[0:02] Good evening and welcome to the regular
council meeting for Kobalt August 18
[0:08] 2026
and I'd like to call this to order now.
[0:13] Is there any disclosure of pecuniary
interest
[0:18] you public meetings? No
deputations.
[0:25] Daniel Gerard from Kemp Elliot and Blair
is here with the presentation of the
[0:29] 2025 financial statements and she's
going to come up and
[0:36] uh give them to us now and right now
they are in draft form. Once
[0:43] everything's signed, sealed and
delivered and everything then the final
[0:48] copy will be available to the public. So
yes sir. Um, can I make a quick
[0:54] suggestion?
>> Uh, could we maybe bump Dan Garoo first
[0:57] since his presentation will not be
anywhere as long as this this one?
[1:01] » I'm okay.
>> You're okay? Yeah.
[1:02] » Are you here?
>> Yeah.
[1:04] » Okay. Sure, Dan. Thanks.
>> Okay. It's all yours.
[1:10] » Okay. So, you should all have a package
um in your handouts that have uh the
[1:14] important pages of the financial
statements. So, we've broken this down
[1:17] to kind of the nuts and bolts that we
think is uh useful to council. So the
[1:21] first page in your package is actually
labeled page 22 and it is a note to your
[1:26] financial statement. So basically this
is your statement of operation which
[1:30] shows revenues and expenses but we've
converted here to the way that you
[1:33] budget. So for those of you who heard
hear me every year explain this. You are
[1:38] required to budget in a different way
than you are required to present your
[1:41] financial statements. So there's
accountants way smarter than me that
[1:44] decided that accounting rules don't
follow how you budget. So we we we do is
[1:48] we convert your financial statements to
the way that you budget so that when we
[1:52] review it together, you're comparing
apples to apples and it makes a little
[1:55] bit more sense. The [clears throat]
excuse me, the major things that are
[1:59] different are capital expenditures. So
when you budget a capital expense, it is
[2:03] an expense to you in your financial
statements. They capitalize it and
[2:06] depreciate it. Long-term debt is the
same. So the repayment of long-term debt
[2:10] is an expense to you in your budget. But
the way that your financial statements
[2:14] are reported, the principal payments go
through your balance sheet and only the
[2:17] interest expense um is on your statement
of operations. So those are your two
[2:21] biggest differences. [snorts] So we will
review that. If you have questions, do
[2:25] stop me along the way. Middle column is
the 2025 actual. You've got your budget
[2:29] on the left and 2024 on the right. So
under operating revenues, we have
[2:33] municipal taxation of 877,000.
Your tax rate went up 7%. Your
[2:39] assessment stayed the same, which
created an extra taxation revenue of 7%.
[2:44] Water and sewer user fees, 611,476.
Your residential water rate went up 10%,
[2:50] the commercial rate went up 7%, and your
sewer rate remained unchanged.
[2:55] Policing fees went up 10% to 417,173.
User charges, everything else that you
[3:02] charge your rateayers for, went up from
194 to 203. The major increase there was
[3:08] the colarium sales. So you sold a lot. I
think it was brand new in 2024 you guys
[3:12] built it and now you sold I think
they're called I don't know they're
[3:15] called pots or drawers or anyways you
sold a bunch of them.
[3:20] » There you go. So yes, you sold a bunch
of them and that was the increase this
[3:23] year.
Provincial grants. These are operating
[3:26] provincial grants. A million81898.
The largest amount in there for 915,900
[3:32] is your Ontario municipal partnership
fund. This is your unconditional grant
[3:35] from the province and it went up about
2%.
[3:39] Fire protection grant in there as well
too. You had an intern grant. You did
[3:44] use some Nords and OCIF funding towards
operating um expenses or things that
[3:48] were deemed operating. So there's also
those amounts in there as well. Federal
[3:53] grants 113,000. Uh most of that is gas
tax that was used on repairs towards the
[3:59] water system.
Uh revenue from other municipalities
[4:03] 32,000. Uh the water from Coleman
increased because they helped to fund
[4:09] some of the major repairs that had to be
done.
[4:13] Investment income 8,691.
Interest rates are down. You had less um
[4:19] money in the bank. So you had less
interest income this year. Penalties and
[4:23] interest on taxes 50,536. We'll see in a
minute that your taxes receivable
[4:28] balance is a little bit higher at the
end of the year, but obviously the
[4:30] interest is based on timing of payments.
So if people are paying quicker, you
[4:34] make a little bit less interest. If
they're taking longer, the interest goes
[4:36] up.
Land sales, you did have one property
[4:39] that sold for 14,000. And then proceeds
from sale of tangible capital assets,
[4:44] 23,000. You did sell the recycling bins,
the old street sweeper, and an old 2010
[4:50] Ford F-150.
other income 163,64
[4:55] 37,000 of that was rebates from WSIB
>> ask a quick question can you point out
[5:02] just to because we have an audience here
that this is for numbers of December
[5:07] 31st 2025 this is up to and including
that correct
[5:10] » correct the 2025 financial
>> this is not like eight months has passed
[5:14] since then correct okay thank you
>> total operating revenues just under 3.6
[5:19] 6 million capital revenues. Uh the only
thing we have was 10,300 under other. So
[5:25] there was a piece of land that was
donated to the the town and that becomes
[5:29] a revenue to you and an expense when
they clear each other out. But the 103
[5:33] was the value of the land that was
donated to the wall.
[5:37] Total revenues 3.607 million. We have
expenditures, operating expenditures, uh
[5:42] general government, so everything that
has to do with running the municipality
[5:45] itself, 697,000.
Um there was less wages allocated from
[5:52] public works to municipal buildings. So
that was the major change there.
[5:56] Protection to persons and property
620,000.
[5:59] Your policing went up 35,000 and you had
the first year of the interest on the
[6:04] new fire truck from last year of 26,000.
Transportation services was similar to
[6:09] last year at 78,000.
environmental services. We will see the
[6:14] water and sewer system separately on a
statement after, but there was a lot of
[6:18] fluctuation. Um, your recycling
obviously is down, your garbage was
[6:22] down, your water expenses were up, and
your sewer was down. So, all of that
[6:25] translated into a slight decrease
overall on that line.
[6:30] Health services 168,000. The health unit
went up about 2,300. The DAB went up um
[6:37] 21,000. And that would be the land
ambulance portion of the DAB only on
[6:40] that line.
Social and family services, 101,000.
[6:44] That's the rest of the DISA, which I
believe is child services, um, social
[6:50] housing, um, general assistance, that
kind of stuff. It went up as well by
[6:54] 13,600.
Recreation and cultural services,
[6:59] 177,000. If you remember, back in 2024,
there was some demolition costs involved
[7:04] for a building downtown that was
demolished. So, that decreased your
[7:07] expense base by 70,000.
uh planning and development 8,133 that's
[7:14] basically the fees you paid at TMSA for
planning and your MIS fees. Uh last year
[7:19] you had done some work on the additional
plan so that's why you have less
[7:22] expenses this year. So total operating
expenses just a little over 3.5 million.
[7:27] You had very limited capital
expenditures. There was a new sidewalk
[7:30] plow and then the land donation for a
total of 79,218.
[7:35] Long-term debt repayments 99,860
860. You of the fire truck, the wheel
[7:40] loader, a 2024, a 2022 Ford, and the
public works garage you're repaying. So
[7:47] total expenditures just under 3.7
million. So if we take your total
[7:51] revenues less your total expenditures,
you did have a deficit of 90,000 for the
[7:55] year.
[8:00] Any questions on that?
[8:05] Okay, next page is the statement of
financial position. So for those of you
[8:10] used to commercial accounting, it is
called your balance sheet. So it
[8:13] basically says where you are at a point
in time. So this one we did not convert.
[8:17] It's the actual one that you submit to
the min ministry. Um so 2025 on the
[8:22] left, 2024 on the right. You had 607,000
of cash in the bank on December 31st.
[8:28] Taxes receivable were 309, so a slight
increase from last year. Accounts
[8:33] receivable 26,210.
Um that's just a a timing difference.
[8:38] Your third quarter HST was overclaimed
and by the time the amount was repaid,
[8:43] it was after the end of the year. So
your HST receivable was just lower than
[8:46] what it was in the past by about
$60,000.
[8:50] Accounts payable and acred liabilities
325,000.
[8:54] Again, timing of when payments are made,
whether you make a a check run before
[8:58] Christmas or not. Um, in there is always
your usual two months of policing, what
[9:03] you owe Aqua. Um, sometimes there's
school boards, there's our audites, and
[9:07] then any other regular small payables
that basically are paid after the end of
[9:11] the year, but we're late to 2025.
Deferred revenue other 437,000.
[9:17] So that's funds you've received in the
bank that you have not yet spent on an
[9:21] appropriate project. So in there is
about 390,000 of OCIF funding and 3,000
[9:27] of Nords. So that means they've given
you the funds. You have not spent it
[9:31] yet. So it's here as a deferred revenue
until you budget for it and have an
[9:34] expenditure to offset it. Then it hits
your income statement at that point in
[9:38] time.
Deferred revenue obligatory reserve
[9:41] funds. That's a fancy uh word for gas
tax. Same thing. You've received 80,432
[9:47] of gas tax in your bank account, but you
have not yet spent it on a project. Most
[9:52] of these funds you are allowed to carry
forward and accumulate for future
[9:55] projects. So not unreasonable. and it'll
become a revenue to you in the year you
[9:59] have a budgeted expense for it.
Asset retirement obligations. So, this
[10:03] was new from a few years ago. If you
remember, we had to do an inventory of
[10:08] um any assets that require um
remediation if you were ever to sell or
[10:12] demolish it. So, most of that relates to
asbestous and buildings, fuel tanks, and
[10:17] some of your sewer system. Um so, an
engineer had prepared a report to
[10:22] explain what all that was and how much
it's going to cost when those
[10:24] [clears throat] assets need to be
retired. Um it's an estimate like
[10:28] anything else. Some of these costs may
never um come to futation in the year
[10:33] where you have a capital project or
you're selling one of these assets. Um
[10:37] you will likely budget for that
remediation at the time of the project
[10:41] as the engineers will make you aware of
it at that time but it is an accounting
[10:45] exercise that was required. So that
number is there. So at no point do you
[10:48] need to pay 664,000 tomorrow or anything
like that. That'll be strictly done in
[10:53] the event that one of those buildings
that have asbestous is demolished and
[10:56] you're having to clean it up or part of
your sewer system needs to be remediated
[11:01] or or that kind of thing.
So, it's a little bit misleading.
[11:05] Municipal debt 1.4 million. So, that's
all the debt that you owe at the moment.
[11:09] There's a fire truck, a wheel loader,
two fork trucks, and the public works
[11:13] garage.
I think one truck is dropping off this
[11:16] year if it's not already all paid in
2026. And then the others have a few
[11:20] years left to go. and then some are
longer.
[11:23] So total liabilities just under 3
million. So if we take your assets less
[11:27] your liabilities, you do have a net debt
position of 2,27,000.
[11:32] It's not uncommon for a town site or a
municipality to have a bracket there. Um
[11:37] that's how you fund your capital
projects and your infrastructure. Uh so
[11:41] you will have some debt there that you
you do have to carry. That net debt
[11:45] position though did decrease by 12,180.
So that just means that the amount of
[11:50] long-term debt that you're decreasing by
is not surpassing your your you're
[11:55] surpassing your deficits every year. So
that does mean you are in a worse shape
[11:59] than you were last year.
Um so remember that number for the 2 the
[12:05] 2 million 27 because we're going to see
that number again in a minute. Um below
[12:08] that are non-financial assets. So we've
got inventories, prepaid and capital
[12:12] assets. These are numbers that are
required to be there more of an
[12:15] accounting exercise. The tangible
capital asset number of almost 15
[12:19] million is the original cost less the
depreciation of all of the assets in the
[12:23] town. So these buildings, roads, sewer,
water, everything included, but it's
[12:27] original cost less depreciation, which
is not a very useful number to you. If
[12:32] you've got an asset management plan, it
should be telling you what needs to
[12:35] replace, when, how much it's going to
cost, and how you plan on paying for it.
[12:39] And that's much better document to rely
on than this number here, unfortunately.
[12:43] So, we'll tell you to ignore all those
numbers and just keep an eye on that
[12:46] 2,27 as we'll look at it again.
Any other question? Any questions on
[12:52] that?
[12:55] Okay, next page. Page 16. Again, it's a
note to your financial statements. We're
[12:59] looking at note 13, which is called
accumulated surplus. Um, so that 2,27,
[13:04] if you go about 3/4 down that note, you
should be able to see that in brackets.
[13:09] Now, just above it, we are backing out
the unfinanced asset retirement
[13:12] obligations and the unfinanced municipal
debt. And the reason we do that is
[13:16] because you're not paying those two
things tomorrow. They are going to be
[13:19] budgeted for in future budgets. And it's
not a cash outlay that's going to happen
[13:23] immediately. So, principal, payments,
and interest are going to be budgeted
[13:27] for in future budgets and the asset
retirement obligations will be budgeted
[13:30] in a year where remediation is required.
So, if we back out those two numbers,
[13:34] look at the number just above it. That's
99,126.
[13:38] So that's your financial position
ignoring those asset retirement
[13:41] obligations and that long-term debt. So
that's basically the cushion you have to
[13:47] operate for the following year. So it's
a positive number. So that's exciting,
[13:52] but it is a it is a plus. It's 99,000.
It's not a big number for the size of
[13:56] the accountant. The concern there is
that it has dropped based on this the
[14:00] deficit for the year from 197 to 99. So
if you have another deficit of the same
[14:05] size in 2026, you are going to be in a
bracket. So that's the important part is
[14:11] that that cushion is slowly dwindling
down and it's eroding and you're soon
[14:16] going to find that there is no cushion.
Um as that cushion disappears, cash flow
[14:21] becomes tight. The reason your bank
account looks healthy is because of
[14:24] those deferred revenue grants have come
in and you haven't spent them yet. So
[14:28] until you spend them, your your bank
balance is fairly healthy because of
[14:31] that. Um, but if you start spending some
of the money on the the grant money on
[14:35] on expenditures and and capital, you're
going to slowly realize that as this
[14:39] cushion starts to dwindle, things are
going to get a little bit tight.
[14:44] So, that 99 has different allocations.
Some of it is at your discretion, some
[14:48] of it is not. Uh, we still do have a
library reserve of 18,000, something to
[14:53] discuss at the library board, but I'm
not sure a reserve is necessarily ne
[14:57] necessary anymore. um you'll see in a
minute there's also a library deficit.
[15:02] Um my suggestion would be to squeeze the
two together and just have one surplus
[15:06] or deficit that you're carrying. If
there's not an actual reason to have
[15:10] this reserve, it's probably causing more
confusion than nothing. Um but now that
[15:14] you're carrying a library deficit, I
would likely eliminate the reserve and
[15:18] close it out to that so that the library
is not running with one number. A
[15:23] reserve is not additional cash. It's not
a secret bank account. It's an
[15:27] allocation of your surplus. So it's just
means that whatever surplus you have,
[15:31] it's being allocated between different
pots, but it's made up of accounts
[15:35] receivable, accounts payable. Um, so
it's not just an extra bank account. So
[15:39] the library does not have an extra
$18,000 hiding somewhere. It just means
[15:43] their financial position is the 18 less
the little deficit of,9 and that's what
[15:48] their cushion is for the following year.
Okay, does that make sense to everyone?
[15:54] that reserve has been remained untouched
for as long as I've been here, which is
[15:57] about 17 years. So that's why at this
point I would say let's just have one
[16:02] number and that just makes things a
little less confusing for everybody
[16:04] involved. But they're not losing
anything. We're just squeezing them
[16:07] together. Okay. General municipal
deficit 440,000. So again, a little bit
[16:13] worse off than last year. So um that
change in in your overall position is
[16:18] impacting your general municipal
deficit. That library deficit I was just
[16:22] talking about. So they had a surplus,
now they have a little deficit, but if
[16:25] you combine the 18 and the thousand,
they're still in in the green. So that's
[16:29] not a problem there. Cemetery surplus
about 49,000.
[16:34] The sewer surplus, um, it's doing fairly
well at 561,000 and we will look at a
[16:39] statement for it in a minute. The
waterwork system is another story and
[16:43] it's dwindled down whatever surplus it
had and now has a deficit as well. So,
[16:48] the water system obviously is going to
create an issue as costs keep rising.
[16:52] Um, and it seems like an imbalance
between your sewer system and your water
[16:56] system at this point. So, all of those
things together make up your actual
[17:01] position of 99,126.
[17:05] Does that make sense to everyone?
Yep.
[17:10] Silence is sometimes confusion as well.
[laughter]
[17:14] Okay. Any questions on that? [cough]
Next page, page 23. So the waterwork
[17:20] system. So sale of water to cobalt
residents 451,000.
[17:25] There was a 10% increase in the
residential rate and a 7% increase to
[17:28] the commercial rate. Sale of water to
Coleman is based on usage plus they had
[17:33] a capital contribution to help pay for
some of the um the maintenance issues
[17:39] during the year. I believe it was the
coordinator and valves or something like
[17:42] that.
Interest charges on collection 11,470.
[17:47] So this is an estimate based on the
water receivables and when they were
[17:50] collected. Provincial grants operating
nothing this year. Federal grants
[17:54] operating that's the gas tax that we use
to help with broken water manesinator
[18:00] and some valve replacements. So total
revenue 62,000.
[18:04] We have expenditures salary and
benefits. So that's basically public
[18:07] works being allocated for the time spent
um on the water system 67,000.
[18:13] material supplies and utilities 287. It
did include um the chlorinator and the
[18:19] valve replacement of about 50,000 that's
included in that number.
[18:24] Contracted services includes water main
repairs of about 66,000 and then there
[18:29] was some controllers and transmitters
that are in there as well too that Aqua
[18:33] replaced for you. So total expenditures
690,000. So it did have a deficit of
[18:38] 88,000. you had a very small accumulated
surplus which is wiped out completely
[18:43] now and you have an accumulated deficit
of 8848.
[18:47] So the water system assume I I don't
assume it's going to get cheaper to run.
[18:51] Usually water systems don't. So I'd say
this is one that'll need to be continued
[18:55] to be reviewed and monitored as your
costs continue to rise. So do make sure
[19:01] you have a plan if there's some major
improvements that need to happen in the
[19:04] next few years that you have an idea of
how you're
[19:08] asset management plan should provide
some guidance on that.
[19:12] Any questions on that?
Next page is page 24. The sewer wetland
[19:17] system. So user fees, you had no change
to it, which I think makes sense
[19:21] considering it is um well funded.
Interest charges or it appears to be
[19:26] well funded. um interest charges on
collections about 4,000 based on the
[19:30] estimate of receivables. Provincial
grants to use some OCIF funding towards
[19:35] the assimilative study and there's a
CLICA
[19:40] project. That might make sense to
somebody.
[19:43] Not sure what that is, but something to
do with your sewer system. So that was a
[19:46] total of 45,962.
Expenditures, salaries, and benefits
[19:50] 52,000. That's the public works time
that's been allocated to the sewer
[19:53] system based on time spent. material
supplies, utilities, a whole 8,400.
[19:58] Contracted services is mostly Aqua. Last
year, you had the replacement of a sewer
[20:03] connection. That's why it went down this
year. So, it had a nice surplus of
[20:07] 40,000 and it has a comfortable surplus
of 561,000.
[20:11] Now, obviously, the complete opposite of
your water system. So, I think if you
[20:16] looked at your long-term plan for the
sewer system, if you know what you need
[20:19] to do in the next 10 years, you might be
able to figure out whether that number
[20:23] is adequate or too high or too low,
which should give you some direction on
[20:27] what to do with rates in the future. It
might be one of those where sewer rates
[20:31] may actually end up staying the same or
going down while you increase water. So,
[20:35] that the net effect to the rateayer may
not be may not be a huge one, but you're
[20:40] rebalancing your water and your sewer at
this time. But I can only recommend that
[20:44] knowing what you need to spend on your
sewer system in the next 10 years. If
[20:47] you have a million-dollar project to do
in the next three years, that might not
[20:51] be the wisest decision. So, you need to
have a bit of a plan on the sewer system
[20:55] so that you can do a little bit of
long-term planning on what you can do
[20:58] with it. But it is sitting fairly
comfortable at surplus of 56,000.
[21:05] Does that make sense to everyone?
It looks good, but if you have to spend
[21:10] a million bucks on it next year, then
not
[21:14] questions on that?
Okay. So, there's just our management
[21:18] letter, which I think was at the
beginning of our packages that I saw.
[21:21] So, we've now completed the 2025 audit
and consolidating financial statements
[21:24] for the town of Cobalt. The financial
statements show an operational deficit
[21:28] of 90,000. Your net debt position
continues to grow with the deficit and
[21:32] is now up to just over 2,27,000.
[21:38] You only have two options to consider at
generating a surplus. increase taxes or
[21:42] decrease expenses.
The sewer system had an operational
[21:46] surplus this year of 40,000 which
increased the accumulated surplus to
[21:49] 561,000. This system appears to be
properly funded, possibly overfunded
[21:54] depending on your long-term capital
plan. The water system incurred an
[21:58] operational deficit of 88,000 which has
now created an accumulated deficit of
[22:02] 88,000. A continuing increase in water
fees appears to be necessary as
[22:07] operating costs continue to rise.
Any questions or concerns on any of
[22:12] that? Now, just a reminder, those
financial statements do include the
[22:16] library in there. So, because the
library is part of the town, they are
[22:21] consolidated into your financial
statements. So, as we were reviewing
[22:25] those numbers, the library numbers are
also in there. [clears throat]
[22:30] Uh, so I do have some paperwork to sign
unless anybody has any other questions
[22:33] before we pass around paper. So, the
first thing I'm going to pass around is
[22:37] the representation letter. So, you're
approving those financial statements um
[22:41] based on our little presentation here.
And the library has a letter and we have
[22:45] a letter or the town has a letter and
the library has a letter. So, you've got
[22:49] four letters time signed
to do that. I'll start passing those.
[22:57] [cough]
[23:02] You're first.
I do have a few questions I need to ask
[23:06] while you guys are signing. Uh does
anybody have any fraud concerns or
[23:10] concerns about financial propriety and
that's just something that we are
[23:13] required to ask at every meeting. Uh
because you are charged with oversight.
[23:17] So in theory you're the umbrella of the
organization. So if you were aware of
[23:21] fraud or aware of anything like that um
it's important that we're made aware of
[23:24] it. I assume silence means no. Mhm.
>> Does anybody know of any lawsuits that
[23:31] are not covered by insurance or anything
new that's happened since December 31st
[23:35] that we should be made aware of?
Something significant that that's
[23:39] happened that would be noted in your
financial statements or anything like
[23:43] that.
>> I think nobody knows anything.
[23:49] Okay, that's all I've got for the 2025
audit.
[23:54] Any other questions or concerns?
[24:00] Jamie, do you want me to do 2026 now?
>> Perfect.
[24:03] » Do you want me to do 2026 right now?
>> 2026. So, we are almost ready to start
[24:09] next year's audit this fall. Um, so we
do get started before
[24:15] the work done um while we can. So, we do
have to meet with council before we
[24:19] start that. So, we decided to do that
today as well. So, the next letter I
[24:23] have to pass around is the engagement
letter engaging us to be the auditors
[24:26] for 2026. Does anybody have any
questions or concerns related to that?
[24:33] Nope. So, I will pass that letter
around.
[24:38] There are two copies of that as well.
[24:43] Some questions I do have to ask. Does
anybody have any concerns or questions
[24:46] about our audit process or what we do?
It's your chance to ask me anything.
[24:54] Uh materiality. So when we prepare our
audit, um we uh pick a materiality
[25:00] factor that we think would impact the
user's decision making. Um so for
[25:06] Cobalt, we use 45,000. So 45,000 being
the accumulated errors that could happen
[25:12] in the financial statements that we
think would impact your decision-m. So
[25:16] if there were more than $45,000 of
errors, we would make sure they are all
[25:19] fixed. Sometimes we have an accumulation
that is below that that we don't think
[25:23] is considered significant. So 45 is what
we use for our testing and to make sure
[25:27] that things are correct by that amount.
Uh does anybody have any areas they
[25:32] believe are higher risk where you should
spend more audit time or concerns or
[25:36] anything like that?
[clears throat]
[25:38] Anybody have any knowledge of fraud or
any concerns about possible fraud?
[25:44] Internal control discussion. and you do
not have 15 people in your accounting
[25:47] department to properly separate duties.
Um so your controls are very limited uh
[25:52] to um mostly second signatures on checks
uh things like that. So the onus comes
[25:58] on council to be the umbrella of the
organization. So it's important you guys
[26:02] are always asking questions. If you are
the second signator on a check, make
[26:05] sure you are reviewing the backup, the
amounts, who the checks are made out of
[26:09] are made out to and that the expense is
a reasonable town expense. And make sure
[26:13] you ask questions if there's something
that seems unusual or odd. And if you're
[26:18] reviewing any other reports, do ask
questions if you're not understanding
[26:20] anything.
That's it for me. Any other questions or
[26:25] concerns?
>> Okay.
[26:50] I think if I if I might while she's
finishing up there, um the one big
[26:56] number on the uh the sewer wetlands
operation in United Surplus. Um, right
[27:04] now we're still in negotiations
uh with the government and there will be
[27:11] more um
uh more reports and everything that Aqua
[27:16] will be putting into them as we cross
our fingers that
[27:21] uh our wetlands will finally be classed.
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. as uh a
[27:28] a number one sewage level one sewage
treatment plant. So that's why that
[27:33] amounts there um is waiting and
hopefully it won't all get used up and
[27:41] trying. But if we don't get to that
level one,
[27:46] then the government could say to us that
that's got to become uh a regular cement
[27:53] building plant, sewage treatment plant.
And u let's cross our fingers that never
[27:59] happens
because uh that was that would be
[28:04] horrendous expense to us.
>> Yeah. And a reminder with our water
[28:09] treatment plant that it's
simply a treatment plant. It's not
[28:16] sterilizing, cleaning, and everything
else. Uh it's using the water and just
[28:21] doing a cleaning job on it. But if
people pollute that lake out there and
[28:29] the government province says no the
water quality has gone below a certain
[28:34] level then we would have to put in a
full water treatment plant just like
[28:42] so that's why we keep saying SAS lake is
so so so important to us and trying to
[28:51] keep people off of it because It's got
to stay those four lakes have got to
[28:56] stay unemployed. So, um
that's the only two things with big
[29:02] numbers in there that uh the money's in
reserve for
[29:08] but we will make this all available
afterwards.
[29:12] uh
and I hope some of you were able to
[29:16] understand the numbers as you hear them
and go through it year after year
[29:21] becomes easier.
[29:24] So, uh let's continue on then. Mayor
Kur,
[29:30] you're coming to report on the
uh the head frame and how negotiations
[29:36] are going.
[29:39] » Negotiations. Sure.
Uh just this won't take very long
[29:46] and community
been talking to probably two three times
[29:52] a week. Uh we do have a quote for
removal of the stiplets but now I see
[29:58] that you want some documents signed with
council
[30:04] coal
historical society. Mhm.
[30:07] » Uh which is fine, but we just had our
council last night, so I'll have to call
[30:12] a special meeting, which is not a
problem.
[30:15] » Get moving on the u
the uh Agnik was very impressed how how
[30:23] things are moving along.
CA was made a comment that uh uh wants
[30:30] full cost of
the stiff legs. are
[30:37] they have committed to uh seriousness
and helping out. So, we're working on
[30:43] that. So, you probably seen at least the
office people have seen some some action
[30:48] around the head frame
[cough and clears throat]
[30:51] [snorts]
and now we're waiting for those numbers
[30:53] to come back and uh go from there.
So for okay uh
[31:01] the removal of the step legs was to
start at the end of August which is two
[31:06] weeks away
try and get all the signatures on paper
[31:11] before we get going
and uh
[31:17] do you have any anything that we could
use or safety barrier around
[31:22] perimeter of that particular building
when I have the contractor will have
[31:26] somebody out there to
to make sure that people stay away. But
[31:31] if we had barriers
[31:35] to people around the sidewalk,
everything
[31:39] must have something in that down hall.
[31:45] » We can coordinate that.
>> Will there be anybody to do that?
[31:50] » We'll let you know then.
Um,
[31:58] so I guess the end of August, that's
when he wanted to start. So hopefully
[32:01] things right now
big storm they had a couple weeks ago
[32:06] flattening everything out. Couple
islands.
[32:09] So
>> as long as they don't have another storm
[32:15] tonight,
>> huh like tonight?
[32:17] We got the advice of a lot of people
regarding the stiff legs
[32:22] » and I'm getting a quote on on steel legs
and light steel
[32:29] » because it's not it's not not supporting
anything. So light steel and that last
[32:34] painted that should last
out all of us. [clears throat] So
[32:40] everybody agrees on that then we'll move
on
[32:44] » and forget about the timbers because I
believe that's twice now or at least
[32:49] » these timbers have been replaced before.
>> Yeah.
[32:52] » How many years ago 10 years 15 years?
>> You'd have to ask Gino. [clears throat]
[32:59] It's got to be at least
four times over. [laughter]
[33:04] » Yeah.
>> My other question is u I'm not I'm
[33:09] unsure and I and I'll talk to you Jamie
in regards to that. Building inspector.
[33:14] We want to make sure he's involved.
>> We Who is your building inspector? Same
[33:19] gentleman as us. Like Barton.
>> Okay. So we'll make we'll make I'll make
[33:25] a phone call to see what's required to
make sure he copies you and that
[33:29] obviously or we can sit down we'll take
a look at it then something's required
[33:35] we'll start the process if not well
that's for the I don't think we need
[33:40] anything for the timber
>> but for the steel legs
[33:45] » so we'll remove
[33:50] not Jeff but
>> yeah not
[33:54] Okay. So, there you go. So, we've got
that. It's just a matter of a phone call
[33:57] then ready and
>> I do have um I do have on file which I
[34:05] can share with your records the uh WSIB
number
[34:10] contract which I'm not going to mention
any names out but I do have his WSIB
[34:15] number and his U clearance certificate.
Okay. And um
[34:22] there's another item I ask for. But
anyway, I've got two documents
[34:27] that uh you're probably required just in
case something happens.
[34:32] » Working from heights, that one,
>> pardon me,
[34:34] » the qualification for working at
heights.
[34:36] » Oh yeah. All
>> well that W said he would require
[34:42] » Is there special insurance for working
at those heights?
[34:45] » Sure. Special But there's a special
kind, right? Well, he's got he's got the
[34:49] climbing insurance.
>> That's
[34:52] okay.
[34:56] » Okay. Any other questions or
>> things like things seem to be moving
[35:01] slow but are moving quite fast actually.
But
[35:06] » labor is short.
[35:10] » But at least the safety part of it will
go out of the way.
[35:15] If it takes a little longer for the
step, we also be a [clears throat]
[35:20] » and a I think a would be on the same
page. Make sure
[35:23] » and safe and step may require an
engineer to come and take a look at it.
[35:30] He may not
prefer yes, but
[35:36] there just a statement. So,
>> okay.
[35:40] » Okay. So,
[35:43] how long we have? Three weeks. Two
weeks.
[35:47] » Four weeks.
>> Four weeks.
[35:49] » Winter and summer.
>> Oh, yeah.
[35:53] » Sometimes every two weeks, sometimes
every one week.
[35:55] » Special meeting or
>> if we need to, we call special meetings.
[36:00] Regular is every four weeks. So,
>> yeah. If we need any more, we'll do
[36:04] that.
>> Evening. Okay.
[36:06] » Thank you very much for all your help on
this.
[36:12] Okay.
[36:17] Um,
so let's move to number five.
[36:23] Okay. Gary, would you like to present
your letter? We do have it in here.
[36:30] » Okay.
That's Gary's letter is down in
[36:46] » [cough]
[clears throat]
[36:57] » 9.4.
>> You want to look it up?
[37:11] Oh, okay.
>> Control that file.
[37:18] » Keep your
[laughter]
[37:40] Go ahead, Mary.
>> Okay. Thank you.
[37:45] [snorts]
I was a little bit disturbed
[37:49] at the meeting I attended when I said
with the mayor,
[37:55] not only at the mayor,
also of your council, all of you.
[38:02] You let a man with experience
[38:07] have the mayor raise her voice
then sat right there facing while you
[38:13] [clears throat] went to the chair. You
remember that
[38:17] two week two meetings ago. I'm appalled
at this council for allowing the mayor
[38:24] to take a shot at him. He is the only
one here that has knowledge other than
[38:30] you about counsel. He's the only one
that knows the rules. Nobody else
[38:34] follows him.
>> So, I'm appalled. I expect an apology to
[38:38] this man from this council.
You sat in that chair while she was
[38:44] turned to him.
>> I did not know that was going to happen.
[38:47] I just
>> obeyed my mayor.
[38:49] » You know what you said at that meeting?
I know what you said. I remember so did
[38:53] they. You said sitting right at that
meeting, I don't know what I'm doing
[38:58] here because I don't know what I'm
doing. And now two meetings later,
[39:02] you're the mayor of Cobalt. Not yet, by
the way, the end of the meeting because
[39:06] you're not.
So,
[39:09] do I get an apology to this man who's
much more efficient than anyone in this
[39:14] room? And I'm appalled
at counselors
[39:25] that discussed my name
and a friend of mine who's running for
[39:29] mayor with a bunch of people. And Gary,
you know that, you
[39:35] don't don't
So I expect an apology to this man from
[39:41] you and the mayor or and these three
people here for allowing adset. And the
[39:48] reason I don't call the mayor is because
I stood there twice. I talked to him
[39:51] once I was trying to get a seat. Do you
know how she referred to me? Hey you. So
[39:57] I refer to her as hey you because
she never did anything good for the
[40:03] town. And with the council sitting there
tonight, the last meeting, the meeting
[40:07] before, they said a couple words. Prior
to that, they don't talk.
[40:13] People sit in the audience.
Nobody talks.
[40:18] So, what's going on?
You guys want to help the town, but you
[40:22] haven't. [clears throat] Just the
opposite. You raise taxes
[40:29] enormous amount of money.
Why?
[40:33] Because you don't know what you're doing
or what's going on. Tell the people they
[40:36] want to know and that's why I'm here.
>> You think you know what you're doing?
[40:41] » I don't think you do. Personally, I
don't. But that's my opinion.
[40:44] » I know what you're doing.
>> What am I doing?
[40:47] » Be in a pain.
>> In a pain. You don't like any council.
[40:50] You've never liked any council.
>> Be in a pain.
[40:55] » Yeah. What council did you like?
>> How long you lived in Cola?
[41:00] » Eight years. Nine years.
>> Not enough to know anything.
[41:02] » No.
>> I can ask this gentleman right here a
[41:06] while back when he's asked what he knew
about any of the stuff going on in
[41:10] Kobach. Is he ever in the military
bunker? No. Bunker, which is priceless.
[41:16] There's only two and they're priceless.
And what did this council want to do? I
[41:21] know. I was sitting right there. You
want to close them down. You want them
[41:25] out of Cobalt. You give them one year
lease. You want them gone because you
[41:28] don't know anything about anything. And
I'm not shy to say it and I will say it.
[41:33] And if you want to come after me, please
jump in. I I want you to
[41:40] see her.
>> Okay, Gary, may I jump in?
[41:44] » Time's up.
>> No, Gary.
[41:46] » No time. You know why?
>> Before you gave it.
[41:51] » No, I'm speaking to you, Gary. Then tell
him to be
[41:54] » Yes, Mr. Hughes. Why can it?
>> Okay. Now, I will say this very
[42:00] honestly, you can shoot me if you like.
Um I have found
[42:07] this past council it's been very
difficult to discuss things and other
[42:13] past councils if I know councelor Wilcox
knows every single rule but sometimes if
[42:21] you keep jumping in with those rules
it has totally in uh [clears throat]
[42:28] ended the flow of conversation too many
times and I'm sorry about that. Um we
[42:34] have frustration
>> sorry about how we feel but I have felt
[42:41] this council this council
>> has tried to express things and has been
[42:47] stopped
and tried to express things and has been
[42:51] stopped and that's been our frustration
and uh I hope that we can open up and
[42:59] [snorts]
have I would like to see that we don't
[43:04] worry about every tiny tiny tiny tiny
rule and how things are said.
[43:10] » But you do.
>> But no, we don't.
[43:12] » You do.
>> He does. [clears throat]
[43:14] » Let me tell you the story. I [snorts]
asked you to speak at the last meeting.
[43:18] » Yes, I know.
>> What did you tell me? Please answer me
[43:22] exactly what you said. Um for the public
here, the reason why we said no was
[43:26] because we had the head frame issue come
and this was a lot of people coming and
[43:34] wanting to know about the head frame and
it was okay. Everything was tight tight
[43:39] tight there yours and Mr. Kuru's
but we wanted to get the head frame
[43:46] issue dealt with. I I I agree. Dan's on
board.
[43:52] » That's Yeah.
>> And that's why we put you for here.
[43:56] » This council wasn't doing anything till
Dan and and the committee come in and
[44:03] please and because it was going down the
whole building, which there was no need
[44:08] of it.
>> Um no,
[44:10] » but
that building's been in bad repair. The
[44:15] historical society is supposed to be
looking after it and nothing was done
[44:19] and nothing was done. It was them to
start and
[44:25] for at least 3 years and nothing
happened. So it's like if they're not
[44:30] going to jump in and get get support and
do it. Okay.
[44:34] » Do you happen to know the story about
>> Of course I do.
[44:39] » You do.
>> You know where it was built? Yes.
[44:43] » Yeah. Do you know how far down in the
ground it was?
[44:46] » How far down in the ground the head
frame was before it did anything?
[44:51] » You have approximately 80 ft
of clay. Do you know how they got it
[44:57] out?
>> Cuz I was one of them there with my
[45:00] truck.
>> Okay.
[45:01] » That's what you people don't know. You
don't know nothing about his history.
[45:05] » Mr. Wilox can answer you anything, but
you don't use him for what he should be
[45:09] used for. You sit there and let a mayor
berate the man. He's the only one here
[45:15] that knows anything.
The only man
[45:19] you told me on tonight I couldn't speak.
But I'll tell you what you said right
[45:24] down the bottom of the stair.
Very interesting.
[45:29] You said no, you can't speak tonight.
Then you turn around and said,
[45:35] "You flooded my yard out 40 years ago.
What's that? Got to It's not a joke,
[45:40] ma'am. It's not a joke. Please don't
laugh.
[45:45] You said
>> I flooded you out. You fluted your
[45:48] driveway out 40 years ago. Well, to me,
that's not much range. If you sit back
[45:53] and hold back on somebody for 40 years,
which it wasn't true because you sent
[45:58] somebody over there, B officer, and he
come.
[46:01] » Let's not get into stuff like that.
>> I don't think this council should even
[46:05] be here. I'd like to ask for all your
resignation tonight. I'll let Mr. Wilox
[46:09] you as well, mayor, but I know I won't
get them, but I'm going to ask them on
[46:12] behalf of the town people
>> enough
[46:17] you've stated in the first paragraph,
second par second paragraph,
[46:24] other issues you were bringing up in
there and uh
[46:27] » Okay.
>> Yeah.
[46:29] » But you have five more minutes and then
we have a lot of stuff to go on. call at
[46:36] the last meeting with the head there was
no time and if I recall there was an
[46:40] individual I'm glad he spoke up but he
wasn't on the agenda so please let's not
[46:45] pick on me because
>> no I'm not picking on you have a whole
[46:49] letter here let's deal with it quickly
please
[46:51] » just
[46:55] when did I even see it
tell you
[46:59] » but I tell you again
>> well okay this is probably not the time
[47:03] for petty grievances
No, you don't want pettes. It's
[47:07] ridiculous.
>> Sharply.
[47:09] » Mhm.
>> It's got a good price tag on it.
[47:13] » Yes.
>> Probably fair. And I know Sue behind me
[47:18] has done her work.
>> Mhm.
[47:20] » Not questioning her work. Correct.
>> Mhm.
[47:22] » But what I'm questioning is where are
you going to build?
[47:27] If you do take all the gravel, where are
you going to build?
[47:31] » We're not going to build. We're going to
sell it. Let
[47:34] » let someone else build. How are they
going to build?
[47:37] » I don't know.
>> That lake belongs to the cobalt water
[47:41] shed.
>> I know.
[47:44] » So, so you can't
>> you got to go back 100 or 200 feet from
[47:48] the lake to the water.
>> Where are you going to put a building?
[47:51] So, something's going on here. I don't
know.
[47:53] » Mr. Bigalow, we are aware of that that
this how far you got to stay back. We
[47:58] are aware of the cost that would be in
planning and all the rest of it and are
[48:01] saying no, we will be selling it.
>> I I got nothing against selling. Good.
[48:07] » I just want the new owner to come in to
realize that he may not be able to put a
[48:10] cottage on there.
>> That's fine.
[48:12] » But you haven't done that. All you do is
want to sell, make money.
[48:16] » The That's up to the buyer.
>> No, it's up to the seller. You're you're
[48:20] the one sitting in the chair, ma'am, not
me. Because I would tell the guy, you
[48:25] better look into this possibility of not
being able to build after you take the
[48:29] aggregate though.
>> Mr. Big, when someone comes to look at
[48:33] the property, they're going to be told
the real estate agent all those things
[48:40] because those are the legal things
you've got to tell them.
[48:43] » Okay, so let's go on Sharp Lake. Yes, we
will be selling.
[48:47] » You know, I have a counselor just
staring at me the whole time.
[48:51] It's not worth being
So, I'll ask again. All but Mr. Wilcox,
[48:56] mayor and council, resign your seats for
the betterment of the town.
[49:00] » Absolutely not.
>> I'm finished. That's good.
[49:04] » Okay. And your five minutes are up.
>> We're here for them,
[49:07] » not for ourselves.
[clears throat]
[49:11] » Mr.
Thank you, good sir.
[49:16] » And let's try and continue this meeting.
Okay.
[49:21] I
[49:25] had to help you out, but I know you
don't want me to site your rules, so
[49:28] » that's okay.
[49:32] » Okay. Now, number five, adoption of
meeting agenda.
[49:36] » Pardon?
>> Yeah. Okay. Where are we at? Okay. Draft
[49:41] motion. Be it resolved that council
approve the
[49:47] uh [clears throat]
>> the agenda. No, we're making a change to
[49:50] a slight change to it of the regular
meeting dated August 18th, 2026 as
[49:56] presented. Now, head frame motion
um back in our package was listed as 8.6
[50:05] and it will be 8.7.
We had two 8.6s in there. So, that would
[50:11] be the amended agenda. Can I have a
mover and a seconder?
[50:16] Council Hughes.
Seconder.
[50:21] Okay. Councelor Ward. All in favor.
Okay.
[50:28] Now, adoption of previous council
minutes.
[50:33] And here we go. So, we have be it
resolved that council approve the
[50:38] following minutes as presented. Regular
meeting of council July 21st, 2026 and
[50:44] the special meeting of council August
12th, 2026.
[50:49] Move her and seconder.
Okay. Counc [clears throat]
[50:53] Starship.
Second.
[50:58] Hughes. Council Hughes. All in favor?
[51:04] Okay. Now we have staff reports coming
up. And
[51:09] the staff reports
[51:14] are a very thick package. and as much as
we can as they're dealt with um and
[51:22] parts of the the staff reports that can
uh that aren't mentioning people's
[51:27] names, stuff like that uh will be put
out into the public afterwards because
[51:32] so much here I want really want you to
know about. So, first of all, 7.1 is the
[51:38] bylaw enforcement um report and
uh that was for June
[51:47] and um so that report is in there
and
[51:54] I think that's
that's not a report that can be put out
[51:59] because it mentions addresses, doesn't
it? Yeah. So that's the report that our
[52:03] bylaw officer has to watch, come back to
and follow up on all the time. 7.2
[52:11] is the tender to purchase surplus
properties. And we're talking about 39
[52:16] Watson Place and 29 Hudson Bay Road.
And these are um sold
[52:25] » sold.
So we will be passing them through. But
[52:29] that uh tender 39 Watson Place was
$14,500 [clears throat]
[52:35] and this is a small piece of land
[52:41] 6,300 square ft and it is suitable for a
dwelling. 29 Hudson Bay Road um is was
[52:51] sold for 145 as well and it is also
suitable for a dwelling.
[52:57] And uh seems to me
uh I think if I if I if I've spotted the
[53:04] place right, anyone remember old Mr.
Magcoo from years ago? I think that was
[53:10] where his old house was.
>> Pardon?
[53:14] » Is it down farther?
>> They burnt down. Town burnt.
[53:19] » Okay. Yeah. So those are the two
buildings that uh have been sold and we
[53:24] will be passing that through in the the
bylaws afterwards.
[53:29] » Okay. Um
32 Earl Crescent is coming up and uh
[53:39] so it has
[53:43] the
[53:46] » Yeah,
>> we had an offer on it but yeah was low.
[53:50] » That's right. And we had a low offer on
it. So this one will remain still the
[53:54] the offer was rejected. It will still
remain.
[54:01] see if we can celebrate this
valuation 6,000.
[54:05] » Yeah. So, we're looking 6 to8,000
hopefully and they the offer was far
[54:11] lower than that. Um manager is allocated
that if an offer is 10 15%
[54:20] from what uh the it's posted for then he
can just go ahead and finalize the sale.
[54:27] If not, if it keeps coming back, then
that's got to be a council decision in
[54:32] the end.
The next big one is leases on municipal
[54:37] buildings. And
while we're at this, uh, that's 7.4.
[54:45] We have been knocking this around in
council for ever. Um,
[54:51] the municipal buildings
that we have,
[54:56] the tourism entities that are in there
pay no taxes, have paid no rent, and the
[55:02] town has been supporting those buildings
all along. There's part of the reason
[55:07] why we fall behind every year. Um it
comes out to we have
[55:14] um all the uh all the details of which
building and what costs and everything,
[55:21] but it comes to about every year about
$70,000
[55:26] of taxpayers money go to fund those
buildings.
[55:33] And that works out to
between two uh it was just a guesstimate
[55:39] because it would take forever to go back
and look at everyone's tax bill to to
[55:44] get a percentage, but uh Cassie
guesstimated between $2 and $300 of your
[55:51] tax bill every year goes
to fund those buildings so that the
[55:58] various tourism entities are living in
there rentree. Now, every year we go
[56:03] behind and behind, but in the teen years
and yeah, in the teen years
[56:11] we were trying to help out. Councils
were trying to help out and we were
[56:14] giving a grant $10,000 to each each
year. Well, we got to the point where
[56:20] it's like uh back near the end of the
teens. We can no longer do that. We're
[56:26] getting farther and farther and farther
behind on resources.
[56:31] and we had to stop it and they were on
their own. Then we did look before CO
[56:38] started councils were discussing
uh forming proper leases and looking at
[56:46] rents whatever we could do to get some
help back from those tourism entities.
[56:51] Um and CO came and everything stops and
of course the tourism stopped.
[57:00] Uh tourist costs went up because you
weren't having income coming in. Uh town
[57:07] costs went up drastically too uh with
things that had to be done and fulfilled
[57:12] during CO and we went further behind.
Now, we've waited and waited uh after
[57:19] things opened to give the tourism groups
chance to get caught up. And now is the
[57:26] time that we have in this package formal
leases put out the costs that are
[57:34] incurred by each of the different
tourism groups in their individual
[57:38] buildings. And [snorts]
uh we will then leave [clears throat] it
[57:43] to our manager
uh to start negotiations and start
[57:49] setting up leases
uh and then negotiate it uh in camera
[57:56] first because you don't you don't go and
rent a building and negotiate that out
[58:03] in the general public a rent and those
will be negotiated in camera and then in
[58:09] the and the results can be put out. But
um part of part of the finances that
[58:15] have come from this um you will be able
to see gradually along the way. But this
[58:20] this was what we were aiming for this
term and with all the upsets that
[58:27] happened um we didn't get there. So,
we're I stipulated that I wanted these
[58:35] things set up, the financial parts all
put out. Everything's set up and ready
[58:41] to go. So, that we've got one, we've
only got one more meeting to go. Um,
[58:47] it's not all going to be finalized. It
can't be by then, but that sets the next
[58:52] council up so that everything is ready
to go because we would like as much as
[58:56] possible ready for 2027.
Um, and all we're looking at is taking
[59:05] and not being a regular landlord that
asks for more because a regular landlord
[59:10] owned building would want a profit.
We're not looking at making a profit off
[59:14] of those buildings. We're looking at
breaking even.
[59:19] And the first one, of course, we've
looked at um in depth was the theater
[59:26] because of the problems there. And um we
have been reassured that to fix that one
[59:34] uh corner
>> the foundation
[59:37] » the foundation corner there that problem
and that crack um that it's not going to
[59:42] cost extra. So, uh, it's like, okay,
because if it had it would have I've
[59:51] seen foundation cracks before and
foundations open and
[59:55] because of my past experience and in
stuff like that. Um, yes, I was
[59:59] freaking,
but so we're crossing our fingers.
[1:00:05] [clears throat] So, that's that's that
staff report. Um, next is the memorandum
[1:00:12] of understanding
uh on the head frame
[1:00:17] and um Oh, that's we do have a
commercial lease drawn up there that
[1:00:23] will be the template.
>> Yeah, [clears throat] that's the
[1:00:25] template. Yeah. So, uh that can be
worked on with everyone involved. the
[1:00:31] memorandum of understanding we will be
presenting tonight uh on the pan silver
[1:00:36] head frame and uh I'll read all that out
later when we get to that part. Uh user
[1:00:45] fees
of course they always keep going up.
[1:00:50] water.
Yeah, water um water co the reason why
[1:00:56] water costs keep going up. Part of it is
uh
[1:01:03] Aqua has to do what the provincial
government says they want done in that
[1:01:09] plant. It's not a case that they come to
us and say, "Well, gee, we really think
[1:01:14] we should change this or we should
change that or you know, this might be
[1:01:18] an improvement." they are going on what
the government tells them to do and so
[1:01:26] every time that happens
uh those parts and computers that have
[1:01:31] to go in there and everything else are
very costly. So that's a good part of
[1:01:36] what brings the water bill up.
And then
[1:01:41] how many water breaks we had this year?
Two, three. We're monitoring one now.
[1:01:47] » Yeah, there's one.
>> Yeah, there's one now. We're monitoring
[1:01:50] every time that happens. Um, that's
another 10 grand or so, isn't it?
[1:01:57] We budget for two or three every year.
>> Yes.
[1:02:02] » Why isn't the water being repaired?
>> Why is it being monitored?
[1:02:07] » There's a small leak. I think it's
>> No. Um,
[1:02:11] » it's on.
>> Yeah.
[1:02:14] » Trying to figure out what it is.
>> Yeah. Patrick Sitter has been trying
[1:02:17] monitoring it trying to figure out where
the actual leak is. Where the water
[1:02:22] might show above ground might not be
where the actual leak in the pipe is.
[1:02:27] » Yeah.
>> So you call in the fellow who locates
[1:02:31] those things and he does his thing and
then you get it repaired.
[1:02:35] » We're working on Yeah.
>> We don't have everyone available now.
[1:02:40] » No, but water leaks are serious. They're
not something that can be just dismissed
[1:02:44] and put on a back burner. They are a
threat to the integrity of the water
[1:02:48] system.
>> It has it it it deserves much more
[1:02:53] importance than it once seems to be
getting
[1:02:57] » but we don't have the equipment at
present and we don't have the the staff
[1:03:01] right now. But it will be looked after
and it
[1:03:05] » deserves a later. I was told about one
one pothole that needs a look at too.
[1:03:12] Write that down there.
[1:03:16] Uh, okay.
[1:03:21] So,
next. Okay.
[1:03:27] Um,
[1:03:30] okay. So, I've given you all the the uh
those discussion ready to Oh, we didn't
[1:03:39] get a mover in second, did we?
for staff reports. Sorry,
[1:03:45] I read too fast and skip. Okay, move her
and secondary for staff reports. Okay,
[1:03:50] councelor Star.
[1:03:54] Who else?
Okay, [snorts]
[1:03:57] thank you. Councor Hughes, all in favor?
And
[1:04:05] and I must say if you haven't read read
everything in detail, make sure you do
[1:04:08] because there's a lot of detail in
there. Okay. Now, council vacancy. We're
[1:04:13] on to item 8.1.
Be it resolved the following Oh, are you
[1:04:19] going to read this one?
>> I'll read this one.
[1:04:20] » You read this one. Thank you, sir.
[snorts]
[1:04:23] » Resolve that the following members of
council have signified in writing they
[1:04:26] are legally qualified the whole office
and consented to accept the office. if
[1:04:30] they are appointed to fill the vacancy
be considered for an appointment to fill
[1:04:34] such vacancy and the one person was
deputy mayor pen the mover and the
[1:04:39] secondary
[1:04:51] » so
[1:04:55] I'm down to there
>> so nobody else put their name in from
[1:04:59] council
So we'll move to the next motion was
[1:05:03] which states be it resolved that Pat
Anderson be appointed to the council
[1:05:08] position of mayor for the remainder
remainder of the 2022 to 2026 term of
[1:05:14] council and further that the direct
declaration of office be administered
[1:05:18] and further that Pat Henderson counselor
seat be vacant at the next regular
[1:05:23] meeting of council.
[1:05:41] What are we doing? Mover.
>> Yeah.
[1:05:46] » So,
[1:05:51] I get oath of office.
>> Oh, okay.
[1:05:55] So, oath of office municipal act 2001
2001
[1:06:01] C25 S232
in brackets one I Pat Anderson do
[1:06:07] solemnly affirm that I will perform the
duties of the office of the mayor
[1:06:11] faithfully and with [snorts] integrity.
I will abide by the statutes, bylaws,
[1:06:16] and policies that govern the town of
Kobalt and will promote openness,
[1:06:20] accountability, and responsible
leadership. And I will faithfully
[1:06:24] perform the duties of my office and will
not allow any private interest to
[1:06:28] influence my conduct, my conduct in
public affairs. I will dedicate myself
[1:06:33] at all times to acting in the best
interests of the residents of the town
[1:06:37] of Kobalt. And I make this solemn
promise and declaration conscientiously
[1:06:42] believing it to be true and knowing that
is of the same force and effect as if
[1:06:47] made under oath.
[1:06:52] » And sign.
>> Okay,
[1:07:02] » there we go. Congratulations.
>> Oh, thank you.
[1:07:06] » Congratulations. [snorts]
>> And thank you. [laughter] I thank you
[1:07:09] for that. And
the next part in there for
[1:07:15] uh normally
my position on council would would then
[1:07:19] be advertised for replacement be because
we're
[1:07:22] » too close to the
>> too close to that 90-day period. Um that
[1:07:26] would be for the next meeting. It would
be declared vacant and that's in the
[1:07:29] 90-day period before the election. So
then it it doesn't have to be.
[1:07:35] » Yes. [clears throat] So the money for
the council seat, where does that go?
[1:07:40] There'll be money left over, right?
>> Well, it'll just don't worry. Just go
[1:07:44] just save general revenue. It'll go to
>> Yeah. No, I won't get double paid.
[1:07:49] » No, I know. I know. I just go.
>> In fact, I'm not I'm not worried about
[1:07:54] if I still got paid as counselor.
>> No, I understand.
[1:07:57] » That's fine. Yeah. Uh but yeah, we just
stay in general government and and be a
[1:08:03] we cost savings there, too. Yeah.
>> Well, that's good because it's only one
[1:08:09] two more months anyway.
>> Um, yeah. And sort of on that light, uh,
[1:08:15] because the October meeting would fall,
uh, just at voting time between the
[1:08:20] early vote and the regular vote, uh, we
will not be having an October meeting
[1:08:25] obviously. So, uh, after we'll have the
meeting in September and then continue
[1:08:30] on and and then the new council will
start
[1:08:34] » in November.
>> You're going to be lame duck after
[1:08:36] Friday.
>> Yeah, we're lame duck after Friday. So,
[1:08:38] » hopefully
>> that's why we've got
[1:08:42] lots to finish off and I hope we will
get more candidates running and u we're
[1:08:49] getting there. Yeah,
[1:08:54] » we're up to three. There was one more on
the list today.
[1:08:57] » Yeah.
>> Yeah. Who I do not know. So, um
[1:09:02] or I might have met but can't remember a
name.
[1:09:06] » Okay. So, we're on to 8.3.
Um
[1:09:11] » financial statements.
>> Financial statements is presented by
[1:09:13] Camp Elliot and Blair LLP Chartered
Professional Accountants. Draft motion.
[1:09:19] Be it resolved that council receives the
2025 financial statements for the
[1:09:24] corporation of the town of Cobalt and
the Cobalt Public Library as presented
[1:09:28] by Camp Elliot and Blair LLP, Charter
Professional Accountants. Mover and
[1:09:33] second,
Councelor Hughes.
[1:09:39] Oh, did you have your hand up? Remember,
please Doug,
[1:09:42] » you got you got to make a bigger
movement because of that that bad eye.
[1:09:47] » I'm watching it.
>> Are you watching? Okay, thank you
[1:09:50] discussion.
I think we've talked about it lots and
[1:09:55] we will get the information once it's
all finalized.
[1:09:59] Uh
my guess would be the next council be
[1:10:03] starting when we actually have those
final papers and then I want those
[1:10:08] finals
posted.
[1:10:11] » Yeah, they'll be they'll be available in
the office and the website.
[1:10:14] » Yeah, on and on the website. Thank you.
Okay. Yes, sir.
[1:10:18] » I was just gonna say I just wish it was
more current. It's eight months ago.
[1:10:22] Like this is lots has happened since
then, you know,
[1:10:25] » explanation for that because it was only
three weeks ago we did that another one
[1:10:30] of the accountants did tomogy medical.
>> I think I don't know whether they're the
[1:10:35] only ones in this area that can do it or
one of the few. And there are I know
[1:10:43] whenever we do joint stuff municipally
and some of these things that for all
[1:10:48] its hands down it's going to cost us
more and more money and we do joint
[1:10:52] stuff. Uh there's 26 municipalities that
they've got to go through. There is also
[1:11:00] um all the medical boards
and a lot of the other public boards
[1:11:06] too. They got a lot of a lot of it. So
it It all depends on who gets their
[1:11:14] stuff in first. And a lot of times it
depends all all it takes is
[1:11:20] one company,
you know, one asset that should be
[1:11:25] coming in or money that should be coming
back to us that isn't paid yet and it
[1:11:32] holds it up and holds it up and holds it
up. I remember um with the uh the dishes
[1:11:38] sitting out there in the countryside uh
they're supposedly making electricity
[1:11:43] for years and years and years.
They'd go over a year and never send
[1:11:48] their money and that would hold our
financial statement up over and over
[1:11:51] again until finally we solved that
problem and said, "Fine, we're renting
[1:11:56] the land to you and getting their check
at least faster every year." So that's
[1:12:01] it comes in order of who gets theirs in
first. And if there's still someone
[1:12:06] owing you money,
you can't hand all that stuff in until
[1:12:10] it's all the bills are paid.
>> So yes, this is very very late and uh
[1:12:16] it's usually a couple months before and
of course seems later because we've got
[1:12:20] a vote coming.
>> Thank you for the explanation.
[1:12:23] » Okay, you're welcome.
Okay, that was discussion. Vote. All in
[1:12:28] favor?
[1:12:32] One, two. Thank you.
[1:12:37] » Councelor Wilcox in favor or
>> what are we voting on?
[1:12:42] » Financial statements.
>> Financial statements.
[1:12:43] » Very good.
>> Pardon?
[1:12:45] » Yes.
>> Thank you.
[1:12:48] » Passed.
>> Okay. Tender to purchase surplus lot 39
[1:12:53] Watson Place. That was from staff report
2026.
[1:12:59] 0818.1.01
[1:13:02] draft motion whereas at the regular
council meeting on September 19th 2023
[1:13:08] council declared 39 watts in place as
surplus and to be advertised for sale.
[1:13:14] Is that really 2023 or 2026?
>> That's when it was declared surplus.
[1:13:19] » Declared surplus. Thank you. Okay. So it
took three years
[1:13:22] » and so it took three years and whereas
attender has been received and whereas
[1:13:27] council has received staff report
2026.08.18.01.
[1:13:33] Now therefore be it resolved that
council approve the sale of 39 Watson
[1:13:37] place to per
jendra
[1:13:42] kendron for the sum of $14,500
plus applicable legal fees and direct
[1:13:49] staff to proceed with the necessary
documents.
[1:13:53] Mover and seconder.
Thank you sir. We go down to councelor
[1:13:58] ward and councelor staruk.
[1:14:04] Any discussion?
All in favor? Thank you.
[1:14:10] Pass.
8.4. Tender to purchase surplus lot 29
[1:14:15] Hudson Bay staff report 2026.08.18.01.
[1:14:22] Draft motion. Whereas at the regular
council meeting on October 14th, 2025,
[1:14:27] council declared 29 Hudson Bay Road as
surplus and be advertised for sale. And
[1:14:33] whereas a tender has been received and
whereas council has received staff
[1:14:37] report 2026.08.18.01.
[1:14:42] Now there therefore be it resolved the
council approved the sale of 29 Hudson
[1:14:47] Bay Road to Jeremy Travis for the sum of
$10,000
[1:14:52] plus applicable legal fees and direct
staff to proceed with the necessary
[1:14:56] documents.
Move her in second.
[1:14:59] » Councelor Suck.
[1:15:03] Anyone else? Seconder.
[1:15:09] » Councelor Wilcox.
>> Okay.
[1:15:14] » Yeah. [clears throat]
Discussion.
[1:15:17] » Yes.
>> Yes.
[1:15:18] » Build there. There's no sewage there.
It's a very small lot and it's right
[1:15:24] close to the creek. Uh, let's go back to
>> just throwing that out there.
[1:15:33] » It did say on I see a picture. Is this
the one
[1:15:38] » going to be like 50 mters from a creek
or something? It's an awful small lot.
[1:15:43] » Mhm. [clears throat]
Oh, Hudson Bay room.
[1:15:46] » Let's find it. could is there room for
there could be room for a sub.
[1:15:52] » It's zoned residential
and it's got potential use on here.
[1:15:59] » It's4
acres.
[1:16:03] So, it is a small lot [snorts]
[1:16:07] and uh
>> it's a hill.
[1:16:09] » Pardon?
>> Half of it hill as well.
[1:16:11] » Half of it hills.
You have a hillside house. Dig in the
[1:16:16] hillside. Yeah.
Unless it's rock, of course.
[1:16:21] But they are willing to buy it, use it.
>> Just throwing that out there.
[1:16:27] » Yeah. Thank you.
Okay. Any other discussion?
[1:16:32] [clears throat] All in favor?
[1:16:37] » Carried.
[1:16:40] » That was on there.
There. Okay.
[1:16:47] Yeah.
Oh. 8.5 property to be declared surplus.
[1:16:53] That's 32 Earl Crescent.
Draft uh staff report 2026.08.18.02.
[1:17:00] Draft motion. Whereas council received
staff report 2026.08.8.02
[1:17:07] 2 with the recommendation to declare
role number 54-08-0000-001-12300
[1:17:19] 0-000000
known as 32 Earl Crescent as surplus to
[1:17:24] municipal needs and whereas one tender
has been received. Now therefore be it
[1:17:29] resolved the council declare
role on that long number excuse me
[1:17:36] » as surplus to municipal needs and
>> that means
[1:17:42] » that's the one that they wanted for
parking.
[1:17:45] » Yeah. So put it up for sale.
>> Yeah.
[1:17:48] » Mhm.
>> So uh I think that that's a rock one and
[1:17:53] they wanted the property for parking.
Um, their bid was already
[1:17:58] » So, their bid was all ready to go. So,
>> so, uh,
[1:18:03] » the bid was low. We're put
>> Yes, that's right. Yes. So, their bid
[1:18:08] was that's the one that was request.
>> Mhm.
[1:18:13] » Okay. Move her and second her. Okay.
Let's move it and second and then we can
[1:18:16] discuss.
>> Okay.
[1:18:19] Who's [clears throat] going to second?
So, we move back. Okay. Thanks,
[1:18:24] Councelor Starchuk. And yes, let's go
back to you then.
[1:18:28] » Yes. Um, if it's too small to build on
and they only want it for parking,
[1:18:35] » um, why would we be trying to get
something? I think they bided what,
[1:18:41] 2,000,
>> but we have to we still have to declare
[1:18:44] a surplus first.
>> Yeah, we're just this is this is
[1:18:48] declaring a surplus address.
>> Yeah. Um it's it's quite a extension to
[1:18:54] their backyard as well. The property
does come up from the street straight
[1:18:57] up. So it would double their yard almost
as well.
[1:19:00] » The point was going to be though, is
there anybody else who's ever likely to
[1:19:03] be able to buy it or want to buy it? You
know,
[1:19:05] » if not then what you got is what you
got. Sell it, you know.
[1:19:11] » So when
>> But our first step is declared surplus.
[1:19:13] » Yeah. We're declaring a surplus and then
you can negotiate.
[1:19:16] » Yeah.
>> Yeah.
[1:19:20] » Okay. So all in favor then declaring it
surplus.
[1:19:24] Good. Thank you Gary.
[1:19:29] Municipal building leases. So we have a
draft put together that will be worked
[1:19:37] on gradually. Um but in the staff
report. So that staff report this is
[1:19:43] 8.6.
Yeah. Excuse me.
[1:19:48] Make that change here. 8.6 Municipal
Building Leases Staff Report
[1:19:53] 2026.08.18.03
[1:19:57] and draft motion whereas the
municipality owns and manages various
[1:20:01] buildings leased to external properties
parties and whereas establishing
[1:20:06] standardized lease agreement ensures
equity consistency and risk mitigation
[1:20:10] across all municipal properties and
where council received and re reviewed
[1:20:15] staff report 2026.08 08.18.03
[1:20:21] which attaches a newly developed
standard municipal lease agreement
[1:20:25] template.
Now therefore be it resolved that the
[1:20:28] standard municipal lease agreement
template be attached to staff report
[1:20:34] 2026.0.18.0
zero be approved in principle.
[1:20:41] Two, municipal staff be authorized and
directed to utilize this this approved
[1:20:47] template as the baseline framework for
negotiating all future tenencies and
[1:20:52] lease renewals within town owned
facilities. Three, the mayor and clerk
[1:20:57] be authorized to execute individual
leases derived from this template. So
[1:21:02] mover and a seconder
councelor Hughes and Staruck
[1:21:10] discussion.
Councelor Wilcox. Uh I would like to
[1:21:16] move that this item be deferred to the
next term.
[1:21:21] Uh because that is the council that's
going to have to live with whatever
[1:21:24] results from this.
I would note that uh well the bunker
[1:21:30] museum
uh we would be looking to uh have them
[1:21:36] pay another 5286 bucks I guess [snorts]
something that
[1:21:43] » uh the last time the last business I can
recall ever being in that location was a
[1:21:49] men's clothing store operated by Charlie
Hut in the 1960s.
[1:21:56] I don't remember any other commercial or
retail effort being made in that space.
[1:22:01] So if you get rid of if you charge the
bunker more than they can afford, then
[1:22:06] you have nothing in that space.
So it's something and and that'll apply
[1:22:12] to most of these other items as well. So
I think rather than saddling with the
[1:22:17] next council with this thought that we
should leave it over to them and see
[1:22:22] what they want to do.
And therefore, as I say, we move to
[1:22:26] defer.
>> And what we're doing is trying to
[1:22:31] prepare things for the next council.
And so that
[1:22:39] um I don't know what the town as a whole
taxpayers
[1:22:48] um and this is what we'd like to know
and have feedback. Are you quite willing
[1:22:54] that your taxes keep
uh paying for everything there? But one
[1:23:00] way or another, we need a lease in
there. If you read through the lease and
[1:23:05] all the terms in there, that provides a
lot of protection from the proof that's
[1:23:11] in there and protection from the town
when things happen. Uh it's a standard,
[1:23:17] it's pretty well a standard lease
agreement. And uh no, we're not taking
[1:23:22] questions from this the floor. Sorry.
>> You're talking about something that
[1:23:27] you're not saying the whole truth
>> because in in the bunker it's in the
[1:23:35] basement.
>> That makes no difference.
[1:23:38] » Others above us.
>> Yes, I know. We are well aware of that,
[1:23:41] Mr. Harrison.
uh we're aware of what's in each
[1:23:45] property, what's doing, what the costs
are, and the costs been broken down in
[1:23:49] there,
and I hope that
[1:23:54] um we get feedback from the taxpayers
that are paying it. Um we we were
[1:24:02] council back in the late teens. We're
getting prepared to do this.
[1:24:08] It got postponed because co co It got
postponed and all those years. So
[1:24:13] $70,000 or more of taxpayers money goes
into supporting
[1:24:20] those groups.
Um, and it's are we going to keep
[1:24:26] bleeding and bleeding and bleeding and
putting our taxes up more
[1:24:32] because those are costs over and above
what is required to run the town.
[1:24:40] And uh
so that's why we wanted to get this set
[1:24:46] in place.
We've mucked around with it for years.
[1:24:51] It's not set in place. We're saying here
is a lease agreement to look at. Here is
[1:24:57] considerations and it will definitely
passed on. We're not going to we're not
[1:25:02] going to sign a lease now. This is for
the next government administration to
[1:25:08] do. Yes.
>> Yeah. So you can put that on paper and
[1:25:10] then negotiate. Maybe
>> negotiate. Yes.
[1:25:13] » Right.
>> Yeah.
[1:25:16] » Yeah. Yeah,
>> I'm not going to run around with the
[1:25:18] lease tomorrow and say sign on the
dotted line.
[1:25:21] » Council had passed a motion to start
negotiating
[1:25:25] theater.
>> Mhm.
[1:25:26] » So, we're supposed we're supposed to
arrange a meeting in September just to
[1:25:30] get
>> Yeah. And they are expecting a meeting
[1:25:33] in September.
>> That's nice. However, point of order. I
[1:25:38] have made a motion to defer. You now
need to ask if there's a second for the
[1:25:43] motion and then you have the discussion.
Can I get a second around my motion?
[1:25:49] » Second.
>> Okay. Councelor Ward.
[1:25:52] » So, yeah. And your motion says
>> My motion says that this item be
[1:25:57] deferred to the next council's term.
>> Okay.
[1:26:02] » They're the ones who are going to have
to live with it.
[1:26:07] » No, our taxes taxpayers have to live
with it long [snorts and clears throat]
[1:26:10] term anyway.
>> Yeah. But this this will also give
[1:26:13] taxpayers a chance to think about it.
figure out what's going on. Also, can't
[1:26:18] just
>> do it.
[1:26:20] » No.
[1:26:23] » Is providing
everything for the next council to start
[1:26:28] working on
>> instead of starting from scratch. So,
[1:26:36] any other are we ready to vote?
[clears throat]
[1:26:40] » All in favor?
[1:26:43] No. Deferral. All against
>> and [clears throat]
[1:26:50] I'm against
[1:26:54] » mostly because we've been waiting for
eight [clears throat] years. It's
[1:27:00] » you hear people say we're not doing
anything. Let's keep it moving forward.
[1:27:04] Just because we're at the end of this
term, keep things moving forward. It
[1:27:09] doesn't mean that they have to take that
lease. It doesn't mean the next council
[1:27:15] has sacked on it. What we're doing is
handing them a recommendation.
[1:27:21] » Okay.
[1:27:25] » Now, do we have to go back and vote on
it?
[1:27:30] » Move. Okay. So, on the original 8.6
draft motion, councelor Hughes and
[1:27:37] Councelor Star,
you moved and second that. And could we
[1:27:43] have a vote on it?
>> Recorded vote, please. Like a recorded
[1:27:46] vote. Okay.
>> What's this one? You said 86.
[1:27:49] » Yes. 86 for
>> silverhead. Silver head frame.
[1:27:53] » No, the municipal building leases
>> page four.
[1:27:57] » Yeah. There's two 8.6es on your paper.
That's why we amended the thing.
[1:28:03] So, this is for the the building leases.
>> Okay.
[1:28:06] » Okay. Um,
so
[1:28:11] » [snorts]
>> So we start councelor Hughes.
[1:28:17] » Yes.
>> Okay. Four.
[1:28:19] » Councelor Starcha.
>> Councelor Ward.
[1:28:23] » Councelor Wilcox.
>> And I will vote for break the tie.
[1:28:31] And we will pass things on.
[1:28:41] » [snorts]
[1:28:45] [clears throat]
>> Okay.
[1:28:47] Now,
the other 8.6 six that's on here that uh
[1:28:51] I amended the agenda way way back at the
very beginning to make it 8.7 is the
[1:28:58] authorization of the Cobalt Historic
Society as project manager for the pan
[1:29:03] silver head frame the Willlet Green
Memorial Heritage Silver Trail site
[1:29:07] number 14 as requested by Cobalt
Historical Society and that's from staff
[1:29:13] report 2026.08.18.04.
[1:29:19] Now,
[laughter]
[1:29:24] » are you ready?
>> Read all that.
[1:29:26] » Do you want to read all that?
>> Sure.
[1:29:30] » I'm getting dry.
>> Whereas the 1990s
[1:29:34] [clears throat]
>> where since the 1990s, the town of
[1:29:37] Cobalt together with the township of
Coleman and the Heritage Silver Trail
[1:29:41] Committee conceived a self-guided tour
of the region's mining heritage. And
[1:29:45] whereas in 1998 the pan silver head
frame was relocated from township to its
[1:29:51] current location on silver street and
donated to the town of cobalt for its
[1:29:55] use as a tourist attraction.
Whereas in 1999, in order to access
[1:30:00] public funding, the Cobalt Historic
Society, a nonprofit incorporation was
[1:30:05] established to work collaboratively with
and in partnership with the town of
[1:30:09] Cobalt and Malden Township, forming a
three-way partnership to plan,
[1:30:13] construct, and maintain the Heritage
Silver Trail.
[1:30:16] And whereas in 2003 on the 100th
anniversary of the silver discovery, the
[1:30:20] pan silver head frame was renamed the
Willick Green Memorial Site number 14 on
[1:30:25] the HS sorry
>> Cobalt Historic I was going to say HST
[1:30:31] Cobalt Historic
>> Society Heritage Silver Trail.
[1:30:35] » Heritage Civil Trail, sorry. And Cobalt
Historic Society. And whereas in 2023,
[1:30:40] safety concerns relating to the
deterioration of the wooden timbers of
[1:30:44] the pan silver head frame have required
the CHS to hold its meetings off site.
[1:30:50] And whereas on July 21st, 2026, the CHS
and Colan Coleman Township made a
[1:30:54] delegation to council proposing
solutions to resolve the outstanding
[1:30:58] safety concerns at the site as set out
in the delegation materials of that of
[1:31:03] that date. And whereas the town of
Cobalt wishes to confirm ownership and
[1:31:08] reporting arrangements under which the
work will proceed. Now [snorts]
[1:31:12] therefore be resolved that the council
of the town of Cobalt reaffirms it
[1:31:16] reaffirms its commitment to work
collaboratively with its heritage silver
[1:31:20] trail partners to cobalt historical
society and township of Coleman as
[1:31:24] originally established in 1999.
authorizes the Cobalt Historical Society
[1:31:29] to act as project manager for the
remediation and repair work at the Pan
[1:31:34] Silverhead frame. Willard Grey Memorial
Willard Willlet Green Memorial site such
[1:31:41] authorization to remain subject to the
ownership of the site remaining vest in
[1:31:45] the town of Cobalt.
Three stipulates that the Cobalt
[1:31:49] Historic Society must obtain formal
approval for all project expenditures
[1:31:52] that exceed the available donated funds
before any related work is permitted to
[1:31:57] begin. Four, request that the Cobalt
Historic Society report back to council
[1:32:01] on progress expenditures any materials
changes in scope of the project. Five, a
[1:32:06] memorandum of understanding between the
town co town of Cobalt historic town
[1:32:12] cobalt historic society and Coleman
Township setting out the term of this
[1:32:15] authorization to be executed by the
appropriate signing officers, the clerk
[1:32:20] and the mayor be authorized to sign the
memorandum of understanding.
[1:32:25] » Thank you. Is that
>> yes by seconded?
[1:32:32] Okay start. Who else?
>> Okay, thank you.
[1:32:41] » I need a [laughter]
[1:32:45] » Okay. Uh discussion on this.
This was a draft motion.
[1:32:53] Um it will
it will go back to Kman Township as
[1:32:59] well. Um,
I already talked to the mayor about
[1:33:03] that. So, that they will be just time
wise. I think they're going to call a
[1:33:09] special meeting just to go through it
and make sure they're happy with it. Um,
[1:33:16] early in September, the historical
society will be having their next
[1:33:19] meeting and I think they submitted a lot
of this themselves or the first part of
[1:33:25] it anyway. And so, all three entities
after that by our next meeting our next
[1:33:33] regular meeting should have if there's
any small word changes here and there
[1:33:38] that are needed. So is there any
discussion or anything in there that
[1:33:42] you're not comfortable with?
>> Yes.
[1:33:46] » There's a part that was uh they wanted
to be the project manager.
[1:33:51] » Yeah.
>> Looking after the building is going to
[1:33:54] be their responsibility. Oh,
>> okay. So taking care of it.
[1:33:58] » Yeah.
And um you know we got to assure is
[1:34:02] tonight that we have full support from
McNo behind it which is really great.
[1:34:07] And um
what I caught from
[1:34:12] uh the message that I got for their next
meeting is that they will be finalizing
[1:34:18] like we had said uh one thing I really
stipulated and pushed was uh all these
[1:34:25] people were saying individuals donating
money
[1:34:30] make sure you set up a fund that is
allocated to the future of that
[1:34:35] building. So when anything needs doing
down the road, somewhere down the road,
[1:34:40] it's going to need a roof. It's going to
need repainting. So um just reading from
[1:34:46] what's on the agenda for their next
meeting, they will be finalizing and
[1:34:51] setting up uh that fund as well at the
historic site. That's where
[1:34:57] um
let's see there are Oh, I should explain
[1:35:03] you guys. You weren't around way back
then.
[1:35:07] There's
the historical society and the
[1:35:13] historic corporation
uh historic corporation
[1:35:19] um was set up and has now been
moved into the mining museum. So the
[1:35:27] mining museum actually itself operates
under that society and the funding for
[1:35:33] all this um will go through them
um because that way ano they can send uh
[1:35:44] ano can send them a check and they can
then send the tax rebate back to them
[1:35:50] that kind of thing. So it's going
through there. Um
[1:35:55] but everyone all those all those groups
are now finally for all these years
[1:36:02] finally got together. Uh that was the
plan back in the early '9s and uh we
[1:36:10] stepped the plan stepped on a few
people's territories in boards and stuff
[1:36:16] like that and it never worked and it
never worked and finally finally we have
[1:36:21] a group of people in the mining museum
in the historical group and now as well
[1:36:28] in the cobalt shines group
[1:36:33] » and Mr. getting getting the rack
together and working together
[1:36:39] finally.
So any other discussions? Anything? Um
[1:36:46] take another read through it to um
because if we Yeah. Sorry.
[1:36:52] » Did I not understand at last meeting
that there was some talk or conversation
[1:36:56] about
town selling it to them?
[1:37:02] There was there there was two choices.
Um
[1:37:07] » we looked at um
[1:37:12] there were there was two ways to go and
uh we looked at this as
[1:37:20] they will be responsible for it
but if it remains cobalt property
[1:37:25] they're going to they will be one of the
ones that will be paying a rent too. So
[1:37:29] the building will they will have a lease
on the building
[1:37:32] the same as all the other tourism groups
and
[1:37:38] » they own the building. They'll also pay
>> some taxes and water
[1:37:44] they not
>> they already they already pay their own
[1:37:46] water sewer.
[1:37:50] » No sewer comes under tax. They pay their
own water. They pay their own hydro
[1:37:54] there. Um, and
if it's just being used for storage and
[1:37:59] water, they may ask for it to be turned
on. Yes, sir.
[1:38:02] » What about insurance?
>> Insurance on the property and the
[1:38:05] building
>> within insurance is will be dealt with
[1:38:09] within those leases, but they are going
to have to have insurance.
[1:38:12] » All right.
>> Yeah,
[1:38:13] » they're going to have to have insurance
on the on the
[1:38:16] » on the contents and
on what they're using.
[1:38:21] So, uh, [snorts]
but that's that's to be worked out.
[1:38:26] Yeah. As we come up to the leases and
everything. But,
[1:38:31] yeah, it was deemed um
in some of the discussions that it would
[1:38:36] be better for the ownership to stay with
the town. Um, we've got more control
[1:38:41] then
in case things go wrong.
[1:38:48] Yeah.
[1:38:52] I can't hear you.
>> Okay.
[1:38:57] » Okay.
You you are you happy enough with that?
[1:39:01] » Yeah.
>> So, all in favor with this going ahead.
[1:39:08] » One, two,
against. Or is that a is that a yes?
[1:39:13] That's a four. That's a four. Okay.
[1:39:19] and
[1:39:24] nine
draft uh items for council information.
[1:39:29] Draft motion. May it resolve that that
council accept the items for council
[1:39:35] information as presented. Moved by and
seconded by and uh can I get a mover and
[1:39:42] a second for sir? This is
>> on nine. Yeah.
[1:39:49] And welcome.
[1:39:53] So, we've got uh 9.1 Cobalt Shines
Committee minutes. Cobalt Shines is
[1:40:01] for I think probably all of you sitting
back there know it's a mix of
[1:40:07] the historical board on there. uh
some of the uh some of our community
[1:40:17] businesses
uh some of our museum people. It's quite
[1:40:22] a mixture of people that are saying,
"Okay, we want to do something." What
[1:40:28] they're looking at is um
helping out with the tree lighting and
[1:40:35] working towards that at Christmas time
and setting up uh a special evening
[1:40:40] where businesses will be open and uh and
they want to set up gradually work their
[1:40:47] way into some sort of winter type
festival and this is their start. This
[1:40:53] group started back in
2018 I believe 2019. Um they managed it
[1:41:02] one year so probably 2018
and then of course there was a threat of
[1:41:08] co COVID as you got through to that
timing when they were going to have the
[1:41:12] stores open in 19. So they didn't do it
and of course co now they're reuniting
[1:41:18] again.
So they've already done this once and um
[1:41:23] so we have
uh the June and July committee minutes
[1:41:29] uh letter council which is a resolution
to have the lighting ceremony on
[1:41:34] November 27th
uh which is when they'd like to have the
[1:41:38] stores open and they will work with the
group and um I think
[1:41:46] I think this sound of it they will just
gradually take over looking after the
[1:41:50] lighting and they've come up with some
some other they they so far they've got
[1:41:56] a whole list of we could do this and
this and this and this and this and
[1:42:00] that's what they're looking at it in the
future. So, we may not have um a summer
[1:42:05] festival anymore, but maybe we're going
to have a winter one. And what they're
[1:42:10] thinking is there's lots of summer ones
around here, but not many winter
[1:42:14] festivals.
They're some of the best
[1:42:19] the best of the brains that I've seen in
the up and coming for running things and
[1:42:26] looking after tourism and everything.
And then the Aqua uh second quarter
[1:42:32] operations report. I'm sure you all read
it, didn't you?
[1:42:36] » Yeah.
>> Okay. Um yes I have got I have gone
[1:42:41] through it and found nothing in there
that um this time
[1:42:47] that was of concerns
now 10 bylaws and agreements
[1:42:55] » this is the one I say
>> for the folks yes
[1:42:58] » do a vote to accept that
>> oh we have sorry I'm sorry okay all in
[1:43:03] favor
okay thank you
[1:43:07] » there there is a letter from them asking
that we coordinate tree lighting with uh
[1:43:12] their light up night and I think we
should probably address that at this
[1:43:16] point.
>> Yes. In accepting that are is everyone
[1:43:22] acceptable to November 27th
for doing the tree lighting this thing.
[1:43:28] » Yes, I know. uh because that's the date
they've chosen for it and they want to
[1:43:36] help out and they want to go and get
further donations
[1:43:41] to have more lights and one of the
suggestions I heard was they were
[1:43:46] thinking of doing sort of standalone
stuff out there as well all lighted up
[1:43:52] like many towns like Science North has
that kind of thing. So, uh are we all in
[1:43:58] favor of this sir?
[1:44:03] Yes.
[1:44:07] » I don't know if you heard or are we in
favor?
[1:44:10] » Are you in [laughter] favor?
>> Yeah, why not?
[1:44:15] » Fair enough. Me, too.
>> Okay, good. [laughter]
[1:44:17] » Okay, we're finished with that. [snorts]
>> Sorry.
[1:44:23] » Okay,
now on to the onto the happy happy one.
[1:44:29] I don't know how many people guessed in
the Well, I guess you've looked ahead,
[1:44:32] haven't you? Yes.
10.1 bylaw 2026-24.
[1:44:39] Clerk treasurer
[1:44:43] twisted your arm enough. [laughter]
Draft motion. Whereas at the special
[1:44:48] meeting of council on August 12th, 2026,
council directed staff to prepare the
[1:44:53] necessary bylaw. Therefore, be it
resolved that bylaw 2026-24
[1:45:00] being a bylaw to appoint Jamie Allen as
clerk treasurer for the corporation of
[1:45:04] the town of [snorts] Cobalt be taken as
read a first, second, third, time and
[1:45:10] fourth and fifth and sixth and finally
passed this 18th day of August 2026 and
[1:45:16] further that the said bylaw be signed
and sealed by the mayor and clerk. Move
[1:45:21] and seconded.
Thank you.
[1:45:26] Check
[1:45:30] discussion.
[1:45:33] Yes, councelor Wilcox.
>> Thank you. You worship. Um I'm not going
[1:45:38] to support this as presented
uh for a few good reasons I think. Uh
[1:45:47] particularly [snorts] article two
remuneration.
[1:45:51] Uh I and article three termination.
Um
[1:45:59] I note first of all in 2.01
item five benefits of the collective
[1:46:04] agreement. I have no idea what that
means.
[1:46:08] Absolutely no idea. Um
we have
[1:46:13] » after all these years.
>> Excuse me.
[1:46:17] » Well facicious as that might have been.
>> No.
[1:46:20] » Oh yeah. really that was that was in
poor taste.
[1:46:27] » Anyway,
uh the bylaw for for uh or well our
[1:46:33] collective agreement uh pages 18 to 22
lists many of the benefits and you know
[1:46:40] there's lots of benefits to a collective
agreement with the union. I have no idea
[1:46:45] which ones you're looking for.
Uh
[1:46:49] » she had referenced item two. That's what
she means by that.
[1:46:54] » Item two.
>> Item two under salary
[1:46:57] » in the collective agreement.
>> No, in this by that's what she means by
[1:47:02] benefit.
>> Yes, I I see item
[1:47:07] uh
>> that's insurance benefit. That's what
[1:47:11] she means.
Well, the [snorts] the other benefits of
[1:47:14] the collective agreement are the uh
sick days,
[1:47:22] right? Sick days that are benefit the
same as the the unionized employees.
[1:47:29] » Well, I would strongly suggest that that
be itemized rather than just putting
[1:47:37] benefits agreement because, you know,
they have winter coats in here. There's
[1:47:41] a benefit. They got summer coats. They
got all kinds of things for some of the
[1:47:46] guys.
Uh you get into page 18.
[1:47:51] Uh you know, you have life insurance
benefits.
[1:47:55] uh accidental death and dismemberment,
all those good things,
[1:48:00] dental care, vision,
uh
[1:48:05] sick benefits, long-term disability,
uh bereavement leave, don't think
[1:48:12] maternity leave applies.
[1:48:16] Um there's a whole lot in here. So, I
would think to pass that it should at
[1:48:21] least specify
what benefits you're looking for.
[1:48:28] There's a $50 certificate for a
Christmas turkey in there as a benefit.
[1:48:37] » So,
>> Well, that's my comment on that one.
[1:48:39] » Um, question. Exactly where are you
looking?
[1:48:46] » Page five.
H5 benefits
[1:48:53] number five
2.
[1:49:05] » Oh, benefits. Oh, okay.
[1:49:10] » Yes.
>> Oh, I'm sorry. You're split your time.
[1:49:13] I'm sorry.
>> Yes. [snorts]
[1:49:15] » Thank you.
>> Yeah. Go ahead. Sorry.
[1:49:17] » 2.0. 02. The employer shall pay the
employee in accordance with the
[1:49:20] municipal pay grid as established from
time to time. The employee shall
[1:49:24] commence employment as municipal ex
administrator at and it's blank. So we
[1:49:31] got no start date being signed signed
here. Nor do we have an end date.
[1:49:37] An end date is August 17th.
>> I'm sorry.
[1:49:42] » August 17th.
Page four.
[1:49:48] I didn't write this contract, so
I'm just
[1:49:52] » Yeah. 1.01
near the bottom of four
[1:49:56] » August 17th.
>> The end dates.
[1:50:01] on the end date. He promises that he
will give us plenty of leeway time in
[1:50:08] order to find uh when he finally decides
to rerire to to find a new manager and
[1:50:15] to help train.
[1:50:19] Well, that's all good and positive, but
if we don't have an end date, then I
[1:50:24] have trouble with the uh 3
01 brackets
[1:50:32] I I termination without clause.
Uh continuing the employees base salary
[1:50:39] until the end of the term of the
contract. We don't have an end of term
[1:50:44] of contract. That's basically issuing a
blank check.
[1:50:50] So, can I speak?
>> Yes.
[1:50:52] » Is this Is he a contracted employee,
though? He's an employee.
[1:50:56] » He's not a union worker either, right?
You're not in the union, right?
[1:51:02] » No, it's not a union. That's why I have
a problem with benefits of the
[1:51:05] collective agreement. Why would why
would that be in there? That's a union,
[1:51:10] isn't it?
>> I'm just curious. Maybe the wording.
[1:51:17] Yeah, that's
>> as I said, itemize what it is you're
[1:51:20] looking for rather than citing this
large document that's filled with other
[1:51:25] benefits.
>> Not part of the collective
[1:51:28] not the collective agreement. That's
what I'm saying.
[1:51:31] » Part of I'm saying that's shouldn't be
>> Exactly.
[1:51:35] » Yes.
>> Hughes,
[1:51:37] » were we not paying him cash instead of
in benefits and stuff on that contract?
[1:51:42] Wasn't it just a a money number, not a
benefit thing?
[1:51:46] It was just money, right, that we were
giving them. We weren't giving them
[1:51:50] » pension. We weren't doing any of that
stuff.
[1:51:53] » In
[1:51:57] what I thought it was, yeah.
>> So, there's no benefits. It's just cash.
[1:52:02] Correct.
>> Yes.
[1:52:04] » Yes.
>> Yes.
[1:52:07] » It's just a payment like money payment
instead of benefits.
[1:52:12] » Well, you should ought to know what that
is.
[1:52:14] » Well, he did have a number. There was a
number in there.
[1:52:17] » Mhm.
>> What's the number?
[1:52:19] » I don't know. 9,000 or something like
that. Was it 9,000 something something?
[1:52:23] » 10,000 44 44 422
>> 5,285
[1:52:30] » 440 a month. Yeah, that's probably
private, right?
[1:52:33] » Yes. Yeah.
>> All of this remained private.
[1:52:37] » Yeah.
This is an open public meeting and this
[1:52:42] is my first opportunity to ask uh
unfortunately Jamie wasn't with us when
[1:52:47] we looked at this in close session. So
this is our first opportunity to ask
[1:52:51] them about these things.
My my other question was going to be
[1:52:56] um your the one I was citing there, the
notice
[1:53:03] uh and dismissal without cause,
termination without cause, would finding
[1:53:10] another treasurer to fill the position
uh in your mind be just cause
[1:53:20] for you to leave us or
[1:53:24] » well if you're hiring somebody full time
no that wouldn't be justice.
[1:53:30] » Are you still looking for a clerk
treasurer or no?
[1:53:32] » I would think we would be. How long do
you plan on being here?
[1:53:36] » I can't answer that.
>> Like any other hired employee?
[1:53:43] » I'm just I'm confused because you were
retired. You came out of retirement to
[1:53:47] help us which was great.
>> Appreciate that.
[1:53:51] And now he's And now he's accepting the
job offer that we we were getting
[1:53:58] applicants for and [clears throat] not
finding the the appropriate one. And now
[1:54:03] he's saying he's applied and we've
accepted him. And that's what the
[1:54:06] meeting was
>> full-time employee
[1:54:09] » as a full-time employee.
[1:54:14] not coming on as a
like like he was on contract
[1:54:20] before. He's coming on as a full-time
employee. Yes.
[1:54:23] » It's taken us a long time to get through
everything. Do you think we could have a
[1:54:26] quick fiveminute recess? I'd like to use
the washroom if possible.
[1:54:30] » I think so. Yeah.
>> Yeah. Perfect.
[1:54:32] » Okay. Five minute recess.
>> Thank you. [snorts]
[1:54:42] » What about it? This isn't that.
>> Are you sure?
[1:54:46] » Oh, welcome. It's different.
>> Okay. Thank you then. Sorry. Okay. Can
[1:54:51] we go on and can we get this passed?
[1:54:57] » Yes, sir.
>> I would move that we defer this to the
[1:55:00] next council in December
[1:55:04] and that can get it properly written and
described. I can't vote for this as it
[1:55:09] is. Can we not get it done for next
meeting? That's the way that it'll be.
[1:55:14] » Okay, we have to He's moving. Um,
>> yeah. And his contract will have run
[1:55:20] away by then. So, excuse me. Um, he's so
moved and Okay. So, you have a seconder
[1:55:28] for that for deferring it into into
December.
[1:55:32] » I don't know.
So, you would ask council
[1:55:35] » when we would
>> Yes.
[1:55:37] when that would mean uh we would no
longer we would have a meeting in
[1:55:42] December and legally we have to have a
manager. We would not have a manager
[1:55:49] then because his contra his contract
that we just had with him before would
[1:55:54] have run out.
>> As for seconder
[1:55:57] » pass everybody.
>> All in favor of deferring
[1:56:02] » seconder. Get a second first.
>> Yeah. Oh, you weren't seconding it.
[1:56:06] » No. saying,
>> are you seconding? Are you seconding,
[1:56:09] councelor Ward? No. Okay, you have no
seconder.
[1:56:14] » Fails.
>> Okay. So, can we continue on with this
[1:56:17] mover and seconder and
>> vote
[1:56:20] » and vote?
[1:56:24] Uh, excuse me.
There's one.
[1:56:32] Let me get down to it again. I
movements. Sorry.
[1:56:36] Okay. So, mover and seconder.
I [snorts] have councelor Hughes and
[1:56:41] councelor Staruk moved and seconded at
first. All in favor of expecting.
[1:56:48] » Yes. You may have a counted vote. Okay.
So, we start around. Councelor Hughes.
[1:56:53] » Yes. [clears throat]
>> Councelor Star.
[1:56:59] Councelor Ward.
>> Opposed. Mhm.
[1:57:05] and I'm four.
Okay. And
[1:57:13] we'll make sure everything's filled in
properly.
[1:57:18] So,
>> can we go on to 10.2?
[1:57:23] » What you mean by we'll make sure
everything's filled in properly?
[1:57:28] » We just approved it as is.
>> Okay, we'll leave it at this.
[1:57:35] as is property.
>> Okay.
[1:57:44] » Bylaw 2026-25
council meeting live streaming and
[1:57:48] recording policy draft motion. Where is
council received staff report
[1:57:53] 2026.07.21.01
[1:57:57] at the July 21st 2026 regular meeting of
council. and where is council directed
[1:58:02] administration to continue live
streaming and recording council meetings
[1:58:06] and to develop and present a meeting
live stream and recording policy. Now
[1:58:11] therefore, be it resolved that bylaw
2025
[1:58:15] 202625 being a bylaw to adopt a council
meeting, live streaming and recording
[1:58:22] policy for the town of Kobalt be taken
at first as read a first, second, and
[1:58:26] third time this 18th December
[1:58:31] and further that the said bylaw be
signed and sealed by the mayor of clerk
[1:58:36] and
a mover and second or first. Okay.
[1:58:40] Councelor Ward.
Anyone else?
[1:58:45] Seconder.
Okay. Councelor Wilcox.
[1:58:52] Okay. And
has everyone read through the the
[1:58:57] policy?
[1:59:02] » Any discussions on it?
[1:59:08] Okay. All in favor of this policy.
[1:59:13] » Thank you. Carried.
>> No.
[1:59:16] » No.
>> You're No.
[1:59:17] » No.
>> Okay.
[1:59:18] » But I vote it just like the last time.
>> Mhm. Okay. So,
[1:59:38] okay. So, that one's
[1:59:44] Jesus.
[1:59:49] We're going to user fees next.
Okay.
[1:59:55] 10.3 bylaw 2026-26
to establish user fees for the town of
[2:00:01] Koval for 2027 to 2029.
Staff report 2026.08.18.05.
[2:00:10] The draft draft motion. Whereas council
council received staff report
[2:00:17] 2026-.08.18.05.
[2:00:22] Be it resolved that bylaw number 2026-26
being a bylaw to establish user fees for
[2:00:28] the town of Kovalt be taken the first,
second, and third time this 18th day of
[2:00:33] 2026 and further that the said bylaw be
signed and sealed by the mayor and
[2:00:39] council or mayor and clerk, sorry. Moved
by
[2:00:46] use
second.
[2:00:52] Did you warm?
>> Not a chance.
[2:00:55] » Okay.
>> Seconder on this.
[2:01:02] » Yes. Okay.
>> Discussion.
[2:01:05] » Councelor Starchuk. Discussion.
[2:01:12] Yes,
>> I would move that we defer this to the
[2:01:15] next council. You know, this is for the
years 2027 to 2029.
[2:01:20] I don't think in our last couple of
meeting, well, our last meeting when
[2:01:25] we're actually a council that we should
be saddling a future council for three
[2:01:31] years with this. I I think whoever's
coming in to replace us can figure this
[2:01:37] one out for themselves.
[2:01:41] Mhm. Any other discussion?
>> There would be a Do I have a seconder
[2:01:45] for the motion to defer?
>> I'll second. I'll second.
[2:01:51] » A motion to defer and
you're fighting over seconding. Okay.
[2:01:57] All in favor of deferring
favor.
[2:02:01] » Okay. So, we will defer then.
[2:02:08] Next council's going to be busy.
>> Yes. Yes.
[2:02:12] Because all of this would have passed on
to next council to take a look at anyway
[2:02:16] and to know.
[2:02:20] Okay.
[2:02:24] So, new business is the schedule of
accounts over here
[2:02:29] and uh 12.1 schedule of accounts draft
motion. Be it resolved that council
[2:02:35] receives the following schedules as
presented. Schedule number 2026-08
[2:02:41] in the amount of 367,625.3.
[2:02:47] Mover and seconder
[2:02:51] taking a look at these.
Okay.
[2:02:55] » Gary
and seconder.
[2:03:00] » Okay.
award.
[2:03:03] » Couldn't see that.
>> No, I know.
[2:03:05] » It's already
>> Okay. Is there anything on here you want
[2:03:12] question?
[2:03:20] [clears throat]
>> I think we should I think we should
[2:03:22] point out some of the the highlights
here. the big the big so that the
[2:03:26] audience anybody taxpayers that are
listening understand the $367,000
[2:03:32] [laughter]
right so because it's a little bit
[2:03:34] higher normal
[2:03:38] » you mean like when I go choke when I'm
signing
[2:03:41] » yeah counter signing yeah
>> the high ones
[2:03:44] » okay
>> um
[2:03:49] » okay uh 41,000
is our next payment for OP.
[2:03:58] » Um,
>> that's per month.
[2:04:00] » H,
>> that's every month.
[2:04:02] » That's every month.
>> Yes. Um,
[2:04:07] the next one is uh, Aqua
call outs and chemicals.
[2:04:15] Every time an alarm goes off
in in the water plant, someone's got to
[2:04:21] come running from Aqua and check it out.
and file reports as well and do whatever
[2:04:27] has to be done depending on uh why an
alarm went off. So um
[2:04:34] » that's chemicals too.
>> That's chemicals too. Yes. They uh this
[2:04:39] time around they were buying more
chemicals and
[2:04:45] we have no choice. They have no choice.
province dictates what chemicals we have
[2:04:52] to use there.
So, and we have to go along with it or
[2:04:56] else our water supply is closed down.
And the province could do that. They
[2:05:02] could just say, "No, your water plant's
no good." And
[2:05:06] and we're all on bottled water.
>> Those kind of things. So, next one down.
[2:05:11] Where's another biggie? Dab. $18,596.
[2:05:18] for August.
Okay.
[2:05:22] So,
that's all the
[2:05:26] ow the handicap payments. Uh our friends
up in the Fraser and then our other two
[2:05:32] buildings in town and around town
payments to them.
[2:05:37] Um
and then there's Oh,
[2:05:41] we got June policing services in here,
too. So, we got
[2:05:46] May [snorts] and June. That's That's
what makes it higher. Yeah. May and June
[2:05:50] payments in there.
>> Still 41,000.
[2:05:53] » Yeah, that's another $41,000.
[clears throat] Um Oh, another big one.
[2:05:59] 58,700.
That's uh the paving.
[2:06:05] Um 19 Prospect
80 Jameson and the laneway behind the uh
[2:06:12] behind here behind the LCBO.
Um those that's to Demora Construction
[2:06:20] and those were things that were budgeted
for getting the paving finished up.
[2:06:27] Uh the other two
[sighs]
[2:06:31] » those pavings that would have been after
after water breaks.
[2:06:35] » Yeah.
[2:06:38] » Thank you very much. That's good.
>> Yeah, that's the main thing.
[2:06:48] » Oh, and gee, we have to pay taxes too.
Receiver General of Canada.
[2:06:53] GST tax is 14,000. So
um all in favor of accepting this
[2:07:01] car. Thank you
and
[2:07:08] uh I think most of what I wanted to say
before evening I've said on various
[2:07:15] things so
we don't need to be any later. Uh we
[2:07:20] don't have a closed meeting. We don't
have business arising from a closed
[2:07:23] meeting. So confirmation by law is
[2:07:36] one there. Okay. Yeah. Yep. Draft bylaw.
Be it resolved that bylaw number 2026-27
[2:07:44] being a bylaw to confirm the proceedings
of council of the corporation of the
[2:07:48] town of Kovville be taken as read a
first, second, and third time this 18th
[2:07:53] day of August, 2026 and further that the
said bylaw be signed and sealed by the
[2:07:58] mayor and clerk.
Uh mover and seconder.
[2:08:03] Okay, councelor Ward and councelor Star.
[2:08:10] All in favor?
[clears throat] Thank you. Carried and
[2:08:15] adjournment. Be it res be it resolved at
the regular meeting of the council be
[2:08:19] adjourned at
>> 8:44.
[2:08:22] » 8:44.
Okay.
[2:08:25] Mover and seconder.
[2:08:29] Councelor Wilcox.
And let me see down the item. Council
[2:08:36] councelor Ward. Okay. All in favor?
[2:08:41] Anyone from the audience that says no?
Okay. Thank you very much.