01 - January 13, 2026 Committee of the Whole MinutesElginCounty
Elgin County Council
Committee of the Whole Meeting
Minutes
January 13, 2026, 9:30 a.m.
Council Chambers
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON
Members Present: Warden Dominique Giguere
Deputy Warden Grant Jones
Councillor Ed Ketchabaw
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
Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services
Jennifer Ford, Director of Financial Services/Treasurer
Peter Dutchak, Director of Engineering Services
Mat Vaughan, Director of Planning and Development
Holly Hurley, Director of People & Culture
Ryan Terpstra, Manager of Corporate Facilities (virtual)
Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative
Services/Deputy Clerk
Jeff Brooks, Manager of Emergency Management
Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator
1. Meeting Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:22 a.m. with Warden Giguere in the chair.
2. Approval of Agenda
Resolution Number: CW26-01
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw
RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the January 13, 2026 Committee of the Whole
Meeting be approved as presented.
Motion Carried.
3. Adoption of Minutes
Resolution Number: CW26-02
Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on December 11, 2025 be
adopted.
Motion Carried.
4. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
5. Members' Motions
None.
6. Reports of Council, Staff or Outside Boards
6.1 Manager of Procurement and Risk - HSS 26-01 Physiotherapy
Services at Elgin County Homes — Contract Award
The Manager of Procurement and Risk presented the report providing
details on the Request for Proposal for Physiotherapy Services at the
County's three (3) Long -Term Care Homes and seeking Council's approval
to award the contract.
Resolution Number: CW26-03
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the contract for Physiotherapy Services at Elgin County
Homes be awarded to Lifemark Health Group for a three-year term; and
THAT staff be authorized to extend the contract for an additional two-year
term in accordance with section 7.6 of the Procurement Policy, subject to
satisfactory performance during the initial three-year contract term; and
THAT the Warden and Chief Administrative Officer be authorized to sign
the contract.
Motion Carried.
6.2 Manager of Administrative Services/Deputy Clerk - ADM 26-03
Approval of Fees and Charges 2026
The Manager of Administrative Services presented the report providing the
annual review and update of the County's Fees and Charges By -Law for
Council's consideration.
Resolution Number: CW26-04
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT the changes to fees and charges identified in
"Schedule A" of the report titled "ADM 26-03 Approval of Fees and
Charges 2026" be approved and imposed to commence on January 27,
2026; and
THAT the corresponding By-law be considered for approval by Council.
Motion Carried.
6.3 Director of Engineering Services - ENG 26-01 Administration Building
Exterior Renovation Project — Energy Savings Opportunity
The Director of Engineering Services presented the report seeking
Council's approval to enhance the Administration Building's Exterior
Renovation Project to include insulation behind the aluminum composite
panels to achieve energy efficiency over time.
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Resolution Number: CW26-05
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT the Administration Building Exterior Renovation project
(2660-09) scope be expanded to include the installation of insulation at a
total cost of $350,000 plus HST; and
THAT the anticipated project surplus of $1,060,364.79 be transferred to
the Capital Project Reserve in accordance with the County's Reserve
Policy.
Motion Carried.
6.4 Director of Engineering Services - ENG 26-02 Reduced Speed Zones
The Director of Engineering Services presented the report recommending
a number of adjustments and new reduced speed zones across the
County on County roads to address concerns received from residents, to
conform to the guidelines of the Transportation Association of Canada and
to correspond with settlement boundary limits.
Resolution Number: CW26-06
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones
RESOLVED THAT revisions to speed zones as recommended in the
report titled "ENG 26-02 Reduced Speed Zones" be approved; and
THAT these revisions and previous amendments to By -Law 24-19 Being a
By -Law to Authorize Speed Limits be incorporated into a new consolidated
by-law and hereby adopted.
Motion Carried.
7. Adjournment
Resolution Number: CW26-07
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 9:39 a.m. to meet again on January 27,
2026 at 9:30 a.m.
Motion Carried.
aine Parkin, Dominique Gig ere,
Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk.
Warden.
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