Municipal Council Notes
March 16, 2022
REPORTS
2021 Annual Summary Reports, Municipal Drinking Water System(s); Hudson and Sioux Lookout
Council received the 2021 Annual Report(s) as per Schedule 22 of Ontario Regulation (O. Reg.) 170/03; Drinking Water Systems, for the Hudson Drinking Water System and the Sioux Lookout Urban Drinking Water System. The Annual Report(s), prepared by Northern Waterworks Inc.(NWI) are presented to Mayor Douglas Lawrance, Council members and CAO Michelle Larose.
Councillors thanked and complimented Northern Waterworks Inc. on the clean reports.
Councillor Joe Cassidy stated, “You guys are doing a great job with two great reports back to back. Really happy to see.”
Anyone who would like to review the 2021 Annual Report(s) for either the Hudson Drinking Water System or the Sioux Lookout Urban Drinking Water System, copies are available, without charge, at the following locations when open to the public:
• Customer Service Desk, Municipal Office 25 Fifth Avenue, Sioux Lookout;
• Lost Lake Seniors Drop-In Center, 21 Second Street, Hudson.
Digital copies of the reports will also be made available on both the Municipality’s and NWI’s website.
People can view the reports at: https://bit.ly/36TnR0S.
Ice Resurfacing Machine purchase for Recreation and Culture Department
Council authorised the purchase of an Olympia Millennium E ice resurfacing machine at a cost of $138,500.00 plus H.S.T.
Rony Chakraborty, Manager, Recreation and Culture, shared in his written report to council that the department’s current Olympia ice resurfacer has been with the department for almost 10 years, and “like any other machine the Olympia has shown signs of wear and tear and is gradually losing operational efficiency.”
2021 Municipal Operating Budget to Actual
Council received the 2021 Municipal Operating Budget to Actual.
Carly Collins, Treasurer, shared in her written report to council, “The purpose of the attached financial report is to provide a financial snap shot of the Municipality’s general operations for the calendar year of 2021.”
Her report outlined four user-fee operated areas, the airport, sanitary sewer, water distribution and the hidden lake landfill.
“The airport continues to operate under these same conditions as in 2020, which is operating at a loss between 65% and 70%.,” she shared, adding, “On March 18, 2021, the federal government announced the Regional Air Transportation Initiative (RATI). RATI is a $206-million program that will provide support over two years to eligible regional businesses and airports that directly contribute to regional air transportation. RATI funding was able to support the operating expenditures from January to June, October to December 2021 and January to March 2022. Staff confirmed a total of $1,419,480 in RATI funding for 2021. By receiving the RATI Funding, the Airport Department did not have a deficit at the end of the year.”
For sanitary sewer she shared, “Staff is anticipating having a surplus at the end of the year of approximately $470,913.95. Surplus will be transferred to the Utilities Reserve to help pay for future capital projects, fleet and any unexpected operating expenses.”
In the area of water distribution, Collins shared, “Staff is anticipating having a surplus at the end of the year of approximately $354,771.11. Surplus will be transferred to the Utilities Reserve to help pay for future capital projects, fleet and any unexpected operating expenses.”
Finally, for the Hidden Lake Landfill, Collins shared, “Staff is anticipating having a surplus at the end of the year of approximately $136,169.36. Surplus will be transferred to the Landfill Reserve to help pay for future capital projects, fleet and any unexpected operating expenses.”
Ontario Regulation 284/09 – Compliance Report 2022
Council adopted the compliance report for expenditures excluded from the 2022 budget as outline in the Treasurer’s report dated March 16, 2022, as a requirement of Ontario Regulation 284/09.
Environment Committee Annual Work Plan
Council approved the Municipality of Sioux Lookout Environment Committee’s 2022 Work Plan, as attached in the Committee Work Plan submitted for Council’s consideration in compliance with By-law No. 79- 15, Being a By-law to Establish the Terms of Reference for Council Created Committees.
The plan can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/36TnR0S.
Municipal Truth and Reconciliation Committee Annual Work Plan & Budget Request
Council approved the Municipal Truth and Reconciliation Committee’s 2022 Work Plan and budget request, submitted for Council’s consideration in compliance with By-law No. 79-15, Being a Bylaw to Establish the Terms of Reference for Council-Created Committees.
The plan can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/36TnR0S.
Honeybee Appreciation Months Proclamation
Council declared May and June 2022 “Honeybee Appreciation Months”; and further Council directed staff to allow residents yards’ to exceed the maximum height permitted for grass and/or weeds during the months of May and June 2022, pursuant to By-law No. 16-06, Being a By-law to Provide for the Maintaining of Land in a Clean and Clear Condition.
2021 Statement of Council Remuneration & Expenses
Council received the statement of the 2021 remuneration and expenses paid to members of Council for the fiscal period January 1st to December 31st, 2021 in accordance with: i. Section 284(1) of the Municipal Act, 2001, as amended; By-law No. 86-18, Being a By-Law to set the Remuneration to be Paid to the Mayor and Members of Council; ii. Policy No. 1-06, being a policy to govern the travel expenses paid to members of Council.
The report can be viewed at: https://bit.ly/36TnR0S.
BY-LAWS
2022 Water and Sanitary Sewer Rates
Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 19-22, Being a Bylaw to Establish the Water and Wastewater Service Rates and Charges for the Production, Treatment, Storage and Distribution of Water and/or Wastewater in the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and to Repeal By-law No. 15-21.
NORDS Transfer Agreement 2021 – 2026
Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 18-22, Being a Bylaw to Authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to Execute an Agreement Between The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and her Majesty the Queen In Right of Ontario, as Represented by the Ministry of Northern Development, Mines, Natural Resources and Forestry (Northern Ontario Resources Development Support, NORDS); and further, that the 2021-2026 NORDS Funding be allocated to a Government Funding Reserve Fund and be utilized for annual capital projects.
No specific projects have been identified for the NORDS funding.
The Municipality shared, “Staff will be carefully reviewing the slate of planned infrastructure projects to which the NORDS funding can be applied to reduce our direct costs.”
Dedicated Gas Tax for Public Transportation
Council authorized the passing of By-law No. 17-22, Being a Bylaw to Authorize the Mayor and the Clerk to Enter into and Execute the Municipal Funding Agreement for the Transfer of Dedicated Gas Tax Funds for Public Transportation Program Between The Corporation of the Municipality of Sioux Lookout and the Minister of Transportation for the Province of Ontario.
Carly Collins, Treasurer, shared in her written report to council that, “The Agreement will result in the Municipality being eligible for an estimated $50,985 for 2021-2022. The funding will be for the operations of Sioux Lookout Hub Transit.”
REPORT FROM CLOSED SESSION
Appointments to Various Boards, Commissions and Committees
Council received a resignation from the Municipal Accommodation Tax Committee (Aanchal Sharma), and appointed Alana Anderson to fill the vacancy.
