Algonquin Highlands mayor Liz Danielsen said her number one priority for the township’s 2025 budget is to deliver as little an increase as possible to residents’ tax bills.
Council will convene to deliberate municipal priorities for the year ahead on Feb. 27 and 28. With some major projects both wrapping and coming up, including development at Stanhope Municipal Airport, the construction of a new public works garage, and consideration for a parking master plan, Danielsen said it will be an important year for the township.
Other focuses include investing in municipal docks and landings, management and implementation of the new license of occupation policy (LoO) and short-term rental bylaw (STR), and looking for ways to support affordable housing projects.
Department heads met with council in late November to discuss projects for the new year, with public works manager, Adam Thorn, saying there’s still much work to do at the municipal airport. Last year, the township replaced emergency runway and taxiway lighting, did some work to the main floor of the terminal building, and installed on-site security cameras.
In 2025, Thorn hopes to investigate options to have Hangar D repaired and brought back into operation – it’s been closed since 2020. Work will also wrap-up on the new $3.7 million public works garage in Stanhope.
Danielsen predicts it will be a big year for the parks, recreation and trails department, with a new parking master plan considered.
“We will be considering the development of a plan that can accommodate some of our boat launches and areas where water-access only properties can have improved parking areas,” Danielsen said.
With upgrades partially completed at the Russell Landing, and public consultation complete for works considered at Fletcher Lake, department manager, Chris Card, said the plan this year is to progress those two projects before turning attention to the Crozier Lake and Raven Lake landings.
The bylaw department has requested a set of Kevlar vests for bylaw officers and a new pet-safe containment unit for animal transfer. The township signed an agreement with Paws at Killara Station last summer, with the facility serving as the municipal pound.
Township staff will begin planning for the next municipal election, to be held Oct. 26, 2026, while communications officer, Chad Ingram, said one of his top priorities will be developing a new volunteer recruitment and recognition program. In the fall, council opted to disband its recreation committee citing poor participation from the public.
With the new LoO, shoreline preservation, and STR regulations causing a stir in recent years, Danielsen said the township intends to press forward with full implementation of new rules in 2025.
There will also be a renewed effort to support the development of affordable housing in Algonquin Highlands – last February, council discussed potential options with Habitat for Humanity Peterborough and Kawartha Region about allocating land for a new build in the community.
“It’s my hope we can work on some modest housing development,” Danielsen said.
