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Thursday August 3 2023 | Issue 601
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INSIDE: HOME IN THE HIGHLANDS
STR rules headed to townships By Lisa Gervais
Silver Beach residents Jerry Stokes, Mike Bernard and Fred Nurnberger want to see work completed to demolish the Wigamog Inn property. Photo by Mike Baker.
Residents want action at Wig By Mike Baker A group of residents with homes overlooking the Wigamog Inn property say they are considering hiring legal representation as they try to force owner, Aurora Group, or Dysart et al township, to take immediate action to demolish derelict buildings at the site.
Fred Nurnberger, Jerry Stokes and Mike Bernard all own property in the Silver Beach subdivision. The trio say they’ve grown frustrated by the lack of action at the Wigamog, which has been slated for demolition for almost a year. “If any of us need to sell our property
right now, we have a problem. Who would buy here not knowing what’s happening next door? I’d just like to know when this is going to be resolved,” Nurnberger said. Stokes estimated property values in the subdivision were down 15 to 20 per cent due to the uncertainty around the
County council, at its last meeting, voted to send its short-term rental bylaw to the four lower-tier municipalities for possible adoption. It’s now up to Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills to pass it. Further, council has directed County staff to work with employees from the four townships to prepare a request for proposals (RFP) for a third-party provider to administer the new rules and regulations, if adopted. It’s hoped municipalities can report on what they think will be required of them when it comes to inspection and enforcement. After all of that, local government will be looking towards setting an implementation date. The decision came after a lengthy debate in which warden, Liz Danielsen, expressed frustration that it, “looks like we can’t make a decision if our life depends on it.” Coun. Murray Fearrey also commented, “how come all these other municipalities have done this and we’re so complicated?” Director of planning, Steve Stone, brought clarified definitions and further refinements of the bylaw to the July 26 meeting. However, he said, “the most critical piece of the bylaw that was changed really reflects council’s interest in allowing for operators to sign up, and basically swear that their establishment is operating in accordance with all of the rules and regulations, so building code, fire code and so on and so forth. “But there is a notwithstanding clause in the bylaw that allows municipal departments to do their own deep dive… so hold back from issuing a license if they have a concern that they may have heard about or may have seen in their own records as they’re processing applications.” Stone said the City of Kawartha Lakes had approved a short-term rental bylaw.
Continued ‘Township’ on page 3
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