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02 - January 27, 2026 County Council MinutesElginCounty Elgin County Council Regular Council Meeting Minutes January 27, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Council Chambers 450 Sunset Drive St. Thomas ON Members Present: Warden Dominique Giguere (virtual) Deputy Warden Grant Jones (virtual) Councillor Ed Ketchabaw (virtual) Councillor Mark Widner (virtual) Councillor Andrew Sloan (virtual) Councillor Todd Noble (virtual) Councillor Mike Hentz (virtual) Councillor Richard Leatham (virtual) Members Absent: Councillor Jack Couckuyt (with notice) Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk Nicholas Loeb, Director of Legal Services Brian Masschaele, Director of Community & Cultural Services (virtual) 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 (virtual) Joe Anne Holloway, Director of Homes and Seniors Services Carolyn Krahn, Manager of Economic Development, Tourism & Strategic Initiatives 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 9:00 a.m. with Warden Giguere in the chair. 2. Approval of Agenda Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the January 27, 2026 County Council Meeting be approved as presented. Motion Carried. 3. Introductions, Recognitions, Memorials 3.1 Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk - Introduction of the new Director of Homes and Seniors Services The Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk introduced Joe Anne Holloway, the County's new Director of Homes and Seniors Services. 4. Adoption of Minutes Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on January 13, 2026 be adopted. Motion Carried. 5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof None. 6. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations None. 7. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole 7.1 ADM 26-04 - Recommendations from Committee of the Whole — January 13, 2026 Moved by: Councillor Ketchabaw Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT items CW26-03 - CW26-06 from the Committee of the Whole meeting dated January 13, 2026, and the recommendations therein be adopted. Motion Carried. 8. Committee Recommendations lZrom 9. Reports for Information and Immediate Consideration None. 10. Council Correspondence Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Noble RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Items 10.1 - 10.6 be received and filed. Motion Carried. 10.1 Email from Karen Vecchio advocating for financial support from the. County of Elgin for the Barrie Hospice of Elgin. 10.2 Letter from Christina Mayhew regarding the role of the County of Elgin as the Elgin County Library Board. 10.3 Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC) 2025 Municipal Partnerships Report. 10.4 Resolution from the Town of Aylmer regarding Support for the City of Welland's Call to Action for Justice and Protection of Canada's Children. 10.5 Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC) Media Release -Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus Announces Warden Marcus Ryan as New Chair. 10.6 Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC) Media Release - Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus Advances Key Municipal Priorities at ROMA 2026. 11. Statements/Inquiries by Members 11.1 Deputy Warden Jones - Impact Awards 2026 Deputy Warden Jones noted that the finalists have been announced for the 2026 St. Thomas & District Chamber of Commerce Impact Awards, and that there are many Elgin County businesses that have been nominated. Councillor Sloan confirmed that the Impact Awards will be held on April 17, 2026. 12. Closed Meeting Items None. 13. Motion to Rise and Report None. 14. Consideration of By -Laws 14.1 By -Law No. 26-03 Fees and Charges BEING a By -Law to Provide a Schedule of Services and Activities Subject to Fees and Charges by the County of Elgin and to Repeal By -Law No. 25-20. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-03 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 14.2 By -Law No. 26-04 Authorizing Speed Limits BEING a By -Law to Authorize Speed Limits. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-04 be now read a first, second and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 14.3 By -Law No. 26-05 Budget BEING a By -Law to Provide for the Adoption of the 2026 Budget of the Corporation of the County of Elgin and to Establish the 2026 Tax Ratios and 2026 Tax Rates for the Said Corporation of the County of Elgin and its Constituent Lower Tier Municipalities. Moved by: Councillor Ketchabaw Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-05 be now read a first, second and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 14.4 By -Law No. 26-06 Borrowing BEING a By -Law to Authorize the Warden and Treasurer to Borrow from Time to Time to Meet Current Expenditures During the Fiscal Year Ending December 31, 2026. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-06 be now read a first, second and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 14.5 By -Law No. 26-07 Non -Union Remuneration BEING a By -Law to Establish Remuneration Rates for Employees Covered by the Job Evaluation Scale. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-07 be now read a first, second and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 14.6 By -Law No. 26-08 Confirmation BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the January 27, 2026 Meeting. Moved by: Councillor Noble Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-08 be now read a first, second and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. 15. Adjournment Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 9:12 a.m. to meet again on February 10, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Motion Carried. Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk. 4e�!Dominiqu'e uere, Warden.