[1:35] Hey, good evening everybody and welcome to our August uh West Perth Council

[1:40] meeting. Uh we do have um uh Doug Phelps is away uh at the meeting tonight and

[1:47] councelor Andrew Fornier is online and I will try and catch him online. Sometimes

[1:53] I don't always see him so we'll try and catch that as we go. Um, just before we

[2:00] get started, um, I would ask, uh, council and our guests this evening, if

[2:06] uh, they so wish that we'll bow our heads for a moment of silent reflection.

[2:17] Okay, thank you. All right, so we'll call the meeting to order. Um,

[2:24] there's going to be a few changes. We do have a fairly lengthy uh council meeting

[2:29] here tonight and we're going to mix things up a little bit. We do have a

[2:32] close session and we wanted to have the close session earlier on in the meeting

[2:36] as opposed to later on. So, we're going to go through the agenda and if you

[2:42] follow along um we're we have close session as agenda item number seven.

[2:47] We're going to skip that and we're going to go to uh item uh agenda item number

[2:53] eight and we're going to do 8.1 8.2 8.22 8.23

[3:00] and then we will uh go for the close sessions. So it kind of gets the drains

[3:06] and what people have come for out of the road so that they don't necessarily have

[3:11] to stay if they don't want to. So, uh, with that in mind, um, those are the

[3:18] changes that we've made, I think, James. So, a motion to confirm the agenda. Um,

[3:24] and, uh, as I did mention, we have a close session, and it is to deal with

[3:28] legal updates, property manner, um, u well, various property matters that

[3:35] we've had uh, for the last little while. So, um, yeah, a motion to accept the,

[3:41] uh, agenda as amended. Uh, councelor Rose, Councelor O'Donnell, all those in

[3:46] favor posed, if any, that's carried. Does anybody have a conflict of interest

[3:51] with anything on the agenda? Councelor O'Donnell.

[3:55] » I have a conflict on item number 9.4. >> Okay. So, noted.

[4:00] All right. Okay. Um that brings us down to moving

[4:06] on here. We do have a delegation. Um we have um Paul Seabbach our um uh auditor

[4:15] I guess from Seabbach and Company. And uh I would ask Paul to come up and uh

[4:21] give us the good news. Uh and uh I'll just turn the floor over to you.

[4:28] Thank you very much. Uh very nice to be here. uh when we go through everything

[4:32] uh mostly is good news. Uh our report has are the full audited financial

[4:38] statements and then we also uh provide a two-page uh report for council that has

[4:44] a little more information. Uh when we did the audit this year, it was all on

[4:47] site. We did the interm audit in October and the final audit uh first week of

[4:52] March. Um we received complete cooperation from Wendy Manique and all

[4:57] the other departments. We try to visit everybody and we were given access to

[5:02] everything. So, we really appreciate all the cooperation in Wendy's effort to uh

[5:06] get the statements done. After completing our audit, uh we're our

[5:11] auditor's report in the financial statements show a clean audit report and

[5:15] states the financial statements present fairly the financial position of

[5:20] municipality. At the end of the audit, we you know, it's it seems standard, but

[5:25] things don't always go good. that uh we can report we did not find any unusual

[5:29] transactions or sign significant matters to bring to your attention this council

[5:33] nostanding issues within the council and as I said received uh complete

[5:37] cooperation um a little bit when we do do the

[5:42] audited consolidated financial statements the things that are

[5:45] consolidated the BIA and the library board and your share of the ERT 6.25%.

[5:54] Um, when we look at the financial statements, the first number that jumps

[5:57] out at you is the surplus 4,257,000. Um

[6:02] I think every year I try to explain why when we take our surplus and we're

[6:07] obligated to use uh provincial standards PAB accounting standards and they just

[6:14] treat the our statements on more cural basis where when you do your budget it's

[6:18] more you're trying to raise cash for your capital project uh debt payments

[6:22] and things like that um reserve transfers. So when we look more on that

[6:29] basis uh Wendy's report that she had provided earlier shows a surplus of

[6:34] 348,000. So it's important to realize you know you did have a surplus on this

[6:39] wave 4.4 but when you look at how your budget is presented it's it's quite a

[6:44] bit less. Uh the big item there is uh capital. Um

[6:50] you guys when you do your budget, you raise money to expense your capital

[6:55] where we set that up and depreciate it. Um we only expense the interest on your

[7:01] debt payments where you have to raise money to pay the actual principal

[7:05] payments. So that's 425,000. And at the end we show reserve funds as

[7:13] a part of the surplus but we don't show in ins and outs as income or expenses.

[7:20] So this year you transfer 2.2 million almost 2.3 million to reserves. So you

[7:25] have to take that off the 4.4 because we don't show that as a an expense. Um

[7:32] as I said we use the same uh very very same same information. is just presented

[7:38] different policies. Consolidated statements are important because uh the

[7:43] statements and the FIR are presented to the province and that's how they see

[7:47] your uh financial statements. Um some other key points um you spent 3.3

[7:54] million on capital you had budget or last year was 5.8 8 you had budgeted 6.1

[8:00] but uh there's quite a few projects not uh finished um some vehicles not

[8:06] purchased um in um Wendy's report that that's summarized um at the end of the

[8:13] year your debt was 66,372,000 down from 6.8 8 million. So you paid

[8:19] down 425,000 of regular debt payments. There were no new no new loans and you

[8:26] completed payments on a loan from the pumping station. Um also is when you pro

[8:32] provides a debt repayment calculation by the province. Uh you're allowed to have

[8:38] debt repayments 25% of your revenue and at the end of last year you're at 11% of

[8:44] that. So you're well within that. Uh at the end of the another key part end of

[8:48] the year your reserves were 24,800,000. They were up 2.3 million. Um part of

[8:56] that was because you didn't do all the capitals. You didn't transfer the money

[8:59] to pay for the capital. You had budgeted to have uh 21.5

[9:04] million reserve. So you finished higher there. You also have some uh gas tax

[9:10] funding you received but didn't spend at the end of the year. 97,000 and a

[9:14] provincial roads grant of 136,000 that weren't spent. Um what that all means is

[9:20] so you didn't do all your capital when we look at the financial position you

[9:24] have you know more money in the bank and higher reserves etc. Um so the page

[9:30] titled report to council financial indicators it's basically your income

[9:34] statement or sorry your balance sheet as of December 31st. Um, first thing you

[9:40] notice the bank is up uh a fair bit. Part of that is because of the surplus

[9:46] and part of that is the uh payrolls are lower. Uh things of that nature. So the

[9:52] balance for your bank was 24.3 million. 15.6 million of that's in your general

[9:58] bank. Um you have all your water and waste reserve funds of almost 7 million

[10:04] and all the other reserve funds accounts of 1.6 million. So that's the 24.3

[10:09] million in the bank. Um accounts re taxes receivable, you did a good job of

[10:15] collecting taxes, it's down to 2.7% of the total taxes. Of the 933,600

[10:22] is current. So that's good. More taxes you collect, the more money you have in

[10:26] the bank. Uh accounts receivable are similar to last year. Uh long-term

[10:32] receivable is a little higher. There were more municipal drain work that

[10:35] wasn't build at the end of the year. 961,000 versus 495,000 loss. Um

[10:41] investments, you did change your investments uh during the year. Uh there

[10:46] was an unearned there was an earned gain there when you uh transferred the

[10:50] investments of 1,250,000. Um

[10:54] a lot of those uh invest investments are wastewater reserve investments. Um the

[11:00] investment in the government business government government business

[11:03] enterprise is your investments in the ERT utility. It's made up of note

[11:08] receivable shares and your share retained earnings and that's 5,44,000

[11:13] the share or your shares are valued at cost. So they don't reflect the value

[11:18] true value of the utility just your initial cost. So total assets current

[11:23] assets almost $42 million. things you owed at the end of the year. Uh the

[11:28] payables are lower. There were some development charges that were uh paid

[11:33] paid down. So payables are down 1.2 million. Uh deferred revenue. Uh those

[11:41] are 2 million up from 1.8 million. Uh we've

[11:47] talked about that. A lot of that is is um the gas tax and the unspent uh road

[11:54] grant. Um there's a landfill closure expenditure that we have to set up to

[12:00] reflect the future cost of closing your landfill site and some of the older

[12:05] buildings. That's 3,95,000 up 50,000 from from last year. And then

[12:10] the municipal debt of the 6.4 we talked about that. So the difference between

[12:14] your current assets and current liabilities is 26.4 million. Uh the

[12:19] important thing there is that because you all your capital that's up 5.3

[12:23] million. So you have more money just to uh spend for the current and future

[12:27] operations. Um capital assets and then the year your book value 1 103 million.

[12:35] Um then there's some prepaid expenses which is basically insurance and some

[12:39] inventory items. Um 106,000 land inventory for sale. That's at cost. So

[12:45] there's no change there. He didn't sell anything. 4.5 million. I know. So when

[12:50] you take the net financial assets and the 134 million that's your surplus of

[12:57] 134,529 and that's up to 4.2 million of your

[13:01] surplus. Are there any questions on the balance sheet?

[13:10] Uh the next statement is the your financial statement. It has the budget

[13:14] and five years of comparatives. Um

[13:20] the Canada Community Building Fund is the old uh federal gas tax. You did use

[13:25] some 285,000. Um the SE grant you received 1.1

[13:31] million. Uh they didn't spend it all. So you deferred 258,000.

[13:35] Um some other grants. The other grants are

[13:41] other municipalities. It's lower 38,000. The provincial offenses act funding was

[13:46] lower. Um

[13:50] the other government grants 780,000 that's a little higher. That's the

[13:54] library uh the drainage superintendent preventing auto uh preventing autothefts

[14:00] grant and u then we get to other income. When we

[14:06] looked at investment income, that's higher than budgeted and higher than the

[14:09] year before, the 3 million. A large part of that is the gain when you transferred

[14:13] your investments uh for the wastewater reserves. Uh $1.2 million there again.

[14:19] So, total revenue 25.6 million. Um higher than was budgeted, but a lot of

[14:25] that is your investment income and some grants. uh your expenditures

[14:32] policing was higher than budgeted but um you received a grant for uh victim

[14:37] services so that 115,000 is in there so that is higher than budgeted. Um

[14:45] planning and uh development is higher than budgeted 311,000 versus 191,000.

[14:52] That's the interest. There's interest there long-term debt. Um so when you

[14:56] take the revenue minus the total expenses of 21.4 million comes back to

[15:00] your surplus of 4.2 million year before 3.3.

[15:06] As far as the financial statements um the very second page is the auditor's

[15:11] report as I talked about it. It's a clean audit report. Um note number six

[15:17] is in your investment in government business enterprise. It shows the

[15:21] investment of 5 million. Um and as I said the shares are all at cost.

[15:28] Um note number eight explains uh estimate retirement obligations. That's

[15:34] the landfill cost we have to set up. Um note number nine shows mis municipal

[15:40] debt uh and that paid down 425,000 and it also shows that the the loan for the

[15:47] pumping station has been repaid over 117,000 was paid off. So that frees up

[15:52] some capital for that department. Uh there is a a whole page on reserves. It

[15:58] shows how the reserves went from 22.6 million to uh 24.8 million. As I said,

[16:05] that might have been lower per your budget, but because of some department

[16:08] surpluses and you didn't spend all the capital, you ended up 2.2 million high

[16:13] deferred revenue schedule of 2,91,000. that shows a lot of that development

[16:19] charges and a lot of it is the gas tax and the other deferred is the provincial

[16:25] road grant that wasn't all spent. Um at the very end of our statements, uh

[16:31] there's the trust fund and that's basically money set aside for cemetery

[16:37] uh maintenance and purposes. Uh so in closing I would say that you

[16:45] know you did finish the year with 4.2 million. A lot of that's because you

[16:49] didn't do all your capital on a more cash basis. The surplus was 348,000. You

[16:54] did increase your financial position. I mentioned the 5.3 million. Um you were

[16:58] able to lead all your 2025 capital without borrowing. Uh this set you in a

[17:04] you know the end of this year set you in a position to have a large capital

[17:08] budget for this year. And once again, I'd like to thank Wendy and her

[17:12] department for all her cooperation. Are there any questions?

[17:18] Okay, questions for Paul?

[17:23] No, no questions. Okay. Well, thank you very much, Paul. Appreciate you coming

[17:28] this evening and giving us the good news. Relatively good news. So, thank

[17:33] you very much. >> No, thank you. And I hope you have a

[17:35] good year this year. Thank you. >> Yeah. So do I. [laughter]

[17:39] Okay. Um, at this Oh, sorry. Question. Councelor Duck.

[17:44] » Actually, sorry. I just I was making my notes there. We did at the beginning of

[17:46] your interest. Can I declare for 9.4 as well? I just wanted to make that note

[17:50] now before we got a little carried away. Sorry about that. Thank you.

[17:52] » No, that's fine. So, noted.

[18:01] Yeah. Yep. So, you you got that, James? Yep. Yep. Okay. No, that's good. That's

[18:07] good. Okay, Wendy, do you want to uh come up and uh introduce uh Loren here?

[18:15] Lauren, sorry.

[18:20] So, this is Lauren Tam. She's uh um here on a 12-month contract to uh fill in the

[18:27] position of deputy treasurer. So, with that, I'll

[18:32] introduce Lauren to you. She's going to have a few words to to share.

[18:38] » No, go ahead. >> Good evening, Mayor and Council. I just

[18:41] want to say thank you for the opportunity to work here. When I saw the

[18:44] job posting, I thought it was a great opportunity to learn more in the

[18:47] municipal world. Um, I've been here almost a month now and I've really

[18:50] enjoyed my time here and I'm really looking forward to the next year of

[18:52] being here. >> So, you're not going to mention who your

[18:57] dad is? >> My dad's Mike. He was on council for 16

[19:01] years, I think. So, >> something like that. Yeah, good, good,

[19:04] good. Well, thank you very much and and I thought it was appropriate right after

[19:08] we did the auditor statement to bring you up and introduce you. So, thank you

[19:13] and welcome. And you're welcome to stay as long as you want, but you don't have

[19:16] to stay through the whole night. >> Thanks.

[19:18] » Okay. Very good. Okay. Um, we could probably do the consent agenda, couldn't

[19:24] we? Yeah, I think we can. We'll we'll do the consent agenda here. Um,

[19:31] » oh, yes. Sorry. Yes. Yes. Recommendation here that uh the council municipality of

[19:36] West Perth receives the 2025 audited audit uh prepared by Seabbach and

[19:42] Company as presented. So we have a mover and second councelor Duck uh councelor

[19:47] Herold. Uh any questions? All those in favor? Opposed? If any that's carried.

[19:53] Thank you. Thanks. Okay. The consent agenda is there. There's 13 items on the

[19:59] consent agenda. Is there um anything there that anybody wants clarification

[20:06] on or would like pull them to deal with separately? Maybe some clarification on

[20:11] 6.6. I was just curious if we ever used pesticides in our parks prior to the uh

[20:17] ban. >> Um

[20:21] prior to >> Yes.

[20:24] » Oh, was that a Nick question? Nick, I don't

[20:28] know if can you I don't think you can answer that if used them prior to We can

[20:34] look into that and report back, but I I'd assume so. But I

[20:42] » I just feel like if we send a letter of support, I think spraying around our

[20:47] ballparks would be beneficial to make it look cleaner. Causing the grass to grow

[20:52] up through the gravel doesn't look very appealing. And I think it would just

[20:56] beautify the space a little bit better if we could spray.

[20:59] » So, um, do you want to do you want us to pull that and then, uh, move a support

[21:07] for that? >> Okay. Um, okay, we could we can do that.

[21:12] Um, that was 8.6. So, um, um, yeah, you pretty well

[21:19] explained what was in the resolution. And so if you want to move that, do we

[21:23] have a seconder to deal with that? Uh take your pick. Deputy mayor, uh support

[21:28] that. Um any further discussion on that? Uh Dan,

[21:32] » just from an information standpoint, I I'll just noted that that regulation is

[21:36] 2009 regulation. So we'd be we'd be going back pretty far from the staff

[21:40] standpoint. >> Any other questions or comments? All

[21:45] those in favor of that? Okay, those opposed, that's carried. Is there

[21:51] anything else anybody would like um an explanation on or pulled separately?

[21:57] » Sometimes my hand's not noticed when I'm on Zoom. Mayor,

[22:00] » you're not noticed, Andrew. I'm sorry. Um but yeah, go ahead.

[22:05] » Uh I'm going to restrict the number of things that I want to pull from here

[22:10] because I don't know if anyone else is reading this and thinking, "Oh god,

[22:13] counselor Fornier is going to talk for a really long time." Um but 6.1 and 6.3 in

[22:20] particular if you don't mind. Uh emergency shelters serving women and

[22:25] children experiencing intimate partner violence. Um that is a rather urgent

[22:31] issue. I have uh several uh exes in my life who have experienced

[22:37] intimate partner violence from other partners and I know from firsthand

[22:41] stories of what it's like trying to live in those environments with children. We

[22:45] need more spaces. We need spaces for longer. We need spaces for more

[22:51] more types of events. So, that one I straight up want pulled and supported.

[22:57] And also 6.3, the township of uh let me see if I can even pronounce this. Alwick

[23:04] and Halddund apology to the British home children and child migrants and their

[23:08] families. This one again rather in particular. I actually have people in my

[23:14] own family who were orphaned and had their childhoods ruined by getting

[23:19] turned into uh laborers of both the farmwork and

[23:25] housework variety and also used for other purposes. This happens to children

[23:31] and the fact that our prime minister hasn't issued a formal apology while the

[23:35] prime minister of Great Britain and the prime minister of Australia has strikes

[23:40] me as just intolerable. There's not even very many of them left alive in our

[23:46] country and a thousand of them died in the First World War after being abducted

[23:50] from their own families and stuck with new families here who used them for

[23:54] stuff. Um, I want I want that one in particular pulled for support. Thank

[23:59] you. >> Okay, we will deal with those two first

[24:05] and then we'll go back to the consent agenda. So, uh, item 6.1, emergency

[24:10] shelters. U, I take it that councelor Fornier, you will move that.

[24:16] » Very much so. Thank you. >> Okay. Do we have a seconder for that uh

[24:19] motion to support that resolution? Uh, councelor Duck. because uh we'll second

[24:25] that. Any further discussion on that particular motion?

[24:30] » You got your hand up. Yeah. I was just just for the record, I was just going to

[24:33] um just make it known that council's previously declared IPV an epidemic

[24:37] around this table. So just giving you that context here. That's all.

[24:41] » Uh who? >> That's one of the reasons why I

[24:43] mentioned it because we already have supported things like this motion.

[24:47] » Okay. So So we we have supported this

[24:53] are very similar. Okay. All right. So, we have done it in the past. Um, so it's

[24:58] moved and seconded. If there's no further questions on it, all those in

[25:02] favor, two, three, four, five, six, opposed, if

[25:07] any, that is carried. Uh, moving to 6.3 then. Um, apology to the British home

[25:13] children and child migrants and their families. Again, uh, councelor Fornier,

[25:18] uh, you will move that, I take it. >> Yeah, very much so. Yeah. and provide

[25:23] extra explanation if necessary. >> Yep. Um, do we have a seconder for that

[25:28] motion to support that resolution?

[25:32] » Do we have a seconder? >> Councelor Duck is going to second that.

[25:38] Okay. Um, is there anything further you want to add, Andrew, to that before we

[25:42] take a vote here? Canada has too long a history on many

[25:47] different fronts of not being very nice to kids that we don't view as one of us.

[25:53] Um, and what happened to some of these uh occasionally baby children and you

[26:00] have to understand that during this program that the actual orphans who are

[26:04] being taken from workhouses and sent here, bonuses were not paid to the

[26:08] organizations that took them from those workhouses. bonuses were paid for

[26:13] children who might actually have living parents, poor parents, parents who could

[26:18] not provide to them for them, granted, but that's more a case of the the social

[26:23] services available in the United Kingdom at the time. Um, and instead of

[26:27] addressing their own issues, Britain sold these children to families

[26:35] in Canada to work as farm laborers and house servants. Now, that's not every

[26:40] case, and I'm sure sometimes it worked out better than that. But in enough

[26:44] cases that it's historically significant, it didn't.

[26:49] We should not accept being the recipients of sold children, whether now

[26:56] or in the past. And if we did so in the past, we should hurry up and say sorry.

[27:05] » Okay. Um any other comments from anybody?

[27:11] Okay. Um so the um support has been uh duly moved and seconded. Um all those in

[27:18] favor of supporting this resolution.

[27:23] Now put your hands up. Don't be afraid. Opposed to this resolution.

[27:30] The motion is lost. All right. Um then a motion that we um

[27:37] accept the consent agenda with the exception of 61, 6.3 and 6.6. So in

[27:44] other words from 62, 64 all the way uh 65 and then all the way from 6.7 to 6.13

[27:54] would be in order. Do we have a mover and seconder for that? Councelor Rose,

[27:58] seconded by councelor Foster. Any questions on any of them? All those

[28:04] in favor? Opposed? If any, that's carried. Thank you. All right. Uh brings

[28:10] us down to we're moving to uh uh agenda item number eight and uh the planning

[28:17] department. Uh we have um uh an item here with regards uh uh B1926.

[28:26] And we have Haley, I believe, with us is going to walk us through this one. Uh

[28:30] it's with regards to a consent application and as I said the file

[28:35] number is B1926. So Haley the floor is yours.

[28:39] » Thank you. The application before you this evening is for a proposal for a

[28:43] surplus farm dwelling severance located at 5302

[28:47] line 29 in the municipality of West Perth.

[28:52] The subject application proposes to sever a surplus farm dwelling lot

[28:56] resulting in a farm consolidation. The severed lands contain an existing

[29:00] dwelling, a detached garage, septic, and well. The retained lands are vacant of

[29:05] any buildings or structures. Additionally, the application proposes

[29:09] to establish an easement for hydro located on the severed lands in favor of

[29:13] the retained lands. The easement is proposed to be 4.48 m wide by 6.34 m

[29:20] long. A condition of the consent has been included that will impose

[29:24] restrictions on future permitted uses of the severed and retained lots through an

[29:29] adoption of a required zoning bylaw amendment. The condition requiring the

[29:34] ZBA has been recommended to satisfy the requirements of the 2024 PPS and the

[29:39] county of Perth official plan. staff are supportive of the proposed severance and

[29:43] are of the opinion that the application is consistent with the provincial

[29:46] planning statement 2024 and conforms with the county of Perth official plan

[29:51] subject to the recommended conditions of consent approval being fulfilled. Thank

[29:55] you and I'm happy to answer any questions.

[29:58] » Okay, any questions with regards to this recommendation?

[30:04] » Don't see any hands going up. So, we do have a um resolution here. Uh the

[30:09] recommendation is that the council, Miss Pal West Perth, recommends that the

[30:12] county of Perth land division committee approve consent application B1926

[30:18] and that council forward the conditions listed in the staff report dated August

[30:22] the 10th, 2026 to the county of Perth land division

[30:26] committee for the property known as 5302 line 29 in the municipality of West

[30:31] Perth. Do we have a mover and seconder for that? Deputy Mayor and a seconder.

[30:37] Uh, Councelor Herald. Last call for questions.

[30:42] All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that's carried. Thank you, Haley.

[30:47] Okay, moving on then brings us down to uh a couple drain reports. The first one

[30:52] is the Mela Municipal Drain uh and consideration of the engineers report.

[30:58] And we do have Chris Dietri with us tonight. And Chris, I'll turn the floor

[31:02] over to you and you can walk us through that report.

[31:10] Thank you, uh, Mayor McKenzie and councel.

[31:14] Uh, the first project that I'm here to present is the Mel municipal drain. Uh,

[31:20] this takes place uh, within the the town of Mitchell city limits and, uh, it's

[31:26] basically an enclosure of an existing municipal drain. Some history on this ML

[31:31] drain. Uh it was originally constructed under a report prepared by Dodson and

[31:36] Johnson consulting engineers uh that provided for the construction of

[31:40] the main drain open the main drain closed branch A and branch B. All closed

[31:46] tile drains were designed to a 5-year storm.

[31:51] Uh this stream was updated in 1999 under a report prepared by Johnson Engineering

[31:56] Consultants um that provided for the cleanout at 272

[32:01] m of open ditch um and the installation of three culvert crossings.

[32:06] And finally, a portion of the main drain uh closed was realigned under a report

[32:11] by RJ Burnside and Associates Limited um in 200

[32:18] I don't have the date on that here. Um might be regardless it was realigned. Uh

[32:26] we held an information for this enclosure uh back in November of this

[32:31] year and it wasn't uh basically taken very well. So we were proposing to

[32:38] enclose the drain from where the main drain closed is all the way down uh in

[32:43] the uh uh in the Gaffne Industrial Holdings

[32:48] property which is shown as number one on your plans or sorry number yeah number

[32:52] one. uh this option was a little too

[32:55] expensive for the owners. Uh so this report that we're presenting here today

[33:01] uh includes uh basically we're enclosing 68 m of open ditch

[33:07] um across lot 15 as shown on our plan. Then it crosses Ellen Street where it

[33:12] outlets into the existing open drain. [clears throat]

[33:20] We also um plan on cleaning out 62 mters of the existing open drain uh and remove

[33:28] one 750 mm diameter corrugated metal pipe. Uh our drain will consist of 750

[33:35] mm diameter to 900 mm diameter plastic HDP pipes

[33:43] um and is designed to handle the 100year storm event. We've estimated the total

[33:48] cost of this work at $115,600

[33:53] and I'm open to answering any questions from council.

[33:59] » Hey, thanks Chris. Questions? Councelor

[34:03] » Mayor McKenzie. Uh Chris, you mentioned uh that that your first proposal wasn't

[34:08] too amlicable uh to the property owners and the revised

[34:14] um proposal that you made um that the majority of land owners are on side with

[34:19] that proposal uh that that you're bringing forward tonight.

[34:22] » Um there's one sitting in the audience that may have some objections to this.

[34:27] Um I would let him speak for himself though.

[34:33] Other questions from council? Is there um a ray pair that does wish to add some

[34:39] comments?

[34:48] Thank you, Mayor McKenzie. Council, my name is Jason Hask. I am the owner of

[34:54] Lewis McNichol Trucking. For the last 25 years, I've been the

[35:00] largest proponent of the work that Chris is proposing here

[35:05] tonight. And if you'd asked me a month ago, I was on board.

[35:11] But situations change. And even though in this report

[35:19] my property receives the most benefit from the drain being closed, it also

[35:27] receives the most cost. And at that at this particular time, I'm

[35:34] not certain that I'm prepared to carry that cost.

[35:39] All I ask is that you keep that in mind when you make your decision tonight.

[35:47] Okay, fair enough.

[35:53] » Other any other comments or questions with regards to this drain now?

[36:02] » Well, sure the mayor. Uh, who asked for this drain to be closed in and can we

[36:07] start on the south side of that road to close it in?

[36:16] I don't recommend that at all. Um, well, basically, it's only enclosing through

[36:21] one property in a road. Um, there's already a culvert under the road. So, I

[36:26] would recommend that if we're not closing it through the McNickel Trucking

[36:32] Incorporated property that we do something else like just basically

[36:39] maybe scrap the report or something of that nature and then we're dealing with

[36:45] our 78 costs. It was originally sorry uh originally

[36:50] signed section 78 form which is improvements to an existing drain by DNR

[36:55] pole holdings. We held that information meeting and they were Vietnamese or

[37:01] Vietnamese like uh opposed to what we were presenting. uh we had to design it

[37:07] to a 100red-year storm to meet the con the conservation authority uh what

[37:11] they're asking for and and basically we do have all our approvals from the

[37:17] conservation authority and the department of fisheries and oceans

[37:24] » other questions so just to clarify Chris this doesn't happen very often but

[37:30] you're kind of recommending that we don't accept this report

[37:33] » well that would be up to the McNichol property

[37:36] Oh, okay. So, we >> Yeah, we're presenting our report as

[37:39] written. >> Okay.

[37:40] » Um, so it would be up to council to pass or not pass.

[37:48] » I'm looking at James here. So, we may have to tweak the resolution here a

[37:53] little bit. Will we? >> Well, I guess we can get we need some

[37:56] input from council how they want to proceed here as much as anything. And

[38:00] I'm looking for

[38:04] Go ahead, >> Mayor McKenzie. When we're um working

[38:10] together as a team to uh work on drainage works, I think as a council

[38:16] that we're looking to all of the properties in that uh in that watershed,

[38:21] just like we're doing in agriculture. um uh that that um yes sometimes the

[38:28] cost uh is um felt um that it's exorbitant but uh but we are making

[38:35] improvements to the wershed. So, so I think as as a council, we're we're

[38:39] looking at at the whole wershed as a whole um to to to make those

[38:43] improvements if land owners are asking uh and obviously when they petitioned

[38:48] for that drainage work, they they were asking um and it's maybe just come down

[38:53] to uh down to the cost uh portion, but uh but I think out of other respect for

[38:59] other land owners, we should consider it as a whole project whether it actually

[39:03] benefits the the wershed or not. Yeah. Thank you, Nicholas. Anybody else?

[39:11] Uh, Deputy Mayor through >> you. Uh, Mayor McKenzie,

[39:16] um, just help me try and understand this, uh, whether it's Chris or staff.

[39:21] So, um, a landowner, uh, Mr. Paul or somebody by the last

[39:29] name of Paul submitted a section 78 request

[39:34] um to close the open ditch. Is that >> Yes.

[39:37] » Correct. >> Yes.

[39:38] » Okay. And at this time, are they still in favor of

[39:43] » They're not >> that work.

[39:45] » They're not. >> They're not. And did they give a did

[39:48] they give a written reason why or any kind of reason?

[39:52] » They have not. No. Not Not in my knowledge. No. But they but they've just

[39:56] said no, we don't want to do it. >> Correct.

[39:58] » Okay. And to date, uh only Mr. Hasket has provided a a reason an objection

[40:07] with a reason. Is that correct? >> Yes. Initially at the information

[40:14] meeting, he wanted to go ahead but at this time he does not.

[40:18] » Okay. And at the time of the information meeting, Mr. Paul did not want to

[40:23] » Mr. did not attend the information meeting,

[40:26] » right? >> And it wasn't until a later date

[40:29] that they called and said, "We're not in favor of these costs."

[40:34] » And do we know how much in costs have been incurred to date right now?

[40:41] » Well, we obviously have prepared this report. This includes us uh going to the

[40:46] quarter revision if necessary. Um

[40:56] just I'm just looking for a >> rough idea.

[40:58] » Yeah. So it would be around $20,000 probably.

[41:00] » So we're already $20,000 into this work and the people that at least one person

[41:07] who had petitioned it has now backed out of it.

[41:11] Correct. We have a second >> and that was the only signature on that

[41:15] 78 form. >> Okay.

[41:18] All right. So, I guess my question to staff is um are we able to defer any

[41:24] decision and get a a staff report to try and uh confirm answers to the

[41:31] questions that I've got that I made because right now the municipality is on

[41:36] the hook for $20,000 and we didn't and the municipality didn't ask for it as I

[41:42] see it. So, how do we how do we how do we resolve this because we've got a

[41:48] landowner that wanted something now they changed their mind. I guess that's their

[41:51] that's their right to do that. But money's been spent here. So, somebody's

[41:56] going to get a bill. So, we got to sort this out somehow. Just refer that qu

[42:01] these questions to staff for further clarification, please. Thank you.

[42:06] » Yes, I think James is quite prepared to answer that. And I'm sure Chris could

[42:10] give us the options as well. Um, >> so section 78 is a little tricky. Um,

[42:15] how to distribute costs when reports aren't adopted. Uh, typically it would

[42:20] be build under the existing reports bylaw. Uh, so that would be the 1999

[42:26] bylaw. Obviously since then things have changed as far as lots and what have

[42:31] you. U, but that would be the most most fair thing to do. Um, so whatever that

[42:36] maintenance clause says in the 1999 report is how you'd want to distribute

[42:42] those costs. >> And we can have a look and and give you

[42:46] an exact number of what we have into it. >> Oh, okay. James, anything further?

[42:53] » No. Uh, I really don't have much data. I think Chris has given you all the the

[42:57] important information. Um, I think I would just note that, you know, you've

[43:01] heard from the land owner with the lion share of the assessment costs here this

[43:05] evening. So, council does has the option to receive this report for information

[43:10] and Chris has spoken to how those costs would be distributed should things not

[43:16] proceed from here. Thank you, >> Councelor Foster. If we to um receive it

[43:25] for information at this time and not go forward with it, if this comes back in a

[43:30] few years, it would likely still be easily reused at the time. If the land

[43:37] owners change their mind and want to come back to it, like is the report

[43:40] still valid for a few years or how does that work?

[43:45] » It's a good question. I would have to look into that.

[43:53] I'll just I think I think Chris has probably given you a fair response, but

[43:57] anything could [clears throat] happen next year. Regulations could change.

[44:00] Everything could change. So I I think your line of thinking is likely correct,

[44:04] but that's not a guarantee if if that helps.

[44:10] Sir, >> so Mayor McKenzie, when I look across

[44:12] the wershed, like James said, uh, Louis McNickel Trucking has more than 50% of

[44:18] the, um, watershed and then West Perth 10% and Mitchell Durasol properties

[44:25] roughly 10% and um, then the Godidge Railway rough

[44:30] roughly another 10%. So so I guess 60% um, and then God railway another uh, 10%

[44:37] 70. So, so the rest of the property owners are are each a very very a tenth

[44:42] a hundredth of a percent on many of these properties. So there there's not

[44:48] much um value I guess in in the drainage works. So, I I'm I think I'm comfortable

[44:55] um uh shelving the report based off of the the the value that the if we if we

[45:01] don't need the value on the vast majority of the of the wershed, I'm

[45:05] comfortable shelving it because we we have 50% plus us plus the railway that

[45:11] uh another 10% that um we could quite easily see that don't see the value

[45:17] tonight to go ahead with the drainage works.

[45:21] » Okay. I um can't think of an other time that we've

[45:27] had this happen, but there's always a first time for everything and it's maybe

[45:30] happened in the past. James >> through the chair. May I ask one more

[45:35] question? Um is it possible to do a reortionment Chris on the existing

[45:41] watershed that's there for the purposes of more accurately determining

[45:47] um a cost distribution that is reflective of today? Am I making sense

[45:51] with that question? >> And it's just a question of

[45:56] » for sure. Uh we probably could. I'm not

[46:02] saying definitively we can but that would be something another thing to look

[46:06] into because if we need to aortion which

[46:10] should have been done the old 1999 report

[46:14] um then that can be done. >> Yeah. Like that would be the fairest way

[46:23] to to do it, I would think, Chris. Right. If we're not going to proceed any

[46:27] further, that would be the fairest way to proceed. Yeah,

[46:32] you would have a minor cost incurred again on top of that. But just just to

[46:36] be clear, yeah, you're you're looking at the wershed as it fixed today, the

[46:40] property boundary. So it would reflect accurately for that that cost.

[46:46] » Just an option. So I I think council can approve, council can receive for

[46:52] information which in effect is doing nothing. So that kills it. Council could

[46:56] receive the report for information and direct um we can direct to do the

[47:01] reortionment as well if you wish. Or if you want to see that come back,

[47:06] we can do that as well. Couple options. Well, the other option is you go ahead

[47:11] with the report and then you appeal it to the to the drainage tribunal and they

[47:16] make a ruling on it, but uh the costs I think are in indicate of of what the

[47:22] cost is going to be. So, um you know, they might shift it a bit, but uh

[47:28] basically those costs will be fairly accurate unless the odd time you tender

[47:32] it out and you get a a quote coming back that is less than what the engineers

[47:37] estimated. And that sometimes happens too, doesn't it? But uh

[47:40] » more so these days. >> Yeah.

[47:42] » Rather than years past. But for sure it they definitely there's a lot of work

[47:46] out there for contractors and bids are coming in well below our estimates. But

[47:51] that's just >> me talking.

[47:53] » Okay. I want to kind of keep moving on here because we do have a fair bit to do

[47:57] tonight. So we've got several options here. As Dan has indicated, we can uh

[48:03] basically follow the the suggested recommendation here and and accept the

[48:09] report. Um and uh you know, you could go as far as give it first and second

[48:15] reading. Um but then eventually, you know, we're going to end up at a dead

[48:21] end. I think we can receive the report and that's it. and and then the costs

[48:28] will be figured out and will be invoiced to the uh to the rateayers involved.

[48:34] What was there was a third one >> do the reortionment so it's more

[48:37] reflective of of the land owner >> we would do that anyways wouldn't we

[48:41] then >> not necessar

[48:45] if you just don't >> oh

[48:48] we would use the 1999 >> okay all right yeah okay so those are

[48:54] our options what would you like to see happening

[48:58] » uh Mayor McKenzie I think we should uh receive the report and then uh

[49:03] essentially that's where it stops but then use the 1999 um aortionments to

[49:08] bill the costs that incurred. >> Okay. Yep. You'll move that. Do we have

[49:12] a second for that motion? Uh councelor Foster.

[49:17] Okay. I just want to read that again to make sure everybody knows what we're

[49:21] voting on here. We were going to receive it. Um

[49:25] » yeah. Uh thank you through the chair. So, at this time, the motion, as I

[49:29] understand it, is that council receive the report for information and that the

[49:35] cost uh for the preparation of the report and cost the date associated with

[49:39] the project be build to the land owners in accordance with the most recent

[49:44] assessment schedule, which is 1999. Is that fair?

[49:50] Good. Okay. Any further discussion on that? Anybody

[49:56] anything to add? Okay. All those in favor of that motion?

[50:00] Opposed? If any, that's carried. Okay.

[50:07] All right. The next one then is um on our agenda is 8.2.2 and that's the Meer

[50:13] municipal drain and again in consideration of the engineers report.

[50:17] So Chris, the floor is yours. Yet >> thank you again, Mayor McKenzie and

[50:21] council. I'm here again to present the Meer municipal drain.

[50:28] This is a drain uh that was originally built in 1959 and basically it consisted

[50:33] of the main drain and a drain. Uh that main drain consisted of uh 2587

[50:41] lineal feet of 6 in uh or 150 mm to a 12 in or 300 mm diameter tile.

[50:48] Uh Adrian under our report is to be abandoned.

[50:53] Um and as shown on the screen, that dark double blue line represents our

[50:58] watershed and it consists of 34.7 hectares.

[51:02] Um you'll see some of the lots are drained out of this watershed. So they

[51:06] get a reduction in their outlet assessment. Um

[51:11] and basically uh our new drains represented by a yellow line there. So

[51:16] it consists of excuse me 633 m of 300 millimeter diameter to 525 millimeter

[51:25] diameter concrete and plastic HDP pipes. Um there will be one road crossing under

[51:33] line 49 with catch basins on both sides as well as catch basins at property

[51:38] lines. one between I guess that is sorry 32 and 33 and then the next would be

[51:44] between 33 and 34 of concession 13. Um there's one other catch basin to be

[51:52] installed and that's downstream of the Jonzi property which is part of lot 33

[51:57] concession 13. This will be connected to the main drain via a junction box. Um,

[52:04] and this drain outlets into the gray branch of the northwest municipal drain.

[52:11] We've estimated the cost of work at $193,800.

[52:17] And at this time, I'm open to any questions from council.

[52:22] Okay. Thanks, Chris. Any questions from members of council?

[52:30] No hands going up. Okay. Um do have a recommendation here uh that

[52:37] the council municipality of West Perth accepts the report dated June the 1st

[52:41] 2026 from Driidge Engineering Limited for the Meer Municipal Drain and that

[52:46] council provisionally adopt the engineers report by giving first and

[52:49] second readings to bylaw number 51 2026 and that the record of revision be

[52:56] scheduled for September the 8th of this year 2026. Sorry.

[53:02] » Make sure >> Oh, okay. Um,

[53:06] questions from any of the rate pairs.

[53:12] No, we're good.

[53:18] Go ahead. Yeah. Come on up. If you come up, we can hear you. That's uh better.

[53:29] » Good evening. Here. Um, this question might be a question for Chris. I'm not

[53:35] sure. I'm not sure. But question for council or not, but I know I looked at

[53:40] the first drawing that we met here and one that was mailed. I know it's a

[53:46] little bit different in design. Maybe you can comment on that or is that a

[53:49] question outside of this? >> Chris can answer. I'm sure.

[53:54] » So, what happened at our what happened at our information meeting is that we

[53:58] had the design in a different area. There was also farms that were drained

[54:01] out that we did not know of. Um, so we've confirmed all of that information.

[54:07] We rerouted the outlet more so paralleling line 49 rather than going on

[54:12] an angle. We used to go on a a south uh easterly direction to the gray branch.

[54:18] So we shortened up the the drain itself by 67 m. Um, so that affected the cost

[54:26] as well. So the land being drained out which is shown on our plans uh report

[54:31] plans uh actually reduces the amount uh of acres that would be contributing to

[54:36] the drain. So they will no longer be uh assessed for or have the right to

[54:42] connect to this drain in the future, but they were assessed for the water that

[54:46] may land on their property that would come this way.

[54:51] » So I do have a follow-up question. >> Sure. Go ahead. Yeah, my follow-up

[54:56] question I guess and notice it went straight into the drain rather than an

[55:00] angle. I guess my question for Chris maybe is will we get as much um guess my

[55:07] land fills up with water quite a bit in the spring melt? It's I just want to

[55:11] make sure that we can get as much water going away as possible is my question

[55:16] with the change. Yeah. So, not mentioned is that this new

[55:21] municipal drain is designed to an inch and a half drainage coefficient or a 38

[55:25] millimeter per 24hour. Um, so that's topnotch drain work these days. Uh,

[55:32] sometimes landowners want more. So, that extra uh design standard would be

[55:37] ungrantable, but in this case, we're meeting the limit uh of of that train.

[55:43] So, we're going to have quite a lot of capacity in this new system. Right.

[55:47] Okay. Fair enough.

[55:50] Yeah. Okay. Any other questions from either council or right pairs?

[55:59] Okay. Um

[56:04] we I didn't do the recommendation. We didn't get that. I We need a move in a

[56:09] second. That's where we're at. Okay. So, I read it out that we accept the report

[56:14] and that we give it first and second reading and it'll be bylaw 51 and then

[56:20] uh quarter revision will be held on September the 8th of this year. So, do

[56:24] we have a move and seconder for that? Um,

[56:28] Deputy Mayor Jinkowski and um yeah, I was looking for our Logan

[56:34] reps there uh but I don't have to. Councelor Duck. Okay, thank you. Last

[56:41] call for questions. All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that's carried. Thank

[56:46] you, Chris. >> Thank you very much.

[56:47] » And uh then we do have another section 78 here, branch A of the Russell drain.

[56:54] And James, I'll let you talk about that one.

[56:57] » Uh well, thank you through the chair. Uh yes, this request was received uh by the

[57:02] Ministry of Transportation who's requesting to remove and relocate a

[57:05] manhole north of its current location. This is in connection with the Russell

[57:09] Russell Dale roundabout uh project. Um and they need to remove and replace and

[57:14] upsize about 60 mters of piping. Uh they have been in conversation with Chris

[57:19] throughout uh this project um to answer a few questions and fill in some

[57:23] information on the existing drainage wershed out there. Um and accordingly

[57:27] we're recommending in that case that uh council go ahead and appoint Chris from

[57:31] Dietrich Engineering as the engineer to prepare the section 78 report for this.

[57:36] So happy to answer any questions. >> Okay. Any questions for James on that?

[57:41] Uh councelor B. >> Mayor McKenzie, how do we get that done

[57:46] in a timely fashion for the roundabout to be completed uh when it's supposed to

[57:51] be completed? >> Thanks to the chair and uh that's a good

[57:53] question. I suppose I probably would push back a little bit if council

[57:56] recommended we look at a different engineer this evening because I know

[57:59] Chris has had an opportunity to get uh work essentially underway with this

[58:03] project here. So although a report has not been prepared nor has he been

[58:07] formally appointed um we're we're well on the way to seeing that report. So

[58:10] you'll probably see the section 78 report come back um at either the next

[58:15] meeting or the meeting right thereafter and the work that does need to happen

[58:19] can continue to happen while that report's being prepared. So hopefully

[58:22] that answers the question. Thanks.

[58:29] Okay. All right. Um so the um the

[58:33] recommendation that we have here is that the council missp proceed with the

[58:39] request for the drain manager improvement to branch A of the Russell

[58:43] municipal drain and that council pursuant to the drainage act to appoint

[58:46] Chris Dietrich from Driage Engineering Limited as the drainage engineer on a

[58:51] date 30 days from the notice of upper temp's conservation authority for the

[58:55] examination of the drainage works and to proceed with the requirements of the

[58:59] proposed improvement under section 78. 8. We have a mover and seconder for

[59:04] that. Um, I'm kind of looking. Okay, I'll councelor Duck. I thought maybe

[59:10] Councelor Foster or Harold would move. Councelor Harold, thank you. In case you

[59:15] haven't caught on now, I usually look to the to the ward where the drain is. Um,

[59:20] questions. All those in favor posed, if any, that's carried. We're going to deal

[59:26] with one more here. Um and u we have Jesse Britain here with us. Um so he's

[59:34] here uh because of the 8.8.2 the library memorandum of understand agreement.

[59:41] Sorry I said understand memorandum of agreement. Dan I'll let you uh walk

[59:45] through that one and uh then from there we'll go into the close session.

[59:52] » Yeah. Thank you your worship um and and good evening council. So, so before you

[59:57] tonight is is an MOA, a memorandum of under of agreement uh between the West

[1:00:02] Perth Public Library and the Municipality of West Perth. Uh this is

[1:00:06] something that's been kind of on the to-do list for the municipality and I

[1:00:09] think the library for I don't know quite some time, I'll say. Um we're there. We

[1:00:14] are all very happy with with what we have. We think uh it really documents

[1:00:19] our relationship which as noted in the report we're really looking to uh find

[1:00:24] efficiencies through partnerships amongst the two organizations because

[1:00:27] the library is is technically a legal separate entity. Um but as you saw

[1:00:32] tonight it's it's part of our audit uh and etc. So uh we provide uh different

[1:00:37] services to them and they provide different services to community. Um I'm

[1:00:40] sure I don't need to go into full detail with with all of you about what the

[1:00:43] library does. Uh but the board has reviewed it and as noted in the report,

[1:00:47] they haven't officially adopted it yet because they don't have a a meeting um

[1:00:52] well between I guess when they reviewed it and and uh to to date. So we thought

[1:00:56] we'd get it here first for any feedback from from council. So I'll maybe stop

[1:01:00] there and if there's any questions um and sorry I should just add that we did

[1:01:05] slip in a schedule that uh to act as essentially as a lease agreement because

[1:01:08] we also didn't have one of those with with the library. So that was something

[1:01:11] we uncovered uh through this process.

[1:01:16] Okay. Any questions on uh on that memorandum of agreement?

[1:01:24] I don't see any hands going up. We're good, Jesse. Yeah. Okay. Um then the

[1:01:30] recommendation that we have here is the council municipality of West Perth

[1:01:33] approve the memorandum of agreement between the municipality of West Perth

[1:01:36] and West Perth public library board and that the mayor and clerk be authorized

[1:01:40] to sign and seal all necessary documents. And that's moved by councelor

[1:01:45] Fornier. Do we have a seconder for that? Uh councelor O'Donnell.

[1:01:50] Last call for questions. All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that's carried.

[1:01:55] Thank you. Okay, now we're going to backtrack a

[1:01:59] little wee bit here. And uh got to find the right page here again. Um

[1:02:06] so the recommendation that we have is that the council municipality of West

[1:02:11] Perth proceed in close session under section 239 of the municipal act uh as

[1:02:17] amended um at 8:00 right on the button to address matters related to uh

[1:02:24] position plan procedure criteria for instruction to be applied to any

[1:02:29] negotiations carried out or to be carried out by or on behalf of the

[1:02:33] municipality. uh litigation or potential litigation

[1:02:36] including matters before administrative tribunals affecting the municipality

[1:02:41] um and legal update on a property matter and a property matter with regards to an

[1:02:47] OOLT appeal. Do we have a mover and second to go into close session for

[1:02:52] that? So, Deputy Mayor and Councelor Foster, all those in favor posed, if

[1:02:58] any, that's carried.

[2:41:32] Okay, we're uh back out of close session and fairly I guess maybe a lengthy close

[2:41:37] session, but we met in close session to discuss the hair and industrial park,

[2:41:41] provide legal updates on property matters in Mitchell and in the Hibbert

[2:41:46] Wards, uh an OOLT appeal in the Logan ward and some HR matters and direction

[2:41:52] was given to staff to deal with that. So that was our close session. Now I got to

[2:41:59] find out where we're at here, I think. Yep. 8.2.4

[2:42:06] the OP annual operating budget uh cost update and James is going to look after

[2:42:11] that for us. >> Uh well, thank you and through your

[2:42:13] worship. This record is being brought forward for information to provide

[2:42:17] council with a bit of an update on current OP costs and some anticipated

[2:42:21] budget budget pressures ahead of the 2027 year. Uh so during the preparation

[2:42:26] of our current year budget, we uh budgeted for approximately 1.88 million

[2:42:32] in OP costs. Uh following the province's release of the final building

[2:42:37] information, our pro our costs were c capped at approximately 1.97 million,

[2:42:43] which was an increase of about 91,000 over budget. Um without that 11% cap,

[2:42:50] our services would have been closer to 2.24 million. It's important to note

[2:42:54] that the 11% cap was calculated excluding costs associated with our

[2:42:58] additional services agreement we have with the OP. So the enhanced services

[2:43:03] that we receive in West Perth that those costs were not subject to the 11% cost

[2:43:09] um cap the 11% increase cap. So those increases do not have an 11% cap and did

[2:43:16] not have an 11% cap on them in 2026. All this to say that's what led to your

[2:43:22] increase there. Looking ahead to 2027, our base allocation is approximately

[2:43:27] about that 2.24 million. So that's our cost without the 11% cap. That's what we

[2:43:33] need to plan for because we can't anticipate a similar cap to come forward

[2:43:37] in the 2027 year. We've been given no guarantee that there'll be any cap

[2:43:41] coming forward um from the province at this time and so this is really just

[2:43:46] information for us council to be aware of that budget pressure that's coming

[2:43:50] forward. Happy for any questions. >> Thanks James. Any questions for James on

[2:43:55] that? Um, no. Uh, oh, sorry. Sorry. Go ahead.

[2:44:03] » Through you, Mr. Mayor. So, is the OP prepared to explain why

[2:44:09] uh why the increase like what's what's driving this? Do they can they explain

[2:44:15] that? >> Um,

[2:44:17] » or can they come to a later date, come to this council perhaps and explain

[2:44:21] what's going on there? I think through the chair I know what I can say is the

[2:44:26] OP detachment board has done some advocacy to the province around these

[2:44:31] increasing costs. I really can't say exactly the particulars of what go into

[2:44:35] those cost increases. We can certainly request more information from the

[2:44:40] province, but I know this is a pressure that all Ontario municipalities are

[2:44:44] facing and faced with. So when those increases come across the board, they

[2:44:48] come across the board for all Ontario municipalities and they apply to that

[2:44:52] that standard contract. So >> Dan, anything to add?

[2:44:57] » Um, and I think I think uh James is correct. We can come back with more

[2:45:00] information, but looking back uh there certainly was a new agreement signed on

[2:45:05] on the labor side with OP. So, I think there's new collective uh new collective

[2:45:10] agreements in place and that's led to uh some some of the increases as well.

[2:45:16] » Okay, other questions. Phil question through the mayor. When they came in

[2:45:21] 2024, they laid out their three-year financial plan and those increases were

[2:45:25] nowhere near 11%. So, I'm just wondering what changed in year to year to get that

[2:45:30] 11%. And with the enhanced at 400,000, what does that get you? And what was it

[2:45:36] looking like in 2004, for example, or 24, sorry.

[2:45:43] » Um, I'll address what I can from that. I might have to get back to you on the

[2:45:46] second piece or on your last question there. I'll say the 11% that's a cap.

[2:45:51] So, that was a cap that the province placed on saying that we will only

[2:45:55] charge you at most the 11% increase. It was more than that that it went up. I

[2:46:01] haven't seen the 2024 year contracts, but I would anticipate that it's likely

[2:46:05] the former answer that the CEO just gave there. There's been new collective

[2:46:09] agreements and cost increases that weren't on the books in 2024 and now

[2:46:13] are. And again, we're at we're at the mercy of those increases. Uh yeah,

[2:46:21] » uh a bit of clarity on enhanced is essentially what you're getting is

[2:46:24] you're getting a sergeant. Um, so you have you have Sergeant Scott Lob here in

[2:46:29] Mitchell and you're getting a DAC um, which is a acronym for department

[2:46:35] administration. I don't know, clerk technician. I'll

[2:46:38] make something up there. I'm not quite sure on that one. Um, and I think the

[2:46:42] other aspect that you get uh is if you have a major event in your municipality,

[2:46:49] um, you don't get a subsequent bill for for the services. Um so if uh you know I

[2:46:56] know there's there's been some events in our past um if those as we understand

[2:47:01] happen in a municipality that doesn't have the enhanced services then there's

[2:47:05] a bill for for when those those resources mobilize to that area. Um

[2:47:10] you're sort of paying insurance for for that at this point. I think the other

[2:47:16] thing um too and maybe Steve can give me the number but uh um I think it was in

[2:47:23] the police services board there's is it 21 officers work out of that office

[2:47:28] right now they don't all work in Mitchell but it draws them and they work

[2:47:32] out of that office and around so we do have a fairly large police prevets for

[2:47:38] the size of our municipality >> that was disclosed um I think at last

[2:47:44] council not the one pract I I I read that and and I didn't realize it was

[2:47:50] anywhere near that high but uh yeah yeah answer Phil okay

[2:47:59] uh any other questions on that I'm going to try and keep moving here so we do

[2:48:04] have a recommendation uh that the council miss receives the Ontario

[2:48:08] provincial police annual operating budget cost update report for

[2:48:12] information with move and seconded for that. Moved by uh councelor Harold,

[2:48:17] seconded by councelor O'Donnell. All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that's

[2:48:22] carried. Uh the next is uh our director of operations

[2:48:28] uh the industrial, commercial, and institutional recycling service delivery

[2:48:33] options. And Sean is here going to uh uh manager of the environmental services,

[2:48:38] and he's going to walk us through this one. So, welcome

[2:48:44] Good evening, Mayor McKenzie and council. Um, so the point of this report

[2:48:49] is to provide council with an overview of the upcoming changes to industrial,

[2:48:54] commercial, and institutional recycling services and to seek council direction

[2:48:58] on the municipality's preferred approach to providing ICI recycling collection

[2:49:03] services beginning in 2027. Um, so recent regulatory changes have

[2:49:08] removed ICI recycling from the residential blue box program. As a

[2:49:13] result, the collection and processing of recycling generated by ICI properties no

[2:49:19] longer are covered under the blue box framework. So um, Blue Water Recycling

[2:49:25] Association, the BRA established a dedicated ICI recycling collection

[2:49:31] system to ensure continued service uh, for the remainder of this year. Um so

[2:49:36] BRA has absorbed the incremental costs uh associated with servicing ICI bins uh

[2:49:42] during 2026. So this was a temporary measure to uh support a smooth

[2:49:48] transition, minimize disruption and uh yeah for the municipality and business

[2:49:52] community and then giving us time to uh determine an appropriate long-term

[2:49:57] service model. So, effective January 1st, 2027, the BRA has advised that the

[2:50:03] annual cost for an ICI uh recycling wheelie bin will be $160

[2:50:09] uh per bin per year. So, currently there are approximately $250 uh bins um within

[2:50:16] the municipality serviced by the BRA.

[2:50:20] So, there are three options uh for the recycling uh collection service delivery

[2:50:25] for 2027. So our first option is to maintain the previous service model. Um

[2:50:30] we'd continue to provide ICI recycling services and absorb the full cost of the

[2:50:35] service within the municipality. Um that would uh the disadvantage would be that

[2:50:41] um the services would be paid through the municipal tax levy. Um so that would

[2:50:46] be it'd be around $40,000 per year. Uh the second option is to implement cost

[2:50:53] recovery through user fees. Um so under this uh option, municipalities would

[2:50:58] continue to offer or West Perth would continue to offer recycling collection,

[2:51:02] but we would recover some or um all of the associated costs from participating

[2:51:09] um ICI properties through a user fee. And then the last option would be to

[2:51:14] discontinue services uh completely. Um and then the businesses um institutions

[2:51:21] um they would have to uh seek their own recycling collection services. So um the

[2:51:26] big disadvantage there would be to it would uh reduce recycling participation

[2:51:31] potentially and waste diversion um from the landfill and from that whole sector.

[2:51:36] Um so we could see an increase in landfill um disposal volumes. Um staff

[2:51:42] is recommending option two. Um, so financially, as I said earlier, um, this

[2:51:48] would be, uh, a result of around $40,000 impact on our solid waste, uh,

[2:51:53] operations budget. Um, and so currently, just in the residential blue box

[2:51:58] program, we're around $15,530 per year for just the residential um,

[2:52:05] recycling program. That covers like urban and rural residents within the

[2:52:09] municipality. Um, if council approves option two, the

[2:52:13] municipality would establish a cost recovery mechanism to recover some or

[2:52:18] all of the annual service costs for the participating municipality or

[2:52:22] properties. Um, the total financial impact would depend on whether council

[2:52:26] wishes to uh recover the full cost or only a portion thereof. So, I'm happy to

[2:52:32] uh answer any questions. >> Okay, any questions on that?

[2:52:37] Alex, go ahead. If we go ahead with option two at $160

[2:52:44] for the wheelie bin, that's the like medium 240s or whatever the standard

[2:52:49] mediums are now. >> Correct. Yes.

[2:52:51] » Um, so that's effectively the same price as we are for that size of garbage bin.

[2:52:56] So wouldn't people be more inclined to buy a garbage bin and not have to care

[2:53:00] and just pack it all in and then that's not going to divert it?

[2:53:04] » Uh, yes. through the mirror. Yeah. The the hope would be that people would the

[2:53:08] commercial businesses would still want to recycle and not pack everything into

[2:53:13] the garbage

[2:53:17] question that I have. Um, so if we offer them the willie bin, um, and I'm

[2:53:25] thinking of some of the large users with a lot of cardboard, uh, you know, I

[2:53:30] guess I'm thinking maybe like a Gatlers in Dublin and maybe even the independent

[2:53:35] grocery store where they get a lot of stuff, cardboard boxes, they maybe

[2:53:40] already have a deal with a with a with a an outfit that would have a bin that

[2:53:47] they would be putting this stuff bin. So, do they have to take a wheelie bin

[2:53:51] or if they decide they have a bin or want to use a bin that that would be

[2:53:55] what they would use? >> Uh, yeah. So, Mayor McKenzie, so they

[2:53:59] they may have their own separate um contract with a like a waste management

[2:54:04] or or >> That's what I was saying,

[2:54:06] » right? They may um there are other uh commercial businesses that have several

[2:54:11] wheelie bins already here, so they would have to pay per wheelie bin. But if they

[2:54:17] wanted to go to a have a separate avenue where they would um have a different

[2:54:22] business come and provide a larger uh a larger bin than they would have to that

[2:54:28] would be out of their own pocket, >> right?

[2:54:29] » Yeah. >> Well, it's going to be out of their own

[2:54:31] pocket no matter what. So So they can opt out of of our really bin if they

[2:54:36] wish. >> If they don't want that provided, then

[2:54:38] they can go a separate route and then that that'd be something that they'd

[2:54:41] have to do on their own, >> right? But they'd have to well they'd

[2:54:44] have to notify us. first so that we knew what it was

[2:54:49] » and you know when we inform them of this

[2:54:53] that's we maybe should indicate that to them like I'm thinking of the larger

[2:54:57] users anyways. >> Yeah. So so once we come up with a a

[2:55:01] decision then that'll be when we start >> Yeah.

[2:55:03] » doing the Yeah. notifying of >> right of our direction. Yeah.

[2:55:06] » That's good. Any other questions? Uh council Rose.

[2:55:14] So this is just for commercial. This is it residential,

[2:55:17] » commercial and industrial, right? >> Industrial. Okay.

[2:55:20] » Institutional, industrial, commercial. >> Thank you.

[2:55:25] » Anybody else? Okay. Uh we do have a recommendation

[2:55:30] here. Um, and I'm assuming this is the one we're going to use that uh the

[2:55:37] council municipality of West Perth approve option two uh implement cost

[2:55:42] recovery through user fees for industrial, commercial and institutional

[2:55:48] recycling collection services identified in the staff report

[2:55:53] seconded for that. Uh, Deputy Mayor Tankowski and seconded by councelor

[2:55:59] Rose. Last call for questions, comments. Councelor

[2:56:04] » Mayor McKenzie, I think it'll be really important uh the communication uh after

[2:56:08] this decision if we pass this resolution that that'll be uh very important.

[2:56:13] » Yeah. No, I agree. Any other questions? Okay. Ready for the motion? All those in

[2:56:20] favor? Opposed? If any, that's carried. Thank you.

[2:56:23] » Thank you. Uh, next on the agenda, we have uh

[2:56:28] director of community services with regards to the West Peru Center and

[2:56:32] donations. So, another good news story, Nick.

[2:56:41] » Oh, you left it on. Good evening, Mayor McKenzie and members of council. Uh,

[2:56:46] before you is a report of a youth center donation in the amount of $8,500.

[2:56:52] We're bringing forward this recommendation to accept these uh

[2:56:55] donated funds for youth center equipment. Uh the donations were

[2:57:00] generously received from the Lions Club of Monton Camp Kids in the amount of

[2:57:04] $2,000, West Perth Community Singers in the

[2:57:08] amount of $1,500 and Osborne and Hibbert Mutual Fire Insurance Company in the

[2:57:12] amount of $5,000. All three donors have requested that

[2:57:17] this uh that their contributions go to equipment for that benefits the youth

[2:57:22] center users. Um staff are proposing the funds uh

[2:57:27] sorry proposed equipment includes a water bottle fill station, a mobile pool

[2:57:32] table, interactive game projector, a rock band game and instruments as well

[2:57:37] as an arcade game cabinet. uh no additional funds is required where this

[2:57:44] uh donate these donations cover the amount of all these uh donations. Um

[2:57:52] all the equipment will remain the property of us at the municipality once

[2:57:56] purchased and maintained by us as well. and uh

[2:58:01] staff will invite the donating organizations to a recognized event at

[2:58:06] our youth center to honor the donation once uh these have been purchased and

[2:58:11] installed in place. So again, as staff are recommending that we accept these

[2:58:16] donations and direct the usage towards use center equipment. So if there's any

[2:58:22] questions, I can take them now. Okay, >> questions for Nick on that.

[2:58:29] Don't see any hands going up. So, very good. So, we do have a recommendation

[2:58:32] here that uh West Perth accept donated funds totaling uh $8,500 and direct the

[2:58:39] treasur to allocate the funds for the purchase of per um uh purpose of

[2:58:44] purchasing youth center equipment during the 2026 fiscal year. Moved by councelor

[2:58:50] Herald, seconded by um councelor Rose. Uh, all those in

[2:58:56] favor posed, if any, that's carried. Thanks, Nick. Um, connecting link

[2:59:02] transfer. Dan, thank you, mayor. Uh, before council

[2:59:08] tonight, I'm seeking some direction on how to proceed. Essentially, I've landed

[2:59:11] at a crossroads and uh, you know, as noted in the report, we've been kind of

[2:59:15] dealing with this matter since 2022. Um, and really what it's boiled down to

[2:59:21] is that as uh the the urban settlement boundary has changed and and grown

[2:59:26] through the official plan, um, the municipality doesn't have jurisdiction

[2:59:31] within its quote unquote boundary anymore. Um, and it and it's with MTO.

[2:59:36] Um, and that leaves it problematic for us to try to address speeding through

[2:59:41] traditional means such as, you know, changing speed limits, signage, and

[2:59:46] enforcement as well from from a bylaw standpoint. Um, I think I've laid out

[2:59:52] the events that have transpired quite well in the report. Um and the next step

[2:59:58] for us is to get a recommendation from council that we start to have some

[3:00:02] discussions with the MTO about uh extending the connecting link limits so

[3:00:09] they match our urban settlement boundary with our OPA. Um

[3:00:14] and I'm happy to have any questions

[3:00:19] questions for Dan on that. I Oh, Alex, go ahead.

[3:00:26] What would the increased ongoing cost of maintaining that be given what it how

[3:00:31] much it costs us to do the other part of our connecting link because we can't do

[3:00:35] it in house? >> Um I don't know at this time I don't

[3:00:40] know how much they'd be willing to partner with and I don't know the cost

[3:00:45] of those assets. So that's that's basically why we need direction. uh they

[3:00:48] won't sit down and have these discussions with us until we get this

[3:00:51] direction from council and have this motion.

[3:00:56] » I think um you know I don't know whether we really need to buy the highway. You

[3:01:00] know I think if we can just get them all we really how this all started was speed

[3:01:04] signs and we want to move them out. You know um I would like I I'm in favor of

[3:01:11] you know what you're wanting but I wonder if we shouldn't be copying after

[3:01:16] after our meeting in Toronto. I think we we're we're would be able to copy our

[3:01:21] minister and and Matt Ray as well and just show them that it's taken since

[3:01:28] 1922 or 2022 rather to try and put a speed

[3:01:34] sign. And I think the one that comes to mind obviously is the one out by uh West

[3:01:38] Perth Village uh because of you know the long-term care facility there and and

[3:01:44] the closeness to the schools and it it shouldn't be rocket science to do that

[3:01:49] you know so um I don't know if anybody else has any further comments but we

[3:01:55] have an issues there and we have issues out at the east end as well at that

[3:02:00] part. So the recommendation, if nobody has any other question, the

[3:02:03] recommendation is that municipality Westport uh supports uh discussions with

[3:02:08] the Ontario Ministry of Transportation regarding the potential transfer and

[3:02:12] designation of additional sections of Highway 23 and Highway 8 of the existing

[3:02:18] connecting link limits within the municipality of West Perth to align with

[3:02:22] the settlement area boundary. and that the clerk be directed to prepare and

[3:02:27] submit formal correspondence respecting the proposed revision to the connecting

[3:02:32] link limits. So I have a mover and seconder for that moved by Deputy Mayor

[3:02:38] Tinkowski, seconded by Councelor O'Donnell. Any further discussion?

[3:02:44] Um Dean, sorry. Hopefully this doesn't take

[3:02:48] another four years to happen because uh yeah, you're right, Mayor McKenzie. was

[3:02:52] a simple petition dealing with traffic speed concerns and this has gone on too

[3:02:58] long. So happy to support this recommendation and happy to support

[3:03:02] staff and trying to get this figured out. Thanks.

[3:03:06] Somebody have a question over here. No, no, we're good. Okay. Um, yeah, like I

[3:03:12] like I said previously, I don't know whether we need to buy the highway, but

[3:03:15] all we want is just to move it out a little bit and and change the speed

[3:03:19] limit a bit. So, okay. Just confirm vote there.

[3:03:24] » Yeah, I will. Yep. I knew I had to do that yet. So, all those in favor?

[3:03:28] Opposed? If any, that is carried. It never hurts to remind me.

[3:03:36] Uh the next item then is 8.8.3, the Memorial Forest Playground. And Dan

[3:03:41] is going to talk to us on that one. >> Yep. Thank you. Um kind of a report back

[3:03:46] um item here. So, council's seen uh this report before. uh we got direction at

[3:03:51] the last time to kind of bring back some information regarding that that natural

[3:03:55] playground um as well as some accessibility features and some changes

[3:03:59] to the site plan. Um I don't have the site plan finalized at this point in

[3:04:04] time. Um but we've also been working with environmental um stewardship at at

[3:04:09] the county as well for some some revisions there. Uh but essentially

[3:04:13] we're here. We still think the blue imp is the way to go uh based on what you

[3:04:18] know you can see from a natural standpoint.

[3:04:20] kind of the bang for your buck there and and we have added an accessible feature

[3:04:26] into the playground as well and it hasn't had a large impact on the budget.

[3:04:29] So, we're looking for a direction to kind of proceed ahead here and uh yeah,

[3:04:35] happy to have any questions if there are questions for Dan on that. I know we had

[3:04:42] it at a previous meeting. We talked about it. So, we're good. Okay. Uh so

[3:04:47] the recommendation here is that the municipality of West Perth approved the

[3:04:51] blue rimp playground design for the new memorial forest playground and that

[3:04:55] council authorize staff to utilize 110,000 from the parkland reserve to

[3:05:00] utilize group buying procurement for the purchase of the blue and uh playground

[3:05:05] and that council direct staff to report back with a site plan and sponsorship

[3:05:10] agreement for their review. Move her and second her for that. Uh, councelor Duck,

[3:05:15] is the councelor Fornier still on? Yep, he's there. Would you like to second

[3:05:19] that, Andrew? Yep, he's

[3:05:23] » I've been seconding stuff all night. You just never see.

[3:05:27] » Okay. Um, last call for questions. All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that's

[3:05:33] carried. Uh, next item then is Kison Park Pavilion Electrical Repair and

[3:05:39] Parking Lot Upgrades. Dan, >> thank you. This is a new one um coming

[3:05:43] forward. So I believe council would have received some letters from the uh

[3:05:46] agricultural society and uh following that we had a meeting um with the mayor

[3:05:52] and some staff with the society and wanted to unpack um just kind of the

[3:05:57] content of the letters. Uh prior to that we were aware so essentially I'll get

[3:06:02] into the pavilion um the electrical repairs right now. I I didn't know what

[3:06:07] to call it, so repair seems like the most appropriate one. But, uh,

[3:06:11] essentially the it's all the plugs, receptacles are looped onto to one

[3:06:16] breaker. So, during the fair, um, the cattle dryers get plugged in and they

[3:06:20] continuously trip that breaker. Um, so what the request is is for us to go in

[3:06:26] and essentially just repair that. So, we've worked with uh our electrician

[3:06:30] here and we think um obviously adding another breaker into the line is going

[3:06:36] to repair that problem. Um, so I will disclose, sorry, this report's changed a

[3:06:42] little bit, but I want to disclose that I I authorized that um through uh

[3:06:48] through our existing budget um to kind of find the 10 grand in there or or not

[3:06:54] proceed with a with a project uh because we wanted to get it done before the

[3:06:57] fair. But I'm also bringing it here for council because I don't have authority

[3:07:00] to pull from a reserve. So, we we are recommending you pull from a reserve,

[3:07:04] but if not, um we I've certainly got a plan for this and I can report back to

[3:07:08] what that would be. Um but we wanted that done. And then the egg society is

[3:07:14] also looking at doing some paving um in front of Crystal Palace and based on

[3:07:20] quotes um we thought it would be a good idea if they're in their paving, maybe

[3:07:24] we should see what it costs to pave some of our unpaved parking lot. Uh we've

[3:07:27] identified kind of the areas there that we think would be suitable for paving.

[3:07:31] At this point, we we recommend just carrying forward with with I'll say

[3:07:35] section B right now. Um, and we showed kind of the exercise where we were

[3:07:40] looking at doing this and they're in support of it as well. Um, so that would

[3:07:45] be our main purpose. It just kind of cleans up the parking lot. It's not

[3:07:48] something that, you know, was really part of the arena renovations or

[3:07:52] anything. It it came to fruition through through this ask and and a bit of an

[3:07:56] idea. um that way as well as they've uh requested

[3:08:01] um I believe they requested financial support to the cost of 30,000 and I got

[3:08:07] into this and into the report of of kind of the history of that we sorry my

[3:08:12] computer just died. We had $5,000 carry forward that we put in the reserve from

[3:08:16] I think approximately two years ago. Um and then we're looking at providing an

[3:08:21] additional five um in financial support. So, we'd be providing them $10,000 of

[3:08:26] financial support towards their projects. And we are currently working

[3:08:30] with them on drainage matters as well. Um, I'm sorry, Nick, I don't know if

[3:08:35] it's been scoped yet, but we're looking at getting uh some of the drainage work

[3:08:40] to figuring out what's happening over there and why we're getting some

[3:08:42] ponding. Um, ideally, we can find the solution and fix it internally with our

[3:08:47] with our staff here. Um, so happy to have any questions.

[3:08:55] » Any questions? I just had one. Um, when we were getting prices for paving,

[3:09:03] um, we have Levis kind of lined up. Did we get more than one quote or not?

[3:09:07] » We got a quote from Levis and they got a quote.

[3:09:13] Nick, can you sorry my but do you remember

[3:09:18] they were the company?

[3:09:23] Great. Thank you. Yeah. Yeah. So, we we did have two. Yeah. All right. Well, I

[3:09:28] just I always get another quote. Any other questions? Okay. Uh, I got a

[3:09:35] recommendation here then that uh, Miss Balia West Perth approve the new Kerson

[3:09:39] Park Capital expense of up to $85,000 to be funded from reserve for parks and

[3:09:45] recreation for the pavilion electrical upgrades of $10,000. Uh, parking lot

[3:09:51] paving $65,000 and then additional support,

[3:09:55] » please. Pardon? Oh, sorry.

[3:09:59] » Sorry, my hand my hand my hand has been up the whole time.

[3:10:02] » Yeah, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Yeah, >> perhaps this is a a silly question and

[3:10:08] but if anyone has ever like done the wiring on their own home before, they

[3:10:12] would know better than to run everything through one circuit breaker. If the

[3:10:17] electrical work on the Keton pavilion, which I could add cost us far too much

[3:10:22] than it could have, had been done by somebody that knew that this wouldn't

[3:10:27] have happened. I would propose that this extra $10,000 cost comes out of whoever

[3:10:33] we had do the electrical work in the first place because they did it wrong.

[3:10:39] That's a ridiculous reason to need $10,000 worth of repairs. We spent what

[3:10:44] $900,000 on this pavilion and they did the

[3:10:48] electrical work wrong. Does that sound sane to anybody else that could possibly

[3:10:54] hear that sentence? I guess the only thing that I could say,

[3:10:59] Andrew, is uh they probably weren't aware of the usage that was going to be

[3:11:03] used there. Like most of that at the uh at the pavilion is basically lights, you

[3:11:10] know. Um and the only time that I think we have an issue with blowing breakers

[3:11:14] is when the fair is on and we get uh 10 or 15 people with cavs giving them a a

[3:11:21] shampoo and a wash and they're drying them. So,

[3:11:25] » so presumably whoever was doing the electrical work for our fair pavilion

[3:11:30] was unaware of the fair. Again, it seems like a ridiculous reason

[3:11:35] to need $10,000 worth of repairs. If I had any recommendation, it would be go

[3:11:39] after the people that did the electrical work in the first case and make them pay

[3:11:43] for it. They did it wrong. >> We can take your point into

[3:11:48] consideration and staff can look into it. I guess, you know,

[3:11:51] » I I think I what I can say at this point is 10,000 we're looking at as a maximum

[3:11:57] upset in this point. We don't want to have to come back and ask ask for more

[3:12:01] money. So, I I'll say that's our maximum upset on on this uh line item. I don't

[3:12:06] disagree. There was a mistake and I'm not going to say that, you know, I don't

[3:12:11] think any of the staff are still here. Um but I I think staff should have

[3:12:16] caught something here and and found that. But you are correct that it only

[3:12:19] blows when we have these cattle dryers. So I I can't say whether the

[3:12:24] electricians knew or didn't know or what at that point in time. I don't think the

[3:12:30] juice is going to be worth the squeeze to go after the contractor for the

[3:12:34] $10,000. So >> I don't actually either. I just wanted

[3:12:38] to make it clear that when we're approving contracts of this sort, we

[3:12:41] need to be a little more careful with the details going forward.

[3:12:44] » Understood. Deputy Mayor. Yeah. through you, Mr. Mayor. Um, I seem to recall

[3:12:51] that the design on this structure had been changed at least twice. So, um,

[3:12:58] it's no surprise that something like this might have happened, um, or has

[3:13:03] happened. And I think to uh CEO Hobson's point, the uh parties involved at the

[3:13:10] time are no longer here to answer answer for that, whether it's staff or the uh

[3:13:16] designer or the uh contractors. So, um unfortunately, we're left with uh having

[3:13:24] to make the corrective actions and and move on to uh prevent any further

[3:13:30] problems.

[3:13:34] Okay. Anybody else? All right. I did read the motion, but I

[3:13:39] was looking for a mover and secondary for these uh expenses. So, moved by

[3:13:43] councelor Duck, seconded by Deputy Mayor Showski. Last call for questions. All

[3:13:49] those in favor? Opposed? If any, that is carried.

[3:13:57] Uh, next item then is uh Wendy's report on surplus surplus uh 225 surplus

[3:14:05] report. So Wendy, the floor is yours.

[3:14:11] » Good evening, Mayor and Council. I didn't bring my mouse, so hopefully

[3:14:15] there's no feedback. Um, so the before report before you is

[3:14:20] the 2025 surplus report. Um the report kind of outlines how staff came up with

[3:14:27] an the surplus of $348,415.

[3:14:32] Um staff are recommending that the surplus be allocated to complete

[3:14:36] previously budget development project um which would be um two development

[3:14:43] projects. uh reduce boring for the arena plant

[3:14:48] um project that's ongoing and then to support the park pavilion electrical and

[3:14:52] parking lot works that was just just discussed and then hold funds related to

[3:14:58] the OP grant reconciliation and so in the resolution it breaks down

[3:15:04] each of those and the amounts requested so I'm happy to take any questions

[3:15:11] » okay thanks Wendy any questions for Wendy on what we're doing with the

[3:15:14] surplus. Uh, Deputy Mayor again

[3:15:19] » through you your worship. Um, thanks Wendy for the report on the $100,000

[3:15:24] that's being applied towards development projects and transferred to the reserve

[3:15:28] for transportation roads. Can you provide a bit more detail about where

[3:15:34] which specific projects are being uh tab for that money and why?

[3:15:40] » It's cautionary, right? Yeah. Um, so if I can I just I

[3:15:46] want to be very clear because I think this is a this is a unique thing in

[3:15:48] Wester and I think this is a good thing and it's an economic development thing.

[3:15:52] So in the municipality of West Perth it's been standard practice that when a

[3:15:56] subdivision comes in and there's a there's a road that would potentially be

[3:16:01] shared with a adjacent developer in the future. Um, West the developer at that

[3:16:07] time will pay for the road to go in. West Perth will pay the portion

[3:16:16] that the adjacent developer would be on the hook to pay. And then that's where

[3:16:21] we implement one foot reserves and then we don't remove those one foot reserves

[3:16:27] until that other developer comes in, develops that land, and then pays us

[3:16:31] whatever that the money is money is owing. And again, that's a very unique

[3:16:36] thing to West Perth. It's a good thing and I think it certainly drives

[3:16:39] development and we when we get developers in here from Kitchener

[3:16:42] Waterlue, they absolutely love this. Um there are certainly some costs and

[3:16:48] there's some things that I think as we get our legs under us a little bit more

[3:16:51] that we're going to be looking to change um on this structure, but I just want to

[3:16:55] be clear that that's how this works so everyone understands because this is c

[3:16:58] this is m our cash dollars uh cash that goes into this. So this is residual of

[3:17:04] some projects. Um you know there'll be some some wimple cost sharing. Uh

[3:17:08] basically any of the roads where you're seeing final lift has not been done

[3:17:12] across some of our subdivisions here and putting in a reserve um for those. So, I

[3:17:18] know Whimple will be an example um north of the highway there. And then

[3:17:25] I think we've got um Henry.

[3:17:31] I think it's in Henry. Sorry.

[3:17:37] And then, sorry, I can't uh >> I can't pull it up right now, but that's

[3:17:41] but that's what it is. Yes. Thank you. Uh there'll be there'll be a Clayton uh

[3:17:45] Clayton one as well. Okay.

[3:17:48] » Thank you,

[3:17:53] » Mayor McKenzie. >> Yeah. So, I I'd prefer that uh with

[3:17:57] already over $6 million in in that reserve that uh that uh uh come forward

[3:18:03] in the budget process that when we are budgeting for those needs for those

[3:18:08] reserves that we that is clearly outlined uh that rather we would use

[3:18:13] that $100,000 to reduce the debt. similar to the uh the the next line item

[3:18:18] uh on the Arena uh ice plant project that uh that that goes to reducing debt.

[3:18:24] And the same thing with the uh the $60,000 um in in tax stabilization. Let

[3:18:30] let's uh I if if there was a surplus um for for uh this previous year uh let

[3:18:38] let's use it to reduce these debt payments that we have um as opposed to

[3:18:44] again putting it into reserves for uh for future use. If we if we if we can

[3:18:48] reduce the debt let's uh let's use it for uh that purpose instead.

[3:18:55] » Okay. Go ahead. Um so for the uh two

[3:19:00] development projects they were on the budget in 2025 and they should have been

[3:19:04] identified as a carry forward project um just through the final process. That's

[3:19:10] when it got picked up and so that's why you're seeing it here instead of a carry

[3:19:14] forward project um being contributed to the reserves. And the op one um it's

[3:19:21] pretty much a guarantee we're going to have to pay that back. And so that's

[3:19:25] just a timing between uh the province's year end and our year end where that got

[3:19:30] captured.

[3:19:36] » Okay. Any any other questions, comments? No. Okay. We have a fairly lengthy

[3:19:42] recommendation here that Miss Bal West Perth approve the allocation of the 200

[3:19:47] 2025 surplus revenue in the amount of $348,415

[3:19:53] as follows. 100,000 to be applied towards development projects and

[3:19:57] transferred to the reserve for transportation roads. 108,415

[3:20:04] be applied towards the Arena ice plant project to reduce the amount of external

[3:20:08] financing required and transferred to the reserve for recreation and parks and

[3:20:14] 80,000 be applied towards the electrical and egg society projects and be

[3:20:19] transferred to the reserve for recreation and parks and the remaining

[3:20:23] 60,000 be temporarily retained within the reserve for tax stabilization

[3:20:28] pending final reconciliation. of the additional OP funding received in

[3:20:34] 2025. We have a mover and secondary for that.

[3:20:39] Councelor Rose and Councelor Duck. Uh last call for questions. All those in

[3:20:45] favor posed, if any. That's carried. Uh a couple items under correspondence

[3:20:50] there. Thanks, Wendy. Uh from Mland Conservation Authority and then the

[3:20:55] Western Lake Area Regional Conservation Authority. If there's no questions, the

[3:21:00] recommendation is that the municipality of West Perth accept correspondence as

[3:21:04] information. >> There is a question. Pardon?

[3:21:06] » Oh, sorry. Go ahead, Andrew. You need your hand.

[3:21:11] » Well, I you know what? I I've gotten tired of using the hand. It doesn't

[3:21:14] work. So, I'm just going to talk from now on.

[3:21:15] » That's fine. >> Yeah. Uh, we got that letter from the

[3:21:19] wards earlier this week, and that was intended to be included in this week's

[3:21:22] agenda. I haven't seen it, and that should be

[3:21:26] » that letter. We've talked about the letter from wards and that was a closed

[3:21:30] session matter and the letter was not addressed to it was addressed to members

[3:21:36] of council. >> Is there any chance I can find out the

[3:21:40] details of that discussion seeing as I couldn't fi attend the closed session?

[3:21:46] » Um I'm sure maybe James or Dan can talk to

[3:21:51] you about the closed session. >> Okay. Thank you very much. I I I do uh I

[3:21:56] that letters like that concern me, so I'm looking to find out more information

[3:22:00] about it. Thank you very much. Sorry for the interruption.

[3:22:02] » Okay. No. Well, that's fine. Um

[3:22:10] » I need a mover and second here. Did I not get I had Ryan, didn't I?

[3:22:14] » Okay. Mover and second. I'll get uh I'll get councelor O'Donnell and and uh and

[3:22:20] councelor Foster uh to deal with the correspondence. All those in favor?

[3:22:26] Opposed? If any, that's carried. Um, Fullerton Fastball Club Heron County

[3:22:33] Fastball League year-end tournament. The recommendation, this is a yearly one

[3:22:38] that we get. The recommendation is that the Miss Pal West Perth declare the

[3:22:41] Hiron County Fastball League year-end tournament held by Fullerton A's

[3:22:46] fastball club. Catter Park on or at Catter Park on September the 11th to the

[3:22:51] 13th be of municipal significance and advise the Alcohol and Gaming Commission

[3:22:56] of Ontario that it has no objection to taking place. Mover and secondary

[3:23:01] councelor Harold Councelor Chessel um questions all those in favor posed if

[3:23:08] any that's carried. And then a similar letter from the Mitchell Hawks. Uh and

[3:23:14] uh yeah, we had two conflicts here.

[3:23:23] recommendation uh is that uh the council of municipality of West Perth declare

[3:23:28] the Mitchell Hogar and slow pitch tournament held at Kerson Park on August

[3:23:34] the 28th to the 30th to be of municipal significance and advise the Alcohol and

[3:23:39] Gaming Commission of Ontario that it has no objection to it taking place. Mover

[3:23:43] and second for that. Council Chessel, Councelor Rose, any questions? All those

[3:23:49] in favor? Opposed? If any that is carried

[3:23:55] um council reports uh there's a number of bylaws here um we have uh nine I

[3:24:04] guess nine nine bylaws >> 52

[3:24:08] for the morel tree. >> Oh that's right we take that one out.

[3:24:12] Yeah. Okay. So, um

[3:24:19] re um

[3:24:23] yeah, I just needed to flip over to the other page here. So, yeah. Okay. So, the

[3:24:27] recommendation is the council municipality of West Perth give first

[3:24:30] and second reading to bylaw 48 um

[3:24:36] through to 55 with the exception of 52. Does that sound okay? [laughter]

[3:24:43] and zoning bylaw 327 um on this 10th day of August. So, it's

[3:24:50] everything uh all the bylaws except for bylaw 52 because that one was squashed.

[3:24:55] So, do we have a mover in second of your first and second reading? Councelor

[3:24:58] Rose, um councelor Foster, all those in favor posed. If any that's carried and

[3:25:05] then uh the final recommendation is that council give third and final reading to

[3:25:10] bylaw 48 through to 55 with the exception of 52 and zoning bylaw 327

[3:25:17] this 10th and >> 51 as well is just a

[3:25:21] » oh and okay so 5 exempt 51 and 52 um we got that all clear moved by

[3:25:29] councelor Rose uh seconded by Uh, Councelor Harold.

[3:25:36] All those in favor? Opposed? If any, that's carried. Um, coming events. I'm

[3:25:42] not going to go through them all because there's a number of it's getting late

[3:25:47] and there's a number of items here. Quite a few. I do want to mention, I

[3:25:50] guess August the 13th, which is uh uh Wednesday, is the Crody Ballpark uh

[3:25:56] chicken barbecue, and that's a major fundraising for them out there. Um, I do

[3:26:02] want to mention about music in the park. Uh, and this one is going to be at the

[3:26:07] Cerson Park again as opposed to the Lions Park. Uh, the other one I think

[3:26:12] that I want to mention is, uh, the agricultural fair, the 4th to the 6th,

[3:26:18] and I know Lindsay has contacted you about working the booth, uh, in the

[3:26:24] arena, and I'll let her look after that. The question that I have, is there

[3:26:28] interest to put anything in the parade? Sometimes we do. I think we have the

[3:26:33] last four years. We've always had a float in there. Uh, is there interest to

[3:26:37] do that again this year or No.

[3:26:45] Um, gee, I did know.

[3:26:48] » Yeah. Falling into fun. Yeah.

[3:26:54] This is the last meeting before the fair or I wouldn't I wouldn't have mentioned

[3:26:58] it. So, we we need to get some kind of direction. Phil's saying,

[3:27:03] "Oh, Andrew." >> I would love that.

[3:27:08] » You're going to fall into fun. >> No, I mean having something in the in

[3:27:12] the parade. I don't know about falling into fun. I don't like falling over.

[3:27:15] That hurts. >> But a float in the parade definitely.

[3:27:18] That representing us in the community, letting people see us do anything is uh

[3:27:24] important. >> Okay. Um, so, um,

[3:27:30] again, I I need a consensus here. Uh, I've got some that is saying, "No, let's

[3:27:34] let's can it." And I've got one definite that we should do it.

[3:27:40] Okay. Uh, who wants to kind of oversee it? Um,

[3:27:45] like we got to line up a truck or a tractor and a wagon. Um,

[3:27:52] right.

[3:27:55] council wants to do and stuff. >> Well, staff can can help, but you know,

[3:28:00] it it takes a little bit of time to decorate it up. Uh I just, you know, I'm

[3:28:04] just looking for somebody that maybe wants to head it. I I don't mind

[3:28:07] helping, but um you know, we need somebody responsible to kind of figure

[3:28:12] out what we're what we want to do. And uh

[3:28:18] » Andrew, >> Andrew's name. Well, certainly. Uh, you

[3:28:21] know, usually we get together the day before at the at the township or at the

[3:28:26] municipal operations place and get something together. So,

[3:28:32] » Oh, I don't care. I I have a trailer that we can pull behind the truck. I

[3:28:35] don't mind. >> Oh, okay.

[3:28:38] » Okay. >> I will volunteer to do as much as I

[3:28:41] possibly can and my kids will help. >> Very good. Okay. So, we'll leave it with

[3:28:46] with Nicholas and Andrew. How's that sound? Okay. Um then our our our next

[3:28:51] meeting uh here won't be till September the 8th. So that's um notice of motion

[3:28:59] and uh deputy mayor has a notice of motion.

[3:29:02] » Thank you. Um your worship through you to council colleagues. Um in advance of

[3:29:08] the September 8th, 2026 regular meeting of West Perth Council, I'm requesting to

[3:29:13] submit a notice of motion that would read as follows. Following the July 13,

[3:29:18] 2026 BIA delegation that was made before council requesting permanent closure of

[3:29:23] Poppy Lane on a year-round basis and following the posting of the BIA

[3:29:28] statement of operations as part of the audit report to West Perth Council

[3:29:32] prepared by Seabach and Company for the year ended December 31st, 2025.

[3:29:39] that council move to request that the BIA provide a budget report to council

[3:29:44] for information, sharing with council the BIA financial plan for the yearround

[3:29:50] activities they propose to conduct at Poppy Lane. The BIA financial plan will

[3:29:56] include a capital spending budget that the BIA intends to follow for capital

[3:30:01] improvements such as outdoor furniture, lighting, landscaping, decorations, and

[3:30:06] decor. The BIA financial plan should also include an operational spending

[3:30:11] budget on anticipated operational costs such as snow removal, portable public

[3:30:18] washroom facilities, and all other things that the BIA will deem necessary

[3:30:23] to hold their events at Poppy Lane on a year- round basis.

[3:30:27] This financial plan should also identify the revenue sources and any donation

[3:30:33] program that the BIA intends to utilize to finance the aforementioned with the

[3:30:39] appropriate dollar amounts to be raised accordingly

[3:30:43] and further that this financial plan be submitted to West Perth Council for

[3:30:47] their information no later than the regular council meeting schedule for

[3:30:52] October 5th, 2026.

[3:30:59] Okay.

[3:31:02] » For the next meeting. >> Yes. It's Oh, for the next meeting.

[3:31:06] » Yes. >> Oh, yeah. September

[3:31:08] » on Oh, yeah. Right. Yeah. Yeah. But but not dealt with until October. Right.

[3:31:14] » Well, it's a notice of motion first of discussion at that that meeting.

[3:31:17] » Correct. There'll only be discussion at the September 8th meeting and council

[3:31:20] will be asked to vote on the motion and the motion asks for a report to come

[3:31:24] back to the October meeting. So should council vote in favor of that

[3:31:28] » would be a timeline for October to report back.

[3:31:32] » Question from councelor Foster >> that timeline doesn't have a BIA meeting

[3:31:36] in it

[3:31:39] for them to respond between the two. They don't have a octo a uh September

[3:31:44] meeting.

[3:31:48] Then if they if the BIA needs to have a meeting, then they'll have to organize a

[3:31:52] meeting. I I I understand. I I'm fully cognizant

[3:31:56] that their meeting is on the 7th. But um I would like to if I I well if council

[3:32:06] so chooses, then that's the timeline I've set out. I think in the motion

[3:32:11] » that's an item that we can discuss at the next meeting when it comes up, you

[3:32:15] know, and if we have to tweak it a little bit. We do have two meetings a

[3:32:20] month from from then on. So, uh if it has to be tweaked a little bit to

[3:32:24] accommodate their schedule, I think uh we can probably do that. Um any other

[3:32:29] business? Okay. Uh, next one then is a

[3:32:33] confirmatory bylaw and bylaw number 56 being a bylaw to confirm the proceedings

[3:32:39] of the council of the corporation municipality west be read a first and

[3:32:43] second time this 10th day of August 2026 mover and seconder for that please

[3:32:49] um councelor Rose counselor Foster all those in favor opposed if any that's

[3:32:55] carried and then um bylaw 56 being read a third time and finally past.

[3:33:03] Oh, yeah. Andrew, you you don't have your hand up, but I'll take it as a Oh,

[3:33:08] he had his hand up. Okay. All right. Second or moved by Andrew. Do we have a

[3:33:12] seconder? Um, Deputy Mayor Tranowski. All those in favor? Opposed? If any,

[3:33:17] that's carried. And then the last one, a motion that West Perth Council will

[3:33:22] adjourn at uh 10:31. Moved by Councelor Harold, second by

[3:33:28] Councelor O'Donnell. All those in favor? Opposed? It's carried. Um, thank you for

[3:33:34] your cooperation tonight.

Regular Council - 10 Aug 2026

Transcript