SWM What's New - September 15, 2021

Posted date

DISCUSSION ON SEPTEMBER 15, 2021

For further details on items discussed, please view the agenda

The first item on the agenda was consideration of the engineer's report on the Switzer Drain Mclean-Switzer Branch with several questions from landowners on the drain.  The drain report addresses a request for improvement and repair of the drain.  Council provisionally adopted the engineer's report and gave the adoption by-law first and second readings.

A final presentation of the SWM Recreation Master Plan was provided for council.  Council approved and adopted the final draft of the Master Plan which includes several recommendations for all areas of the municipality - Appin, Glencoe, Middlemiss and Wardsville.  The plan is anticipated to be in place for a ten-year period.  Following this, the report will be presented to the public once again.  This is an exciting step forward for SWM.

Council received the following staff reports:

  • Great news!  Four CIP applications were approved for funding under the Community Improvement Plan for 2021.  The total amount of grants approved equal $17,798.24 for an investment by business owners in the amount of $30,592.83 for facade and signage improvements.
  • As part of Council’s Strategic Priority for Sustainability – Sustainable Communities, specifically focusing on SWM’s financial sustainability, including the municipality’s ability to develop and maintain levels of service and infrastructure, Council directed that key financial indicators be adopted.  Council adopted Key Financial Indicators from the Financial Information Returns, including the following to be used to provide a snapshot of the overall financial health for the municipality on an annual basis.  This will help guide council moving forward in their decision making.  
    • • Total Taxes Receivable less Allowance for Uncollectibles as a % of Total Taxes Levied
      • Net Financial Assets or Net Debt as a % of Own Purpose Taxation Plus User Fees
      • Reserves and Reserve Funds as a % of Operating Expenses
      • Cash and Cash Equivalents as a % of Current Liabilities
      • Debt Servicing Cost as a % of Total Operating Revenue
      • Asset Consumption Ratio
      • Operating Surplus Ratio
  • National Day for Truth & Reconciliation:

It is important to reflect and take time to educate ourselves on the tragic events that have unfolded. September 30th provides an opportunity designed to honour survivors, their families and communities and ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process.  Council supports the following resolution of AMO concerning the National Day for Truth & Reconciliation:

WHEREAS the Truth and Reconciliation Commission released its final report on June 2, 2015, which included 94 Calls to Action to redress the legacy of residential schools and advance the process of Canadian reconciliation;
AND WHEREAS the recent discoveries of remains and unmarked graves across Canada have led to increased calls for all levels of government to address the recommendations in the TRC’s Calls to Action;
AND WHEREAS all Canadians and all orders of government have a role to play in reconciliation;
AND WHEREAS Recommendation #80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission called upon the federal government, in collaboration with Aboriginal peoples, to establish, as a statutory holiday, a National Day for Truth and Reconciliation to ensure that public commemoration of the history and legacy of residential schools remains a vital component of the reconciliation process;
AND WHEREAS the Federal Government has announced September 30th, 2021, as the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (National Orange Shirt Day) and a statutory holiday;
​​​​​​​THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Municipality of Southwest Middlesex does hereby commit to recognizing September 30th, 2021, as the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (National Orange Shirt Day) by sharing the stories of residential school survivors, their families, and communities.

Along with a recommendation of supporting the AMO resolution calling on members to support a component of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report,  land acknowledgements to be announced at the beginning of council meetings and special events as well as a statement for our website were also supported by council. 

  • A parking ticket service agreement was approved with Warwick Township to provide collection services for parking ticket fines.  This is a cooperative service that will be billed to Warwick Township. 
  • Drain Reports were approved as follows:
    • Black Drain - Section 78 request to reconstruct the Black Drain
    • Coad Drain - Section 78 request to reconstruct the Coad Drain
    • Sutherland Drain - Section 78 request to enclose a part of the Sutherland Drain
    • Drain Tenders Approved:
      • McFarlane Drain-Zwambag Culvert awarded to Edgar Excavating & Haulage in the amount of $20,700 (excl. HST)
      • Frederick Marsh Drain awarded to McNally Excavating in the amount of $41,000 (excl. HST)
      • Dieleman Drain awarded to McNally Excavating in the amount of $33,500 (excl. HST)
  • An Operations Restructuring Review was presented containing details of the changes to staffing in the operations department, the amount of work that staff are undertaking on a daily basis, noting that staff are excelling at dealing with a vast amount of jobs despite many challenges.  SWM is a growing community where many changes are taking place; this affects services moving forward and services that we provide in the future.  We are happy to report that residents have had an extremely high level of service during the pandemic and we are doing our best to maintain that level of service as we move forward.

General business of Council:

  • August 25, 2021 Council Meeting Minutes
  • Vouchers in the amount of $1,425,886.03
  • SWM Building Report for the first half of 2021 which is consistent with previous years.  Total fees collected so far this year are $28,137.00 on $4,543,455.00 construction value.

Notice of Motion:

Council supported the notice of motion presented by Councillor Mark McGill:

WHEREAS the municipal organizational restructuring was a big change implemented last year;
and THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT council have a closed session to review it following the one year anniversary of it’s implementation.

Council supported the notice of motion presented by Deputy Mayor Marigay Wilkins:

WHEREAS Middlesex County has a rich history of artifacts and records being maintained by volunteers within local communities across the county;
AND WHEREAS an archives program helps to support and retain the valuable information and memory about the rich history within our communities;
AND WHEREAS archiving requires expertise and financial support to deliver the service to our communities;
AND WHEREAS a county-wide program would provide archive services at the most economical and efficient level;
THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Southwest Middlesex Council supports the Volunteers and Committee To Establish a Middlesex County Archives efforts for a new county-level program and service through Middlesex County, which receives funding through the local property tax payers to deliver the service.

Council Supported:

  • Staff bringing a report back to council in consideration of a program similar to the City of Brantford "Year of the Garden" program
  • Resolution of Trent Lakes concerning OHIP Eye Care

Adopted By-laws to:

  • Regulate the keeping, registration, licensing, control & welfare of certain animals in SWM
  • Adopt the agreement for ticketing services with Warwick Township
  • Confirming the September 15, 2021 meeting