[This transcript was generated automatically from audio using AI and hasn't been reviewed by a person -- it can contain mistakes, including plausible-sounding sentences that were never actually said. Treat it as a starting point, not a verbatim record.]

[0:00] We're live.
[0:07] Great, thank you. Well, good morning, everyone, and welcome to almost regular meeting of Algin
[0:18] County Council on Tuesday, January 27, 2026. I'd like to call the meeting to order and
[0:26] at the same time, thank staff for pivoting to an online virtual meeting this morning.
[0:33] As everybody knows, the driving conditions are very poor and based on a lighter agenda
[0:40] today, we thought it would be wise to keep everybody safe and at home. So thank you,
[0:45] everybody, for accommodating that. So we'll proceed with the approval of the
[0:53] agenda. Any changes, additions? Councillor Noble? So, Catherine, actually, can I have
[1:02] the resolution? Let me check with Councillor Noble. We'll get the hang of this. Did you have
[1:08] a change or addition, Councillor Noble? Great, okay. Let's hear the resolution, please.
[1:15] Resolved that the agenda for the January 27, 2026 County Council meeting be approved
[1:21] as presented. Thank you. So, Councillor Noble moves. And I think Deputy Warden Jones, second.
[1:29] All in favour? I'll show her hands. Thank you. That is carried. And I want to check
[1:40] with Councillor Latham to make sure that you're okay to participate or let us know
[1:48] or reach out if you have any technical difficulty. Meanwhile, we'll proceed with the next item
[2:00] on the agenda is introductions. And so I'll turn it over to our CEO to introduce our new
[2:07] director of homes who I don't know if we are cursed and we're not meant to cross
[2:12] path since you weren't able to join us at our last meeting and now we're not
[2:17] able to join us today. But please see a parking if I can ask you to proceed with the more formal
[2:27] introduction. Thank you, Warden Jigir. I am very pleased to introduce you and I'm hoping we're
[2:35] not running into too many hurdles. But one day you will meet Joanne Holloway in person. Joanne
[2:43] is with us in the council chambers today. Joanne comes to us from the private sector after many,
[2:48] many years in the long term care industry. So we are happy to have Joanne join us. She's
[2:54] been with us now for a couple of weeks. So I'll ask Joanne just to say a couple of words to
[2:59] council. Welcome, Joanne. Thank you, Blaine. Thank you, everybody. I appreciate you putting
[3:07] your trust in me. It's been very exciting for the past couple of weeks. I've had the
[3:11] opportunity to go into all the homes and as I mentioned in my interview I drove around all
[3:17] the homes before and they were lovely on the outside and they were not disappointing when
[3:21] I was able to get inside. So it's been very exciting and I'm looking forward to meeting
[3:26] everybody face to face again. And thank you again. I appreciate your trust. Well,
[3:34] thank you so much for choosing to work with us. We really, really appreciate and we
[3:41] really look forward to all that you will contribute to the homes in Elkin County as a whole. So
[3:47] a warm welcome and yes, we will cross paths. Physically, I promise. All right. So this takes
[3:55] us to adoption of minutes. We have the resolution, please. Resolved that the minutes of the
[4:02] meeting held on January 13th, 2026 be adopted.
[4:08] Moving second, please. Councilor Windermoos, Councilor Hans second. Were there any errors
[4:14] or omissions? Seeing none. All those in favor? Motion is carried.
[4:23] Enough disclosure of pecuniary interests or the general nature thereof. Seeing none. We do not
[4:35] have any presentations or delegations so that takes us to item 7.1. We have the recommendations
[4:43] from the Committee of the Whole. The Committee met January 13th. You have the resolutions
[4:50] before you. We have the resolution, please. Results that items CW 263 to CW 266 from the
[5:01] Committee of the Whole meeting dated January 13th, 2026 and the recommendations therein
[5:06] be adopted. Thank you. Mover in second, please. Councilor Ketchabut moves. Deputy
[5:14] Warden Jones second. Any further comments? Seeing none. All those in favor? Motion is
[5:26] carried. We don't have any other recommendations from other Committees or reports for information,
[5:38] so that takes us to item 10. We have several items of correspondence. Anything you wish to
[5:45] pull out to discuss separately? I'm here. Okay. We're not seeing any requests for further discussions
[6:00] on any of the items, so the resolution, please. Results that correspondence items 10.1 to
[6:08] 10.6 be received and filed. Mover in second, Councilor Hems moves. Councilor No-Gloss second. All
[6:18] those in favor? Motion is carried. Any statements or inquiries by members? Deputy Warden Jones.
[6:38] Yeah, thank you, Warden Jones. Just give everybody heads up or impact awards from the Chamber of
[6:46] Commerce has come up and we have quite a few people being nominated for different categories
[6:54] from Central Oregon and South Old and a few other places, so it's exciting that we're seeing
[6:59] the businesses from Elgin County being part of the nomination and selection team.
[7:05] Yes, that's great. Do we have a date for the awards? I don't have it off the top of my head,
[7:13] maybe Carolyn, Mike, or Catherine. I didn't write that down. No, didn't want to put you on the
[7:22] spot, but if someone knows, Councilor Sloan. Through the warden, it's April 17th. Okay.
[7:37] Thank you for that. I'm sure there'll be lots of communication around that closer to the date
[7:42] and opportunity to secure tickets, so stay tuned. But yeah, thank you for the heads up. That's
[7:48] great to see. Any other statements or inquiries by members?
[7:56] Seeing none, we do not have any items for a closed meeting, so that takes us to consideration of
[8:02] bylaws. Catherine. Bylaw number 2603. Being a bylaw to provide a schedule of services and
[8:14] activities subject to fees and charges by the County of Elgin and to repeal bylaw number 2520.
[8:20] Resolved that bylaw number 2603 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.
[8:32] Mover and seconder. Councilor Hans moves.
[8:36] If you were in Joan's second of those in favor,
[8:45] motion is carried. Next bylaw, please. Bylaw number 2604. Being a bylaw to
[8:53] authorize speed limits. Resolved that bylaw number 2604 be now read a first, second, and third time
[9:01] and finally passed. Mover and seconder, please. Councilor Noble moves.
[9:15] Deputy warden Joan second. Any further discussion?
[9:20] Comments? Seeing none. All those in favor?
[9:26] Motion is carried.
[9:27] The next bylaw is our budget. Bylaw number, thank you. Bylaw number 2605. Being a bylaw
[9:39] to provide for the adoption of the 2026 budget of the corporation of the County of Elgin and to
[9:45] establish the 2026 tax ratios and 2026 tax rates for the said corporation of the County of Elgin
[9:54] and its constituent lower tier municipalities. Resolved that bylaw number 2605 be now read a
[10:01] first, second, and third time and finally passed. Mover and seconder.
[10:10] Councilor Ketchum moves. Councilor Winder second. Any further discussions? Comments?
[10:17] Seeing none. All those in favor?
[10:19] The motion is carried.
[10:25] Next bylaw, please. Bylaw number 2606. Being a bylaw to authorize the warden and treasurer
[10:33] to borrow from time to time to meet current expenditures during the fiscal year ending
[10:38] December 31, 2026. Resolved that bylaw number 2606 be now read a first, second,
[10:46] and third time and finally passed. Mover and seconder please. Councilor Hems moves.
[10:57] Councilor Ketchum seconds. Any other comments or debate? All those in favor?
[11:05] Motion is carried. And the next bylaw. Bylaw number 2607. Being a bylaw to
[11:14] establish remuneration rates for employees covered by the job evaluation scale. Resolved
[11:20] that bylaw number 2607 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed.
[11:28] Mover and seconder please. Deputy warden Jones moves. Councilor Hems seconds.
[11:39] Any further comments or questions? All those in favor?
[11:44] The motion is carried.
[11:49] Then we serve a budget official. Congratulations everyone again. Great work.
[11:55] That'll take us to your confirmatory bylaw. Bylaw number 2608. Being a bylaw to confirm
[12:02] the proceedings of the municipal council of the corporation of the county of Elgin
[12:06] at the January 27th, 2026 meeting. Resolved that bylaw number 2608 be now read a first,
[12:14] second, and third time and finally passed. Mover and seconder please. Councilor Nopal moves.
[12:22] Councilor Woodner seconds. All those in favor?
[12:27] Motion is carried. And now for adjournment.
[12:31] Resolved that we do now adjourn at 9 12 a.m. to meet again on February 10th, 2026 at 9 o'clock a.m.
[12:43] Mover and seconder please. Councilor Woodner moves. Deputy warden Jones seconds. All those
[12:49] in favor? Then the motion is carried. I think we have a new record.
[12:56] We might. We might.