By Mike Renzella
The Haldimand Press
HALDIMAND—The following items were discussed at Council on Tuesday, February 28, 2023. Any decisions made will need to be ratified at Council on Monday, March 6. For the full reports, visit haldimandcounty.ca.
CA municipal levies increase for 2023
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and the Niagara Peninsula Conservation Authority (NPCA) presented Council with their updated municipal levy budgets for 2023, which require County funding.
In each case, the levy rose above 2022 rates. For the GRCA, the levy is up 4.5%, or $8,124 to a total of $180,063. The NPCA levy saw a more significant rise of 11.7%, or $28,685 to a total of $131,117.
County staff noted that the increases are in line with Conservation Authority (CA) levies across the province, with the rising costs attributed to inflation, decreased federal funding, and higher operation costs.
CAs are also bracing for the impacts of the Provincial government’s Bill 23, which made significant changes to the Conservation Authorities Act, including a freezing of CA fees, potential impacts to local natural areas and wetland areas through increased development opportunities, and the transfer of some CA regulatory responsibilities to municipalities.
Grand River Notification Agreement
Haldimand County has recommended the acceptance of an updated Grand River Notification Agreement, a voluntary agreement between First Nations communities, various municipalities, and provincial ministries.
The agreement has been reviewed and renewed on a five-year cycle since coming into existence in 1996. The review was completed by a team of representatives from all involved parties, with revisions described as “subtle and limited in number.”
Under the agreement, the County agrees to notify First Nations communities for a number of development-related issues, including when considering: adoption of a new official plan or amendment; a new zoning bylaw or amendment; a plan of subdivision, condominium, or consent to sever; when required to give notice under the Environmental Assessment Act or for a Conservation Authority; when it has purchased/sold any land, proposes to declare land surplus or to close a road permanently, or when offering land for sale through public tender, advertising, or listing.
In reciprocation, First Nations provide similar information on development or land-related issues to the County.
For 2022, 94 planning applications were circulated by Haldimand’s Planning and Development Division under the agreement.
Reallocating community paramedic funds
County staff recently requested an adjustment to the 2022-23 Community Paramedic (CP) budget to allow for the purchase of two additional paramedic vehicles, a trailer for carrying equipment and supplies, new office equipment, and the hiring of a temporary additional staff worker for Divisional Support.
The County’s Community Paramedic program is designed to decrease the need for ‘hallway medicine’, offering in-home support to 185 clients in the area, Wellness Clinics where residents are seen once a month, and Haldimand’s one-of-a-kind Wellness Dog program, which has seen inquiries from other municipalities looking to replicate the program’s success.
Funding for the program is provided by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care. The Province has approved the allocation request via writing.
Springvale Park Committee formed
Haldimand County has approved the inclusion of the Springvale Park Committee (SPC) into the Field and Parks Management Program, which provides funding to community groups looking to maintain and care for local community parks.
The program currently hosts 13 volunteer groups operating public recreational assets throughout Haldimand. Through the program, SPC will receive a grant totalling $4,940 for 2023 to keep the park in good shape.
Springvale Park was once home to an active ballpark that was decommissioned due to low usage and aging equipment. The group first began inquiring about entering the County program back in 2018, leading to a clean-up project in 2022 in which SPC was able to improve a series of deficits at the park. Since then, County staff have removed outdated infrastructure and have upgraded an on-site concession building to be used by the group for equipment storage.
According to a County press release, the group is “passionate about the park and desires to maintain it to a higher standard than the level of service outlined in the County’s grass cutting contract.”
Haldimand Youth Soccer Club purchasing field line painting system
County staff have recommended approval of a request from the Haldimand Youth Soccer Club (HYS) to use funding through the Community Partnership Program to purchase an automated field line painting system.
According to the group, the process of line-painting the fields at Caledonia’s McClung Soccer Complex and Cayuga’s Broecheler Park is “onerous,” leading to volunteer burnout and increased operating costs.
Implementing the automated system will provide a streamlined process, cutting down significantly on the work of organization volunteers at a time when many local organizations are citing drastically decreased volunteer participation following the pandemic.
With HYS indicating that it can no longer maintain the volunteer base to do the work, County staff noted that the autonomous system comes with a significant financial savings, costing $36,000 a year to operate as opposed to the approximately $70,000 it would cost to hire a professional service.
The system comes with a one-time $70,000 purchasing fee, with HYS requesting 35% funding through the County, amounting to $24,500.
