Glenn Golem (L) and Andrew Sleegers (R) receiving Associate Road Supervisor Certificates with Mayor Walters and Deputy Mayor Marr

Employee Recognition got the Central Elgin Council meeting of March 11, 2013 rolling, with employees being recognized for: participation on Pay Equity and Joint Health & Safety Committees; excellent attendance (losing 2 days or less for the last year); and for receiving road supervisor certification - along with a few jokes about which employees might have taken the same two days off.

Roll Call: Councillors McFarlan and McNeil were absent

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof: Councillor Martyn declared an interest in the Sparta 200th Anniversary item.

Delegations

2. Central Elgin Economic Development Association (CEEDA):
Sean Dyke, Economic Manager CEEDA, followed Brad Fishleigh's report, making a brief presentation to Council. He said that they were down to a two-person staff from the previous three people; and that 2012 was pretty good for the area, but mostly in St. Thomas.

They are growing a foreign direct investment budget and following up with companies after trade shows. One of their primary focuses has been in marketing the industrial lands and buildings along Hwy 3.

Dyke also noted that with Algoma University coming into St. Thomas, it will bring up to 100 foreign students living in the area.

Mayor Walters wanted to know if CEEDA was duplicating the efforts of Elgin County's Economic Development program. Dyke said that county focused primarily on agricultural and rural development whereas CEEDA focuses primarily on manufacturing and industrial processing. There would be some duplication but Dyke assured Walters it would be minimal.

Correspondence (Action)

1. Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System: Copy of Elgin Area Primary Water Supply System yearly report - January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Report adopted by Council.

2. London Water Supply System: Copy of London Water Supply System yearly report - January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2012. Deputy Mayor Marr wanted to know why Central Elgin got a copy of this report to adopt when they have no jurisdiction over London. Perrin said it was because Central Elgin does have some customers on that line. The report was adopted by Council.

3. Potential Off-Leash Dog Park - Dan Patterson Conservation Area: Correspondence received from Kettle Creek Conservation Authority respecting "Potential Partnership to Establish an Off-Leash Dog Park at Dan Patterson Conservation Area".

KCCA staff identified a potential opportunity to establish an off-leash dog park at Dan Patterson CA. There is approximately 5 acres of available open space land east of the picnic pavilion area with access off of Mapleton Line. These lands are currently partially fenced and could be an ideal location for an off-leash dog park.

Central Elgin was invited to submit a representative to a steering committee regarding the establishment of this off-leash dog park. Council decided they should appoint one member of Council and one staffer to this committee. Councillor Russell Matthews and Director of Finance Karen DePrest were appointed.

4. Eastwood Subdivision - Phase 1: Correspondence received from John Boe, 72 Elmwood Avenue, respecting Eastwood Subdivision and completion of paving to Phase 1. The writer wanted to know why the finish layer of asphalt had not yet been applied to the roads in Phase 1 of this project when "we have been billed, the bills paid and still the streets have not been finished!"

Councillor Martyn said the residents did not pay for the paving, just the sewer. [Considering taxpayers pay for all the paving done in the municipality, she must have meant the repaving was not specifically a part of what was billed to those individual home owners.] Lloyd Perrin said there was "only a 1 ½ inch lip at the curb - not a great difference."

Council directed staff to notify the writer that those streets were scheduled for finish coat paving in 2015.

5. 2013 Earth Hour: Correspondence received from WWF-Canada seeking participation in 2013 Earth Hour - Saturday, March 23rd, 2013. Council agreed to encourage participation in the event.

6. Street Lighting - Lyndale Avenue: Correspondence received from Dennis Littler, 17 Lyndale Avenue, respecting installation of street lighting on Lyndale Avenue. This project was included in the 2012 budget and the materials to complete it are on hand. Central Elgin is awaiting the approval of Hydro One for the installation of the street lighting. The hold up has been Hydro One, not the municipality.

Correspondence (for Council's Information)

1. County of Elgin 2013 Budget: Correspondence received from the County of Elgin respecting County of Elgin 2013 Composite Budget. Councillor Matthews wanted some clarification on the Elgin County budget.

Budget priorities for 2013 are clearly focussed on stimulating economic growth in the region and improving services to its residents; including the following key features:

1. A $3.5 million commitment to S1. Thomas Elgin General Hospital with further money flowing to the hospital immediately for a cumulative contribution to date of $1 million to assist them in ramping up their project. The remaining $2.5 million will be provided in ten annual installments to be raised by a special levy costing approximately $12.50 on an average home. Not only does our local hospital provide a key service to our residents and an economic engine in its own right, but a strong local hospital is a key decision factor for businesses when determining where to locate.

2. Based on the successful trial in Aylmer, $0.2 million will be invested annually in Elgin Business Resource Centre Satellite offices in both the east and west end of the County. These satellite offices will focus on assisting Elgin's burgeoning entrepreneurial sector in getting their businesses off to a successful start.

3. Ambulance service will be increased in the east end of the County with a dayshift ambulance being stationed at the Straffordville fire hall to reduce response times at a cost of $0.2 million.

4. A new ambulance base will be built in Dutton at a cost of $0.8 million.

5. The Terrace Lodge long-term care facility will receive a $5 million renovation that will focus on improving the residents' common areas.

6. A further $6 million is planned for renovations at the Elgin Manor and Bobier Villa Lodge long-term care facilities within the next ten years.

7. The County roads will receive $8 million in spending this year, with a further $80 million over the next nine years. This investment will improve the driving quality for our residents while preserving the underlying asset, thereby avoiding costly reconstruction in the future.

The County's revenue is comprised predominately from property taxes and funding from the province. In past years the County has faced reduced revenue from the province through cuts in Ontario Municipal Partnership Fund transfers to Elgin County. At the same time, the closure of the Ford Plant placed pressure on property tax revenue. Rather than increase the tax rate dramatically at the time, County Council approved a ten-year plan that temporarily used reserves to fund the budgeted shortfall, but then rebuilt the reserves by the end of the ten-year period. This was accomplished through efficiencies of $4 million over ten years and gradual tax increases of 4% per annum.

The 2013 levy increase (exclusive of the special hospital levy) will be $1,266,000. This equates to a 2.4% tax increase ($30) on an average household with no change in assessment, or a 4.8% increase on an average house with average assessment growth equating to $60.

• Received as information and filed, without comment from Council:
• 2. 2013 OSUM: Correspondence respecting 2013 OSUM (Ontario Small Urban Municipalities) being held on May 1-3, 2013 at the Nottawasaga Inn and Resort.
• 3. Kettle Creek Conservation Authority: Notice of Confirmation received from Kettle Creek Conservation Authority respecting 2013 Levy.
• 4. Elgin County Land Division Committee: Notice of Decision received from Elgin County Land Division Committee respecting E 107/12 - Marot, 43901 Fruit Ridge Line and E 8/13 - Miles, 87 Crescent Avenue
• 5. Policing Costs: Media Release received from Mayor's Coalition on Affordable, Sustainable, Accountable Policing (ASAP) respecting Policing Costs.
• 6. Prespa Development - St. George Street: Correspondence received from Crystal McGee, 157 St. George Street, respecting Prespa Development.
• 7. Ontario Sheep Marketing Agency: Correspondence received respecting Livestock Guardian Dogs and Herding Dogs.

Special Events Committee

• Permits approved with requirement for $5 million liability insurance:
• 1. Special Events Permit - Port Stanley Run/Walk to the Beach:
• 2. Special Events Permit - Reach the Beach 5K Road Race:
• 3. Special Events Permit - Sparta "200th" Year Anniversary: with insurance premium reimbursement grant approved.
• 4. Special Events Permit - Port Stanley Pride Festival 2013: with additional requirement to provide police officers for security.
• 5. Special Events Permit - Belmont Canada Day Celebration: with insurance premium reimbursement grant approved.

Staff Reports

CAO 07-13: Annual Accessibility Plan for 2012: Report received as information.

CAO 08-13: Default of Payment - Line Fences Award (Everatt & Baker): In what has become unusual, one property owner has been required to pay his share of the fence erected between the two properties. Council received the report as information and instructed staff to prepare the necessary by-law.

CAO 09-13: February 2013 Monthly Building Report: Received as information

CAO 11-13: Proposed Lease Agreement - Elgin County Administration Building: Received as information. The lease is all inclusive of utilities, maintenance, janitorial, light replacement, snow plowing, parking, grass cutting, etc. An outside appraiser confirmed the rent being charged was about mid-point of market value for comparable facilities in the area. Should the county decide to go to individual utility billing for tenants, then the lease would be renegotiated.

PW 11-13: Annual Water Reports for the Belmont Water System and the Central Elgin Distribution System for the year 2012: Mayor Walters asked for a recorded vote on this report, to prove everyone voting on it had actually read it; in relation to the personal liability council members now have for drinking water quality. The vote to adopt the report was unanimous, with Councillors Robert McFarlan and Dan McNeil absent and thus not voting on it.

PW 13-13: 2013 Road Needs Study: Council appointed 4 Roads Management Services Inc. to complete the 2013 Road Needs Study at a total cost of $14,600 exclusive of HST and to fund the project from the 2013 Roads Operating Budget.

PW 14-13: OPP Station Servicing - Consultant Appointment: Council appointed Stantec Consulting Limited for the OPP Servicing Project In the amount of $42,318.00 plus HST. Lloyd Perrin confirmed for Councillor Matthews that the OPP would be paying the entire cost of this project as they were the only ones who would be benefitting from it.

DFS 08-13: Proposed 2013 BIA Budget and Levy Rate: Received as information

By-laws

• Taken and passed collectively
• By-law 1564: Confirmatory By-law
• By-law 1565: Being a By-law to Levy a Special Charge - 2013 Port Stanley Business Improvement Area (BIA) Budget
• By-law 1566: Being a By-law to Assume Certain Lands as Part of the Public Highway - Brouwers Line
• By-law 1567: Being a By-law to Authorize Lease Amending and Extension Agreement with Rogers respecting former Belmont PUC Building: This lease predates amalgamation and this is the last option Rogers has on extending the lease. When it expires it will not be renewed as the municipality does not want any other enterprise in this building which is the Belmont water treatment facility.
• By-law 1568: Being a By-law to Authorize Lease Agreement with the County of Elgin - 450 Sunset Drive

Public Notice
1. Copy of Notices of Council's intention to pass a by-law to close and sell part of Dexter Line and Elgin Street. The by-laws will come up for passing at the March 25th, 2013 Council meeting.

New Business
Councillor Martyn noted that the Springwater Maple Syrup Festival is in full swing. Council approved Mayor Walters and Deputy Mayor Marr trading committee appointments, with Marr moving to the Police Services Board and Walters moving to the Port Stanley Arena steering committee, to better accommodate the private schedules of both Walters and Marr.

Unfinished Business
1. Year Round Waste Depot: staff report to come forward

Closed Session

• CS1: Litigation or Potential Litigation (s.239(2)(e)) - 139 William Street
• CS2: Closed Session Minutes
• CS3: Litigation or Potential Litigation (s.239(2)(e)) - Hassan
• CS4: Litigation or Potential Litigation (s.239(2)(e)) - Animal Control
• CS5: A Proposed or Pending Acquisition of Land or Disposition of Land (s.239(2)(c)) - Thomson Line
• CS6: Personal Matters about an Identifiable Individual (s.239(2)(b)) - CAO Performance Evaluation
• CS7: Personal Matters about an Identifiable Individual (s.239(2)(b)) - 2013 Non-Union Employee Wages