hours of 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. particularly between the hour of 1 to 2 p.m.

In total vehicles made up 61 per cent of the traffic while pedestrians accounted for 35 per cent. The other four per cent were bicycles and other (such as skateboards).

Some of the feedback from the public included remarking on the improved aesthetic of the entranceway; how the area was unsafe; and that people needed to slow down.

Councillors agreed the area could use some improvements and line painting.

“It looks unattractive” said Deputy-reeve Andrea Roberts. Looking ahead the committee would like to update the pop-up design and bring it back during the summer.

Plans to rebuild the Harcourt Community Centre are moving along in baby steps following a fire that destroyed the building more than a year ago.

Council has received the amount from their insurance provider that will be issued to cover the building cost with Dysart Reeve Murray Fearrey saying a slight increase was given.

Councillors and staff will be meeting with architects to go over building plans this week with the hope of reducing the costs to align more closely with the insurance coverage. “I suspect there will still be a shortfall” he said. Fearrey said the project’s cost will likely be part of next year’s budget deliberations.

Plans are taking shape for an addition to the Dysart township office on Mountain Street.

Councillors were given drawings of three potential plans ranging from 1400 square feet to 2520.
Fearrey suggested the second option which measures 2288 square feet made most sense.

The plan includes additional offices storage space and a back entrance for staff only. The plan was designed by Duncan Ross Architect.

Councillors agreed to go with the 2 288 square foot plan.

Council has agreed to proceed with a zoning bylaw amendment application that would allow a property owner on Wenona Lake to sever her parcel of land into four properties.

The file was brought forth to the Haliburton County Land Division committee earlier this year which recommended it be approved.

Councillor Dennis Casey questioned whether a boating study should be done before the file proceeded. Planning director Patricia Martin said a study would delay the project by about a year causing the application to lapse.

Roberts said she didn’t believe a study would change anything moving forward.

Martin said the Miskwabi Area Community Association did not appeal the decision made by the land division committee.

The file will be on the Feb. 6 public meeting agenda.