[0:06] And welcome everyone to South Huron
Council meeting September 8th, 2026. The
[0:09] kids are all back in school, so that's a
good thing for everyone. And we're glad
[0:12] to have everyone here this evening
that's in the gallery, and I thank our
[0:15] staff that are here as well to advise
facts and information to help us make
[0:18] the best decisions on behalf of all
members of the public. I will welcome
[0:22] everybody now and then ask everyone to
ensure their cell phones are turned off
[0:25] with the exception of our firefighters.
They're more than welcome to leave
[0:27] theirs on. If everyone could stand for O
Canada, please.
[0:39] » [music]
[0:42] [singing]
[0:45] [music]
[0:53] [singing]
[0:57] [music]
[singing]
[1:06] [music]
[1:10] [singing]
[1:14] [music]
[singing]
[1:19] [music]
[1:22] [singing]
[1:31] [music and singing]
[1:42] [music]
[1:51] » Again, welcome to everyone that's
participating here this evening and
[1:54] those that are participating from home
in the comfort of their homes. Uh just
[1:57] great to have everyone involved. Uh
we'll begin our meeting with our land
[2:00] acknowledgement. As we gather, we are
reminded that the Municipality of South
[2:03] Huron is situated on Treaty 29 land that
is steeped in rich indigenous history
[2:08] and home to First Nations, Inuit, and
Métis people today. And as a community,
[2:12] we have a responsibility to honor and
respect this territory's significance
[2:16] for the indigenous peoples
Excuse me, who lived and continue to
[2:19] live upon it and whose practices and
spiritualities were tied to the land and
[2:23] continue to develop in relationship to
the territory and its other inhabitants
[2:27] today. In the spirit of reconciliation
and truth, we acknowledge the
[2:30] Anishinaabe and the Haudenosaunee
peoples on whose traditional territory
[2:33] that we are meeting.
And I turn to Ms. Sue Colson, item
[2:36] number two, please.
>> Uh through the mayor, item 11.1
[2:42] is being removed as there was a deferral
of the notice to consider for the Mud
[2:48] Creek Municipal Drain, and that date I
don't believe at this time has been set.
[2:53] So, the agenda will be that South Huron
Council approves the agenda as amended.
[3:00] » And a mover for that, please. Moved by
Councillor Neweb, seconded by Councillor
[3:02] Oak. Any discussion?
I'll call the question. All in favor?
[3:06] And that carries with six. Thank you.
Uh disclosure of pecuniary interests in
[3:10] the general nature of Are there any
disclosures at this time?
[3:14] And not seeing any, we'll move on to
presentations. And we have our fire
[3:17] department, and I'll begin with a
welcome to all of you, of course. And
[3:20] tonight we gathered to recognize and
express our deepest gratitude to our
[3:24] brave brave professional volunteer
firefighters who have dedicated years
[3:28] and even decades to protecting our
our communities.
[3:31] These patriotic heroes have selflessly
placed themselves in harm's way
[3:34] countless times to protect all of us,
our families, and even complete
[3:37] strangers.
While others are running away from
[3:40] danger, you are the ones running towards
it. And being on call 24/7 every day is
[3:44] a demanding responsibility that only the
most elite patriot will choose to pursue
[3:48] while still balancing their work and
family lives.
[3:51] We are a better place because of your
loyalty, and of course, we are eternally
[3:54] grateful that your family shares that
same passion, and it's really quite
[3:57] admirable. So, tonight as we reflect on
your years of courage, let us be
[4:01] reminded of the sacrifice each of you
have made without hesitation.
[4:05] And although I'm not able to explain why
you do it, I can tell you that I and the
[4:09] rest of South Huron are proud that you
do, because life will be drastically
[4:12] different for all of us without each and
every one of you and your families.
[4:17] And we as a community need to continue
to support our patriotic heroes, as the
[4:20] risks by not doing so are too many to
contemplate.
[4:23] When we consider that 85% of all
firefighters across Canada are
[4:26] professional volunteers, we in South
Huron are so thankful to have the best
[4:29] of them. So, members of council and
staff, and members of the public, before
[4:32] I turn this over to Chief Becker, would
you please join me in thanking these
[4:35] incredible heroes and their families
properly.
[4:43] Chief Becker, please proceed.
>> Thank you, uh, through you, Mayor Finch.
[4:47] I did have a speech, but you summed up
most of it right there, so I want to
[4:49] thank you for that. Um, I do want to
highlight the, uh, one point, uh,
[4:56] is the family.
It's, um, a huge commitment,
[5:00] and I've said it before, and having, uh,
recipients tonight for 20 and 30 years,
[5:05] um,
they've definitely been a part, so I
[5:09] want to thank them as well.
So,
[5:12] we'll get on to the awards, and, uh,
we'll start, um,
[5:15] I'm going to call Chief Vanderburg to
come down. He's going to assist me
[5:18] tonight. Um, we'll bring the recipient
down. We'll do a photo, um,
[5:22] with the Chief Vanderburg myself, and
then if your family wishes to,
[5:27] um, come down as well,
um, with all of council as well.
[5:31] So, tonight we'll start with Firefighter
Aaron Daters' 20 years of service.
[6:21] » Uh tonight we all
also have um Aaron's family
[6:26] um who both serve on the department as
well so
[6:29] his father Peter Daters and his brother
Sam.
[7:09] You think 20 years is a long time? Add
another 10 on.
[7:13] Captain Doug Smith.
[8:06] » And also tonight we have Doug Sunwill
who is also a member of the fire
[8:11] department.
[8:43] Thank you everyone for coming. That
concludes our
[8:45] award ceremony for this year.
[8:59] » Thank you very much fire
fighters and your families.
[9:03] Well done.
[9:39] » Okay, Ms. Basil Cole's in. Next item.
Please.
[9:45] » Next item, uh delegations, there are
none.
[9:49] Public meeting,
there isn't. Uh so, at minutes, item
[9:52] 7.1, that South Huron Council adopts the
minutes of the regular Council meeting
[9:56] of August 10th, 2026, as printed and
circulated.
[10:00] » And a mover for that, Deputy Mayor
moves, second by Councillor Dietrich.
[10:03] Any discussion?
Call the question. All in favor, that
[10:05] carries with six. Thank you. Next item,
eight, please.
[10:09] » That the minutes and agendas of the
following committees and or boards be
[10:12] received as presented to Council. Asable
Bayfield Conservation Authority
[10:16] submission to ERO 026-0740,
consultation on proposed governance
[10:22] regulations for regional conservation
authorities and the Ontario Provincial
[10:26] Conservation Agency.
Upper Thames River Conservation
[10:30] Authority, the draft minutes of June
23rd, 2026, and agenda package of August
[10:36] 25th, 2026.
The 2027 draft budget, and the Exeter
[10:41] Rodeo minutes of July 8th, 2026 and July
22nd, 2026.
[10:47] » And a mover, please. Moved by Councillor
Nieb, second by Deputy Mayor. Any
[10:50] discussion? Councillor O'Rourke, go
ahead, please.
[10:52] » Yes, thank you, Mayor. Um item 8.1, um
just wondering
[10:58] um
and maybe uh
[11:01] Councillor Vaughn can uh comment. Should
we be supporting this or by resolution
[11:07] or something just uh
to the cons- for the Conservation
[11:10] Authority, their recommendations here to
add some strength to it?
[11:16] » Go ahead, Councillor Vaughn.
>> Sure. Um thank you, Councillor O'Rourke.
[11:20] I um
I do believe that the whole ERO um
[11:25] submission here was to basically
preserve our representation
[11:30] at the local level, and uh we do have an
awful lot of support for maintaining
[11:36] local representation. So, I think um
at any point that we can continue to
[11:42] support it, it would be good. A
resolution, I think I would support.
[11:48] » Very well, Councillor Brooke.
>> Could I make a a motion that we support
[11:52] this uh
um and and uh CC the recipients on the
[11:58] original letter?
>> Yeah, we can do that. We'll deal with
[12:01] the first motion that's with us right
now and then uh we can do that right
[12:05] after this, okay?
So, there any further questions at this
[12:08] time on 8.3?
Okay, last room we got to move to second
[12:13] and I'll call question all in favor.
And that carries with six. Thank you and
[12:16] I'll turn to Madam Clerk for that
motion.
[12:57] » That South Huron Council supports the
Ausable Bayfield Conservation
[13:02] Authority's submission to the ERO in
regards to consultation on proposed
[13:06] governance regulations for regional
conservation authorities, Ontario
[13:10] provincial conservation agency, and that
the supporting resolution be circulated
[13:16] to
um MPP Thompson, MPP Rae, uh MPP
[13:22] Pasquini, uh County of Huron, County of
Lambton, County of Middlesex, County of
[13:27] Perth,
the current members, municipal members
[13:30] of the ABCA Conservation, as well as the
transition committee,
[13:34] um and their project lead.
>> So, moved Councillor. So moved. Is there
[13:39] a second? Seconded by Councillor Neeb.
Any discussion?
[13:43] Call the question. All in favor. And
that carries with six. Thank you.
[13:46] Uh next item, 9.4, please.
>> That Council receives the Committee of
[13:50] the Whole minutes of August 12th, 2026
as presented, and approves the
[13:54] recommendation of the Committee of the
Whole as follows.
[13:57] That the Age-Friendly Landfill Liaison
and Volunteer Appreciating Appreciation
[14:02] Committee be dissolved. And that the
Procedural Bylaw, item 4.3.e.ii,
[14:09] be updated to the meeting curfew shall
be 3 hours from the published start time
[14:14] of the meeting. Council may by may by
unanimous resolution of all members
[14:19] present proceed past the curfew for up
to 1 hour.
[14:24] And
that the closed session and report from
[14:27] closed session be moved to the end of
the meeting agenda, save and except for
[14:31] the confirming bylaw and meeting
adjournment.
[14:34] And that the start time for regular
Council meetings, 4.1.a
[14:39] and 4.3.e.i,
[14:42] remain at 6:00 p.m.
And that the rest of the proposed
[14:47] revisions to the Procedural Bylaw, save
and except those discussed today, be
[14:52] approved and the bylaw be brought back
for the required three readings.
[14:56] » And a mover for that, please. Deputy
Mayor moves, seconded by Councillor
[14:59] Vaughan. Any discussion?
Call the question. All in favor. Carries
[15:03] with five. Thank you very much.
Next item, please. 9.1, please.
[15:09] » That South Huron Council receives staff
report BPS 14-2026,
[15:14] Building and Planning, second quarter.
>> And a mover for that, please. Moved by
[15:18] Councillor Neeb, seconded by Councillor
Dietrich. Any discussion?
[15:23] Call the question. All in favor? Carries
with five. Thank you.
[15:26] And next item, please. Some
Everyone here.
[15:30] 9.3 appointment.
>> That South Huron Council receive staff
[15:34] report TSD08-2026,
motor grader repairs special
[15:39] circumstance purchase summary.
>> And a mover for that, please. Moved by
[15:43] Council Oakes, seconded by Council
Vaughn. Any discussion?
[15:48] Call the question. All in favor?
And that carries with six. Thank you.
[15:52] Uh 9.4, please.
>> That South Huron Council receive staff
[15:56] report CL14-2026,
election compliance audit committee for
[16:01] 2026 to 2026-2030 council term.
And that council authorize the clerk to
[16:06] proceed with the establishment of a
compliance audit committee for the 2026
[16:11] municipal election in accordance with
the Municipal Elections Act, 1996.
[16:16] And that the required bylaw to establish
the election compliance audit committee
[16:21] and adopt the terms of reference be
brought back for the required three
[16:25] readings.
>> And a mover for that, please. Moved by
[16:28] Deputy Mayor, seconded by Council Neeb.
Any discussion?
[16:32] Call the question. All in favor? That
carries with six. Thank you. Next item,
[16:35] please.
>> That South Huron Council receive staff
[16:39] report CL15-2026,
municipal election 2026 restricted acts
[16:45] of council lame duck period update.
>> And a mover for that, please. Moved by
[16:50] Council Neeb, moved, seconded by Council
Dietrich. Any discussion?
[16:55] Call the question. All in favor? And
that carries with six. Thank you.
[16:59] 9.4.3, please.
>> That South Huron Council receive staff
[17:04] report CL16-2026,
transfer of Jessica's House.
[17:09] And that council authorize the cost to
complete the transfer of the property to
[17:14] Jessica's House as an in-kind donation.
And that the mayor and clerk be
[17:19] authorized to execute any documents
necessary to complete the transfer of
[17:24] the lands legally described as known as
parts 2, 3, and 4, plan 22R-6530,
[17:32] Municipality of South Huron.
>> I'll move for that, please. Moved by
[17:35] Councillor Niebsch, seconded by
Councillor Oak. Any discussion?
[17:40] Call the question. All in favor?
And that carries a six. Thank you.
[17:44] Uh
is there any notice of motion?
[17:47] » There are none.
>> Thank you. And 11.1 has been removed
[17:49] from the agenda. 12, any new business
from members of council?
[17:54] Not seeing any. Uh 13, mayor and council
comments and announcements. Are there
[17:58] any announcements at this time?
[18:02] No. Councillor Oak, go ahead, please.
>> Just uh want to welcome everybody to the
[18:07] Kirkton Fair this coming weekend and
remind people that it's uh
[18:11] it's on starting Friday night and all
the way through till Sunday afternoon.
[18:15] So,
hopefully the the weather cooperates
[18:18] like this past weekend. So.
>> Okay. Councillor Vande
[18:23] » Yes, I just wanted to make mention of a
couple of events that I've attended over
[18:27] the last uh couple of weeks. Um so, the
first one was the Huron County um Food
[18:33] Bank
uh their distribution gala. It was a
[18:37] very well-attended
uh event. Um
[18:42] many people that I met there also were
beyond the confines of just uh Huron
[18:48] County. So, definitely a whole regional
um
[18:52] uh
support for
[18:55] the good work that's being done by that
Food Bank.
[18:58] And uh also I attended the Huron
Manufacturing Association uh at the
[19:03] Cowbell Brewery in uh Blyth. They have a
uh new approach to some networking
[19:10] opportunities that I think they're going
to try to uh frequently roll out over
[19:15] the year. Um and we had a opportunity to
also hear from Fein, who
[19:23] is a distributor of professional power
tools. So, that was
[19:28] very informative meeting.
Yeah.
[19:32] » Great. Yes, and as I both of those as
well and then add to the HMA event,
[19:36] Larry Livingston made a good point.
We're now the in his opinion the
[19:39] economic engine
down here here in East West for a number
[19:42] of years, but that seems to be shifting,
which is good. There's lots of progress
[19:46] on the go. So,
good to hear that
[19:50] we're leading away there. Any other
comments at this time?
[19:54] Not seeing any. We'll go to
communications. If you wish anything to
[19:57] be pulled, please advise.
>> 14.1
[20:04] 14.2
>> I'd pull that.
[20:10] » 14.3
>> Pull that.
[20:14] » Pull.
>> 14.4
[20:18] » Pull.
[20:22] » I
14.5
[20:30] 14.6
[20:36] 14.7
[20:42] 14.8
[20:47] Can somebody pull that?
>> I'll pull that, please.
[20:51] » Um 14.9
[20:58] 14.10
[21:03] 14.11
[21:07] 14.12
[21:12] Oh.
14 13
[21:16] » Thank you. Thank you.
Hey, we'll start with
[21:20] 14.2. Counselor, go ahead, please.
>> Yeah, thank you, Mayor.
[21:25] Just want to
um voice my concern about the letter
[21:29] that we received here um
with the OPP policing increase uh
[21:37] um looks like it uh
will be around 11% increase this coming
[21:42] year.
Um so, that kind of uh increase on a
[21:49] a $2 million budget is a big number.
And so,
[21:53] um I think
we should be voicing our concern in a in
[21:58] some some way, shape, or form.
[22:03] Um
not sure if
[22:06] if we should be making a a resolution
and sending something to
[22:12] to the Solicitor General.
>> Uh Ms. Ms. Wilson, comment.
[22:16] » Through the Mayor, uh we certainly
could.
[22:19] Um
if you want a more fullsome resolution,
[22:22] maybe it's something that um
we can work out for the next meeting. Uh
[22:28] » Sure.
>> Would that work?
[22:29] » Yep.
>> Can can you pass a resolution then and
[22:33] have something brought back?
>> Sure. I send it like a staff report or
[22:37] something or like a staff staff memo.
>> of a of a resolution expressing concern.
[22:43] » I make that motion to for staff to bring
back a memo to the next meeting.
[22:47] » Uh Madam Clerk, we'll prepare that and
we'll move from there.
[23:21] » That a staff memo be brought back to the
September 21st Council meeting providing
[23:25] a proposed resolution regarding concerns
for the proposed increase for OPP
[23:29] municipal policing costs.
>> So moved Councillor. So moved. Is there
[23:33] a seconder for that Councillor? Deputy
Mayor seconds. Any discussion?
[23:38] Call the question. All in favor. That
carries with six. Thank you.
[23:41] And next item 14.3 I'll just turn to
staff regarding this
[23:46] matter. Wonder if the flag can be raised
at the community park there. Is that
[23:50] something that can be looked at?
>> Through the Mayor, yes.
[23:53] We do have a flag and it will be raised.
There's also additional information on
[23:58] our website that's always updated at
this time of year as well.
[24:01] » Perfect, thank you. And you don't need a
resolution for that I take it.
[24:04] » No, we do not.
>> Thank you. 14.4 Councillor Neeb, go
[24:07] ahead please.
>> Yep.
[24:09] Thank you Mayor French through the
chair. Um
[24:11] this is a request from the Xtra BIA to
close parts of the street and
[24:17] for the BIA to use the parking lot for
two separate dates, November 14th
[24:22] and October 24th. One's for the
Santa Claus parade and one is for the
[24:27] Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree. So
I'm willing to make that motion that we
[24:31] make those spaces available to the BIA.
[24:36] » Okay, let's wait for the resolution
here.
[24:46] » That South Huron Council approve the
closure of Town Hall parking lot, the
[24:50] closure areas as outlined in the request
for October 24th, 2026 from 4:30 to 7:30
[24:55] p.m. for the Jack-O-Lantern Jamboree.
>> [gasps and sighs]
[24:58] » and Council approved the road closure of
Main Street from Huron Street to
[25:01] Wellington Street from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
on November 14th, 2026 for the Santa
[25:06] Claus parade.
>> So moved, Councillor Neeb.
[25:09] » So moved.
>> Is there a seconder for that, please?
[25:11] Seconded by Deputy Mayor seconds. Any
discussion?
[25:15] Call the question. All in favor? Carries
with six. Thank you, everyone. Uh next
[25:19] item, 14.8. Uh just turned to staff in
regards to uh welcoming week, September
[25:23] 16th.
Comments, please.
[25:25] » So, this is the Hey Neighbor event. Um
and it is proposed to be held in the at
[25:31] the parking lot here. Uh partnership
with the the library here and
[25:35] immigration partnership and the
municipality.
[25:38] » And we do we need a recommendation from
>> Yes, for to use a proposed uh portion of
[25:44] the town hall parking lot, and uh there
are some of the
[25:49] looking at getting food trucks, so some
parking on Main Street. I think it was
[25:52] four spots.
>> I see Councillor Neeb has his hand up
[25:55] there, and Councillor O'Rourke will
second it eventually. So, if we could
[25:58] just get a resolution, please, and then
we'll go from there.
[26:03] » That South Huron Council approve the
request for use of the town hall parking
[26:06] lot on September 16th from 3:30 to 7:30
p.m. The closure areas outlined in the
[26:12] request, as well as the parking spots on
Main Street for the welcoming week
[26:16] event.
>> So moved, Councillor Neeb. Seconded by
[26:18] Councillor O'Rourke. Any discussion?
Call the question. All in favor? Carries
[26:23] with six. Thank you. Uh 14.12. Uh
Councillor O'Rourke, please.
[26:29] » Um yes. This uh resolution appears to
deal with uh the elimination of a uh
[26:37] second injury and enhancement fund that
supported uh
[26:43] uh the WSIB claims. And uh I must say I
don't really know exactly what that
[26:49] means to us, except for the fact that
this resolution speaks about uh this
[26:55] might provide
might cause additional costs for
[26:59] employers such as ourselves
to have to deal with as pre-existing
[27:05] conditions
are apparent. And I'm just wondering if
[27:10] this is something our CAO has had
opportunity yet to speak with
[27:16] our staff about and if there's an impact
we should be
[27:21] aware of or doing something about.
>> Through the chair. Yes, so the
[27:26] correspondence speaks to WSIB second
injury and enhancement fund. It's a cost
[27:32] relief mechanism for certain employers.
And it it actually recognizes a worker's
[27:37] pre-existing physical or psychological
condition
[27:41] that can be that can make a workplace
injury happen easier or make the
[27:46] recovery more serious.
When applied to WSIB could move some of
[27:51] the claim costs away from the employers
individual reclaim record and into the
[27:57] shared fund.
So so there is to help bear the costs.
[28:02] The goal was to avoid creating financial
hardship for employers to hire or retain
[28:07] people with disabilities and
pre-existing conditions.
[28:12] So practical example that we have here
is employee has a significant and
[28:17] well-documented pre-existing shoulder
condition. They suffer from a
[28:21] work-related strain from lifting
equipment. And
[28:26] but as of June 16th, 2026, the fund was
closed.
[28:30] And so claims prior to that date may be
applicable, but anything after that not.
[28:37] So
it would be good to support this
[28:41] resolution.
>> Okay. So may I make that motion that we
[28:45] support this resolution?
>> I'm clerk, whenever you're ready.
[29:01] » That South Huron Council supports the
Municipality of Trent Hills resolution
[29:06] regarding elimination of the Workplace
Safety Insurance Board's Second Injury
[29:10] Enhancement Fund.
And that the supporting resolution and
[29:15] initial documentation be provided and
forwarded to the honorable
[29:20] Minister of Labour, Immigration,
Training and Skills, Premier of Ontario,
[29:25] all members of provincial parliament and
Ontario WSIB,
[29:29] AMO, the Eastern and Western Warden's
Caucus, Ontario Chamber of Commerce,
[29:35] um
CFIB, OBIAA, ROMA, Federation of
[29:40] Northern Ontario Municipalities,
AMCTO, local members of parliament, as
[29:45] well as local boards of trade and
chambers of commerce and all
[29:49] municipalities for their consideration.
>> So moved, Councillor Bond.
[29:53] » So moved.
>> Deputy seconds that. Any discussion?
[29:57] Call the question. All in favor? That
carries with six. Thank you. Ms.
[30:00] Massouh-Colson, recommendation, please.
>> That South Huron Council receive
[30:04] communication items not otherwise dealt
with.
[30:06] » And a mover, please. Moved by Councillor
Neeb, seconded by Councillor Oke. Any
[30:10] discussion?
Call the question. All in favor? Carries
[30:13] with six. Thank you. We have no closed
session on 15, no report from closed
[30:17] session, and we go to 17.1, please.
>> That South Huron Council gives first,
[30:21] second, third, and final reading to
by-law 59-2026,
[30:25] being a by-law to authorize the signing
of a memorandum of understanding with
[30:29] the Sable Bayfield Conservation
Authority for the purpose of formalizing
[30:33] a working relationship with the
Municipality of South Huron to assist in
[30:37] their mission and management of the
South Huron Trail within the
[30:40] Municipality of South Huron.
>> And a mover for that, please. Councillor
[30:43] Neeb moves it. Councillor Vaughan
seconds. Any discussion?
[30:48] Call the question. All in favor?
It carries with six. Thank you. And we
[30:51] go to 18, confirming bylaw.
>> That South Huron Council gives first,
[30:55] second, third, and final reading to
bylaw 60-2026, being a bylaw to confirm
[30:59] matters addressed at the September 8th,
2026 Council meeting.
[31:04] » And a mover for that. Deputy Mayor
moves, seconded by Councillor Oak. Any
[31:06] discussion?
Call the question. All in favor?
[31:10] It carries with six. Thank you. And 19.
>> That South Huron Council hereby adjourn
[31:14] at 6:31 p.m. to meet again on September
21st, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. or at the call
[31:20] of the chair.
>> Deputy Mayor will move that. Seconded by
[31:24] Councillor Neeb. No discussion. Call the
question. All in favor? And that carries
[31:28] with six. Thank you, everyone. And thank
you very much for attending this
[31:30] evening.