Mike Metcalf has been elected mayor Trent Hills and he’ll have four newcomers joining him on council, including three women, a dramatic change from the current council.

Metcalf, who has been deputy mayor, handily defeated newcomer Steven Haylestrom – 3,474 votes to 1,087.

Rick English was acclaimed as deputy mayor, since he was not opposed.

Current mayor Bob Crate and current councillor Dennis Savery were both defeated in Ward 5 (Hastings) by newcomer Ethan Armit. Armit received 694 votes, Crate 280 and Savery 169.

Another newcomer, Jana Reid won in ward 1 in a close three-way race. She received 229 votes, Karen Ulrich had 203 and Adam Baguley had 197.

Incumbent Rob Pope was re-elected in ward 2. Pope received 217 votes, Erick Baron-Joyner had 124, Adam Briggs 118 and Tina Burke 61.

In ward 3 (Campbellford), newcomer Viv Smallwood defeated Sandra Walls and Nader Eid. Smallwood received 496 votes, Walls 442 and Eid 217.

In ward 4, (Warkworth), another female newcomer, Leslie Mahoney, won with 493 votes, defeating Ken Tully who was trying to regain the seat after skipping a term. Tully received 318 votes, Emilio Ojeda gained 269 and Meg McLean had 132.

Most of the winning candidates were on hand in the council chambers when the results were announced shortly after 8:30 p.m. These results are unofficial but will be confirmed on Tuesday.

The turnout was up marginally from four years ago – 33.1 per cent of voters took part, up from 32.2 per cent in 2022.

Repairs always take longer than you expect. That’s the one thing I know for sure about projects around my home.

Turns out the same rule applies to major county projects. Repairs to a bridge on County Road 30 and replacement of a large culvert under County Road 25, that were scheduled to be done this week, will take a bit longer, Northumberland County says.

As well, plans to replace a culvert for Killoran Creek under CR 25 south of Hastings are on hold until next year because the large culvert was not available. (I can relate, our kitchen improvements are on hold awaiting a counter top.)

In June a staff report said the $1.1 million project was needed because the “culvert could fail and cause a large sinkhole or road failure. This could lead to a road closure and/or lane restrictions and the need for emergency repairs.”

A study done in 2024 recommended the culvert be replaced within one to five years.

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Major rehabilitation work on the bridge over the Trent River, in the hamlet of the same name, has closed that bridge to traffic since Aug. 18, resulting in lengthy detours. The $710,000 project is now expected to be completed early in November.

A major culvert replacement project was undertaken on CR 25 south of Warkworth. The $600,000 Salt Creek project involves removing the existing four-metre-wide, 25-metre-long corrugated steel pipe culvert and replacing it with a new 39-metre-long structural corrugated steel culvert, including a concrete cut-off wall. “The project remains on budget but will be completed later than expected by the middle of November,” the county said last week.

In addition, work scheduled for the village of Hastings this summer was also delayed. The county planned to spend $1.5 million to repair County Road 2A from the western limit of the village to Bridge Street North.

The work was to repair about half a kilometre of road. In June a county report said the section has become potholed and needed repeated work and storm sewer cleaning. “Delaying this project could result in a storm sewer failure causing sink holes and sewer backups that could cause flooding. This could lead to a road closure and/or lane restrictions and the need for emergency repairs.”

Last week, Communications Director Kate Campbell said, “Hastings design is underway and construction will proceed in 2027.”

So, if you drive that stretch keep an eye out for sink holes.

It was standing room only at the Aron Theatre Co-op on Thursday night as about 150 residents came out to watch democracy in action.

Well, not really watch, to actually take part, as 17 candidates in the municipal election fielded questions from the audience.

Aron General Manager Russ Christianson was an effective moderator who insisted people actually asked questions, not gave speeches or just complained. He was aided by timekeeper Wes Szudy who flashed large signs to alert candidates as their time for answers zipped by.

Only Dennis Savery, who is seeking re-election in Ward 5 (Hastings), and newcomer Nader Eid, who is running in Ward 3 (Campbellford), didn’t attend the meeting.

The first hour had candidates for wards one to three on stage. After a short break, candidates for wards four, five and the mayoral race had their time on the hotseats.

The candidates largely agreed on most topics with several answering — “Ditto” — as the microphone was passed to them.

The biggest news of the night was Mike Metcalf’s assurance that as mayor he would not use the strong mayor powers that the province has put in place.

“The short answer is no. The mayor is the leader of the team, but it is a team.”

Metcalf said he would work with the new council. If there are problems getting things done, it’s probably a sign of ineffective leadership, he said.

His opponent, Steven Haylestrom, said he would use the extra powers in order to get things done. The current council “voted to abdicate those powers to council,” he said.

Later he said, “I believe in conciliatory leadership. I’m not a Mussolini leader.”

In an interview after the session, Haylestrom insisted he would need the powers so he could have a say over staffing and hiring, since council isn’t normally involved in these matters. “Otherwise, we have no say over staffing,” he said.

The Ford government has extended strong mayor powers to 216 of the 444 municipalities in the province, saying the leaders needed the ability to move forward without council interference so they could meet home-construction targets. But Trent Hills and many other municipalities that received the powers don’t have provincial housing targets.

Last spring, Mayor Bob Crate rejected the powers and delegated decisions to council, leaving the control much as it had been before.

In the first session, there was general support for the idea of an environmental committee of residents that would explore ways the municipality could promote sustainability.

In response to questions, the candidates agreed that the municipality should find a way to organize volunteers to help residents when the Trent River floods and that the Crowe River conservation area should be more available to residents, while outsiders should pay more.

One question about why speed limits across the municipality are 50 km/h when in many places roads could handle higher speeds took a turn as the candidates mostly favoured lower limits.

“Speeding is a concern because of accidents,” said Viv Smallwood, candidate in Ward 3.

Jana Reid, candidate in Ward 1, suggested speed cameras with the fines going to the municipality. (Good idea but unlikely in Doug Ford’s Ontario.)

The difficulty of finding out what council is doing was the focus of discussion in the first session, as it had been at a candidates’ meeting in Hastings. Smallwood suggested perhaps high school students could prepare a regular newsletter. Adam Briggs, candidate in Ward 2, encouraged greater use of online sources. Reid called for the municipal website to be revamped and updated more regularly.

Ethan Armit, candidate in Hastings, has promised a monthly newsletter if he’s elected.

One question asked what the councillors would do to rein in taxes. Rob Pope, who is seeking re-election in Ward 2, said: “There are a lot of cost pressures. We need to look at everything, but there will be no decrease in taxes.”

Karen Ulrich, candidate in Ward 2, said while campaigning door-to-door several residents have expressed fears that they will be forced to sell as property taxes keep rising.

Asked what they would do to ensure the hospital gets built, Haylestrom insisted the planning process is too slow and he’d speed things up.

Metcalf pointed out that the province is building several hospitals and has a proscribed approach that must be followed.

No one asked how much the municipality will offer for the hospital’s capital funding. Metcalf has said he would prefer a separate levy that can be identified on the tax bill so residents will know where the money is going.

Discussing growth and housing, candidates agreed that things are moving slowly as approved projects sit idle, while developers await the prospect of higher profits.

Leslie Mahoney, candidate in Ward 4, said she supports “appropriate housing” for Warkworth.

On the topic of short-term rentals, Metcalf said the municipality is looking at a licensing system similar to the approach taken by other areas and a revised policy should be before council this spring.

Ken Tully, candidate in Ward 4, agreed the sector needs to be regulated, and the municipality needs to ensure someone accountable can be reached quickly if there are problems.

Mahoney said there need to be guidelines that can be enforced to protect neighbours.

Candidates in the second session were asked about the status of a second bridge in Campbellford. Everyone supported the idea. Armit noted that a few years ago Hastings’ residents suffered when their only bridge was closed down and Campbellford residents don’t want to face that prospect.

Crate, who is seeking a council seat in Ward 5, said the current bridge needs repairs, so a second bridge is essential.

Metcalf promised to urge the county to build the bridge and to push the province and federal governments for funding.

“We need to move forward,” Mahoney agreed. “To stop now would be a waste of what we have done until now.”

I had two or three items that I was thinking about writing up, when I realized there was a theme to them – cleaning, renovating and improving the way our communities look.

The first item came to my attention last week at Trent Hills council when it approved a $9,250 Community Improvement Program grant to help Nidaj Handa, owner of 62 Bridge St. East in Campbellford, restore the bricks, install new windows and paint the woodwork on the building that is home to Your #1 Sewing Centre and the new Aliign Pilates studio.

I had already seen the work underway and taken a few pictures of the improvements, which are still going on. As well, the building will get a new accessible washroom, although for some reason the renovated front includes a concrete lip that makes it tough for those using walkers and wheelchairs to get in. The estimated cost of the commercial façade and accessibility project is $85,000.

On Monday evening I attended the annual meeting of the Downtown Campbellford Business Improvement Association. In addition to electing a new board, the meeting included a discussion of actions needed to improve the shopping area and attract more customers.

Noah Noon, co-owner of the new Humble Noon art supply shop, asked for some action on one of my pet peeves – the garbage and derelict bike under the bridge on the east side of the Trent River.

I walk that stretch most mornings and have grumbled about the bike for more than two years. As well, time and our climate are doing a number on the wooden posts and their metal bases and tops. The metal steps to Front Street are also rusted.

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BIA president Eva Allaire assured Noon that the group would follow up with the municipality to get the bike removed.

On my walk this morning I took some fresh photos of the water side mess and one other spot further up Bridge Street that bothers me. That’s the derelict newspaper boxes outside the post office. All the companies that put those boxes on the street have gone out of business and they are never used, other than as garbage receptacles. I hope the BIA will add them to its streetside clean up plans.

Caring clean up on Friday

In other good clean-up news, the United Way Northumberland will hold its first Trent Hills Day of Caring this Friday, Oct. 23 with action in Campbellford, Hastings and Warkworth.

“We have a variety of jobs that include helping prep gardens for winter, to cleaning and organizing food bank shelves,” said Janine Lameiras, Community Outreach & Development Coordinator for the United Way. “We are working with: Incredible Trent Hills, Five Counties, Campbellford Fare Share, The Bridge Hospice, YMCA, Hastings/Roseneath Food Bank, Memorial Multi-care Lodge, and the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation.”

Lameiras said there is still time to volunteer, if you’d like to help out. You can contact her at development@nuw.unitedway.ca

The day will start with breakfast at the Campbellford Legion at 7:30 a.m. and wrap up back there at 2 p.m. for a BBQ. The United Way has been holding such days in Cobourg for 27 years and this is the first here.

See the candidates

Candidates from all five wards and the two mayoral hopefuls will be at the Aron Theatre on Thursday. Wards one to three will be taking questions from 7-8 p.m.; then wards four, five and the wannabe mayors will be on tap at 8:15 p.m. Doors will open at 6:30. I hope the popcorn stand is ready for action, hot air may make people hungry.

The municipal election is in high gear with candidates filling Facebook with their posts, holding coffee-shop sessions and gathering to meet voters.

As well, voting is now open online and via telephone if you’ve already decided who will get your vote. You can cast your ballot — well, actually no since there aren’t any ballots — but you can vote until Monday, Oct. 26 at 8 p.m. The winners should be known soon after since the tallying is done by computer.

You should have received your voter information letter with a PIN in the mail. If not, contact the municipal office or a library branch for assistance.

If you’re still looking for information about the candidates, there will be a meeting of candidates in all wards and the mayoral race on Thursday, Oct. 22 at the Aron Theatre Co-op at 7 p.m.

Candidates in Ward 4 (Warkworth) will be available on Friday, Oct. 16 at 6:30 p.m. at the Warkworth Town Hall.

In addition, Consider This Northumberland, a local news website and current affairs show on Northumberland 89.7, has compiled answers from most candidates to a series of questions.

Pygmy polar bear invasion

I have to thank the Campbellford Business Improvement Area for saving me thousands on a previously planned trip. My older daughter lives in Winnipeg and we have talked about trekking north to Churchill to see the polar bears and to have a look at how governments are spending billions to create a new port.

That’s no longer necessary.

Over the past several days, I have found the polar bears have come to me. For free. I’ve spotted four and Eva Allaire, president of the BIA says there are six in total.

Allaire says the BIA wanted to create some fun and whimsy with the concrete bears that are about a metre high. I think it may be working. On Thanksgiving Monday I saw a couple walking along the waterfront when the woman stooped to pat the bear, prompting her partner to laugh.

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There are bears standing on their hind legs and some with all four feet on the ground. I’ve seen ones on the waterfront, in front of the clocktower, in the town square, and in front of the library.

Allaire says one more is at the Ranney Gorge Bridge and another will be added in Old Mill Park, near the polar bear toonie that inspired these guests.

Beer Store wants your empties

This Saturday, Oct. 17, the Beer Store in Campbellford will be part of a province-wide effort to set a Guinness World Record for the most empty alcohol containers returned on one day.

To encourage people to bring back their bottles and other containers on that day, the Beer Store will up the rates by 20 per cent. Plus, you can get an extra 10 per cent by using the Beer Store’s app and showing your QR code.

In its final meeting, the 2020-24 edition of Trent Hills council found a way to approve a major milestone clearing the path for Jim Curle to finally donate land for a new hospital.

Campbellford Memorial Hospital announced Curle’s offer of 48 acres (19.4 hectares) for a campus of care in 2022, but the legal mechanics to make it possible have proven tricky to negotiate.

But on Tuesday, a way forward was agreed upon that will let Curle farm the land for another couple of years, then permit construction of a 256-bed long-term care facility and soon after a new hospital – Premier Doug Ford willing.

One of the problems has been that the property is prime agricultural and provincial law makes it understandably difficult to develop, even when it is needed for the community.

Several different options have been considered, but many would have required county or provincial approval that would have meant delays. The hope is to start construction of the long-term care facility next year and the hospital by 2030, so there is no time to waste, especially since water and sewer lines need to be extended to the site.

“It has not been as straightforward as we hoped, but we have managed to find a way through all the policies that both bind and support development, to bring the hospital to fruition,” said Planner Cameron Law.

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“We have made sure we are providing all the flexibility needed for all the uses that are proposed on the campus of care,” said Jim Peters, Director of Planning. The concept includes affordable housing, office space, restaurants, and the privately owned long-term care facility, so a variety of zoning and controls may be needed.

“This is within the powers of this council to approve and once it is approved it will be in place,” Peters said.

“The next big step is getting the functional services report from the hospital’s consultants, so then we can look at what we need to do and what council needs to do to support municipal services,” Peters said.

Mayor Bob Crate thanked Curle for the land donation and “helping the hospital and our residents realize a dream for a new hospital.”

Councillors unanimously and happily supported an official plan amendment that declares the land a Special Development Area and a rezoning of that area from agricultural to community facility.

The meeting was the last for councillors Gene Brahaney and Daniel Giddings, who are not seeking re-election. It will also be the final one for either Dennis Savery or Crate, or possibly both, since they are running against newcomer Ethan Armit for the Hastings council seat.

Curle was on hand to watch the vote go through. He said he’s happy that the donation can be completed and that he can get a couple more seasons of crops off the fields.

In June, council had approved severing the parcel from the rest of Curle’s farm. It was during discussion with the county about that severance that county staff highlighted the delays the plan faced and suggested the new approach.

“The proposed Special Development Area will create a special set of policies that will allow the Campus of Care to begin its early preparations, such as whether it will pursue subdivision of land or whether it will proceed with leasing agreements with the various involved parties,” said a report by Planner Cameron Law.

It will also allow the municipality to protect a floodplain and brook on the property that flows into Trout Creek.

You can read all the stories on TrentHillsNews.com anytime.

Demolition started today on the former Townsend home on Grand Road beside Canadian Tire that Northumberland County is tearing down in case it ever gets enough money to build a new Campbellford bridge.

The home is one of three demolished as part of preparation should a bridge be built. A year ago, county councillors were told the cost of a new bridge had risen to $56 million and that $40 million of that would need to be borrowed or financed by the province.

The councillors didn’t decide to halt the project, so staff has pushed ahead with acquiring properties needed and demolishing two homes on the east side of the Trent River and now the one on the west side. Their hope is that the Ford government will change its mind once the project is ready to go.

But various provincial ministers have consistently rejected the project over the past three years, leading to the current stalemate.

Demolition of the Grand Road home will probably be completed on Friday, and the land will be cleaned up, graded and grass planted, as happened on Second Street.

CR 30 bridge work continues

In other bridge news, the county says work on the County Road 30 bridge across the Trent in the hamlet of Trent River is going well and should be completed as scheduled “around the end of October.”

The bridge has been closed since August 18.

All candidates’ meeting at the Aron

The two mayoral candidates and those running in all five wards will be invited to a meeting at the Aron Theatre on Thursday, Oct. 22 from 7-9 p.m.

I believe this is the first meeting with all candidates invited. One in Campbellford included the candidates in wards 1-3 and the two mayoral candidates, while a meeting in Hastings last week was the mayoral candidates and the three running in ward 5.

The cost of health care looms over the municipal election like a dark cloud on the horizon threatening to ruin a family picnic.

Everyone knows its there, but no one really wants to talk about it, and they hope it will just go away.

At the Hastings candidates’ meeting on Saturday, they all agreed that health care and the new hospital are the No. 1 issue for the next four years, but no one followed up to discuss the cost, how it will be paid, and what it will mean for our budget and the possibility of doing other things, if we must spend more on health.

The reader survey done last month by Herman van den Berg, business professor emeritus and Lakehead University, found access to family doctors and local health-care services was by far the top concern.

In a way it’s not surprising that municipal candidates don’t want to tackle health care, it’s not supposed to be their job. Health care is a provincial responsibility, and decisions should be made by the province and funded by the province.

But that’s not the reality. Premier Doug Ford likes to brag that he’s never raised a tax, but that’s not true. He has forced counties and municipalities to spend more and more on health-care services and hiked the cost they must pay for Ontario Provincial Police services. The municipalities have no choice but to raise their taxes.

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Unfortunately, that shifts these services from being paid by income taxes and other fairer methods onto our property taxes.

The municipality already spends more than $100,000 a year to attract physicians and nurse practitioners and that’s set to jump early next year. We’ve joined a county-wide doctor recruitment effort that has been largely funded by an anonymous $600,000 donation. County council was told recently that most of that money has been spent to attract five new doctors, who received $100,000 each, and municipalities will soon be asked to pony up.

At the county council meeting in August, Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander said that during his time as warden he had pleaded with the province to ban recruitment bonuses, saying that it set up a Game of Thrones competition between municipalities.

And then there’s the cost of the new hospital. The municipality will have to extend water and sewer services to the area. It hopes the multi-million-dollar cost will be covered by Ottawa or Queen’s Park, but there is no guarantee.

As well, the municipality will have to make a substantial contribution to the community share, which could be $75 million or more. The province doesn’t build a hospital, it just builds the shell. It is up local residents and municipalities to pay for the equipment needed to create a modern medical centre.

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario has complained that this is unfair to rural areas and poorer communities that can’t tap wealthy residents to pay their share. A few years ago, the hospitals in Scarborough launched a fundraising campaign built on the fact that they couldn’t provide necessary services because they were located in the poorest part of Toronto.

In 2025, Northumberland County budgeted $24 million for health services including paramedics, long-term care, physician recruitment and a Port Hope walk-in clinic. The province contributed $27 million that year toward these services.

Paying those costs increases the county’s tax levy, a staff report said.

“From the perspective of a taxpayer, this has meant increased pressure on property taxes to pay for these programs and services that were once paid for from provincial revenue sources,” said Matthew Nitsch, county treasurer, in a 2025 report to council.

In fact, it’s not just health care that has been downloaded to the county. It has been forced to take responsibility for roads, daycare and housing services. Nitsch said that in 2025 the county spent $38 million on downloaded programs, 47 per cent of its total tax levy of $80 million.

The Association of Municipalities has also complained about this, calling for the province to renegotiate the entire funding arrangement, but has been ignored. (You may notice a theme.)

Ford has repeatedly made it clear that he is the boss of all municipalities, in charge of everything from bike lanes in Toronto to conservation authorities across the province. He just doesn’t want to pay the bills.

New councillors will need to keep this reality in mind as they settle into their new roles, but they won’t have much time. They will likely face the draft 2027 budget at their December meeting, when they’ll still be trying to find the washrooms and figure out the wonky microphone system.

After a jump in August, both home sales and prices in Trent Hills fell in September.

Last month, 19 homes sold for a median price of $540,000, compared with 26 sales in August with a median price of $561,250. That means sales were down 27 per cent and prices off 4 per cent from the previous month.

Looking back at September 2025, 36 homes sold with a median price of $555,000, so sales were down 47 per cent and prices fell 3 per cent, year over year.

Seventeen of the homes sold last month were detached, one was a semi-detached that sold for $389,000 and a condo-townhouse went for $610,000.

In all of Northumberland County, 118 homes sold, the same as in August, and the median price was $630,000, up from $625,000. In September 2025. 129 homes sold with a median price of $670,000.

“Sales activity is slowing as we enter the fall market, however, we continue to see fluctuations in price trends across the Central Lakes Association Region based on location,” said Christine Riley, president of the association. “These differences highlight how localized real estate continues to be, and why it’s important for buyers and sellers to understand the conditions in their specific market.”

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Tick Talk raises awareness

As you walk into Ferris Park, or in other outdoor spots around Trent Hills you may have noticed the small signs that say Tick Talk with Jake Locke.

The signs include a QR code that takes you to a Facebook page where the friends of Jake Locke follow his goal of advocating to help those suffering from chronic Lyme disease.

Locked died last November of toxic shock syndrome. He had been battling Lyme disease for a long time and hoped to become an advocate for prevention and treatment once he recovered. His family and friends are carrying on that effort.

This is prime tick season as the insects remain active well into the cold weather.

The Facebook page is full of helpful advice on how to avoid ticks and what to do if one does latch on. You can learn more about the project by watching this Global News report.

Businesses come and go, as trends change and families do too. Most firms don’t make it to a second generation, and those that do famously crash when the third takes over.

And then there are the exceptions. We have two long-time success stories here in Campbellford that in the past few weeks have marked major milestones.

In August, Bennett’s Furniture and Mattress celebrated its 100^th anniversary operating in town. As well, just around the corner, Dooher’s Bakery, now in its 77^th year, just moved a bit north into a larger spot on Doxsee Avenue.

Bennett’s, which also has stores in Peterborough and Kingston, is now led by President Jasmine Bennett, the fourth generation of the family to be in charge. In early August, she was recognized by industry publication Furniture Today as one of the 40 Under 40, “a recognition of the next generation of industry leaders, the trailblazers whose actions will carry the industry forward for decades to come,” the magazine says.

To mark its 100^th birthday, Bennett’s has been fundraising and donating to groups in the communities it serves. It had a goal of $100,000 but announced recently it has surpassed that with $110,000 raised and it plans to keep going.

So far, the company has supported these groups in Trent Hills: Incredible Edibles and the Doctors Cookoff, Lions Club of Campbellford, Westben, Downtown Campbellford BIA, Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inclusion Northumberland, Rotary Club of Campbellford, The Bridge Hospice, Northumberland Humane Society, Trent Hills Fire Department, and Sunny Life Recreation & Wellness Centre.

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Whenever you’ve shopped in the Campbellford store you’ve probably noticed that you move up and down from level to another and nothing really lines up. That’s because the store is located in what used to be separate buildings that were taken over and walls removed to create a larger space.

A few months back, I got a brief tour of the basements below and saw just how things looked before the buildings were patched together. Back in the 1930s, some of the staff had time on their hands and broke up the rock below to join the basements together. Even today going from one space to another involves ducking and weaving along narrow walkways.

At one point, Bennett’s provided ambulance service in the community and operated a funeral parlour.

Cory Dooher, the third generation of her family to run the bakery, has been in charge for more than a decade. She’s just engineered a big move and expansion in the Doxsee Avenue location where staff and customers have lots more room to move.

She’s marked the transition with new special doughnuts, including a chocolate-pistachio cream one that tastes great, but looks a bit odd with its green filling.

A coffee and muffin bar dedicated to her parents Pete and Chris, even allows a chance to sit and enjoy the products while catching up with friends and neighbours who stop in to shop.

Cory’s children, the fourth generation in the baking business, also work in the store.

The ball diamond. The site of the old arena. The tannery. The lack of parking. The lack of affordable housing.

Anyone who lives in the village of Hastings could have predicted these perennial hot topics would be raised for candidates to be mayor of Trent Hills and councillor in the local ward. Questions about those issues and much more were asked in a two-hour session on Saturday at the library branch.

More than 75 people filled the meeting room to hear from mayoral candidates Mike Metcalf and Steve Haylestrom and Ward 5 council candidates Ethan Armit, Bob Crate and Dennis Savery.

In addition, Rick English, who has been acclaimed as deputy mayor, also spoke, but didn’t take questions. Also, several candidates who are running in other wards were on hand to listen.

The Hastings Debate Committee had received 51 questions before the meeting and pared them down to a more manageable number. But the session still ran more than an extra half hour. As well, some folks who attended were upset that they didn’t get to ask their questions directly. Moderator Kim Dowds assured them their questions would be passed on to the candidates so they could be answered.

The candidates agreed that the biggest issue for the next council will be ensuring that the municipality does its part to help build a new hospital, but no one talked about how they would handle the cost of extending services, or finance the community contribution that the province will require. The total community cost could be $70 million or more with Trent Hills as the host facing a big ask, as the fundraisers put it.

The first question was about communication, or the lack of it from current and previous councils and what will be done to improve the situation. Dennis Savery answered first and started a trend that went down the table as he mentioned this newsletter as the best source of information on council’s activities. I certainly appreciate the comments, but relying on an aging journalist is not really a long-term solution.

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“Communication is the most important thing going forward,” Armit said, noting that he has promised to post a report following each council meeting that outlines decisions and how he voted.

“People in Hastings need to feel heard,” he said.

Haylestrom said there need to be regular ways for people to communicate with council.

Crate said later encouraged residents to attend council sessions. “It’s lonely at the meetings.”

A question about the village green/ball diamond, led to a discussion about the municipality’s recently completed 20-year master plan for recreation that focused on the need to redevelop this site and the Hillside Park in Campbellford.

Metcalf said now that the plan has been completed the municipality can start seeking provincial grants and work with a community advisory committee to determine what should be built.

The recreation plan offered some suggestions, including a bandshell, picnic shelter, furniture, plants, and a washroom with a cost from $800,000 to $1.5 million.

Crate also agreed with getting community input and suggested a covered space for a rink, or the farmers’ market.

Haylestrom criticized the $130,000 cost paid to consultants for the plan and said as mayor he would push for such work to be done by staff, not outsourced.

One question asked whether Hastings gets a fair share of the spending done by Trent Hills. Savery and Crate pointed out the millions spent upgrading the water and sewer systems in the village.

“We have to meet the needs of all of Trent Hills,” Metcalf said. “It’s a balancing act.”

The municipality is currently looking at updating the Hastings fire hall, he said, noting that it has an asset management plan with a 20-year horizon.

Armit suggested hiking the fees for the Hastings marina, calling it a “private members country club” for the rich.

On the topic of the lack of parking in Hastings, Haylestrom said he didn’t have an answer to what should be done, but asked the audience for suggestions about how they would solve it.

Metcalf suggested improved signage could help direct drivers to spaces that are available.

While the rest of the province and most of the world, in fact, is losing farmland, if all goes well Trent Hills will soon gain 5,400 hectares (13,300 acres) of agricultural land.

No, council is not seizing corn fields from Peterborough County, or planning to invade Brighton, the additional farmland is really just an accounting and planning shift, but one that could have major impacts for landowners in the future.

Northumberland County is amending its official plan to include a more realistic and current view of what areas are farmland, what are rural residential and where the boundaries of communities are.

The proposed changes, which have been under discussion for several years, will go to county council on Oct. 14 for approval. Then, the province gets final say.

Under the new mapping, Trent Hills has 7,300 hectares (18,000 acres) that will shift from rural to agricultural, the biggest chunk is in the northeastern section. In addition, we have 17 hectares (42 acres) subject to the Oak Ridges Moraine Conservation Plan and 77 hectares (190 acres) moving from agricultural to rural.

Our recent survey of readers, found that protecting agricultural land was second only to healthcare issues for local voters. Several candidates have promised to be vigilant in restricting the loss of farmland if they are elected.

“The purpose of the Northumberland Official Plan is to provide direction and a policy framework for managing growth and land use decisions over the planning period to 2051,” says a county planning report. “This plan is intended to provide the guidance necessary for the establishment of detailed strategies, policies and land-use designations at the local level.”

In fact, that is already happening. For the past several years, Trent Hills has been working on an update to its official plan that will reflect these county changes and much more. For example, it will expand the boundaries of Campbellford to include the proposed home for the new hospital and likely add more space for industrial development.

One change that is included in the county’s plan is that Haven on the Trent, the Sifton Properties Ltd. subdivision being built on the southern edge of Campbellford, will officially be shifted from rural to the Campbellford Urban Boundary area.

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The province is driving most of the changes with updated mapping and policies. County-wide the updated official plan will see the amount of land designated as agricultural jump from 60,0000 hectares (148,000 acres) to 77,000 hectares (190,000 acres), including changes in the Oak Ridges Moraine land.

As we’ve seen with the recent efforts of Jim Curle and Campbellford Memorial Hospital, it is not easy to shift agricultural land to other uses. The move to turn a productive field into the eventual Campus of Care has required lots of planning and legal advice about how to proceed.

You can read more details about the official plan amendments here on the county website,

Election updates

We should all be getting our voter cards in the mail over the next few days. Trent Hills says that if you don’t have it by Monday, Oct. 5 you can contact the municipality to ensure that you are on the voters’ list.

The voter information letter will confirm what ward you vote in and provide a PIN you can use to vote either online or by telephone.

Voting opens on Oct. 14 and concludes on Oct. 26. You can vote anytime during that period. If you need help navigating the system, you can stop by any of the library branches or the municipal office.

Don’t forget the Hastings candidates’ debate is tomorrow, Saturday, Oct. 3, at the Hastings library branch starting at 1 p.m. (I’ll be there early since my regular Saturday morning tai chi class will be held in the same room. Hope we wrap up our routines before the crowd arrives.)

An overflow crowd of more than 50 people filled the meeting room at the Campbellford library on Saturday morning to meet, greet, and question 11 candidates in the municipal election.

Event organizer Susan Fedorka kept the session under control and on time insisting that questions be short and too the point and answers not ramble on.

On hand were these candidates:

• Ward 1: Adam Baguley, Jana Reid, Karen Ulrich

• Ward 2: Erick Baron-Joyner, Adam Briggs, Tina Burke, Rob Pope

• Ward 3: Viv Smallwood, Sandra Walls

• Mayor: Steven Haylestrom, Mike Metcalf

Even before things got started it was agreed that everyone there opposed the Alto High-Speed Rail plan so there was no need to ask candidates about that problem.

Not surprisingly, the first question was about taxes. No one was in favour of paying more. But later in the meeting mayoral candidate Mike Metcalf did warn everyone that “taxes aren’t going down.”

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Several candidates promised that if elected they would go over the municipality’s accounts with a fine-tooth comb looking for places to cut and save.

Rob Pope, who is running for re-election in Ward 2, noted that his views had changed somewhat since he’s been on council and he hadn’t been able to follow through on some issues after facing the realities of governing.

A couple questioners, including Ethan Armit, who is running in Ward 5, and former mayor Cathy Redden, asked Haylestrom why he’s running for mayor instead of getting experience on council first.

Haylestrom suggested his experience leading businesses prepared him for the top job.

Metcalf was asked about the municipality’s relationship with the efforts to build a new hospital.

He noted that he’s been involved in meetings with the province for five years pushing it to move ahead and supporting the new building.

The municipality will face the cost of extending sewer and water services to the location. Metcalf said that if a special levy is imposed to raise money for the project he would like it to be listed separately on our tax bills so it will be clear to residents where that money is going.

Haylestrom is listing transportation, or the lack of it, as a campaign issue. There was a lengthy discussion about the absence of cab service in Trent Hills.

Metcalf said that a bylaw regulating taxis had been repealed, in part to open the door for ride-sharing services such as Uber to service the area.

There was some discussion of the new bridge, or lack thereof, but no one had a spare $40 million or more to get one built.

The candidates for mayor will join the three candidates running in Ward 5 (Hastings) at a meeting on Saturday, Oct. 3 at the Hastings library branch starting at 1 p.m.

You can read all my stories anytime for free on TrentHillsNews.com.

Driving and parking in downtown Campbellford may be a bit tricky from now till Christmas, which isn’t really what local merchants want to hear.

Enbridge Gas will be replacing aged natural gas pipelines on Bridge Street, between Front Street and Doxsee Avenue, and on Front Street South, between River Street and Market Street.

Work started this week with location of the underground pipes, painting markings on the sidewalks and visits with storeowners to alert them of the plan.

Enbridge says work could go until Dec. 19, but one storeowner I talked to said he sure hopes it wraps up sooner.

The gas company says work will be done Monday through Saturday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. There will be temporary lane closures and interruption of natural gas service to area users.

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“We will complete the work one block at a time, on one side of the street at a time,” a news release says. “Most construction activities will occur within the municipal right-of-way, though temporary access to properties may be required to safely access our natural gas pipelines and equipment.”

There will be no direct cost to residents, but Enbridge warns that if its workers spot any safety violations, repairs “are the responsibility of the property owner.”

If you have questions, contact Construction Field Supervisor Aaron Sorley at 1.855.801.2303.

Emergency Hastings water repairs cost $80,000

Trent Hills had to spend $80,400 to repair a water filter at the Hastings Water Treatment Plant this summer, a report to council says.

Kyle Beacock, Manager of Water and Wastewater Services, said staff spotted a problem with one of two water filters on April 9 and took it out of service.

The plant has two filters installed in 2003 that use granulated activated carbon on top of a bed of sand to remove solid particles, bacteria and algae from the drinking water.

Municipal staff contacted the company that did the original installation, now Ovio, based in Salt Lake City, Utah. They received a quote of $27,600 for parts and a site visit to further assess the problem.

Staff also contacted AWI Group, based in Edmonton, which had experience repairing such filters. It quoted “$16,840 for materials and for one of its filter technicians to attend the site for one week to work with municipal contractors and oversee the repair,” Beacock reported.

Staff retained AWI to provide technical oversight and to work with Continental Carbon Group of Hamilton and Little’s Welding and Machine Shop of Campbellford to complete the required repairs.

Continental Carbon removed and reinstalled the filter media. Little’s made anchor brackets for the filter box and cut and welded sections of the underdrain system. Little’s also fabricated and installed a stainless steel insert.

The repairs were done and the filter was July 6. “The full cost of the work will be funded from the existing Hastings system reserve,” Beacock said.

In the Greater Toronto Area, developers complain long and loud about how long it takes municipalities to approve their projects so they can start building, selling and making money.

Premier Doug Ford used those complaints to justify his move to restrict local democracy by granting 216 mayors, including ours, strong-mayor powers that can be used in many ways, including to approve developments quickly.

But in Trent Hills, the shoe is on the other foot, with councillors often grumbling about how long it takes developers to follow through on their plans, with little action years and decades after they have been approved.

The most recent example of that came on Tuesday when councillors somewhat reluctantly approved a three-year extension for Haven on the Trent to meet certain conditions. The irony is that this is one of the few projects in the area that continues to move ahead with construction, albeit at a slow pace.

Sifton Properties Ltd. first received draft approval for the subdivision on September 1, 2015. Sales and construction has been slow and the development was granted three-year extensions in 2017, 2020 and 2023. The current one was set to expire on Sept. 30.

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So far, 40 homes have been built on the street. (I counted this morning on my bike ride.) Three are on the east side with access to the Trent River, the remainder are on the west side. In 2025, council approved a fourth phase that will see 41 homes built at the end of Riverside Trail. The road has been extended and services are in place, but no homes are under construction.

A fifth phase on the east side across the road from the existing homes is still being discussed and a sixth phase, proposed for the hill west of Riverside Trail “is anticipated to be several years away from any serious discussion,” a staff report said.

Councillor Rick English said he had received phone calls from residents of the neighbourhood last year complaining about water lying in their backyards and a need for regrading.

Chief Planner Jim Peters said the developer had regraded some yards and those complaints had been resolved.

“I understand the request for an extension, certainly in this market,” said Councillor Daniel Giddings. “But this is a decade old subdivision.”

Giddings asked if there is a hard deadline.

Planner Cameron Law said the department can step in if there is no indication of work being done. It did that with a stalled plan behind the chocolate factory last year, ordering the developer to start over if he wants to build.

“Because they have been working, the builder is there, the developer is there right now grading working on the next phase so we believe it makes sense to grant the extension,” Law said.

He said work on the site started in 2013-14.

“They are one of the more active subdivisions,” Peters said, noting it often seeks building permits.

Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf said he was concerned that early purchasers in the subdivision have already been going through years of construction with many more to come. “At some point there needs to be an end in sight,” he said.

Trent Hills council made three decisions on Tuesday that directly affect Warkworth.

The first was approving spending $46,619 for a new compressor at the Warkworth Arena. An existing compressor, one of two, was more than 20 years old and needed repairs that had been approved, but in August the contractor examined the machine and determined that it needed far more work.

The options were to repair the existing compressor at a cost of $36,760, or purchase the new one.

“The emergency purchase was approved by the CAO, in consultation with the Director of Finance, and CIMCO Refrigeration was authorized to install the new compressor through the Canoe Procurement Group cooperative purchasing program,” a staff report said.

The money came from an arena reserve fund.

The unit has been installed, and the arena now has ice and two functioning compressors.

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The other decisions involved a controversial new home development and a new business on George Street.

Council approved a request to declare as surplus an unopened road allowance that runs southeast from Mill Street to West Street. The move is a small step towards permitting a subdivision of up to 43 units.

At its Aug. 20 meeting, council deferred approval of any development until a revised plan had been prepared and the road allowance had been declared closed. Since the current council is officially in lame-duck status leading up the election of a new council, it cannot legally sell the land, but it can declare it surplus, explained Planner Cameron Law.

“The applicant is to provide a revised plan of action for the proposed development, together with additional planning documentation, prior to council considering the applications further,” said a report by Law.

Jonathan Hartman of Providence Homes is the authorized agent for Matthew Stearns, owner of the land north of the road allowance. Hartman wants to build townhomes and detached houses on the property.

Nearby residents have complained that the proposed density of the project is too great and it will not fit in with other homes in the village.

Hartman has requested a strip of the road allowance 304.75 metres by 20.1 metres. Part of it will be used for a road, the rest for homes.

Law said under current provincial law the applicant can purchase the entire road allowance, it need not be shared with adjacent owners. They will be notified and the municipality will try to mediate they want to purchase part of the allowance.

The final sale of the allowance will have to be approved by the next council.

The third decision affecting Warkworth was approval of a plan rezone a property at 21 George Street from community facility and low-density residential to commercial. This will allow owner Nicole Wells to operate a 24-seat tearoom and a small event space on the property.

The lack of parking space had been an issue but Wells has reached an agreement with the adjacent Warkworth Presbyterian Church to use its parking lot. Details of the deal were not released.

There will be parking for about four vehicles on her property and Wells will rent 20 to 25 spaces from the church. The ground floor of the heritage home will be renovated into a tearoom. The coach house on the property will be renovated for use as a wedding venue that could accommodate up to 50 guests.

The rising cost of Ontario Provincial Police services will send your property taxes higher again next year, Trent Hills councillors said on Tuesday.

A letter from Solicitor-General Michael Kerzner told the municipality that its annual bill for OPP services will increase by up to 11 per cent in 2027, the same hike it faced this year. In 2025, the increase was 17 per cent, but the province covered most of the hike.

The municipality spends about $3 million on policing, so the annual jump will add about $330,000 to its expenses, Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf said. “This represents an increase of 2.5 per cent, before we even start setting our budget.”

Kerzner said in his Aug. 14 letter that the province wanted to give municipalities a heads up on what they will have to pay. Last year, Trent Hills and others were forced to delay their budgets while awaiting their OPP bills that didn’t arrive until December.

“We also recognize the importance of ensuring policing costs are sustainable and predictable for municipalities, and we will continue working with our municipal partners on these shared priorities,” Kerzner said in his letter.

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That wasn’t how the relationship is perceived by the councillors. They objected that the province negotiates salaries with the OPP, then just tells the municipalities how much they have to pay.

“Something has to change,” said Councillor Daniel Giddings. “The province sits at the table with them and then we get stuck with the bill, and we don’t get a say in this.”

Costs skyrocketed by 17 per cent in 2024 after the province reached a two-year contract that increased salaries. Provincewide complaints by the municipalities forced the province to offer assistance each of the past two years.

For 2026, Trent Hills took $93,000 from a police reserve fund to keep its overall tax hike at 4.1 per cent with $30.3 million in spending.

“Municipalities aren’t going to have the funds to continue to do this,” Metcalf said.

“We can’t afford to keep on doing this,” agreed Councillor Dennis Savery. He suggested the municipality reach out to other municipalities so they could protest together.

I have contacted the Association of Municipalities of Ontario for comment, but haven’t received a response yet. Will file an update, if I hear something.

A year ago, following the announcement of the cap for 2026, the association said: “Unfortunately, these changes do not provide a long-term solution to the growing policing cost pressures municipalities across Ontario are facing.”

“Here we go again,” said Councillor Rick English. “Right out of the gate we face an almost 3 per cent increase. It’s very frustrating.”

Councillor Rob Pope, who represents council on the county-wide police board, said municipal forces are also facing huge cost increases, since they need to keep pace with OPP salaries.

“We have looked at joining with other local detachments, but the cost has been prohibitive,” Pope said. “Policing is very expensive; it’s always a question of who pays for it.”

Giddings predicted that at some point the province will no longer cap the increases and municipalities will be stuck paying the full cost.

Before we start, here’s a link to the famous Lou Abbott and Bud Costello comedy routine Who’s on First? You may want to give it a watch to get ready for this update on the municipal candidates in Trent Hills and who’s running in what ward.

I wanted to put together a list of the municipal candidates with their contact information, where you can find them on the internet or social media, and a brief description of their background.

Mayor

Steven Haylestrom, steven@haylestrom.ca website: https://haylestrom.ca/

Haylestrom has been a Warkworth resident for 24 years. He is a systems automation expert, housing innovation strategist and a construction consultant in the modular home industry. His website provides his views and plans for a wide range of issues.

Michael Metcalf metcalf4mayor@gmail.com Facebook page

Metcalf was appointed to council in December 2017 after the death of then mayor Hector McMillan. Bob Crate was appointed mayor and Metcalf took over his council spot. He was elected to council in 2018 and as deputy mayor in 2022.

Originally from Bowmanville, Metcalf grew up on a farm and has a bachelor of science in agriculture from the University of Guelph. He has owned and operated several restaurants in Hastings.

Deputy Mayor

Rick English, who has been representing Ward 4 (Warkworth), has been acclaimed since no one opposed him.

Ward 1

Adam Baguley, adambaguleyward1@gmail.com, website

Baguley and his wife Irena purchased a farm Trent Hills 15 years go. He graduated from Western University and has 25 years’ experience in real estate. In 2006, he established the Mada Group Inc., a land development, construction and property management company. He handled the restoration and renovation of what is now the Golden Café, which his wife and her partner Magda Husejko opened in April.

Jana Reid, Facebook page, janareid@xplornet.ca janareidward1@gmail.com

Reid has lived in Trent Hills since 2002 and has been a realtor and broker since 2006. She’s also a jazz singer and vocalist who performs frequently in the area and one of the driving forces behind the annual Porchella Festival.

Karen Ulrich, ulrich.oceap@hotmail.com, website

Ulrich retired from the Durham Catholic District School Board after 31 years. She was financial assistant of Facility Service Maintenance and Health and Safety officer chairperson. She has been working part-time at Rabethge Jewellery Ltd. since 2023.

Ward 2

Erick Baron-Joyner, erickbaronjoyner@yahoo.com Facebook page 343.367.5735

Baron-Joyner, 27, is a candy salesperson. He ran for council in Cramhe Township in 2022, placing last among six candidates for three spots.

Adam Briggs, adam.briggscc@gmail.com Facebook page 705.632.9018

Briggs is the founder and CEO of Small Town Productions, a multi-media and marketing company based in Trent Hills. He is a graduate of Loyalist College in Television and New Media Production and Advertising & Marketing Creative Design programs.

Tina Burke tinaforcouncil@gmail.com Facebook page 705.868.6526

Burke has been active in opposing plans for the Alto High-Speed Rail line.

Rob Pope Facebook page pope4ward2@gmail.com

Pope is a Trent Hills native and past-president of the Rotary Club of Campbellford. He is active in Rotary’s student exchange program.

Ward 3

Nader Eid Website nadereidcampaign@gmail.com Facebook page

Eid is a writing coach who offers workshops to help people learn how to tell their own stories. His website is Own Your Story. He writes a Substack newsletter called Community Voices.

Viv Smallwood vivsmallwood26@gmail.com Facebook page 705.653.6589

Smallwood has lived in Trent Hills for more than 40 years. She runs Viv’s Glass and Screen Shop. She has been a Guide leader, fair board director, and Aron Theatre volunteer.

Sandra Walls sandrawallsward3@gmail.com website Facebook page

Walls has lived in Trent Hills for 22 years. She is currently Senior Administrative Assistant To The Chief of the Alderville First Nation. In the past she has managed the Salvation Army Thrift Store and been an Employment Services Coordinator with Career Edge. She was a councillor for the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand from 2010 to 2014.

Ward 4

Leslie Mahoney lesliemahoney2026@gmail.com Facebook page

Mahoney is a native of Trent Hills, graduate of Loyalist College and a design consultant at Bennett’s Furniture and Mattress. She’s active with the Motley Crew All-Abilities Softball team

Meagan McLean meaganmclean7@gmail.com Facebook page

McLean is a photographer and author of several books under the name Meg LaForge. She lives in Warkworth.

Emilio Ojeda em.ojeda.ward4@gmail.com website Facebook page 705.202.1373

Ojeda has lived in Trent Hills for 15 years. He has been active with the Warkworth Community Pantry, Trent Hills Pride, Chrome on the Canal, the Trent Hills Development Advisory Committee and other groups. He works for Northumberland County .

Ken Tully kensandietully@gmail.com 705.749.3774

Tully was Vice President at World’s Finest Chocolate. He was elected to council in 2014 and 2018 but decided not run in 2022. He is active in the Shriners.

Ward 5

Ethan Armit ethan.armit2025@gmail.com Facebook page Website Instagram armitethan 705.996.1147

Armit is a local entrepreneur who has worked in several industries around the province – mining, forest-fire fighting, recreational sports event management and education. He has done volunteer work with 1^st Hastings Scouts and is on the board of the Friends of Ferris Park.

Bob Crate Facebook page crater22@nexicom.net 705.761.2278

Crate is a Hastings native who first was elected to council in 2010. He was acclaimed in 2014. In 2017 he was appointed mayor following the death of Hector McMillan. He was elected mayor in 2018 and 2022.

Dennis Savery densavery@gmail.com 705.768.4161

Savery has been a Hasting real estate agent for more than 30 years. He attended high school in Clarkson and studied business at Sheridan College. He was first elected to council in 2022.

Access to family doctors and local health-care services is the top priority of Trent Hills residents by a wide margin, according to a survey done by Trent Hills News.

We asked readers to rate six key issues and to let us know of others on their minds as we head toward a municipal election on Oct. 26.

Ninety-four per cent of the 274 respondents rated health care eight or higher, and three-quarters gave it the maximum score of 10, says Herman van den Berg, business professor emeritus at Lakehead University, who developed the survey and analyzed the results.

“No other issue comes close,” says van den Berg, who now lives north of Warkworth.

The second major issue was preservation of farmland with three-quarters of respondents rating it eight or higher, placing it clearly ahead of the remaining four issues.

Results for the other four topics -- roads and transportation, downtown revitalization, housing, and the Alto high-speed rail proposal – were “statistically indistinguishable from one another,” he says.

The survey ran from August 3 to September 13 and collected 266 responses from residents of Campbellford, Warkworth, Hastings, and rural Trent Hills, and eight from people living outside the area, van den Berg says.

One thing to keep in mind, this is a reader survey, not a poll. Respondents chose to take part. The results describe the priorities of an engaged group of residents, not a random sample, and there is no margin of error.

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Concern about health care rises with age, but it is high for every group, van den Berg found. The average ratings run 9.00 for those aged 30 to 49, 9.35 for those 50 to 64, and 9.66 for those 65 and over. Even the lowest of those figures would top the list on its own.

Northumberland County recently announced that it has attracted three new physicians to practise here. They each receive a $100,000 signing bonus paid by an anonymous donor who provided $600,000 for that purpose.

Paula Mason of the Physician Recruitment Advisory Committee told county council on Wednesday that it has attracted five doctors and spent most of the donated money. She said the committee will be asking local municipalities and the county for funding so it can continue compete for doctors.

Protecting prime farmland is also an issue for everybody, the survey shows. Farm and business owners rated farmland preservation no higher than everyone else did.

“Protecting farmland is a shared community value rather than a sectoral interest,” van den Berg says.

Taxpayers’ views on whether they are getting good value for their taxes split three ways. Thirty-five per cent rated it good or very good, 41 per cent said fair, and 22 per cent rated it poor or very poor.

We crafted the list of six topics and asked respondents to add anything else they were concerned about.

Forty-four per cent of the respondents wrote in an issue, most often municipal finance and taxation. “That is a finding in itself: whatever else residents care about, a large share wanted to talk about how the municipality raises and spends money,” van den Berg says.

No single write-in issue was big enough to have belonged on the main list, but municipal finance was the largest theme, raised by 25 readers, nine per cent of respondents.

In a finding that won’t surprise anyone who discusses local politics with their friends or folks at the curling rink, money was the single loudest write-in theme. Twenty-five readers raised taxes, spending, service costs, or budgeting without being asked. Several named specific irritants: water and sewer charges, garbage tags, building permit costs, and consultation fees.

“There is a related signal in the main results: readers who took the trouble to write something in were nearly twice as likely as other respondents to rate value for municipal tax dollars as poor or very poor, 29 per cent compared to 16 per cent,” says van den Berg. “Money was not on the list, and people put it there themselves.”

One thing that stands out to van den Berg “is that residents are each carrying their own concern, strongly felt and different from their neighbour’s.”

Problems with internet and cell service was raised by 14 readers and several said that the recent fibre-optic installation bypassed them.

As it has for years, the new Campbellford bridge divides readers, and the survey caught it in an unusual way. Ten readers wrote in a bridge issue. Some want it funded and finished. Others wrote it in specifically to say it should be stopped, or that the location is wrong. A few rated it zero, which in the survey’s own terms means they were registering opposition rather than importance.

“The split is real and it came entirely unprompted,” van den Berg says.

The new hospital drew several write-ins, mostly supportive of funding it, with at least one reader arguing for upgrading the existing facility instead. The arts drew 10 write-ins, with Westben named more than once by readers who think the municipality under-supports it.

Northumberland United Way is planning its first Day of Caring in Trent Hills on Friday, Oct. 23 to bring together volunteers to tackle projects across the municipality.

The idea is to involve local groups in Campbellford, Hastings and Warkworth in a day-long series of actions to spruce up their communities. The United Way has been doing a Day of Caring in Port Hope and Cobourg for 27 years. Its latest one was in June.

“Day of Caring is about celebrating volunteerism,” said Alicia Vandine, Executive Director, United Way Northumberland. “Our Day of Caring partner committee has worked so hard to build this successful model in West Northumberland, and we are so pleased to extend it to Trent Hills.”

To register a volunteer team, sponsor a project, or inquire about potential projects in Trent Hills, contact Janine Lameiras, Community Outreach and Development Coordinator, at development@nuw.unitedway.ca or 905-372-6955.

All projects must be able to be completed in one day. Volunteers, businesses and community organizations will take on seasonal cleanup, beautification and other hands-on projects, the United Way says.

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Projects should be for places and individuals where due to health or monetary restrictions, the work would otherwise not get done (for example: painting, outdoor cleanup, stocking shelves at food bank, etc.).

The deadline for applications is Oct. 9.

The municipality has contributed $3,000 in sponsorship money to help pay for materials, equipment and meals for the volunteers. It will also encourage its staff to volunteer on the Day of Caring. The United Way is also providing $3,000.

Home sales and prices rose in August

The number of homes sold in Trent Hills jumped in August and so did the median price, compared to the previous month.

In August, 26 homes sold, including one semi-detached and one condo, for a median of $561,250. In July, 21 homes sold, including one semi-, with a median of $498,000. In August, 2025, 16 homes sold with a median price of $675,000.

In all of Northumberland, 118 homes sold in August, down from 144 in July. The median price was $625,000, down from $672,500 in July.

So far this year, 140 homes have sold in Trent Hills, with a median price of $570,000, compared with 150 sales in the same period in 2025 with a median of $565,000.

There were 166 active listings at the end of August, including 66 new listings. The homes that sold last month averaged 97 per cent of their listing price and sold in 58 days.