Council / Committee Meetings – Thursday, June 17, 2021

Consultant Hired for Saugeen Shores Paramedic Station Construction 

The Paramedic Services Committee approved that R.V Anderson Associates Limited will be engaged as the consultant for the construction of the new Paramedic Services Facility at 1243 MacKenzie Road, Port Elgin. The consultant will provide technical expertise, at a cost of $235,200 plus HST, for three conceptual drawings, specifications, and contract administration and management services. Approval was given by the Paramedic Services Committee in July, 2020 to move forward with building a new Paramedic Services Facility in Saugeen Shores.

Townhouse Construction in Hepworth

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved a change to the County Official Plan to allow an eight-unit townhouse project in Hepworth. The townhouses will be serviced by 2 onsite wells and an onsite sewage disposal system. Each townhouse will have one bedroom. The project is strongly aligned with the ‘Homes’ guiding principle in that it increases supply of modestly sized rental townhouse residential units which are in short supply in the community. 

Expansion at Big Island Quarry Approved near Wiarton

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved a change to the County Official Plan to allow a new aggregate extraction quarry on a 10 hectare (ha) lot on Quarry Road west of Wiarton. The quarry would involve licensing 7.4 ha and extracting above and below the water table in a 4.9 ha area. Extraction would focus on the ‘Eramosa’ stone layer as a dimension stone product. As extraction is completed, areas would be backfilled to above the water table with scrap rock and inert fill, with two new wetland areas being created. The quarry is aligned with the Natural Legacy principle in that it facilitates extraction of a natural resource, while applying mitigation measures to address potential adverse environmental impacts. The quarry is aligned with the ‘Good Growth’ and ‘Business’ principles in that additional land resource use activities are proposed within a cluster of similar activities and provide for the extraction of a higher-value stone product.

Farm Dwelling Severance in Huron-Kinloss

After a public meeting, the Planning and Development Committee approved a change to the County Official Plan to allow a surplus farm dwelling severance of a 0.34 ha lot from an 18.49 ha parcel at 426 Hayes Lake Avenue, in the Township of Huron-Kinloss. The Official Plan was amended to permit an additional severance from an original Crown surveyed lot and to allow the retained 18.15 ha parcel to be smaller than 40 ha. This farm consolidation is strongly aligned with the Bruce County Guiding Principle on Agriculture. Farm consolidations support the agricultural sector by enabling farms to become more efficient and better integrated and encourage alternative methods of production.

Delegation

• The Planning and Development Committee heard a presentation from Tim Lanthier, CAO, Grey Sauble Conservation Authority who discussed recent changes to the Conservation Authorities Act and newly proposed regulations that are currently under review. Tim Lanthier also discussed the ongoing partnership opportunities between Grey Sauble, Saugeen Valley, and Bruce County.

Proposed Regulations under the Conservation Authorities Act 

The Planning and Development Committee approved that an amended “Regulations under the Conservation Authorities Act” report be forwarded to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation, and Parks as Bruce County’s comments on the Environmental Registry of Ontario posting #019-2986. According to the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO) website, the proposed regulations will improve the governance, oversight, and accountability of conservation authorities, while giving municipalities more control over the conservation authority programs and services they fund. Bruce County and its eight lower-tier municipalities rely upon a number of programs and services delivered by conservation authorities within the County to support an integrated approach to watershed management through a combination of levy-based funding, service agreements, memoranda of understanding, and informal partnerships. The MECP’s Regulatory Proposal Consultation Guide is lengthy and often detailed. Additional time to facilitate local discussions on the implications of these regulatory proposals between the County, local municipalities, and conservation authorities would have been appreciated and is recommended for the second phase of consultation. The Committee added a comment that the Province should advance updates to the Conservation Authority Regulations to coordinate with the proposed changes to the Act.

Plan the Bruce: Homes Discussion Paper 

The Planning and Development Committee endorsed the Plan the Bruce: Homes Discussion Paper as a foundation for developing policies in the new Official Plan. Analysis shows that housing prices in Bruce County rose significantly compared to incomes over the past decade and have risen even more rapidly during 2020-2021. Rental costs have also increased faster than inflation and income growth over the past decade. To address housing affordability in Ontario, the province directs a planning focus and targets to support rental or ownership housing that costs less than 30% of household income for households in the lower 60th percent of incomes. In Bruce County, the 60th percentile would fall between $50,000 and $70,00 per year, meaning that housing policies should work to create opportunities to increase supply and reduce costs for the more than half of Bruce County households that would have difficulty participating in the market. There are over 1,000 units of Community-supported housing, in which rents are lower than the open market. Bruce County maintains a waiting list that averages 550 individuals or families, and places approximately 15% of the waiting list annually. Engagement outreach for the Plan the Bruce: Homes Discussion Paper included a social media campaign, radio ads, newspaper advertisements, direct outreach to stakeholders and municipalities, and delegations by request to 3 Local Councils. Final recommended directions include: apply housing targets, permit additional dwelling units, permit smaller homes, permit more types of homes, increase stability and flexibility through development permitting process, maintain supply of rental units, use appropriate density to lower development costs, incentives that lower process and operating costs, reduce operating costs by design, prioritize applications, maintain land inventory, use surplus public lands for homes, and require affordable housing. Discover more at www.planthebruce.ca

Proposed New Land Use Compatibility Guideline 

The Planning and Development Committee approved that the “Proposed New Land Use Compatibility Guideline” report be forwarded to the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks as the County of Bruce’s comments on the Environmental Registry of Ontario posting #019-2785. The province provides direction through the Provincial Policy Statement (PPS 2020) to avoid conflicts between major facilities and land uses, with guidance provided through technical documents and guidelines. The province is proposing updates to a number of land use compatibility guidelines that are intended to help avoid, minimize, and mitigate potential adverse effects from odour, noise, dust and other contaminants. Bruce County encourages the province to consider greater definition and streamlining of low-impact manufacturing facilities, opportunities for management of change for existing uses, and the broader impacts of these regulations on rural communities.

Workforce Development & Attraction Strategy Update 

The “Find Your Career in Bruce County” Workforce Development and Attraction Strategy (WDAS) uses a 4-pronged approach that includes continuous data collection, attraction, retention, and skills building. The pandemic has continued to disrupt the local workforce and made it necessary to pivot the approach on many of the Workforce Development and Attraction Strategy actions. Virtual events have taken place over in-person events where possible. The pandemic has also made it necessary to be creative and to try new approaches to service delivery. As a result, the use of a virtual environment has actually increased interactions, enabled greater attendance, expanded a wider reach, supported more connections, and enhanced accessibility. Employers and communities continue to adapt to the ever-changing landscape with great resilience. A strong and growing workforce is vital to economic recovery and growth in the coming years. Continued efforts toward data collection, attraction, retention, and skills building are key factors to grow and maintain a healthy workforce now and into the future.

Starter Company Plus Initiative Grant Recipients 2020

The Business to Bruce program’s mandate is to inspire, attract, and support entrepreneurs. The program helps achieve this mandate through operating the Starter Company Plus Initiative, which provides free training, guidance, and mentorship to entrepreneurs to start their business in Bruce County, and the opportunity to earn a non-repayable grant of up to $5,000. The grant funding is to be used towards the one-time start-up costs associated with starting a new business. This past fiscal year (2020-2021) saw Business to Bruce award seven new entrepreneurs each with $5,000 grants. The entrepreneurs were coached by the Business Development Coordinators, receiving assistance with business planning, sales forecasts, and cash flow statements, in addition to gaining access to free training, resources, and mentorship opportunities. With guidance from the Business Development Coordinators, the entrepreneurs were led through an analysis of their strengths and areas for improvement. This process helps to focus the necessary resources, training, and supports provided so that it is unique to the clients. Upon fulfilling the requirements listed in their individual learning plan, once they officially opened their business (started making sales), the entrepreneurs each received the $5,000 grant funding. The 2020-2021 Starter Company Plus graduates were: Amy Richards - Divine Designs (Port Elgin), Andrea Andrew - Halo Health and Wellness (Lucknow), Shazad Ahmad - Seahawk Water Sports (Wiarton), Kara Kortegaard - Ripley Physical Therapy and Wellness (Ripley), Len Covington - Colts Chainsaw Art the Cowboy Carver (Ripley), Pablo Chavarria - Costa Motor Powersports (Port Elgin), and Rebecca Burns - Bruce Village Chiropractic (Port Elgin).

Japanese Knotweed and Garlic Mustard Designated as Local Weed

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee approved to pursue the designation of Japanese Knotweed and Garlic Mustard as a local noxious weeds. Bruce County’s Area Weed Inspector regulates potentially damaging weeds before they become widespread using the Weed Control Act’s mechanisms of enforcement. According to EDD MapS Ontario, (Early Detection & Distribution Mapping System), Japanese Knotweed and Garlic Mustard are present in Bruce County, but are not as prevalent as they are in other jurisdictions in Ontario. Final approval from the Minister of Agriculture is required to make these bylaws official.

Updated Regulation for Parking on County Roads

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee approved the regulation of parking, standing, or stopping of vehicles on County Roads and Designated Areas within the Bruce County Roads System. This by-law allows Bruce County to designate and enforce “no parking” areas, so to mitigate liability. 

Teeswater River Bridge Replacement moving forward in Paisley 

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee approved the preliminary design and preferred detour for the Teeswater River Bridge Replacement Project in Paisley on Bruce Road 3. The preliminary design of the new bridge has considered, not only structural, loading, and flooding criteria, but also the aesthetic preferences expressed at Public Information Meetings held in 2020 and 2021. Paisley is recognized as an artistic village and the community would like to ensure the new bridge is not in contrast to this reputation. Feedback also suggested that an in-town detour was the preferred option, despite a higher project cost. Bruce County is finalizing the Class EA Study in the summer of 2021 and will publish Environmental Study Report when complete. Construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2022. The old Teeswater River Bridge is an 85 year old, 3-span concrete T-beam bridge that was constructed in 1935. 

ATV Traffic on Bruce Road 3 in Paisley 

The Transportation & Environmental Services Committee approved that All Terrain Vehicle Traffic and Multipurpose Off Highway Utility and Recreational Vehicles be permitted on Bruce Road 3 between Balaklava Street and the Bruce-Saugeen Townline in Paisley until repairs are completed on the adjacent Rail Trail. The By-law that regulates and controls movement of “All-Terrain Vehicles” (ATV’s) and “Multipurpose Off Highway Utility and Recreational Vehicles” (Off-Road Vehicles or UTV) on sections of roads under the County’s jurisdiction has been updated. On June 5, 2021, a fire caused extensive damage to the Willow Creek Bridge on the Rail Trail in the western section of Paisley. The bridge is now closed and barricaded until a solution is developed and repairs can be carried out. A temporary detour has been put in place to allow the public to use the rest of the Rail Trail.

Capital Projects Status Report – June 2021

The 2021 capital budget for the Transportation and Environmental Services Department (TES) is $11,790,401. Approximatively $3,250,000 is expected to be carried forward from previous years capital budgets. The following lists provide a status update of the TES capital projects for 2021:

• Cold in Place Recycling BR 3 and BR 4 east of Walkerton ($2,313,336) 
• Micro Surfacing BR 2, 9, 19 and 29, West Road ($1,176,699)
• Widening and Rehabilitation BR 6East Mildmay to Grey Road 10 ($150,000) 
• Cold in Place BR8, from BR 14 to Sauble Beach - Culvert replacements only, paving deferred to 2022 ($205,708) 
• Pulverize, pave, and safety improvement at intersection BR 8 and 13 ($31,100) 
• Replace Storm Sewer BR 15 Inverhuron ($35,000) 
• BR 25 Improvements and BR 33 Realignment/New Construction. Phase 3 - BR 25 Bruce St to Goderich St. - Roundabout deferred to Phase 4 ($5,433,843) 
• BR 25 Improvements and BR 33 Realignment/New Construction. Phase 4 - BR 33 - Ridge St to Hwy 21 ($710,000)
• BR 6 Teeswater Property settlement ($20,000) 
• New Signage BR 12 Formosa ($33,000) 
• KIPP Trail Kincardine, Financial Contribution ($70,000)
• Reconstruction BR 30 Chesley ($46,000) 
• Rehabilitate and Reconstruct West Road ($150,000) 
• Luminaires BR 2 and BR 3 intersection ($35,000)
• Luminaires BR 8 and BR 14 intersection ($30,000) 
• Land Purchases at Hwy 9 and BR 1 ($54,000) 
• West Ridge Development Kincardine Phase 1 ($10,000) 
• Replace Durham St Bridge, BR 4, Walkerton ($50,000) 
• Replace Steffler Bridge, BR 12 North of Belmore ($742,979) 
• Replace Culvert BR 86 west of BR 7 ($230,500)
• Arran Township Shed Bridge, Invermay ($78,000) 
• Oswald Bridge Replacement ($25,000) 
• Repair Blackwell Bridge BR 23 ($742,000) 
• Construction New McCurdy Bridge ($12,000) 
• Replace Superstructure Reid Bridge, BR 6, West of Teeswater ($1,290,000) 
• Replace Teeswater River Bridge BR 3 Paisley ($200,000) 
• Repair Culvert BR 86 Lucknow east of Havelock St ($6,500) 
• Repair Saugeen River Bridge BR 4 West of Hanover, financial contribution only ($364,000)
• Resurface the Rail Trail between Walkerton and Mildmay ($100,000) 
• Expand the facilities at the Walkerton Yard ($75,000)

This publication identifies highlights from recent Bruce County Council and Committee meetings. Bruce County’s Office of the CAO maintains complete agendas and minutes from all Council and Committee meetings, which can be reviewed at www.brucecounty.on.ca/government/agendas-and-minutes