Lanark County Media Release - May 11, 2022

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Wednesday, May 11.

Procedural By-Law Amended for Electronic Meetings: Council has amended its procedural by-law to incorporate processes for electronic participation in meetings and a policy for livestreaming. This follows a report by Clerk Jasmin Ralph at the corporate services committee meeting last month to consider the permanent adoption of electronic participation in meetings by council members in both a hybrid and electronic setting.

The by-law amendments allow members to participate electronically in meetings that take place in council chambers for council, committees of the whole and the land division committee, as well as other meetings at the discretion of staff and members. There must be a quorum of members physically present in order for the meetings to proceed.

The by-law sets limitations on how often a member can participate electronically. Members chairing meetings must be physically present. There are also provisions around equipment, notification of intent to participate electronically and privacy for in-camera sessions. Fully electronic meetings may be held in certain circumstances, such as severe weather or states of emergency. The county will continue to livestream meetings, but will not make recordings available to the public after the meeting takes place. Meetings of council are open to the public for physical attendance. For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Future of Blakeney Bridge Considered: Council passed a motion authorizing an enhanced inspection and a review of load restrictions for the Blakeney Bridge, as well as issuing a request for proposals to complete an environmental assessment of the bridge.

The bridge crosses the Mississippi River between Almonte and Pakenham and is located on Blakeney Road just west of Blakeney. At the public works committee meeting last month, Public Works Manager Sean Derouin explained the bridge consists of three structures and was built in 1912, currently serving an average of 300 cars per day. “The structures are deficient in load carry capacity, with a 12-tonne load limit imposed, and it has a substandard width with only a single 4.9-metre lane.”

Derouin explained that when the bridge was built, it was considered a boundary bridge because it spanned two townships. Such bridges were typically transferred to upper tiers (the county) to gain eligibility for provincial funds for boundary bridges to help with rehabilitation or reconstruction.

Blakeney Bridge has been a county bridge since at least the 1940s, although with lower-tier amalgamations in 1998 it now falls entirely within Mississippi Mills. Boundary bridge funding ceased in 1996. Since it is not on a county road, the bridge is considered to be primarily for local use, but Derouin indicated the county still carries responsibility.

Recent studies have recommended the bridge be rehabilitated or replaced in the next three to six years based on possible risks. It also recommended reducing the load posting to 5 tonnes and closing the bridge no later than 2026 if significant capital investments are not made. Major rehabilitation is estimated to cost more than $1 million and would extend service for 15 to 20 years. Replacement is estimated at between $2 million and $3 million to extend service for 75 years.

For more information, contact Sean Derouin, Public Works Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3194.

EORN Provides Update: Council received a progress report on Eastern Ontario Regional Network’s cell gap project and current government funding for connectivity. This follows a presentation at the economic development committee of the whole meeting last month by EORN’s Jim Pine.

The project goals are to achieve 99 per cent coverage on major roadways and residences in eastern Ontario for making and receiving cell phone calls; 95 per cent coverage on major roadways and residences with a service level to support e-mail, web browsing and social media services; and 85 per cent coverage on major roadways and residences with high-definition service to support video conferencing, movie streaming and other more data-intensive applications.

Pine provided an overview of the project, which includes upgrading about 300 existing sites to support LTE phones and 5G, building 265 new sites over the next four years and upgrading towers. “All work is scheduled to be done by 2025,” he said, noting coverage goals will be met or exceeded and service level agreements will be in place for five years post construction to ensure capacity is maintained. Project benefits include closing coverage gaps and increasing capacity, improving public safety and service provision, improved tourism experience and capacity for future technology.

The project began in January 2021 and Rogers was announced as the successful bidder in March 2021. Archaeological assessments began in September 2021. Since then, almost half of existing cell towers have been upgraded and construction began in March on new sites.

“There is an over $300-million-dollar investment in eastern Ontario before in-kind contributions or community benefits are included,” Pine said. Rogers is investing at least $150 million, with the provincial and federal governments providing $71 million each and member municipalities of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus contributing $10 million, including $581,851 from Lanark County.

Pine highlighted the steps in the process to complete construction, which includes working with municipalities, consultations with First Nations communities and organizations, and archaeological assessments.

Pine also outlined the provincial initiative program for broadband expansion, which calls for all of Ontario to be able to access 50/10 speeds by the end of 2025. “The province held a reverse auction on blocks of areas throughout the province with no or limited connectivity,” Pine explained. “Internet service providers and telecoms were able to bid, and the province is awarding projects and entering into contracts with the service providers.”

He said municipalities should be aware of impact of the project in terms of right of ways and passive infrastructure, staff training, application timelines, disputes and compliance. For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Valley Heartland Outlines Action Plan: Council received an update on the Lanark County Economic Development Action Plan as part of a presentation at last month’s economic development committee meeting from Valley Heartland Community Futures Development Corporation Business Development and Program Officer Amber Coville.