We live in river country so keeping our bridges safe is an essential and constant job.

This week Northumberland County has closed the Wilson Island bridge on First Line East so that work can be completed replacing the deck. The project was started last fall but not finished.

The road was closed on Monday and is expected to be shut until Friday.

Island residents can access their properties by using the Anderson Island Rd. bridge, heading west on Forsyth Rd. and going north through the Island Park RV Resort.

“The county worked closely with the owner of the park to carefully map out the route,” says Kate Campbell, Director of Communications. “Within the boundaries of the park the speed limit is 10 km an hour – residents are asked to drive according to posted limits, and keep watch for pedestrians.”

The county is also moving ahead with plans to rehabilitate the bridge on Country Road 30 in the hamlet of Trent River this summer. Last week, a council committee backed a $710,000 repair plan that will shut the bridge for 10 weeks later this summer. A final decision will be made by county council at its meeting on June 17.

As I wrote last year, the bridge required repairs because the expansion joints at the north end had deteriorated. Emergency repairs were made and the work was postponed last summer but needs to be done now.

Bids were sought for two options: keeping one lane open while work was done and closing the bridge completely. The winning bid by KB Civil Constructors Inc. of North York showed that a full closure was cheaper and would get the work done quicker. .

“The detour routes would be approximately 20 minutes in length for both the local detour and heavy truck detour,” a report to council said.

The full closing will cost $710,565, 37 per cent less than the $1.1 million for a staged closing. The company said it will take 50 working days to complete the job, while the staged closing option would take 75 days.

“A public information session will be held in the coming weeks in the hamlet of Trent River to provide the public with information on the project and the opportunity to ask any questions,” the report said.

It’s expected construction will start in mid-July, Campbell said.

The third bridge under discussion recently is the proposed new Campbellford crossing that appears to be stalled by a lack of money. Two homes on the east side of the Trent have been demolished and a third is slated to be torn down soon, once rental tenants have moved out.

During the county’s public works committee meeting last week, the committee went into a closed session to discuss a number of private matters including “confidential negotiations (Trent River Crossing).”

I asked Campbell what there is to negotiate at this point, but didn’t get a response. Here’s the last story that I published about the now $57 million project.

You can check updates on current county road operations here.

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You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

If you stand on the shoulder of County Road 30, north of Campbellford, and stare at Jim Curle’s field of dreams you can almost see the outline of a hospital.

At least that’s the way it feels following recent actions that make it feel that the dream of a new facility will become reality in just a few years.

On June 2, Trent Hills council approved the severance of Curle’s 19.7-hectare (48.7- acre) donation for a new hospital. That sets the stage for him to finally get to donate that piece of land. It will still need to be rezoned from prime agricultural land to institutional use and the planners and lawyers are still figuring out the best way to do that.

Last Thursday, the consultants hired to make the new hospital a reality spoke in glowing terms of how their work is going. Their enthusiasm and confidence that “this project is a no brainer for any government” as one told me, helps inspire belief that this will happen.

The information session at the Sunny Life Recreation and Wellness Centre was light on financial details, since the ministry has advised hospital executives not to repeat previous comments about a $400-million facility because the actual cost will likely be much higher once it is completed.

The session also didn’t talk about a target completion date, but Jeff Hohenkerk, CMH’s President and Chief Executive Officer, and John Russell, Executive Director of the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation, told attendees at a fundraising concert at the Aron Theatre Coop two weeks ago that they are targeting 2032, a short six years from now, for the opening.

But the information session did outline the research that’s been done so far and how it is guiding the plan that the hospital hopes to submit to the Ministry of Health in November.

Data expert Gavin Wardle, a partner in Preyra Solutions Group, who has a PhD in health services research, outlined what he’s learned about the area our hospital serves, what we can expect demographically, and what that means for the services we’ll need.

No surprise, there are a lot of old people here. But the surprise may be how many of us are soon going to be really old.

Wardle says that over the next 20 years the number of people over the age of 85 will increase by 170 per cent. Our redeveloped hospital will focus on providing care for those seniors.

On the other hand, for sure we won’t need a maternity ward.

Dialysis is one service that will be in the forefront of the recommendation to the health ministry since providing care closer to home saves time and money.

The need for more long-term care beds so that people aren’t stuck in hospital waiting for a bed, already a major problem, is not going to go away, Wardle said. The planned new long-term care facility adjacent to the hospital will help, but more will be needed.

The campus of care plan with long-term care and assisted housing nearby is our “magic potion” that will drive the hospital redevelopment, said Nash Syed of Trans4mation Solutions Consulting.

“The campus of care is a differentiating factor and the underlying foundation for an exciting opportunity,” he said.

“Seniors will be at the centre of the new facility,” Syed said, adding that there will be an increased focus on mental health services as well.

He stressed that in years to come the new hospital will have to continue to develop partnerships with other facilities in order to meet our needs.

Syed explained that the new facility will have space for a different approach to emergency medicine that will focus on flexibility and individual care.

Shannon Crowder of Resource Planning Group Inc. outlined the multi-step planning process that’s under way. She predicted three years of planning, followed by three years of construction.

The goal is to have a detailed plan to submit this November that will answer most questions the health ministry is likely to have, she said. The next phase after that will involve detailed planning and architectural work that will get closer to a firm cost estimate.

You can get more information on the hospital’s redevelopment website or follow it on social media. Or take a drive up CR30 and dream a little.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Home sales were down 27 per cent last month in Trent Hills, but prices were up 6.5 per cent, compared with the same month last year, in a trend that we’ve seen all year.

Twenty-four homes sold in Trent Hills in May with a median price of $628,500, compared with 33 sales in the same month last year with a median price of $589,900, according to the Central Lakes Association of Realtors.

There were 81 new listings and 142 active listings at the end of last month, compared with 75 new listings and 123 active ones a year ago.

The market showed some life, since homes that sold had been on the market an average of 32 days this year, much quicker than the 56 days last year.

So far this year, 64 homes have sold in Trent Hills with a median price of $610,500, compared to 100 sales and a median price of $563,000 in the same period last year.

Looking back to 2024, 21 homes sold in May that year with a median of $686,900 and 96 homes sold with a median of $595,000 in the first five months of the year.

In all of Northumberland, 128 homes sold last month with a median price of $656,500. In the first five months of the year, 463 homes sold for a median $650,000, compared with 558 sales and a median of $661,000 last year.

In a report to council last week, Chief Building Official Stephen White said that in the first three months of 2026, the municipality issued 47 building permits with a value of $9.1 million, compared with 53 permits worth $5.8 million in the same period last year.

There were 39 residential permits issued valued at $4.6 million; 13 permits for new homes valued at $3.4 million and 18 for $1.2 million in renovations.

There were seven commercial/industrial permits issued with two for new buildings valued at $2.2 million and five for upgrades valued at $2.3 million.

“Where are we at this year with permits?” asked Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf. “Is there a slowing down with the economy?”

“There is a slowdown throughout Northumberland County,” White replied, noting that some larger municipalities are still seeing gains because of efforts to build more affordable housing.

“We are doing better than other municipalities in Northumberland in terms of permits,” he said.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Trent Hills council has approved a $2.5-million project to replace and upgrade the water and wastewater pipes in Campbellford’s Tanner Subdivision.

The water pipes have broken and sprung leaks countless times over the past five years. Last summer the municipality undertook some emergency repairs, but an unexpected provincial grant has allowed the full rebuilding of the pipes and the addition of paved shoulders and proper ditches. The roads, which have been dug up repeatedly to allow repairs, will be properly repaved.

Behan Construction Limited of Cobourg was awarded a $2-million contract during council’s meeting on Tuesday afternoon. Jewell Engineering Inc. of Belleville was awarded a $101,000 contract to administer the contract work and inspect what is done.

Tanya Redden, Manager of Capital Works and Asset Management, told councillors that the province will pay 73 per cent of the cost, leaving the municipality to pay 27 per cent.

The reconstruction work will include Tanner Road, Parkview Boulevard, Gair Street and Ibey Court.

“It’s unfortunate for residents that they have had to go through so much for so long,” said Councillor Rick English.

Pumper price shocks councillors

Council agreed with a recommendation from Fire Chief Shawn Jamieson to acquire a new pumper truck a year early in an effort to save money. The sticker price they agreed to was $1.2 million, but Jamieson warned that delaying the purchase to 2027, as planned, would likely lead to a price at least 20 per cent higher.

The truck being replaced is a 2008 and the fire department usually keeps its vehicles for 20 years, but Jamieson warned that new emission standards taking effect in 2027 and a generally high rate of inflation would likely push the price higher.

Council agreed to take $122,500 from the fire department’s reserves to make the down payment and to use the reserves for the balance when the truck is delivered, likely in early 2027.

Jamieson said the current truck cost $308,000 when it was purchased in 2008. Prices have skyrocketed since COVID.

Insurance requirements and industry best-practices require the department to replace trucks every 20 years, even though they are in excellent condition and have life left. The pumper will be retained as a rescue pumper, Jamieson said.

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“We’re held captive by the insurance industry,” said Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf.

“Essentially, yes, and the regulations,” Jamieson responded.

He warned councillors that within a decade the Campbellford station will likely hit callout volumes that will trigger a decrease in the acceptable ages to 15 years.

The next pumper purchase is currently targeted for 2032.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Thanks to $74,600 in donations from local residents last year the Aron Theatre Coop is in good financial shape, says General Manager Russ Christianson.

“Our financial situation is much stronger because we got donations of bonds” and other donations, he says.

Those donations helped turn an operating loss of $34,609 into a net income of $42,685 for 2025, Christianson says.

The coop theatre will hold its 14^th annual general meeting on Saturday afternoon at 2 p.m. and will get a financial update from Christianson. He encourages members and non-members to come hear about what’s happening.

While operating revenue declined last year to $191,034, down from $194,872 in 2024, the theatre made some financial moves that put it on stronger footing.

When community members helped finance the purchase of the theatre 15 years ago and its opening as a cooperative, they held $133,000 in bonds that paid annual interest. The bondholders were owed $57,00O in interest, plus the bonds. Over the past year the theatre persuaded many of those bondholders to donate what they were owed to the organization.

The Aron turned to the Community Foundation of Campbellford/Seymour and Northumberland for a $138,000 mortgage.

“It helps the balance sheet because we don’t have that debt and that interest from that debt hanging over us,” Christianson says. “Now we’ve got a very reasonable mortgage with the community foundation, and we did that very consciously. We didn’t do it with a financial institution, because we want the community to maintain the assets. So, if something does go wrong with the theatre, the assets will go to the mortgage holder, which is a community foundation. That’s kind of a nice backstop.”

In 2025, as operating revenue declined by about $4,000, operating expenses were $141,088, up from $135,784, resulting in a net operating loss of $34,609 in 2025, up $14,583 or 72 per cent from $20,026 in 2024.

”Our cash flow is okay, and that’s always important for any kind of business, not-for-profit or for-profit,” Christianson says. “It’s not like we’re having any trouble paying the bills, but for the theatre to really thrive, We need people to leave the couch and come to the theatre.”

The theatre was hammered by COVID, which forced it to close for 18 months. Viewing habits changed with the growth of streaming services and getting people back into the building remains a challenge.

“I think people are coming out a bit more than they did say a year or two ago, so that’s good. But we’re still up against, you know, mammoth competition with streaming services and that’s challenging.”

But the theatre is busier than ever. It offers Hollywood movies Fridays to Tuesdays and has either movies, concerts or events most Wednesdays and Thursdays. He notes that the Aron is operated largely by volunteers who are stretched to fill all the spots.

“Our fundraiser on May 7 featuring local musicians Ken Tizzard and Music for Goats with Matthew Holtby, raised $1,325 for the theatre,” Christianson said in an email to members.

Ticket prices remain the best bargain in town with adult members paying $8 and senior members paying just $6.

Christianson says the theatre is reluctant to raise prices because it knows many people are on tight budgets and the movie companies take a large chunk of any ticket fee. If you really want to support the theatre, buy a popcorn and drink, that money flows straight to the coop.

Christianson sees the Aron as an antidote to the widespread feelings of isolation and loneliness that many people feel.

“The main thing is for people to just come out and have some fun, forget about their troubles and socialize with other people,” he says.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Trent Hills paid the Northumberland YMCA $394,000 in 2025 to provide classes and manage the pool at the Sunny Life Recreation and Wellness Centre.

It expects to pay $331,000 this year, as part of a five-year plan agreement to meet the YMCA’s costs while it gets established and adds more members.

The YMCA said it had about 2,400 members at Sunny Life at the end of 2025. It would need about 3,500 in order for memberships to cover all its costs.

Memberships for a family or group of five costs $1,699, or $340 per person; the rate for adults is $889; and for seniors, anyone over 55, it’s $761.

Trent Hills paid the YMCA $176,000 in 2024 when it was just providing services at the outdoor swimming pool on Ranney Street.

Other municipalities with YMCA facilities also contribute payments annually. In 2025 Cobourg paid $112,000 and Brighton paid $40,000.

Tracking memberships is complex because people can pause or cancel monthly, or switch from one group to another, says Kathryn Harrison, Director of Marketing and Philanthropy. The organization calculates what it calls its member survival rate and in Campbellford last year it was approximately 87 per cent, “which is which is on par with our other locations.”

Last summer its camps served 130 youngsters and it has more programs on tap this year. Details on the summer camps are available in this brochure.

“During the summer on the arena floor, we will be offering a new youth floor hockey program as well as indoor pickleball.” Harrison said.

“We will be launching the Campbellford Y Art Project soon, working with the Apple Route Studio Tour to turn part of the facility into a gallery where we display local artist’s work on our walls,” she said.

The 2026 municipal budget also shows increased fees and ice rental fees at the Sunny Life Centre that will generate $1.1 million in revenue, up from $820,000 in 2025.

Donating bread bucks to food bank

About 10 days ago I got a present from Galen Weston Jr. Well, not exactly a present since it wasn’t voluntary.

Like thousands of other Canadians, including several in Trent Hills, Weston sent me $49.11 to settle a class action lawsuit over the way Loblaw Companies Ltd. and George Weston colluded to keep break prices high from 2001 until 2021.

As a bread lover and general opponent of monopolies and big business, I was quick to sign up to get a share of the money they agreed to pay back.

I donated my small hunk to the Campbellford Fare Share Food Bank and I’ve heard from other readers who did likewise. A few years back I did the same with my $25 gift card that was phase one of the settlement.

“We are sending your payment in the Canadian Packaged Bread Class Actions Settlement,” the email said. “This payment represents your share of the Loblaw/Weston Packaged Bread Settlement, calculated in accordance with the applicable orders of the supervising court.”

You may also have seen social media items about an interview between Weston and CBC anchor Adrienne Arsenault. It purports to show Weston storming out of an interview after she asks him some tough questions about how he is making money.

Be forewarned, that video and related items are a scam designed to get people to provide their personal information in hopes of joining the fake investment scheme Weston supposedly used. The CBC has prepared a video explaining the way it was faked using AI, what else.

The Trent Hills Family Health Team celebrated the official opening of its renovated space at the Warkworth Medical Centre on Thursday.

The improvements to access and workflow and the fresh paint were actually done last year but the official recognition of the work was delayed until a new exterior sign was installed outside the office on George Street.

Doctors Emilie Belys and Kelly Parks shared the giant scissors as they cut a ribbon, then thanked the Warkworth community for the time, money, and effort that turned the renovation ideas into reality.

Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate, Scott Newman of the Warkworth Community Foundation and Sonny Lennon of the Warkworth Community Service Club helped with the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Belys and Parks also unveiled a plaque thanking all those who helped with the work. Parks quickly adjusted the plaque to make it straighter.

“My first day working here when I walked in and looked around, I thought: ‘This needs work’,” Belys said. The new colours certainly are an improvement. A new door and other changes have improved access and movement.

Legion branches celebrate 100th anniversary

Royal Canadian Legion branches in Trent Hills and across the country are celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the creation of the organization.

It was founded in 1925 at a conference in Winnipeg that brought together several veterans’ groups so they could work together to serve veterans. The Legion began with a clear mission — to support veterans, advocate for their rights, and ensure the act of remembrance continues, its website says. On July 17, 1926, the Legion was officially incorporated by an Act of Parliament.

To mark this special anniversary, membership in the Legion is free this year and branches are encouraging everyone to come check out their many community activities – from euchre, to pool, to music – and join their organization. Anyone 18 or older can join, no need to be a veteran.

Next Thursday, May 28, the Campbellford Legion Branch 103 will be holding its executive elections to select the leaders for the next year. If you join now you’ll be able to vote. Most candidates are retired or current veterans who clearly understand the needs of veterans, young and old.

“Strong leadership ensures we continue delivering vital support for veterans, serving our community, and creating a welcoming space for all members,” the branch says on its Facebook page. “Come out, make your voice heard, share your ideas, and let’s keep building on the positive momentum we’ve created together.”

Branch 103 on Bridge Street West has become a thriving, active spot in recent years, driven by its focus on music as a way to continuously bring people into the building and get them involved. Its Sunday afternoon jam sessions are usually packed with musicians and fans.

Music organizer Steve Runions says all the proceeds from those sessions are donated to local community groups such as the Bridge Hospice and the food bank.

“A Legion is strongest when it becomes more than a building — when it becomes a gathering place for community, friendship, service, and remembrance,” Branch 103 says on Facebook. “That spirit is alive and well at the Campbellford Legion.”

On Facebook you can also follow Warkworth Legion Branch 380 or the Hastings Legion Branch 106, which also offer a wide range of community activities.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

The water and wastewater systems in Trent Hills can handle the current demand, but about $75 million will need to be spent over the next 25 years to expand them so they can accommodate expected growth, a new report says.

The 186-page report by consulting firm Civica Infrastructure Inc. recommends eight wastewater improvement projects with an estimated cost of $35 million and 49 water projects with an estimated cost of $39 million.

“The capacity in all the systems is good,” Planning Director Jim Peters said during Tuesday’s council meeting. “Our water plants are well below capacity.”

Fears were raised at a recent meeting that a proposed Warkworth development would exceed the system’s capacity in the community, said Councillor Rick English. Another Warkworth subdivision was reduced from 40 to nine units to avoid the cost of upgrading a pumping station.

“We feel we are in good shape, whether we are considering development in Warkworth, Hastings, or Campbellford,” Peters said. “But we certainly have a lot of draft-approved development in Hastings, that’s why we are focused there first.”

Council agreed to have staff work with consultants Engage Engineering to determine what work needs to be done first in Hastings to upgrade the wastewater system, since that is the top priority.

Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf noted that the report recommends $48 million in spending just on new pumping stations for the wastewater system.

The wastewater systems are fine except in extremely wet conditions, primarily the spring, when groundwater leaks into the system and the flow exceeds capacity, Peters said.

A priority is to examine the current pipes to find ways to reduce the amount of infiltration and reduce the stress on the wastewater treatment plant.

Councillor Dennis Savery asked whether developers help pay for system-wide improvements that are needed to accommodate growth.

Peters explained that developers pay to install water and wastewater systems to serve any new homes and in addition they pay a system-connection fee per unit that is used to expand and improve the existing systems so that the cost doesn’t fall on current taxpayers.

The service capacity review was requested in April 2023 but was delayed when senior staff at Trent Hills resigned and then the consultant also changed jobs.

“Through this review and in conjunction with the review of pending development proposals, it was concluded that each urban area faces particular challenges,” said a report to council. “The capacity of the water system does not appear to be an issue in any of the urban areas. Depending on the development, the extension of municipal water may create a challenge in maintaining the required level of domestic and fire flows.

“The relationship between potential new development and wastewater flows is most critical in Hastings,” the report said. “There are a number of developments approved for the community and there are portions of the year when the capacity of the plant is exceeded.”

Arena sale discussed

It seems that selling an old arena site is not as easy as you might think.

I wrote two weeks ago that the municipality is working on the site of the former Hastings arena to get it ready for its sale to finally close after 18 months. The sale was announced in November 2024 with a price of $650,000.

On Tuesday, council went into private session to discuss “the appraised value of the former Campbellford arena.”

You might wonder why they are discussing an appraised value when it was announced last July that the arena was being sold to a numbered company for $275,000. Usually, you get an appraisal before a sale.

I didn’t bother asking for an explanation, since I know from past experience that the answer would be: ‘That’s private.’

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

During Tuesday’s council meeting, Councillor Rick English thanked the community and municipal staff for their support since his 14-year-old grandson Colson Myers was killed in an ATV accident on April 22.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank council and staff for the ongoing support that has been given to myself and my family for the last almost four weeks,” English said. “The support of the community of Trent Hills, and I mean Hastings, Campbellford and Warkworth, is truly amazing.

“Thank you to our entire community and even beyond, for the numerous acts of kindness that you have shown. I cannot here individually name the numerous businesses, organizations and people that have genuinely touched our family and supported us through this difficult time, but please know that we are truly and sincerely grateful.

“I always knew that we lived in an amazing community and the last few weeks have once again, undoubtedly, confirmed this.

“Seeing the hundreds of people that joined us for the celebration of life for Colson was a true testament to the person that he was and the people’s hearts he touched in such a short period of time. So, once again, on behalf of the Myers and English families, from the bottom of our hearts, we are forever thankful.”

The meeting on Tuesday was originally scheduled for April 28 but was postponed following Colson’s death.

Work not done, money not spent

Council has repealed a bylaw that was passed in 2023 to allow the owners of 52 Doxsee Avenue North in Campbellford to receive a grant of up to $8,200 under the Community Improve Plan to improve the exterior of the property.

“There were multiple delays during the project and extensions were granted,” said a report by Kira Mees, Community Development Manager. “However, the work outlined in the application has not been completed to the building department’s satisfaction.”

The deadline for the work was March 2024, so council agreed to repeal the bylaw that permitted the funding.

Council did approve spending up to $1,200 to help a new store in Warkworth install a sign. John Hannah is opening Hannah’s Art Supplies at 27 Main Street. The estimated cost of the signage is $2,400, so it is eligible for $1,200 under the community improvement program.

Each year the municipality budgets $75,000 for improvement grants, but it has not been spending that amount. It currently has $205,000 in reserve and Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf suggested that staff should consider reallocating the $75,000 in the 2027 budget.

Making it easier to address council

Council has passed a new procedural bylaw that makes it easier for residents to address a council meeting or to make a deputation.

The bylaw also allows up to two councillors at a time to attend any meeting via Zoom instead of in person. Under the previous bylaw a meeting was either in person or fully online. The new hybrid model will make it easier for councillors to attend a meeting if they are out of town.

The bylaw also formalizes the one council meeting a month that was tested last fall and adopted for this year.

Councillor English noted that agendas for the meetings have grown to more than 700 pages and he asked staff to keep an eye on the workload for councillors.

Councillor Rob Pope suggested council should consider holding meetings in the late afternoon or evening to make it easier for councillors with full-time jobs to attend.

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Buying a drone

Council agreed to spend $7,200 for a drone that the planning department will be able to use to take photos and videos of properties.

The unit, a DJI Matrice 4E Drone, will be purchased from Cansel, a company that provides surveying and mapping technology.

In the past few years, planner Cameron Law has been using a drone he owns to take photos that illustrate his reports. The new drone owned by the municipality will provide greater detail.

The fire department currently has two drones and councillors asked whether the planning department couldn’t share with them. Law said that option was considered but it would be difficult to manage and the drone the planning department wants can perform different operations.

Bell Mobility seeks tower site

Council agreed that staff can negotiate with Bell Mobility about locating a 60-metre cell tower in the corner of the works yard at 189 Alma Street.

Bell Mobility wants to add the tower to improve local cell service. It is currently seeking public comments on the plan. The deadline for comments is May 20.

Planner Cameron Law said a final decision on whether the tower is approved will be made by council once the consultation period is over and staff have negotiated a potential lease agreement.

“The proposed location on municipal land is out of the way for future expansions to the Alma Yard and makes use of land that would otherwise remain vacant,” Law’s report to council said. “Renting out the land for a small-footprint infrastructure project such as this is one of the best potential uses for this part of the property.”

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Some home-based businesses are not like the others.

I have worked from home for 13 years and my neighbours have no idea what I do. Heck, even my wife sticks her head in my office and says: “What are you doing?” I usually respond, “Working.” Even if what I am actually doing is looking up the poisonous properties of Japanese barberry bushes. (I’ll spare you the photos, but it is dangerous and painful. I’m healing, thanks for asking.)

But during their Tuesday, May 5 public hearing session, Trent Hills councillors heard a lot about a couple of home-based businesses that the neighbours are unhappy about. Really unhappy.

There were two businesses on the agenda. Althouse Ltd., a landscaping and excavation business that has been operating for a couple of years on the 10^th Line East, not far from the Stirling-Rawdon border, and a proposal to open a tearoom and wedding centre in a large home on George Street in Warkworth.

Mark and Christina Althouse have applied to rezone their property to permit the operation of the landscaping business. They need to rezone because the storage unit that they already built and a planned pole barn have more than the 70 square metres of space permitted for a home industry in a rural area.

They are currently using about 120 square metres of the existing building and plan to use the 300 square metre barn for the business, Planner Cameron Law said.

Mark said they purchased the property in 2023 and started construction on the garage/shop in December 2023. Construction of the house started in October 2024.

He said the organic material on the land needed to be stripped and 250 loads of fill were trucked in. Much of the work was done in the evening and on weekends when the company’s landscaping work was completed.

Neighbours have complained about noise, traffic, and the use of a rural property as an industrial site.

“I have been concerned about this file for a long time,” said Councillor Gene Brahaney. “There seem to be a lot of irregularities in this whole file. I won’t say we were lied to, but I think definitely we were misled. It was supposed to be a residential property when it was severed. Nothing was ever mentioned about it being an industrial site.”

Brahaney noted that the municipality has turned down requests in the past when owners wanted to build a garage before a home was constructed.

“My question is are there more surprises coming down the road for this same property?” he asked.

Law said any rural or agricultural property can have a home industry “but this one has gone beyond the scale” so the intent of the zoning bylaw is to bring it in line and create something that can be enforced going forward.

In a handwritten note, nearby resident John Dennison said that he moved to the area after 32 years in Whitby and came for the quiet, rural nature. “Where I live is very peaceful. . .. I am totally opposed to this development” because it would create traffic, he wrote.

Neighbours Teri and Trevor Dunk, who sold the property to the Althouses, said in a written comment that they have complained to the municipality since 2024 that that the property was being used for commercial purposes. They felt it did not fit in a rural residential area.

“The daily activity occurring on the neighboring property continues to be extremely disruptive. The soil screening—using material brought in from other sites—begins early each morning, and dump trucks travel in and out throughout the day to unload and reload material. This level of activity is consistent with a commercial gravel pit, not a rural residential property.”

Teri told the councillors that earth is being dumped on the property, but Althouse insists that’s not the case.

Law explained that the municipality hopes to end the he-said, she-said disputes that have taken place over the past few years.

The other potential home-based business, is Nicole Wells’ application to rezone her home at 21 George Street in Warkworth to commercial so that she can operate a tearoom and event centre.

Her neighbours objected strongly raising concerns about the lack of parking spaces, potential late-night noise and the likelihood that patrons will park on the narrow street.

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Wells said she hopes to use the parking lot of St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church since it abuts the rear of her property.

But Marie Glover spoke on behalf of the church to say that while negotiations are under way nothing has been settled.

David Rollins and Glenn Kay also “vehemently opposed” the proposal. “The village of Warkworth is prized for its beauty and its quiet country living with the emphasis on quiet,” Rollins said in a written comment.

“This proposed zoning change to C1 will not only negatively affect the quality of my own life in my own home but will also negatively affect the value of my property which is completely unfair,” he concluded.

No decisions were made on the rezoning applications. The matters will come to council later.

Savery runs again

Dennis Savery, who has represented Ward 5 (Hastings) since 2022, has filed his nomination papers for the election this October.

He joins Bob Crate, current mayor, and Ethan Armit as candidates for that seat.

At this point, it’s the only area with a race. No other council candidates have come forward and their is only one candidate for mayor, Mike Metcalf, and one for deputy mayor, Rick English. Candidates have until Aug. 21 to file their papers.

I know there is some arm twisting going on in the community and efforts to persuade some women to run. Will keep you posted if anyone comes forward.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Trent Hills Councillor Daniel Giddings has withdrawn his nomination to run for deputy mayor in October, deciding to step away from politics to focus on his business activities.

“I realized that I need to focus and do certain things well,” Giddings said in an interview, noting that in recent weeks he has rarely made it home before 9 p.m.

In March, Giddings opened a storefront outlet in Campbellford for his kitchen and bathroom design company and partnered with Bryce Ellis in Trent Hills Cottage Crew, which is providing many services to cottage owners.

“It has really taken off and I need to focus on it,” Giddings said. “I love it here and will still be involved in the community and many projects. We have big plans for the Thunder next year.”

While Giddings has withdrawn, Councillor Rick English, who represents Warkworth, has filed his papers to run for deputy mayor. English was first elected in 2014.

He worked for Northumberland County for 36 years and retired as manager of road operations in 2013.

The only other candidates so far are Bob Crate and Ethan Armit who are running in Ward 5 (Hastings).

Candidates have until August 21 to file nomination papers for the Oct. 26 election.

April home sales lower than last year,

but median price jumped to $675,000

Fifteen homes sold in Trent Hills in April with a median price of $675,000, compared with 23 sales in the same month last year, when the median price was $525,000.

In March, 10 homes sold with a median price of $555,000. One of the homes that sold last month was a condo townhouse that went for $270,000.

The number of active listings jumped to 126 last month, from 110 in March. A year ago, there were 106 active listings while in 2024 there were only 81. The increase in listings is probably a sign that sellers hope the market will bounce back soon, while buyers remain wary.

Homes that sold last month had been on the market an average of 69 days, compared to 45 days a year ago.

Northumberland County recorded 103 sales in April, slightly up from 102 in March. The average price increased 6.5 per cent, from $670,503 to $714,267. New listings declined 1.2 per cent to 324, with homes spending an average of 56 days on the market.

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In April 2025, 124 homes sold in the county with a median price of $697,250. The median price this year was $664,000.

“The Bank of Canada’s decision to hold the overnight lending rate at 2.25 per cent provides a level of stability that is helpful for both buyers and sellers navigating today’s market,” said Christine Riley, president of the Central Lakes Association of Realtors.

“As we move further into the spring market, we’re seeing increased activity across our region, with more sales and steady listing levels creating a more dynamic environment,” Riley said.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Trent Hills has announced that the former site of the Hastings arena will be a construction site for the next six months as soil is removed and replaced. The work at 40 Bridge Street will start May 19.

The municipality announced in November 2024 that it had sold the site to a developer for $650,000 and the plan was to construct a three-storey building with retail on the ground floor and apartments above. It has not identified the proposed purchaser.

But the sale has not yet closed and soil analysis is needed before the deal goes through.

Mayor Bob Crate said in an interview that the work is necessary because engineering tests show the soil would not support the building. “There is no contamination, but they have to go in and remove some of the soil because it doesn’t support a residential building.”

“The sampling, field investigation and laboratory analysis is $13,750,” said Chief Planner Jim Peters. “The site preparation, onsite excavation, project management, and site work is $16,000. The municipality pays for the work at this point in the process and the costs are reimbursed when the land sale takes place.”

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“Oncer this work is done we will move forward with the sale and once it closes the developer will take over,” Crate said.

The municipality posted a notice on Facebook on May 6 to warn Hastings residents that the site will be fenced off and won’t be available for parking for the next six months.

The arena closed n 2013 and was demolished in 2021 at a cost of $170,000.

In recent months, council has met in closed session to discuss the slow moving sales of the Hastings and Campbellford arenas. No sale has been announced of the Campbellford site.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

On Tuesday evening about 75 Warkworth residents demonstrated strong bladders, iron butts, and their love for their village.

They swamped the Trent Hills council chambers and hallway outside for a four-hour public meeting so they could tell the councillors and developers that the current plan for 122 Mill Street on the western edge of the village is too dense, and the site is too steep and too wet for so many units.

There was lots of talk about stormwater runoff, increased traffic and other technical issues, but it was clear that the core objection is that the subdivision doesn’t match the artistic sensibilities of the current residents.

“It’s going to change the village of Warkworth into North Oshawa,” said John McLaughlin, who said this proposal would add to units already approved for Orchard Heights and on Banta Road.

“This high-density plan goes against the Trent Hills plan for preserving the village,” said Councillor Rick English, who represents Warkworth. He and others called the site an important gateway into the community.

Resident Victoria Welstead started her comments by asking council why the Warkworth issue was the last of seven items on the agenda, forcing people to sit for more than two hours before it came up. She didn’t really get answer, but Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf, who was chairing the meeting, thanked everyone for coming and staying.

“We’re all deeply concerned about what this would do to our little village,” Welstead said.

“It will end our pastoral appearance and undermine the character of Warkworth,” said Heather Hill.

Lawyer Kat Kinch, who often does legal work for the municipality, made clear she was appearing as a resident who lives downhill from the site and only representing herself.

She had submitted a 10-page brief that focused on how stormwater will be handled as it flows down the steep hill and the proposal to include an unopened road allowance as part of the parcel.

Kinch suggested that road allowance should be retained by the municipality, in part because it may be needed to allow access for development on property to the south at some point.

“I think you should pause to consider the stormwater issue and pause to consider the road allowance,” Kinch said.

Dr. Bob Henderson, who owns a home backing onto the parcel, said he too is concerned about runoff since his basement has flooded this spring and there is a large pool of water just across his lot line.

“It is a big hill and the absorption ability of the land will be reduced by the houses and roads,” Henderson said.

Henderson said that he understood that some business owners hope the addition of more residents will provide customers, but he warned that changing the nature of the village will actually hurt businesses.

“We will lose more than we will gain,” he said.

“We are not opposed to housing,” says an online petition with 265 signatures. “We are opposed to the wrong form of housing at one of the most important entrances to our village.”

The meeting was to consider a proposal to sever an existing house and 0.47 acres from the 8.01-acre property and rezone both properties to permit housing. Last year council passed an official plan amendment to shift the property from employment lands to residential, the first step in the development process.

Planner Cameron Law said the property has been identified as a spot for housing since at least 1999.

The draft proposal, which is not an official subdivision plan just a suggestion at this point, would have 11 townhomes in two blocks, 22 semi-detached homes and 10 detached.

Law said the plan would have a density of 10.75 units per hectare, noting that the established neighbourhoods nearby have about eight units. He pointed out that the density is less than suggested under the official plan, which would permit 60 units on the site.

No decision has been made. The comments heard at the meeting will go to council with a staff recommendation.

Under changed provincial law there is no need for another meeting to consider the subdivision plan but Metcalf and English promised that a meeting will be held.

“I certainly support additional housing in Trent Hills, but I do not support the current proposal for 122 Mill Street in its present form,” wrote Jeanne Beker. “If development proceeds, require a lower-density design that matches Warkworth.”

Planning consultant Dafne Gokcen of Innovative Planning Solutions spoke on behalf of the owner Matthew Stearns and developer Jonathan Hartman. Law said that if the proposal is approved it is likely that Stearns will continue to live in the existing property and sell the new lot to Hartman for development.

Gokcen said the developer was ready to have a detailed subdivision plan prepared for the meeting but decided to hold off and respond to the suggestions and concerns.

“Warkworth can grow. It should grow. But growth has to strengthen the village, not overwhelm it,” several residents wrote in letters to council.

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A group called the Concerned Citizens of Warkworth filed a 14-page brief outlining concerns about the proposed subdivision. “We are not rejecting growth. We are asking council to distinguish between growth that fits and growth that overwrites.”

The brief says, “Warkworth’s future can be shaped without losing the qualities that made people care about it in the first place and that keep visitors coming back.”

Law told the meeting that recent changes to provincial laws have limited the municipality’s ability to insist on changes to a development’s appearance. It can make suggestions and requests but developers don’t have to listen.

You can watch the entire meeting on YouTube here. Fast forward to the two hour and 15 minute mark to see the discussion of this development.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

So far, two candidates are seeking the Trent Hills council seat for Ward 5, which covers Hastings and the surrounding area.

Mayor Bob Crate has decided he’d like to take a step back and return to being a councillor, after many years as deputy mayor and mayor. On Oct. 26, he faces a newcomer Ethan Armit who is running for the first time.

No word yet from Dennis Savery, who currently holds that seat.

As I wrote early yesterday, Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf is running for mayor and Councillor Daniel Giddings, who currently represents Campbellford (Ward 3) is running for deputy mayor.

Elizabeth Terrell is running for trustee of Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board. She is seeking one of two positions for trustees who represent the Township of Alnwick/Haldimand, Town of Cobourg, Township of Hamilton, Municipality of Port Hope and Municipality of Trent Hills. The current trustees are from Alnwick/Haldimand Township and Cobourg.

Opening day for nominations was last Friday but candidates can file until
Aug. 28 at 2 p.m. You can check the list of candidates and get other election details on the municipal website.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

The old fire hall on the Trent River in Campbellford is getting repaired, refurbished and gussied up so it can look its best and be used to display antique firefighting equipment.

The municipality is also planning repairs to the stone house at 37 Saskatoon Ave. and the Campbellford-Seymour Public Library on Ranney St. All three projects were discussed on Tuesday, April 28 by council’s Heritage Advisory Committee, which agreed they each should qualify for $8,000 grants to help pay for planned work. The recommendations will go to council for a decision.

At the fire hall, the municipality plans to spend $49,000 this year to restore the hose drying tower and paint the onion dome. Also, interior support beams and the exterior cedar shakes will be replaced. A second phase will replace the red wooden door with a glass door so that an old fire truck and other antique equipment will be visible.

The fire hall, which was the Water Works and Electric Light Station when it was built in 1889, was designated a historical building in 1983. A newer addition is used to store public works vehicles now that the fire department has its new Emergency Services Base on Doxsee Avenue.

“The building Is constructed of red brick with limestone sills,” said a report to the council’s committee. “Finely detailed brlckwork outline the arches of the main door and windows. The original roof of the main building Is metal with standing seams, while the tower roof Is In the shape of an inverted onion.”

Some emergency masonry repairs were done last year when problems were spotted. The new work will start about Sept. 1 and be completed by Oct. 30.

The municipality is also planning to spend $18,000 to repair the stone house located south of the old town hall. The work will involve repointing masonry, repainting and caulking windows, windowsills, soffits, and decorative gingerbread trim, and removing vines that have been growing up the side of the building. As well, two chimneys will be capped to prevent pigeons from nesting inside.

The house, built about 1875, was designated as a historic building in 1989. It has been rented for retail uses in the past but is currently used to store municipal records.

The structure is made of coursed limestone and was designated as a historic building because of “the single vertical stone pattern bordering both sides of the windows.”

The Campbellford-Seymour Public Library will see $45,000 in spending to replace the existing worn steel roof with a new steel roof, repair the fascia and eavestroughs, repoint masonry where it has become damaged, and repaint windows and trim.

The library was built in 1912 and was designed by Walter A. Mahoney alongside two sister libraries in Port Hope and Whitby. “All three share a Greek portico entrance and a children’s entrance to the side,” a report says. “The overall design of the library follows the pattern of the Carnegie model library, the design of which was implemented by the Carnegie Foundation who provided funding for 125 libraries across Canada between 1883 and 1929.”

The Carnegie Foundation was approached in 1906 for a grant or donation to build a new free public library. It offered $8,000 to construct the building and in May 1911 a bylaw was enacted to accept Carnegie’s offer. The building opened in 1912 and was designated as a historic building in 2007.

Heritage committee member Skye Morrison, who is also on the library board, said the building needs more extensive repairs but the current project will at least ensure it is waterproof so the books don’t get wet.

***

And they’re off

Two current members of council hope to move up a position on election day — October 26.

Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf has filed his nomination papers to run for mayor and Councillor Daniel Giddings, who represents Campbellford (Ward 3), is running for deputy mayor.

Both Metcalf and Giddings filed their papers early on Friday, May 1, when nominations opened. Candidates can register until August 28 at 2 p.m. Their moves were expected by council observers. No other candidates have announced their intentions at this point. You can check the list of candidates and get other election details on the municipal website.

***

Run raises $58,000

A record number of runners and walkers in the Ranney Gorge Run raised a record amount for the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation under sunny skies on Sunday.

The 592 participants raised $58,594, the foundation said on Facebook. They posted dozens of pictures of happy walkers and runners of all ages.

The route through the park was in excellent shape with many of the roads newly graded and smoothed. I had time to enjoy the scenery since I wasn’t moving too quickly, But I did make it to the end and was only 30 seconds slower than last year.

Thanks to all those to donated through me. I helped raise $795.40 this year.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Wally Brown will probably think that headline is misleading and should say his Havelock office is consolidating with his Campbellford office, not closing.

That’s because Wally wants it to be clear that while he’s 80, he’s not stopping work, just cutting his commuting time.

But Friday, May 1 is the last day his office on George Street in Havelock will be open.

Well, open is a bit misleading and Wally says that’s the main reason he is closing the location.

“George Street is all torn up because they are putting in water pipes and you can’t get to the office,” he said during a chat in his office on Front Street in Campbellford. “They say the sidewalk will be open but there is no place to park and my clientele won’t walk too far. I would have had to rent another location for six months and that made no sense.”

So, just a few months shy his 50^th anniversary in the location, Wally will stop going there five mornings a week to see clients and tend to their legal needs.

“This is a consolidation, that’s the right word,” he says in a clipped no-nonsense tone. “Clients can still come to this office for service.

One staffer in Havelock is retiring and the other will be relocating to Campbellford. Wally is keeping the Havelock building to store the decades of legal documents, at least until the roadway is reopened.

Wally was born and raised in Havelock, though he attended high school in Campbellford. After law school he worked a few years in Toronto but longed to return home.

“I opened the office in November 1976, so almost 50 years ago.”

In 1978 he acquired a practice in Campbellford and added an office here. For decades, he would start his day with a swim at the YMCA in Peterborough then spend his mornings in Havelock and his afternoons in Campbellford. On Tuesdays he has lunch with other members of the Rotary Club of Campbellford and usually plays an up-tempo version of O Canada on the piano.

Nowadays, he starts his mornings with a swim at the Sunny Life Rec Centre. “I’m there at 6 a.m. every workday,” he says.

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It’s ironic that a construction project has led Wally to alter his work life, since last summer a potential construction project forced Wally and his wife Mary out of their home on Second Street in Campbellford where they had lived for many decades.

Northumberland County’s plan for a new bridge will encroach on their property and it said the Browns could accept a sale or face expropriation. After several meetings and the intervention of Mayor and Warden Bob Crate, the Browns received a price they could accept.

Some people would be angry or upset that various governments seem to be interfering with their golden years, but Wally is quite sanguine and determined to make the best of two frustrating situations.

The Browns now live on the river in Hastings. He spends a lot of his free time on a woodlot he owns near Havelock, or at their Belmont Lake cottage. A dedicated walker, he charts a route around the lake each winter as soon as the ice is safe.

I mentioned that I had just come from lunch at the new Golden Cafe, just a few doors north on Front Street.

“I heard it was open but I haven’t been in,” Wally responded. Now that he’s spending all day in Campbellford he’ll have more time to check out the local stores and restaurants.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Trent Hills council has rescheduled its Tuesday, April 28 meeting to May 19 and shifted its May 26 meeting until June 2 in the wake of a tragic accident.

Councillor Rick English’s 14-year-old grandson Colson Myers was killed on Wednesday, April 22 in an ATV crash on the trail near Burnbrae Road. There will be a celebration of life for him at the Warkworth Arena on Saturday, May 2 from 1 to 5 p.m.

“We appreciate everyone’s understanding and flexibility during this time,” the municipal notice said.

There public meeting on May 5 that will consider some severances and a 43-unit subdivision proposed for Warkworth will go ahead as planned. The municipality said the regular scheduled public meeting will proceed on June 2 at 6 p.m.

Disposing of litter

If you collected roadside litter last week as part of the Mayors’ Cleanup Challenge and you have bags to dispose of, you can contact the municipal office.

Staff will arrange to have bags picked up or let you know where you can drop them off. Contact Erin or Kaylee at 705-653-1900 or customers@trenthills.ca.

I have a couple of bags that I’ve gathered from Burnbrae Road and will be dropping mine off later this week. I hope to get out to do a little more, there is always lots of garbage along our country roads.

Ranney hospital run on Sunday

The annual Ranney Gorge Run to raise money for the Campbellford Memorial Hospital Foundation takes place on Sunday morning through Ferris Park and across the gorge bridge.

The goal is to raise $50,000 for the foundation. So far, $20,371 has been pledged.

You can support me at this link, or search for other friends and neighbours who may be walking and running. Or join us to take part in a 1, 5, or 10.55 kilometre walk/run. (The 10.55 is a quarter of a marathon, if you’re wondering why it’s such an odd number.)

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

An early traffic report for County Road 30 north of Campbellford. Really early, since it’s for the period from July and August until October.

You can expect delays and detours as Northumberland County repairs roads and bridges on CR 30. From August till October, it will repair the roadway from the 8^th line to the 11^th line and add paved shoulders and replace culverts. From July until October, the county will be repairing the bridge over the Trent River in the hamlet of the same name. Expect detours for much of that period that will send drivers on local roads to County Road 50 or County Road 45.

The bridge work was scheduled for last summer but was postponed. Emergency repairs were made when problems were first spotted.

I first wrote about the bridge problem in January 2025. A report to county council said a routine inspection found that the expansion joint on the north end of the bridge had separated from the structure. “There was also evidence of settlement in the asphalt surface adjacent to the expansion joint,” the report said.

The cause of the problem was not obvious, so the county asked an engineering consultant to examine the bridge. The engineer found that the method of construction was unusual and had permitted the granular material below the concrete to get wet then freeze and thaw, creating a gap. It will repair both ends of the bridge to make sure the problem can’t reoccur.

The county will also be doing work on County Road 25 about 60 metres south of the intersection with CR 45 from July to September when a culvert is replaced. During that same period crews will also replace a culvert on CR 25 just north of Pine Grove Road.

You can see the full list of county projects here.

Candidate training offered

If you’re thinking about running for council or a school board this fall but not sure what’s involved, the county and local municipalities are offering some guidance.

“Individuals considering running as a candidate – or registering as a third-party advertiser – in any Northumberland municipality are encouraged to attend a free training session offered by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing,” the county says in a news release.

Candidates must register by August 21 for the election, which will be held on Monday, Oct. 26. You can read the guidelines for candidates here on the provincial website.

The session will review the rules and requirements for candidates with a one-hour presentation followed by a question-and-answer period.

The free event on Thursday, May 14 will be in-person and online from 6 p.m. till 8:30 p.m. You can join in the county council chambers at 555 Courthouse Road, Cobourg or via Zoom.

Link: Zoom.us/Join
Meeting ID: 819 5513 8257
Passcode: 709556
1-855-703-8985 Toll-free

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

To mark Earth Day, I thought I’d take a look at what our municipality and county are doing about climate change in this area.

The story will be relatively brief because there is not a lot to say, certainly not about what Trent Hills is doing.

The municipality’s basic policy is that it won’t spend any money specifically on climate change or sustainability issues, but it will look for ways to get money from other levels of government or to piggyback on what the county is doing.

Northumberland County does have a climate action strategy section on its website and it has released two major reports on what it is doing. Last year it released a 53-page Corporate Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduction Plan. As the title says that report looks at what the county is doing and plans to do to reduce emissions that make climate change worse.

Recently it released a report looking at steps it is taking to help us adapt to the changes we face already and their worsening impacts. That 110-page report is its Climate Adaptation and Resiliency Plan 2026.

Trent Hills doesn’t have anything comparable. In its Strategic Plan 2023-2027 the municipality says, “We are committed to a sustainable future and improving the social, economic, and environmental well-being of Trent Hills.”

Sustainability is one of the six values that underlies the plan and sustainable infrastructure is one of five priorities. But as I noted, there is no commitment to put any money behind sustainability issues.

Not everyone is happy with the lack of action. Campbellford resident Brenda Kotras has been pushing council to establish an environment committee that would allow residents to advise councillors and push for improvements. Last summer she was told the topic will be considered once the new council is in place in January.

The municipality’s 2024 asset management plan pointed out that climate change could cause problems for us due to “intense rainfall, increased temperatures, extreme weather, and drought.”

Well, we’ve had all those so far and we know they are all likely to just keep getting worse as temperatures rise.

Northumberland’s climate adaptation report has 18 recommended actions including planting more trees, ensuring there are emergency centres for warming and cooling, improved public access to water, increased emergency planning and drills, update floodplain maps and improve stormwater handling.

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While they might not want to admit that these purchases were due to climate change, Trent Hills has actually approved generators so that the Sunny Life Recreation & Wellness Centre and the Hastings Field House can be kept operating during power outages. The ice storm a year ago drove home the need to have safe public spaces when emergencies hit.

The county’s plan to reduce emissions says that in 2023, “Waste in our landfills accounted for 82 per cent of total emissions; county-owned fleet and employee commuting accounted for 13 per cent of emissions; and the county’s buildings and facilities accounted for 5 per cent.”

It plans to reduce those emissions by 65 per cent by 2030 and begin on the goal to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The county promises annual updates on how it is progressing toward those goals and says, “An update to the plan will take place in 2029 to assess progress toward our 2030 target and outline a renewed pathway to reach our 2050 target.”

Emissions are high in waste management because organic waste gets put into landfills and creates methane gas as it decomposes. The county is focused on getting more people to use green bins so that waste can be redirected to composting.

The county says it will consider electric vehicles for its light-duty needs. I think EVs are looking a lot more attractive these days.

You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.

Northumberland County Council has officially opposed the proposed Alto High-Speed Rail line through Trent Hills.

On Wednesday, councillors passed a resolution supporting the northern route from Peterborough to Ottawa north of Highway 7 and also suggested Alto and the federal government should consider a path along the CN/CP rail lines near Lake Ontario, or the Highway 401 corridor.

Before their vote, Mike Metcalf, Deputy Mayor of Trent Hills, made a presentation outlining the potential damage a route across Trent Hills could do to Hastings, Campbellford, and prime agricultural land.

One of the biggest problems is a lack of information from Alto or the federal government about why the high-speed service is needed and how many passengers are expected to use it, Metcalf said.

The proposed southern route the loops from Peterborough towards Belleville then north of Kingston towards Ottawa suddenly appeared in January, he said.

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“For 10 years there had been talk about a high-frequency rail line north of Highway 7,” he said, but no mention of a route through Trent Hills. “It was a shock.”

Trent Hills’ residents have been left with uncertainly and fears about their property values and impact on their farmland, Metcalf added. There are no apparent benefits to municipalities along the southern route.

He asked the county to formally opposed the route across our municipality.

Later, county council did just that with a motion that supports improvements in transportation alternatives that would serve the county but rejects a high-speed line that provides no stops or benefits in our area.

Brighton Mayor Brian Ostrander expressed support for a high-speed line through his area, but only if the local municipalities receive enough funding to provide infrastructure such as overpasses and underpasses. Brighton has been struggling for years to deal with level crossings for VIA and freight trains.

The Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus and many other counties and municipalities have also rejected plans for the rail line through their areas.

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You can read all Trent Hills News stories on my website here.