Max Kaiser, Deputy Mayor, Greater Napanee

A few quick updates this morning. As a municipality and as a county, we have put been in a position that we need to restrict, change, insist and try to enforce.......things that we have all come to expect as normal....things are not normal right now. Because so many people don't want to follow the rules (but many thanks to those that do), things are only going to get tougher. Gathering places such as campgrounds are closed at a provincial and federal level and we are being asked by the Health Unit to do the same here and in the entire area and province. It is all to restrict the number of none essential gathering places that people would have. Enforcing these rules and legislated laws costs the taxpayers (you and I) money that could be used in so many better ways. Making it safe for people to shop...man, how easy should that be....but some are making it difficult for others. These are all temporary...and the sooner we flatten this curve, the sooner that the numbers don't keep climbing, the sooner that we all try to stay at home as much as possible.....we will get to the cottages, we will get to the campgrounds and trailer parkers, we will be able to use all our playgrounds and facilities, we can stand for hours and visit with our family and friends....etc., etc. This is not forever....but it must in place now. Thanks and stay safe and well....do your bit. Happy to chat. See more

Last words for the evening. I would like it to be cheery...but it isn’t. Number of cases is rising, some of it community spread. People aren’t getting it......no social distancing....gathering in groups....young people are not even thinking about what or how they should being working with us on this. Why should they when the example is not being set by those that should be more responsible. People are not self isolating. This is not a game...safety of our residents is the most important responsibility of the town and county. Giving residents all the financial breaks and perks in the world (and this should be part of how we help you), will not solve the problem. We are working to get all the information on the Provincial and Federal funding and assistance so that we can help you benefit from it. But none of this is worth much if we all don’t do our part to squash this pandemic....that can, and does kill. It also costs all levels of not just government but business, large and small....that means job disappear, rents can’t be paid, mortgage payments can’t be met...and taxes on all levels can’t be paid...Federal, Provincial, County and town. What if the hospital had to close because the staff is so overwhelmed with treating sick folks. No amount of money can fix that. People don’t have money...they can’t shop, so tax on purchases can be generated. Business can’t hire their employees back. Plants can’t reopen to bring back staff. Starting to make some sense? This is not a bottomless barrel of funds....every one needs to do their part. I hate to hammer, but things need to change and change now. This is sure not the type of message I wanted to put out there...but it appears to be necessary. Happy to chat. 613-561-2975...but not till tomorrow...I’m tired. To those of you doing your part....thank you...you should get extra points. See more

Drum roll...CNOY....so far - $38,650.00. Wow...As I said last night when I helped to get the walkers out and going...this is just the positive type of event, w...arm and fuzzy...that we all needed right now....so much tension and strife going on around us. Differences of opinion, etc....but last night....due so much to the reputation of Morningstar Mission and their good work...the area jumped on board to support the renovations that are so badly needed in the kitchen to keep providing the meals...and the meals provide comfort in more ways than one. I'm sure that the number will keep climbing...you can still donate on line. Young and old (I should say mature)...people who already volunteer at the mission, people who will now step forward to help. It takes a village....and in our case it takes a county, a town, the surrounding areas, the faith based groups, the school groups, the service clubs (need to get a plug in here for Deputy Mayor Kaiser and Councillor Ellen Johnson who jumped in to help). The Board of the Mission, Kevin Alkenbrack, Lynda and Steve who kept things on track. I can go off to OGRA knowing that we have one more thing that we can be so proud of.....thanks for the extra feather in all our caps (and in this case...toques....) A special shout out to the members of Trinity United Church. A perfect launch spot for the walk last night.... See more

Get out here. We are having all the fun. Join us.

A few quick updates this morning. As a municipality and as a county, we have put been in a position that we need to restrict, change, insist and try to enforce.......things that we have all come to expect as normal....things are not normal right now. Because so many people don't want to follow the rules (but many thanks to those that do), things are only going to get tougher. Gathering places such as campgrounds are closed at a provincial and federal level and we are being asked by the Health Unit to do the same here and in the entire area and province. It is all to restrict the number of none essential gathering places that people would have. Enforcing these rules and legislated laws costs the taxpayers (you and I) money that could be used in so many better ways. Making it safe for people to shop...man, how easy should that be....but some are making it difficult for others. These are all temporary...and the sooner we flatten this curve, the sooner that the numbers don't keep climbing, the sooner that we all try to stay at home as much as possible.....we will get to the cottages, we will get to the campgrounds and trailer parkers, we will be able to use all our playgrounds and facilities, we can stand for hours and visit with our family and friends....etc., etc. This is not forever....but it must in place now. Thanks and stay safe and well....do your bit. Happy to chat. See more

Last words for the evening. I would like it to be cheery...but it isn’t. Number of cases is rising, some of it community spread. People aren’t getting it......no social distancing....gathering in groups....young people are not even thinking about what or how they should being working with us on this. Why should they when the example is not being set by those that should be more responsible. People are not self isolating. This is not a game...safety of our residents is the most important responsibility of the town and county. Giving residents all the financial breaks and perks in the world (and this should be part of how we help you), will not solve the problem. We are working to get all the information on the Provincial and Federal funding and assistance so that we can help you benefit from it. But none of this is worth much if we all don’t do our part to squash this pandemic....that can, and does kill. It also costs all levels of not just government but business, large and small....that means job disappear, rents can’t be paid, mortgage payments can’t be met...and taxes on all levels can’t be paid...Federal, Provincial, County and town. What if the hospital had to close because the staff is so overwhelmed with treating sick folks. No amount of money can fix that. People don’t have money...they can’t shop, so tax on purchases can be generated. Business can’t hire their employees back. Plants can’t reopen to bring back staff. Starting to make some sense? This is not a bottomless barrel of funds....every one needs to do their part. I hate to hammer, but things need to change and change now. This is sure not the type of message I wanted to put out there...but it appears to be necessary. Happy to chat. 613-561-2975...but not till tomorrow...I’m tired. To those of you doing your part....thank you...you should get extra points. See more

Drum roll...CNOY....so far - $38,650.00. Wow...As I said last night when I helped to get the walkers out and going...this is just the positive type of event, w...arm and fuzzy...that we all needed right now....so much tension and strife going on around us. Differences of opinion, etc....but last night....due so much to the reputation of Morningstar Mission and their good work...the area jumped on board to support the renovations that are so badly needed in the kitchen to keep providing the meals...and the meals provide comfort in more ways than one. I'm sure that the number will keep climbing...you can still donate on line. Young and old (I should say mature)...people who already volunteer at the mission, people who will now step forward to help. It takes a village....and in our case it takes a county, a town, the surrounding areas, the faith based groups, the school groups, the service clubs (need to get a plug in here for Deputy Mayor Kaiser and Councillor Ellen Johnson who jumped in to help). The Board of the Mission, Kevin Alkenbrack, Lynda and Steve who kept things on track. I can go off to OGRA knowing that we have one more thing that we can be so proud of.....thanks for the extra feather in all our caps (and in this case...toques....) A special shout out to the members of Trinity United Church. A perfect launch spot for the walk last night.... See more

One week later, and I have not received a reply from anyone this was sent to....with the exception of Daryl Kramp's office saying they would get back to me... F...rom: Marg Isbester Sent: January 25, 2020 9:09 PM To: Canadian Chair IJC Pierre Beland ([email protected]) ; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Rob Sisson ; US IJC Member Lance Yohe ([email protected]) Cc: PM Justin Trudeau ([email protected]) ; Doug Ford Premier ([email protected]) ; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; Steve Clark ([email protected]) ; [email protected]; Jim McDonell MPP ([email protected]) ; MP Neil Ellis ; M.P. Sloan Derek - ; Mark Gerretsen MP ([email protected]) ; [email protected]; Phillip Lawrence MP ([email protected]) Subject: Plan 2014 Good afternoon.and I will preface this email with the fact that I am writing to the IJC Board, as well as our local MP’s and MPP’s..and I am writing to you as a Mayor, asking for your help. I also want to point out that I know, as we all do, that there are many mitigating factors that have combined to make this disaster. Climate change, land planning, clear cutting of trees for development and agricultural uses.building within the flood plains.not altering the flood plain lines..100 years is a long time. And I believe firmly, that there is a difference in the consideration of harm or value between the land owners and the shipping industry. All that being said, we are in this together. I believe that as political leaders (and those appointed to Committees of any level of government), have a duty to protect our residents and businesses, and in fact, our own infrastructure. I don’t believe that is happening. Greater Napanee held an information session last night for our residents and had an overwhelming turnout. We took a little different approach from the rally set up. We invited both of our conservation authorities to attend (and they did with great staff and information); some folks who can help our residents with restoration and protection, and a set up of what municipality safety procedures might include. From there, we had speakers from the Conservation Authorities and our Emergency Services and Sarah Delicate from United Shorelines. Sarah delivered a lot of information in a short timemuch of which most folks had not been aware of.and did so in plain and simple language. All well received, all respectful.to tell you the truth, we were not sure what to expect from the crowd. Many are scared, hurt and angryand we are the closest ones for them to reach out to.but it went well. I don’t want to get too long in this, but the point that I really want to get across is that we sit in a position that we want to help all our residentsand what they need if we get the floods again in 2020, is far more than we have either manpower or financial resources for. After the presentation, we had round table discussions, with maps showing all the water front areas in our municipality that have been touched by the flooding in 2017 and 2019. We pin pointed the areas, we took the pictures, and we listened to the stories.all put forth respectfully. We will have a summary that I hope to sent to each and every one of you when it is pulled together. What I really want to you know from my end would be that the stories from long time residents, who have lived on the shores of the Bay of Quinte, Hay Bay, and Lake Ontario, as well as even our Napanee River, are heartbreaking. Retired folks who are going to be forced from their homes as they just can’t continue to fight what is being caused by so many factors, and could be controlled so much better. Seasonal residents that have purchased water front properties to be used as cottages, and eventually be their retirement homes, are seeing their investments end up in our waterways. The farmers that lost acres of tillable land, in a bad growing season to begin with, because the levels of water where so far above the tile drainage areas that they had spent thousands of dollars to installthat the system would not work. That doesn’t even touch on all the erosion that caused them to lose so much good soil. The businesses that had to lay off staff, and not take on students that they usually do.just because their tourism properties were under water. The folks that have had their wells contaminated by the flood waters. The folks that are fearing what damage is being done to their septic tanks and tile bedsand in turn, what that is doing to the environment. I haven’t even touched on the damage that continues to inhibit use of two of our major green spaces that belong to the municipality. Both our primary and secondary water intakes could be in trouble if this continues. Our usually busy sheltered dockage in the Napanee River could not be used as the docksusually a good distance above high waterwere under for the largest part of the year.a great loss of revenue for our merchants and restaurants. Nor have I mentioned that there have been numerous days that the Glenora Ferry could not operate due to high water levels.compounded by high winds (that we can’t control). I know that there will be engineers, lawyers, and many others who will try to put blame and reasons as to the why’s and the how’s. That won’t help. The only how we need, is how can we work together to right this disaster. I’m not asking that we damage either the environment or other areas, but this just cannotrepeat cannot continue. I ask your help and I ask for it quickly. Left as is, so many municipalities will lose assessment.our tax bases are lean enough.we can’t put anymore of this on our residents and businesses. Our ratepayers are stretched to the limit to protecting their properties, financially and emotionally. Thank you for your time. Respectfully submitted. Marg Isbester Mayor of Greater Napanee T: 613.354-3351 ext. 2001 C: 613-561-2975

Get out here. We are having all the fun. Join us.

Here’s the link to Tuesday’s meeting. Don’t hear it second,or third, or fourth hand...be a part of it. https://greaternapanee.civicweb.net//MeetingInformation.as