Council Highlights October 7th 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:

Transitioning the Blue Box to Full Producer Responsibility

A delegation from the Continuous Improvement Fund (CIF) presented to Council about the shift of the Blue Box program to full producer responsibility, effective June 3, 2022. This means that producers will now manage the program's operations and finances. Residents will notice minimal changes, with the potential for more items to be accepted for collection.

The Township of Huron-Kinloss will transition to this system on December 31, 2025. The new regulations establish a common collection system across the province, integrating current municipal programs and expanding services for all communities. Municipalities can still choose to provide services, depending on the agreements in place.

"Producers" are defined as brand holders, importers, or retailers of products with blue box materials, such as grocery and retail items, including fast food packaging. Producers may join a Producer Responsibility Organization (PRO) to help fulfill their regulatory obligations, allowing them to comply with the new recycling management requirements. Staff are currently developing plans to address ineligible sources, and further information will be provided as it becomes available. Please review the presentation for more information on the Blue Box transition: Draft Blue Box Regulation Webinar (escribemeetings.com)

Enhanced Lakeshore Summer Patrol Services

The By-law Enforcement Officer presented a report on the Enhanced Summer Lakeshore Patrol Services program. The program is now concluded for the season with 16 shifts totaling 104 hours of patrols. The program aimed to increase by-law enforcement visibility and educate the public on by-law matters. Officers attended two community events at the Point Clark Lighthouse and received feedback from residents and visitors regarding parking congestion at both the Point Clark Lighthouse and Boiler Beach Road. A total of 22 concerns were reported during the patrols, including issues with dogs off-leash, parking violations, and fires on the beach. Staff recognizes the value of this service and looks forward to its continuation pending approval in the 2025 budget.

Lakeshore Fire and Emergency Services Response Times

Fire Chief Jeff Bradley presented a report on lakeshore response times to the Council, addressing concerns raised by the Lucknow & District Fire Board (LDFB) about the need for a fire station in the lakeshore area. The Township’s Fire & Emergency Services Strategy Plan had recommended the potential for a third fire station within the next 6-10 years, but the data analysis does not currently support this need. Instead, Staff will focus on enhancing fire prevention activities, such as public education on smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire safety standards, and local fire risk reduction measures.

In 2023, emergency response data showed that most medical and fire-related calls along the lakeshore were canceled by authorities before the fire department's arrival. Ripley Huron Fire Department’s average response time was 16 minutes, slightly above the NFPA 1720 standard of 14 minutes for rural areas. Staff are also exploring alternative measures, including partnerships with nearby fire stations, to reduce response times.

Council accepted the report's recommendation to consider the Infrastructure Needs Assessment for a lakeshore fire hall complete and directed Staff to continue monitoring response times and call volumes while implementing alternative mitigation measures. Public education and fire safety enforcement will be prioritized to enhance community fire prevention efforts.

Committee and Commissioner Vacancies

The Township of Huron-Kinloss is seeking to fill two key vacancies: one for a Marriage Commissioner and one for a Property Standards Committee member.

Marriage Commissioner: The Township currently has four Marriage Commissioners who perform approximately 50 civil marriage ceremonies annually. Marilynne Gilchrist will resign from her position effective December 31, 2024. Staff have initiated the process to recruit her replacement to maintain service levels. Interested candidates can find application details on the Township's website.

Property Standards Committee: There is one vacancy on the Property Standards Committee, which reviews appeals related to property standards orders. The application period for this position closes on Friday, October 18th. Applications are encouraged from citizens who reside or own property within the municipality. Information on how to apply is available on the Township's website.

All applications received for these positions will be presented to Council for consideration, and the successful candidates will be appointed for a four-year term, aligning with the current Council's term.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Township of Huron-Kinloss Council meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, October 16th, 2024, due to the Thanksgiving Day holiday. Please note this Council meeting beginning at 7:00 p.m. will include a Public Meeting to discuss implementing a Development Charges By-law followed by a Public meeting to consider a planning application. Both Public meetings take place in Council Chambers at 21 Queen Street in Ripley.

TAKE NOTICE that the Township of Huron-Kinloss is holding a Public Meeting to discuss implementing a Development Charges By-law.

October 16, 2024, at 7:00 PM at 
Township of Huron-Kinloss Council Chambers
21 Queen Street, Ripley ON, N0G 2R0

Subscribe to receive Meeting Highlights 

Follow us on Facebook for more!