June 22 Meeting Highlights

Grey County Council met on June 22, 2023, in the Council Chamber and virtually on Zoom. The meeting was immediately followed by a session of Committee of the Whole. Recordings of the meetings can be found on Grey County’s YouTube Channel.

County Council

• Council accepted the minutes of the June 8 County Council and Committee of the Whole meetings.  Council  Committee
• Council accepted the minutes of the June 15 Long-Term Care Redevelopment Planning Task Force meeting.  Minutes
• Council and staff precariously sang Happy Birthday to the Warden.

Committee of the Whole

• Grey County recognized two area famers, Brian Gilroy and Ray Robertson, for their recent election to the Ontario Agricultural Hall of Fame. Brian Gilroy is an apple grower from Meaford who has been dedicated to agricultural education and research for more than 30 years. Ray Robertson, President and Executive Director of Grey Agricultural Services, has made significant contributions to agriculture by promoting education and implementation of innovative farm practices and has been heavily involved with forage, sustainable agriculture, and the Ontario Soil and Crop Improvement Association.  Video
• Council received an update on strategic priorities from Kate Burns Gallagher of the Western Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (WOWC). Grey County is a member of WOWC which is comprised of 16 upper and single-tier municipalities with a population of more than 1.5 million residents that are 90% rural.  2023-2024 priorities for WOWC include housing, workforce to support growth, and mental health, addictions and homelessness.  Presentation
• Council received a progress report on the 2023 Grey Roots operating plan. Museum Manager Jill Paterson updated council about ongoing projects and initiatives such as the Indigenous Advisory Circle, the Community Cultural Initiatives Fund, community events, an updated museum accessibility plan and more.  Report   Presentation
• Council voted to convert a current contract GIS (Geographical Information Systems) position to a permanent position. GIS staff provide services to nearly all County departments and six member municipalities. Having accurate special data is important for delivering services and developing strategies and applications.   Report
• Council received the 2022 Investment Report highlighting returns earned by the County. The County’s cash holdings and investments in 2022 were approximately $118.4 million with a net investment income earned of nearly $2.3 million.  Report
• Council approved seven changes related to parking and speed restrictions on sections of Grey County roads. Changes impact parking on Grey Road 3 in Keady, lowering the speed limit on Grey Road 4 in Allan Park from 80 km/h to 60 km/h, extending the 50 km/h zone on Grey Road 10 south of Neustadt, and reducing the speed to 60 km/h on Grey Road 29 south of Walters Falls. Council also approved three changes regulating parking on 3^rd Avenue East in Owen Sound.  Report
• Council approved the purchase of land necessary for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Grey Roads 3 and 4.  Report
• Council directed staff to move forward with expropriating two parcels of land necessary for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Grey Roads 3 and 4. Staff were unable to negotiate an agreement with the landowners at a fair market value. The two parcels of land are 0.0194 acres and 0.0810 acres in size. Report
• Following a discussion with legal counsel in closed session, Council directed staff to continue negotiating the purchase of land on Grey Road 19 needed for the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of Crosswinds Boulevard. If a negotiate price cannot be reached at a fair market value, Council directed staff to move forward with the expropriation process.

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.