REPORT ON COUNCIL
May 10, 2010
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:01 am – 12:37 pm and 1:04 pm -3:50 pm
Regular Evening Meeting: 7:00 pm – 8:01 pm
All members of Council present during the day. Councillor Claire absent in the evening.
CONFIDENTIAL / CLOSED SESSION: 2:50 pm – 3:50 pm.
LAFONTAINE PAVILION
Recently the tenders for the new pavilion came in significantly in excess of the $660,000 budgeted. The Township, provincial and federal governments were each to provide a third of this sum. Council met in closed session on May 3 under the heading “Education and Training” to discuss alternatives which might bring the cost back to budgeted levels.
Council members were displeased with the material provided, although it appeared that staff had tendered the work in accordance with council’s direction. Staff was again directed to obtain more information, particularly regarding a pre-engineered steel structure. A decision must be made in the next month as time is running out under the terms of the grants. A public meeting very soon is contemplated.
DONATIONS TO SPECIAL EVENTS
Following up from the previous meeting, council discussed the allocation of the $6000 budgetted for special events. The Metis event will not be held in Tiny this year. After discussion council agreed to provide funding as follows: – Tiny Trails Lions Club’s Gigantic Yard Sale – $630, Le Festival du Loup – $1805, Summerama – $1920.
PAID PARKING AT BALM BEACH
A staff report regarding paid parking at Balm Beach was received. Council requested that the area covered be increased and consideration be given to using a small parkette on Balm Beach road for more parking. Staff was directed to talk to local business owners and to prepare for a public meeting to hear from local residents. Staff will provide a second report before scheduling a public meeting.
CORPORATE INSURANCE POLICYv
The Treasurer advised that the annual rate for 2010 has increased by 45%. Staff was not satisfied with the increase and the short notice provided by the broker and council directed them to tender the business. The current coverage, at the new rates, will continue until the new proposals are received and analyzed.
HOLDING “1” LIFTED FROM MANY PROPERTIES
Positive news. As a result of the septic inspection program, 688 properties had the Holding 1 designation removed. These are locations where septic systems were installed prior to 1974 and it was not known if they operated properly. The inspection program cleared these properties.
NO PARKING TO BE IMPLEMENTED IN PLAN 1596:
There is to be “No Parking” along Old Trail Road, Shades Valley Road, Glen Oak Drive and Tsirargi Avenue.
NORTH SIMCOE TRANSFER STATION UPDATE
At the evening meeting, Officials from the County of Simcoe and the Ministry of the environment provided an update re the site on Golflink Road, west of Midland. Council questioned the county official re the monitoring of the site as traces of TCE have been found. Based on their studies it appears that the plume carrying these chemicals originates outside the closed dump site. At present MOE is reviewing the monitoring devices and their locations to confim that the site is properly covered. MOE did make the point that the county is provding more monitoring than is required as this site preceded the current guidelines. County personnel also advised they are considering plans to expand the actual transfer facility as the positive increase in recycling is stressing the present capacity.
