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| My name is Michael Hartin and I am your new KLCOA president. Now I know that filling the shoes of Dave Mills will not be an easy task. He has been a dedicated and committed president of this association for many years now. I will continue to rely on Dave and Betty too for their expertise, experience and common sense for the months and years to come. My background has been with Shell Chemicals International Marketing and we, my wife Ruthanne and I, retired at the end of 1999 to Kennisis Lake. Our friends Don and Brenda Box enticed us to the lake and we have made a number of very close and wonderful friends in the relatively short time we've been here. Wendy Vermeersch made me volunteer for this job so blame her if you don't like what you get. It is my intention to keep this organization as informal, relaxed and as much fun as possible. By the same token it is also my intention to protect the integrity of this lake association's mandate. The snow is melting rapidly due to the inclement mild temperatures we have been enjoying lately. It is raining as I am writing this note. The winter has been cold and the snow levels have been outstanding and according to all you snowmobile sledders the best we've had in many years. I'm hopeful the economic fallout has been equally as good. Speaking of the economy, I have attended a number of meetings over the winter trying to get the attention of the Dysart Council particularly about our increasing property assessment base and the subsequent tax rate. Council is clearly trying to lay the blame on the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) |
on not getting some 900 plus new properties through the assessment process in time to pay their fair share of our tax base. There is no doubt a big problem here but the council in my opinion has not taken action soon enough and at the appropriate levels with the necessary tenacity to get the concerns addressed in a timely manner. The bottom line will be a significant tax increase of at least 20 %. I hope I am wrong. Dave's newsletter last year was able to report we had no recorded break-ins. I am sorry I cannot report the same news this year. We have had a number of break-ins that have been reported and the new development on the West Shore appears to have been the biggest target. We support the efforts of the local police force and the volunteers of the community policing group who are attempting to deal with these issues. We will take this opportunity to thank Bill Elliot who has served KLCOA so well in the past and for his past duties as Chair of Community Policing and Chair of Fire Equipment. Earla Hume has relinquished her duties as chairperson for Membership where she has done an outstanding job for so many years. She will continue to provide leadership in our swimming program for one more year. Pete Sulman has served the KLCOA for many years in organizing our sailing regatta and he is taking a well-deserved rest. Again we must thank Dave Mills for putting this newsletter together on our behalf. I am sure he will continue to nourish and guide us as a member of our executive as Past President. |
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We look forward to your support in the future and hope we will see you
at the general meeting on Saturday morning May 15, 2003
The Caption Reads Roads Superintendent Miles Maughan took this photo of the Dysart plow which ended up going over the bank on Watt's Trail near Kennisis Lake on Tuesday. Highlands east and Minden Hills also lost plows to the treacherous conditions which were caused by hours of freezing rain on Tuesday morning. |
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| This year saw 15 incidences of break and entering in our community. The majority occurred on West Shore Drive and Inaccessible roads where there is little supervision. One or two of the break-ins occurred on the South Shore. Although no arrests have been made, there are suspects. This year there were several occasions where warning notices had to be issued to people who parked their vehicles on snow routes, causing inconvenience to others. The volunteers continue to meet every two months to keep in touch with what's happening and there are three joint meetings each year with other community policing organizations.
Last year we were unable to offer the Red Cross swimming programme because we could not find a qualified instructor over the age of 18 who could be in charge. Great efforts have been made this year to insure that the programme runs and we are happy to announce that we have acquired two qualified, age-appropriate instructors. SWIMMING LESSONS THIS YEAR ARE A "GO"! Details are being worked out and we hope that more information will be available by our May meeting. |
Not a lot has happened since our last general meeting. We did reach agreement with the developer over the issue of restoration of the Soap Pond shoreline. The developer has given us cash to purchase seedlings and topsoil. This year we'll be putting together a work force of lake volunteers who will do the planting. Blair Johnson has agreed to spearhead this project and we hope to have more details available for our May meeting. The issue of how the lands donated to the KLCOA will be managed is still under negotiation.
Last year a group of volunteers, cleaned up the islands which will eventually be deeded to the KLCOA. Needless to say, they spent a weekend collecting bottles, cans and garbage as well as cleaning up the remains of human excrement. PLEASE BE AWARE THAT OVERNIGHT CAMPING IS NOT ALLOWED ON THESE ISLANDS. NOR IS IT ALLOWED ON THE MUNICIPAL PROPERTY ON THE SPIT OF LAND BETWEEN THE TWO LAKES. It is indeed sad to think that we spend a lot of time and energy to protect our environment, only to learn that some of our own members abuse our lake. The islands now have close neighbours and it is only fair that we allow them the privilege that we have always enjoyed…a beautiful lake where we can "escape" from the crazy world in which we live. Please remember, when purchasing cleaning products, to make certain they are phosphate-free. One line of products (Shaklee) is available through the Cookhouse/Store at the Haliburton Forest. Other phosphate-free products are also available at local stores. We will continue with our water-testing programme and will continue to monitor any development which jeopardizes the quality of our lake. Our Association has been well-represented at Council over a number of issues which affect development on the lake. At one meeting we supported the Redstone Lake Cottagers' Association in their opposition to a proposed boat house to be built to house antique canoes and kayaks. Dysart has an existing by-law which bans the erection of boat houses and the request was turned down. The property owner took his case to the Ontario Municipal Board which met and have yet (at the time of this writing) to rule on the issue. There is great concern over this issue and it's implications regarding the 66-foot setbacks. You can read more about this by going to our website, clicking on "links" and checking the April 8 issue of The Echo. We are always notified of any application for variances to the planning code and have the opportunity to represent your interests on such applications. |
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Membership Information Enclosed with this newsletter is your membership renewal for the year 2003. Please complete it carefully and mail it to the KLCOA address (R.R. 1 Box 315, Haliburton, On. K0M 1S0). You may also either place it in the drop box at the Marina Store or bring it with you to the general meeting in May. It is important to submit your membership fee quickly as the vast majority of our expenses occur early in the year. Your 2003 sticker is included. We operate on the policy of honesty and trust that you will continue to support the KLCOA. Remember that our Constitution stipulates that your membership must be paid by July 1 of each year and that you cannot participate in KLCOA events unless your membership is paid. Additionally, if you fail to pay your membership, you will not receive the next newsletter. Need a new sign?…. Your Executive will continue to encourage membership by providing real estate agents with "Welcome" packages and by physically canvassing the West Shore development. Elections for executive positions will be held at our Annual Meeting on Saturday August 30. Coincidentally, this is the least attended meeting…Hmmmmmmm! We welcome new members with fresh ideas to the executive and urge you to consider standing for office. If you are, contact Wendy Vermeersch. |
| Now that spring is finally here, we'll be able to finish our contribution to bringing 911 to our area. Under the leadership of Gail Goldenberg, we'll do what we can to validate and update the road profiles given to us. It was recently announced that the tender to produce the signs for 911 has been granted so we can assume (?) that the end is in sight. Thanks, Gail, for undertaking what has turned out to be a huge job. Thanks, too, to those who are helping out. To this date we have not received word of official road names for Dysart et al.
Once again our annual fireworks display to celebrate Canada Day will light up the Kennisis Skyline. Steve Ashfield is busily preparing a fantastic show…many thanks Steve (and, of course, his faithful helpers). Steve is a certified pyrotechnician and does a great job. As is our usual format, the display will take place on the Saturday of the weekend of or before Canada Day. This year's date is Saturday June 28. The display will begin at dusk at the Kennisis Lake Marina. Should we be rained out, the display will take place either on Sunday June 29 or, if rained out then, on Saturday August 2. |
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Winter 2002 Report To The This report is published three times a year by The Federation of Ontario Cottages' Association Inc. All member cottagers' associations are invited to reproduce any or all of this Report in their newsletters with a credit to FOCA. Subscriptions are available to individual FOCA members for $15 plus tax. Please Share This Report FOR MORE
Wendy Moore - Executive Diredtor Federation of Ontario Tel: (416) 429-0444 |
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| In the past, cottagers who subscribed to Cottage Life magazine, also received a FOCA update. This no longer happens. Instead there will be a one-page ad which promotes the FOCA website. It would be too costly for us to publish the news to you. Instead we will glean from their newsletter items we think may be of interest and will include them in the most recent newsletter. In order for you to remain current with the issues that FOCA is addressing, we suggest you visit their website, www.foca.on.ca. Individuals may also become members of FOCA and they can purchase subscriptions to the newsletter, published three times per year for $15 plus tax. I have copied the Contents of the Winter 2002 Edition as well as contact numbers below. A binder containing FOCA Newsletters will be kept at our KLCOA display at the Marina restaurant. Feel free to browse but please do not remove the binder from the rack. |
Contents 1 ............Farewell to FOCA News |
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What's Happening This Summer Just a few of the things we knew about in time for this publication. Check the local newspapers or contact the Haliburton Highlands Chamber of Commerce for additional events. Haliburton County Home & Vacation Show May 31 and June 1 - At the Haliburton Arena and the Haliburton Curling Club Highlands Summer Festival Six weeks of great live theatre at the Northern Lights Performing Arts Pavilion in the high school. The Mumberley Inheritance - an hilarious classic melodrama Painting Churches - a touching comedy with a gentle mix of pathos Cookin' With Gus - a rollicking comedy with touches of slapstick Arts 9-1-1 - our classical concert with an engaging story line For tickets call 457- 9933 or visit the website at www.highlandssummerfestival.on.ca. Haliburton Highland Games July 12 at Head Lake Park, Haliburton Big Band Dance August 16 at the Haliburton Legion - 8:30 pm - 11:30 pm |
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