HALDIMAND—The following items were discussed during a Council-in-Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024. All items discussed will be ratified at a follow up meeting on Monday, November 25.
Superior tanker accreditation
The Haldimand County Fire Department will be reporting the positive results of the recent testing completed by the Fire Underwriter Survey (FUS) in conjunction with Haldimand County Fire Department to maintain their Fire Department Water Tanker Accreditation.
The accreditation is good for five years and was last completed in Haldimand County in 2019.
The accreditation provides residents with the fire hydrant protected insurance ratings, even if they live in areas not protected by fire hydrants. This rating, a result of the accreditation, has a dramatic impact on house insurance rates and can reduce rates by several hundred dollars per home.
FUS attended sites in Jarvis, Lowbanks, and Canfield as part of the testing. The department had to show they could meet minimums, including presence of qualified personnel, distance from a fire station by road, and minimum flow rates maintained for the full two hours of the test.
This re-certification is to remain in place until 2029.
911 Central Emergency agreement update
Haldimand County will be entering into a new five-year agreement with the Ontario Provincial Police for the provision of 911 Central Emergency Reporting Bureau (CERB) services.
The term would expire December 31, 2029.
The OPP have been providing CERB services through the Provincial Operations Centre under contract to Haldimand County since November 12, 2001.
Haldimand County staff recommend Council sign the new agreement for a period of five years, with an option to renew for an additional five years under the same terms.
The annual $27,610.18 cost is based on the 2021 census population figure of 49,216 for Haldimand County. The 2025 Tax-Supported operating budget will reflect the new cost, which is an increase of approximately $2,100 annually from the current contract that is soon to expire.
Road closure and conveyance – Dunnville
Council will discuss a road closure and conveyance of the road allowance between Concession 3 and 4, South of Talbot Road, Dunnville.
The closure was requested by applicants Kenneth and Nancy Margaret Zantingh.
They want to close and convey approximately 0.20 acres of road allowance at an offered purchase price of $31,656 plus HST and all costs of closure and conveyance, including Haldimand County’s legal fees.
County staff recommend proceeding as there are no objections or concerns raised and the offer aligns with the County’s Vacant Land Value Chart.
The applicants purchased their property at 885 Haldimand Road 17 in 2014, and have stated that they have recently started constructing a home. The parcel purchase is to improve access to the river flats behind their property from Haldimand Road 17.
General insurance program update
Haldimand County Council is set to approve their 2025 insurance policies.
The policies, proposed by Marsh Canada Limited and Arthur J. Gallagher Canada Limited, come at a cost of $979,749 inclusive of applicable taxes, representing approximately a 4% increase from 2024 insurance premiums.
The policies include a general liability, umbrella liability, environmental impairment, crime, property insurance, municipal volunteers’ accident, and cyber coverage.
Also included is a closed landfill policy, a Community Hall Boards Liability policy renewed with a $5 million liability limit instead of the previous $2 million, and a Property & Equipment Breakdown policy with a $100,000 deductible.
Staff will report back to Council if there are any significant policy changes for 2025 at the discretion of the General Manager of Corporate and Social Services Megan Jamieson.
