REPORT ON COUNCIL
Sept. 14, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 12:13 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 1:30 p.m. – 1:48 p.m.
All members of Council Present: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffan Walma, and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart
LIBRARY FUNDING AGREEMENT CONTINUES: The Township pays substantially for residents’ use of local libraries, currently $134.43 per household to Midland, $118.29 per household to Penetanguishene, and $86.03 per household to Springwater. (Each household in Tiny may use only one of these libraries each year.) The per household rates change when the Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index is published in October each year. The overall cost is substantial – more that $180,000 in each of 2012, 2013, and 2014. Council agreed to continue to fund library use for the next four years.
COUNCIL MEETINGS TO BE VIEWABLE FROM HOME? In response to Council’s interest in learning more about making council meetings viewable via the internet or other means, Treasurer Doug Taylor investigated Live Streaming on the Internet and live Video Taping through a Cable Company. Council directed staff to investigate these options further and also the possibility of a pilot run and report back on October 26, 2015.
BUILDING PERMIT ACTIVITY IN TINY: Building permit activity is an indicator of economic health and well being in the township. The summary comparison of building activity from January to August this year as compared with the same period last year prepared by S. Jamie Wilson, Chief Building Official, showed increases in almost every category. Overall, 318 permits were issued so far this year as compared with 213 for the same period last year and the total value of construction at $15,871,000 this year is well above last year’s $12,285,000.
HALL’S CREEK STABILIZATION: The Township received three tenders for the stabilization of Hall’s Creek. The contract (at $107,396.33) was awarded to R & M Construction, much the least expensive of the three.
MOBI-MAT INSTALLED: 100 feet of the Mobi-Mat that is to provide access at Balm Beach to those in wheel chairs and users of walkers and canes took place on September 11, 2015. The remaining 50 feet will be installed next year at Bluewater Beach “to tie in with the existing boardwalk.”
HEAVY USE OF BALM BEACH ON LABOUR DAY WEEKEND / TOWN HALL MEETING: Councillor Hinton reported that Balm Beach experienced a higher than normal volume of beach goers over the long weekend, with inevitable impact on parking and surrounding neighbourhoods. Council agreed that the fall Town Hall meeting, on November 14 would focus on these issues. Subsequently, details of this meeting became available on the Township’s website. See www.tiny.ca, click on the fall road picture at the top of the opening page.
