Council Highlights July 3rd, 2024

The Township of Huron-Kinloss Committee of the Whole meeting was held in Council Chambers at 21 Queen Street in Ripley at 7:00 p.m. Highlights from the meeting include:

Ripley Reunion Committee Delegation

The Ripley Reunion Committee asked Council to waive fees for the Ripley Reunion, scheduled for July 31 to August 4, 2025. This event, held every 10 years, is one of Ripley's largest. The Committee, operating as a non-profit, aims to collaborate with Huron-Kinloss Council and Staff and request the waiver to allocate more funds to community donations, as seen after the 2015 Reunion, which raised $60,000 for local groups. Planning will intensify in the coming months, and volunteers are needed! For updates, visit www.ripleyreunion.com or follow their social media. Submit recipes for the reunion cookbook at ripleyreunioncookbook@gmail.com.

Tree Preservation By-Law

The Huron-Kinloss Tree Preservation By-Law, active since 2011, protects trees on Algonquin Bluff. Over the past decade, staff issued 125 permits and handled 50+ annual inquiries, with five permits in 2024. The Pine River Watershed Initiative Network has planted 250,000 trees, and the Township removed 5,000 ash trees due to emerald ash borer. Current regulations by the SVCA and Bruce County apply to developments. Expanding the By-Law may hinder planting more beneficial species and affect isolated treed lots. Alternative strategies like education campaigns and integrated planning are recommended. Staff suggests periodic by-law reviews but no expansion at this time.

Conservation Demand Management Plan

The Ontario Regulation 397/11 requires municipalities to report annual energy consumption and publish a five-year Energy and Conservation Demand Management (CDM) Plan. Huron-Kinloss staff submitted energy data for 2022 and 2023, now using 2019 as the baseline due to complete data. The Township exceeded its annual goal of a 1% emission reduction, achieving a 16% reduction over five years. Converting facilities from propane to natural gas by 2025 is expected to cut GHG emissions by 13%. Future business plans will incorporate the CDM recommendations.

Lucknow’s Music in the Fields

The Lucknow and District Kinsmen requested the Township's support for Lucknow’s Music in the Fields from August 22-25, 2024, including traffic restrictions on Walter St. and Washington St., use of a portable generator, grading and dust control, garbage hauling with four dump trucks, waiving tipping fees, and large material removal post-event. Township Staff reviewed the requests, expressing no concerns except for the need to potentially retrieve the generator for emergencies and the recommendation that the Kinsmen prevent large items from being left by campers, thus not supporting waiving tipping fees at the Huron Landfill for such items.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Township of Huron-Kinloss Council meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on July 15th, 2024. This meeting will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office, 21 Queen Street in Ripley.

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