High Cost of Leadership in Muskoka

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The Two Tier Government in the District of Muskoka is costing Taxpayers One Million Dollars a Year in duplication.

In the January edition of What’s Up, Mayor Bob Young of the Township of Lake of Bays advocates for increased salaries for mayors and councillors. He further suggests that the mayor’s position, due the heavy workload and important responsibilities, should be a full time position with a salary to reflect the increased time on the job.

So, how much do Muskoka taxpayers currently spend on part-time leadership across Muskoka? To help compare, it was noted in the same article that the Mayor of London Ontario receives a salary of $130,900 with population of 366,151 residents.

Let’s add together the salaries for the District chairman, mayors and the salaries they receive for their positions on District Council: Mayor Young $38,137, Mayor Doughy      $33,224, Mayor Smith $36,153, Mayor Donaldson $37,221, Mayor Murphy $36,137, Chairman Klinck $72,300. For their work on the District Council each mayor receives and additional $14,500 (X6) for a total of $87,000. (Please note the salary for Mayor Larry Braird of Township of Georgian Bay has not been included, but his district council salary has been)

Now add the direct salaries as mayor and the district council salary and the grand total is: $340,172. 

The Second Home Study conducted by the staff at the District office was released in December 2013. The study confirmed that the seasonal population is 83,203 and combined with the permanent population of 59,220, the Muskoka population is 142,423.

Are Muskokans paying too much for elected leadership?  Given the current cost of leadership here, London Ontario residents are really getting a bargain by Muskoka standards.

Or is it time to consider, one full time mayor for Muskoka? Would a salary of $300,000 be attractive enough to interest a forward thinker with both skills and knowledge to bring Muskoka in the 21st century? One who would pull Muskoka together for the benefit of all residents?

We think all Muskokans should consider One Muskoka! One Mayor!

Sincerely,

Evelyn Brown, Catherine King, Mike Provan

One Muskoka

2014 is an election year in Muskoka

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2014 is an election year in Muskoka. Bracebridge Council voted in favor of using alternative voting methods for the 2014 Elections. That means that ALL property owning members and all Oakley residents will be able to cast their vote by mail, allowing non-residents or those who have mobility restraints to vote more easily. 

Council also voted in favor of using optical scanning vote tabulators as they have the past several elections. If you have a concern as to whether you are on the voting list or not contact Lori McDonald at 705-645-6319, Ext. 243 or by email.

Bracebridge is now in 2014 Budget discussions, When the proposed budget is available it will be posted on the WLCA web site. Dates of public discussions will also be published so our members may attend. 

Vankoughnet Community Chorus practices

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The Vankoughnet Community Chorus will be practicing at the Village Square on Mondays between 11:00 and 12:00 on: Monday, January 20; Monday, February 17; Monday, February 24; all of the Mondays in March; Monday, April 7; and Monday, April 14. The dates of practices in May and June will be announced later on. New members are still welcome!  For further information, please contact Carolyn at 645-9767 or at polarbear5741@yahoo.com.

Snow removal options

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WLCA members Murray Sanders and Sharon Ellis were kind enough to respond with contact information for snow removal options at Wood Lake, so I am passing on the following snow removal options to all members.

 

1. Jeff Oliver from Oliver's Cottage Services: (705) 801 5568

2. Kevin Scott from Muskoka Landscapers: kevin@muskokalandscapers@yahoo.com

 

Elliott's also provide snow removal service, but I don't have contact information for them.

Severe weather conditions

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Thanks to Bernie Jaroscak, a long time WLCA member and full time resident at the lake for this update on the weather conditions at the lake.

 

"Over the past week, Muskoka has experienced temperatures as low as -25 degrees Celsius with wind chill factors approaching -40, and has received significant snowfall.  Most areas have seen three to four feet of snow or more.  We are expecting warmer temperatures and rain this weekend.  While not an expert, I seriously recommend that you or a representative check your cottage roof.  Heavy snow accumulation can pose a threat to your home both as it builds up and as it melts."

 

The Weather Network is forecasting temperatures of 5 degrees on Saturday with an estimated 10mm of rain, and another 5mm of rain on Monday.

 

If you know of anyone at the lake who is available be hired to look at and clear cottage roofs, please email me their name and number.  I will send out a subsequent email to all members with the names and numbers I receive to assist those members who may not know of anyone who can look at and/or clear their roof.

Milne Road Bridge Replaced

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On behalf of all the residents of Wood Lake and “specifically” those 40 residents of Milne Road who utilize the Milne Road Bridge to access their homes we send out a BIG THANKS TO THE FOLLOWING, for the prompt replacement of the Milne Road Bridge. 

TOWN OF BRACEBRIDGE

BRACEBRIDGE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

C.C. TATHAM – BRACEBRIDGE

McPHERSON ANDREWS CONTRACTING LIMITED – CONTRACTOR

Thank You!!!!!

The Milne Road Bridge Replacement

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Thanks to Mr. Walter Schmid, Bracebridge Public Works Engineer, who has provided the following information. Replacement of Milne Road Bridge will commence between December 9 – 13, 2013. During this time period, Milne Road Bridge will be open for vehicular and pedestrian traffic.

On December 17, 2013 between the hours of 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM, the bridge installation will take place. During this time period, vehicular traffic will NOT be able to cross the creek. However, emergency services will continue to be provided.

Please note that the above dates are part of the anticipated schedule for the bridge replacement. The schedule may change due to inclement weather.

Calling All Singers

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What: the formation of The Vankoughnet Community Chorus

When: to begin in January with practices usually held for an hour once a week (day and time to be determined by participants and leader)

Where: at The Village Square or to be determined

Who: any child, teen, or adult who enjoys singing

Why: for the enjoyment and love of singing; to prepare concerts for special commnity events (for example, a 125th anniversary service or Christmas Eve 2014)

How much: $2.00/practice or to be determined

For more information: phone Carolyn at 645-9767

Membership Plans for 2014

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Congratulations to Dianna Armstrong for taking on the role of President of the WLCA. She has been responsible for Memberships for many years, but now that she has agreed to take on the Presidency, I have taken over Membership responsibility from her.

I will be designing a new membership form for 2014 and hope to provide an option for members to pay their membership fee electronically.

In an effort to reduce costs and increase timeliness, I will also be communicating via email with those members who are comfortable with electronic communication.

If you have any questions or comments relating to membership, please feel free to contact me.

Wishing you a wonderful 2014 cottage season.

Yours truly, 

Jim Colvin 

Membership Chairman

Do you want to contest your property assessment?

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The Provincial Government with the help of WRAFT, CAPTR and pressure from many Cottagers Associations have frozen assessments for 2 years. Your property was reassessed in 2012.  If you would like to contest your property assessment, you need to file a Request for Reassessment (RFR).

To do this, go to www.aboutmyproperty.ca.  On this website you can view your own property profile and check it for accuracy, and get free detailed Information on properties that are similar to yours.  Remember only the dwelling need be similar (square footage, bedrooms, bathrooms, basement or not), landscaping and other esthetics are not important at this point. Drive around your lake, other lakes, Bracebridge, Gravenhurst etc. and and when you see a similar property write down the address (911 number) and street name. You may use non-waterfront properties but you will have to allow for the difference in property value. You may call MPAC Bracebridge Office at 705-645-8994 and get the value of your property (land only) that was used for your 2012 assessment, also obtain from MPAC a property figure for non waterfront property owners. You are better off locating your own properties for comparison.

You have until March 31, 2014 to submit your RFR for 2013 Tax year and may resubmit annually for further reductions.

BE AS DETAILED AS POSSIBLE TO MAKE THE POINT THAT YOUR ASSESSMENT IS OUT OF LINE. ALSO MAKE SURE YOU GIVE MPAC A VALUE THAT YOUR ASSESSMENT SHOULD BE IN YOUR LETTER BASED ON YOUR ANALYSIS.

Pictures speak a thousand words, take pictures of the properties you used for your comparison, identify with address and include in you cover letter along with pictures of your home.

Contact me for Excel Spreadsheets for use on your RFR, once you begin to enter the data for your property and comparison properties you have selected the chart and graphs will emerge on the Excel Spreadsheet.

Bernie Jaroscak bjaroscak@ncweb.com

FOCA Fall Meeting Saturday, November 2nd, 2013

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The FOCA Fall Meeting will be held on Saturday November 2nd and will include:

> FOCA updates for waterfront property owners & associations:

  • important changes to government policy and regulations
  • news from the FOCA network
  • an update about ONCA, the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act

> guest speaker Bob Sandford, "Water Woes: Higher Highs & Lower Lows" on changing climate and extreme weather. Bob is the EPCOR Chair of the Canadian Partnership Initiative in support of United Nations "Water for Life" Decade. He was recently honoured by Venture Magazine as one of Alberta's 50 most influential people of 2013.

$40 per person

Pre-Register now!

includes 1 free entry ticket to the Fall Cottage Life Show next door in Hall #5 at the Toronto International Centre

The Milne Road bridge due in Nov 2013

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Just spoke with Mr. Walter Schmid, Bracebridge PW Engineer, regarding Milne Road Bridge. Here is the latest information. The bridge itself has been on order and due in November 2013. C.C Tatham in Bracebridge is preparing the tender for the required work scope for replacement of the Bridge Abutments. Mr. Schmid indicated that the cement to be utilized would have a 12-hour curetime therby reducing the bridge closure time.

The replacement of the new bridge could be accomplished in one day. Closure of the bridge will be minimized.

For those concerned about fuel oil and propane Mr. Schmid said that he had contacted all the oil and propane suppliers and all but one I believe he said had smaller trucks to get the required fuel needs to homeowners.

Vankoughnet station on hold

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Bracebridge is waiting to look for property for the Vankoughnet fire station until construction of a new Station 1 in Bracebridge has been completed.

The Vankoughnet station, which houses many resources and is often used as a backup for the fire station in Bracebridge, is located 32 kilometres out of town.  The town is seeking to relocate the station closer to Bracebridge as part of a larger plan following a 2009 report that showed how much the density, demographics and activity had changed since the fire stations were built more than 25 years earlier.  The town then decided to develop plans to upgrade its two fire stations, Station 1 on Dominion Street in Bracebridge and Station 2 in Vankoughnet.

A 400-square-foot addition was built onto the Vankoughnet fire station in 2012 to address some of the hall's shortcomings, but Fire Chief Murray Medley said the $50,000 for the project was part of a longer-term vision.

"The addition we put in wasn't fire hall specific but also to make it more resalable if we needed to resell the property," he said.

Though the town isn't actively looking for a new location, Bracebridge CAO John Sisson said they will consider options if a suitable property arises, even if it is before Station 1 is completed.

Land for a new Station 2 property was originally expected to be purchased in 2012, but due to the delays with Station 1, the purchase has been extended by several years.

from the Bracebridge Examiner

Responses requested regarding Milne Road bridge

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As you are aware the Milne Road Bridge at the damn is deteriorating and in serious need of repair/replacement. Before any work can be accomplished it is required that a Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report must be prepared. Below is an email received for Pat Dibb, if anyone would like to add anything pro or con against the bridge replacement please send them along. Please respond as soon as possible Bracebridge is wanting to proceed with construction before snow!!!

----- Original Message -----

From: "Pat Dibb" <ynas@cogeco.net>

To: <bjaroscak@ncweb.com>

Sent: Saturday, September 28, 2013 3:12 PM

Subject: Milne Road Bridge

> York North Archaeological Services Inc. (in Peterborough) has been given the contract to conduct a Cultural Heritage Evaluation Report of the Milne Road Bridge as part of the EA process. The Town of Bracebridge has recently changed the limit on the bridge (to 5 ton). Because the bridge is over 40 years old a cultural heritage assessment is required. Inquiries have been made to the Town of Bracebridge and the Ontario Heritage Trust for some background information for this area. Some of the questions asked included:

> 1) Has a notion or intention to designate any properties within the study area or abutting the study area been filed by the Municipality for the property?

> 2 Is the bridge area subject to a municipal easement agreement?

> 3) is the property of, abutting or located within a designated Heritage Conservation District?

 > 4) Does the municipality have an archaeological master plan that covers the project area?

> 5) Are any structures/vistas in the project area listed on a municipal heritage register?

> 6)Is there a municipal Plaque in the subject or abutting area?

> 7)Is the property abutting a park or planned designated recreational community or community space?

> The questions above phrased somewhat differently were also sent to the Ontario Heritage Trust.

> Since most of your members are up only during the summer YNAS would appreciate hearing from anyone who has knowledge of the area, they would like to share. Do you consider the current Milne Road bridge to have any heritage value or interest?

> During our trip to the bridge done just this past week we spoke to two long time residents who expressed no doubt the concerns of many, regarding not only the safety issues (capacity, access by suppliers (gas, wood, road grader, snow removal) now that the capacity of the bridge has been reduced.

> If anyone would like to add anything pro or con against the bridge replacement please send them along. Please respond as soon as possible Bracebridge is wanting to proceed with construction before snow.

> Thank you for your time and thoughts.

> Yours truly,

> Pat & Gordon Dibb

> Senior Archaeologists