By Anne Finlay-Stewart
Most of the "sexier" news from council has already been covered on The Hub – the passionate deputations by Aly Boltman about Branningham Grove, the launch of Mix Well, an anthology of local poetry, and the details of water billing for those whose water service was interrupted by frozen pipes and mains.
Other subjects were covered in the course of Monday night's meeting, chaired by Deputy Mayor Arlene Wright in the absence of Mayor Ian Boddy who was out on the sick list.
Brothels and poetry are tough acts to follow but Grey County Warden Kevin Eccles gave it his best shot with a good news report from the County. He spoke of the good relationships and growing partnerships between the County and both its lower-tier municipalities and neighbouring Counties. In health care, Eccles reported that the county will be contributing $1 million to Grey Bruce Health Services as it builds its capacity, particularly in oncology, and another million dollars in the new Markdale hospital which he hopes will break ground in 2017-18. The County will also be participating in a pilot project with its paramedics involving home monitoring of those aging at home and dealing with chronic illnesses. Grey is also working on its capacity in Long term Care, currently at 316 beds.
As progress continues on the South West Integrated Fibre Technology (SWIFT) plan for a high- speed fibre-optic network to move information, the County has introduced a new Transportation Master Plan aimed at efficient movement and goods and people in and out of Owen Sound and other Grey municipalities. Drones even got a mention as clearly all possibilities are on the table. A $100,000 grant from the province has been earmarked for improving the efficiency of the 15 to 17 groups who already provide transport for people within and beyond the County boundaries by providing a call centre and software for dispatch.
Eccles saved the best for last, reminding us that due to the provincial uploading of social service responsibilities, Grey County was able to reduce its tax levy by approximately 2 percent and provide a large one-time no-strings-attached payment to each of its nine municipalities from its reserves.
As reported earlier, the water and wastewater systems in Owen Sound are self-sufficient and supported by users of the water services, not out of tax revenues. The approved rates, while still an increase, are considerably less than the 9-10% per year increases of the past five years or so. Of course, this year's extraordinary repair expenses have not yet been totalled.
Grey Sauble Conservation authority has achieved Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification, indicating its "environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial, and economically viable management" of our forests. This will make our harvested forest material more marketable as FSC certified products are in high demand.
Development Charges – just when you thought it was over, this conversation has returned to the council chamber. A by-law was passed on March 2 giving a two-year "holiday" from development charges, with the intention of spurring building in the city. A clause requiring a developer to place a deposit in the amount of the current DC with the city at the time a building permit is issued which will be refunded if an occupancy permit is issued within one year. The intention of the clause was to spur immediate building activity and discourage developers from obtaining building permits during the holiday for use in an indefinite future. A letter from Barry Kruisselbrink, president of Barry's Construction, was put on the agenda after Mr. Kruisselbrink spoke individually to councillors about the deposit clause. In his words, "paying fees up front with a chance of recovery is a gamble not a Holiday".
Councillor Richard Thomas proposed that the City Manager, Ruth Coursey, be asked to contact the city's consultant, Gary Scandlan, for an opinion on possible amendments to the by-law, including adding the full cost of development charges to property taxes if an occupancy permit is not issued within 12 months of the end of the DC holiday. The request that Coursey make that call to the consultant had apparently already been made by a councillor prior to the meeting, so new councillors got a refresher on process. "The City Manager acts at the discretion of council, not individual councillors, and especially in situations that may involve incurring costs, the City Manager needs instruction from Council on the record in a public forum."
Councillor McManaman cautioned council strongly against "putting everything back on the table" after months of discussion and study, and losing the intent of the by-law to spur development "right now".
