Council / Committee Meetings – Thursday, December 23, 2021

Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) Land Claim – Settlement and Transfer of Lands to SON

Bruce County and the Saugeen Ojibway Nation (SON) have reached an out-of-court agreement, settling Bruce County’s involvement in SON’s long-standing legal action in relation to parts of the Saugeen (Bruce) Peninsula. This agreement is a positive step towards fostering further cooperation and reconciliation between Bruce County and SON, and settles a claim that SON launched 25 years ago, which went to trial in 2019. After several years of discussions, Bruce County and SON have reached a settlement that includes the transfer of approximately 306 acres of County Forest within the Lindsay Tract and Amabel Tract. The full terms of the settlement are confidential, and the parties are working together to satisfy the conditions contained therein. Bruce County Council must formalize the land transfer by passing a by-law at the next Bruce County Council Meeting scheduled for January 13, 2022. SON and Bruce County are committed to further growing and strengthening our long-lasting relationship - one built on mutual respect and collaborative benefit, in the spirit of truth and ongoing reconciliation.

Bruce County Calls for Review of Emergency Department Service Reductions

The Executive Committee supported the Municipality of Arran-Elderslie’s request for the Province of Ontario to consider conducting a third-party review, at their own expense, of Iocal health crisis measures, including service reductions enacted for emergency departments at the Chesley and Walkerton Hospitals. Due to the urgency of this matter, the Executive Committee also approved County Councillor Chris Peabody’s request for a contribution of $2,500, funded from the Tax Stabilization Fund, to share in the cost of an expedited, independent third-party review of South Bruce Grey Health Centre’s service reductions. These service reductions may result in difficulties for patients to attend alternative hospitals if emergency care is needed overnight. These reductions continue to put a healthcare strain on rural communities such as Arran-Elderslie, Brockton, Hanover, Chatsworth, and South Bruce. The Executive Committee also expressed sincere thanks and appreciation to all healthcare workers who are going above and beyond in our Bruce County hospitals, long term care homes, and pharmacies, safeguarding our region through this pandemic.

Product Care Amended Service Agreement

The Transportation and Environmental Services Committee approved the Municipal Industry Stewardship Plan (ISP) Materials Services Agreement between Product Care Association of Canada and Bruce County. The amended agreement allows Bruce County to continue providing event-based collection events, while receiving compensation from PCA. The amended agreement contains minor changes to ensure collection events are run in compliance with the new Hazardous and Special Products (HSP) regulations (effective October 1, 2021). 

Machinery Replacement Reserve Fund to be Utilized for 2022 Purchase of Licensed Vehicles

The Transportation and Environmental Services Committee approved that $27,000 of the 2021 budgeted $61,000 for a one-ton pickup that was not purchased in 2021 be used to assist in purchasing three half-ton pickup trucks that are underbudgeted by $27,000 in 2022. The Committee also approved that the remaining $34,000 of the $61,000 be placed in the equipment reserve for purchase of a one-ton pickup in 2023. 2021 pickup truck tenders have been cancelled or non-awarded due to vehicle supply chain shortages causing over-budget proposals with options not specified in the tender.

2021-2022 Winter Maintenance Book

Bruce County’s 2021-2022 Winter Maintenance Book is provided each winter season to the Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) Committee, Municipal Public Works Managers, Emergency Services, and other interested parties. The Winter Maintenance Book includes Road Report Updates, Climate Change Strategy, Level of Service description for Winter, information on Ceasing Operations and Closing Roads, and Winter Maintenance Agreements. The Bruce County T&ES Department expects that road users will continue to recognize the uncertainty and abrupt changes in winter conditions and therefore recognize that they must continue to “drive to meet the conditions of the road”. To inform the public of the current weather and road conditions, the County has partnered with Grey County Transportation, Huron County Transportation, the Ministry of Transportation, and the Ontario Provincial Police to maintain a winter public safety media campaign. A part of this campaign is the 1-866-266-7569 winter road conditions hotline and the expansion of the Bruce County T&ES website which reports road conditions throughout each of the County’s four patrol areas. A maintenance management system will be implemented allowing the County to better track winter maintenance activities with the view to increase accountability, ensure that service levels are met, and to identify areas for improvement.

Capital Projects Status Report – December 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) – completed.
• Micro Surfacing BR 2, 9, 19 and 29, West Road ($1,176,699) – completed.
• Widening and Rehabilitation BR 6East Mildmay to Grey Road 10 ($150,000) 
• Culvert Replacements BR8, from BR 14 to Sauble Beach ($205,708) – completed. 
• 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. – completed, 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) - deferred
• BR 6 Teeswater Property settlement ($20,000) – completed. 
• New Signage BR 12 Formosa ($33,000) – completed.
• KIPP Trail Kincardine, Financial Contribution ($70,000) – completed.
• Reconstruction BR 30 Chesley ($46,000) – completed.
• Rehabilitate and Reconstruct West Road ($150,000) 
• Luminaires BR 2 and BR 3 intersection ($35,000) – deferred.
• Luminaires BR 8 and BR 14 intersection ($30,000) – deferred.
• Land Transfer at Hwy 9 and BR 1 ($54,000) – deferred.
• West Ridge Development Kincardine Phase 1 ($10,000) – completed.
• Replace Durham St Bridge, BR 4, Walkerton ($50,000) 
• Replace Steffler Bridge, BR 12 North of Belmore ($742,979) – completed.
• Replace Culvert BR 86 west of BR 7 ($230,500) – completed.
• Arran Township Shed Bridge, Invermay ($78,000) – completed.
• Oswald Bridge Replacement ($25,000) – completed.
• Repair Blackwell Bridge BR 23 ($742,000) – completed.
• Construction New McCurdy Bridge ($12,000) – completed.
• Replace Superstructure Reid Bridge, BR 6, West of Teeswater ($1,290,000) – completed.
• Replace Teeswater River Bridge BR 3 Paisley ($340,000) 
• Repair Culvert BR 86 Lucknow east of Havelock St ($6,500) – deferred.
• Repair Saugeen River Bridge BR 4 West of Hanover, financial contribution only ($364,000) – completed.
• Resurface the Rail Trail between Walkerton and Mildmay ($100,000) – completed.

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