Council Highlights - April 25th, 2023

Highlights of the April 25^th, 2023
Council Meeting

Council heard a delegation from Janice Gray and Kevin Clouthier regarding “Planet Youth” - a local organization representing a new approach to improving quality of life in a community. Specifically, goals are to reduce or prevent drug and substance abuse and misuse among youth and promote strengthening mental health and building community. 

Lanark OPP Detachment Commander Inspector Karuna Padiachi provided Council with an overview of the statistics, programs and services the OPP provides in Mississippi Mills. He noted that the biggest areas of concern for the Lanark OPP are domestic calls (including human trafficking), mental health calls and graffiti/hate crimes. The Mobile Crisis Response Team Program continues to be funded by the province on an annual basis. The program provides an officer with an experienced mental health professional to respond as first responders to calls through 911. Inspector Padiachi noted that the Lanark OPP responded to 281 mental health call in 2015, and by 2022 that number had risen to 851. 

Council approved allocating $125,000 for the purchase of a brush cutter attachment for a loader as a result of the Derecho in May 2022. The Municipality sought $50,000 in funding and was granted $26,000 for a reforestation program to be issued by the Municipality for Forestry Dependent Commercial Businesses. Last month Mississippi Mills learned it was successful in its application for one-time funding offered by the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to recoup clean up costs stemming from the windstorm. 

Council also approved the reconstruction of Panmure Road and pulverizing and gravelling of Concession 9 North Pakenham, as well as the last 2 km of the surface treatment on Bellamy Road as part of the 2023 capital program.

Council made the following proclamations:

• May as Museum Month
• May 5^th as World Pulmonary Hypertension Day
• May 17^th as International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia

The Committee of the Whole received a quarterly update from Roads and Public Works, Clerks and Corporate Services, as well as annual reports with respect to the former Ramsay Township Landfill, Howie Road Landfill and the Mississippi Mills Wastewater System.

Committee of the Whole also heard the following items, which will be brought forward for approval at a future Council meeting:

• Support the efforts of the A Meal For All organizing committee with $2000 in seed funding. A Meal For All - Almonte is an new initiative in the early stages of planning being developed by a grass roots collection of community members. The initiative is focused on the importance of programs that support community building and offer access to food. The group plans to start by hosting a small weekly community breakfast that will be free for all attendees and donations could be accepted.
• Seek approval for a Memorandum of Understanding between the Municipality and Lanark County for an Affordable Housing Grant Program. Highlights include:
  • The Municipality will transfer the full $50,000 for the County for inclusion in affordable housing grants within the boundaries of Mississippi Mills.
  • The administration of the grant program will be as per the County’s Affordable Housing Grant Program Guidelines.
  • If an application is approved, the County will award $10,000 per unit from the Municipality’s funds in addition to the (up to) $25,000 per unit from the County’s grant program.
  • In the event that the County’s annual grant funds are exhausted, the County has agreed to administer any remaining Municipal grant funds with a fee of $500.00 per grant.
  • Mississippi Mills Planning Department will support the County by attending any required meetings with an applicant for affordable housing development in Mississippi Mills.
  • If the MOU is terminated, either party can provide confirmation within 30 days and any unspent Municipal funds will be returned to the Municipality.

Bicentennial Events – www.mississippimills.ca/200:

• May 4 - Renewing our Friendships: Introducing the Seven Gifts - come out for an evening of learning and inspiration! Experience a Smudging Ceremony, learn about the Seven Grandfather Teachings and hear from the artists behind this amazing sculpture. Tickets are $15 and on sale through www.ticketsplease.ca. Visit www.mmallmyrelations.ca for more information about this exciting project!
• May 12 - RCMP Musical Ride at the Almonte Fairgrounds. Visit www.almontefair.ca for more details and ticket information.
• May 27 - 'The Story of Almonte' Part 1 - documentary film by Rob & Sharon Newton. Stop by the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum at 2pm to view part 1 of this documentary with a special introduction by Rob & Sharon Newton. Donations to the food bank will be accepted.
• June 16 - Mill Workers' Walk Re-enactment - all are welcome to join in this historical walk re-enacting a century of mill workers in Almonte going to work at the mills.
• June 24 - Almonte Home & Garden Tour - 10am - 5pm. Put on by the Almonte General Hospital Fairview Manor Foundation and the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum
• June 30 - Pakenham Canada Day Eve Parade and Fireworks
• July 1 - Canada Day Celebration at Gemmill Park in Almonte. Lots of activities are being planned for this Bicentennial Canada Day celebration! 

Upcoming Meetings:

• Hybrid Council Meeting – May 9^th, 2023 at 6:00 pm. Committee of the Whole Meeting to follow Council.
• Hybrid Council Meeting – May 23^rd, 2023 at 6:00 pm. Committee of the Whole Meeting to follow Council.