Alexandr Leach, Editor
WHITEWATER REGION – The Council of the Township of Whitewater Region held a Special Council Meeting at 4:45 PM on October 28th, to recognize and handle the budget. The meeting took place in the council chambers, but was broadcast on Youtube.
Mayor Mike Moore made a short announcement regarding last week’s closed session.
“Council rose from the Closed council meeting at 7:27pm.” he said, before moving onto the budget.
“Well, it’s that time again.” Treasurer Sean Crozier said, before he went through the annual budget for the Whitewater Region for the coming year.
He identified a 1 percent increase in tax levy, and 1.5 cost of living adjustment, amounting to a 16000 dollar increase, but balanced out .
“We have the same contribution to capital, at the end of the day after capital, than we did last year.” he said. “We will have the same amount of money from last year.”
He also said there were still six summer school positions available for the budget.
“Do all Councillors use all of their funds?” asked Charlene Jackson, suggesting that they may reduce their available funds if they have to.
“This year is a bit of an odd year; in most years anywhere from 6 to 8 thousand used.” Crozier responded.
Councillor McLaughlin asked if they had made a bylaw that if a Councillor hadn’t used their whole allocation for conferences, another could make use of it.
Councillor Jackson clarified that they can use another Councillor’s allocation with that Councillor’s permission.
“We’ve taken out conferences and trade shows for staff. We’ve taken in education.”
He also said that the Christmas levy was removed.
Crozier said that Ottawa River Power would not be providing their money.
Councillor Jackson asked Mayor Moore if he’d heard about it.
“It was voted on at board level to deny board level as people were not paying their arrears.” the Mayor said.
“For this year only, it was decided that we would not provide the dividends.”
“We will not be putting out any dividends this year, because we’re in the middle of a big project.” Councillor McLaughlin said. We’ll be having car charging stations. There didn’t seem to be any dollars to give out dividends. SO that’s why ORES didn’t provide dividends.”
Councillor Nicholson asked about bad debts expense, and whether it was a part of the budget. Crozier said that there wasn’t, because they hadn’t contributed to the reserve.
Councillor Olmstead asked if there were any areas from 2020 where they “Really missed the mark”.
“Over the time when we were noticing a lot of properties in arrears.” Crozier answered. He cited the Tomminco mine’s transfer to the Ministry of Natural Resources.
Arena Usage
Crozier said there was a 5 percent decrease in the levy for arenas.
Jordan Durocher outlined the projections on the arena revenue, dropped to 284,285 from 300, 200.
He said salary had dropped by 40 percent, and hydro by 50 percent in the Beachburg arena.
Westmeath’s salaries and hydro were dropped by 50 percent as well.
“Our full-timers are still working as of now.” Durocher said to a question from Councillor Jackson about the salaries, suggesting they might increase due to the new COVID guidelines.
“We’ve actually reallocated some of the funding.” Crozier said. “To clarify, they way the salaries are broken down is that we’ve put more of their salaries into Cobden.”
He said the rearrangement led to a reduction of 30,000 in cost due to reallocating the work to the full-time operators.”
Councillor Olmstead asked if the arenas operated on a calendar or fiscal year
“We have to report on them in this budget on a calendar year, which for them is a fiscal year.” Crozier said. “We’re trying to budget Janary to December for them.”
“I like how conservative you’ve been in estimating those revenues.” Councillor Nicholson said to Crozier. “I think that’s valid.”
“Should we be charging arenas for signage that they’re not using.” Councillor Nicholson asked.
Durocher said. “Because we’re going to be operating for a half season, we are projecting some revenue for signage.”
Durocher said that there was no revenue from camping fees.
He also said that beach programs would not be hosted, but suggested they put some money in the budget “in case COVID lessens.”
He also said there was no Grant money, and that the overall insurance went up by five percent.
Durocher also suggested having a discussion Wednesday November 4th about unspent money due to COVID.
Christmas Lights
CAO Trembley said that nearly half of the park rec budget was unspent.
He said there was 2500 allocated to putting up and taking down Christmas lights, but no new money.
Councillor McLaughlin asked if NRTCO and Ottawa River power was still responsible for Christmas lights in Cobden.
Durocher said that they did, but had no partnerships elsewhere, but they had plans to “put them up in some other hamlets around the region.”
McLaughlin questioned the amount as unusually high.
CAO Trembley said that the four hamlets in the Region would all have LED conversion for streetlights, that will lead to Christmas displays for “five or seven units we bought”.
Councillor Jackson asked why Lapasse wasn’t included in Christmas lights.
Durocher said that they could do that.
CAO Trembley said that they could include it in Capital for the next meeting, “so that all the hamlets were treated fairly.”
Councillor Mackay asked if the insurance should be lower, as they are not using the arenas.
“We are going to be using them,for the slab.” Durocher asked.
“We are in the process of renewal, so this is our best guess for renewals.” Trembley said. “We’ll follow up with our insurance provider.”
Fishing Derbies
Jackson asked about any fees collected from the docks in Cobden due to the previous derby.
“If we’re not aware, we’re not aware.” Durocher said. “If it’s a small fishing derby, we may not hear about it. It’s kind of a control method, which is hard to do.”
Jackson suggested a social media message to inform derby organizers to register with the Township.
“They are the ones who are hurting the boat launch the most.” she said, saying that the big motors were major contributing factors to the recent repairs.
Councillor Olmstead said that in his four years, fishing derbies were “the number one source of complaints.”
“There were some physical altercations.” he said. “I expect to see more of that with the portfolio in the spring. I think we need to be more vigilant in collecting fees.”
Councillor Nicholson suggested a fine: “if you don’t pay your fee, it’s doubled” to prevent the derbies from detracting from the local residents.
“It’s the organizer that collects the fees, and it’s a flat rate.” Durocher said, when asked by Councillor McLaughlin asked about the fees.
McLaughlin suggested that they raise the fees, from the 250 dollars they normally collect.
Durocher said that due to the work on the boat launch, the revenue and the budget reflected the cancelled derbies.
Reeve Cathy Regier suggested they move the discussion to another meeting to keep on topic with the budget.
Crozier said that 26000 decrease in the land development and tourism budget due to COVID.
Ivan Burton said that they hadn’t budgeted for the tourism.
He said that they’d used up all of of the CIP funds for 2020.
He said that benches were purchased and delivered, and would be installed ‘next spring’, and said they would be purchasing signs.
Councillor Olmstead asked if CIP included rural areas, and Burton said that the 25000 was applied to “both city and rural areas.”
Jackson askd about the signage plan.
CAO Trembley said that “in house crews can assist with installation” for the signage, saying that he had been planning it.
He said that hamlet signs, park signs, and a “lot of the corporate signage” would be fabricated and installed by staff for next year.
Fire and Emergency Services
Fire Chief Guy Longtin outlined the budget, which included claims for highway accidents.
“This year has been more than average in regards to callouts.” he said. “What you see there is more indicative of what’s out there.”
He said there was a possible error from last year, siting “a eight hundred percent increase raises some flags.”
Uniforms allocation had gone down, changed to reflect repairs done on existing uniforms.
“Under emergency for flood management, we have the same allocated as before for sand bags.” Crozier said, and said that they were gonna be replacing the crosswalk program would be replaced with a ‘more efficient model.”
Trembley said that the four crosswalks being signalized would be discussed next week, to “provide safety in the three school zones”, in order to remove the crossing guards.
Councillor Nicholson asked about the bunker gear being included. Crozier said it would be coming as a Capital item next week.
Jackson asked if they collected for accidents from insurance, Longtun said that they did not.
Councillor Jackson suggested a reserve policy for the emergency services for replacement.
Crozier said that they had .18 percent in their reserve, which Jackson said was ‘not enough’.
Trembley pointed out that the current budgets covered ‘the basics’ and not things like replacements.
Building, Animal Control, and Enforcement
Crozier said that building, animal control, and enforcement increased by from 73,058 to 77,932.
Chief building officer Doug Shultz, said that revenue had increased, and while salaries had gone up, it was completely covered by the CBO.
He said they’d increased miscellaneous for reviews on large buildings.
CAO Trembley said that they were “continuing with contracted services” for animal services.
Councillor Jackson asked if the Township anticipated a high influx of building permits due to people moving to the rural areas.
Trembley said there was a ‘definite increase’ even excluding COVID.
Shultz said that the Whitewater region’s size makes building permits difficult.
“The vast area takes up a lot of time for us.”
Chris Olmstead said that the Whitewater Region’s location meant that the increase in building permits “would only keep going up.”
Roads and Waste Removal
Crozier then moved onto Roads.
He said that the number was “pretty similar”.
Manager of Public Works Lane Cleroux went through Waste Management costs.
Councillor Olmstead asked where they were in discussions on Ottawa Valley Waste recovery, and if it was reflected in it.
Cleroux said that their next plan was “to meet with them for it and get back to council”, but it wasn’t reflected in the budget.
Councillor McLaughlin questioned the levy for waste removal for ‘people who don’t want use curbside pickup.” for recycling.
Trembley said that they’re looking at it as a ‘duplication of service’.
Councillor Jackson said that the cost did lead to an increase in waste disposal.
Councillor Olmstead said that it was important “to keep a buffer” for those who don’t want to do curbside pickup.
Crozier then moved onto Library and Museum, which fell at 90,500 both this year in next.
Crozier also said there was a 2 percent decrease in policing, which he “hoped would continue”.
He said there was six percent decrease in drainage.
Crozier said that he’d had an ‘informal discussion’ with the library treasurer saying the allocation would be fine.
Crozier then went through several graphs breaking down the previously discussed the previous sections.
He reiterated that they have ‘the same amount allocated’ for levy as last year.
Councillor McLaughlin asked if they’d budgeted for policing costs, which Crozier confirmed was that it decreased.
“In 2020, Whitewater Region’s tax rate is about bang-on on average for the whole county.” Councillor Jackson added as Crozier concluded. “We’re not high, we’re not low. We’re doing a good job, as far as I’m concerned.”
“If there’s one year we can really get on this, it’s this one.” Councillor Olmstead said. “Our residents are about to be hit with precedent-setting expenses this year.”
“I’d really like us to think about no additional tax burden to the taxpayers.”
Councillor Jackson warned that “a zero-percent tax increase will get picked up the next year”.
“There are jobs being unfulfilled due to some people feeling they’re making more on CERB, but we haven’t seen that impact yet.” She said.
“I don’t want to see us impacting ourselves in 2022 if we keep it at zero percent in 2021.”
“I haven’t seen many savings right now.”
Councillor Olmstead said that taxes are definitely going to go up in the coming year, but that they “need to be minimalist in all we do” due to the taxes increasing due to COVID.
Councillor Nicholson commented that there will be a split in wealth, where “the rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer. There’s all these people with more recreational money, but there’s also the employee who can’t get their restaurant job because child care isn’t an option. I don’t know if there’s any way to control this kind of impact.”
Councillor McLaughlin mentioned the Cobden Band Shell was “very well received” and was something that could be added to the Council.
“When I spoke to Ted Barron, the booking was the big thing” McLaughlin said, suggested allocating a summer student to helping booking and cleaning.
Councillor Jackson suggested an increase of one student from the six due to this.
CAO Trembley suggested that the issues be saved for next meeting due to time.
The meeting adjourned at 7:32pm.
