Summer 2025 Newsletter
Hello from Roy!
As I write this edition of the newsletter I hope everyone is enjoying the August long weekend. Many of us have family visiting and it’s nice to hear the lake is busy with the sounds of summer.
We had our AGM on July 13th with about 30 members in attendance. Lots of great questions; and for those of you who could not make it the minutes of the meeting are included below.
I have been very busy this year attending AGMs in all 3 wards to discuss the Environmental Task Force that I chair. There are a lot of topics of interest to lake owners, and we have had engaging conversations.
Our social event will be held August 23rd and we are hoping for a good turn out. Last year we had about 70 members participate. I have attached the information flyer below. Please RSVP so we can plan accordingly.
We have started our voluntary catch and release program. We have had a few submissions and hope more will come. This is a great program to protect the fish habitat for the future… and there are prizes.
I would also like to thank the Hazletons & Lorne Killam for organizing, collecting and disposing of all the washed up old docks on the shore line. Not only is this good for the environment but makes boating safer for all of us.
Hope to see you soon.
Roy
Newsletter at a glance
● Membership
● AGM
● BLA Social
● Photo Contest
● Catch & Release
● Your board members
Membership
As of August 2nd, we have 71 paid members. Last year we reached 85 and this year we set a goal of 90 members. For those of you that have already paid, thank you. Some of you have received a personal email reminder to renew. The BLA does so much for the lake and the 30 dollars for membership is needed for expenses such as Buoy markers, Insurance premiums, membership to FOCA and NFLAA, photo contest prizes, water sampling and of course our social event. If you have neighbours that are not part of the BLA, please pass on a good word and promote our Lake association.support.
Buckshot Lake Association AGM 2025
July 13, 2025 at Clar-Mill Community Hall, Plevna
Directors Present:
Roy Huetl, Paul Asselin, Russ Brown, Leslie Hoyt, Vikram Joshi, Mary Ann Ward
Roy called the meeting to order at 10:00am.
Gerry Litchy, Mayor of North Frontenac
-the mayor spoke about declining the offer of Strong Mayor powers from the province
-EV chargers already installed in the township are a success and there are three more to come
-under the asset management plan there will be a 2% tax increase for road maintenance
-the township is receiving a grant for 50% of the cost of refurbishing the rink
-$20,000 was spent by each of North Frontenac and Addington Highlands townships to attract a new doctor to Northbrook and $15,000/year will be spent to keep them. A further $15,000 over three years is committed to bring MRI machines to Smiths Falls and Napanee.
-Ed Rohr asked which company is building the 3 new cell towers and was told it was Rogers.
-Anne Donaghy asked if Bell was bringing in fibre and the mayor said he had no information on this
-Valerie Ivak asked if it was true that residents were prohibited from speaking at council meetings and was told it was not true. It was explained that there were opportunities during public forum time and that there was a process to apply to speak at other times
-Anne Donaghy asked if fireworks were allowed during a fire ban and was told that was correct but that there had been no fire ban this Canada Day weekend
-Bruce Barrett asked if fireworks were permitted outside Canada Day and was told that yes they were
-a member asked about who and when the fire ban signs are updated and Roy explained that it is by volunteers who get to it as soon as they can
-this member also asked why the road quality is different between North Frontenac and Addington Highlands (Addington seeming to be superior) and the mayor explained that is why there will be a 2% tax increase dedicated to roads and Reeve Hogg added that Addington Highlands is part of a county wide road maintenance program and therefore have more money available
Henry Hogg, Reeve of Addington Highlands
-Bruce Barrett asked the Reeve if there was any chance Addington Highlands residents could use the Plevna dump. The Reeve said they looked at it ten years ago and it was too costly
-Jan Cox asked how many years were left for the Vennachar dump and the Reeve said he didn’t know but would find out
-Judy R mentioned that she hadn’t seen anything about donations being accepted at the Vennachar dump with proceeds going to diabetes and Jan Cox said she would post a list of what is accepted on the Buckshot Lake Facebook page.
-Judy also asked if she could vote in more than one municipal election and was told that you can vote in any municipal election where you own property
Roy Huetl, Chair of the Environmental Task Force for North Frontenac
Roy outlined the priorities of the task force:
The proposed Battery Energy Storage System
Net Metering - solar panels at the town offices
Invasive Species - specifically Eurasian Milfoil
Septic Inspection Program - starting slowly only when a place is sold
Short Term Rentals - council has decided to set up a system to monitor short term rentals
-Anne Donaghy asked if the mandatory septic inspection would apply when family members transferred property amongst themselves and Roy said it would not apply nor would it apply if the system was younger than ten years old or if you’d had an inspection within the last ten years
-a member asked if Roy knew where she could get a turtle cage and he said he did not; Ed Rohr suggested she go on the Cottage Life website
-David Swanson asked about the letter from the MVCA, he thought it sounded mandatory but Roy reiterated that it was voluntary
-Ed Rohr mentioned that the letter re: septic tank inspection mentioned that you could not have an inspection if you had just had your tank pumped
-Bruce Barrett asked if North Frontenac required a building permit for a roof replacement and Roy said he had never heard of that being a requirement
-Valerie Ivak asked if anyone else had noticed the tiny jelly fish in the lake or had swimmer’s itch at their property, some people had noticed both
-Jan Cox asked if Addington Highlands was considering a mandatory septic tank inspection and Roy said they were not part of the program
-Paul Asselin spoke about the BESS battery system and explained how safe it was and why
-Guy Lefebvre was concerned about oversight and accountability with the BESS and Roy said that there was still lots of consultation going on and in the end it may not even be approved. Paul suggested looking on engagefrontenac.ca for more information on the program.
Paul Asselin explained the BLA’s Year End Statement and Balance Sheet
Russ Brown gave the Lake Steward Report
-mentioned that Cliff Lebarron did the water quality monitoring 12-15 times throughout the year and the conclusion is that the water quality is good and stable
-Ed Rohr wondered what was being tested for when the lake water was tested as he is worried about fertilizer in the lake as he pulls his drinking water from the lake, he was told fertilizer is not included in the Ministry’s testing
Russ Brown also let everyone know that the Photo Contest is on again this year
Mary Ann Ward let everyone know that the Summer Social will be held again this year at her property on August 23rd, everyone on the lake is welcome, including visiting friends and non-members; please RSVP
Roy Huetl mentioned that there will be a voluntary Catch and Release program on the lake and that the board will put up a sign at the boat launch to that effect
-David Swanson asked if anyone knew when the next fish count would be done on the lake and no one knew
-Jan Cox asked if anyone knew about a dragonfly release program, no one did.
BLA Social
Last year's social event was a huge success. We had a great turnout and the weather cooperated. We have scheduled the event this year for August 23rd from 12pm to 3pm. Once again the BLA will host the BBQ free of charge. We have added a fun event for kids who want to participate in a cardboard boat race.
The social event will also be used as a membership drive. So if you have neighbours that are not members, please invite them to attend. Visiting guests of members are also welcome.
We would like to thank Mike and Mary Ann Ward for allowing us to use their property for the event once again. I look forward to good food and conversation. More information will be sent out closer to the date. We will be asking for RSVPs later in the year, so we can plan appropriately.
Photo Contest
Photo Contest
We are happy to announce that the Photo Contest will continue this year. This has been very popular with our members. It is always so nice to see all of the great photos each year. It's amazing that we have so many talented photographers on our lake.
Photos eligible for the contest can be taken from September 9, 2024 to September 7, 2025.
We would like to thank Russ Brown for coordinating the photo contest.
See more details below.
Catch and Release(Voluntary Program)
Please send in your pictures with size and proof of release.
We have some awesome prizes!
blak0h2m0@gmail.com
Your BLA Executive Members:
● Roy Huetl President
● Russ Brown Past President
● Paul Asselin Treasurer
● Leslie Hoyt Secretary
● Vikram Joshi Web Admin
● Mary Ann Ward Membership Director