Following a meeting with the Eastern Ontario Regional Network (EORN) last Thursday (July 16), County of Haliburton CAO Gary Dyke said the affordability and governance study is “right on schedule.”
He said County staff should have a final draft of the EORN report by July 31 with the consultant scheduled to present to council at its Aug. 12 meeting.
Dyke said they will be inviting all local councils to attend that meeting in-person or virtually, so every elected official can receive the information at the same time.
The CAO said EORN has so far met all of its targets. Last week, they were focusing on feedback they had received from the public; along with continuing financial analysis.
“It’s nice to put actual data to the question. It’s just not about ‘well, we like it the way it is.’ That’s fine, but this is what the numbers say.”
Dyke said that will differentiate this work from the services delivery review. “There’s going to be actual data, outlining ‘this is what you do now, and this is what it will look like if you do this.’ It will resonate well with people. If nothing else, at least they have the information.”
The CAO noted the study will be released publicly with the agenda package for the Aug. 12 meeting.
He said he would be looking for direction from council to allow him to do more analysis on the identified options that EORN will present.
The County is also planning to hold four town hall meetings – in each of Algonquin Highlands, Dysart et al, Highlands East and Minden Hills – after the study is out, and people have had an opportunity to read it.
“Then the public can ask questions of EORN, and myself, about the study. That may happen in late August.”
After that, he said his goal is to create orientation packages for the new council for mid-December, “and our target is to bring the study back to the new council Jan. 13 for discussion.”
Dyke added, “the province is interested in what’s going on with our study. So are some other municipalities across the province. We’re getting a lot of compliments on our process. It’s moving well and I think people will be satisfied with what’s come out of the study.”
Renovations
County council met for the first time Wednesday (July 22) in its new council chambers at 12 Newcastle St. in Minden.
Dyke said interior work in the former Land Registry Office wrapped up last week, with the parking lot being paved this week. While there are still some exterior modifications to be done, Dyke anticipated the retrofit would be complete by the end of July or the first week of August.
Meanwhile, Perfectly Built Inc. continues the job across the road at 11 Newcastle St., which used to house council chambers.
Dyke said last week, “the third floor is done now; where the old council chambers used to be, and they’re working on the second floor. We hope to have that building completely done by Labour Day.”
The CAO added they won’t host an official opening until all of the landscaping is finalized, which will likely be in September.
Last August, County council approved the $2.5 million project, borrowing the bulk of the money.
Dyke said the renovations at 12 Newcastle St. were a couple of months behind schedule; but they are on-schedule for the completion of the retrofit for 11 Newcastle St.
He said he would meet with public works director, Syl Cloutier, this week to go over the project budget and will provide a report to council in August.
