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11 - May 26, 2026 County Council Minutes-�� ElginCounty Elgin County Council Regular Council Meeting Minutes May 26, 2026, 9:00 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 Mike Hentz Councillor Richard Leatham Members Absent: Councillor Andrew Sloan Councillor Todd Noble (with notice) Staff Present: Blaine Parkin, Chief Administrative Officer 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 Joe Anne Holloway, Director of Homes and Seniors Services Katherine Thompson, County Clerk/Manager of Administrative Services Jenna Fentie, Deputy Clerk Stefanie Heide, Executive Performance Coordinator Lindsay King, Policy Planner 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 The County Clerk/Manager of Administrative Services requested that Council consider the addition of two items to the agenda, including a verbal update from the Chief Administrative Officer regarding the process for sharing information with election candidates, and a closed session item regarding a personnel matter under Municipal Act Section 239 (2) (b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and (d) labour relations or employee negotiations. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT the agenda for the May 26, 2026 County Council Meeting be approved as amended. Motion Carried. 3. Introductions, Recognitions, Memorials None. 4. Adoption of Minutes Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT the minutes of the meeting held on May 12, 2026 be adopted. Motion Carried. 5. Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof Councillor Widner declared a conflict with item 9.2 ENG 26-13 Putnam Road (CR 47) Reconstruction -Avon (Tender No. 2026-T21) - Contract Award. Councillor Widner will not participate in the discussion or vote on this item. 6. Presenting Petitions, Presentations and Delegations 6.1 Laura Bos, Community Development Coordinator, VON - VON Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP) Laura Bos, Community Development Coordinator with VON Ontario, provided a presentation outlining the activities of the VON Ontario Student Nutrition Program and highlighting the program's key strategic priorities. Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT the presentation titled "VON Ontario Student Nutrition Program (OSNP)" from Laura Bos be received and filed. Motion Carried. 7. Motion to Adopt Recommendations from the Committee of the Whole 7.1 Warden Giguere -ADM 26-17 - Recommendations from Committee of the Whole — May 12, 2026 Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Leatham RESOLVED THAT items CW26-47 — CW26-48 from the Committee of the Whole meeting dated May 12, 2026, and the recommendations therein be adopted. Motion Carried. 8. Committee Recommendations None. 9. Reports for Information and Immediate Consideration 9.1 Director of Engineering Services - ENG 26-12 Belmont Road (CR 74) and Seventh Avenue Intersection Improvements and Signalization (Tender No. 2026-T15) — Contract Award The Director of Engineering Services presented the report seeking Council's approval to award the contract for the Belmont Road (CR 74) and Seventh Avenue intersection improvements and signalization project, Tender No. 2026-T15, to KWS Electrical Services Ltd. Moved by: Councillor Ketchabaw Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT KWS Electrical Services be selected to complete the Belmont Road (CR 74) and Seventh Avenue Intersection Improvements 2 and Signalization project, Tender No. 2026-T15 at a total price of $463,092.27 inclusive of a $53,500 contingency and testing allowance and exclusive of HST; and THAT the Warden and Chief Administrative Officer be directed and authorized to sign the contract. Motion Carried. 9.2 Director of Engineering Services - ENG 26-13 Putnam Road (CR 47) Reconstruction -Avon (Tender No. 2026-T21) — Contract Award Councillor Widner declared a conflict with this item. Councillor Widner left the Council Chambers and did not participate in the discussion or vote. The Director of Engineering Services presented the report seeking Council's approval to award the contract for the Putnam Road (CR 47) reconstruction project in Avon, Tender No. 2026-T21, to Gedco Excavating Ltd. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Leatham RESOLVED THAT Gedco Excavating Ltd. be selected to complete the Putnam Road (CR 47) Reconstruction project, Tender No. 2026-T21 at a total price of $799,738.25 inclusive of a $50,000 contingency allowance and exclusive of HST; and THAT the Warden and Chief Administrative Officer be directed and authorized to sign the contract. Motion Carried. 9.3 Chief Administrative Officer - Process for Sharing Information with Election Candidates Councillor Widner returned to the Council Chambers. The Chief Administrative Officer recommended that any questions received from municipal election candidates during the election period be directed through the County Clerk's office. The Clerk's office will coordinate responses with the appropriate departments and ensure that all responses are distributed to all candidates and sitting members of Council in order to maintain a fair and transparent process. Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Couckuyt RESOLVED THAT County Council approve the process for sharing information with election candidates to ensure equal distribution of information. Motion Carried. 10. Council Correspondence Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Councillor Hentz RESOLVED THAT Correspondence Items 10.1 - 10.3 be received and filed. Motion Carried. 10.1 Letter from the Ministry of Emergency Preparedness and Response advising that the County of Elgin has satisfied the requirements of 3 the Emergency Management and Civil Protection Act (EMPCA) O. Reg 380104 for 2025 10.2 Western Ontario Wardens' Caucus Media Release - Western Ontario - Wardens' Caucus and Great Lakes and St. Lawrence Cities Initiative Formalize Partnership 10.3 Resolution from the Municipality of Central Elgin regarding the Preservation and Adaptive Reuse of the Front Entrance Building at the Former St. Thomas Psychiatric Hospital 10.4 Request from Elgin County Pride to hold a flag raising and proclamation on June 9, 2026 in recognition of Pride Month Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT the request from the Elgin County Pride to hold a flag raising and proclamation at the Elgin County Heritage Centre on June 9, 2026 in recognition of Pride Month be approved. Motion Carried. 11. StatementslInquiries by Members None. 12. Closed Meeting Items Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones 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): Closed Meeting Item #1 - Closed Meeting Minutes - May 12 2026 Closed Meeting Item #2 -Administration Building Lease Renewal - Elgin Federation of Agriculture (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. Closed Meeting Item #3 - Land Ambulance Contract (f) advice that is subject to solicitor -client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose; 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. Closed Meeting Item #4 - IT Department (d) labour relations or employee negotiations; and (f) advice that is subject to solicitor -client privilege, including communications necessary for that purpose. Closed Meetinq Item #5 - Personnel Matter b) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees; and d) labour relations or employee negotiations. Motion Carried. 12.1 Closed Meeting Minutes -May 12, 2026 E 12.2 Director of Engineering Services - ENG 26-14 Administration Building Lease Renewal — Elgin Federation of Agriculture 12.3 Director of Legal Services - LEG 26-05 — Land Ambulance Contract 12.4 Director of Financial Services/Treasurer - FIN — LEG 26-01 — IT Department 12.5 Director of Legal Services - Personnel Matter 13. Motion to Rise and Report Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT we do now rise and report. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #1 - Closed Meeting Minutes - May 12 2026 Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Leatham RESOLVED THAT the May 12, 2026 Closed Meeting Minutes be adopted. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #2 -Administration Building Lease Renewal - Elgin Federation of Agriculture Moved by: Councillor Ketchabaw Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT staff proceed as directed. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #3 - Land Ambulance Contract Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Widner RESOLVED THAT the Director of Legal Services and CAO proceed as directed. Motion Carried. Closed Meetinq Item #4 - IT Department Moved by: Deputy Warden Jones Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT staff proceed as directed. Motion Carried. Closed Meeting Item #5 - Personnel Matter Moved by: Councillor Leatham Seconded by: Councillor Ketchabaw RESOLVED THAT the Director of Legal Services and the Director of People and Culture proceed as directed. Motion Carried. 14. Consideration of By -Laws 5 15 14.1 By -Law No. 26-24 Confirmation BEING a By -Law to Confirm Proceedings of the Municipal Council of the Corporation of the County of Elgin at the May 26, 2026 Meeting. Moved by: Councillor Hentz Seconded by: Councillor Leatham RESOLVED THAT By -Law No. 26-24 be now read a first, second, and third time and finally passed. Motion Carried. Adjournment Moved by: Councillor Widner Seconded by: Deputy Warden Jones RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn at 11:12 a.m. to meet again on June 9, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. Motion Carried. Katherine Thompson, County Clerk/Manager of Administrative Services. r Dominique Gi ere, Warden.