Council Highlights - February 25, 2025

Lanark County Community Justice Board Chair and Almonte resident David Burkett provided a delegation to Council at last night’s meeting. The organization uses restorative practices to divert cases from the traditional court system. This model reduces the risk of reoffending, costs less money, repairs relationships and builds stronger communities. The community can get involved by becoming a volunteer, joining the board of directors, helping with fundraising or offering meeting space for community justice forums. View the presentation.

Council authorized the Mayor and Clerk to enter into a transfer payment agreement and to accept matching funding of up to $935,499.38 for the design and construction of the hard surfacing of Old Almonte Road in 2026. Included in the 2024 Transportation Master Plan, the Municipality applied for a matching grant to cover 50% of the total cost – $1,906,998.75. The 3km upgrade (from Paterson Street to Appleton Side Road) will encourage more use of the road, reduce maintenance and address residential concerns.

Council approved the draft plan of subdivision extension request for the Mill Valley Living development for one year. Draft approval was granted in 2022 and will lapse on May 11, 2025. Mill Valley Living is situated to the east of Orchard View Gardens and south of Industrial Drive and includes a four-storey seniors apartment building with 48 units and 45 townhouse units. This resolution will be forwarded to Lanark County, who is the approval authority on draft plans of subdivision. 

Council directed staff to schedule a non-statutory public meeting for a 14-lot draft plan of subdivision on private services in Appleton. Following the public meeting, staff have been directed to return to Committee of the Whole with a report providing proposed draft plan conditions including the full repair of the property to allow residential uses under the Environmental Protection Act. 

The new Routine Disclosure and Active Dissemination Policy was endorsed. Routine disclosure is the automatic release of certain operational records through informal or formal requests under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act or the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Active dissemination is the release of general records without a request. The policy is a way to give the public more access to government information. 

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

• Stage light upgrades for the Ron Caron Auditorium in Almonte Old Town Hall.
• A housekeeping zoning by-law amendment to correct minor errors to the Zoning By-law.
• Housekeeping updates to the Building By-law.
• The recommendation report for 2025 capacity allocation.
• The updated Communications Plan, Social Media Policy and Mississippi Mills Style Guide.
• Quarterly reports for Delegated Authority, Protective Services and Community and Economic Development.

Upcoming Meetings:

• Hybrid Council Meeting – March 4, 2025, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council.
• Hybrid Council Meeting – March 18, 2025, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council. 

-30-

Media Contact:

Ashley Kulp, Communications Coordinator
Municipality of Mississippi Mills
613-256-2064
akulp@mississippimills.ca