REPORT ON COUNCIL
June 8, 2015
Committee of the Whole Meeting: 9:00 a.m. – 3:47 p.m.
Regular Meeting of Council: 5:15 p.m. – 5:50 p.m.
All Members of Council Present: Mayor George Cornell, Deputy Mayor Steffen Walma, and Councillors Cindy Hastings, Richard Hinton and Gibb Wishart
FARLAIN LAKE DEPUTATION: Doug Kirk and Pete Andrews presented the Farlain Lake Community Association’s “Lake to Sky Community Management Plan.” This was the second time the plan was presented to the Council of the day: the first, in 2013, produced no action on recommended moves that the Township should undertake. The focus of the plan is environmental, and grows out of concern for the health of Farlain Lake. Key items on the list of proposed township actions were referred to the Strategic Plan Process.
BALM BEACH SUMMER EVENTS: The Business Association of Balm Beach proposes to stage a number of small/short events at various times through the summer, none of which is scheduled to run past 9 p.m. Council accepted the proposal.
HALL’S CREEK STABILIZATION: Hall’s Creek meanders as it makes its way toward Nottawasaga Bay. One of its oxbows has been eroding its way toward Tiny Beaches Road South in the vicinity of 752 and by last year it was threatening the stability of the road. Much the most cost effective option, as the Township’s Manager of Public Works, Henk Blom, pointed out in PWR-05-15 is to relocate the road 10 metres to the west at a cost of $40,000. Enbridge relocated the gas main in 2014, at a cost of $38,500. Area residents opposed moving the road primarily because it would straighten a curve in TBRS and cause an increase in traffic speed. They supported “vegetated stone revetment,” a combination of vegetation and stone, which would stabilize the slope of the oxbow.
A subsidiary presentation by Burnside and Associates costed this solution at $185,000, and saw it as less likely than a “crib wall” to impact downstream conditions adversely, and as creating a safer slope off of TBRS, as maintaining the naturalized channel, as drastically reducing erosion along the bank of TBRS, and as leaving the tree cover largely intact. Council opted for this solution. As the budget for 2015 approved only $100,000 for this project, at its meeting on June 29, Council agreed that $85,000 would be taken from the Capital Reserve to cover the balance of the cost.
SOURCE WATER PROTECTION: For the last two years, the Severn Sound Environmental Association has been inspecting the many properties that might potentially affect the quality of water in wells that serve the township’s 16 water systems. Some 2,000 property owners were sent a notice of an Open House supplying information on the subject. The final stage mandated by the Clean Water Act comes into effect on July 1, namely the appointment of a Risk Management Official and a Risk Management Inspector charged with enforcement of the Source Management Plan. Council decided to appoint Keith Sherman and Melissa Carruthers of SSEA to fill these posts.
A STAFF REPORT ON THE MAY 27 TOWN HALL MEETING: There were some 120 attendees, thirteen of whom spoke about a wide range of subjects: the township’s invasive species strategy, dropping shoreline water levels, assistance for Giant’s Tomb cottagers with barging costs connected to the septic reinspection program, the best type of septic tanks, a survey to spark interest in bicycle trails, the potential impact of the Darby Road quarry on noise and on the aquifer, the potential impact of gravel extraction on Tiny’s water and farmland, Council’s position on agritourism and the promotion of small businesses, implementation of Wyevale Park plans and interest in plans for Stott Park, concerns about the noise by-law, parking issues at Pine Forest, and noise from Wasaga Beach. A number of these matters were referred to the Strategic Plan Process.
McMAHAN WATER SYSTEM COSTS: The cost of upgrading the McMahan water system has been tendered at $327,755 plus HST. Council decided on Full Cost Recovery from Benefitting Residents as outlined in Public Works Report PWR-17-15, costs to be finalized once the project has been completed. Reimbursement to the township is to be amortized over 20 years at an interest rate of 3%.
STRATEGIC PLAN PROCESS: A Council/Staff workshop has been scheduled for July 8, 2015 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chamber. There is to be a “Community Visioning Challenge and Interactive Workshop” session on July 11, 2015 from 9 to 11:30 a.m. at the Wyebridge Community Centre. The Township’s website is to include all strategic planning information. Right now it includes a survey for those who can’t attend the July 11 public meeting. The Strategic Plan Working Group consists of CAO/Clerk Doug Luker, Treasurer Doug Taylor, Mayor Cornell, and Councillor Hastings.
GIANT’S TOMB COTTAGERS ASSOCIATION: In response to a letter asking for subsidies connected to the Septic Re-inspection Program (one of the matters raised at the May Town Hall Meeting), Council decided that there would be no subsidies at this time.
