07 - April 14, 2026 County Council Minutes1��
ElginCounty
Elgin County Council
Regular Council Meeting
Minutes
April 14, 2026, 9:00 a.m.
Council Chambers
450 Sunset Drive
St. Thomas ON
Members Present: Warden Dominique Giguere
Councillor Ed Ketchabaw
Councillor Mark Widner
Councillor Jack Couckuyt
Councillor Andrew Sloan
Councillor Todd Noble
Councillor Mike Hentz
Councillor Richard Leatham
Members Absent: Deputy Warden Grant Jones (with notice)
Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
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
Joe Anne Holloway, Director of Homes and Seniors Services
Andrew Case, Solicitor
Katherine Thompson, Manager of Administrative
Services/Deputy Clerk
Lindsay King, Policy Planner
Jenna Fentie, Legislative Services Coordinator
Stefanie Heide, Legislative Services Coordinator
1. Meeting Call to Order
The meeting was called to order at 9:01 a.m. with Warden Giguere in the chair.
2. Approval of Agenda
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt
RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the April 14, 2026 County Council Meeting be
approved as presented.
Motion Carried.
3. Introductions, Recognitions, Memorials
None.
4. Adoption of Minutes
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw
RESOLVED THAT the open and closed session minutes of the meeting held on
March 24, 2026 be adopted.
Motion Carried.
5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof
None.
6. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations
6.1 Frank Schonberger, Member of the Public - Farmland Data
Frank Schonberger, member of the public, provided a delegation to
Council overviewing his concerns regarding the accuracy of data on the
amount of acres of farmland being lost per day in Ontario.
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Sloan
RESOLVED THAT the delegation from Frank Schonberger, member of the
public, regarding farmland data, be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
7. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole
7.1 Warden Giguere -ADM 26-12 - Recommendations from Committee of
the Whole — March 24, 2026
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
RESOLVED THAT item CW26-32 from the Committee of the Whole
meeting dated March 24, 2026, and the recommendations therein be
adopted.
Motion Carried.
8. Committee Recommendations
None.
9. Reports for Information and Immediate Consideration
9.1 Director of Community and Cultural Services - CCS 26-03 West Lorne
Library Expansion Update
The Director of Community and Cultural Services presented the report
providing Council with an overview of the West Lorne Library renovation
project.
Moved by: Councillor Leatham
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
RESOLVED THAT the report titled "CCS 26-03 West Lorne Library
Expansion Update" from the Director of Community and Cultural Services
dated April 14, 2026 be received and filed.
Motion Carried.
9.2 Director of Planning and Development - PLN 26-04 Proposed
Provincial Planning Reforms under Bill 98 and the Build
Communities Strong Fund
The Policy Planner presented the report summarizing recent Provincial
and Federal initiatives related to housing supply and infrastructure
delivery, including proposed legislative changes under Bill 98: Building
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Homes and Improving Transportation Infrastructure Act, 2026 and
associated postings on the Environmental Registry of Ontario (ERO), as
well as the announcement of the Build Communities Strong Fund.
Moved by: Councillor Ketchabaw
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to prepare comments on the proposed
reforms under Bill 98 and the Build Communities Strong Fund, in
accordance with Council direction; and
THAT staff be directed to submit these comments to the Province during
the consultation period for open Environmental Registry of Ontario
postings, as detailed in the report titled "PLN 26-04 - Proposed Provincial
Planning Reforms under Bill 98 and the Build Communities Strong Fund."
Motion Carried.
9.3 Director of Engineering Services - ENG 26-08 Highbury Avenue -
Upload Request
The Director of Engineering Services presented a report to Council with
the recommendation to request that the Province of Ontario assume
jurisdiction over the County of Elgin's portion of HighburyAvenue, and
between Ron McNeil Line and Webber Bourne, being a total distance of
5.7 km, for Council's consideration.
Moved by: Councillor Widner
Seconded by: Councillor Noble
RESOLVED THAT Highbury Avenue is an important economic corridor
connecting the City of St. Thomas and its Power Co. development to the
City of London and Highway 401 corridor; and
THAT the Province's Southwestern Ontario Transportation Planning Study
has identified HighburyAvenue as part of the regional Strategic Goods
Movement Network, that supports the needs of businesses and
employees, that moves goods and services reliably and safely and that
facilitates economic drivers; and
THAT the transportation master plans of the County of Elgin and the City
of London have identified that Highbury Avenue will exceed its 2-lane
capacity, necessitating widening from two to four lanes in the next 10
years at an estimated cost of $150 million requiring multi jurisdictional
coordination and complex planning, and therefore;
THAT the County of Elgin requests that the Provice of Ontario accept the
transfer of jurisdictional authority over Highbury Avenue at no cost, with
the respectful request to collaborate with the County to ensure this
important asset accommodates the region's needs.
Motion Carried.
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 Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative - Making Waves
Newsletter
10.2 Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus (WOWC) - March 2026 Newsletter
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10.3 Volunteer Elgin Update - Strengthening Volunteerism in Elgin County
10.4 St. Thomas -Elgin Public Art Centre - 2025 Annual Report
10.5 Letter to the Hon. Paul Calandra, Minister of Education, from the
London District Catholic School Board (LDCSB) re: Trustee
Determination
10.6 Resolution from the Municipality of Chatham -Kent re: Food
Insecurity Emergency Declaration
10.7 Letter from Damella Group Limited re: Proposing Property Option at
154 Talbot Street West for Aylmer Library
Moved by: Warden Giguere
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
RESOLVED THAT staff be directed to report back to Council with an
update on all options for the location of the Aylmer Library.
Motion Defeated.
10.8 St. Thomas and District Chamber of Commerce - Sponsorship
Funding Redirect Request
Moved by: Councillor Noble
Seconded by: Councillor Hentz
RESOLVED THAT the request from the St. Thomas & District Chamber of
Commerce to redirect sponsorship funding to the "Social Issues Are
Business Issues" event be approved.
Motion Carried.
11. Statements/Inquiries by Members
11.1 Warden Giguere -Warden's Mini -Golf Charity Tournament and
Banquet
Warden Giguere announced that the Warden's Mini -Golf Charity
Tournament and Banquet will be held on October 2, 2026, at the Masonic
Centre of Elgin.
12. Closed Meeting Items
12.1 Closed Meeting Minutes - March 24, 2026
13. Motion to Rise and Report
None.
14. Consideration of By -Laws
14.1 By -Law No. 26-16 Confirmation
BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the
Corporation of the County of Elgin at the April 14, 2026 Meeting.
Moved by: Councillor Couckuyt
Seconded by: Councillor Leatham
RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-16 be now read a first, second, and
third time and finally passed.
Motion Carried.
15. Adjournment
Moved by: Councillor Hentz
Seconded by: Councillor Widner
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RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 10:30 a.m. to meet again on April 28,
2026 at 9:00 a.m.
Motion Carried.
aine Parkin, Dominique Gig ere,
Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk.
Warden.
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