Council Highlights – January 26, 2022
Council highlights provide an update of important information discussed at the previous council meeting. Full agendas and minutes are available at tay.ca/calendar
Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund
The Province of Ontario recently announced the allocation of the 2022 Ontario Community Infrastructure Fund (OCIF). The OCIF program provides funding for small, rural and northern communities to develop and renew their infrastructure including roads, bridges, water and wastewater. Council agreed that this year’s allocation of $1,061,297 should be utilized for the Victoria Harbour Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrades project. The project is currently in the design stage with construction to begin in 2023. Utilizing the OCIF grant funds for this project will help increase development opportunities in the area resulting in increased assessment and places to live, and reduce the Township’s reliance on debt funding, ultimately helping to reduce future wastewater rate charges.
Accessory Dwelling Units
Council directed Planning and Development Services staff to look into amending the Township’s Official Plan and Zoning By-law to permit Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) outside of the main dwelling unit. This will allow the Township to move quicker towards approvals, and relieve the cost for an individual application. Allowing Accessory Dwelling Units in accessory structures with appropriate criteria, will allow individual land owners to build an Accessory Dwelling Unit on their property as a secondary dwelling outside of the main dwelling unit.
2022 Roads Program
Council directed staff to proceed with preparation and tendering for the 2022 Roads Program. The program is anticipated to include pulverizing of existing surfaces, grading, additional granulars where required, paving or double surface treatment, ditching and brushing of streets. Once pricing is finalized more details including the list of roads to be completed will be updated at tay.ca/construction.
Purchase of 3 new Dump/Plough Trucks
Council approved the Staff recommendation to proceed with ordering three new plough trucks, as tendered by Currie Truck Centre in the amount of $1,013,121 plus HST, with the difference between the budget amount and the actual bid price coming from equipment reserves. In order to avoid delay in receiving the replacement trucks, due to possible parts shortage and build time, Council approved the tendering process in early October 2021. It is anticipated that two of the trucks will be delivered as soon as possible and that the third truck be delivered no earlier than the Spring of 2023.
Tay Township meets for regular council meetings on the fourth Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.