03 - February 11, 2025 County Council MinutesElgin County Council
Minutes
February 11, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Council Chambers
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON
Members Present: Warden Grant Jones
Deputy Warden Ed Ketchabaw
Councillor Dominique Giguere
Councillor Mark Widner
Councillor Jack Couckuyt
Councillor Todd Noble
Councillor Mike Hentz
Councillor Richard Leatham
Members Absent: Councillor Andrew Sloan
Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services
Michele Harris, Director of Homes and Seniors Services (virtual)
Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services
Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services
Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning and Development
Andrea Loughlean, Manager of Emergency Management &
Elgin -Middlesex Regional Fire School (virtual)
Carolyn Krahn, Manager of Economic Development, Tourism &
Strategic Initiatives
Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative
Services/Deputy Clerk
Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator
1. Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:00 a.m. with Warden Jones in the chair.
2. Adoption of Minutes
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on January 28, 2025 be
adopted.
Motion Carried.
3. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
4. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations
4.1 Dawn Maziak, Board Chair and David James, Board Vice Chair - West
Elgin Community Health Centre Presentation
Dawn Maziak, Board Chair, and David James, Board Vice Chair of the
West Elgin Community Health Centre provided a presentation to County
Council that provided an overview of the Centre's current challenges and
advocacy efforts.
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the presentation from the West Elgin Community
Health Centre be received and filed; and
THAT Elgin County Council request a delegation with the Ministry of
Health at the AMO Conference in August advocating for increased access
to healthcare in rural communities.
Motion Carried.
5. Committee of the Whole
Moved by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT we do now move into Committee of the Whole.
Motion Carried.
6. Reports of Council, Outside Boards and Staff
6.1 Warden Jones - Warden's Activity Report (January 2025)
Warden Jones presented the report that details his activities for the month
of January 2025.
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Warden's Activity Report (January
2025)" from Warden Jones dated February 11, 2025 be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
6.2 Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives -
Elgincentives Application — Tax Increment Equivalent Grant for DHC
Harris Enterprises
The Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives
presented the report seeking Council's approval of a Tax Increment
Equivalent Grant application submitted by DHC Harris Enterprises Inc.
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Elgincentives Application - Tax
Increment Equivalent Grant for DHC Harris Enterprises" from the Manager
of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives dated February
11, 2025 be received and filed; and
THAT the Elgincentives application submitted by DHC Harris Enterprises
Inc. (Evelyn's Sausage Kitchen) for the Tax Increment Equivalent Grant be
approved by Council; and
THAT the grant be applied only to the commercial and industrial
assessment portion of the project (and not any other tax classes); and
THAT the grant be applied to 100% of the County portion of the tax
increase, decreasing by 10% for a period of 5 years; and
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THAT the Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to sign the financial
agreement for the approved project as described in the application
package for the applicant DHC Harris Enterprises Inc.
Motion Carried.
6.3 Director of Engineering Services - Transportation Master Plan —
Phase 1 — Needs and Opportunities Update Report
Council recessed at 9:57 a.m. and reconvened at 10:05 a.m.
The Director of Engineering Services presented the updated
Transportation Master Plan Phase 1 report for Council's information.
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "Transportation Master Plan — Phase 1
— Needs and Opportunities Update Report" from the Director of
Engineering Services dated February 11, 2025 be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
7. Council Correspondence
7.1 Items for Consideration
None.
7.2 Items for Information (Consent Agenda)
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Item #7.2.1 be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
7.2.1 Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus Media Release, January 29,
2024 - Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus Chair to Take a Leave of
Absence.
8. Other Business
8.1 Statements/Inquiries by Members
8.1.1 Warden Jones - Southwold Winterfest
Warden Jones extended an invitation to attend the annual Southwold
Winterfest event that is being held on Saturday, February 15, 2025 in
Shedden. The event begins around 4:00 p.m., with fireworks taking
place at 7:30 p.m.
8.2 Notice of Motion
1► rem
8.3 Matters of Urgency
None.
9. Closed Meeting Items
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT we do now proceed into closed meeting session in
accordance with the Municipal Act to discuss the following matters under
Municipal Act Section 239 (2):
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Closed Meeting Item #1 - Labour Relations Matters
(d) labour relations or employee negotiations.
Closed Meeting Item #2 - Sunset Provincial Lands
(h) information explicitly supplied in confidence to the municipality or local board
by Canada, a province or territory or a Crown agency of any of them; and (k) a
position, plan, procedure, criteria or instruction to be applied to any negotiations
carried on or to be carried on by or on behalf of the municipality or local board.
Motion Carried.
9.1 Director of Community and Cultural Services - Labour Relations
Matters
9.2 Director of Planning and Development - Sunset Provincial Lands
10. Motion to Rise and Report
Moved by: Councillor Giguere
Seconded. by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meeting Item #1 - Labour Relations Matters
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Giguere
RESOLVED THAT the confidential report from the Director of Community and
Cultural Services be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
Closed Meetinq Item #2 - Sunset Provincial Lands
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT staff proceed as directed.
Motion Carried.
11. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole
Moved by: Deputy Warden Ketchabaw
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT we do now adopt recommendations of the Committee of the
Whole.
Motion Carried.
12. Consideration of By -Laws
12.1 By -Law No. 25-06 Procedural By -Law
BEING a By -Law to Regulate the Proceedings of the Municipal Council of
the Corporation of the County of Elgin.
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
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RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 25-06 be now read a first, second, and
third time and finally passed.
Motion Carried.
12.2 By -Law No. 25-07 Confirmation
BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the
Corporation of the County of Elgin at the February 11, 2025 Meeting.
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 25-07 be now read a first, second and third
time and finally passed.
Motion Carried.
13. Adjournment
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 10:49 a.m. to meet again on February
25, 2025 at 9:00 a.m.
Motion Carried.
Blaine Parkin,
Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk.
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