Jan 13 - Local News & Council Agendas

Plus: South Bruce Peninsula considers taking the Sauble Beach land claim decision to the Supreme Court

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Photo by Wesley Tingey on Unsplash

It’s a busy day in local governance around the region:

City of Owen Sound

Owen Sound Council meets at 5:30 p.m. On the agenda:

• Council is being asked to approve two new five-year land use agreements with the East Side Snowmobile Club and the Stoney Keppel Riders Snowmobile Club, granting trail access on designated city lands. Additionally, Council will decide whether to delegate authority to the Director of Community Services to sign future snowmobile land use agreements.

• Council is being asked to approve $982.82 from the 2025 budget to support the purchase of a bunker gear dryer for the fire department, with $8,592.18 funded by a provincial grant.

• Council will receive the Bruce Grey Poverty Task Force minutes from November 22, 2024, focus on addressing regional challenges like food insecurity, advocating for living wages, and increasing support for low-income residents through income solutions and access to dental care. The meeting included updates on the 2024 Living Wage Rate for Grey Bruce, strategies for improving food affordability, and ongoing efforts to certify more Living Wage Employers in the region.

• Council will also receive Owen Sound Police Services Board's November 21, 2024, public session minutes. The meeting focused on updates, informational reports, and operational highlights, including:

  • Acceptance of resignations from two auxiliary officers.

  • Financial projections indicating the service is on track to meet its 2024 budget.

  • Updates on the successful transition to the newly renovated Owen Sound Emergency Communications Centre (OSECC).

• Council will get a lengthy update on local and provincial initiatives and the progress of action tables addressing housing, addiction, mental health, and poverty, and ongoing projects supporting community safety and well-being in Grey Bruce from the Community Safety and Well-Being Planning Advisory Committee. This report is part of the 93-page correspondence package. Key highlights include updates on the HART Hub funding proposal for homelessness and addiction recovery, progress on the 14th Street Transitional Housing Program, and new developments in poverty reduction strategies, such as promoting the Living Wage and enhancing free income tax services.

• The Community Services Committee is recommending that Council:

  1. Parkland Conveyance By-law - Direct staff to prepare a draft Parkland Conveyance by-law relating to site plan approvals to establish guidelines for land or cash contributions for park development.

  2. Heritage Property Demolition - Approve the demolition of specific structures and non-original additions on the Royal Rose Court property while maintaining heritage features per the existing conservation plan.

  3. Non-Resident Fee for Minor Lacrosse - Amend the Fees and Charges By-law to reduce the non-resident fee to $50+HST for Owen Sound Minor Lacrosse for the 2025 season only.

  4. Kelso Beach at Nawash Park Partnership - Direct staff to draft a contribution agreement with the Scenic City Order of Good Cheer for renewing the splash pad and replacing the playground at Kelso Beach at Nawash Park.

• The Operations Committee is recommending that Council authorize the Mayor and Clerk to execute a Boundary Road Agreement with Georgian Bluffs to formalize shared road responsibilities. Additionally, the Committee provided updates for Council's information on the Downtown River Precinct Project. The project is substantially complete as of December 6, 2024, and the City will now assume winter maintenance of the road.

See Council’s agenda for links to all reports.

Municipality of Meaford

Meaford Council meets today at 1 p.m. On their agenda: a deputation on Centreville Beach, an engineering report on the Mitchell Henry Municipal Drain, minutes from the last Pumped Storage Advisory Committee meeting, and more.

Township of Georgian Bluffs

Meanwhile, in the Township of Georgian Bluffs, Council has a Special Meeting on the future of the jointly owned Biodigester facility today at 5 p.m. The Biodigester has been inactive since 2021 due to operational challenges and a lack of commercial viability.

Georgian Bluffs will decide whether to proceed with a $50,000 plan to explore options for full or partial decommissioning, site rehabilitation, and potential alternative uses for the property.

Public Notices

• The City of Owen Sound Corporate Services Committee meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 16th, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. has been cancelled.

• The Operations Committee Meeting scheduled for Thursday, January 23, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. has also been cancelled.

Local News

Keep reading for local events and our original reporting + curated local news updates.

Today, you’ll find a new report on South Bruce Peninsula’s position in the Sauble Beach land claim, info on the Good Cheer Rink’s season opening, Grey County Council Highlights, and more.

~ Miranda Miller, Editor

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