Committee of the Whole Highlights – October 5, 2026
The Township of Huron-Kinloss Committee of the Whole meeting was held on Monday, October 5, 2026 at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers at 21 Queen Street in Ripley.
Highlights from the meeting include:
- 2027 Rates and Fees
- Planning for Future Waste Needs
- Planning for Lakeshore Water Storage
- Planning for Lucknow’s Wastewater Needs
- Point Clark Drainage Master Plan
- Local Service Policy
- Regional Conservation Authority Transition Committee
The full agenda and supporting documents can be viewed on the Township of Huron-Kinloss website.
Treasury:
2027 Rates and Fees
2027 Rates and Fees Approved
Committee of the Whole approved the Township’s 2027 rates and fees, including updated water and wastewater rates. The Township reviews rates and fees regularly to help ensure they reflect service costs and remain consistent with neighbouring municipalities.
Why are rates and fees changing?
Some fees are increasing for 2027, while many others will remain unchanged.
Changes for 2027 include:
- The annual water service rate will increase 6%, from $530 to $562 per unit.
- Annual wastewater service rates will increase by about 4.3%, from $495 to $516 per unit in Ripley and from $605 to $631 per unit in Lucknow.
- Garbage bag tags will increase from $3 to $3.50, along with changes to some other landfill fees.
- Some facility rental rates will increase to reflect higher costs associated with maintaining, cleaning and operating Township facilities.
No increases are proposed for building, planning or recreation program fees as part of the 2027 review. Current ice rental rates took effect in September 2026.
What This Means for Residents
- New water and wastewater rates take effect January 1, 2027 and will be reflected in 2027 billing.
- Garbage bag tags will increase to $3.50 beginning March 1, 2027.
- Other approved rates and fees generally take effect January 1, 2027, unless another effective date is listed.
Learn More / View Full Report
Additional Information
Public Works:
Planning for Future Waste Needs
Looking Ahead at Landfill Capacity
At the current rate of use, the Huron Landfill is expected to reach capacity in 2035. The Township is preparing an application for provincial approval to add approximately 40,000 cubic metres of capacity, which could extend the landfill’s life to about 2040.
The Township’s long-term strategy is to develop additional landfill capacity at the Kinloss Landfill. Planning and approvals can take many years, so archaeological and environmental studies are already underway.
How does recycling fit into waste planning?
Recycling helps keep eligible materials out of the landfill and makes better use of available landfill space. The Township also provides recycling at the landfill for businesses and other properties that are not eligible for Ontario’s residential Blue Box program. The residential recycling depot at the Huron Landfill collected 24.58 tonnes of material between May 12 and September 28.
What This Means for Residents
- The Huron Landfill continues to have capacity while the Township plans ahead for future waste disposal needs.
- The residential recycling depot at the Huron Landfill provides an additional recycling option. Residents with curbside Blue Box collection should continue using curbside collection as their primary service. The residential depot is a three-year program that began in May 2026.
- This update does not make any changes to current waste or recycling collection services.
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Public Works:
Planning for Lakeshore Water Storage
Planning Ahead for Future Water Storage
The Township is planning for additional water storage in the Lakeshore Drinking Water System to meet recommended storage levels and support future needs. A new water tower in the northern part of the Lakeshore system has been identified as the preferred solution.
Where could the new water tower go?
Three Township-owned sites are being considered, along with a potential fourth site on private property. Once the fourth site option is finalized, the Township anticipates holding a public information session in 2027.
What This Means for Residents
- The Lakeshore Drinking Water System is currently meeting water storage needs. This project is about planning ahead for future needs and growth.
- No location or construction decision has been made. The project remains in the planning stage.
- Lakeshore residents will have an opportunity to learn more and provide feedback at a public information session anticipated in 2027.
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Public Works:
Planning for Lucknow’s Wastewater Needs
Planning Ahead for Wastewater Capacity
The Township is studying Lucknow’s wastewater system to understand how much additional capacity may be available and when future upgrades may be needed.
How much wastewater capacity does Lucknow have?
Lucknow’s wastewater system is currently at about 80% capacity based on existing connections. When capacity set aside for future development and available infill lots is included, about 99% of the system’s total capacity is accounted for, although not all of that capacity is currently being used.
Why is the Township studying the system now?
The study will look at how much additional capacity may be available within the existing wastewater lagoons and help determine when larger upgrades, including a potential future mechanical treatment plant, may be needed.
What This Means for Residents
- Lucknow’s wastewater system continues to serve existing connections while the Township plans for future growth.
- No wastewater expansion or construction decision has been made. The work remains in the study and planning stage.
- The study will help the Township plan for future improvements before they are needed.
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Public Works:
Point Clark Drainage Master Plan
Addressing Drainage Challenges in Northern Point Clark
The Township has been developing a long-term drainage plan for northern Point Clark since 2022. The work focuses on areas with limited drainage capacity during significant rain events, particularly around St. Arnaud Street and Lake Range Drive, and Victoria Road and Birch Crescent.
Why has the plan taken longer than expected?
After Council supported drainage solutions for both areas in 2024, the Township and its engineers evaluated another option for the St. Arnaud Street and Lake Range Drive area. This option could have reduced drainage work on private property and provided a shorter route to the Pine River, but was found to have significantly higher construction costs.
Staff recommend returning to the design supported by Council in 2024, which includes using private land east of Arthur Street to store water during storm events.
What This Means for Residents
- No new drainage solution was approved through this update.
- The design currently supported by staff would require private land east of Arthur Street to store water during storm events.
- Residents will have another opportunity to review the final plan before it is adopted. The plan is scheduled to return to Council on December 7, 2026. If accepted, it will be available for public review for at least 30 days.
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CAO:
Local Service Policy
Clearer Rules for Growth-Related Infrastructure Costs
Committee of the Whole approved the draft Local Service Policy, which will help define which infrastructure associated with new development is considered a local service and which infrastructure is funded through development charges.
Development charges are fees collected from new development to help pay for increased services and infrastructure needed as the community grows.
Why is this policy needed?
Recent changes to Ontario’s Development Charges Act require municipalities to have a Local Service Policy in place by May 2027. The policy will provide clearer rules for determining how growth-related infrastructure is treated when new development is proposed.
What This Means for Residents
The policy provides clearer and more consistent rules for determining who is responsible for infrastructure costs related to new development.
A by-law to put the policy in place will come to Council for consideration.
Learn More / View Full Report
Additional Information
Council & Governance:
Regional Conservation Authority Transition Committee
Confidentiality and Reporting Requirements
At the request of a member of Council, the Township’s Integrity Commissioner provided advice about confidentiality and reporting restrictions on the member regarding participation on the Regional Conservation Authority Transition Committee.
The Transition Committee is helping plan the consolidation of six existing conservation authorities into a new regional conservation authority. The Township has consistently advocated for local and rural representation throughout this transition.
At the first Transition Committee meeting, members were advised that discussions and documents were to remain confidential. The Council member later received a non-disclosure agreement to sign, which would restrict their ability to report back to the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority Board and Council.
The member sought advice from the Integrity Commissioner, who provides guidance to Council members about their responsibilities under the Township’s Code of Conduct. The Integrity Commissioner advised the member to seek direction from both Council and the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority on whether they could continue representing them under the confidentiality requirements.
Council Provides Direction on Continued Participation
Council emphasized the importance of transparency and accountability for members appointed to committees and boards.
Council also determined that continued representation on the Transition Committee is important so Huron-Kinloss and local and rural perspectives can remain represented during the transition.
Council authorized its representative, should they remain on the Transition Committee, to decide whether to sign a confidentiality or non-disclosure agreement if required to continue participating.
What This Means for Residents
- Council stated that it does not support Transition Committee meetings taking place without appropriate public accountability and reporting and outside of open meeting requirements of the Municipal Act.
- Council authorized continued participation so Huron-Kinloss and local and rural perspectives can remain represented during the transition, even if confidentiality requirements limit what the member can report back.
Learn More
Upcoming Meetings
The next Township of Huron-Kinloss Council Meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 14, 2026. Due to the Thanksgiving holiday, this meeting is being held on Wednesday instead of the usual Monday.
This meeting will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office, 21 Queen Street in Ripley.
The October 19th meeting of Council has been cancelled. The 2026 Municipal and School Board election begins October 19th through October 26, 2026.
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