Media Release - June 21st, 2023 Council Highlights

For immediate release

June 21, 2023

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held June 21, 2023.

Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Day Proclaimed: Lanark County Council has proclaimed June 21, 2023 to be Mayors’ Monarch Pledge Day in Lanark County.

The proclamation highlights the monarch butterfly “as an iconic North American species whose multigenerational migration and metamorphosis from caterpillar to butterfly has captured the imagination of millions” and recognizes the significant declines in population. Less than 1 per cent of the western monarch population remains, and the eastern population has fallen by as much as 90 per cent.

“Lanark County recognizes that human health ultimately depends on well-functioning ecosystems and that biodiverse regions can better support food production, healthy soil and air quality and can foster healthy connections between humans and wildlife,” the proclamation states. “Cities, towns and counties have a critical role to play to help save the monarch butterfly, and the County of Lanark has played a leadership role by partnering in the Canadian Wildlife Federations’ Monarch butterfly recovery project in Eastern Ontario.”

Warden Peter McLaren (Lanark Highlands Reeve) signed the National Wildlife Federation’s Mayors’ Monarch Pledge on March 1, 2023, officially committing to taking meaningful action to protect the monarch butterfly. He said citizens can make a difference by planting native milkweed and nectar plants to provide habitat for the monarch and pollinators. “I challenge other local officials across our beautiful county to take a stand with me so that the monarch butterfly will once again flourish across the continent.”

For more information, contact Elizabeth Gallant, Climate Environmental Coordinator, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3114.

2022 Auditor’s Report Accepted: Lanark County Council has approved the audited financial statements for 2022. Lori Huber with KPMG Enterprise Eastern Ontario presented the statements at a special corporate services committee meeting on Wednesday.

Huber said KPMG is issuing a clean audit opinion for 2022. “Thank you to the management team for all of their hard work getting us here today.” She indicated the accumulated municipal equity of the corporation has increased year over year by about $14 million, leaving a strong balance sheet for 2022.

Cash flow decreased due to a decision to take some money from cash to long-term investment. “There is a very healthy increase in those long-term investments – an increase of about $11 million.”

Current liabilities are showing a significant increase from last year related to the unspent portion of funds received for the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care program showing on the books. Long-term liabilities have decreased year over year and no new debt was taken on. Tangible capital assets have increased from last year by about $7 million and include roads, bridges, culverts and trails (65 per cent), buildings (16 per cent), land (12 per cent) and the rest consists of work-in-progress, leasehold improvements, machinery and equipment, and vehicles.

Huber said the county has had a healthy increase in reserve funds. “The right number (for reserves) very much depends on the plan for the future. As you’re contemplating longer-term financial planning, including reserves is part of the puzzle.” She said the ministry looks for a reserve benchmark of 20% of operating expenses and the county is well above that.

The county benefited from a “significant lift in investment income” in 2022, as market rates increased. “That was a significant positive driver for revenue this year.” Huber noted expenses increased by about $5 million across all departments, with inflation being part of the issue. “Salary and wages are a significant portion at 31 per cent,” she said, adding the norm for municipalities tends to be between 26 and 34, placing Lanark County in the middle of that grouping.

Following a discussion about tax increases and reserve levels, CAO Kurt Greaves noted the county is at 10 per cent of its total asset value in reserves. “I think it’s a number that makes sense,” he said, noting the surplus from investment income. “It benefits the taxpayer when we don’t have to borrow and our tax increase this year was less than 2 per cent. It’s a balancing act, but we’re in a very fortunate position. We’re strong financially, but there’s always pressures.” For more information, contact Kevin Wills, Treasurer, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1323.

Andrewsville Bridge To Reopen: Council has approved the reopening of the Andrewsville Bridge with some conditions.

Public Works Manager Sean Derouin explained the bridge was scheduled to reopen on March 31 after its routine closure over the winter to reduce further corrosion from de-icing materials. Prior to the reopening date, the bridge passed a load test to open at 5 tonnes, but flow was observed penetrating the base of the causeway, prompting further assessment.

WSP conducted a review of the causeway when water levels allowed in an attempt to determine if there was any noticeable change that may indicate the causeway had been deteriorating year after year. They indicated it is reasonable to assume there have not been large changes since the 2021 site inspection.

Derouin outlined a monitoring program that includes:

• Installing a remote live-feed camera to allow staff to monitor the causeway at any given time

• Bi-weekly field visits to investigate potential clues of change

• Precise geospatial measurements at specific locations on the causeway surface and walls to monitor potential movement on a bi-monthly basis

• Contracting WSP to perform annual site inspections using their recent observations and measurements for comparison

The motion approves the reopening with the enhanced monitoring in place and notes that council recognizes the increased liability and risk related to the dry stone causeway leading to bridge. The reopening is contingent on approval of the Council of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, which shares jurisdiction of the bridge.

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

Community Support Services Review Received: As part of ongoing orientation, council received a report on community support services (CSS) at the community services committee meeting earlier this month by Brooke Coutts, community support services manager.

CSS includes six full-time Developmental Support Services (DSS) caseworkers and three full-time Homeless Response Team and Adult Supportive Housing caseworkers.

Coutts explained the DSS program supports adults with a developmental disability to live on their own. Services provided are determined by the participant based on personal goals. Developmental Services Ontario manages the application process and makes referrals to the county’s program, which includes case management, individual service plans, funding administration to participate in various programs and services, advocacy and practical counselling, crisis management and community liaison.

The Homeless Response Team helps individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. It focuses on prevention and retention when possible, with short-term case management and emergency hotel stays. Victim Services is contracted to provide after-hours support. The team administers provincial Homelessness Prevention funding, and aims to prevent, address and reduce homelessness. Key components include:

• Housing Assistance Program: Assists people experiencing homelessness to obtain or retain housing or to remain housed. It includes short-term/emergency assistance in the form of rent and utilities arrears or deposits, moving costs and emergency repairs.

• Adult Supportive Housing: Helps eligible residents who require assistance with some daily living tasks. The county contracts with four for-profit providers offering about 75 beds.

• By-Name List: A real-time list of people experiencing homelessness where people move through a coordinated access system that streamlines the process to access housing and supports.

• Emergency shelter solutions

• Case management: A collaborative and planned approach to help people who experience homelessness to get services and supports needed to move forward.

• Community outreach: Includes free public training and presentations, homelessness proclamation and the Yes In My Back Yard campaign.

For more information, contact Brooke Coutts, Community Services Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2408.

2022 Housing and Homelessness Report Card Released: The county has released its 2022 report card on the 10-Year Housing and Homelessness Plan. The plan aims to increase the supply of affordable housing; plan for a range of housing choices; stabilize and revitalize current social housing stock; ensure an adequate supply of appropriate, supportive and universal housing; educate the community on local housing needs and offer incentive to developers building affordable housing.

Highlights of the report card for 2022 include:

• Last year 115 people were housed from the wait list. One-bedroom units in highest demand.

• There are a total of 764 units in the community housing portfolio, with 517 provided by Lanark County Housing Corporation (LCHC), 182 by housing providers and 65 through rent supplement agreements with private landlords.

• LCHC spent $700,000 on capital projects, improving 97 units in Perth and Smiths Falls.

• $409,303 was distributed to housing providers in Canada Ontario Community Housing Initiative funds to support repair and renewal of existing housing stock.

• Phase 4 and 5 of Social Services Relief Funds from the province to provide support through COVID were allocated to the construction of 39 new affordable housing units in Smiths Falls.

• Three families became homeowners under the Homeownership Program, which provides down payment assistance in the form of a forgivable loan to eligible households.

• $287,000 was spent on 33 projects in the Renovate Lanark program to provide forgivable loans to eligible families for essential home repairs and accessibility modifications.

• Three projects qualified for the Insulate Lanark funding to assist eligible homeowners with insulation upgrades to promote greater energy efficiency.

• Under the Investment in Affordable Housing program, 52 households received rent support and there are 65 rent supplement units, including 12 to support women and children fleeing domestic violence. Portable housing benefits assisted 166 households through monthly payments.

• Four clients received supplementary home care services through the Homemakers Program, 12 tenant households received mental health/hoarding disorder support services through Ray of Sunshine, and there was funding for 65 beds in the Adult Supportive Housing program.

• The Housing Assistance Program for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness helped more than 850 people.

• Funds were provided to support the Mobile Crisis Response Team (Lanark County Mental Health and police partnership), the Backpack Program providing kits of essentials, youth transitional housing through Cornerstone Landing Youth Services and after-hours emergency support through Victim Services.

• Thirty-one people on the By-Name List (those experiencing homelessness) were housed. There were 64 new referrals.

• Several information sessions were held, the Yes In My Back Yard (YIMBY) campaign ran from Nov. 21 to 25 and National Housing Day was proclaimed on Nov. 22.

Warden Peter McLaren (Lanark Highlands Reeve) recognized there is still work to be done. “We remain committed to the goals and strategic directions of the 10-year plan. I encourage everyone to learn more about housing and homelessness issues in our community. Safe, affordable housing benefits everyone.”

The full report card can be found at https://lanarkcounty.civicweb.net/FileStorage/7A049A604CCF4DD097AC1048A0436C4E-2023%20Housing%20and%20Homelessness%20Report%20Card.pdf. For more information, contact Shawna Stone, Housing Services Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2401.

Child Care Access and Inclusion Plan Received: Council received a report on the expansion of licensed child care spaces that are part of the Canada-Wide Early Learning and Child Care (CWELCC) plan as well as the update to the Child Care and Early Years Service System Plan to reflect the expansion plan changes.

In a report to the community services committee, Children’s Services Manager Tammy Kealey-Donaldson explained the CWELCC agreement was signed between the Ontario and federal governments in March 2022 to give more Ontario families access to high-quality, affordable, flexible and inclusive child care. The province released its CWELCC Access and Inclusion Framework in December to allocate funding for new spaces for children ages 0 to 5. Lanark County has been allocated funding for 170 community-based spaces from 2022 to 2026.

Kealey-Donaldson reported the province requires the county to identify priority neighbourhoods for the spaces with consideration to provincially established socio-economic factors, including low-income, vulnerability, diversity, special needs, Francophone families, Indigenous families and families needing flexible models of care. The county has identified priority neighbourhoods in Smiths Falls, Carleton Place, Lanark Highlands, Mississippi Mills, Perth and Beckwith. The access and inclusion factors must be incorporated into the county’s existing five-year service plan that was set in 2019.

Kealey-Donaldson noted the initiative is fully funded by the provincial and federal governments, and the province has committed to providing grants to eligible child care providers that expand under the county’s approved expansion plan. “By identifying priority neighbourhoods based on socio-economic factors, Lanark County can better serve the needs of underserved communities and populations within the community,” she said. For more information, contact Tammy Kealey-Donaldson, Children’s Services Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 2301.

Upcoming Meetings: PLEASE NOTE: There are no regular meetings in July. County Council, Wednesday, Aug. 2, 5 p.m.; Community Services, Aug. 2 (following County Council); Corporate Services, Aug. 2 (following Community Services). County Council, Wednesday, Aug. 16, 5 p.m.; Public Works, Aug. 16 (following County Council); Economic Development, Aug. 16 (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 Twitter!