[0:02] Yeah. So we'll just remove uh just defer
the ship. Yeah. Ser 78 to the next first
[0:08] meeting. Okay.
>> Okay. Thanks.
[0:19] » Are there any questions regarding the
agenda?
[0:22] » No.
>> No. Uh all in favor?
[0:27] Thank you.
uh carried. Are there any disclosure of
[0:31] interests?
Seeing none,
[0:36] I have a motion
that council hereby adopts the minutes
[0:40] of the regular meeting of council held
on March 23rd, 2026 and the closed and
[0:46] special meetings of council held on
March 31st, 2026 as sir amended. Can I
[0:51] get a boomer in a second here?
Councelors
[0:56] seconded by councelor Lake.
Are there any questions regarding the
[1:01] minutes?
>> In favor?
[1:04] » Yes.
>> Thank you.
[1:15] » And we also don't have any student
counselors
[1:18] um at tonight's meeting. So, we'll move
to uh CEO reports.
[1:24] Mr. Squinsson,
>> thanks your worship. And uh I'll just
[1:28] these are brief updates with respect to
both the tiny homes project as well as
[1:33] the active living center. So, I'll just
combine them into one short synopsis.
[1:38] Uh so with respect to the tiny homes
project um we utilized an RFP process um
[1:45] and selected Norfab as the housing
supplier for the project. Um they were
[1:52] actually uh for all of the companies
that approached us in the past, they
[1:57] were the only bidder that responded to
the RFP.
[2:02] So, um, they're they're a reputable
supplier, so no issue there. Um, but for
[2:09] all of these modular suppliers that say
they have a solution, none of them did.
[2:14] Um, and everybody just for council's
information, uh, every company that has
[2:19] contacted us was sent the RFP directly
to their inbox.
[2:25] Nonetheless, uh, we do have a good
solution that's been provided by NORAD.
[2:29] uh administration is in the process of
finalizing uh project pricing this week.
[2:34] Uh as some pricing has come in higher
than anticipated. Uh mainly this is on
[2:39] uh the civil side of the project. Uh and
unfortunately this is what we're seeing
[2:43] kind of in line with tenders coming in.
Um you have a tender that you put
[2:48] together and once you put it out for bit
it's coming in higher and that's just a
[2:52] reality of uh the construction industry
right now.
[2:56] uh a draft CCDC5. Uh so that's the
tender document that we're going to use
[3:01] for this particular project is currently
being developed with the CGV group who
[3:06] will be the project constructor. We
should have that finalized by the end of
[3:11] April. The project itself will be built
in two phases in 2026.
[3:18] Phase one will include uh 10 homes
constructed with the assistance of
[3:22] Thunder Bay DAP funding. These homes
will be rental units and the tenency
[3:27] rental model is currently being drafted
by administration.
[3:32] Um and phase two uh in 2026 will include
nine homes which will be sold on the
[3:38] open market. Administration is currently
developing the parameters with legal
[3:43] council to administer this phase with
launch and marketing expected at the end
[3:47] of May 2026.
Um, so last week while I was in Thunder
[3:51] Bay at the Noma conference, I met with
our legal council to go over both of
[3:55] those items, one being the rental model,
one being the sales model. We're a
[4:00] little behind where we anticipated from
a construction start just with the
[4:04] weather uh by about two weeks. So
fundamentally doesn't uh affect the
[4:09] project uh from a longer term
perspective. So, uh, by the end of May,
[4:13] we'll be in a very good position to be
mobilized and start construction
[4:18] likely early
June and then, uh, a completion date of
[4:23] end of November for the entire project.
So, maybe with that, your worship, I'll
[4:29] take questions on that and then I'll
proceed to the October. Okay. Thank you,
[4:33] Mr. Sushkinsky. Uh, councel.
>> Um, so the 10 that that will be rented
[4:39] will be constructed right away. the nine
other units, will those be built
[4:43] regardless of whether there are owners
in line or will we build them as people
[4:48] like sign contracts? So, what'll happen
is ideally this and then this is you
[4:54] know why we've divided into phase one
and phase two. Um so the the tender we
[4:59] have uh for the project is based on the
10 units. Okay. So um you know ideally
[5:05] we want to do all 19 um but because nine
went on the open market uh the intent is
[5:10] within a two week period to secure all
nine sales. So we won't proceed with the
[5:18] additional nine um unless we have a
pre-sale uh that's signed um by the
[5:25] owner. So what we're preparing, what
legal council is preparing on the sales
[5:29] front is that exact document, which is
going to be a commitment letter. Um
[5:34] because if we don't have that commitment
letter, then theoretically it is the
[5:37] municipality that would be on the hook
for those nine units and floating that
[5:42] cost. So the 10 are different because of
the DESAP funding. Um so that money is
[5:46] secured. So the project will proceed
with 10. Ideally, we want to complete
[5:51] all 19 in the 2026 construction season.
That'll be great because people could
[5:55] see them for sure.
>> There there still will as soon as this
[5:59] well I I took a ride today and the snow
is almost gone. Um so you know as soon
[6:03] as we're able to mobilize part of the
RFP or part of the RFP that uh the
[6:07] originally with CGV was to have a show
home on site that is still happening. Um
[6:13] this will be one of the first things
that will happen on site once we
[6:16] mobilize it. Thank you councelor Dallas.
And then strategically, how will they be
[6:20] built that first phase? Is it going to
be closest to the road now that goes
[6:25] down? Is that how
or will they be kind of separated out
[6:30] just to make it look fuller? Like how is
there a strategy to Yeah, there is a
[6:34] strategy and we're in the process of
finalizing that. Um so there's three
[6:39] different units that are going to that
are part of the RFP uh in terms of the
[6:44] housing styles. Um, and for the 10 units
that we control, um, they're going to be
[6:51] finished so that they look like it's a
pattern. Um, and then the other nine,
[6:55] there is going to be the option. So, I
don't have the drawing in front of me
[6:59] because we're still finalizing that
right now. Um, but that thought was
[7:02] given. Um, and the subdivision will have
that finished look when it's completed.
[7:07] » And Dis Yeah, Mayor Dis.
>> Yeah, I think you kind of answered my
[7:11] question, uh, Mr. Scorchinsky, but the
10 units will be different or they'll be
[7:15] similar units but just spread out maybe
through the park.
[7:19] » Yeah. So they they'll be similar in
terms of the interior. The exterior will
[7:24] be different in terms and not
fundamentally different but different in
[7:28] terms of uh you know some of the
features and some of the colors just to
[7:32] give it a a better finished look within
the subdivision itself.
[7:36] » Certainly. That's great. Thank you very
much.
[7:40] Um, so right right on schedule uh with
that project and uh and like the active
[7:45] living center uh we'll see mobilization
in the short term now that we can see
[7:50] spring marathon.
>> Awesome. uh with the Active Living
[7:52] Center. Uh just a short update for
council. Uh we did hold our project
[7:57] startup meeting on April the 14th with
Finway uh as well as TBT Engineering uh
[8:04] to get ready to move the project forward
to mobilization.
[8:08] Uh construction tender documents are
currently being finalized for the entire
[8:12] project. Those are on target for uh the
ability to sign on April the 30th. Site
[8:18] mobilization by Finway is planned for
May the 15th. It'll likely take a couple
[8:24] of weeks to arrive on site. Uh the site
preload has met its performance
[8:29] measurements performance measurements
and the site is now ready for
[8:33] construction. Uh so we received that
engineering report last week. Um so as
[8:38] we envisioned last fall when we uh
council approved the work uh it was very
[8:44] strategic um and uh the site met its
requirements so it is fully ready for
[8:49] construction especially on the pool
side. So we have engineering sign off on
[8:54] that. Um and then finally uh just uh on
the financial side uh administration is
[9:02] meeting with identified strategic
organizations to compile the necessary
[9:07] information to draft the final uh
financial strategy as per council's
[9:12] project approval and this work is
expected to complete be completed by the
[9:17] end of of May. So, I was able to have a
a couple of meetings at normal last
[9:21] week. Um, as well as a couple scheduled
for this week. Um and uh council recalls
[9:28] really what we're trying to do in terms
of this phase two that was approved by
[9:32] council um is to come up with the model
that number one fits the project best um
[9:39] but also allows us um the most
flexibility in the ability to repay um
[9:45] and utilizing the best interest rates
that are possible for us. So, it takes
[9:49] us a little time to put this together.
Uh, but this will come back to council
[9:52] uh in a formal report uh likely towards
uh the end of May for final approval,
[9:58] which fits fine with project
mobilization. So, we're right on
[10:02] schedule as per council's approval on
May or March the 31st. Um, and it'll be
[10:07] exciting to to see the project kickoff.
>> Yeah.
[10:10] » Um, Mr. for transcal landscaping and the
funding for the park um will that be
[10:17] kind of kicking off with phase two and
will the I know there's an external
[10:22] funer for the park. Is that all going to
be kind of
[10:25] » that so that will be phase three. So we
we have uh so so that is the the jump
[10:30] start funding you're referring to. Um,
so we're in the process of finalizing
[10:35] that legal agreement. Um, and it'll be
2027 that that funding will flow which
[10:40] fits in line uh with the timelines for
development. Um, but from a
[10:45] administration perspective, uh, the
contractor is aware of that project. The
[10:50] contractor being Finway is aware of
that. Um and the plans will be in place
[10:56] uh to utilize that funding to ensure
that it it meets the legal requirements
[10:59] in 2027 irregardless of the entire
amount um from a landing
[11:07] perspective. So you know if we don't
have the money landscaping the court
[11:10] will still get finished um as part of
our legal requirements. So that is built
[11:14] into the planning process. Of course
ideally we'll have the money for phase
[11:19] three um but the court will proceed.
>> Awesome. Okay. That's right. Yeah, it's
[11:24] I mean amazing to see stuff being built
in Marathon. It feels like things are
[11:28] moving forward. I just wonder from a
resident perspective the mobilization
[11:33] will impact any of the access down to
the boat launch or at the three-way stop
[11:39] at the old store. Are we looking at any
impact there?
[11:44] » Yeah, good question. Um there there of
course will be some traffic and and as
[11:48] part of the the project startup meeting
uh communications as well as security u
[11:53] we're both uh were both brought up as um
needing to be part of the kickoff. So
[11:59] there will be uh a number of
communications that will go out to the
[12:02] public with respect to the project. Um
in this first phase as we get rolling um
[12:08] there'll be limited traffic certainly
nowhere near the preload or what we saw
[12:12] there. Um you know and we do expect that
you know people will want to go down and
[12:17] you know see what's taking place but you
know the the site is ideally already
[12:21] fenced in. Um so it will be uh issued
and signed as an active construction
[12:25] site. So accessing the site won't be
allowed um but in terms of overall
[12:31] traffic this initial phase there won't
be a lot but we do have we will have a
[12:35] communication a public communications
plan that will be launched. Thank you.
[12:40] Uh any other questions? Mayor Dumis
council.
[12:43] » No, I think we're good. Yeah, we uh we
we've been anticipating this time for a
[12:47] long time. So very excited to see that
things are going to start rolling in
[12:51] midmay.
>> Yeah, for sure.
[12:57] » Perfect. Uh next we have a report on
council reuveration
[13:06] survival.
[13:11] No, mayor and council. In accordance
with section 284 of the municipal act,
[13:15] the treasurer shall submit a statement
of remuneration and expenses paid to
[13:20] each member of council in the preceding
year.
[13:24] The remuneration and expenses paid to
council are in accordance with policy
[13:29] one council remuneration administration
policy on municipal vehicle use and the
[13:36] financial policy on travel expenses for
members of council and staff. Total
[13:42] remunerations and expenses paid to
council in 2025 was $129,000.
[13:48] This does not include the health
premiums, just for consistency
[13:52] reporting. The amount included in 2025
budget was $123,000.
[13:58] Therefore, expenditures were $6,300
more than budget. Section 3284
[14:07] subsection 3 of the act requires that
remuneration and expenses paid by anyone
[14:12] must be reported. Last year, Council
Wheeler received $627 to cover expenses
[14:19] from the Thunder Bay District Health
Unit. Mayor Dumis received $21,600
[14:26] from Northwestern Ontario Municipal
Association to cover travel expenses
[14:32] reports presented for information only.
Thank you, Mr. Verbbo. I have a motion
[14:38] that council hereby accepts the attached
report on council renumeration and
[14:43] further that the report is being
presented for members information
[14:46] purposes only.
Okay, I get a move in second.
[14:52] league second by bounds.
Any questions or comments on this
[14:59] report? Right?
>> Yeah. Thanks. Uh thanks for the report
[15:03] there, Mr. Verbbo. Uh the reality is
when you hear the $21,000 expense I'm
[15:07] sitting at Thunderb hotel room off to
Toronto again. We've been requested by
[15:11] government over this last year,
specifically 2025 and a lot into 26 to
[15:16] attend many functions on behalf of
Northwestern Ontario for the Ontario
[15:20] government. Of course, those uh those
expenses are not covered off by the the
[15:24] proponent, but the out covering off
those expenses. So, it seems like a
[15:28] little high, but hotel rooms in Toronto
are $600. Hotel rooms with $250 to $300.
[15:34] Uh so, it's it's an cost of doing
business. Um, you know, NMA had a
[15:39] previous president that lived in the
city of Thunder Bay. The expenses were
[15:43] much lower. My my cost of having to stay
in hotel rooms was in in Thunder Bay and
[15:47] Toronto and traveling is uh gets to be
uh a bit costly for the association
[15:51] which we're funded by the provincial
government as well as municipalities
[15:55] through the levies. So, we're getting
our voice heard. That's the key message.
[15:59] And uh you know, we'll continue to
advocate on behalf of not only Marathon
[16:02] but the 37s that represent. So when
public hears that there's an expense of
[16:07] $21,000 externally for expenses for NMA,
it's directly associated with travel in
[16:12] northwestern Ontario and and Ontario for
that matter. But I do want to uh ask
[16:16] administration to consider I've talked
to a lot of mayors and counselors.
[16:20] They're all looking at a potential wage
uh impact or a wage increase for their
[16:24] municipality for council members. Some
are doing it now before the election
[16:28] comes up and some are requesting to do
it for after the election for the new
[16:32] councils coming in. So, I'd like to see
maybe a report brought over the next
[16:35] couple of council meetings for
discussion that we can have so that
[16:39] conversation for not only council
members in our community, but like I I
[16:43] can see that happening throughout the
district. uh because the amount of uh
[16:46] energy that you uh you um have to put
into through the council role as as a
[16:51] counselor or a mayor and then of course
the the um public scrutiny and and I
[16:56] want to say clearly abuse that you get
uh through being a member of council
[17:00] doesn't really bode well to attract
members to sit on councils. So, so this
[17:04] is why a lot of the councils are putting
out there and either increasing now and
[17:07] I'm not talking huge amounts, but
they're reflecting the compensation
[17:10] package to be something that is uh
attractive enough to attract new people
[17:15] to sit on councils going forward.
There's going to be a huge turn turnover
[17:18] in councils throughout the district that
I from what I've talked to members in
[17:23] the last uh 3 4 days at the normal
conference in Thunder Bay last week. But
[17:26] I I'd asked administration maybe to put
on a report maybe in May. Uh maybe you
[17:31] know sometime in first or second meeting
in May to discuss conversation for this
[17:36] council and other council maybe to
consider what that might look like for
[17:38] them as a recommendation going forward.
So, I know we do get a compensation
[17:42] increase each and every year based on
the union's contract negotiations uh 2
[17:46] to 3% whatever that might work out to,
but I'm talking an overall general
[17:50] increase for council members um in our
community going forward uh as well for
[17:54] whoever that might it won't be for this
council, it'll be for the council elect
[17:58] in 2026 through to 2030. So, if uh we
can have that put on as a report, I
[18:04] appreciate it. Thank you.
>> Yeah, thank you for that dumis. So what
[18:09] I would say is administration will need
a little bit of time to complete some
[18:12] research. So we'll bring it forward in
the second meeting.
[18:15] » Appreciate it. Thank you very much.
[18:20] » Okay. Next we have a report on the 2026
operating capital budget. Mr. Verbbo.
[18:25] » The draft 2026 operating capital budget
was presented at a special meeting of
[18:31] council on January 26th. Since that
time, council's input as well as
[18:36] additional information and details have
been incorporated into the budget.
[18:39] Overall objective of 2026 is to maintain
the current level of goods and services
[18:45] while keeping any increase to the tax
levy to a minimum.
[18:49] Due to the pandemic, the province has
deferred reassessment. Five years ago in
[18:54] 2021, uh they were supposed to update to
2022 values, but property values in this
[19:01] tax year are the current value
assessment as of January 1st, 2016.
[19:07] There are no changes from 2025
other than supplemental omitted and
[19:12] reduction notices from impact that
occurred last year.
[19:17] overall assessment decreased.
0 sorry 0.54%.
[19:25] The increase to the residential class
which is 69% of the total assessment was
[19:31] 0.2%.
So it went from $121.1
[19:36] million to $121.3
million mostly grades and investigations
[19:42] that impact had done when ownership
changes. The mines's class decreased by
[19:49] $855,000
with the updated employee allocation on
[19:54] the hemald mine property.
Budget being presented today contains
[19:59] the bundle of programs and services that
council has agreed to be delivered to
[20:03] the residents
during 2026.
[20:08] Operator requirements are $6,58,000
as listed in schedule 8 of this report.
[20:16] In addition to the bundles of programs
and services,
[20:21] $256,000
of capital work is contained in this
[20:25] budget. Province has set the educational
levy for the various classes. The
[20:30] combined levy to be collected and given
to the school boards is estimated to be
[20:35] $464,000.
the tax levy of 6 million. Excuse me.
[20:45] This is an increase of 5.1% from last
year. So, the residential class has
[20:53] increased by over 6% from $4.1 million
in taxes to 4.4 million.
[20:59] Commercial has increased by 4.6% and the
industrial craft uh class has a decrease
[21:06] of 2 3%. Overall, the increase is 4.7%
of the total property tax. Each property
[21:14] will have an increase to their tax rate
of 6.4%.
[21:20] Major changes since the January 26
meeting are as follows. It has decided
[21:25] to utilize a reserve to fix the doctor's
residence on Laboratory Drive. The cost
[21:31] of $25,000 will not be on the tax levy.
Insurance costs have come in. They are
[21:36] $20,000 higher than last year. We found
a customer for the substation at the
[21:41] former mill site. This is recognizing
$17,000 in revenue. Town hall is now
[21:49] being granted for court services. The
additional revenue is $20,000.
[21:57] Hiring accountable clerk has been
delayed. This is a labor savings of
[22:00] $24,000.
At the October 14th meeting last year,
[22:06] council approved the $3 million
remedial work at heart. This was
[22:12] financed with additional debt.
Annually
[22:17] interest payments are $50,000.
[22:21] The towns of Manto and the township of
Man, sorry, the town of Marathon and the
[22:27] township of Mtoage have agreed to share
the labor cost of a fire chief. The
[22:31] savings to the town of Marathon is
$75,000.
[22:35] Fire department or the fire
services have deferred the roof repair
[22:42] on the hall for $20,000 in cost savings
and less purchases of breathing
[22:49] apparatus. another $20,000 in savings.
We haven't been able to hire a bylaw
[22:54] enforcement officer yet, so labor costs
are down by $23,000.
[23:02] Province announced the one-time grant of
$38,000 for pothole repairs, which we
[23:08] received in April. We have canceled the
washbay maintenance contract. That's
[23:13] $6,000 savings.
The January in January meeting
[23:19] anticipated high fuel sales and then
therefore high revenue, but this was too
[23:26] uh ambitious. So, we've reduced the
amount of revenue from airport fuel
[23:32] sales of 60 $67,000.
It's been announced that we're our
[23:37] recycle grant has been reduced by
$17,400
[23:43] and recalibrating the donated cardboard
compactor has been deferred. This a
[23:47] reduction of $11,000 in spending.
We're expected to still install
[23:53] monitoring wells at the landfill site.
This is a $15,000 cost.
[23:58] Just a note, there's been no changes
incorporated
[24:03] to account for the current gasoline and
diesel prices. This is a high
[24:08] volatility, so we're not at that point.
Spending of uh resources at Peninsula
[24:15] Manor has been deferred $15,000.
[24:20] Non-construction cost for active living
center has been added $50,000.
[24:25] We're not uh replacing the glass and
boards at the arena, saving $21,000.
[24:31] And the netting will not be installed at
the outdoor rink, another savings of
[24:35] $3,000.
the season seasonal employees time of
[24:42] being uh working has been reduced by
delaying their hiring and not keeping
[24:48] them as far into the season. That's
labor savings of $29,000
[24:53] and Canada summer job grants has been
announced. We are getting an additional
[24:59] $12,000.
Council agreed to increase the
[25:03] contribution to the library by $185,000.
Council also agreed to providing $15,000
[25:10] to the museum and $15,000 to the food
bank.
[25:15] Port authority activities will be funded
by debt and government financing, but
[25:20] it's anticipated that each partner being
the town and Victagon Mishnavic will
[25:25] contribute $150,000.
[25:30] As mentioned earlier, capital budget is
only at $256,000.
[25:36] So, it's been decreased by $646,000
by deferring engineering with Stevens
[25:44] Avenue reservicing, removing tire
changer,
[25:48] lower spending on golf irrigation, and
removing the clinic renovations.
[25:54] Please note that not included in this
budget is the completion of Poppy Lane
[25:59] subdivision or phase two of the active
living center.
[26:04] So the options are approve the budget as
presented or approve the budget with
[26:09] amendments. Administration recommends
that option A be approved and that bylaw
[26:13] 2123 adopting the 2026 operating and
capital budget be approved as presented.
[26:21] » Thank you, Mr. Verbbo.
I have a motion that council hereby
[26:26] accepts the attached report and
recommendation on 2026 operating and
[26:29] capital budget and further that the
appropriate bylaw be adopted later in
[26:33] the meeting approving the 2026 operating
and capital budgets. I got a move in a
[26:38] second.
Council Lake, councelor balance.
[26:45] Any questions? Council Lake, um I
appreciate actually you laying out all
[26:50] the places that we have done.
Administration has tried to save money.
[26:54] I can see that we've saved everything uh
we can. The the question I have is maybe
[26:59] just back a little bit because
ultimately uh we know how much money we
[27:03] have to raise. There's four classes.
If you sell your house, that sets an
[27:09] assessed value for your house. We had a
mine sale. We know what the value of
[27:14] that mine is. And yet, they're
getting a decrease in taxes. I I don't
[27:19] quite understand how how that works uh
from a fairness and an assessed value
[27:24] perspective, right? I mean ultimately I
would like to see all of the burden take
[27:28] off from the residential class and put
onto others if we could but what how did
[27:33] the of all the classes the industrial
class decrease? The assessment on the
[27:39] mine is still based on 2020 2016
and the way the act is called the marath
[27:49] or
[27:52] » and so that was set 40 years ago which
says that the assessment will be split
[27:58] between marathon manttoage and other
>> and so the number of employees in for
[28:06] marathon has decreased as a percent a
percentage as well as decreased for math
[28:12] watch
>> but the the increased sale price so the
[28:15] value replacement factor it won't factor
in
[28:18] » assessment is based on sales which is
the mostly used for residential because
[28:23] there's very good statistics because
there's a lot more sales industrial is
[28:27] mostly based on replacement value or
cluster construction so the mine never
[28:33] really changed
>> it's and it's also considered a special
[28:35] purpose property. So it is assessed
differently than say as an example. It's
[28:39] a great question but residential. So um
and so the decrease that we're seeing
[28:44] it's not assessment related it's formula
related.
[28:47] » So what what we're seeing actually from
a formula perspective um is more
[28:52] employees now living in mantoage than in
the previous couple years less living in
[28:58] Marathon. Okay. or not marathon not
monttoage but in other which we have no
[29:06] uh way to vet that information it's just
whatever uh the mine operations provides
[29:12] to municipal affairs annually as far as
their employee counts
[29:16] » okay thank you I and I do I appreciate
the list of of places where we've got to
[29:20] be safe
>> that consider contractors on the mind
[29:24] site too that's like every warm body
essentially correct not just okay
[29:29] awesome Okay. Thank you.
>> Yeah. So, I I had a conversation with
[29:33] Mr. Scorchinsky about this. I think we
have to go back to the ministry back to
[29:37] the mines because we do have 80 plus
individuals staying in our community
[29:41] that are staying at the camp. I don't
know if they're being caught in the net
[29:44] of the taxation for the meta. So, that's
something we we've been pursuing over
[29:48] the last couple years with that impact
of $800,000.
[29:51] That is huge. Never mind reassessment
because it hasn't been since 16. And
[29:55] that assessment of 16 was also a
negotiated assessment. We we don't want
[29:59] to be fighting with the money. It's not
our argument. Argument is fighting with
[30:02] impact to get the assessments done even
though it's a special interest property.
[30:06] So I think I think we can leave it as as
is based on the numbers that you just
[30:10] presented Mr. Verbbo. But the reality is
we sincerely have to go back to the
[30:13] ministry, work with the Thunder Bay
staff and maybe even the minister and
[30:17] say that those numbers got to be
reflective of the individuals living in
[30:20] our community. I don't care where they
live in Toronto, Vancouver, Thunder Bay,
[30:23] uh Terrace Bay or wherever they might
come from, they are impacting our
[30:26] community by staying here at the camp.
So we need to get those numbers very
[30:30] clear and reflective because the money
is not being given back to to uh Hemllo
[30:35] Gold. It's just being diverted somewhere
else. So we need to figure that out
[30:38] because that that impact us is as you
just said 6.5% roughly in increase in
[30:43] taxation to our residents. You also
touched on a point around the uh the
[30:47] port authority with the $150,000 each
participant will contribute. That number
[30:52] was a bit confusing to me when you said
that. So can you clarify that one more
[30:55] time? Uh again we're going to do con or
authority will be doing construction.
[31:02] Yeah
>> BNO will provide 10% on construction
[31:06] cost. Uh NOHFC will provide 66%.
We are going to uh
[31:14] the port authority has arranged with TD
to have some uh debt financing but
[31:19] » sure
>> we don't know yet. Right now, I've got
[31:23] $150,000 required based on 2025 where
$75,000 was required from each partner.
[31:31] » Okay. So, yeah. Okay. So, that's what
it's based on based on the requirements
[31:34] under the grant programs. Okay. So,
that's that being said, the big one for
[31:37] us is the mine assessment. We have to
figure this out. And I guess at the end
[31:41] of the day, you know, there's always the
opportunity to go into reserves if
[31:44] council feels so to reduce that 6.35 or
three or four to to five, but that's
[31:50] totally a decision that council can
make, but I think you've seen from
[31:54] administration, they've looked at every
angle and deferred some things that
[31:57] probably shouldn't have been deferred
just to get to the number we're at. Uh,
[32:00] and Mr. Verbbo very clearly said that
we're not considering what the fuel cost
[32:04] impacts are going to be because it's
such a volatile number right now. So
[32:08] that could have another impact on
overall budget process going forward. So
[32:13] I I'm not I'm not so happy with the 6.35
this year even though we're moving ahead
[32:19] and doing some great things. Uh but we
need to figure out that mining
[32:22] assessment somehow to even if that comes
in and saves us another 100 200 grand
[32:27] that'll bring us down to four 345 or
4.55%.
[32:31] uh you know so something we can may
maybe approve but still look at that uh
[32:35] that number and maybe it'll be
reflective on the second interm billing
[32:38] of the of the residents if we can find
that
[32:42] » uh it won't be reflected in 2026
>> yeah know that's what I'm saying unless
[32:48] we go with a 4.5 and try to figure that
out the end of the year right is that
[32:51] what you're saying
>> no the the ministry has already
[32:56] told us this is the allocation for 2026
six.
[33:01] » Yeah, I I I I can appreciate that. But
there's also the opportunity to go back
[33:04] and say to the minister like are all
those numbers being included in our in
[33:08] our tally? We're the ones being
impacted. It's not affecting the minds.
[33:13] It's affecting
>> the ministry says they do not vet the
[33:16] information. They count on for the last
40 years getting data from the mines.
[33:22] The mines say this is the employees.
this is where they live and the ministry
[33:26] just takes that and do the calculation.
>> That's my point. If I if I submit 80
[33:32] plus individuals living at a camp and
they live in Toronto, is the ministry
[33:36] actually taking that in consideration
and putting them under Marathon's
[33:38] address? No, I would bet not.
>> They have no jurisdiction to say that
[33:44] the mines are reporting incorrectly or
not.
[33:47] So yeah,
>> if I if I understand it's the mine
[33:51] reports where they live as in where
they've come from. There would be no
[33:55] record of of those living in the camp.
>> So the the reporting is based on their
[34:01] postal code where they reside.
>> That's what I mean. So we we uh Mr.
[34:07] Scorchinsky, we've talked about this in
the last couple years because it's
[34:09] really impacting us. We're seeing the
difference now. We we never had a camp
[34:13] before. So I know mantoage's numbers are
increasing obviously because they have
[34:16] more people going into the mining sector
than Marathon so to say. But we're being
[34:20] impacted by the 80 plus individuals who
are living in our community at a camp
[34:24] with the postal codes other than
Marathon. That's what we need to fight
[34:27] back with the ministry. So maybe that's
something we have to follow up on and
[34:31] and really push this back with the
ministry because the mines knows their
[34:35] postal codes but they're not certainly
pot.
[34:39] The ministry or sorry uh previously
there was discussions with the mines
[34:45] that they understood that workers living
in the camp would have their postal
[34:51] codes as where they're living in
Marathon while they're working.
[34:54] » Right. And so again, it's up it's to
assume that Hemllo is reporting their
[35:00] data incorrectly.
>> So we'll we'll follow up and and meet
[35:06] with the the new owners,
you know, I guess not so new anymore. Um
[35:11] but with the Hamlow group in the past, I
I think, you know, it was a bit of a
[35:16] mute audience with Beric knowing that
they were in the sales mode. So we'll
[35:20] request that meeting uh in the short
term. But to to Mr. Verbbo's point, any
[35:25] correction we would see in 2027. It
wouldn't be relative to 2026.
[35:33] » Yeah. So, so I guess yeah, I I
appreciate that and I I know Mr. Kaka
[35:39] can reach out. He's in town actually.
So, maybe Mr. Scorchinsky, you can reach
[35:42] out to him and see what the availability
of having discussion around that and uh
[35:47] and get this clarified because we've
missed out in the last two or three
[35:50] years on these. I think if if if it's
100% recorded properly and they're all
[35:54] PO2 postcodes, which I doubt they are,
then fine. But I I guarantee we've lost
[36:00] a lot of money in the last several
years. And it's not impacting Hemllo
[36:02] Gold or it wasn't impacting Barrett.
It's impacting Town of Marathon.
[36:08] » So,
>> who is getting the money from that other
[36:12] portion where Mand is getting their
kickback, Town of Marathon's getting
[36:16] ours? Who is getting the money for that
other province? Okay.
[36:21] Well, that's what I'm saying. So,
>> many years ago, it used to be it was
[36:26] Marathon Mwto and then all the other
bedroom communities such as uh First
[36:32] Nations and Wawa and maybe Terrace Bay
and Horn Payne. So, we that was the
[36:39] understanding and usually that was 10%
to 20%.
[36:44] » Okay.
>> So, if you don't mind, Mr.
[36:49] So I know that the government just
announced the Nord funding which is
[36:52] Northern Ontario resource development
fund that's going to be extended for 5
[36:55] years. So we really are being impacted
more so than any other community under
[36:59] the mining and forestry sector for the
impact we're seeing under the meta.
[37:03] Maybe that's something I can speak to
Minister Piri and see I know they did
[37:06] the formula there too. There's
communities within that that Nord's
[37:09] funding model that are getting way more
money than Marathon are and they don't
[37:13] have any resource-based industry in
their municipality. So the formula was a
[37:17] little wonky and we did bring it to Mr.
Piri's attention but maybe there's an
[37:21] opportunity to me to have a discussion
with him minister flack to see under the
[37:25] the meta if there's something under the
Nords that we can be adjusted for that
[37:30] that change over that cuz we're going to
see the impact. Same thing with
[37:33] generation if they uh they announce
construction they're going to have
[37:36] individuals that are no different than
us. They're going to be living but it's
[37:39] not falling under the meta but they will
still be impacting our community and not
[37:43] paying taxes to us. So the camp life is
not a good thing for the taxation
[37:47] purposes because the impacts are there
on the usage of our our municipalities
[37:52] but they're not contributing back to the
municipality. I talked to my counterpart
[37:55] in Red Lake and he sees a huge impact to
his municipality from the camp life
[38:00] which is great from the taxation from
the mines but not so much from the camp
[38:03] because it's not considered it's just is
considered a multi- res type facility
[38:08] but there it's rotational right. So, um,
let's let's continue to work on that,
[38:12] please.
>> Yeah, Dr. Lake.
[38:16] » Um, yeah, and I appreciate that that's a
fight we we ought to be having and and
[38:20] it's a place where we can save residents
money. Ultimately, though, this is a 6
[38:23] point u whatever percent increase. I'm
just wondering in your world of
[38:29] treasurers and you talk to other
municipalities in the region, what sort
[38:34] of uh uh increases are we seeing?
>> It's all over the place.
[38:39] Yeah, everybody has or they all seem to
have their own individual challenges so
[38:44] forth and some are better off. Some are
are struggling with lower uh options on
[38:54] finding money elsewhere.
>> Yeah, it's just I just want you know
[39:01] more so not so much for council but for
you know for for the public to
[39:04] understand you know the process you
know. So, you know, last October,
[39:08] council gave administration the
direction, you know, to bring in the
[39:12] budget, you know, at a 5% increase. We
did that, you know, when we when we
[39:17] finalized our budget, you know,
approximately two weeks ago, you know,
[39:20] we had that increase, you know, at 4.9%
for the residential tax class. you know,
[39:26] largely based on some things as as you
know, councelor Lake indicated we're
[39:29] deferring that we shouldn't be deferring
because you defer once, they generally
[39:34] get deferred twice or three times, you
know. So, we had a finalized budget
[39:38] based on council's direction, you know,
then we get the notice of, you know, the
[39:42] meta implications that completely
changes our budget, you know, which now
[39:47] accounts for the change in increase to
the tax classes, which we have zero
[39:52] control over yet. we'll go back and and
we'll make sure that the formula is
[39:55] right. Um but I just want to point out
that you know this is a function of
[39:59] external forces not internal that are
driving this increase up from the
[40:04] original direction from council
[40:08] » and I can get totally geeked out on you
and talk property tax but uh there is a
[40:15] report that I'll be bringing in May when
we do set the property tax ratios and
[40:20] the levy amounts each dollar
um of assessment from a mine
[40:29] equals 2.6%
or 2.6 times the amount of a residence.
[40:34] So with that $800,000 reduction in
assessment times that by 2.6 means that
[40:40] much is shifted to the other tax
classes.
[40:45] » Mr.
>> Yeah, Mr. Chair,
[40:51] uh that's the frustrating part. I mean,
you know, the I've been around the game
[40:54] a long time. I used to get 5.4 from the
industrial class has dramatically
[40:58] changed and the and the government
regardless of of which government has
[41:03] been in power over the years. I talked
about the the fairness of industrial
[41:08] rates because you're trying to attract
industry to your communities or to the
[41:11] province. I get it. But at some point,
the assessment is probably what's really
[41:16] the thing that has to be addressed and
has, as Mr. Verbbo said even though it's
[41:20] a special interest property, it hasn't
been addressed since 2016. And at that
[41:24] time, we made a special deal with the
mines to make sure that neither one of
[41:29] us were going to take this and challenge
it. So, we agreed on upon a number that
[41:32] was suitable for both uh both parties.
But that was in 2016. We're 10 years
[41:38] later and that assessed value hasn't
changed. So, that assessed value also
[41:42] impacts us and every resident in our
community. So yes, we're not getting the
[41:45] same amount of money from them
regardless of the meta, but we're also
[41:48] not getting a fair increased assessment,
but where everybody's home is not being
[41:52] changed in assessment until there's a
sale, but the reality is we all know our
[41:56] homes have all increased over those 10
years dramatically. Everybody,
[41:59] everybody, I don't care who they are in
this community can look at their home
[42:02] and look at their insurance policy and
say, "What does it cost to rebuild my
[42:06] home?" And look at the sales in our
community. So in 2016, homes are running
[42:09] around 130, 120. Today they're running
around 240 to 270 or 300. and the
[42:14] insurance policy on your home is 500 to
600,000 to rebuild. So that's the
[42:20] reality. So I know we're going to get
feedback. I'm going to get pressure back
[42:22] from the municipality, but we're trying
to do the best we can. So there's only
[42:25] one option, that is to either approve
the 6.35 or or that Mr. Robo presented
[42:32] or go back to the reserves and remove uh
one% of that and take that money out of
[42:37] reserve to ship. That's a slippery
slope, but that's an option for council.
[42:41] council has done this for the last three
years plus we've had three years of
[42:47] deficits. So we don't have the reserves
>> unless you we we're still trying to
[42:54] build reserves because last year you
guys agreed for the asset management
[42:59] plan saying we have to build reserves to
replace the infrastructure that's
[43:06] 75 years old.
100% sir. I'm just I'm just putting out
[43:10] options on the table for council.
>> Noted.
[43:14] » Thank you.
[43:18] » There's no further questions. We'll take
to a vote. Uh all in favor.
[43:29] » So yeah. So that's it'll come back in
the form of the bylaw.
[43:33] » Okay. Sure. So, are we sorry are we
having a conversation around
[43:38] » taking money out of reserves or we just
approving this as it is?
[43:45] » That's that's up that's council's
decision. If
[43:48] » I'm going to approve it as is and
>> administration is not recommending it
[43:52] comes from reserves.
>> I agree with that. You know, it's a
[43:55] different scenario if it's a if we have
control over the situation. In this
[43:59] case, it's an external force that's
driving the increase. um you know as you
[44:04] know it is a slippery slope you start
taking reserves.
[44:06] » I hear you. I just didn't know if the
debate was now or later
[44:10] » but we should you know if if that's
going to be the discussion and that
[44:13] should happen now uh during the report
um and not because we if if changes and
[44:20] goes that direction we need to amend the
bylaw.
[44:22] » So it's it doesn't finalize by vote but
we have that discussion now.
[44:26] » So Mr. Mr. Chair, I just recommend ask
the question if everybody's okay with
[44:29] the percentage increase as presented by
administration, then it solves it. But
[44:32] if there's not, then we can have a
debate whether or not it comes out of
[44:34] reserve.
>> Okay. Is everybody It just needs to be a
[44:40] straw poll. It doesn't need to be an
action.
[44:41] » No, that's right. Yeah.
>> Okay. So, just just go just go council
[44:45] council. Okay. Councelor Lake, I'm okay
approving this. Councelor Bance, I'm
[44:51] okaying it. Councelor Juliana
[45:00] Mayor Dubis.
>> Sorry about that. I was muted. I'm I'm
[45:03] okay with it.
>> Yes. So there's no discussion on on
[45:06] reserves. Thank you.
>> So the approval will come in the form of
[45:09] the Okay. Thank you.
>> Wow. Next we have a report on properties
[45:16] eligible for tax registration. Mr.
Verbbo. According to the tax collection
[45:20] policy, a list of all properties
eligible for tax registration must be
[45:24] presented to council. This list is to be
all inclusive. Section 373 of the
[45:29] municipal act enables the treasurer to
register a tax certificate tax a
[45:35] certificate against title that to that
land if there are two years of tax
[45:40] rears. The tax schedules detail the
properties that have taxes outstanding
[45:45] from 2024 or earlier. Cost of
registering properties approximately
[45:50] $2,000 per property. All costs
associated with tax registration are
[45:55] fully recoverable but only providing the
property can be sold. In 2025, there
[46:01] were 28 properties. This includes seven
Marathon Pulk properties eligible for
[46:07] registration totaling $86,000 in
outstanding taxes. But this amount
[46:12] excludes Marathon Fault properties and
the Ministry of Natural Resources
[46:17] properties. This year there are 36
properties including Marathon Fault plus
[46:22] the 10 gravel pits owned by the M&R and
are leased to third parties excluding
[46:27] the six Marathon Fault properties and
the 10 M&R properties. Exposure is now
[46:33] $342,000.
[46:36] 17 properties are new to the list. Last
year, there were only 10 new uh
[46:42] first-time residents. 2025, there were
four properties in tax registration
[46:48] totaling $15,000. This year, there are
now seven with the exposure being
[46:53] $55,000.
This is being presented for council's
[46:57] information only.
>> Thank you, Mr. Verbbo. I have a motion
[47:03] that council hereby attaches the or
sorry that council hereby accepts the
[47:08] attach report on properties eligible for
tax registration and further that the
[47:12] report is being presented for members
information purposes only. Can I get a
[47:17] secretary?
[47:23] We have any questions on this report?
[47:32] seeing any.
[47:38] Thank you, Mr. Verville.
[47:50] » Uh, next we have a report on the 2025
water treatment plant. Uh, Mr. Paris.
[47:56] » Hey, thank you. Yeah, in front of you
have the 2025 wastewater plant report.
[48:01] Uh this is an annual uh submission uh to
council for information purposes. Uh
[48:07] you'll notice it is a 2025 report from
Northern Waterworks. Uh the report has
[48:12] been completed in accordance with
condition 114
[48:16] of the amended uh environmental
compliance approval number 4721
[48:21] uh which was issued to the town of
Marathon in September of 2017. So the
[48:26] report covers from January 1st to
December 31st of 2025.
[48:31] It's intended to provide a performance
record for future reference uh to ensure
[48:36] that the ministry is made aware of
prompts as they arise and to provide a
[48:41] compliance record for the terms and the
conditions outlined in the ECA.
[48:45] So in discussion regarding it's in in in
accordance with condition 104A of the
[48:50] ECA the annual report must include an
overview the success any adequacy of the
[48:56] sewage work. So the overall performance
the water quality and flow monitoring
[49:00] results indicated in Marathon wastewater
treatment plant uh operated successfully
[49:07] and accurately in 2020 2025.
There was significant improvement in
[49:12] performance in 2025 with respect to the
effluent total phosphorus reduction and
[49:18] that stated goals of the sewream plan
program were achieved.
[49:22] Uh under normal operating conditions the
facility consistently met all other
[49:26] design objectives and compliance limits
for final effluent parameters. All flows
[49:32] remain below the rated capacity of the
plant which the plant is rated for 4,400
[49:36] cubic meters. We average normally about
1,094.
[49:40] You'll see in normally in March out
higher level based on the runoff of snow
[49:44] melt. Uh operational notes, there was no
bypasses, overflows, spills or abnormal
[49:51] discharges occurred during the reporting
period. There was zero customer
[49:55] complaints received from the Marathon
water system. There was no significant
[50:00] equipment or process failures occurred
during the reporting period. Copies are
[50:05] available to report at town hall and on
the town website.
[50:09] There's no financial implications of it
in our normal annual budgeting that we
[50:13] recommend at council based on best
practice for improvements, maintenance,
[50:17] and repairs. Um, and we're bringing this
re st administration is presenting the
[50:22] 2025 uh wastewater treatment plant
report for information purposes only and
[50:28] I'll take any questions if anyone has
any questions.
[50:31] » Okay. Thank you, Mr. Paris. Uh, I have a
motion that council hereby accepts the
[50:36] attached report on 2025 water treatment
plant and further that the report is
[50:40] being presented for members information
purposes only. Moved by
[50:49] second by councelor Lake. Any questions
on this board? Mr. Lake uh just so it
[50:55] was phosphorus last year that was our
adverse
[50:57] » and it historically is.
>> Okay. And we fixed that problem.
[51:00] » Well, things ran real good last year. So
hopefully we'll continue and you know a
[51:04] lot of this now we have to do equipment
and air so we're sampling better. Uh so
[51:08] those are things that will continue to
improve as we keep moving forward.
[51:11] » Looks like a A+ report.
>> Yes. Thank you.
[51:14] » Awesome. Any other questions?
>> Seeing any.
[51:18] » Thank you Mr. Har. Thank you.
[51:26] » Okay. Okay. I have a motion to approve
that
[51:30] council hereby approve the following
check registers for February 26 and
[51:34] March 2026.
We have to read out the numbers. No, we
[51:39] just need a move. Okay. Uh mover and
second, please.
[51:51] Um all in favor?
Thank you.
[52:05] Okay, I have a motion to approve bylaw
number 2123 being a bylaw to adopt the
[52:12] estimates of all sums required during
the year 2026 to be read at first,
[52:17] second, and third time and finally
passed this 27th day of April 2026.
[52:24] » Second. Awesome. Thank you.
[52:29] All in favor
you car.
[52:44] Okay. A proclamation has been received
requesting that May 2020 May 6, 2026 be
[52:50] proclaimed as Hope Air Day in and for
the town of Marathon in recognition of
[52:55] the valuable invaluable contributions
made by Hope Air to the health and
[52:59] well-being of individuals in Ontario's
remote communities.
[53:11] Get the blueberry in a second there.
[53:16] Does anybody have any questions about
this motion?
[53:20] » No, I recognize that you're
>> Yeah, we we've done it uh in the past.
[53:25] All in favor?
So, thank you.
[53:36] Uh we have one announcement tonight. Uh,
the town of Marathon will be hosting a
[53:41] 2026 election candidate training session
on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 at 6:30 p.m.
[53:48] in the council chambers in partnership
with the township of Ansswatch. Uh the
[53:52] session will be delivered by a
third-party provider and is intended to
[53:56] provide an overview of the municipal
election process, roles and
[54:00] responsibilities of elected officials
and key considerations for prospective
[54:04] candidates. Members of the public who
are considering running for council in
[54:09] May in 20 the 2026 municipal election
are encouraged to attend.
[54:15] So, anybody that's uh interested in uh
the town of Marathon as well as ton of
[54:19] manage that thinking about running for
council, this would be a great
[54:22] information session to attend.
[54:27] And lastly, I have a motion to adjourn.
Oh,
[54:32] do
>> Yeah, sorry. I have a question if you
[54:35] don't mind. So, for administration, is
this uh
[54:43] Oh, you're correct.
Just over overview. Just an overview.
[54:48] » Yeah. Sorry. Yeah. So, this this isn't a
training session. So, um this is an
[54:54] overview of what to expect
um when you get elected. Um and also an
[55:00] opportunity to interact uh with the
facilitators. Of course, when the new
[55:05] council is elected, there will be a full
orientation and training session um in
[55:10] December of 2026.
>> Good. Thank you.
[55:18] Okay, I have a motion uh that we do now
adjourn at the hour of 5:01 p.m.
[55:30] by
>> all good.
[55:37] » All in favor? Good. Thank you.
>> Thank you and good night.
[55:40] » Good night everybody.
>> Good night. Good night. Thank you.