Notes from the Council Chamber September 23, 2019

- by Anne Finlay-Stewart, Editor

You can watch council meetings yourself - the video will be up on our City page on Tuesday. Here is some of what happened.

Final report on the Bremont-Telfer Creek development east of the Owen Sound hospital will come to council in October - 43 single detached dwelling units; 20 semi-detached dwelling units; 31 street townhome dwelling units; and 236 medium / high density residential units. No word on affordability or when shovels will be in the ground.

Signage for closing the road for the 10th Street bridge reconstruction is being put in place now, and will be unveiled 7 days before the closure takes place. As of now, the scheduled date for closing the bridge is October 2.

Councillor Carol Merton has asked for a variance accountability tracking sheet on the bridge project so both council and the public can understand who “owns” any delays. She will be bringing forward a motion to that effect at the next meeting.

2nd Avenue East will be closed Saturday, October 26 from 5 a.m. until 2 p.m. from 7th St East to just south of the Metro parking lot, to keep the road clear for children participating in the Halloween Haunt.

There are 9 fire departments and 13 fire stations in Grey County. Nine of those stations are using one frequency for paging and dispatch. The County plans to update this communication system.

The planning staff brought forward their input and recommendations concerning a review of the Provincial Policy on land use. Details here.

City Council voted to apply to the Canada Infrastructure Program (ICIP), for 73% federal and provincial funding for the design and construction of a collection storage facility at the Tom Thomson Art Gallery (estimated $4 million project), and for replacement and upgrades at the Harry Lumley Bayshore Community Centre (estimated at $1.6 million).

Brent Fisher, Manager of Community Development and Marketing, outlined the plans for signs, swag, videos, and advertising to inform the public here and in neighbouring communities about the bridge detours and promote and market downtown during the construction. He also launched a new “Moving Forward” video promoting the galleries and culture of downtown Owen Sound.

Director of Public Works Dennis Kefalas reported on the progress of the Downtown River Precinct - 99% of the paving stones have been laid, and 1st Avenue East is paved and painted between 9th and 8th Streets, one way south. The roofing materials for the market building arrived last Friday. A substantial completion date is still to be determined.

May 5, 2020 will be the 75th anniversary of the liberation of the Netherlands, and there is a Canada-wide mission to plant 1.1 million tulip bulbs, remembering all the Canadians who went overseas in World War II. Monica Brown, on behalf of her father who was six years old when the Canadians liberated his town, asked if beds in front of city hall could be planted with the 2000 bulbs the local Dutch community will donate to the City of Owen Sound. The idea was supported enthusiastically.

Artist Sue Allison will be opening a show at the Legacy Gallery at the Owen Sound Artist's Co-op including many of her paintings of local heritage buildings. The formal opening will be October 6, in conjunction with festivities celebrating the 25th anniversary of the Co-op.

Succession Planning Workshop October 2 at 7:30 a.m. at the Roxy - how to value and sell your business. Contact Grey County Economic Development for details and RSVP.