If successful, provincial funding opportunities could see downtown Minden revitalization, signage to help people better find their way around the County, and a refurbished terminal building at Stanhope Airport.
County director of economic development, Scott Ovell, told a Feb. 28 County council meeting staff are applying under the Rural Economic Development (RED) fund. They are also supporting an application by Algonquin Highlands for an Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for an airport project.
Ovell said they sent their application to the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture Food and Rural Affairs (OMAFRA), which oversees RED funding, on Feb. 21. He said staff opted to target the strategic infrastructure stream “with a focus on signage and downtown revitalization,” which are stated priorities within the program.
Staff have requested money for the installation of four community maps in each township. Each map would highlight points of interest, such as trails, parks, and museums. Ovell said they would be in high volume traffic areas, such as the Village Green in Minden and Head Lake Park in Haliburton. He said the maps can be repurposed once the County finishes its wayfinding signage work.
Ovell said in talking to the regional OMAFRA advisor, they were told they should apply with an existing community improvement plan, which Minden Hills implemented in 2019. It helps businesses improve facades, for example.
He said are also requesting funding for sign improvements and public art. Ovell said it would roll out in Minden Hills, if approved, but “this is being viewed as a pilot project, and if successful, could provide County staff with the evidence that would support the creation of CIPs within other urban settlement areas within the County.”
Warden Liz Danielsen did question why Minden and “not Haliburton, or why not downtown Wilberforce?” Ovell said, “It’s more of a requirement of the province than us trying to cherry pick one community over another.”
County staff have submitted an application to the province for $19,450, with $15,000 coming from the County and $4,500 (30 per cent) from the province. The County’s contribution would be allocated from the economic development programing budget. Ovell said the line is currently budgeted at $43,000 in the draft 2024 economic development and operating budget.
As for airport terminal renovations, Ovell said the County would be a co-applicant with no financial commitment. He said it could be to make the airport a community hub, or an economic development hub.
Danielsen said the application is primarily to improve the terminal building, to create a community hub, and make it accessible. “Because at the present time, the washrooms are not accessible.” She expressed appreciation for the County’s support.
Ambulance response times
The Haliburton County paramedic service met, or exceeded, response time targets for 2023, chief Tim Waite told council.
Under provincial regulations, services have to set, adhere to, and publicly report, their response times every year.
They are under the Canadian Triage Acuity Scale (CTAS), for level one (resuscitation), level two (emergent), level three (urgent), level four (less urgent) and level five (nonurgent), as well as for sudden cardiac arrest.
Waite said for sudden cardiac arrest, the goal was to arrive on scene within six minutes 20 per cent of the time, and they did it 32 per cent of the time.
Their CTAS 1 goal was to arrive on scene within eight minutes 30 per cent of the time, and they achieved 32 per cent of the time.
For CTAS 2, the goal was to arrive on scene within 15 minutes 65 per cent of the time and they met that goal.
The CTAS 3 goal was to arrive on scene within 20 minutes 65 per cent of the time. They did 79 per cent.
The CTAS 4 goal was to arrive on scene within 23 minutes 65 per cent of the time. HCPS achieved that, arriving on scene within 25 minutes 91 per cent of the time.
And, the CTAS 5 goal was to arrive on scene within 30 minutes 65 per cent of the time. HCPS achieved 96 per cent of the time.
