Council Meeting Highlights – March 23, 2026

Council presented Henry Staal with an award to honour his incredible leadership and dedication through more than 40 years of community volunteer service. Read the full story on our website. 

Sign By-law Amendment for Election Signs (Item 11c) 

Council approved to amend the Sign By-law in reference to election signs. Election signs may now be posted on all properties on nomination day which for the 2026 election will be on August 21, 2026. It was previously limited to 30 days before election day. All election signs must be removed within 10 days following election day.

Noise By-law Exemption for the 2026 Russell Fair (Item 11d)

A noise exemption request was approved for the Russell Fair on the following dates:

• Thursday, August 13 from 11 p.m. to midnight for the Truck Pull;
• Friday, August 14 from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. for outdoor musical entertainment; and
• Saturday, August 15 from 11 p.m. to midnight for the “Demo Derby” and from 11 p.m. to 1 a.m. for outdoor musical entertainment.

Sign By-law Amendment to Expand the Use and Increase the Size of On-Premises Signs (Item 11e)

Council approved to amend the Sign By-law to expand the use and increase the size of on-premises signs.

Council awarded the 2026 paving contract to Blair Asphalt. The complete list of roads scheduled for paving this summer was approved last fall during the budget process and can be viewed on our website. 

Environmental Assessment for the new Wastewater Treatment Plant (Item 11g)

Council completed the first step in the proposed wastewater treatment plant project by awarding the contract for the Environmental Assessment to CIMA+. The project will be undertaken in collaboration with The Nation Municipality. To find out more information on this project, we invite you to view the video on the project page.

Recreation Complex Update (Item 11h)

As part of the Recreation Complex project, the Township completed a comprehensive market sounding and financial analysis, supported by MNP, to assess current lending conditions and inform future financing decisions. Twelve potential financial institutions were contacted, resulting in strong market interest and multiple indicative offers, including from Infrastructure Ontario (IO).

The analysis confirms that while short‑term financing options may offer limited upfront savings, they also introduce significant long‑term refinancing and interest‑rate risk. Even modest increases at renewal could result in substantial additional costs over the life of the loan. By contrast, long‑term fixed‑rate financing provides greater stability, predictability, and protection against market volatility.

Current market conditions are favourable for securing long‑term fixed financing, with historically narrow spreads between short‑ and long‑term rates. The study also reviewed alternative payment structures and found that, where cash flow permits, a serial payment approach could significantly reduce total interest costs over the full amortization period.

This work provides Council with a clear, evidence‑based view of the financing landscape and establishes a solid foundation for future decisions regarding the timing, structure, and sustainability of the Recreation Complex financing.

The current forecast for construction completion and the issuance of the occupancy certificate is October 22, 2026. The projected date for full operational readiness is October 23, 2026.

Over the coming weeks, the Administration will present a report to Council aimed at outlining the future direction and operations of the complex. This report will provide an update on the progress of ongoing work beyond the construction phase, as well as the next steps moving forward.