Media Release: County Council December 11, 2024

For immediate release
Dec. 11, 2024

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held Dec. 11, 2024.

2025 Budget Approved: Lanark County Council has approved the 2025 Lanark County budget – themed “Renewed Energy” – with an overall budget increase of 3 per cent after an estimated assessment growth of 1.8 per cent.

The county will collect $45 million from property taxpayers this year, up from $43 million last year. Estimated gross expenditures are $134 million with revenues coming in at $89 million. “The 2025 budget reflects an investment in sustainable energy with continued dedication to infrastructure investment, staff retention, housing solutions, emergency care and community support with ‘renewed energy,’” said CAO Kurt Greaves.

At the special budget meeting held Nov. 22, Greaves outlined major capital and projects including 41 kilometres of road improvements and $2.5 million in bridge rehabilitations, generator and switch replacements at Lanark Lodge, energy efficiency upgrades for county housing stock, 15 new affordable housing units and survey work on the K&P Trail. Several major projects are funded through grants. The projected reserve balance at the end of 2024 is $56 million.

Some highlights in the 2025 budget include:
• Long-term Care: Provincial funding has increased to levels closer to what is needed for staffing level requirements to achieve mandated direct care hours. The addition of international nursing staff will alleviate dependency on high-cost agency staffing and will stabilize staffing levels.
• Social Services: There is a commitment to housing initiatives with increases to the Portable Housing Benefit, investment in housing stock, proposed enhancements to the Bridge House supported housing and continued implementation of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care system.
• Public Works: This includes the completion of Blakeney Bridge and commencement of Five Arches Bridge in Pakenham, as well as the rehabilitation of 25 km of road with paved shoulders and micro-surfacing of 16 km.
• Economic Development: There is a continued commitment to upgrades to the Tay/Havelock Trail, stabilized staffing in the planning department and investment in the Business Retention and Expansion program.
• Emergency Services: The budget reflects requests to replace aging medical equipment/fleet, an anticipated increased to the required Health Unit contribution and an increase to the local hospital grant contributions.

The public works budget represents 37 per cent of the county levy, followed by emergency services at 22 per cent, social services at 19 and long-term care at 10. Administration/governance and economic development make up the remainder. Across all departments, including Lanark Lodge, the county employs 409 full- and part-time staff.

Greaves noted that to meet asset replacement costs, $15.9 million needs to be invested annually into capital. The 2025 budget includes $17.5 million for capital investment. Total debt at year end is $341,000 and is related to Lanark County Housing Corporation taking over two non-profit housing providers in 2008. It will be paid by the end of 2026. “There has been no new debt issued since 2010 and there is no new debt in the 2025 budget,” Greaves said. “The practice has been to self-finance major projects from reserves and pay back reserves, which has the most benefit to the ratepayer.”

With assessment growth at 1.8 per cent, residential ratepayers with a property assessed at $500,000 can expect to see an increase of $60 on the county portion of their tax bill. The bill also includes the local municipal and the education portions. Tax rates and ratios for 2025 will be set by county council in the new year. For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Natural Heritage Systems Workplan Introduced: Lanark County Council passed a motion directing staff to proceed with next steps for natural heritage system (NHS) planning, and to bring a detailed workplan, working group terms of reference and communication plan back to council for consideration.

Climate Environmental Coordinator Michelle Rabbetts explained NHS planning aims to maintain, restore and enhance ecologically sustainable and resilient landscapes. It is a strategic approach to addressing biodiversity loss, land use change and the uncertainties of climate change to ensure clean air, clean water and a rich diversity of plant and animal life to sustain present and future generations.

NHS planning goes beyond looking at features, recognizing that protecting particular areas in isolation, such as a woodland or wetland, is inadequate. “The NHS is a network of interconnected natural features, such as forests, rivers, wetlands and agricultural lands,” Rabbetts said. “It also generally includes areas of natural and scientific interest (ANSIs); significant wildlife habitat; public land, trails and greenspaces; and natural hazard areas, including floodplains.” In addition, natural linkages support wildlife movement and natural processes necessary to maintain diversity, natural functions and ecosystems.

Rabbetts indicated the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (PPS) requires a long-term natural heritage strategy in specific ecoregions within about 40 per cent of the county. The county’s Integrated Community Sustainability Plan (ICSP) and Climate Action Plan both include natural heritage themes. Several neighbouring counties and local municipalities have an NHS within their official plans or are working on one. Lanark County’s is to be completed by the Climate Environmental Department in collaboration with the Planning Department.

Rabbetts said potential members for the working group include community representatives from economic development, agriculture, conservation and recreation (e.g., anglers and hunters). Staff would provide updates to council on key issues and questions coming from the working group throughout the process.

The workplan outlines a phased approach to develop the NHS over two to four years that includes information gathering, creating the strategy with mapping, reviewing and updating the strategy post-approval, and finally incorporating the NHS strategy in official plan amendments to environmental planning policies.

“Local municipalities benefit from a county-wide NHS to help inform planning decisions since natural heritage planning is a regional issue and is required by the PPS,” Rabbetts said, adding the strategy helps the county to meet climate action goals for protecting the environment and enhancing ecosystems services that are vital to human health and safety, such as flood control, soil retention, water purification, improved air quality and more. For more information, contact Michelle Rabbetts, Climate Environmental Coordinator, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3114.

Consultations for Aggregate Resources Master Plan to be Set: Lanark County Council has passed a motion to receive a report on the Aggregate Resources Master Plan by Meridian Planning and to release it for a consultation period to receive feedback from local councils, the public and stakeholders.

Planning Manager Mike Dwyer explained the master plan is intended to provide detailed guidance on aggregate resources within Lanark County. “Aggregate resources are identified in the Provincial Planning Statement 2024 (PPS) as a key natural resource to be identified and protected in the long-term,” he said. The county’s current official plan does not detail the resources, only extraction sites. Some local plans include aggregate resource designations.

“Aggregates underpin our economy and infrastructure, and the province has identified their economical extraction and market access as key to the province’s long-term prosperity,” Dwyer said. “Notwithstanding that, no land use priority exists in isolation. While significant policy weight is provided to aggregate resources, it needs to be balanced against the other public interests inherent in the PPS and local community. Striking this balance in policy will be the key objective, and challenge, of this project as it moves from the report to an official plan amendment.”

The Meridian draft report details the existing aggregate policy context, reviews the technical/mapping data contained in the provincial Aggregate Resource Inventory Paper and provides options on key policy questions. Once the study is adopted, it is anticipated an official plan amendment would be commenced in 2025 at the same time as outcomes of the county’s Growth Management Plan, which is also in progress.

Feedback from the consultation process will be gathered and reviewed, with any updates to the report coming back to council in March or April for final consideration before working towards an official plan amendment later in the year. Anyone interested in staying up to date on the project and opportunities for consultation should contact Mike Dwyer, Planning Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520 or mdwyer@lanarkcounty.ca.

Transitional Speed Zones Established for Clayton and McDonalds Corners: Lanark County Council has approved a by-law regarding approach speeds in McDonalds Corners and Clayton. The purpose of these transitional speed zones is to gradually reduce the speed limit to allow drivers to adjust their speed to a safer limit upon entering a rural community or similar area.

Public Works Manager Sean Derouin indicated the county received requests for speed management in Clayton and McDonalds Corners. Traffic data was collected over the summer and supported the new transitional speed zones.
Currently, County Road 9 (Tatlock Road) at Clayton and County Road 12 (McDonalds Corners Road) at McDonalds Corners have speed limits dropping from 80km/h to 50, preventing time to slow down to the posted speed limit. Implementing a transitional speed zone would create a 60km/h speed posting, allowing more time for drivers to slow down.

Derouin said the collected data showed drivers approaching the hamlets at excessively high speeds. Ideally, the policy will reduce aggressive driving and create a safer environment for residents. A year-long education and enforcement trial is planned to monitor the effectiveness of the policy. Updated data will be collected. For more information, contact Sean Derouin, Public Works Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3194.

County to Assist with New Lanark Archives Location: County Council passed a motion directing staff to work with Archives Lanark to find a permanent location for their operations.

CAO Kurt Greaves explained over the past decade staff have been assisting in the search for a new, larger location for Archives Lanark. Some locations investigated have included Rosedale Hall in Montague, Port Elmsley Hall, Inge Va in Perth, Glen Tay School in Tay Valley, Algonquin College in Perth and the Beckwith Administration Building. Two potential options are being explored further. One is Algonquin College in Perth, where there is an empty classroom that may be available to rent. This would complement their library, which includes Lanark County land registry books and a full-time library technician that would allow the Archives to be open for longer hours. A second option is the lower level of Beckwith’s new administration building. This would require some capital expense to convert it to a functional space.

A new location would allow for Archives Lanark to potentially expand their service as a repository for significant records from across the county as well as further preserve local heritage. “Lanark County is fortunate to have Archives Lanark working to ensure the preservation of our historic records,” Greaves said. “Continued support of Archives Lanark is a strategic priority of the current Lanark County Council.” For more information, contact Kurt Greaves, CAO, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1101.

Upcoming Meetings: County Council, Wednesday, Jan. 15, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Jan. 15 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Jan. 15 (following Community Services). County Council, Wednesday, Jan. 29, 5 p.m.; Public Works, Jan. 29 (following County Council); Economic Development, Jan. 29 (following Public Works). Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like "LanarkCounty1" on Facebook and follow "@LanarkCounty1" on Instagram!