It is 6 pm.
Okay. Um just it's 6 p.m. and we will
begin this committee of the whole on
Monday, December the 1st. And we will
start with our land acknowledgement with
gratitude. The township of Leeds in the
Thousand Islands acknowledges that these
lands and waters are traditional
territory of the Algangquin, Missaga's
Mohawk, and Heron Wendad. To recognize
the role that the township must play in
truth and reconciliation, we also
acknowledge the displacement of these
peoples. Additionally, the township
would like to respectfully acknowledge
the First Nations, Inuit, and Matei
people who also call this place home. We
make this land acknowledgement to honor
the indigenous ancestors who have
stewarded these lands and waters since
time in memorial.
On to number three of our agenda, which
is the adoption of the agenda. Motion
comes forward from councelor lackey,
seconded by councelor Kelman that the
agenda be adopted as circulated. Any
comments or questions in regards to the
agenda? Seeing none, I'll call the
question. All those in favor? All those
opposed? And it is carried.
Next item is declaration of punary
interest or general nature thereof. Does
anybody have an interest to declare?
I have no hands up.
So, number five is close session and we
have none this evening.
Uh we'll move on to delegations and this
evening we have Martha and Jack Harvey
who are here to uh present and discuss
pickle ball in Jonah Street Park and
Kendrick's Park. So, if you could please
come forward.
Okay. Um
um hello um madame mayor, counselors,
and um township staff. I'm Martha
Harvey. I'm from Llinter, and I am here
to speak about two object objectives
that I have um uh and I'm to talk to you
about with regard to pickle ball. Um,
first pickle ball lines should be
painted on Jonah Street Park basketball
court in Llinters this spring. And
number two, option two from the
recreation report should be chosen with
regard to the Kendrick's Park upgrade.
[clears throat] The outline of my talk
is I'm going to tell you about the sport
of pickle ball. I'm going to tell you
why pickle ball line should be painted
on the basketball court at Jonas Street
Park in Linturst. Then I'll discuss the
noise concern regarding the sport. Then
I'll discuss the importance of moving
forward in a timely manner with option
two from the recreation report for
Kendrick's Park upgrade. Pickle ball.
It's a popular sport throughout North
America. It's relatively easy on the
body. It's easy to learn how to play. It
provides good physical workout. All ages
can play, young children to older
adults, and it's a social game, both
while playing and after playing when the
players often gather to socialize.
Now, why pickle ball line should be on
the Jonas Street Park basketball court?
For all of the previously mentioned
reasons, it would be positive to have
pickle ball in Lindter.
In if the Jonas Street Park basketball
court doubled as a pickle ball court,
the residents of Linest could walk to
the park and play the game. This is both
convenient and more environmentally
friendly than driving to a court. The
equipment, the paddles, the balls, and a
portable net can be borrowed from the
Liners Library, and therefore the game
is free to the community.
Pickle ball is an inexpensive activity
for the township to put in place on the
Jonas Street Park basketball court. The
court is 40 ft x 60 ft. The concrete pad
just needs pickle ball lines to be
painted on the court, but in a different
color than the basketball lines. The
pickle ball lines could be painted this
spring. And it's a very quick way to
positively enhance the community of
Linterest.
Lansdown and Celles Bay have pickle ball
courts and having access to a court in
Linterest makes the activity available
in more communities within the township.
Now the noise concern noise is made when
a pickle ball hits a paddle and some
people are concerned about this noise.
But before I tell you how the noise
concern can be addressed, I would like
to relate two hypothetical scenarios
that will help to make the points that I
have regarding the noise more
meaningful.
Now, I will relate to these scenarios um
regarding myself, but they could easily
apply to any member of the Llinters
community. So, pretend that that the
pickle ball lines have been painted on
the basketball court in Jonah Street
Park. It's a Sunday afternoon and I say
to my husband, "Let's have a game of
pickle ball." He agrees. Then I say,
"Oh, no, can't. It's Sunday. The library
is closed. We can't get the net. We'll
have to wait until tomorrow when we can
borrow the net." And unless someone else
has previously borrowed the net, no
pickle ball will be played that day.
There will be, [clears throat] excuse
me, no noise on the pickle ball court.
Monday afternoon comes along, my husband
and I, we walk up to the library, we
borrow the pickle ball net.
We walk across the road from the library
to Jonas Street Park and we put the net
together.
It takes 10, maybe 15 minutes if you
haven't done it before.
We begin our game. We have a few good
rallies. We also miss the ball a lot and
we have to chase it. We laugh. We praise
each other for our good shots that we
make. And then we lament our missed
shots. After about an hour, we call it
quits. We decide not to keep the net for
the week that we're allowed and we
return it to the library. We go for an
ice cream cone at the post and we had
fun. And unless someone else borrows the
net, no one else will be playing pickle
ball on that court. There will be no
noise.
Hypothetical scenario number two. My
adult children are coming home for the
weekend. I want to think of some fun
activities for us to do when they come.
I think pickle ball. I go to the library
on Friday. I borrow the net. I will keep
it for several days. And while I have
that net, no one else is playing pickle
ball on that court. There's no noise. My
kids walk through the court on Saturday.
They set up the net. They play the game
for about an hour. They have a good time
and they bring the net back to my house.
There will be no noise on the pickle
ball court until I return the net and
someone else decides to borrow it. Now,
these scenarios are not exclusive to my
family. the similar scenarios would be
apply to other households in Linterest.
So now I'll tell you the reasons um how
noise can be addressed. Lurst is a small
community. Realistically, pickle ball
would not be played nonstop,
especially when effort is required to
set up and take down the portable net
and the library is not open daily for
the portable net to be borrowed.
There's only one court. So any noise
created is much much much much I could
say that six times less than would be
the case where there are numerous pickle
ball courts in one space with each court
having a permanent net. That's where
people come. You want to play pickle
ball. The net's there, the court's
there. You just walk on. You play the
game and there's lots of courts. There's
noise. Not here.
A schedule could be posted to identify
hours when the game could be played.
There would likely be a healthy amount
of laughter and ball chasing mixed in
with the ball hitting, i.e. ball hitting
would not be a constant in the game.
Jonas Street Park is a playground and
some playground noise is to be expected.
Now, I'm going to deviate from Jonas
Street Park for a moment, but still on
the pickle ball theme and in the Llinter
area, um, and talk about Kendrick's Park
and pickle ball. In addition to having
pickle ball court in Jonas Street Park,
it would be wonderful to have a
dedicated pickle ball court in
Kendrick's Park, i.e. where the net is
always in place. The Jonas Street Park
court would service those who cannot
travel to to Kendrick's Park. The
dedicated pickle ball courts in
Kendrick's Park would benefit those who
are in lintest area but who do not want
to or who are unable to um put up and
take down the portable net.
Option two in the recreation report here
allows for two pickle ball courts to be
built in Kendrick's Park. Option one
does not mention building any pickle
ball courts. Please choose option two on
page 16 of the recreation report.
All areas of the township would be
serviced with dedicated pickle ball
courts if option two of the recreation
report is chosen.
The recreation report suggests that
Kendrick's Park would be upgraded in 5
to 10 years. It would be wonderful if
the Kendrick's Park upgrade could be
sooner than later and maybe the park
upgrades could be done in stages with
pickle ball courts put into stage one.
So, in conclusion,
number one, pickle ball lines should be
painted on the Jonah Street Park
basketball court this spring. Number
two, providing llinters with a pickle
ball court in a timely fashion is very
inexpensive. It's a can of paint.
Number three, pickle ball provides an
opportunity for some people to
experience the sport.
Number four, playing the game of pickle
ball helps with community spirit,
exercise, and socialization for all
ages, young to older.
Number five, Jonas Street Park is easily
accessible to the people in Linterst.
Number six, the township would have
pickle ball available in Lindurst,
Lansdown, and Seelles Bay in a timely
manner if pickle ball lines were painted
on the Jonas Street Park basketball
court. Number seven, noise from the game
on the Jonas Street Park court would be
minimal.
Number eight, Llinter is a very small
community. Realistically,
many people would not use a pickle ball
court in Jonah Street Park, but
some people would. Having a single
single pickle ball court in Jonas Street
Park is like having a canoe dock or
swing sets or a swim ladder or a
basketball court or the public dock on
Llin's Lake or the bicycle equipment
that is in Furnace Falls Park. These
amenities are not in constant use, but
they are used and they are all very much
appreciated when they are used. These
amenities enhance the community for its
residents, for visitors, and for the
township. And so and so would having a
pickle ball court in Jonas Street Park.
And lastly, please choose option two um
when upgrading Kendrick's Park. The
pickle ball courts in Kendrick's Park
should be built sooner than later.
Stand.
>> Thank you for your presentation.
» Thank you for your presentation.
Do any of the council members have any
questions for the presenter? Go ahead,
councelor maybe. And then deputy mayor
FOD and then I think I have councelor
Antoine Harley. Go ahead.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. and through
» Thank you, Madame Mayor. and through
you. I have a few things to kind of
ponder here. Uh is is there any data uh
to the usage of the basketball court in
Jonas Park?
>> No, I have no Oh, sorry. I have no data
» No, I have no Oh, sorry. I have no data
on that other than I I haven't seen a
lot of people using it. Um I know that I
have seen skateboards up there, but I
haven't seen um uh kids playing on it. I
I know they have played on it. I have my
daughter was one when when she was at
home and she and her friends went up. Um
but I haven't seen a lot of usage. No.
>> Okay. Thank you. That's one. Um and this
» Okay. Thank you. That's one. Um and this
one may might be to the uh director of
operations is the cost of lines that
possibly could be painted on a surface
since we had something similar to this
and what the condition of that court is.
» Uh through you your worship. The the
court's in decent shape. Uh there are
some cracks in it, but nothing that's
insurmountable. Um cost of the lines, I
would estimate two to three hundred
bucks likely to to get that completed.
So it's it's fairly cost effective as
well.
>> Excellent. Thank you very much. And uh
» Excellent. Thank you very much. And uh
again to uh to have participate action
to coin a phrase which is always out
there. It's great to hear that. um uh
having that much activity and as pickle
ball is picking up uh speed across our
nation, it would be a good thing to do.
And decibel levels any uh the paddle is
fairly hard and the ball I've never
really actually seen a pickle ball
unless you've got one with you. Uh is it
what type of ball is it?
>> It's a a whiffle a whiffle ball. Um
» It's a a whiffle a whiffle ball. Um
Peter, may I see your
>> I knew somebody would.
because we play pickle ball. So, a
pickle, this is a whiffle ball. And a
pickle ball, a pickle ball is like this,
but it's the size. It's
>> It's about like that.
» It's about like that.
>> They're hard.
» They're hard.
>> Yeah, that's hard. Um, a baseball, a
» Yeah, that's hard. Um, a baseball, a
small baseball or a fast ball, I think.
Would that be correct? A fast ball. Um,
and it's um, well, I've seen them be
yellow anyway. And then when paddle hits
the ball, there is a sound and that's um
it's I think it's more annoying to
people than it uh a tennis ball hitting.
Um but the thing is with llinters, it's
one court, right? one court sometimes.
Whereas I can see if you have six courts
and the net is always there and it's
summertime and you've got um 8:00 in the
morning till 8:00 at night and somebody
is always on one of those courts if not
many. Then you've got constant noise.
This isn't going to be constant. This is
going to be sometimes. And as I said,
the amenities in the it won't be used
all the time every like constantly, but
it will be used. Yeah. And and it's just
available for the community. I don't
think it'll be something that people
will become annoyed with. I I can't I
truly don't think it would be.
>> No. Thank you very much for that um
» No. Thank you very much for that um
explanation. I appreciate it very much.
That's it for me.
>> Deputy Mayor, go ahead.
» Deputy Mayor, go ahead.
>> Thank you. Worship through you. Has
» Thank you. Worship through you. Has
there been anticipated complaints on the
noise? Like, have you heard other
people?
>> No, the only person I heard through was
» No, the only person I heard through was
through David Holiday here.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
Because myself, I've stopped, I've
watched, I've drive by with a window
down over here at Landown, multiple
courts on the move. Noise isn't
something that attracts me at all. Yeah,
it it I heard it through David uh that
that was the reason that it wasn't I I
needed to present because and um state
this case. Um so maybe David can answer.
>> I I believe that the director didn't
» I I believe that the director didn't
come up with that on his own. So I'll
I'll let him answer that.
>> Thank you through your worship.
» Thank you through your worship.
>> Um so through the survey that we put
» Um so through the survey that we put
out, we did receive more feedback
opposing pickle ball than we did
requesting it at that location. Um, and
it seemed to be more the the neighbors
around the the surrounding area adjacent
to the park that had concern with it.
Um, that's that's what we gathered from
from the survey.
>> Um, my understanding, David, is it or
» Um, my understanding, David, is it or
Mr. Holiday, is it three people said no
and two people said yes?
>> I'm sorry. I I don't
» I'm sorry. I I don't
>> how many people excuse me, but how many
» how many people excuse me, but how many
people were against pickle ball and how
many people were four?
>> Miss Harvey,
» Miss Harvey,
>> am I sorry.
» am I sorry.
>> Sorry. In order this isn't a debate back
» Sorry. In order this isn't a debate back
and forth. This is a delegation. Oh,
>> so I've asked him to answer the question
» so I've asked him to answer the question
and then if you'd like to
>> Sorry. All right.
» Sorry. All right.
>> Um, so there is a way for you to
» Um, so there is a way for you to
delineate how many people. You just
don't have that in front of you right
now.
>> That is correct.
» That is correct.
>> Thank you. Okay. So, we can get that
» Thank you. Okay. So, we can get that
information. I'll let you continue on.
Deputy mayor.
>> Well, I find it ironic that you got
» Well, I find it ironic that you got
people opposed to it when they haven't
even heard it.
>> I mean, that would be typical.
» I mean, that would be typical.
>> That's not me. this.
» That's not me. this.
>> No, I'm not saying yourself, but I'm
» No, I'm not saying yourself, but I'm
saying that it'd be typical when
somebody comes up with an idea, there'd
be people opposed to something never
heard.
>> I I would be I would be surprised if the
» I I would be I would be surprised if the
noise of a pickle ball court would be
out of a of a audio level that would
actually matter, but that's neither here
nor there. Um, and you had made ample
examples of the fact you're not playing
between midnight and 6:00 a.m. and
things like that. I'm being a little
sarcastic, I know.
But uh no, thanks for the presentation.
Thank you.
>> Can go ahead, councelor Antoine Hartley.
» Can go ahead, councelor Antoine Hartley.
>> Yes. Uh thank you your worship. Um I was
» Yes. Uh thank you your worship. Um I was
just going to to uh reiterate the
inclusivity of the pickle ball in the
village itself. And I understand that
it's in the works to have something at
Kendricks, but in in the meantime, uh,
and as you've said, there will not be a
permanent net up or and the um the the
rental of it will be
>> from the library and so meaning you have
» from the library and so meaning you have
to be there when the library is open,
right? Yes. Yes. And and no to that. Um,
yes. Uh, you have to get the net when
the library is open, but you're allowed
to borrow it for a week. So, if you knew
you wanted to have it on a Thursday and
the library is closed, then you would
borrow it on a Wednesday. Um, but you're
right, it it's not there. If you can't
it's not spur of the moment unless the
library is open, right?
>> So, um, yeah. So, I think I I personally
» So, um, yeah. So, I think I I personally
think that having the lines uh there
would be very um
great. It would be good for people who
don't drive, people who want to
exercise, etc. Um to have that kind of
uh just and it's just lines for now
[laughter]
and with uh Kendrick's being down the
road.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> In a few years.
» In a few years.
>> Yeah, that's the thing. Kendricks is of
» Yeah, that's the thing. Kendricks is of
it. The report said 5 to 10 years.
That's a long time.
>> Thank you. Okay. I have councelor
» Thank you. Okay. I have councelor
Lackey.
>> Thank you. were shipped uh through you
» Thank you. were shipped uh through you
to the director. Um
what would prevent I mean if we put the
lines on it's a it's a township park.
It's public park. Um what prevents
someone from going and buying a duffel
bag just like that one showing up to the
park and putting their own net up and
playing to their heart's content
» through your worship? Absolutely
nothing.
>> Okay. Any other questions from members
» Okay. Any other questions from members
of council?
Okay. Thank you very much, Miss Harvey.
And we appreciate the delegation and we
will be going into budget discussions
here in the next couple of weeks. So
hopefully we'll have a better idea of
what the plans are going forward for
2026.
>> Thank you. So do we stay or do we leave?
» Thank you. So do we stay or do we leave?
You [laughter]
>> You're welcome to stay. We have other
» You're welcome to stay. We have other
things on the agenda, but
>> this is done.
» this is done.
>> Yeah. So the delegation is received and
» Yeah. So the delegation is received and
then unless there's a motion made by any
of the members of the uh council which
could be made uh not tonight it has to
be a notice of motion um which has to go
through the clerk which it would be on a
subsequent uh meeting date.
>> Okay. Well, thanks very much everybody.
» Okay. Well, thanks very much everybody.
>> You're welcome.
» Okay. So, we have uh next uh item on the
agenda is briefings from uh Katari
Conservation Authority, David
Ellingwood, who's here and joins us this
evening. Come on forward and we'll uh
get you set up on the screen.
There
you go.
>> Thanks so much for joining us this
» Thanks so much for joining us this
evening.
Uh thank you.
So um thank you members of council for
inviting me to uh present some
information about Katarak Conservation's
2026 draft budget. Uh
so uh this evening I'll um go over our
budget and I've also uh put a few slides
at the tail end for some important
legislative changes that have recently
been proposed for conservation
authorities across the province. Um for
our budget um as usual we try to
maintain all the programs and services
that we that we have on the go and uh
there's a few other items noted there.
At the bottom you'll see that our budget
vote is December 3rd. So that comes up
on Wednesday um for our uh final budget
vote.
Uh under the conservation authorities
act we do have agreements with our
member municipalities for uh certain
services. Uh category one uh services
are kind of mandatory ones. Uh ones that
address provincial uh responsibilities
uh things like drinking water source
protection and plan review uh flood
forecast and warning that sort of thing.
Uh under category 2, we help a couple
municipalities operate their water
control structures. And under category
three are locally supported services for
things like education, uh public
programming and land stewardship.
Uh
so uh to the numbers uh quickly here. Um
our draft budget is $6.9 million for
2026. Uh we do have quite a bit that's
internal recovery. So kind of our net
amount if you will is around $5.5
million.
Uh
as a total for the municipal
aortionments this year, uh it works out
to a 4.6 six 4% uh increase overall and
I'll show you the specific numbers for
your township in a moment here. Uh we do
have uh 1% that's helping us to phase in
our new administration facility lease
costs and also 1% that's phasing in a
permanent staff position in development
review department
and those are part of the 4.6%.
uh expenses are up uh just 1.3%
year-over-year this year.
So, uh on the graph, we're showing uh
the different proportions. As you can
see, municipalities uh pay half of the
budget. Um if you're looking at the net
budget, municipalities
uh are paying about 60% of our budget.
And this the uh small brown slice there
is the province. it works out to about 4
and a.5% of our net budget. Uh we do uh
uh have fees uh that that help out uh
for things like development review and
our uh public programming, our nature
events uh contribute towards that. And
the other category that's things like uh
grants that we get. We've been
successful at things like fragmitees
control and other uh types of grants
like that as well as uh donations that
contribute to that.
And then when we look at the uh the
total budget that we um are looking at
uh from our municipal partners, these
are a portion based on current value
assessment. The M&R provides that
information to us. So they can fluctuate
a little bit from year to year, but
usually it's no more than uh 0.02 or
three um for any one municipality uh
changing year-over-year depending on
your growth rate.
So for less and thousand islands, uh the
we'll kind of focus on the totals at the
bottom there. So uh total uh $10,750
increase uh in our aortionment request
for 2026 works out to 5.77%.
Uh but then above that, it kind of
breaks it down what those changes are uh
coming from. Uh firstly there's uh the
category one just the mandatory programs
uh that's at 3.7%.
Uh the larger one in the middle there
you'll see 75% um is for water control
structures special levy. Uh that's
$4,500 and that one in particular uh the
township contributes towards two water
control structures and shares that um
with a few other municipalities. Uh so
for those we're looking at about four
capital projects that are coming up in
the next couple of years and the reserve
funds need to be brought up so that
there's enough funds to to meet those
project requirements. So that's that's
essentially what what you're seeing
there as that increase of $4,500 for
2026.
So uh within your uh special
aortionments uh you support the uh uh
specific properties like the outlet boat
ramp uh the two water control structures
as mentioned there uh temperance lake
and marsh lake uh you have 30% share of
the cost for those and then you also
have your category 3 agreement um for
local programs like education and
stewardship and watershed planning.
Uh there's a slide here for the uh
forecast upcoming expenses. You'll see
for 2026.
Uh there's that large larger increase at
the at the bottom there for special
aortionment. Uh you'll note that is more
of a a one-time thing and it uh it drops
off dramatically uh in the next uh three
fiscal years following.
So um capital we try to fully uh
forecast as much of it as we can using
reserves and building those reserves so
that they're ready when the when the
time comes. Uh we do have some of our uh
larger recreational uh assets that are
struggling to to find uh enough capital
to uh uh to look at significant repairs
that are coming up. So that those ones,
we're looking at external grants to help
along with those ones.
So, uh that's the 2026 budget and what
that means for the township. Um in the
last few minutes here, I'll just look at
some of the proposed uh changes to
conservation authorities that are rather
significant. Um so, Bill 68, schedule 3,
it's passed third reading now, so it's
uh it's come to into law. Uh this will
establish a new provincial conservation
agency. The agency is going to have
oversight and strategic direction uh for
conservation authorities in the
province. Uh it'll be 5 to 12 members
appointed by the minister. Uh it'll it
can give directives to conservation
authorities and its primary goals are to
reduce the number of municipalities that
have more than one conservation
authority. So where there's kind of
overlap naturally where there's
watersheds uh it go water goes two ways
and a municipality might get split
between two conservation authorities. Uh
they're looking to have more consistency
in the development review policies and
the fees that we charge and they like to
have one uh digital permit system across
the province.
Um so here's a just a few facts about
cons cataka conservation. We do have
timely permit approvals. We meet the
provincial targets in 99%
of our uh development permits and we
average about 5 days, five business days
to provide a permit. Once we have a
complete application, it's 5 days for
the uh proponent to get their uh permit
and letter approved.
Uh for municipalities, when we're doing
plan review, uh we're meeting your the
targets that you've set 90% of the time.
Uh Kataraka Conservation has among the
lowest fee schedules in the province. Uh
because our uh we are a lean
organization and our municipalities uh
in their governance of us have uh helped
us to uh find a good balance uh for for
fees that are affordable for the
development community. Uh we have a high
standard of customer service on our
board. Each uh municipality is
represented on our board. There's uh 11
member municipalities and 17
representatives.
Uh we've we keep up to date on our flood
plane mapping. We've recently completed
the St. Lawrence River. Um but we are
mindful of uh local finances. So the the
Ganonway system could use new mapping.
But because you recently contributed
significantly to the St. Lawrence one,
that would be something we might put off
for a little bit. um because we you know
we know that uh we can't draw that kind
of capital every uh very often. Uh and
we also have a 60-year history with
strong ties to local groups and
communities.
So the proposal that they have is to
actually consolidate the 36 conservation
authorities in the province down to
seven.
Uh so you on the the map you have um
Toronto is the central lake Ontario
around the golden horseshoe you have one
um lake Erie runs from uh almost
Collingwood all the way down to Windsor
and Lake Hiron includes uh places from
Grand Ben to Berry up to Thunder Bay. So
rather large uh our area is known as the
St. Lawrence region regional
conservation authority and it would
combine Kataraki uh Mississippi RTO
South Nation and Raisin River all into
one an area about 18,000 square
kilometers.
Uh
uh so there's the map there running from
uh near Napony
uh almost to Arri and out to the Quebec
border. Um there's 46 municipalities in
there. Uh
boardwise, there's over 70 uh
representatives on those five boards. If
you combine them all and go with the
conservation author conservation
authorities act formula, there'd still
be over 70 representatives. Clearly,
that's too big. And one thing that
you'll likely see if this comes along is
that uh local representation will be
drastically cut. you you can't have a
functional board with over 70 members.
It would, you know, maybe 20 and you'd
have to have some type of uh local or
countywide representation uh on that
board.
Uh so, uh this proposal is uh currently
on the environmental registry. Uh the
the number for it is up there. Uh
there's a comment period open until
December 22nd and they're looking at
five principal things. um this is
assuming it's going forward uh is um
what would what would make for a
successful transition? What are some of
the opportunities or benefits from
having these regions? What would the
government structure look like? Uh how
can we have transparent and consultative
budgeting? And how do we maintain the
strong relationships that currently
exist? So all interesting questions. Um,
some of them are maybe a little hard to
do on on a very big regional scale such
as that. But, uh, that's about as much
information as there is. Uh, they're
really looking for input and a lot of
the the details and how this would
actually happen would need to be worked
out once this uh, new agency is set up.
But, thank you very much for your
attention.
Thank you very much for delegation. Um I
believe the consultation
uh it's this week in Ottawa, isn't it?
Yeah, we're just trying to look up the
date. So um so questions. I had one from
councelor maybe and then deputy mayor
FOD. I'm not sure if anybody on this
side. So go ahead.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor. And through you
» Thank you, Madame Mayor. And through you
I have a couple questions. Uh the first
one is why is there no federal money to
the agency you know it's out of your pie
chart that there's no no federal money.
>> Okay to so uh federal money uh only
» Okay to so uh federal money uh only
comes when we get grants. So that would
be either an employment grant um
sometimes there's uh grants we might get
for climate change that sort of thing.
Um we are partnering with uh South
Nation and a bunch of eastern
conservation authorities. So, uh, with
with a federal grant that's offered to,
uh, land owners, uh, for trees and shrub
planting and wetland creation, um, that
doesn't show up on ours because the
money's gone to South Nation.
>> As a follow-up, u, but the federal
» As a follow-up, u, but the federal
government doesn't give you a yearly
amount and never have or
>> That's correct. Yeah, there's never been
» That's correct. Yeah, there's never been
federal federal contribution.
>> That's unfortunate. [clears throat] Uh,
» That's unfortunate. [clears throat] Uh,
second question was, uh, with the new
structure that you have, uh, here for
the St. Lawrence Regional Conservation
Authority, which will end up being
possibly uh the Homes Quicker bill that
was actually um put in place there a
couple years ago. How's that affected
or is it?
>> Thank you. Through your worship. Um
» Thank you. Through your worship. Um
yeah, so the um more homes built faster
or there's been a few of them. Uh
it it hasn't significantly uh changed.
uh some things in say uh the types of
permits for minor projects um people
don't need to get those but that really
hasn't um made a change in the number of
permits it's still fairly active
development wise uh in our region
>> uh just as a followup uh with that bill
» uh just as a followup uh with that bill
it actually decreased some of your power
and I wondered if you are getting any
more of that back with this new uh
region that you're having
>> okay through your worship um so uh yeah
» okay through your worship um so uh yeah
so one of the things that it took away
was the natural heritage review from
conservation authorities. Um,
yeah, I don't think we're getting that
back. I think it was a political
decision not for us, not just that we
wouldn't do it, but that we
municipalities cannot have conservation
authorities do it. And, you know,
anecdotally, um, it may be causing uh,
longer delays and and, uh, double study
expenses for proponents.
>> Okay. Thank you very much,
» Okay. Thank you very much,
>> Deputy Mayor. Go ahead. Thank you,
» Deputy Mayor. Go ahead. Thank you,
worshiper through you. On this new
proposed structure,
I assume that the province and their
wisdom is looking at cutting staff
significantly as well. And if so, how do
we maintain the good relationship your
organization has Katar Rockway with our
staff here in the planning department?
As you had indicated, turnaround time is
5 days.
It would be nightmarish to think what
would happen if they intend to run 10 or
15 staff members to cover a whole
region. What were your thoughts on that?
What would your thoughts be on that?
>> Thank you. Through your worship. Uh so
» Thank you. Through your worship. Uh so
the the minister in his announcement
said that there would be no job
reductions. Um and as a followup uh it
was also indicated in one of the
sessions that there uh the province
would not dictate any closure of local
offices. So if if those are both uh
factual statements um then uh that would
be good and if it if it can be left to
the region on you know if there's a new
region you're adding some bureaucracy up
there but um to to actually function you
can't operate your conservation
properties from afar. You need a local
base to do that. If you're doing
development review,
uh having off having basically the
number of offices that there would be
now um is probably the most efficient
because right now our staff can travel
an hour either way to get there. It
would be the same with the other ones.
So it's it's already a fairly efficient
structure that way in terms of uh
travel. And then the local knowledge uh
we assign planners specifically to each
of our municipalities so they develop
even stronger relation uh rapport with
uh your municipal staff and have a
really good knowledge of what's going on
uh in each community.
>> Well, that's encouraging. I'm glad to
» Well, that's encouraging. I'm glad to
know that they've at least stated they
don't intend to cut staff and and thus
spread the workload out to a larger
jurisdiction, which would be would be
questionable to get the same service. Um
that that's encouraging because when you
read something like what the province
has in mind here, the old adage, the
government's here to help, that that's
enough to scare most people. But uh
we'll hope for the best and and uh
hopefully we can maintain the good
relationship that our staff has with
your office. Now, thank you.
>> Okay,
» Okay,
>> any other questions?
» any other questions?
I have no other hands up. So, thank you
very much for your presentation and um I
guess our board meeting is on December
11th, the next one. I believe
>> uh it's on Wednesday night.
» uh it's on Wednesday night.
>> Yeah,
» Yeah,
>> Monday. Uh Wednesday the 3.
» Monday. Uh Wednesday the 3.
>> Oh, Wednesday. But there's a secondary
» Oh, Wednesday. But there's a secondary
meeting as well we have on the 11th.
Sorry, I was thinking about that.
>> Um because we're trying to squeeze it
» Um because we're trying to squeeze it
all in for the end of December. Um so we
appreciate uh your time and attention to
the budget. Um we know it's difficult
times when there's uh so much more to
do. Um it will be interesting to see how
the consultation process goes in the
meantime. Sound.
>> Okay. Next item on the agenda is public
» Okay. Next item on the agenda is public
meeting and the motion is moved by
councelor Kelman, seconded by councelor
Lackey that the public meeting be called
to order at 6:40 p.m.
All those in favor? All those opposed?
And it is carried. So we are now in the
public meeting portion of the committee
the whole
um and we are going to the zoning bylaw
amendment seven bulls island. So if you
have anything to discuss at this point I
will turn to planning staff.
There we go. Thank you. Thank you madame
mayor and through you. The subject of
this public meeting is a proposed zoning
bylaw amendment for the property
municipally known as Seven Bulls Island.
The property is approximately 0.4
hectares and contains an existing
dwelling with attached uncovered
decking, a storage shed, and two docks.
The zone change is proposed for the site
um to change the zoning from from an
island residential zone to a special
exception island residential zone. And
that would facilitate zoning relief for
a proposed 46.7
meter sleeping cabin with attached
covered decking as well as a detached
sauna and some additional decking
attached to the primary dwelling.
So this is the proposed plot plan
showing the proposed sleeping cabin
um and the sauna.
Uh and then there's additional decking
that was constructed in 2021
um in the absence of municipal and
agency approvals that's proposed to be
uh folded into this zoning bylaw
amendment.
With respect to notice, uh staff could
confirm that notice of this public
meeting was provided in accordance with
the planning act. And to date, um, staff
received one email with some questions
for clarification on the details of the
proposal and staff did respond to
provide that clarification and
additional links for the resident to
access the supporting information um for
the application. I believe the applicant
is online uh this evening and staff as
well would be um available to address
any questions of the public or the
committee the whole. Thank you. So,
we'll go to uh council questions. Uh if
anybody has a question in regards to
this application, if you could please
raise your hand. And we'll also ask that
anyone online that is here to have any
questions answered online, please use
the raise your hand function and then
we'll get to you after we have uh got
through council questions. So,
I'll give everybody a minute. Uh, Deputy
Mayor Fod, go ahead.
>> Thank you, worship, and through you.
» Thank you, worship, and through you.
This, uh, small aotment of land has a
lot of activity going on it. Can I ask
what uh, brought this about? Has there
been a change of ownership in the
property?
» Through you, Madame Mayor. Uh, not to my
knowledge. uh staff have been working
with the applicant for some time through
the pre-conultation process and
application submission and review
leading up to this meeting this evening.
>> So it would be assumed that there was
» So it would be assumed that there was
some non-compliancy that was noticed by
staff from the water that brought this
to light. Is that what we're
expecting here? this is a brand new
build or it's an existing structure
coming into compliance
>> through you madame mayor um the proposal
» through you madame mayor um the proposal
came forward the applicant was
interested in constructing a sleeping
cabin on on the property and staff did
complete a a site visit um with the
property owner and
uh through a walkound of the property it
was discussed that there was additional
decking that was constructed in 2021. So
that's the extent of the existing
construction on the property that has to
be is proposed to be recognized through
this application. The remainder of the
construction has yet to occur including
the sleeping cabin.
>> So the sleeping cabin does not exist at
» So the sleeping cabin does not exist at
this point but when they were there they
found some other stuff that had happened
without permitting. So, um, but as you
just mentioned, this is to wrap
everything up in a bow, if you will, and
allow for the sleeping cabin to be
constructed should this pass. Well, this
is the public meeting. Nothing's going
to pass here. This is for information.
So,
any further comments or discussion?
Go ahead, councelor maybe.
>> Uh, thank you, Madam Madame Mayor. and
» Uh, thank you, Madam Madame Mayor. and
through you. Uh the uh the high
watermark is is well out of the range of
this particular build uh with the rock
face that they have on this. So uh I
[clears throat] think it's um a great
place to uh to have and with the photos
that were provided, it indicated a a
quite a great view of the river and uh
to enjoy. So I think it's a uh
appropriate uh ask.
>> Okay. Further comments or questions?
» Okay. Further comments or questions?
Seeing none, um I'll put them uh there's
nothing online. I just thought I'd
double check. There's no hands up. Okay.
So, with that, um we'll put the motion
forward to uh that the public meeting be
closed. Motion is made by councelor
Lackey, seconded by councelor Kelman.
All those in favor? All those opposed?
And it is carried. So, we are back in
the regularly scheduled committee. the
whole meeting and we're on number nine,
staff reports, which is the uh public
meeting I um item we just discussed,
zoning bylaw amendment application D13.
Uh so the zoning bylaw amendment
application D132025-
Z001 civic address 7 Bulls Island and
the motion comes forward from councelor
Lackey seconded by councelor Kelman that
the committee of the whole recommends
that council approve zoning bylaw
amendment application D14 2025-001
for the property municipally known as 7
Bulls Island to amend the existing
island residential RARI zone for of the
property to an island residential
special exception 39 RI-39
zone and that the committee of the whole
recommends that council further amend
bylaw number 07-079
zoning bylaw of the corporation of the
township of Leeds in the Thousand
Islands as amended as per exhibit F
draft bylaw and schedule A to report
number 2025-086
and that the committee of the whole
recommends that council grant three
readings and final passage to amending
to the amending bylaw. It's a lot.
[laughter]
So, uh, go ahead, m Madame
[clears throat] Planner.
>> Thank you. And through you, Madame
» Thank you. And through you, Madame
Mayor. Um, just staff wanted to, um,
mention that the bylaw has been updated
today. Uh, the applicant did request
zoning relief for the maximum height of
the sleeping cabin. The zoning bylaw
permits a maximum height of 5 m and the
application did request a maximum height
of 5.4. And so the bylaw has been
updated to reflect that. Okay. Thank you
for that clarity. Any further comments
or questions in regard to this item? Go
ahead, councelor Lackey.
>> Thank you. Worship through you. I
» Thank you. Worship through you. I
apologize. I was hoping uh I should have
asked it earlier while the gentleman
from CRCA was here. Um when they talk
about high water mark, how can they
justify that when it's controlled by
Dan?
» Yeah, we should asked that question when
he was here.
I'm I mean it's control. If the water's
high, you open the dam.
It's damn hard to figure it out. Anyway,
just
>> there's no swearing at this council
» there's no swearing at this council
table. All [laughter]
>> um the same things to go with wave
» um the same things to go with wave
upbrush as well. It's just
>> fair enough. And the same the same
» fair enough. And the same the same
challenge uh obviously is something that
we are faced with on the St. Louis River
which is also
Yes. But the people downstream really
get upset if you open them at full
force. [laughter]
No, we haven't. Um, okay. Matter at
hand. Go ahead, Deputy Mayor.
>> Thank you. We're shipping it through
» Thank you. We're shipping it through
you. I have a lot of questions about
this property, but what I do have is a
lot of faith in our staff. I know that
they know the rules better than I and u
they know what they're looking for
before and after. So um I will uh I will
step down about a lot of things I would
like to say about this application and
and put it in the hands of those that
know. So thank you.
>> Any further comments or questions?
» Okay. So we have the applicant with
their hand up. Uh we have Michael
Clancy. Uh, so I'll recognize Michael in
order to
um we're just getting the clerk to
unmute you, so just bear with us a few
seconds.
» Okay, there we go. And you're unmuted.
You're ready to go.
>> Okay, thank you. Um, good evening, your
» Okay, thank you. Um, good evening, your
worship and council members. Um, I I
just wanted to answer a couple of
questions uh that were raised. Um first
um my wife and I purchased the college
uh 23 years ago. Um we uh we then
proceeded to have uh uh six children. Um
so the the purpose of the sleeping cabin
is uh is it our our original cottage
that's still there. It was built in the
1950s. It's a very modest, very small
cottage with two bedrooms. Um, and so
we're literally now just bursting at the
seams. Um, especially as our kids get
older and and come back to the island
with um, you know, with with their
significant others. Um, so that's that's
our makeup. Um, with regard to the high
water mark question, um, the uh,
sleeping cabin is proposed to be built
on the highest location on the island.
Um, that location is uh at least
uh I'm going to say at least
maybe 40 feet from the actual uh highest
level of water that I've seen there in
the last 23 years. Um it it's just
simply nowhere close to the to the uh
high water park um at all. It's it's a
literally a rock face that that is um
that is uh I'm going to say 40 feet from
from from the water. Um the the uh uh
and then finally as to the the
additional decking that we constructed
in 2021. Um we did that in COVID. Uh it
was uh there was the the rules were so
strict with regard to um having uh uh
people over and distancing that we added
a a portion to the deck. Um uh and that
was done just uh uh during and for uh co
um again the the cottage itself
including the decking I appreciate on a
map might look like a lot going on but
it's actually exceptionally modest
compared to a lot of the of the cottages
that are on the lake and it wouldn't
even come close to cottages that you'd
see in u on the St. Lawrence. It's just
a very modest 1950s build with with two
bedrooms and with uh some some uh small
decking around the outside. Um we are it
is an island. Uh it's one acre, just
over an acre. We're the only uh cottage
on the island. Um and uh it it's it's um
it's proved to be a great place for our
family and we would be exceptionally
grateful uh to the committee um if it
permits. uh these exceptions to the
zoning bylaw. Um, and we're very
grateful to the staff uh of both the
township and the uh uh uh uh
conservation authority for for all of
their help and guidance throughout this
process. Uh thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
Okay. So, we've heard from council and
we've heard from the applicant. So,
seeing no further hands up, I will call
the question of the motion. that's at
hand. All those in favor?
All those opposed? And it is carried.
Thank you very much. And um we'll move
forward with 9.2.
Uh supplementary report zoning bylaw
amendment D14-2025-010
application for 439,000 Parkway. Moved
by councelor Antoine Hartley, seconded
by deputy mayor FOD that the committee
the whole recommends that council
approve zoning bylaw amendment
application D14-2025-010
to reszone the portion of the property
municipally known as 439 Thousand
Islands Parkway currently zoned tourist
commercial CT zone to Shoreline
Residential Special Exemption RS-63
zone in township zoning by line number
07-079.
9 and that the committee the whole
recommends that council further amend
bylaw number 07-079
zoning bylaw of the corporation of the
township of Leeds in the Thousand
Islands as amended as per exhibit A
recommended amending bylaw and schedule
A to report number 2025-087
and that the committee the whole
recommends that council grant three
readings and final passage to the
amending bylaw motions on the floor up
for discussion.
So for the um newcomer here, this has
already come through uh a couple of
times to council uh with uh
presentations made by the applicants
agent. Um and it has been in front of
council twice to ask questions, but this
is the decision in regards to the
request for changing the zoning. So I
know you can read, but this has been one
that's required a lot of back and forth.
So anyways, uh I just wanted for the
public's also the public's knowledge
that this has come back for this is the
third time that we're discussing this at
the table. Um so discussion go ahead. Uh
I've got councelor lackey and I've got
deputy mayor fod.
>> Thank you worship and through you. I
» Thank you worship and through you. I
think it's similar to the the questions
that I had last time. Um so the property
itself uh in the beginning stages um it
was purchased as um shoreline commercial
um
>> commercial it's tourist commercial
» commercial it's tourist commercial
>> tour sorry tourist commercial
» tour sorry tourist commercial
>> um
» um
and we accepted that um through all our
planning rationale um all the way
through um and then at the last meeting
were we not told that it was always the
intent of the applicant that it was
going to be a residential building.
That's my first question.
>> I believe that is what the applicant
» I believe that is what the applicant
said at the last meeting if we go back
and roll tape, but
>> I'm fairly certain that's what was said.
» I'm fairly certain that's what was said.
>> I'll let the I'll let the director of
» I'll let the I'll let the director of
planning confirm that
>> or not confirm it.
» or not confirm it.
>> Doesn't matter. We can go back and look
» Doesn't matter. We can go back and look
because I know that's what was
>> okay. That was what was said.
» okay. That was what was said.
>> That's what was said
» That's what was said
>> through you. Uh the challenge was they
» through you. Uh the challenge was they
intended to build they indicated they
intended to build residential. However,
once they started building residential
recogniz once they started building
under the existing zoning framework
which is tourist commercial and building
to the commercial standard they realized
it was cost prohibitive to build to the
commercial standard for what they
indicated would be a residential use
which is why the zoning amendments come
forward. So again for clarification they
told us in the beginning that they were
doing a corporate retreat which is
tourist commercial
>> fit under that category.
» fit under that category.
>> Correct.
» Correct.
>> And now it's we were told that it was
» And now it's we were told that it was
always going to be residential is what
we heard last meeting.
>> Correct.
» Correct.
>> So I'm [clears throat] a little confused
» So I'm [clears throat] a little confused
there. I think um you know whether it
was a misunderstanding or I I don't know
what you want to call it. I know what I
would call it but I'm not going to. Um
my other question to the planner is um
that zoning um that's a pretty important
zoning there. How many other vacant lots
roughly are out there that have that
particular zoning
of of commercial
>> tourist commercial
» tourist commercial
>> commercial? Do we have any available?
» commercial? Do we have any available?
>> I would not be able to tell you the
» I would not be able to tell you the
answer. And what would to get one zoned?
Is that a big process?
» The special policy area for the Thousand
Islands area indicates that tourist
commercial uses are permitted south of
the Parkway on properties adjacent to
existing tourist commercial uses. So,
um,
>> so unless you were beside an existing
» so unless you were beside an existing
tourist commercial, you couldn't get a
>> We're currently designated as
» We're currently designated as
>> So, it's a hard it's a hard thing to get
» So, it's a hard it's a hard thing to get
and virtually almost impossible. there
are.
>> So, so what we're doing is we're taking
» So, so what we're doing is we're taking
a commercially zoned property and we're
eliminating that from the potential
commercial opportunities that could have
existed
um even with their even with their um uh
um corporate retreat that may have
provided a job or two. It may have um
may have done a number of things, but
that's only speculation. Um, I think
it's it's the zoning and the the fact
that,
you know, what what um inspections were
done as
one zoning versus what inspections would
have been done in another zoning. So,
we're changing halfway through the
specifications of things.
Is that a problem?
So, you're going to have some of this
place zoned or or built to commercial
and some are going to be built to
residential
>> through you. Um, at the last meeting,
» through you. Um, at the last meeting,
the applicant indicated that the
property has been sitting
in a construction has ceased because
they are unsure what standard they they
they're not building to that commercial
standard at this point. So it is sitting
the commercial or sorry the construction
has ceased at this point. From a purely
land use perspective what we need to
look at as planners is is the land use
compatible with the adjacent land uses
and what is the most compatible use for
the property. So from a land use
consideration perspective
the official plan permits both
residential and tourist commercial south
of the 401 in this area. in terms of
challenges in the nature of the
construction that's really a building
code issue. So it's not part of the
planning considerations.
>> Right. Thank you.
» Right. Thank you.
>> I have deputy mayor FOD.
» I have deputy mayor FOD.
>> Thank you worship through you. At that
» Thank you worship through you. At that
last meeting I think it was a designer
representing the owner who made the
statement it was beneficial for us to
carry on with the current zoning to
allow us to build the way we did. And
now they've got there they want to
switch back to this.
Um, councelor Laki is correct. I mean,
there's a much less uh
ownerous designation on the property.
Should they switch it back? Um,
I don't know.
I know
that there's a number of unanswered
questions here. And then once this is
approved,
then what?
>> So, I'll get to that before I call the
» So, I'll get to that before I call the
question. and I have councelor Calman
and then I have councelor maybe.
>> Thank you worship and through you. I
» Thank you worship and through you. I
have several questions. Um the first is
along the same lines. So we are told in
the staff report that the reason for the
request to the zoning change is the
prohibitive cost if it were to remain
commercial tourism. Um in the Boulevard
planning justification report it says
that
um CT zoning prohibits principal
residential use and that is the that's
under the zoning
relief justification. So is is that is
it to be a principal residence or is it
to be a vacation property?
[snorts]
The applicant has indicated that it's to
be a residential property and that the
primary use of the property subject to
the zoning amendment would be
residential.
>> Okay. But that doesn't mean it will be
» Okay. But that doesn't mean it will be
their prime residence. We don't know
that.
>> We don't know that and we can't regulate
» We don't know that and we can't regulate
that.
>> Okay. So, I'm just wondering what is the
» Okay. So, I'm just wondering what is the
reason for the change in the zoning? Is
it because of the cost or is it because
it can't be used as a principal
residence if they don't get the zoning
change?
um through you just for clarification
the tourist commercial zoning allows a
tourist commercial use and an accessory
dwelling unit. So the residential use
could not be the primary use of the
property under the tourist commercial
zoning. The primary use of the property
would need to be a tourist commercial
use. Okay?
>> And then the residential use is only
» And then the residential use is only
accessory to that tourist commercial
use. So the context of primary residents
being used here is different than the
context of what she just said.
>> But if the zoning change amendment is
» But if the zoning change amendment is
not granted, would they be able to live
there?
If the tourist commercial zoning remains
on the property as it is, the
residential use on the property would be
required to be accessory to a tourist
commercial use.
>> Thank you. Um, do we know
» Thank you. Um, do we know
what if it is if it is the cost
prohibitive factor, do we know what the
cost is that they're talking about? What
do they have a ballpark figure of what
this prohibitive cost would be?
>> Well, fire suppression was one of them,
» Well, fire suppression was one of them,
I believe. And that on a in a commercial
use is much different than a residential
use.
I'm just wondering if there's been
>> I don't know the cost but in speaking
» I don't know the cost but in speaking
with the building officials it has to do
with the fire separation. So in a
commercial use when you have units you
have to have fire suppression and
dampers between the units. So you have
to have fire brakes between them which
is a different level of construction
than would be required for a residential
use.
>> And my last question is about the
» And my last question is about the
clarification on the cash in lie of
parkland. So, it says in the staff
report that it's a 2% rate for
commercial properties and a 5% rate for
residential properties.
And so, if the zoning amendment was
granted, would they have to pay the
additional
amount, the additional percentage?
>> No, they wouldn't have to pay the
» No, they wouldn't have to pay the
additional percentage because
technically as a residential use, it
wouldn't necessarily be subject to site
plan control. Um but the 2% was
considered an uplift because it had
previously been used as the residential
use. So the t putting it subject to site
plan control when the commercial use was
proposed was subject to the cash in L of
parkland requirement. Um the 5% would
only apply if a new lot was being
created through a consent.
>> Okay. Thank you. I just have a comment
» Okay. Thank you. I just have a comment
if I may. Um,
and I've made this comment before and I
don't know if it's intentional, but when
I read the official plans, the township
and the county plans, some of the
language is ambiguous. And so I don't
know if that's intentional to give some
leeway to councils or municipalities
when they're making these decisions. But
for example, if we had to if I had to
give a land use planning reason for not
approving this zoning amendment, it says
that
um under our township official plan, one
of the justifications given is that the
new buildings being added to the site,
so these are the sub the accessory
buildings will assist in preserving and
enhancing the aesthetic value of the
area. Well, aesthetic value is a very
subjective term. So, I'm kind of
surprised it's in there. But
that leaves that open to our
interpretation. And for myself,
when this was originally presented with
these accessory structures, one of which
is very large, has a fourcar garage in
the bay in the bottom of it. Um, if I
looked at that, as councelor Lackey was
saying, as a corporate retreat, I would
say I personally don't find those
buildings attractive on our beautiful
natural shoreline. And I think that
those three buildings on that lot are
very large and it it doesn't fit into
the surrounding landscape. But my mind
would say because it's a corporate
retreat, it might bring visitors to our
area. It might bring tourist dollars to
our area. it might increase the this the
people that are seeing and visiting our
area. So the aesthetic value is one
thing. When I look at it as a private
residence, it completely alters my
aesthetic value and evaluation of that
property. And I don't think it's
appropriate land use. Um and then
there's another part it says within the
justification under the planning act it
one of the justifications is that it
encourages a sense of place which again
is very ambiguous and I could argue that
I cannot vote in vote in favor of this
because I do not think that those
buildings in that location encourage a
sense of place on the St. Lawrence River
in our beautiful township. So those
would be my land use justifications for
voting against land use planning reasons
for voting against this zoning
amendment. I think that they've the
owner and the the planners have or not
not our planners, the the boulevard have
really muddled this by not being clear
from the beginning what their intentions
were. And I just u am very cautious of
what's going to happen with this
property in the future. And I have one
more thing to add. Sorry. Um some of us
were at the recent economic development
summit and there was a lot of talk about
energy use. And when I look at those
buildings, I'm assuming they're on grid.
I'm not sure, but I think about what
it's going to cost to heat those
buildings. And I wonder how often those
buildings are going to be used, and by
how many people, and what amount of
energy is going to be sucked into
heating those large buildings, two of
whom two of which apparently are not
going to have people living in them. So,
I don't know. I don't think under
current planning or current uh plans
that that's something we take into
consideration. It probably is something
we should take into consideration.
And that is all I have. Thank you.
>> Okay. Um I've got councelor maybe and
» Okay. Um I've got councelor maybe and
then uh deputy mayor vod. Go ahead.
>> Uh thank you madame mayor and through
» Uh thank you madame mayor and through
you. One of my things is if this was a
residential um uh property right from
the get-go and since it was a brand new
build, would there have been a species
at risk um survey uh report needing
needed?
>> I don't think so. Not if it was
» I don't think so. Not if it was
residential.
>> Okay,
» Okay,
>> Madam Planner,
» Madam Planner,
I don't on our residential builds. If it
was zoned residential, there would be no
species at risk study required. I don't
believe.
» Thank you. And through you. Um it's my
recollection that there was an
environmental impact statement that was
prepared. Um
>> that was based on the fact that it was
» that was based on the fact that it was
tourist commercial.
>> Uh it was based on Yes. And the
» Uh it was based on Yes. And the
proximity to the wetland. Um
>> Okay. Yeah. I was just curious on
» Okay. Yeah. I was just curious on
whether because we've had other reports
for lands where residential uh builds
have been put on and uh we've had a
fairly extensive report
uh for different things even a tree on
one I remember. So I so I just wondering
you know whether that's a cost factor
from this particular uh applicant. And
then there's a other in the report there
fees of $33,750
to $22,750.
And I was trying to wrap my head on how
that worked.
>> There's more inspections involved in a
» There's more inspections involved in a
building that is commercial. Correct.
with a to the point I think that
councelor lackey made earlier that we've
expended a lot more as far as the
building department is concerned as far
as reviewing and and
>> so there's a rebate
» so there's a rebate
>> attending
» attending
>> it's not a rebate I don't believe
» it's not a rebate I don't believe
>> so that figure that's being referenced
» so that figure that's being referenced
the 22750
is site plan control securities that
were held because it was a subject to
site plan control to ensure that the
grading and paving were done on the site
in accordance with the approved plans
Okay. Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. Uh there seems to be a light bulb
» Okay. Uh there seems to be a light bulb
moment. I'm going to go to Mr. Lackey in
regards to that comment and then I'll go
back to deputy mayor.
>> So that check was written to us in the
» So that check was written to us in the
beginning as commercial. So they
willingly knowingly
wrote you a check knowing it was going
to be a commercial building
>> due to site plan control. But again, we
» due to site plan control. But again, we
go back to last week.
It was always going to be a residential
building. Is that not the quote?
» I'm going to go back to the deputy
mayor. Go ahead.
>> My apologies.
» My apologies.
>> Thank you, worship. Just a comment to
» Thank you, worship. Just a comment to
councelor Kelman. The reason there's
confusion between the official plan, our
official plan wasn't the only one that
was rushed through before the municipal
election of 18, but it was. Ours was. It
wasn't properly vetted. There was a big
push on by those wanting that official
plan to be registered and it is and uh
I'm sure the planning department knows
all about it.
I'm going to take my lead from the
applicant themselves much along the
lines of councelor Lackey and Kelman and
others who made comments. They made
applications
that uh they were going to build knowing
it's tourist commercial. That's good
enough for me. Thank you.
>> Okay. Um, I'm going to call the question
» Okay. Um, I'm going to call the question
uh at this point in time and then I'll
reserve my comment till afterwards. All
in favor of the motion at hand, please
raise your hand.
All those opposed,
it is unanimously defeated. So my
comment will be uh as far as rationale
uh the planner has asked for rationale.
Um, so I thank councelor Kelman for
being a bit more concise with her
rationale, but I'm going to take the
comments made by councelor lackey and
and the other members who've who've made
comments. So the I would say that the
rationale of the decision of this
council to turn this zoning um change
down is specifically for the fact that
this property as tourist commercial is a
very extremely hard designation to get
in this township. And to be fair it is
surrounded by residential properties and
it has been tourist commercial since
before Jeff Lackey was born which is a
long time ago. So, [laughter]
um, so the point being is that when
people are looking to invest in this
township and they're looking for
specific types of property, especially
waterfront that they can do certain
things on, this uh zoning is extremely
valuable.
So, while I appreciate that these folks
sunk money into purchasing a property
that was zoned tourist commercial and
then have incurred these additional
costs, they knew this at the beginning.
They applied for building permits
knowing this is the case and now
halfway 3/4 of the way through they're
changing their mind. So, as far as um
the the council's decision, it's made
based on the fact that this tourist
designation is important to our
municipality. It's important to
businesses who want to operate and
exist. Um and as far as them changing
their mind halfway through,
that's unfortunate.
So, I would say, do you need further
rationale, Madam Planner? Nope. Okay. If
uh there is further rationale required,
please have them direct uh comments back
to myself and um we can bring it back to
have further discussion. But other than
that, the decision has been made this
evening.
So, moving along. So, we've got about 15
minutes before an hour and a half ends.
We'll see how far we can get.
Next item is 9.3 C 2026 council
committee and conference schedule. Moved
by councelor May, seconded by councelor
Antoine Hartley that the committee of
the whole recommends that council
approve the 2026 council committee and
conference schedule and approve the
outline deviations from the procedural
bylaw and committee terms of reference.
So before you folks, you have the
wonderful calendar with all the colored
highlights. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Um
there's only one date in here that I
would like you to draw your special
attention to. Um at this point in time
there is a um
sorry the training day the special
training day which is in February. So
it's February 19th which is the proposed
date that is uh our off-site training
day for all of council that we do. So
it's February 19th. Does anybody It's
proposed. It's not locked in stone.
Obviously we haven't passed anything
yet. Is that date prohibitive for anyone
at this time?
It's not to say that if somebody if you
can't come, that's fine. But we just
hope that there's enough time that you
can plan in your schedule. That's an
important day. Um where we go off site
with uh senior managers and uh get
updated from lawyers and all sorts of
fun things. uh the new counselor,
councelorlair will be excited to learn
all the fun stuff that we have to do
procedurally.
So um any other comments or questions in
regards to the dates that you have
before you folks? Go ahead. Uh councelor
or deputy mayor voting.
>> Thank you worship through you. Why do we
» Thank you worship through you. Why do we
not have a separate committee of the
whole in November?
>> Because in November that will be after
» Because in November that will be after
the election.
So there'll be one.
>> It's too soon. The you're talking about
» It's too soon. The you're talking about
swearing in would be
>> okay.
» okay.
>> Yeah. So after um through your worship,
» Yeah. So after um through your worship,
sorry. Um after the October 13th date,
the municipal election is the 26th. So
um technically you're in that limbo
period where you can't make decisions
anymore. Yeah. You're in lame duck. Um
no decisions can be made. Uh the end of
the term is the 14th. So if anything
crazy, any emergency comes up, you can
still deal with things, but we don't
have council or committee of the whole
meetings. Um and then that inaugural
meeting will be on the 16th, the the
most um uh closest date after the uh
after November 15th, which is when the
new term starts.
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. Any further questions or comments
» Okay. Any further questions or comments
in regards to the calendar?
Seeing none, I'll call the question. All
those in favor, all those opposed and
we're carried. And I can't wait till all
the digital invites come in to autopop
populate the calendar.
>> Sorry.
» Sorry.
>> No, I I'm quite happy to have it. Just
» No, I I'm quite happy to have it. Just
make sure you set up don't put the email
receipt. So otherwise your email box
will be full. Um, next item is 2026
municipal elections voting, voting
equipment and alternative methods. So
the motion comes forward from deputy
mayor FOD seconded by councelor maybe.
The committee of the whole recommends
that council give the attached bylaw
second or first second and third reading
and final approval and that the clerk is
authorized to request quotes from
companies to use for the use of vote
counting equipment in accordance with
the township's procurement policy for
the 2026 municipal election. discussion
on the motion.
>> Go ahead, Premier Fod.
» Go ahead, Premier Fod.
>> Not so much a discussion as a comment.
» Not so much a discussion as a comment.
The province of Alberta recently held an
election out there and they banned uh
automated ting machines.
That's the first province to go complete
reversal on that. So, it's
I know it's a trend that needs to be
addressed by the governments to decide
what they're going to do. And we all
know what the problem is. There's
there's no law precluding tampering with
machines prior to elections. And that's
the long and the short of it. I would
like to see that happen in this
province, but I've been waiting since
2018.
But uh anyway, I'm just throwing a
little light on to why some of us uh
when we had this discussion earlier were
adamant that there's paper ballots.
Thank you.
>> Any further comments or questions about
» Any further comments or questions about
the motion that's at hand? I'll call the
question. All those in favor? All those
opposed?
And we're carried.
Next item. Very exciting motion this
evening. moved by uh deputy mayor FOD,
seconded by councelor Antoine Hartley,
that the committee of the whole
recommends that council authorize the
acting CEO and the director of corporate
services to execute documents to
facilitate a change order to renew depot
operations agreement number 2024-00-139
after the initial transition term for an
additional three one-year terms based on
annual budget approval, mutual
agreement, and successful successful
completion of the initial term. in each
subsequent renewal. and that the
committee of the whole recommends that
council direct the operations and
infrastructure department to proceed
with a recycle depot at the Landsttown
landfill site for the collection of
recycle materials from non-eligible
sources to be funded within the proposed
operating budget and that the committee
the whole recommends that council direct
the operations and infrastructure
department to conduct a financial and
operational review of initiating a
townshipwide curbside collection program
for household garbage.
Motion is on the floor. Discussion.
Uh, go ahead, Deputy Mayor Fod.
>> Thank you, worshipu to our director of
» Thank you, worshipu to our director of
operations.
How much time would it take to come up
with all the factual numbers required
for curbside pickup?
>> Uh, through your worship. I'm actually
» Uh, through your worship. I'm actually
going to work backwards on that one. So,
I I spoke with a supplier for for
delivering a truck. So looking at all of
the options, whether you know curbside
collection would be delivered by a
contractor, would be delivered by the
municipality, or whether we'd not do it
at all. Um, work backwards on on what
would take the longest time. And for a
garbage truck provider to deliver a
truck, we're looking at a 100 days
minimum. Um, so I think that we need to
shoot for uh having information to you
guys before July 1st of next year to
allow us sufficient time to tender and
be able to uh purchase a truck in
advance of of uh the next season.
>> Okay. A follow-up question. Are we
» Okay. A follow-up question. Are we
getting deep in the weeds, so to speak,
if we put a questionnaire out with next
year's municipal election as to see what
the the people want? because this would
be an this would add expense to the tax
bill. There's no question about it.
>> We we don't know that yet.
» We we don't know that yet.
>> We don't know that yet.
» We don't know that yet.
>> We don't because that's why they're
» We don't because that's why they're
asking for the request to get the
numbers. So, we can't say that it will
cost more.
>> There's potential for adding expense to
» There's potential for adding expense to
the tax bill, but I know there's a lot
of things that are not in the expense
should we go to curbside pickup. Um, I
know the director of operation well
enough that he would be about two light
years ahead of me on this statement. We
also need to look into electric trucks.
Uh, trucks that are going on a frequency
basis like this every day and they're
only doing X number of hours. I know
that some of the cities are on electric
truck pickup. Now, there should be ample
ample information out there as to the
success of these trucks or not. and uh I
would look forward to seeing all of this
at some point. Thank you.
>> So, based on what the director indicated
» So, based on what the director indicated
as far as having it back to us by July,
if it were to be cost prohibitive or
what have you, depending on information
that comes back from the department, we
could then make it a plebite if it's
done before July. Correct, Madam Clerk?
So, we could. So to the point that
you're trying to make until we have the
information we don't want to make any
decision um obviously um but having said
that if it is a borderline decision we
can give it to the to the residents
whether they want it or not. So
depending on how the numbers shake out.
Go ahead.
>> Thank you worship. Just an aside from
» Thank you worship. Just an aside from
that comment you just made. Based on the
last x number of years of vote, we're
only going to get a response from 35 to
45% of the residents.
>> Well, let me put it to you this way.
» Well, let me put it to you this way.
Most surveys that you do and that like
it's way below like 2% in some cases if
you get a 5% response rate. And if you
look at the the um
the questionnaires that we've sent out
even for recreation, what have you. So I
would say that if and it could mean that
you'd have more people come out and vote
too. So it could actually work in
meaning that you have more people
interested in making their um their
opinion known on the plea site as much
as making their opinion known as for who
to to vote for. So anyways, I think it's
premature to have that discussion, but
um we if this motion was to pass
tonight, it just gives the authority to
the staff to gather the information and
the data to provide us so that we can
have further discussion and then decide
where to go from from there. Is that
correct?
>> That is correct. Just wanted to be
» That is correct. Just wanted to be
clear. Go ahead, councelor Kelman.
>> Thank you, worship and for you. I just I
» Thank you, worship and for you. I just I
have a question. So, what this is asking
is that all of the non-eligible sources,
churches and daycarees and campgrounds,
they have to take their recycling to
Landstown regardless of where they are
in the township. That's correct.
>> Uh through your worship, that is
» Uh through your worship, that is
correct. We've done a cost analysis of
what it would cost for us to have these
at each depot and it's about $25,000 per
depot for us to have that service.
Obviously, we'd be a little bit more the
further that we get away as well because
trucking is always the higher cost, but
our average we figured about $25,000 per
depot.
>> So, followup, um, how is that monitored?
» So, followup, um, how is that monitored?
So, how do the wayside attendants know
if the person if if the garbage coming
in, if it's just in a private vehicle,
what the source of or the recycling
short, sorry, what the source of the
recycling is. How do they know that it's
coming from a church or from a private
residence?
That's a great question and something
that I will have to look into.
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> Stump the director evening. [laughter]
Um, anybody else before I go back to
deputy mayor FOD? Okay. Uh, I'll go to
councelor maybe and then deputy mayor
Fod.
>> Thank you, Madam Mayor, and through you.
» Thank you, Madam Mayor, and through you.
My question was for the industrial
commercial
places that are now using the dump and
whether they're going to have a
facility. if we go to curbside to
actually take it.
>> Go ahead.
» Thank you. Through your worship. I I
don't think that we would be looking to
change the
um how the depot operate for anything
outside of the eligible garbage
collection. It's this would be mainly
for um what the recycling. So, in order
for a system like this to work, I I'll
take a step back.
You can't have one in isolation of the
other. So if we we've spoken with Simo,
you know, asked this question for about
six months now what the feasibility
would be for curbside collection. Um
because most advanced municipalities
have gone to curbside collection. It's
just overall it's it's more
cost-effective for the residents because
they don't have to drive every week to
the to the way site. So they've
indicated that that there is an appetite
on their side that they see that it's
more cost effective for them to operate
it as as curbside collection. But you
can't do one in isolation of the other
because our you know similarly to to us
not signing an agreement and having them
take their recycling to to front of
Young it that won't work or they bring
their garbage to to our depot and then
take the recycling to another one
everything will end up in the garbage
and and and vice versa. Um, so if Simo
has has indicated that they are they
will support it provided that the
municipality would move forward with
curbside collection for garbage and that
that would mean that our systems would
have to align. So if if we're not if
they're not collecting curbside
collection for the the non-eligibles,
then we wouldn't we wouldn't collect
curbside for non-eligibles either
because it's it's the same system. We'd
have that problem on on the flip scale.
>> Okay,
» Okay,
>> if that makes sense. I think I got my
» if that makes sense. I think I got my
answer. Yes. Thank you.
>> Okay. Sorry, that was very longwinded.
» Okay. Sorry, that was very longwinded.
>> That's okay.
» That's okay.
>> Go ahead.
» Go ahead.
>> Thank you, worship through you to our
» Thank you, worship through you to our
director of operations. When I was
leading reading the non-eligible, the
only thing I thought jumped off here,
not mentioned, is our own personal parks
like Centennial and Kendricks and and
Jerry Park. I I'm guessing that falls
under municipal facilities.
uh through your worship. No, actually
those are included in the eligible uh
collection.
>> Are they?
» Are they?
>> They are.
» They are.
>> Okay, good.
» Okay, good.
>> Any further questions?
» Any further questions?
>> Seeing none, I'm going to call the
» Seeing none, I'm going to call the
question. All those in favor of the
motion at hand,
all those opposed and it is carried
unanimously. Very much look forward to
the information that'll come back on
that report.
Next item is staff reports. Recreation
working group immediate 1 to threeyear
information report. Um so this report is
provided for information only. I just
want to make the comment that I'm very
uh pleased to see this committee that is
continuing to work robustly and
providing information all the time. Uh
so kudos to both staff and members of
the committee who are working hard to
get that forward. Any further questions
on that particular report?
Okay. Uh, councelor Antoine Hartley,
>> just um some clarification
» just um some clarification
under the financial implications. It
said that sponsorship packages to fund
current and future projects uh were
going to be looked at. So would that
include
um
so on the list here is uh $65,000
towards a shade structure at Cely's Bay.
So if a community group uh came forward
uh with a donation to
>> kind of like the viewing platform that
» kind of like the viewing platform that
happened in Llinter. Yes.
>> To to to improve what you know.
» To to to improve what you know.
>> So instead of spending 65 if you brought
» So instead of spending 65 if you brought
forward 10 we could do 75.
>> Yeah. Exactly.
» Yeah. Exactly.
>> So that's the question.
» So that's the question.
>> That that's the question. Thank you.
» That that's the question. Thank you.
>> Would that be would that donation be
» Would that be would that donation be
welcome?
uh through your worship, I would think
that donations for the municipality
would always be accepted
>> and um just understanding that this the
» and um just understanding that this the
structure would have to be built within
accordance to municipal standards and uh
regardless of what um the want would be.
Um, I know that in past sometimes we've
had some challenges with people want a
certain thing, but it didn't meet
municipal requirements. So, we have to
build because it's a liability and a
risk. So, I just want to put that out
there. Not that we're turning down any
sort of donations, but I just wanted to
be very clear. Okay. Okay. Councelor,
maybe.
>> Thank you, Madam Mayor. through you. Uh
» Thank you, Madam Mayor. through you. Uh
for any of the items listed that have a
high dollar value, is there grants being
uh asked for or submitted anywhere to
help fund these
>> director?
» director?
Through your worship? Absolutely. We're
we are tracking um funding opportunities
all the time. I just reached out to
Grant Match today uh to set up a meeting
with them to start looking at some of
these uh things that we've included in
the the proposed budget and uh have it
open up that discussion with them to see
what opportunities are out there that we
can move forward with.
>> Excellent. Thank you.
» Excellent. Thank you.
>> Okay, deputy mayor. Go ahead.
» Okay, deputy mayor. Go ahead.
>> Thank you worship through you to our
» Thank you worship through you to our
director of operations. I should mention
as well as has been mentioned uh this is
a great report by the way from uh those
of you who worked on this. It's concise
and and detailed and all the above. With
regards to high ticket items, we could
do what many municipalities are doing
and that's naming rights. Um we see it
all the time. Who would envision that
the gun or the old Kingston arena would
be referred to as such place? But here
we are. And I think there's a number of
of very prosperous uh businesses in our
township that would gladly step forward
given the right scenario and put their
name on it for a 10 15 year period or
such yet to be worked out. But I I don't
think it's something that should be
discarded. I think there's a number of
like as I said I think there's number of
businesses if a properly approached and
negotiated that uh they would they would
do such and there would be your donation
per se but uh no this report was well
done thank you
>> any further comments or questions
» any further comments or questions
seeing none we'll move on to information
items any information items there madame
clerk
>> that's
» that's
>> oh no okay um rise and report uh minutes
» oh no okay um rise and report uh minutes
from committees, working groups and
local boards. So pier and the library
board both minutes from their meetings
are there. So any questions for that can
we can direct appropriately.
Okay, we got notices of motion. Any
notices of motion? Go ahead.
I think somebody should speak up on
behalf of the presentation we had here
from Knight from the Lindhurst Pickle
Ball Group. That's not a big ask. And if
we can keep participation
>> on what what your There was two options
» on what what your There was two options
there.
>> There was but I
» There was but I
>> So it depends on what the ask is because
» So it depends on what the ask is because
one of them is not as intense as the
>> I would I would take baby steps first.
» I would I would take baby steps first.
>> Okay. So So maybe you want to work with
» Okay. So So maybe you want to work with
the clerk to bring forward a notice of
motion regarding the death.
>> I think we can. I mean, um, you know, I
» I think we can. I mean, um, you know, I
I think the working group should be
tasked with the bigger ask. It should be
part of this, but, uh,
>> it is part of that. It already is.
» it is part of that. It already is.
>> Oh, I I know it is, but I mean, we'll
» Oh, I I know it is, but I mean, we'll
just leave that well enough alone. I'm
assuming this group that came tonight
was not aware of this presentation.
>> They referred to it in the presentation.
» They referred to it in the presentation.
They
>> they did,
» they did,
>> but they but they want it to come
» but they but they want it to come
forward faster.
So that and that's why I left the
discussion to say that we're
deliberating budget in the next months
or in the next two weeks so that those
type of funds that are required to do
those sorts of things can be discussed
around this table.
>> Well, we have yet to see what Phil has
» Well, we have yet to see what Phil has
put before us here as to what's going to
come faster. Maybe a lot of things will
come slower, but uh the original asked a
small step. I will work with the clerk
in bringing that one forward. Thank you.
>> Thank you. Any other notices of motion?
» Thank you. Any other notices of motion?
No other notices of motion, statement or
announcements from counselors. Go ahead,
councelor maybe. Go ahead, councelor
Lackey.
>> Thank you, Madame Mayor, and through
» Thank you, Madame Mayor, and through
you. Uh December 6th, breakfast with
Santa here at Jesse Street 9 to 11. I'll
be participating. December 7th, Lions
Santa in the park. Um on the Sunday,
I'll be doing them 11 to 2. December
14th BIA Santa in the Park 11 to two.
And a large thank you to TLTI for being
in the Anaki parade. It was a great
success and uh very thrilled to see any
TITL equipment there and thank you mayor
and deputy mayor for being on the float.
Thank you.
>> Okay. Any other statements or
» Okay. Any other statements or
announcements from counselors?
I have councelor Antoine Har. Oh, sorry.
Councelor Lackey and then councelor
Antoine Harley.
>> Thank you worship and through you. Um
» Thank you worship and through you. Um
here in Lansdown it's u we've we've had
some uh some great news, some bad news
all in the same deal. Uh the Landown
Fresh Mart has been officially sold. Um
the new owners are uh Rick and Kelly
Sani. They have two sons, Sunny and Sam.
I believe they're all involved in the in
the business. Um, Silvin and Yoro Fernit
have owned the uh the store for the last
36 years. They bought it from other
family members in 1989.
Um, and they've done a great job of
looking after our community with great
service, great products. Uh, I know
everybody in our neck of the woods is
going to miss them. Uh, we wish them
well in the next stage of their lives
because as far as I'm concerned, they're
pretty young yet, meaning they're my
age.
your worship.
» It's all right. I'll take that hit.
>> Um, again, I'd like to congratulate the
» Um, again, I'd like to congratulate the
new owners as well as the previous
owners on uh on the future.
» Okay, Councelor Antoine Hartley. Thank
you, your worship. Um, so great job done
by the organizers of the shop and hop.
It was a wonderful event. I'm sporting a
brand new sweater. I'll have you know uh
from my trip uh trip around as well as a
lot of other treasures. Um it was a
wonderful event and and uh they I I
think they were very satisfied as well.
And I didn't get a chance to get to
everybody. I think I only made it to 13
of the 19 stops, but uh I plan on making
it to a few more before uh Christmas
time. Um the Legion uh Silly Bay Legion
is having a community children's
Christmas party. uh this Saturday uh at
um from 1 to 4 and it's being uh
supported by uh Sbury Area Residents
Association, the Lions Club, uh the
ladies auxiliary. There'll be Santa and
some elves. I think there's a costume
waiting for me somewhere. Um there's
crafts, there's cookie decorating,
uh food to purchase. Uh and it's
wonderful to see uh that that community
pulling together with all the
organizations and the helping at the
Legion to make that a great day for the
kids. And congratulations to uh Silly's
Bay, Olivet United Churches and Landown
United Church for thinking outside the
box and as of July 1st they will be
joining forces and form a partnership
uh that will u see them well we actually
kind of sold our minister 25% of them
to the lands down and but it's going to
be um a a wonderful opportunity I think
for our our small churches to find a
sustainable way forward and uh I'm uh
I'm looking forward to building those
relationships. Um so yeah, that's
congratulations to them for thinking
that through.
>> Awesome. Go ahead, Christa.
» Awesome. Go ahead, Christa.
>> Yeah, thank you. The Rockport
» Yeah, thank you. The Rockport
Development Group has their annual
general meeting Wednesday at 6:30 at the
Rockport Rec Hall. Um, I'll be attending
and I'm sure that they would welcome
other counselors and community members
out as well. Thank you.
>> Excellent. Go ahead, Dr. Mayor Fod.
» Excellent. Go ahead, Dr. Mayor Fod.
>> Thank you, Worship Muryu. This past
» Thank you, Worship Muryu. This past
week, uh, Lancetown lost one of its most
noted residents. Uh, Bill Bolton had
lived on Frederick Street for I don't
know how many years. Long time. But Bill
was better known as a lifelong teacher,
but better maybe known locally here as a
historian. Bill was also an author, but
Bill worked tirelessly for the
historical society on his own right. He
was basically the head of the historical
society before we had an historical
society.
Bill [clears throat] has donated
numerous items to EScott Hall
Springfield House. Uh the family brought
a number of those items to a celebration
of life Saturday when they come over to
the community building after the service
down at the funeral home. And uh maybe
one of the most unique items I saw that
day
when Bill helped create the plaques that
sit around our township. The one down
here at the railway on the top left
corner is a picture of a little boy
wearing a railway outfit. That's Bill
Bolan in that picture himself. He was
about six year five or six years old in
that picture. I found out from his
daughter, Bill's father was an engineer
on CN Railway and he had that pair of
overalls ordered for Bill to fit. That
pair of overalls were dry cleananed and
stored until this past week. They had
them, excuse me, they had them on
display over here the other day and they
look like they just came from a catalog
somewhere or the eating store or
wherever. They're going to donate those
pair of overalls along with the number
of other items have yet to be determined
when they go through Bill's numerous
pieces of history and history I should
say and uh and memorabilia at the house
and uh as they jokingly said it may take
us a couple of years to do so but it's
it's a loss to lose uh a member of the
community so well known as Bill but he
left a legacy and and through
Springfield House and Escott uh Escott
Hall and Springfield House. He'll uh
he'll remain a part of our our lives for
generations yet to come. I also want to
thank uh the teamwork that's taking
place through our department of
operations. Um namely things such as the
new pavement at Rockport. I've driven
through there a number of times before,
during, and now finished. That that's
impressive. It's it's very well done. I
know there's other jobs that Tackerberry
has done for us. Uh the pathways in
Lhurst and Silly's Bay. I haven't made
it to the one in Silly's Bay, nor have I
covered the entirety of the one in
Lynhurst yet. Um the county road project
out here on Warbertton Road and now part
of Blue Mountain down to uh
Rockfield has uh had its first layer
completed. I was talking to those men
when they were wrapping up last Thursday
and they said uh that would stay that
way till spring when they come back to
put the second layer on. But it's nice
to see these projects um wrapping up as
our year is doing the same and before
the next budget and u I'll leave the
question mark out there for whoever
cares to answer it. There's still a few
projects not answered yet as to
Springfield House Escott Hall when the
ribbon cutting is for the George
Tackerberry home and such. So, if
anybody has information on those, I'd be
keen to hear it. Thank you.
>> You want to go first with Escott?
» You want to go first with Escott?
[laughter]
>> Uh, thank you. Through your worship. So,
» Uh, thank you. Through your worship. So,
the Escott Hall and Springfield House.
Um, we've encountered some delays with
the archaeology study in in terms of the
Springfield House. So, that likely won't
happen until 2026. Um, we've spoken with
the contractor. They said that uh you
know it would require an additional mo
in moout and time spent um hotels etc.
So there they would expect some
additional costs. Um so we we haven't
had discussions about next steps with
that one at this point until we've seen
numbers. Uh the ESCO hall we are moving
forward. The the walls are being
painted. The the flooring is being
selected. Um door doors are supposed to
be coming and the the elevator lift. Um,
all that's supposed to start happening
here in the next couple weeks with the
project estimated to be completed now at
uh the end of January.
>> So, the question that deputy mayor FOD
» So, the question that deputy mayor FOD
has asked is would we be able to or at
least how I understood it, would we be
able to open the archives hall, the
Escott Rockport Hall before Springfield
House or do they both have to be done in
order to open?
>> Um, the Springfield House, we haven't
» Um, the Springfield House, we haven't
really done anything with it on the
inside. Structurally, the main floor is
secure now. Um, but the the hope is to
get the archives completely into their
building and then come back to council
with what what are the next steps with
the Springfield House. It'll be
completely vacated at that point. Um, we
do have to do some work with the HVAC in
there. It's not working correctly. Um,
so there's there's really no air
conditioning in that building. Um, but
certainly there's there's some work that
needs to be done in there before uh
before we move forward. So, we could
conceivably have a ribbon cutting for
Escott Hall in early 2026.
>> That is correct. The the intent is to
» That is correct. The the intent is to
get the uh the art trans group in into
the building situated and comfortable um
before we do the the grand opening so
that everybody can see what it looks
like as a finished product. Um so, yeah,
I would expect that springtime would be
the ideal time to to do the ribbon
cutting for that project.
>> Excellent.
» Excellent.
So, we'll hopefully have something to
put on our calendars early in 2026.
And so, now that I've had time to just
double check my phone, um the ribbon
cutting has not been booked for GTA yet,
uh there was an issue with flooding that
delayed the transition to the from the
contractor handing the county the keys.
They have as we have occupy partial
occupancy as of
a week and a half ago. What uh so the
staff are in there and they're training.
Um but what has to happen is is that the
the ministry has to come and commission
the building be meaning they have to
come in inspect everything see the folks
in there working seeing how everything's
flowing making sure they have enough
staff all the other things in order for
them to open. So it is proposed and the
hope is is that in the beginning of
February we will be cutting the ribbon.
Go ahead.
Thank you. Worship through you and to
you. So the ministry wants to come and
see that everything's working without
patience.
>> Oh no, it's but it's more just the
» Oh no, it's but it's more just the
mechanical systems, the nurse call
systems,
>> those sorts of things. They need to test
» those sorts of things. They need to test
everything mechanically as well as that
that the people who are responsible for
running them know how to. So it's just
because they're just basically coming
over across the road. So, the good news
is is that we are staffed. We're short a
few bodies as of right now, but we're
overstaffed for the existing home
because we've upstaffed thinking we
would be in the home by now.
>> So, it's a double-edged sword. Um the
» So, it's a double-edged sword. Um the
good news is is that we'll be able to
get in there, but the um the unfortunate
incident which caused the uh water to
penetrate the roof and into a brand new
building
is extremely disappointing uh that it
happened. Um but it had to be fixed. It
had to be fixed, right? I'm just
grateful it didn't happen when there
were humans in in there and there would
have been bigger challenges. So, um, and
we caught a few couple of extra things
when they were that needed to be fixed
before they turned the keys over. So,
the good news is is that they are moving
as quickly as possible and that there's
um the ministry is very much on side
with getting this. They want the beds
open as quickly as possible. So, um
there'll be no delay from the ministry
end.
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> Okay. We also received a delegation from
» Okay. We also received a delegation from
So, I'll just go right into the mayor's
update. We received a delegation from
Perith Falls Hospital. Right now, 42% of
their patients are waiting for long-term
care beds in their hospital. Last time
they came, it was 49. So, they're
actually improving the numbers. And I
believe Kingston and Brockville are
their numbers are still in the mid30s,
I believe. So, we know that there's a
number of people looking for these beds
and we're trying to get them online as
quickly as possible. Um just want to say
congratulations to all the um parade
organizers. So thank you to our own um
counselor maybe who slash town crier
slash parade organizer and his crew.
Always a great time in Ganona. It was
lovely to see so many people out and
such a great evening for weather. Um it
wasn't raining, it wasn't snowing, it
was just perfect. Um so it was quite a
lovely evening. Thank you to Deputy
Mayor Fod, but uh specifically thank you
to Lyall Stacy, one of our um public
works folks who took the time on a
Saturday night along with his daughter
and her boyfriend to come out and
decorate and get everything out. And I
believe Tyler was the one who got the
truck ready the evening before. So, it
was a bit of a team effort, but it's
always nice to go and support town of
Yanquway. Um, but obviously we've had
Landown, we've had Lindhurst. Um, we the
shop and hop I heard was extremely well
attended. Um, and I'm really grateful
that so many people use that opportunity
to go out and see all the different
stores in our area and outside of our
area for that matter. But the fact that
they all work together so well, I'm
excited about what they're going to do
in the summer with some of their other
marketing efforts. um which is I won't
you know go too far down the rabbit hole
on that one um the economic development
summit last Friday a week ago Friday um
that was very important for this
municipality there was a 12 over $12
million announcement made uh by
Samsterhoff associate minister for
energy and connectivity
um out of that uh amount that was given
a good portion of that is being spent
here in this municipality. Um they are
basically plugging the holes or the gaps
in the connectivity throughout the
entire municipality. Um they are working
very rapidly to um get the
infrastructure up and running so that
they can start um looking for clients to
or customers that are in need of better
connectivity regardless of the
topography and where they live which is
very important. So, I'm extremely proud
um that after seven years of talking
about connectivity here in the township
of Leeds and the Thousand Islands that
for all the work that's been done to
actually wire as many people um my
parents got their con connection, their
hardwired connection the other day. Um
and the wires have been hanging on poles
for quite some time and they're working
steadily on that. It doesn't happen
overnight. Um but the this um
announcement will be for all those who
aren't getting the hardwired connection
that they will have additional options
for connectivity um and through a
Canadian provider. So um but the
economic development summit was uh a
great success. One of the main themes,
which I know that maybe some folks who
were in attendance probably were like,
"Why does this pertain to me as a small
business owner?" Um, it was in regards
to uh grid stability. Um, we had the
folks from IEO there explaining to us
about what they're doing for a survey to
try to better understand what the power
needs are. What people I've had to learn
this all myself in the last not all
myself but I've had to learn this
through sort of osmosis with other folks
who've done a lot more digging than I
have. We have all the power in the
world. We do not have a grid that is
stable enough to actually use it. And
the challenges are immense for the large
businesses that want to grow and employ
more of our family, friends, and
neighbors. Um the one business owner,
Greenfield Ethanol, got up and said that
they lose a million dollars every time
the power goes down on the plant. Last
year it was over $28 million they lost
because it went down 28 times. So that
from a business perspective is not
acceptable. Um, but moreover, we have
businesses like Greenfield and uh, HFI
Pyro Technics that are further east of
here that want to expand and they can't.
And let's be honest, there's lots of
people who live in this township and
drive a half an hour, 40 minutes that
way to work. No different than going to
Kingston. We're right smack in the
middle. And so it's important because
all the small business owners, the shop
and hop folks, those people that work at
those businesses are the ones that go
out there on a Saturday or a Sunday or a
Friday afternoon and spend their money
and support our small businesses in our
communities. So it's very important that
we all row this boat in the same
direction. Um MP Steve Clark has been um
very much vocal about this and now the
study has been moved up 7 months which
I'm very grateful. um because it will
still take time for us to get the grid
um up to a certain level that will be
able to handle the amount of power. Uh
we also had the minister of small
business there and Minister Tangry um
who was here earlier in the summer
talking about small business with our
summer company folks and this is going
to be a shameless plug for starter
company and starter company plus and
summer company. If you have a business
that you are looking to grow and scale,
starter company plus might be an option
for you. If you would like to start a
business in the municipality, starter
company might be for you. If you have a
young person, and I believe it's
15 to I'd have to get the ages um 15 to
30. It's it goes quite high for summer
company where they're looking to create
you to get help to create a business.
Each one of these programs has a grant
that comes with them. So you get so much
upfront to help start your business and
create a business plan and get mentors
for marketing, accounting, coaching, all
sorts of things. Um, and then once you
complete the program, you get this other
amount and I believe it's $5,000. Like,
and for the summer company, I think it's
three
15. Thank you. You just look that up for
me. Thank you. Um, but I cannot stress
enough that these programs that are
available to anybody here in the United
Counties of Leeds and Grumble, including
TLTI residents, is such a valuable
program because it really helps build
confidence, get you on stable footing so
that you can apply for funding from
Community Futures or the bank or
whatever uh in order to make sure that
your business can um either establish
itself self or grow or figure out if
entrepreneur entrepreneurialism is for
you. Um the summer company was pretty
incredible. One of the kids made $20,000
in 2 months literally cleaning cars. It
was phenomenal. Created his own um car
cleaning business. So um yeah uh and so
that's why the economic development
summit is always really great. We also
have a the Bill Thake award which was
awarded to Brian Purcell who's from
Spencerville who um I have actually
gotten to know over the years because
he's in the insurance business but that
is secondary to what he does in the
community and Brian has always been a
very dedicated community-minded person
which is what the Billake Award is all
about. So uh did I miss anything that's
coming up? Oh treelighting in Lanstown I
believe is Friday. Thank you. And
oh yes, RTO Canal is upcoming 200 year
anniversary. Um so they are going to be
doing a number of projects. There is
also going to be an assembly of
of villages, towns along the Reo that
are going to hopefully be part of
delegating to the feds uh in regards to
getting additional funds put together.
Um we are uh we need to be very vocal
about the Lasal Causeway and what havoc
that is wrecking on businesses, towns
and homes along the Reto Canal. So um
more to come on that. I know that uh
Mayor Robin Jones along with uh the
contact from RTO Canal were supposed to
uh let us know when they might be
committing a meeting and I will let the
rest of council know.
Other than that,
okay, that's everything. So, we have no
closed session this evening. So, we'll
move right on to adjournment. And then
the motion comes forward from councelor
Antoine Hartley, seconded by councelor
maybe that council adjourn at 7:57.
All those in favor? All those opposed?
And we're carried. Thank you, folks.