Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility Council - Page 2 of 6 - Haldimand County

Haldimand County Council approves 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan

On Wednesday, January 25, 2023 Haldimand County Council formally adopted the county’s 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan. This multi-year plan outlines the county’s strategy to prevent and remove barriers for individuals with disabilities and reaffirms its commitment to providing inclusive and accessible services.

The 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan takes into account legislated requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA), the needs of the community, input provided by the County’s Accessibility Advisory Committee as well as best practices for accessibility within the public sector.

The Plan outlines several actions that will be undertaken over the next 5 years to further enhance the accessibility and inclusivity of municipal programs, services and facilities. These include, but are not limited to:

  • Enhancing the County website to fully meet AODA standards;
  • Developing a Facilities Accessible Design Standards (FADS) document to clearly define accessible design standards that will be used across the County moving forward;
  • Completing a parks and facilities audit to identify areas of County owned parks and facilities that require accessibility-related improvements;
  • Continuing to engage the Accessibility Advisory Committee and consult members on applicable capital projects, Master Plans, Neighborhood Plans and major initiatives to ensure barrier-free access for all residents;
  • Working closely with the newly-established 2022-2026 Accessibility Advisory Committee to develop criteria for prioritizing accessibility-related enhancements across the county – taking into account both areas of greatest need and fiscal practicality.

While the County is legislatively required to abide by the AODA’s Design of Public Spaces Standard on a go-forward basis, the benefits of investing in accessibility enhancements extend beyond meeting regulatory requirements.

Rather, making expenditures that support an inclusive, barrier-free community will ensure Haldimand remains and continues to evolve as a great place to live, work and play for individuals of all abilities.

For more information on accessibility in Haldimand County or to review the 2023-2027 Accessibility Plan, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/accessibility.

 

Haldimand County logo. A yellow sun rising or setting atop green and blue waves. Haldimand County in black lettering below.

Haldimand County Declares Significant Weather Event, Municipal Facilities To Remain Closed December 23 & 24

Haldimand County has declared a Significant Weather Event as a winter storm moves into the area, effective Friday, December 23 at 6am until midnight on Saturday, December 24. All municipal facilities will be closed on Friday, December 23 and Saturday, December 24 and garbage and recycling curbside collection is canceled.

Winter storm conditions are expected to intensify throughout the day. The combination of snowfall and extreme winds are expected to result in hazardous travel conditions, and the County is asking residents to follow Environment Canada advice and consider postponing non-essential travel until conditions improve.

Facility closures/service impacts:

  • The Haldimand County Administration Building, museums, libraries and arenas will be closed.
  • The Canborough Waste Management Facility will be closed Friday and Saturday.
  • All scheduled programs and ice/room rentals are canceled Friday and Saturday.
  • Garbage and recycling curbside collection is canceled. Residents whose collection day is Friday are asked to bring their materials in from the curb and place them out next week. Residents affected will have double the bag limit next Saturday (due to holiday schedule).

During a significant weather event, residents are advised to use extra caution and are reminded that standard timelines for clearing roads and sidewalks may not be met.

The county’s winter control crews are ready to respond to this significant weather event and will be working around the clock, however, with the conditions expected, residents are asked to be patient and allow staff time to clear main arterial roadways by priority.

Winter control staff have approximately 1500kms of roadways to clear and will be working as quickly as possible to plow all routes.

A plow priority route map and winter parking/snow removal by-law information can be found at HaldimandCounty.ca. Storm-related updates will be posted here and shared via Facebook and Twitter.

Haldimand County Council Approves 2023 Water And Wastewater Budget

On December 8, 2022, Haldimand County Council reviewed and approved the 2023 Rate-Supported Operating & Capital Budget. Otherwise known as the Water & Wastewater Budget, this important strategic document ensures that reliable, safe, clean and affordable potable water is available to residents across the County.

This Rate-Supported Budget deals exclusively with water and wastewater treatment initiatives & is funded directly by user rates (with no financial support from property taxes).

The 2023 budget includes average annual gross expenditures of $11.9 million in capital expenditures on the water side and $8.7 million on the wastewater side. These expenditures are to maintain, improve and optimize the operation of existing systems and to add capacity in response to growth.

The average residential combined water & wastewater user will see a slight increase of about $1.54 (1.83%) on their average monthly bill and despite rising inflation all bulk services (i.e. water depot, septic holding treatment, etc.) have been capped to an increase of 3%.

Overall, Haldimand’s water & wastewater rates still remain below the provincial average and lower relative to nearby comparable communities due to ongoing strategic planning efforts and diligent asset management practices.

New water & wastewater rates take effect on January 1, 2023.

Over the 10-year capital forecast period there is a total of $206 million allocated for enhancements to municipal sewer and water infrastructure.

Major projects slated to begin in 2023 include the construction of a secondary Highway 6 Water Transmission Main and the construction of a new elevated water tank and in-ground reservoir in Caledonia on the sites of existing infrastructure.

Factors impacting the 2023 rate-supported budget and user rates include:

  • rising costs of materials, chemicals, supplies and contracts with water and wastewater treatment plant operators;
  • rising insurance costs due to limited providers and provincial liability legislation;
  • increases to the rate the City of Hamilton charges Haldimand County for water and increased consumption of water (due to growth).

Over the Term of Council (2023-2027), staff will be actively monitoring external pressures on water & wastewater services in order to properly plan for any potential mitigation that may be required. While rates have remained relatively stable, changes to provincial legislation has the ability to significantly impact municipal operations. As such, senior staff will continue to monitor the political environment & lobby against changes that may impact the affordability of water rates in Ontario.

Council will next review the Tax-Supported Operating & Capital Budgets on the following dates:

Tax-Supported Capital Budget: February 2, 2023 & February 3, 2023* (*if required)

Tax-Supported Operating Budget: March 2, 2023 & March 3, 2023* (*if required)

More information about County budgets, user fees/rates and taxes is available at HaldimandCounty.ca/financials.

 

Haldimand County logo. A yellow sun rising or setting atop green and blue waves. Haldimand County in black lettering below.

Haldimand County welcomes 2022-2026 Council at Inaugural Meeting of new term

On November 15, 2022, Haldimand hosted its Inaugural Meeting for the new term of Council. The meeting began with a brief ceremony that included the Declarations of Office for the Mayor and each individual Councillor.

As part of the ceremony, Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley delivered an inaugural speech thanking the community for its support, congratulating newly-elected members of Council and reiterating her commitment to collaboration, inclusivity, transparency and accountability.

“As Mayor I am eager to be a strong advocate for our municipality by working with Council, our community, provincial and federal counterparts and our indigenous communities. By listening, communicating and welcoming your ideas, we can all make Haldimand County an even better place to live, work and play,” Bentley noted.

“The people of Haldimand have spoken that they seek change. As your Mayor, I promise to work for a better future – one that makes sense for the community as a whole,” added Bentley.

Bentley emphasized the need to take a closer look at municipal infrastructure needs, look for new ways to communicate and find ways to plan and provide space for future business development, health care institutions, schools, farmland and parkland.

Mayor Bentley’s speech is available in full on the county website.

Following the inaugural meeting and leading into the new year, members of Council will participate in a comprehensive orientation process followed by priority-setting sessions to define Council’s key goals and objectives for the term.

The first Council in Committee meeting of the new term will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, followed by Council on Monday, December 12, 2022, which will be the last meeting of the calendar year.

2022-2026 Term of Council

Mayor
Shelley Ann Bentley

Ward 1
Stewart Patterson

Ward 2
John Metcalfe

Ward 3
Dan Lawrence

Ward 4
Natalie Stam

Ward 5
Rob Shirton

Ward 6
Patrick O’Neill

Haldimand County declares official 2022 Municipal Election results

Haldimand County Clerk, Evelyn Eichenbaum, has released the official results for the 2022 Municipal and School Board election.

The official count declares that during the municipal election held on Monday, October 24, 2022, for the offices listed, the certified candidates received the votes recorded.

The final count and official results can be found at www.haldimandcounty.ca/election.

The new term of Council begins with an inaugural meeting on November 15, followed by Council in Committee on December 6 and Council on December 12. As the term gets underway, both new and returning members participate in a comprehensive orientation followed by a Council Priority Setting Session to establish key goals for the term.

 

Haldimand County logo. A yellow sun rising or setting atop green and blue waves. Haldimand County in black lettering below.

Haldimand County seeking new members for boards and committees of Council

Haldimand County is currently accepting applications for citizen representation on numerous boards and committees of Council. Recruitment for boards and committees is held every 4 years with the commencement of a new term of Council.

The role of board and committee members is to provide Council and staff with input on a wide variety of issues. Becoming a member offers residents a unique chance to volunteer their skills and share ideas for the betterment of the community.

Applications from all residents with diverse backgrounds and skill sets are welcome. In total, new members are being sought for 11 boards and committees. These include:

  • Accessibility Advisory Committee
  • Agricultural Advisory Committee
  • Business Development & Planning Advisory Committee
  • Committee of Adjustment
  • Haldimand County Public Library Board
  • Haldimand Museums Advisory Board
  • Heritage Haldimand
  • Police Services Board
  • Seniors Advisory Committee
  • Trails Advisory Committee
  • Youth Advisory Committee

The number of positions available on each board and committee varies.

Further information about Haldimand’s boards and committees – including terms of reference, member roles, responsibilities and the online application form – are available on the Haldimand County website. Residents are encouraged to review the descriptions for each committee prior to submitting their application.

Following the application closing date of November 30, applications will be reviewed and recommendations will be formally presented to Haldimand Council for its consideration and decision in January 2023.

Residents who wish to learn more or apply for a board/committee position are encouraged to visit the Boards and Committees page on the county website.

Haldimand County votes 2022: advance polling and election day information

On October 24, eligible voters in Haldimand County will select who they want to represent them on Haldimand County Council in the 2022 municipal election.

Voting will take place between October 7 and 24 and residents are strongly encouraged to visit haldimandcounty.ca/election to confirm their voting eligibility and determine the voting option most convenient to them.

Voter List registration information

  • Residents – especially those who have recently moved to or within Haldimand County – are strongly encouraged to check that they are on the voters’ list as the data for the list is provided by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation. A Voter List lookup tool is available on the County website.
  • Voter Notification Letters have been sent in the mail to all eligible electors. If for some reason you do not receive a voter notification letter, you may add yourself to the Voter List online at haldimandcounty.ca/election by Friday, October 21 at 12 p.m.
  • Residents who need assistance getting added to the Voter List may call the county at 905-318-5932 or e-mail election@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Advance internet voting – October 7 at 12:01 a.m. to October 23 at 11:59 p.m.

  • For the first time ever, internet voting will be offered for advance voting only beginning October 7 and ending on October 23 at 11:59 p.m.
  • To vote online, residents will need to have their Voter Identification Number and PIN provided in their Voter Notification Letter. A link to the online voting portal will be available at haldimandcounty.ca/election beginning October 7.
  • Eligible voters are strongly encouraged to vote online well in advance of the October 23 deadline. Eligible voters who require assistance voting online may call 905-318-5932 or e-mail election@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Advance in-person voting – October 12 to October 15

  • Advance polling stations will be open from October 12 – 15 and are a great way to avoid possible Election Day lineups.
  • A list of advance polling locations and operating hours are available at haldimandcounty.ca/election
  • Residents can vote at any advance polling station, regardless of their ward.

Election Day – October 24

  • A list of Election Day voting locations is available at haldimandcounty.ca/election
  • All polling stations are open from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m.
  • Residents can vote at any Election Day voting location, regardless of their ward.

Other key details

  • Residents who are unable to make it in person to vote or vote by internet may assign a proxy to vote on their behalf. Instructions and proxy assignment forms are available on the county website.
  • In order to cast a ballot, residents must provide 1 piece of identification listing their name and qualifying address (e.g. driver’s licence, utility bill, mortgage statement, etc.). A list of acceptable ID is available on the county’s election website.
  • A list of certified candidates and candidates’ contact information is available on the county’s election page.

 

For additional information about Haldimand County’s 2022 Municipal Election, visit haldimandcounty.ca/election or contact the Clerk’s office.

Key details and reminders will be shared through the County’s social channels regularly leading up to the election.

Nomination period for 2022 municipal election begins May 2

Voting day in Haldimand County is October 24, 2022. Individuals who wish to run in the 2022 municipal election will be able to file their nominations with the Municipal Clerk starting May 2.

Nomination forms may be filed in-person at the Haldimand County Administration Building (53 Thorburn St. S., Cayuga) during regular business hours, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. from May 2, 2022 to August 18, 2022, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on August 19, 2022.

All candidates are encouraged to make an appointment to file nomination forms by emailing election@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

The forms required to file a nomination are available online at www.haldimandcounty.ca/election/.

Nominations will be accepted for the offices of:

  • Mayor
  • Councillors
  • Trustee, Grand Erie School Board
  • Trustee, Brant Haldimand Norfolk Catholic District School Board
  • Trustee, Conseil Scolaire Viamonde
  • Trustee, Mon Avenir Conseil Scolaire Catholique

Individuals who plan to seek office must file their nomination with the Municipal Clerk before spending or raising any money for campaign activities.

For more information on the 2022 municipal election, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/election/.

Haldimand County hosting virtual candidate information session on April 13 for 2022 municipal election

Haldimand County and staff from the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing will be hosting a virtual Candidate Information Session for anyone interested in running as a candidate in the 2022 municipal or school board election.

The virtual session will take place on Wednesday, April 13, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. All are welcome and pre-registration is not required. Connection details will be shared at www.haldimandcounty.ca/election/ closer to the session.

As there have been many changes enacted to the Municipal Elections Act in recent years, this session will benefit newcomers to the municipal election process, third party advertisers as well as those who have participated in past elections. Topics covered at the session will include:

  • Role of council
  • Role of municipal staff
  • Role of school board trustees
  • Third party advertising
  • Nominations
  • Eligibility to run
  • Candidate and third party advertiser duties
  • General campaign rules and election finances
  • Compliance audits and penalties

Election Day in Haldimand County is October 24, 2022. For more information on the 2022 municipal election, visit www.haldimandcounty.ca/election/ or e-mail election@haldimandcounty.on.ca.

Haldimand County Council approves 2022 Tax-Supported Operating Budget

On March 31, 2022, Haldimand County Council reviewed and approved the 2022 Tax-Supported Operating Budget. The budget results in a total levy requirement of $76,221,100, which equates to a residential tax impact of 2.29%.

Generally, the annual Tax-Supported Operating Budget pays for day to day operations of the County, including salaries, wages, utilities, insurance and services such as running arenas/programming, maintaining locals parks and cemeteries, providing emergency services (fire, police and ambulance), the collection of garbage and related activities.

“Despite significant financial challenges related to economic factors beyond the county’s control, staff have worked hard to develop a budget that is aligned with Council’s priorities and mindful of the challenges our ratepayers are facing,” said Mark Merritt, General Manager of Financial & Data Services.

Major factors that influenced the 2022 Tax-Supporting Budget include external financial pressures (higher costs of materials, supply chain issues, increased inflation), as well as increases to costs associated with insurance, policing and contracted services (e.g. winter maintenance).

CAO Craig Manley noted that while the Operating Budget initially represented a 7% increase for ratepayers, staff conducted a rigorous review of controllable costs and only brought forward new initiatives that would negatively impact standards of service or health and safety if they were not included.

Manley also emphasized the positive impact of increased assessment from growth in 2021 – nearly $2.0 million or 2.73% – that has helped alleviate the tax burden and achieve the final recommended tax increase for 2022.

“The 2022 Tax-Supported Operating Budget represents a financially sustainable plan that responsibly manages taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars while addressing current and emergent needs of our growing community,” said Haldimand County Mayor Ken Hewitt.

“Thanks to the continued hard work of staff, we have once again been able to meet the Council-approved tax increase target of 2% annually, a goal that was established in 2018 at the beginning of this Term,” Hewitt added.

Highlights of the 2022 Tax-Supported Operating Budget include:

  • introducing new, permanent staffing resources to address organizational needs, respond to growth and meet service levels expected by residents (including up-staffing paramedic services to address response time standards);
  • proceeding with the Council-approved reorganization of the IT division to prioritize the enhancement of public-facing services (i.e. on-line and self-serve tax information), increase efficiencies and strengthen cybersecurity;
  • funding the continuation of successful economic development, tourism & culture-focused activities, including the successful Paddle Art Tour Haldimand (PATH) and Haldimand County Geocache Tour;
  • maintaining the enhanced levels of portable washroom cleaning and facilities put in place at public parks when the pandemic started in support of tourism and increased community use, and;
  • increasing funding for the proper asset management of existing social housing stock in the County and to financially support a new affordable housing build in Dunnville – a priority set by Council for this term.

On average, a residential property owner can expect their annual property taxes to be allocated as follows:

A chart indicating annual property tax allocations by service.