Here are some highlights of the business conducted by Madawaska Valley Council at the meeting of October 20.
Mayor’s address: Mayor Kim Love encouraged hunters to stay safe this season by following COVID guidelines. She congratulated CAO/Clerk Suzanne Klatt who received a Certificate of Appreciation from The Association of Municipal Managers, Clerks and Treasurers of Ontario (AMCTO) Zone 6 in recognition of her many contributions to her peers and her profession.
Changes to upcoming Council meeting dates:
November: Combined Council in Committee and Regular Council 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov.17
December: Council in Committee 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 1
Regular Council 10 a.m. Wednesday, Dec.16
MV Drinking Water Financial Plan and Water/Wastewater Rate Study: A delegation by OCWA representatives Nick Larson, Senior Project Manager; Jason Younker, Project Support Analyst; and Ashley Pilgrim, Senior Operations Manager presented a 6-year Drinking Water Financial Plan and a draft 20-year Water/Wastewater Rate Study.
The Financial Plan, which is also required to renew the Township’s Drinking Water Licence, shows the drinking water system is currently financially self‐sustaining without having to further increase water rates beyond a 2 percent annual increase to account for inflation.
In presenting a draft 20-year Water/Wastewater Rate Study, Larson said that the 2 percent annual increase would be more than sufficient to cover projected capital expenditures on the Water System, unlike the Wastewater System where projected capital projects would not be covered by a 2 percent annual increase. He recommended that the Township follow a rate structure as outlined in Scenario #2.
- Water system: allows for an eventual reduction in the rates while maintaining an appropriate reserve balance.
- Wastewater system, the scenario increases the rates in the early years to allow for sufficient available funds to complete the identified works in the latter portion of the planning period. With this rate structure, user fees and the wastewater reserve fund will cover all anticipated operational and capital costs.
In discussion Mayor Love confirmed that both systems are user-pay. Council accepted the Drinking Water Financial Plan and requested that the draft Rate Study be amended and brought back for future consideration.
Operations: Council directed staff to:
- apply for the 2021-22 Connecting Link funding for Opeongo Line eastbound from Mintha Street to Arena Road.
- sign a Memorandum of Understanding with the Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs and permit use of Township garage facilities for groomer repairs upon proof of insurance from the OFSC.
- Release a tender for Skead Road in the Lakewoods development following a verbal update from Operation Manager Hilary Kutchkoskie.
Recreation: AARL Structural Consulting Engineers (lowest bid) have been instructed to proceed as quickly as possible with a snow load inspection for the Paul J. Yakabuski Community Centre.
Planning matters: Severance applications B31/20(1) and B32/20(2) to create a fifth building lot were approved by Council, as well as the closure of some Shoreline Road Allowances on Carson Lake and Wadsworth Lake.
Finance & Administration: Treasurer Amanda Hudder said she would provide Council with a year-to-date statement in November. She recommended that the Township not apply for Safe Restart (Phase 2 COVID) funding from province.
Unfinished business: For those residents awaiting an improved internet service in the area, attached to the Agenda was an update given to Renfrew County Council by Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) which MV Council accepted as information.
Return to open session: Council returned from a lengthy closed meeting with Mayor Love reporting that staff had been given direction regarding two legal matters as well as a human resources policy.
