[1:22] I'd like to order call to order the committee the whole meeting for August

[1:26] 10th, 2026 at 4:30 p.m. First order of business is disclosure of

[1:31] pecuniary interest and the general nature thereof.

[1:36] I see two hands go up. Councilor Stubbs, are you there?

[1:40] » I'm going to be declaring a conflict of interest uh

[1:45] » Okay. Councilor Shine, I expect the same?

[1:48] » Yes. Thank you, Mayor Ferguson. >> Okay. That's noted. Thank you.

[1:54] Any other disclosure of pecuniary interest or the general nature thereof

[1:58] can be declared now or any time during the meeting.

[2:02] We have no delegations for tonight. So, we'll get to Committee of the Whole

[2:06] reports, and first up is Administration and Employee Relations

[2:12] and we'll CAO report. We'll turn it over to CAO Young.

[2:17] » Thank you, Mayor Ferguson. So, included in your package today is the update for

[2:22] July and August. Unfortunately, I have limited staff here today, but uh myself

[2:27] or Brandy will do our best to answer any questions that you may have.

[2:32] » Any questions from anybody regarding the report?

[2:35] Yes, Councillor Lyons. >> Thank you, Mayor Ferguson. Um I do have

[2:39] a couple of questions about the report. Um maybe I'll start with the Mud Lake

[2:42] culvert. In there, you noted that um there's a delay in the the construction

[2:48] schedule. Do we have an anticipated start date for

[2:51] the contractor? >> Unofficially, unofficially, um

[2:55] we're hoping by the end of this month. >> Okay.

[2:57] » We've had some renewed communication, so it sounds like they are getting um

[3:00] organized. So, fingers crossed end of the month.

[3:02] » Okay, and you're not anticipating any impacts to timing for the construction

[3:07] window. It'll still be completed this year.

[3:08] » Okay. Um if I may,

[3:13] uh another question I had was regarding the GFL.

[3:18] Um the financial implications, so this

[3:20] might be a question for yourself and Treasurer

[3:23] Colson. So,

[3:26] looking at this, um

[3:29] we've received notice from GFL about an increase in the commercial

[3:34] institutional cost

[3:38] that the town is paying. Correct?

[3:41] » So, you're you're referencing uh the GFL recycle collection?

[3:45] » Yes. >> So, we're that's not in the update. If

[3:47] we could If we could wait till that. >> Absolutely. Absolutely. We can come back

[3:51] to that. >> Sure.

[3:51] » And then just another quick question regarding the outdoor rinks. Um I think

[3:56] that's great that they are getting some improvements. Um just what type of

[4:00] improvements will we see for the winter season or we anticipating seeing?

[4:03] » So there was some plumbing work in the Don Park shack that I think was a

[4:09] bit of a deterrent last It was one of the reasons possibly for the delay last

[4:13] year. That's all been done. There's been some

[4:15] interior work at Lone Pine as well as the rink itself.

[4:20] And then we are looking at see if we can sneak in painting the the shack before

[4:25] the the winter season as well. >> Okay. Thank you.

[4:27] » Painting the exterior as well. >> We're hoping to, yeah. Yeah.

[4:32] » Councillor Martin.

[4:45] » This is a good question. So from what I understand they still meet

[4:49] quite regularly. Linda represents the town and she tries

[4:53] to make it to those meetings. I think they've they've

[4:56] found what what we already know in a lot of projects. It's hard to get

[5:01] engaged professionals to to provide those

[5:05] services. So I think as far as the engineering goes I think that they've

[5:08] run into some challenges getting people to help them with the engineering or of

[5:13] the initial design. They are currently challenged or

[5:16] continue to do some fundraising

[5:20] and to find that. So it's moving along slowly.

[5:30] So the council had had directed staff to

[5:35] direct them towards Centennial Park. So Centennial Park is still the preferred

[5:38] location and again depending on what what they want to

[5:43] design there's room for expansion in in different areas like that. So I would

[5:47] assume that once they get to a point where they have some um

[5:50] engineer drawings or designs that they'll they'll we'll report back to

[5:54] council with that. >> Okay.

[5:56] I I just thought we're tearing up a couple of streets. Like, could some of

[6:01] that fill go to that location? Uh you know, like it's subgrade kind of

[6:05] material for those jump jumps and what have you, I would imagine.

[6:09] I'm not a dirt expert. Uh I have experience in manure.

[6:14] Works well. >> The problem is you wouldn't want to

[6:18] create a partially done project that might sit

[6:21] there for an extended period of time cuz you could create issues there as well.

[6:24] So, I think they'll probably wait till they have something firm and committed

[6:27] before they would actually move on it. >> [clears throat]

[6:32] » Councilor Shannon. >> Thank you, Mayor Ferguson. Um my

[6:34] question is in regards to the pool since um the RFP and things are moving a

[6:39] little bit slower, are you still planning to be open by the end of

[6:42] August? And if you aren't, what are you going to do about the patrons? Will they

[6:46] get an extra month somewhere fit in there if they paid ahead of time?

[6:51] » I don't I don't know how many people have paid

[6:55] ahead of time sort of thing. Um we we would look at that if if it came around.

[6:59] We are looking at early September for if all goes well to to be opened up again.

[7:03] If we can't get all of the repairs done um in that amount of time, then we will

[7:07] schedule them at a later date. >> Okay. Thank you.

[7:12] » Councilor Johnson. >> Thank you, Mayor Ferguson. Uh in lieu of

[7:16] uh Tyler's vacancy, but I

[7:20] respect why. Um

[7:23] is there an update on the street sweeper?

[7:26] » Um so, both the street sweeper and street sweeper and the sidewalk machine

[7:31] were both down. The sidewalk machine is up and running with the with the brush

[7:35] on there. They've been utilizing that in some of the bad areas.

[7:38] Uh the street sweeper itself is still under

[7:41] repairs. Uh and we do not have an estimated time

[7:44] when that will be finished. Yeah, it's unfortunate, but

[7:48] once they get in there right and they start looking a little deeper, there's

[7:50] there's a lot of work that needs to be done with it.

[7:52] » And my second question is, I see the track dozer is in for repairs. Would we

[7:58] be privy to the final cost of that them repairs?

[8:03] » Yeah, I don't have that information with me, but I mean certainly once they're

[8:05] done that's information that we could be we could find for you.

[8:08] » Thank you.

[8:15] » Thank you, Grayson. A lot going on, so

[8:20] good report and good questions. Thank you. So, we'll move on to the next

[8:24] [snorts] one is NWMO federal impact assessment update.

[8:30] » Okay, so as council members, that was a discussion shortly after the NOMA

[8:35] conference end of April, and staff was able to with the help of of

[8:41] some council to to get the request into the impact registry, and

[8:46] happy to happy to report that those submissions were

[8:49] I think successful in the sense that we are now

[8:53] specifically mentioned in the in the registry. I think that's a really

[8:57] important uh uh determination because and and

[9:00] almost immediately we found a change of of tone and discussion with NWMO and

[9:08] other people because of that now. So, I think it's very important that we are we

[9:12] are listed in that, and it'll be it'll help us moving forward.

[9:16] Yeah. >> Again, the

[9:18] talk discussions I've had with NWMO since has been much a lot more substance

[9:24] to it. And a lot more professional as opposed

[9:27] to just giving us an update on what's going on.

[9:30] They've been working with us on that, so >> Yeah, we're also trying to coordinate

[9:35] uh, a session hopefully at the end of September for them to come down and and

[9:40] give everyone a a presentation and an update and give you guys an opportunity

[9:43] to ask some questions. So, we're currently trying to schedule that for

[9:46] the end of September.

[9:50] » Can I get a mic closer?

[9:53] » Okay. Any other questions for Jason on that?

[9:57] Okay. Seeing none, we'll move on to

[10:01] finance, public works, GFL recycle collection.

[10:06] Jason. >> Yep. So, um, I understand uh, Counselor

[10:10] Lyons has a has a question too on that. So, uh,

[10:14] I'll take any questions and then be able to hopefully explain anything if we can.

[10:20] » Ryan or Counselor Stephenson. >> I'll let

[10:22] » Oh, okay. Go ahead, Counselor Lyons. >> Yes, my question regarding um, this was

[10:28] what sort of financial implications are uh, coming out of this recommendation?

[10:32] Specifically, um,

[10:35] I know that there was money budgeted for this year,

[10:39] but with the excess of recycling for commercial

[10:44] institutional, um,

[10:47] I guess the question is, what can we expect for this year? How

[10:51] how far have we exceeded that 11 tons? >> Yeah, it's it's tough to tell right now

[10:56] cuz we haven't done a full year. >> Mhm.

[10:58] » Um, and these are all uh,

[11:01] estimates, right? So, so we won't really know until until we go through a couple

[11:05] cycles for that. Uh, the nice thing is is that we are getting the annual rent

[11:09] um, for the depot itself. Uh, and and again, we

[11:13] we are hoping that that revenue will offset any sort of expenses

[11:17] um, after those 12 scheduled pickups, after that 11.097 tons of pickup, uh, we

[11:23] believe that there will be um, earned revenues that will be able to pay for

[11:26] those expenses honestly. And then uh, again, trying to figure out um,

[11:31] uh, possibly purchasing or or renting an extra couple bins so that we can keep

[11:35] the flow going. It's It's too It's too

[11:40] soon to really be able to tell. Um Having said that, I think it's a great

[11:44] opportunity to to bring forward that we need to lobby the provincial

[11:49] government that the IC&I, the industrial commercial portion, was was overlooked

[11:55] in this circular materials transfer and we're not the only municipality saying

[11:59] saying that. And and and I hope that the province will understand their oversight

[12:03] on that matter and that there'll be some changes coming for that.

[12:07] We're still committed to cuz we're seeing um

[12:11] the direct benefit of that being diverted from our landfill. So, you

[12:15] know, we we do There is a cost for us to go around and pick all that up. We

[12:19] believe that's money well spent in the sense that we are diverting that. It is

[12:23] probably being recycled with the hope that the province will

[12:27] understand their oversight and and be able to fund that to a certain degree.

[12:30] So, it it'll be hard for us to know until we've gone through a cycle or two,

[12:34] but we believe the revenue will offset any

[12:37] possible expenses. >> Is this something that could be raised

[12:39] through NOMA or AMO? >> Absolutely, yeah. I mean, I think this

[12:43] is a great a great delegation request moving forward or any opportunity that

[12:47] you have to lobby that. I think that I'm sure they're well aware because I

[12:52] think a lot of municipalities are having those same discussions and the larger

[12:56] the city probably even more so, but yeah, I agree. Yeah.

[13:00] » Yeah, I can just if I can just speak to that.

[13:03] I was really surprised I think it was AMO last year and I went to a

[13:08] session on this. And there's there's people that haul their garbage 500 km

[13:15] to to the landfill and then they're having

[13:17] to deal with all the indust- the ICI stuff, too. So,

[13:22] I I would really surprise me and at how much there was to haul and

[13:29] and how passionate a lot of the people were. So, we're getting a lot of There's

[13:33] a getting a lot of traffic on this and and I don't know if it was an oversight

[13:36] or it was a plan by the province, but they are getting pushed back on this.

[13:40] So, we're hopefully we can see some some movement on that because I think it is

[13:44] the right thing to do collect it. Uh even though it's for the towns are doing

[13:49] it, but uh just want to encourage all the all the

[13:53] residents in town if you can You can put as much as you want at your curb and

[13:58] they will pick it up every Monday. So,

[14:01] and I and I understand people that might miss the recycle truck and they're going

[14:05] out to the dump. So, they throw their recycle bags in our bins, which is

[14:10] a good thing to do, but uh if we could put it out at the road the

[14:14] residents could put it out at the road. That's that'd be a big savings for for

[14:18] the town and and stop the the amount that's going to

[14:21] » Yeah, it helps us We don't want to reach our 11.097

[14:26] times too quickly, right? So, if we can have if if if you're putting

[14:30] that curbside that doesn't go towards that, which is good for us. So, it

[14:33] stretches that out. Yeah. >> Councillor Johnson, sorry.

[14:37] » Mr. Mayor Ferguson, excuse me. Jason, do we realize any monies from the

[14:42] electronic collection cuz they they do have a value?

[14:48] » I will have to get that information for you. I'm not sure.

[14:51] » Okay. >> Yeah, I know with there used to be like

[14:53] stewardship for the rubber tires and and there is there is revenue associated

[14:57] with the white metals. The electric electronics there might be

[15:01] a small um

[15:03] revenue off that, but I don't know. Yeah, I'll look. I'll I'll get back to

[15:07] you guys on that.

[15:10] » Councillor Knowles. >> Yeah, thank you, Mayor Ferguson. I'm

[15:14] just I'm trying to wrap my head around this.

[15:17] Um we are certain that all of the recycling

[15:20] being put out is residential. Um I'm just I'm confused by the fact

[15:24] that we seem to have lower than average curbside collection,

[15:29] but that we would be worried that people would be bringing an average of almost 1

[15:33] ton of recycling out on the highway um to make up for that because they

[15:39] missed recycling day that happens every week. So, I'm just I'm trying to wrap my

[15:42] mind around the sheer amount of recyclables that it

[15:46] would take to make 1 ton average per month. It's

[15:50] up in excess. >> So, it it is based

[15:53] So, again, there's a lot of estimates happening.

[15:56] Um and then and then we try and do a a calculation on

[15:59] residents who do not have access to curbside pickup, and then that forms the

[16:04] basis for the the rental of the depot at the landfill. So, to to our benefit,

[16:09] um but we as you said, we do mix the IC&I

[16:13] into that, and that's why we're we're agreeable to pay the excess of

[16:18] that. Um the other the other option would be

[16:21] is is to either not collect the IC&I, um have it completely separate, and we

[16:27] would fund all that, which at the end of the day would mean that we would have to

[16:30] pass those costs along to those business owners, and the fear is then it's going

[16:34] to go into the into the landfill. So, uh not a perfect system by any means. It's

[16:38] new. There's a lot of estimates in there.

[16:41] Uh the icing for us is that again, we're not paying until we hit that um

[16:47] that tonnage. >> Yeah, I'm just curious how that would

[16:50] separate between the residential um and and the IC&I.

[16:54] » Yeah, so So, basically, what we've done is we've we're we're not separating.

[16:57] We're putting it all together, and then we'll we'll just pay anything extra

[17:00] above above that. Yeah. So, if if it doesn't reach that,

[17:04] that's great for us as well. >> Thank you. Appreciate that.

[17:09] » Just to Counselor Johnson's question, we we used to receive money for electronic

[17:15] um recycling years ago, but then with all the changes with Stewardship of

[17:19] Ontario and and the program changes, we haven't received it for a few years. It

[17:23] wasn't much anyway, so it it's not a significant impact, but how that program

[17:29] changed, I don't know with with all the changes with all the other

[17:33] stewardships.

[17:38] » Uh so, just just one thing I want to say

[17:42] because I I I don't know if I spurred this or Jason was working on it before,

[17:46] but I went to I went to the landfill with a

[17:49] truckload, bought a $20 token. There's somebody there with a

[17:54] Ranger truck full of old wood in the back of his truck.

[17:58] And he was giving me the gears a little bit about having to

[18:02] pay $20 to take this old wood out of in his little truck. And then another

[18:06] person had some old wood and some electronics.

[18:10] And he said he bought a ticket dub token. And he said, "Yeah, well, it cost

[18:14] money." He said, "I bought a token, too." So, the three of us

[18:18] carpool or not carpool, convoyed out there. The guy that just had the wood in

[18:23] the back of his truck, he was directed to the wood pile, dumped for free,

[18:27] didn't cost him anything because it's wood. Uh the other guy that had some old

[18:32] wood and some electronics, he dumped the wood in the wood pile, the electronics

[18:37] in the bin, and he didn't have to pay anything. So, I know it does sound like

[18:43] $20 for this and $20 for that, but if people that separate their material and

[18:48] they they work the dump the way it should be worked,

[18:52] they were both both came up to me and said, "You know,

[18:55] we're sorry about that. We didn't realize it was free, so

[18:59] uh yeah, garbage my my truck was garbage. I

[19:02] paid the $20, but uh yeah, if you recycle, throw your steel in, throw your

[19:08] wood in, your electronics in, you can take a lot of stuff to the dump and not

[19:12] have to pay anything. So, that's my little story on that, my

[19:17] one trip to the dump every year. Uh

[19:21] do we want to discuss options? Do we want to continue with GFL collection and

[19:25] processing of recyclable materials exceeding the annual allocation,

[19:30] disposal of recycled material in the landfill,

[19:34] or remove the current fee structure for commercial recycling services as part of

[19:38] future update of the waste management bylaw?

[19:42] Uh I would I would I would My

[19:45] recommendation was we continue with doing what we're doing.

[19:49] Unless anybody has any other comments. We want to encourage recycling. Uh go

[19:54] ahead, Councillor Lines. >> Uh thank you, Mayor Ferguson. I would

[19:56] agree with continuing with the GFL collection and processing status quo,

[20:01] um but maybe after a few cycles, see what the actual costs are associated

[20:06] with this process, and at that point, look and see if there's any sort of uh

[20:11] review. >> Yeah.

[20:12] » And maybe in that time, too, is the province will make some changes and they

[20:17] will start recouping some of that money as well.

[20:20] » Absolutely. >> We carry on?

[20:22] Okay. Great. Okay, next we'll move to fire and

[20:26] property. Fire dispatch agreement with Central

[20:30] Ambulance Communication Centre. Jason.

[20:34] » Okay. So, um yeah, as part of the the centralized um

[20:38] communication system for fire dispatch, that is done out of Kenora. Uh that is

[20:44] separate than the next gen 911 that is is being transitioned as well. Um this

[20:50] is a long-standing agreement with uh this organization.

[20:54] Um I don't I don't believe there are other options in a sense. This is this

[21:00] is the This is the company that does it for the region. Uh very well established

[21:04] with our fire department and and um regional fire departments as well. So,

[21:08] uh unfortunately, Chief Orban's not here today to answer any specifics. I don't

[21:12] have I don't have any financials for you

[21:17] other than I don't believe that there's any change in

[21:19] the the cost of that, but we could get that for you as well.

[21:24] » Any questions on that? Yes, Councillor Johnson.

[21:27] » Thank you, Mayor Buergler. Brandy, you you wouldn't have a

[21:31] guestimate of what this costs?

[21:35] » Not offhand, but it isn't very much. It's it's not significant.

[21:39] » Not that I don't understand where Jason's coming from. I

[21:43] just thought Brandy would know.

[21:48] » Any other questions on that? Uh hearing no questions, the

[21:53] recommendation is to continue continue on with CCAC for a 5-year term based on

[21:58] the agreement attached.

[22:01] Is that the consensus of council? Okay, see heads nodding. Most heads

[22:07] nodding. Okay, great. And I think we will have a

[22:12] resolution for that. Bylaw.

[22:18] Okay, next we'll go to other business. Uh Ad Hoc Bass Classic requests wave

[22:24] fees report to council. Jason and the people that have declared

[22:32] a conflict.

[22:35] Just to note that Councillor Johnson has also declared conflict on this.

[22:41] Yes.

[22:43] Or or you're just leaving. >> [laughter]

[22:48] » Okay, that is always the best way. Thank you, Councillor.

[22:57] Okay, Jason. >> Okay,

[22:59] so Uh, we are as of Monday into full swing of Bass Classic Week, the 40th

[23:04] anniversary. Uh, I know events were already starting to take place uh, this

[23:07] morning. Um, as always, there is a request to the town for certain uh,

[23:12] in-kind um, uh,

[23:17] different things that they need from from the town. Uh,

[23:20] not a whole lot of change from the previous year. Um,

[23:24] one important note is that the the town's event tent is not needed this

[23:28] year. Which is which is good in the sense that

[23:32] we don't have to set it up. I think they're they're moving the artisans and

[23:35] and such um, under the big top. So, uh, so that's

[23:39] good for us. I know that we're already delivering porta-potties and um,

[23:44] and uh, yeah, that's about it. So, I think at the end of the day the and and

[23:48] if um, you'll recall uh, administration was was asked to

[23:53] bring forth a uh, a report showing the uh,

[23:58] in-kind costs, actual costs, foregone revenue. Um, that was presented to

[24:03] council. I believe it was June of this year, early June of this year, early

[24:06] June. Um, so everyone's well aware of that there is a there is a cost

[24:10] associated with this um, but um, council is of the mindset that that's

[24:15] um, um, appropriate for for the event. Uh, so the only matter really kind of

[24:20] outstanding today uh, because it is in the fees bylaw is if I or um, the

[24:26] committee's request to forego the rental charges for the porta-potties um, for

[24:32] the event. And and there are I think a couple porta-potties out at the landing

[24:36] and then the remainder of them uh, over uh, by the by the big tent.

[24:41] So, uh, that's in a nutshell, that's kind of what what the the request does.

[24:46] Um, right, today the the the options are are

[24:50] to uh, approve the town's operational support

[24:53] at the same levels provided in 2025. Um, determine whether to waive the port

[24:58] potty washroom rental fees or if there's a

[25:03] any sort of change or anything different that that council would be looking at.

[25:06] That's what we're asking for today.

[25:10] » Councilor Councilor Knowles

[25:14] » Thank you, Mayor Ferguson. I got no problem with uh

[25:18] continuing on the same as 2025 and waving the fees, um

[25:23] but maybe a request that they submit this a little bit

[25:26] earlier than, you know, the day it starts

[25:29] for next year. >> And and that's that's that's on me, not

[25:32] them. So, we they were they were pretty good. Um

[25:34] they've they've had good com- communication with us. Uh just with the

[25:37] way the summer schedule fell out, we just missed the uh the other meetings,

[25:41] so we we had to tack it on to knowing that it was the week after.

[25:44] » More of it's ever an issue moving forward with a future council that they

[25:48] would have an opportunity to be able to deal with anything that may come up. But

[25:51] I have no issues with it. >> Yeah, it's granted. Granted. Appreciate

[25:54] that. >> Councilor Lines

[25:57] » I concur with Councilor Knowles. I fully support waving of the fees and um

[26:02] continuing with the level of service that we provide in 2025. Um just noting

[26:07] that we waived those fees because of the nonprofit status.

[26:12] » Uh >> Uh

[26:13] » I don't know about that. >> Okay.

[26:15] » [laughter] >> They they state in the request that they

[26:18] have nonprofit status. We we don't we've never asked for proof of that. Uh

[26:22] and and quite honestly, I'm I'm not I'm not sure of of that. I mean I mean

[26:27] that's certainly at council's request, we can ask for that moving forward.

[26:31] » think we would be asking specifically for it, but just that it's been past

[26:34] practice that um >> It's been stated, but never

[26:38] » applied. >> Or or asked to be proven. I mean, yeah.

[26:41] Yeah. >> Thank you.

[26:42] » it's an opportunity for the town to support the Bass Classic without putting

[26:47] out taxpayers' money, right? >> Absolutely.

[26:49] » By just not collecting those. Cuz if they weren't using those

[26:53] porta potties, they'd be sitting in the public works garage. So, it's no real

[26:57] loss of revenue. It's just

[27:01] » But, the caveat >> It's the kind work, yeah.

[27:02] » Yeah, the the foregone revenue, not so much. Um, there there is absolutely a

[27:06] cost of of the work that we provide, right? That that's not free. But, you're

[27:10] right. I mean, whether the the porta potties, if they were just sitting in in

[27:13] the public works yard, you know, it'd be foregone revenue in that sense. But, um,

[27:17] the other stuff is there's obviously a cost in that.

[27:20] » Yeah. Councillor Martin.

[27:22] » Yeah. >> Last word.

[27:23] » [clears throat] >> Me three on the on the no cost. Uh,

[27:27] the um, I I do have a question. Do they have to provide proof of insurance for

[27:32] this event? >> Oh, absolutely. Yes. So, they have they

[27:35] have to get a a permit for the the erection of the

[27:38] tent. Uh, and then I believe that they provide all that through that process.

[27:42] » Okay. Cool. Thanks. >> Okay.

[27:44] » Great cause. >> We'll go ahead with the current level of

[27:47] support? >> Perfect. Thank you.

[27:50] Mike, do you want to grab those guys? I'll just kidding.

[27:53] » [laughter]

[28:24] » I So, just an update. We had you had seen the the memo was in the in the

[28:28] agenda package. Uh, council has agreed to move forward with a level of service

[28:31] provided in 2025 and to waive any fees pertaining to the rental of porta

[28:37] potties.

[28:40] » Okay. Since we have no in camera topics, we will adjourn the meeting. Five-minute

[28:45] break. We'll adjourn the meeting at 4:56 and

[28:50] we'll resume at 5:02.

Committee-of-the-Whole - 10 Aug 2026

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