Tues March 26: City Council Highlights, News Headlines

Plus: A letter to the editor from a Grey Highlands woman with concerns about BWDSB’s plans to cut down ‘Kindy Forest’ to make room for portables

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The bulk of last night’s Council meeting was dedicated to City staff’s request that Council support TC Energy’s Ontario Energy Pumped Storage project. In the end, Council came to a consensus to voice its conditional support. Details below.

Next, after promising to host a Town Hall meeting this year, Council voted to move forward with a sort of city trade fair instead. Eighteen City departments will set up tables and invite the public to ask staff questions about City services and programs.

Michelle Palmer, Senior Manager, Strategic Initiatives and Operational Effectiveness, acknowledged the four municipalities she consulted about the format said these aren’t typically well-attended, and staff don’t expect to be “run over” with questions. There is no open discussion or Q&A. City staff will distribute a report later with any questions they get.

A public engagement event designed for low public engagement begs the question: How much will this cost in staff time, and why bother? More to come on that.

Speaking of questions, based on last night’s meeting, I have to ask:

Does City Council's 'Public Question Period' Serve the Needs of Anyone Involved?

Last night’s meeting also resulted in Council’s approval of a 3-year pilot project that will see surveillance cameras placed in various downtown locations. More to come on that, too.

Full subscribers, there’s a lot more for you below, including…

• A letter to the editor from a Grey Highlands woman with concerns about BWDSB’s plans to cut down ‘Kindy Forest’ to make room for portables

• Grey Bruce OPP seeks the public’s assistance after a break-in at a Meaford business

• An update from a local volunteer group on their clean-up campaign focus for April

• Announcements of interest for residents of the City of Owen Sound, Municipality of Meaford, and Bruce County

• Highlights from Council’s discussion around the TC Energy Pumped Storage Project that led to their decision to conditionally support it

~ Miranda

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