Committee of the Whole Highlights - Dec 1, 2025

The Township of Huron-Kinloss Council Meeting was held in Council Chambers at 21 Queen Street in Ripley at 7:00 p.m. Highlights from the meeting include:

• Public Access to Virtual Meetings
• Proposed Updates to the Open Air Burning By-law
• Boiler Beach Stairs Risk Management Plan
• Kinloss Landfill Expansion
• Provincial Proposal on Conservation Authorities
• Highway 21 Road Closure Signage

The full agenda and supporting documents can be viewed on the Township of Huron-Kinloss website.

Public Access to Virtual Meetings

Summary: Request made to allow media to observe Council meetings online.

Committee of the Whole received a delegation from Liz Dadson, Reporter/Editor of the Kincardine Record, requesting permission for media to observe Council meetings virtually. The request would require an update to the Township’s Procedural By-law to allow public participation in virtual meetings.

Council has previously received information regarding the necessary changes required to provide a virtual broadcast to members of the public.  Staff will review the requirements for livestreaming of meetings, and include information to be considered in preparing the 2026 budget.

Proposed Updates to the Open Air Burning By-law

Summary: Changes proposed to improve safety and clarify open air burning rules, including permitted materials, signage, and eligibility for beach fire permits.

Committee of the Whole received proposed amendments to the Open Air Burning By-law (No. 2016-139) following a review by the Fire Chief. These updates aim to reduce risk, improve compliance, and make the process easier for residents.

What’s proposed?

• Expanding the list of prohibited materials to include paper, cardboard, treated wood, grass, straw, and hay.
• Restricting burns near public roadways to protect visibility and reduce smoke hazards.
• Removing the requirement to notify the Township before starting a permitted burn.
• Requiring roadside signage stating “Controlled Burn in Progress” during burns.
• Clarifying that beach fire permits are only available to Huron-Kinloss property owners or tenants.

What does this mean for residents?

These changes will help prevent unnecessary emergency responses, improve public safety, and provide clearer rules for residents who use open-air burning for agricultural or recreational purposes.

Boiler Beach Stairs Risk Management Plan

Summary: Plan introduced to replace privately built stairs with safe, standardized municipal stairways, providing reliable public access to Boiler Beach.

Committee of the Whole received a report from the Director of Community Services outlining a proposed strategy to manage access along Boiler Beach Road. The plan addresses safety and liability concerns by removing privately installed stairs and replacing them with municipal stairways built to proper standards.

What’s proposed?

• Remove all existing privately constructed stairs along Boiler Beach Road.
• Install six new galvanized municipal stairways over two years.
• Host a public meeting in spring 2026 to share the plan and gather feedback.
• Allocate an estimated budget of $50,000 annually for 2026 and 2027.

What does this mean for residents?

Installing standardized, well-maintained stairs will provide safe, reliable access to the shoreline for residents and visitors.

Kinloss Landfill Expansion

Summary: Plan proposed to expand the Kinloss Landfill, including ongoing environmental monitoring to protect groundwater, ensure long-term waste capacity, and support sustainable waste management practices.

Committee of the Whole received a report from Director of Public Works, which outlines plans for a long-term expansion of the Kinloss Landfill. The landfill currently has about 15 years of capacity remaining, so planning now ensures uninterrupted service for decades. The first step is installing groundwater monitoring wells to meet environmental requirements and safeguard water quality.

Please Note: This expansion concerns the Kinloss Landfill (located at 690 Kairshea Ave, Holyrood) which operates seasonally from April to October, and is distinct from the Huron Landfill in Ripley.  

What’s proposed?

• Install groundwater monitoring wells at key locations around the landfill to regularly test water quality and ensure landfill operations do not contaminate local water sources.
• Collect data from these wells to guide design and approvals with the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks.
• Expand landfill capacity from approximately 6 hectares to about 26 hectares, extending its lifespan to an estimated 60 years.
  

What does this mean for residents?
Expanding the Kinloss Landfill will reduce reliance on external facilities, support sustainable waste management, and help protect local water sources.

Provincial Proposal on Conservation Authorities

Summary: Proposal introduced by the Province to combine Conservation Authorities, which could affect local flood management, environmental oversight, and development permitting.

Committee of the Whole received a report from the Manager of Legislative Services/Clerk about the Province’s proposed regional consolidation of Conservation Authorities. These organizations manage watersheds, flood control, and environmental permitting, so changes could affect how these services are delivered locally.

What’s next?

• Staff will prepare comments for Council considerations  will be prepared to outline the Township’s position for submission during the commenting period.
• Committee of the Whole requested that the comments include:
  • A desire to ensure that the proposed consolidated areas reflect communities with shared interest, and similar environmental projects/concerns,
  • A business case be developed to support projected cost savings of the proposed changes; and
  • Assurances that local, rural representation is not negatively impacted by the proposed changes. 
• Staff will continue monitoring updates and share information as the proposal moves forward.

What does this mean for residents?

The Province is seeking feedback on the proposed boundaries. The commenting period is now open and will close on December 22, 2025.

Submit your feedback directly to the Province here: https://ero.ontario.ca/notice/025-1257

Highway 21 Road Closure Signage

Summary: Progress reported on new remotely activated signs along Highway 21 to improve emergency road closure safety for drivers and first responders.

The Mayor reported that following a delegation to the Minister of Transportation at the Association of Municipalities of Ontario (AMO) conference in Ottawa this summer, the Township requested permanent road closure signage that could be activated remotely during severe weather or emergency situations.

What’s happening?

• Portable road closure signs have now been placed at key locations along Highway 21, as outlined in the request.
• These signs can be activated quickly to warn drivers of hazardous conditions.

What does this mean for residents?

This initiative is a step toward improving safety for road maintainers, first responders, and the general public during emergencies. The Mayor expressed optimism that this progress will lead to further enhancements in road safety.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Township of Huron-Kinloss Council meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on December 8th, 2025. This meeting will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office, 21 Queen Street in Ripley.

Subscribe to receive Meeting Highlights 

Follow us on Facebook for more!