August 9 Council Highlights

Grey County Council met on Thursday, August 9 at 9:30 a.m. in the Council Chamber. The council meeting was immediately followed by a session of committee of the whole. A recording of this meeting can be found on the County’s YouTube Channel.

County Council

• John Woodbury was sworn in as a Grey County Councillor. Mr. Woodbury has been serving as an alternate member of council for Southgate during Councillor Jack’s leave of absence. Councillor Norm Jack has recently stepped down from his position and John was officially named Deputy Mayor of Southgate.
• Council accepted the minutes of the July 26 County Council and Committee of the Whole meetings.  Committee  Council
• Council accepted the July Board of Health report and the minutes of the July 27 meeting.  Report   Minutes
• Grey County is amending its contract with Sienna Senior Living to allow the management company to provide more long-term care consulting support. Sienna are industry leaders in long-term care and can share their knowledge and resources with the County to enhance processes in areas identified through a recent operational review.  Grey County and Sienna have developed an agreement for Sienna to take over management responsibilities of the County’s three long-term care homes. This agreement is being submitted to the province for review and approval. Sienna will report to County Council and Grey County will maintain responsibility and decision making authority for the homes.  Report
• Council welcomed a group of entrepreneurs who were successful applicants to the Starter Company program, delivered by the Business Enterprise Centre. This program helps owners launch their business by providing mentorship support and up to $5,000.

Committee of the Whole

• County staff will draft a terms of reference for a joint municipal accessibility advisory committee. This committee will provide advice to Grey County council and local municipal councils who wish to participate. Council will also consider adding additional staff resources in 2019 to allow the County to provide more accessibility staff support to the local municipalities.  Report
• Council received a report outlining the 2019 Paramedic Services Response Plan. This plan outlines target response times for calls based on their degree of urgency.  Report
• Grey County is entering into an agreement with EPCOR to allow the installation of natural gas lines along Grey Road 25.  Report
• Council discussed the recommendation from the Administration Building Task Force to decommission the former Provincial Offences Administration (POA) building.  In a recorded vote, council supported the recommendation.  Demolition will be arranged for this fall. The future use of the site will be discussed by Grey County Council next year.

Good News and Celebrations

• The Sydenham Sportsmen Salmon Spectacular is coming up this month.
• The Ayton Trek for Tourette’s was the top Tourette’s walk in Canada this year.
• August 11 is the Colleen Lantz Memorial Run (1k, 5k, 10k). The event is now a fundraiser for Wes for Youth supporting mental health services for youth in our community.
• The Bentinck, Brandt, Hanover Fall Fair is this weekend in Hanover.
• Bruce Power suppliers will be announcing new locations in Owen Sound at an event next week.
• Owen Sound’s “Are You Most” campaign is ramping up.
• This past weekend was the 156^th Emancipation Festival. It is the longest running emancipation event in Canada, celebrating the end of slavery in the United States. Owen Sound was the northern most point of the famous Underground Railroad.

The Clerk’s Department maintains the official record for Grey County. This publication is intended to provide meeting highlights only. For official records, please refer to the meeting minutes, or contact the Clerk’s Department at 1-800-567-4739.