Council Highlights June 2nd, 2025

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

Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA) Delegation

The Committee of the Whole received a presentation from the Ontario Clean Water Agency (OCWA), highlighting their partnership with the Township. OCWA is the largest water and wastewater operator in Canada, serving over five million Ontarians. The presentation emphasized OCWA’s shared services model, essential service delivery, and commitment to reinvesting equity within Ontario.

OCWA’s community engagement initiatives included their recent roadside cleanup event in Huron-Kinloss on May 9th, the On Tap program, and the One Water education initiative, all aimed at raising awareness and promoting sustainable water practices. As part of the delegation, OCWA provided client operations reports for both the Township’s wastewater and drinking water systems.

Staffing Plan Development Project

The Committee of the Whole received the final report for the Township of Huron-Kinloss Staffing Plan Development Project, presented by Chief Administrative Officer Jodi MacArthur. Developed internally through months of employee engagement, workforce analysis, and municipal benchmarking, the report identifies resource gaps, evaluates staffing alignment with strategic goals, and recommends a proposed organizational chart and future workforce planning strategies.

The plan aims to optimize resource allocation, improve efficiency, and prepare the Township for evolving service demands. The decision to undertake the project in-house leveraged staff expertise, encouraged meaningful dialogue, and avoided the cost of external consultants.

The Committee supported the final report and proposed organizational chart, and directed staff to begin implementing the recommended actions.

Black Creek Municipal Drain

Committee received an update on the Black Creek Municipal Drain project, which remains a complex and longstanding file due to its scale, location within a Provincially Significant Wetland, and evolving historical governance. The watershed spans three municipalities, impacts approximately 13,000 acres of land and 260 private landowners, and is subject to numerous environmental regulations and intermunicipal considerations. Staff are working closely with R.J. Burnside & Associates to expedite the Section 78 Drainage Report, which will establish updated governance, assessment schedules, and a final design. Coordinated maintenance is expected in summer 2025 to address immediate landowner concerns. The Committee discussed options available to ensure timely completion of the engineer’s report.

Water and Wastewater Capacity Allocation Policy

Committee of the Whole approved a new Water and Wastewater Capacity Allocation Policy to support sustainable growth and ensure responsible management of the Township’s finite servicing resources. The policy, developed in consultation with Bruce County Planning and B.M. Ross and Associates, establishes a consistent framework for allocating available capacity and will help align future infrastructure expansion—particularly in Ripley and Lucknow—with projected development. A by-law to adopt the policy will be brought forward at the June 16th Council meeting.

Upcoming Meetings

The next Township of Huron-Kinloss Council meeting is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. on June 16th, 2025. Please note, the planning meeting scheduled for June 9th has been cancelled. This meeting will be held in Council Chambers at the Municipal Office, 21 Queen Street in Ripley.

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