[0:14] Good evening, Councillor staff, residents of line river in the press. It's Monday, August 10, 20, 26, and I call the council meeting to order.

[0:23] We begin to make a meeting with the acknowledgement that the land on which we are gathered is in the traditional territories of the National Bank, specifically Mississauga.

[0:32] We would also like to acknowledge the North-Channel Mity Council. We say in the glitch to thank indigenous peoples for taking care of this land from time immorial.

[0:41] We are called to treat the sacred land, its plants, animals, stories, and its peoples with

[0:48] honor and respect. We commit to the share of gold, of truth, and reconciliation. Prior

[0:54] to beginning this evening's agenda, I would ask that each Councillor answered the roll

[0:58] call when I call your name. Deputy Mayor Paul Summers, Councillor Bedean Denbar,

[1:09] Councillor

[1:09] Jennifer Postero, Sends Regrets, Councilor Dan Mito.

[1:13] Present.

[1:13] Councilor Katie Whitmock, Present.

[1:16] Thank you.

[1:18] So this is the year of the Blind Member Public Library,

[1:21] 100th Anniversary, and it's flying by.

[1:24] In July, the Library staff welcomed more than 1,500 people.

[1:28] The Centennial Committee is pleased to be hosting another author,

[1:32] Meet and Create event on Saturday, August 22nd at 2.30 p.m.

[1:37] Jordan Buchanan will join Adam and Ruth Alloway to discuss their books in their writing histories.

[1:45] Buchanan is a retired detective staff sergeant who has extensive experience in policing

[1:50] wishing forms of his writing. And Aladdin published after the midwin box one of the seventh

[1:57] fire trilogy which won the Fiction category in the 2017 free publishing contest. Ruth Alloway

[2:04] on to many of us has enjoyed writing and sharing your thoughts for many years.

[2:09] Thank you to the job brothers, Eve Rock and Friends, Patty Demop, Wally Demop, Debbie

[2:14] Riverard and Kvinrichi, Cactus Flower, Jen Kelly, Sherry Lewis, and Tara Bennett.

[2:21] Go to Pallister and the Reddons for concerts by the lake.

[2:25] These concerts benefited the well and all of us who were lucky enough to hear the amazing

[2:30] artists.

[2:30] We hope you will reach our next summer for the concerts by the lake.

[2:34] And our evening markets of the marina have been very successful for both the vendors and the buyers.

[2:40] The summer art show and sale at the gallery is full of beautiful paintings in craft.

[2:45] And the Wave Cafe has unique merchandise that you won't find anywhere else.

[2:50] The market days will continue on August 21st and September 4th.

[2:54] Last month I attended the opening of the Ben Boquette Treatment Center.

[2:58] It was an incredible opening of a remarkable building housed on the shore of Lake Huron.

[3:04] Congratulations to everyone who made this great center possible.

[3:09] The Red Apple will be holding a ribbon cutting ceremony this Friday, August 14th at 9 a.m.

[3:16] in recognition for their newly renovated store.

[3:19] There are many reasons for customers to come out including a free,

[3:23] a red Apple shopping card and laundry basket for the first 100 customers.

[3:29] A free red Apple shopping bag will quantities last.

[3:32] And for you to win a thousand dollar red Apple shopping spree,

[3:36] two-day flyer details are going to be available on this 14th.

[3:40] There's also a 25% off coupon for every customer valid on a future purchase.

[3:46] And we remind that you are viewers that tonight's agenda reports in recordings of the

[3:51] old meetings are on the town's website under meetings.

[3:54] Now, turning to tonight's agenda with the acknowledgement the Councillor Postero is

[3:59] here,

[4:04] and which brings us Councillor Postero to conflict of interest.

[4:08] You have stated a conflict, can you explain a please?

[4:19] Thank you and I doubt that you leave the room when this comes up.

[4:25] Moving on to number five, the adoption of the previous minutes.

[4:28] Could I have a mover and a seconder please?

[4:35] Move by Councillor Jim Dunbar, seconded by Councillor Mido.

[4:41] Sorry, lost my screen.

[4:42] There is all of the Council approved the minutes of the July 20, 20, 20, 26 meeting as presented and recall for a vote.

[5:05] And the vote is carried.

[5:06] There are no public presentations tonight.

[5:09] So we'll move into the introduction and consideration of the administrative reports.

[5:14] From administration, really ongoing projects update.

[5:17] Are there any questions from Ms. Scott?

[5:21] Councillor Jim Dunbar?

[5:22] Thanks, man. I just had one and it was from the last meeting. I have it highlighted here. I'm just going through it here so I can bring it

[5:37] up open.

[5:54] So many yellow markings as we all know.

[6:03] Did we have any information?

[6:06] And I might have missed it, Katie, for the, I won't, I won't, I won't my screen move for the

[6:17] tenders on the well rehabilitation.

[6:22] So there would be something that that mentioned that the last, last, last needy.

[6:28] But here's, is there any information on that?

[6:31] Through your management to you, Councillor Dunbar, we did receive one tender.

[6:37] There was no other vendors available for the work.

[6:41] The amount was $85,000 for the well-work.

[6:45] We are working with, so before we award the work, we've awarded the tender.

[6:51] It meets the qualifications.

[6:53] But before we set the date for the work, we're waiting to bring the water levels

[6:57] the tank up so that when we take the well offline, we're able to keep up with the demand.

[7:30] Moved by Councillor Biddy and then by our second did by Councillor Mido. The result of that council received

[7:35] the report titled, I was told, hazardous waste day 2026, and that council direct staff to include

[7:42] funding in the 2027 budget for an annual household hazardous waste day beginning in 2027, subject

[7:50] to annual budget approval, and that council direct staff to negotiate a revised cost sharing model with

[7:56] participating neighboring municipalities, and this is August 1st Nation, based on an equal

[8:01] distribution contribution story from each participating community towards the total cost

[8:07] of the program.

[8:09] And that staff report back to Council on the proposed cost sharing agreement, estimated annual

[8:14] program costs, and options to increase collection capacity, including the addition of a second

[8:20] transport trailer as part of the 2020 7 budget deliberations. Any comments or concerns from council?

[8:28] Councillor Whitlock?

[8:30] Thank you, my Higwin. I'm just in reading the report. It's nice to see that there was such a

[8:33] turnout, a very big turnout apparently. And I'm just wondering because it was so popular, is there

[8:39] the possibility of doing another hazardous waste day, but with a fee associated? I understand

[8:44] that it's not on the budget to do it for free for citizens, but people may be willing to pay

[8:49] to get things from, remove from their homes.

[8:54] Through your management to your council.

[8:55] So, Whitlock, thank you for the question.

[8:58] We have looked at other options in the past.

[9:01] There is a reduction that the municipality does receive back.

[9:05] So, once all of the waste goes to the facility,

[9:07] they will do counts.

[9:08] And then we will receive the offsetting funds from those.

[9:12] What we're trying to do is detour it from going to the landfill.

[9:16] And our fear was in the past that if we did charge for, let's say,

[9:21] paint cans rather than bringing them to the household hazardous waste day,

[9:26] they would take them in a garbage bag to the landfill for free.

[9:29] So we're trying to find ways that we can ensure the longevity of our landfill,

[9:34] as we know that that is such a huge cost to the municipality.

[9:38] And we want to ensure that we're showing the minister of environment,

[9:42] all of the things that we are doing to be proactive to enhance the life cycle of our landfill.

[9:49] We can certainly look at that, but it may be something that would be a deterrent from people bringing the waste if we're charging them a few.

[9:58] Councillor Posteria?

[10:11] Thank you, Mayor.

[10:12] the House of Justice State. I'm just wondering if there's no way to create a deterrent

[10:21] what we need to implement some kind of checking residents' status act, the land fill, to

[10:29] ensure that the burden isn't being put on our tax base for people that don't want to be put

[10:34] on the river.

[10:37] So, through your management to you, Councillor Pussard, are you referring to the landfill of the household hazardous waste stay?

[10:44] It's very as simple, but we're on this, so the household hazardous waste, because I noticed that in the report it was talking about like quite a substantial jump for non-residents going from their contribution to like a $5,000 kind of fee, so that's a substantial jump.

[11:00] So if there was a municipality that wasn't willing,

[11:03] would there be an alternative way of re-couping those fees

[11:07] from non-residents, if they wished to participate,

[11:11] but their municipality wasn't willing to pitch

[11:14] in the amount that we're requesting.

[11:17] Thank you for the clarification with the question.

[11:20] That is something that we could look at for sure.

[11:24] I still believe that even that substantial increase

[11:27] to those municipalities, it's still a huge benefit

[11:30] for the work that the town of Linerver would be doing for those residents, rather than putting

[11:35] that burden that we currently have back to our ratepayers, when we know our neighbors are

[11:40] echoing that so talks rate is much less, but yet we're offering them these subsidized services.

[11:47] So bringing them more into the realm and taking that pressure and that burden off of the residents

[11:51] of Linerver, I think we go a long way for that event. We do check resident cards at the

[11:59] they pull up to help solve hazardous waste day and we do track that, so we do have a tracking

[12:04] of who's bringing what and we do definitely have a large seasonal resident that does

[12:11] come, which is good to bring their materials from their cottages. We certainly want to promote

[12:18] that, but we ask we do check ideas when they come up. Councillor Jim Dunbar?

[12:23] Thank you very much.

[12:26] I'd be curious if we have implemented a check on who's doing who, and we have these

[12:37] neighbouring, the referred to as neighbouring municipalities and MFN, who are the other neighbouring

[12:45] municipalities that we may be talking about here.

[12:47] So, the neighboring municipalities is North Shore and here on Chores, and then Mississauga First Nation, and it depends on the year, the previous year that we had done it, we had a bigger show up of residents from Mississauga First Nation this year.

[13:04] We did not, so it would just depend on the year and what people have available to come.

[13:10] So, according to your report, I believe there was some disappointed people, maybe our

[13:20] ratepayers who were some of them, you know, saving up for two years and then not being

[13:27] able to expel their hazardous waste.

[13:32] So I'm glad that you brought this forward as you have written it here to look at about getting

[13:40] fair share between the municipalities and did you say you mentioned that there may be two trucks

[13:47] the next time? So, through you, Merregman, see you, Councilor Dunbar. That's correct. That would

[13:52] be something we would look at. Look at bringing a larger unit so that we can fill them up more.

[14:00] I was very happy to hear that we had so much material collected. Unfortunately, we had to close earlier

[14:07] than expected, but if we can accumulate that much waste out of the landfill, that's a win

[14:13] for the town of Winnerver.

[14:16] Well, I look forward to hearing how we make out with the other municipalities.

[14:25] At this time, I would ask Council to vote.

[14:58] And the vote is carried.

[15:00] From our director of facilities and community services, read the fishing, television, shoot, blind river, fall, area, and could I have a mover and a seconder on the motion please.

[15:21] And this is moved by Deputy Mayor Samarro's seconded by Councillor Jim Dunbar, whereas the ten of line river prize itself on being an ideal location to stay play and live, and that blind river is committed to ensuring economic prosperity through regional, national and international.

[15:37] on marketing tactics. Therefore, we resolve the Council authorised administration to proceed

[15:43] with booking the new fly fishing fissure and that the blind river development corporation

[15:49] be invoiced for the balance required after fundraising. And I'd ask if Ms. Bittner

[15:55] could come forward and give us an epitome of an overview on this.

[15:59] Sure, thank you. I mean, thanks, Council. This is very exciting. So, it's proof that when we adopt

[16:04] strategies that are put in place from the province, and in the following, he toolkit that

[16:10] does Canada and Ontario have in place. Good things will follow. So due to the wonderful

[16:16] trick that we had to economic development dragons, then implementation of the municipal accommodation

[16:21] tax, as well as making sure we're participating in both provincial and economic wide tourism

[16:28] projects that are put in, we'll be able to notice. So we reached out to and invited to participate

[16:33] in this moment. And I was happy that it meant the time I brought me that I couldn't bring

[16:39] it to Council. Oh, this is so beautiful to be this forward. And what I'd like to share with the group

[16:46] as well as there is listening tonight is the focus of this episode is going to be on the importance

[16:51] of shoulder seasons in tourism. There's more Ontario, especially Northern Ontario and July and

[16:57] August. August all the way through to November, very lucrative seasons for people to come to

[17:03] fish to play to enjoy festivals, food, you need it.

[17:07] So, it's going to be sharing that market.

[17:09] Also, in a very sensitive way,

[17:11] going to be highlighting that northern Ontario is still open

[17:15] for business despite the forest fire tragedies that are happening around us.

[17:19] So, there's going to be a very sensitive theme where we talk about what has happened

[17:22] to a forest, but also that there are spaces that are still open.

[17:27] We want to encourage that economic activity in the corridor, as well as through the

[17:31] where folks are not automatically canceling the reservations.

[17:35] By way of a false assumption that all of more than Ontario has experienced this tragedy.

[17:40] So by highlighting up on rivers open for business and to see and then people continue to explore.

[17:46] The key message will be please reach out to your out-fair before automatically canceling your reservation.

[17:52] These are businesses ran by families that are relying on your revenues to stay afloat.

[17:57] So please have this ongoing communication with them.

[18:00] it's going to be very exciting. There's a lot of cool activities that are happening in the

[18:04] municipality that conveniently overlap with when the host and crew will be here. So I am very excited.

[18:11] My no council will be too to show our lovely community during the end of September or October.

[18:18] Thank you very much for that. I just can't say I have any questions from Mr. Dittner on this wonderful

[18:23] opportunity.

[18:26] Hi, Councillor Whitlock. Thank you, Mayor Higwin. More just a comment. I was just reading

[18:29] section that says that we will have access to every digital asset that's created and I think

[18:34] that's great for marketing, tourism, and all of your social media work that is already great,

[18:39] but it will definitely enhance that. So that's definitely a plus.

[18:45] Very exciting news and more to come. At this time I would ask Council to vote

[18:57] and vote is carriage.

[18:59] Thank you. There is no updates for the service delivery status and no presentations of the

[19:06] committee of the whole report because it is summer and there is no unfinished business.

[19:11] We move on to correspondence requiring action.

[19:15] Item number 11 on our agenda.

[19:18] The first one is from Hampson.

[19:19] Read the Water Financial Plan.

[19:21] And I'd ask for a move for in a second or please.

[19:30] And this is moved by Councillor Biddy and in the seconded by Councillor Postero.

[19:35] Be it resolved that council except the Water Financial Plan as presented by Hampson.

[19:41] Any questions on the report or information?

[19:45] Councillor Jim Denby?

[19:47] Thanks for argument.

[19:50] Quite the report.

[19:51] Probably took most of my day reading through this all.

[19:56] And I'm happy to see that one spot there, which says, this is a living document,

[20:03] and it's expected to be reviewed again.

[20:07] I'm hoping that that will exist in the future to really look at this, to judge, I mean, we're

[20:20] talking about a, I believe, a 7.5% increase in waters over the next 10 years and I'm glad

[20:33] that we have the opportunity to see if we'll need that next year or the year after.

[20:41] Something else though, maybe for Ms. Dent, I'm curious as to the vacant wats in town.

[20:50] We have established a by-law or a policy that people are paying for their water and sewer

[20:56] that is running past their houses.

[21:00] I'm curious to what is their minimum payment that these people would be paying?

[21:10] Team Mayor Heggling to Councilor Dunbar, so the vacant lot fee is the equivalent to the basic fee that every other resident pays for water and sewer.

[21:22] Do you have a number?

[21:24] Two seconds, yes.

[21:27] for something else, so let me just get to the right page.

[21:46] Sorry, I want to page up here, so the buzzer don't show,

[21:51] is 4877 per month.

[21:54] And then if it also has wastewater, it's 52% of that rate.

[22:01] If it's, if they also are a little bit severe in the wastewater.

[22:05] And one last question, if I may.

[22:07] It says here as December 31st, 2025, the town had a outstanding, relieved debt, a certain

[22:18] amount.

[22:19] I'm curious of that 1.5 million, is that just,

[22:27] that's not residential people not paid.

[22:32] We don't believe that that is sort of so painful that the white treatment plant is still a blow for that after all the capital stuff.

[22:40] And there's what are the components in this world of components for the word I have project as well.

[22:45] Thank you. Councillor Plastrainer.

[22:49] And this report only emphasizes the importance of proper asset management planning, so we need to ensure that we are being consistent with lobbying for funding from all levels of performance and offer fair and equitable taxation, because if we don't put money towards these assets, and the bill is only going to be bigger down the road.

[23:14] So, it is important that we do ensure that we are putting a fair touch rate to protect our assets,

[23:22] because if we don't, then it could be catastrophic, as we can see with the water scarcity,

[23:28] right, then come on in and stuff that we need to protect and ensure that we're planning properly.

[23:35] At this time, I would ask Council to vote on the motion.

[23:48] And the motion is carried. Thank you.

[23:51] 11.2 from Mr. Horick Horick, where you trap Newson's beaver.

[23:57] We have a motion on the floor, and move her in a second, please.

[24:06] This is moved by Councillor Whitlock, seconded by Councillor Jim Dunbar, be a result of

[24:11] that Council authorised Robin Horwath to trap beavers for 2026 to 2027, season from the

[24:17] millcon to where the canal meets the Mississaugie River.

[24:21] There are any questions on this motion?

[24:24] Seeing none, I will ask Council to vote

[24:36] and the vote is carried.

[24:38] Thank you.

[24:39] Moving on to number 12 correspondence for information purposes from Tullick, Martin Street,

[24:44] rail crossing phase of the new water intake project pre-construction.

[24:50] The ASAP board meeting minutes from May 7th.

[24:55] Any association of Ontario Road Supervisors Reconer Street, Coner St. Michael Association

[25:01] RS.

[25:03] No notices of motion under introduction and consideration of bylaws.

[25:09] We have bylaw 26-54 to amend the garbage bylaw and waiting for motion to be put forward.

[25:27] This is moved by Deputy Mayor Somer, seconded by Councillor Betty and Dunbar.

[25:31] Be it resolved that council authorized the mayor and CAO clerk design bylaw 26-54 being a bylaw

[25:37] of the Corporation of the Town of Blind River to amend by 23-54 to regulate and provide for

[25:44] storage handling collection and disposal of waste and recyclable materials within the

[25:49] municipality of Blind River was passed in open council this 10th day of August 26. Any questions

[25:56] or concerns? Comments? Seeing none, I would ask council the vote

[26:07] and the vote is carried.

[26:10] by lower 26-55, the meaning by lower 21-67 school signage, and it is noted that Councillor

[26:18] Posterio has left the room.

[26:20] Could I have a mover in a second, please?

[26:36] Sorry.

[26:37] My screen keeps jumping to the top every time.

[26:40] Oh, something.

[26:41] Yours too?

[26:42] Okay, good.

[26:43] I thought that would go on.

[26:45] All right.

[26:45] Well, this is moved by Councillor Jim Dunbarian, seconded by Deputy Mayor Summers, be a result

[26:50] Council authorised the mayor and CAO clerk to sign by the 26-55 being a by-law of the Corporation

[26:57] of the Town of Blind River to a man traffic by the 21-67 was passed in open council this

[27:03] 10th day of August 2026. Any questions, comments, concerns? Seeing none, I would ask Council

[27:12] to vote

[27:23] and the vote is carry and

[27:28] is noted that Councillor Postero has rejoined the meeting.

[27:31] There are no council reports or announcements, no addendums, and no closed session, so no

[27:39] report on the closed session.

[27:41] So we're moving on to the confirming by law, could I have a move right in a second

[27:44] or please?

[27:59] And this is moved by Councilor Mido, seconded by Councilor Bedi and Dunbar, be it resolved

[28:03] Council authorised the mayor of CAO clerk to sign by the 26-XX.

[28:12] 56.

[28:14] Being a by-law of the corporation of the Tana-Broning Bureau to adopt the minutes of the

[28:18] meeting of August 10th, 2026 was passed in open council this 10th day of August 26.

[28:25] And I would ask Council to vote.

[28:35] The vote is carried.

[28:36] Last but not least, the motion for adjournment.

[28:39] Should I have a move right in a second, please?

[28:49] And this is moved by Councillor Whitlock.

[28:51] Seconded by Councillor Jim Dunbar,

[28:53] a bit resolved at Council adjourn at 6.28 PM,

[28:57] and I would ask Councillor DeVote.

[29:14] And the vote is carried.

[29:15] Thanks, Eric.

Council Meeting

Transcript