Please note that this is an informal summary of selected actions taken by Strathroy-Caradoc Council at its October 16, 2023 meeting and is not an official record of proceedings. To view full meeting agendas, minutes, and archived video, visit www.strathroy-caradoc.ca/meetings. Official minutes which detail the full list of Council decisions will be posted online once they have been ratified by Council.
Council Receives a Third Quarter Financial Update Report
During the October 16, 2023 Council meeting, Strathroy-Caradoc Council received a third quarter financial update report which outlined the money that has been spent on 2023 operations and capital projects as of September 30, 2023. In addition to these spending summaries, the financial update report provided an overview of the Municipality's reserves and reserve funds.
Included with this report were itemized summaries that provided greater detail about the various 2023 operating and capital project approved budgets and the actual expenditures as of September 30, 2023. To review 2023 third quarter budget summaries, please see:
For more on the Municipality of Strathroy-Caradoc's Reserve-Reserve Fund Status, please see:
Municipal Staff Provide Update on Mt. Brydges Wastewater Treatment Facility
In response to a request made by Strathroy-Caradoc Council at the September 18, 2023 Council meeting, staff have brought a report to Council to provide an update on the Mt. Brydges Wastewater Treatment Facility.
As highlighted in the report, a review of 2017 to 2022 usage at the Mt. Brydges Sewage Works showed that compliance limits were unmet. Due to a significant increase in flows to the facility over the last five years, Municipal staff has been evaluating the sewage collection process to determine the next steps for moving forward with the facility to ensure compliance limits are met.
To address the future capacity needs of the facility, Municipal staff have developed both an interim and medium-term solution. In order to implement these solutions, the Municipality must first receive Environmental Compliance Approvals (ECA) from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP). The Municipality currently has two ECA applications submitted to the MECP — one for the interim solution and one for a medium-term solution. The interim solution includes converting the existing spare tank into an equalization tank. The medium-term solution includes the transition to an extended aeration treatment among other process improvements. The funding required for both solutions has been approved in the Mt. Brydges Wastewater Treatment Facility Capital Budget. Municipal staff continue to work with representatives from the MECP to acquire ECAs. Once ECAs are issued, the Municipality can begin implementing the interim and medium-term solutions.
As a result of Council's discussions about the Mt. Brydges Wastewater Treatment Facility, Strathroy-Caradoc Council made an additional recommendation that staff produce a report on options for insulating the treatment facility's rotating biological contactors in order to ensure optimal performance throughout the winter months.
For more information on the Mt. Brydges Wastewater Treatment Facility, please see the EPW-2023-52 Report (PDF[233kb]).
Mayor and CAO Directed to Complete the Donation of 61 Brennan Drive to Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation
Council has directed the Mayor and CAO to execute, on behalf of the Municipality, all documentation required to complete the donation of the remaining lands at 61 Brennan Dr. to the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital (SMGH) Foundation's "Building Foundations" project. This decision follows a recommendation that was made during the May 15, 2023, Council meeting to begin the process to donate the balance of the building lots on the lands municipally known as 61 Brennan Drive to the SMGH Foundation.
The "Building Foundations" project is a partnership between the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital Foundation and the Construction Technology Program at Holy Cross Secondary School, and is being overseen by local General Contractor MilDon. The goal of the "Building Foundations" project is to build residential homes within the Municipality in support of purchasing a new Digital X-Ray Suite at the Strathroy Middlesex General Hospital.
Council Approves Recommendation from Caradoc Housing Board of Directors to Pay Affordable Housing Project Vendors
Following the October 13, 2023 Special Meeting of the Caradoc Housing Corporation (CHC), the Caradoc Housing Board of Directors made a request to Strathroy-Caradoc Council to pay vendors of the Affordable Housing project through the Municipality's recoverable account. The reason for his request is to allow the Housing Corporation to avoid interest payments to vendors while they await payments from the Monthly First National mortgage construction draws and any other funds they receive for the Affordable Housing project.
The CHC has made this request as they are currently facing a timing challenge with respect to processing payments. Although the funds for the project are allocated and secured, the CHC is currently dealing with delays as they await payments from the First National mortgage and HST rebates. The CHC has also faced the challenge of an approximately 4% increase in the prime interest rate since the beginning of the project.
The CHC will refund any payments made by the Municipality with payments received from the Monthly First National mortgage construction draws and any other funds they receive for the Affordable Housing project as they become available.
In response to the CHC request, Strathroy-Caradoc Council approved an amended recommendation that the Municipality pay up to $2,000,000 to vendors of the Affordable Housing project via a fixed loan. Strathroy-Caradoc Council has also approved a recommendation to have an independent financial audit and an independent project management audit undertaken on the current Caradoc Housing Corporation affordable housing project.
Please note that an earlier version of this highlight included a reference to the use of the Municipality’s recoverable account, which has since been removed to better reflect the record of proceedings.
Upcoming Meetings
Review all upcoming Council & Committee Meeting dates at www.strathroy-caradoc.ca/meetings. Upcoming agendas are posted five days in advance of the meeting date.
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