The Mayor declared the meeting open at 5:30 p.m..

Council Members Present:

Mayor Christine Ellis,

Councillors Jason Cottrell, Kelly Elik, John Newstead, Merlyn Snow.

 

Declarations of Conflict/Pecuniary Interest:  None declared

Delegations: Ed Mathews,  Fire Management Supervisor, Ministry of Natural Resources.  Mr. Mathews provided council with an overview of the Fire Management Agreement between the Township of Strong and the Ministry of Natural Resources which has been in place since 1959.  A new agreement has been prepared which will come in to effect in 2012 and includes the new rates for services and fees paid to the Township. The municipality agrees to implement the Fire Smart Program in the municipality to ensure ratepayers are aware of  fire hazards and fire safety in the rural areas.  He explained how the system works between the Fire Department and the MNR.  He recommends the Fire Department dispatcher  contact their office as soon as they feel extra help may be needed in the event of a fire that may get out of control.

 

 

Staff Sgt. Stacey Whalley, Acting Staff Sgt. Laura Houliston, Jeff Coleman, Darren Luckasavich, Almagin Highlands OPP.  Staff Sgt. Stacey Whalley introduced the Acting Staff Sgt. Laura Houliston who will be covering for him in his absence. Stacey brought council up to date on the 2011 Business Plan which was emailed to council.  He reported on the statistics for events from the past year, advised the new Station will begin construction in 2011, the office now provides 24 hour services.  The OPP will be concentrating on the spring “Lock It or Loose It” campaign encouraging people to lock their vehicle.

 

Tom Crane – Signcraft.  Tom brought some ideas for signage for the Dimestore Fisherman project – he has a Billboard sign available on Hwy 124 he would make available for the project.  He suggested a billboard at the municipal office with supporting businesses on the billboard and that these should go up June/July when the summer tourist are returning to the area.

 

Dave Pringle – Road Superintendant gave a report to Council.  Advertising for tenders for granite – crushed or quarried will be in the paper along with a tender to pulverize High Rock Road for 5 kms.  Results of testing from local pits were available for council to review.  The road crew requested returning to 4 – 10 hour work days.  Council agreed, however schedules are to be arranged to ensure there are at least two staff on at all times.

There is concern with the number of beaver dams that are causing damage to Adams Road, Hornibrook Road and the Adams Road Bridge.

The clerk is directed to send letters to the property owners requesting they remove and/or monitor these dams.

 

Comment Sheets were received :

Mary Sue Ogilvie requested council consider a by-law regarding fireworks to limit their use to restricted areas, and statutory holidays.  Council will issue a notice in our newsletter reminding fireworks users to be considerate of their neighbours as the noise travels over the lake, follow all fire regulations, to check the fire rating prior to setting off fireworks and ensure responsible persons are in charge.

 

Ed Wozniak submitted a concern regarding Lakeshore Road.  Road Superintendant Dave Pringle will respond to this concern.

 

Guests in the audience included.

Discussion Items:

Ontario Electronic Stewardship program was discussed by council.  Council will proceed with the application to become a depot for electronic waste. 

Council reviewed correspondence from MTO regarding the opening of a section of the new highway from South River to Sundridge in the summer of 2011.

 

 

 

The following resolutions were passed:

 

R2011-129

Kelly Elik – Jason Cottrell:

Therefore be it Resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby adopt the Minutes of the April 12, 2011 and the April 19, 2011 Committee of the Whole meeting with the amendment to Resolution # R2011-126

Jay Cottrell – Merlyn Snow:

Therefore be it resolved that the Township of Strong re-tender the proposal for the supply of Quarried granite due to improper tender procedures.  Advertisements will be placed in the Almaguin News for 2 weeks for review by Council.          

 

To delete the word “Quarried granite” from this resolution.                          Carried

 

                                               

R2011-130

Merlyn Snow – J. W. Newstead:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby accept the Accounts Payable as presented up to and including April 26, 2011 in the amount of

$ 34037.34.

And hereby authorize the Clerk Treasurer to issue cheques for same,           Carried

 

R2011-131

J. D. Newstead – Jay Cottrell:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong approve Roads Staff are permitted to work 4-10 hour days provided there is a minimum of 2 staff on at all times effective May 2, 2011.                                                                                                Carried

 

R2011-132

Kelly Elik – Merlyn Snow:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong approve the tender from Ralph Drummond for installation of “S” style barn doors at the Landfill site.

                                                                                                                        Carried

 

R2011-133

Merlyn Snow – Kelly Elik:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby accept the 2011 High Rock Lookout Park Budget as presented in the amount of $ 5,000.00 with Strong Township’s share being $ 2,000.00.                                                                Carried

 

R2011-134

J. D. Newstead – Jason Cottrell:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby grant a donation in the amount of $100.00  to the SSJ Youth Baseball for the 2011 season.

                                                                                                                        Carried

 

R2011-135

Merlyn Snow – Jason Cottrell:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby approve the Sundridge Strong Joly Arena Budget for 2011 as presented in the amount of $ 402,936.00 with Strong Township’s share being $ 116,255.00.                                         Carried

 

 

 

 

 

R2011-136

J. D. Newstead – Merlyn Snow:

 

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby approve the Sundridge Strong Fire Department Budget for 2011 as presented in the amount of

$ 251,983.70 with Strong Township’s share being $ 113,416.85.                  Carried

 

 

R2011-137

Kelly Elik – Jay Cottrell:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby approve extending the 9-1-1 Central Emergency Reporting Bureau (CERB) services Agreement between the Ontario Provincial Police and the Corporation of the Township of Strong and hereby authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to sign the agreement on behalf of the Corporation.                                                                                                      Carried

 

R2011-138

J. D.Newstead – Merlyn Snow:

Therefore be it Resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby approve the application to purchase the shore road allowance in front of 117 Malyon Drive in principle.                                                                                                                   Carried

 

 

R2011-139

Jason Cottrell- Merlyn Snow:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby request that One Life Wealth Management- Employee Benefit Package provider tender every three years for  benefit packages to obtain the best possible rate.                           Carried

 

R2011-140

Jason Cottrell – J. D. Newstead:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby do not support the Municipality of Magnetawan returning to the Joint Building Committee.

                                                                                                                        Carried

R2011-141

Merlyn Snow – J. D. Newstead:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong have read the Continuous Improvement Fund Project Approval # 668.12 – Small Program promotion and education implementation agreement and hereby authorize the Mayor to sign this agreement on behalf of the Corporation.                                                    Carried

 

R2011-142

Merlyn Snow – Jason Cottrell:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong have read the proposal from D M Wills to complete and set load limits for the Muskoka Road Bridge, Adams Road Bridge and Proudfoot Road Bridge and prepare the necessary By-laws at a cost of $ 2700.00 plus HST.                                                                               Carried

 

R2011-143

Kelly Elik – Jason Cottrell:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong approve the 2011 Sundridge Strong Union Public Library Budget in the amount of 87,884.24 with the Township of Strong’s share being $27,227.81.                                               Carried

 

R2011-144

Merlyn Snow – J. D. Newstead:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong support the Memorandum of Understanding for Health System Emergency Preparedness Support and hereby authorize the Mayor to sign this agreement on behalf of the Municipality. Carried

R2011-145

Kelly Elik – Jason Cottrell:

Therefore be it resolved that the Township of Strong accept the application of M. Jane Anderson as our representative on the Library Board.              Carried

 

R2011-146

Jason Cottrell – Merlyn Snow:

Therefore be it resolved that the Council for the Township of Strong hereby adjourn at 9:00 p.m. until the next regular meeting of Council schedule for May 10, 2011.

 

 

________________________________________________________________________

Mayor, Christine Ellis                                   Clerk/Treasurer, Linda Maurer