Schreiber makes plans for Winter Season

Schreiber council met for it’s first meeting in October. After the intro, the minutes of the previous meeting were accepted as circulated. There was a recommendation arising from the minutes as the property tax write-offs were read aloud and carried by council. 

The old half ton truck will be put for sale on auction. A new vehicle has already been ordered.

A quotation for the supply and delivery of winter sand from Valentino Trucking was presented and carried.

Bunker Gear will be purchased as additional equipment for the fire department. Council also approved the quote for additional safety equipment in the form of gas detectors. 

A request to support an initiative asking for OHIP to pay for the costs of chronic medications was carried.

The DJ was approved for the Christmas social in December.

All debit orders and accounts for payment including payroll were approved and ratified. 

Unfinished Business highlighted an outstanding transaction that has since been settled. An expenditure request for equipment replacement for the computer in the water plant was approved. New tables for the municipal centre were purchased and the invoice was being finalized.

The Committee of the Whole report focused on rescheduling some upcoming council meetings this winter to accommodate the holidays around Christmas and New Years.

There was also a discussion regarding parking on municipally owned empty lots. The current bylaw has many errors and even the bylaw officer was not aware of the meaning of the wording. It will be adopted at the next meeting.

The Treasurer's Report was fixed on preparing for the 2024 budget in order to have it completed on time. A target range for percentage increases in property tax has been requested in order to hurry the process along. A levy increase is guaranteed as it is often used as a means to raise income for the town without adjusting the mil rate, essentially a tax hike.

The Director of Operations' report kicked off with questions about repairs to the sanding truck. As winter approaches, the necessary equipment has to be ready to roll out. The truck is currently in for repairs. The loader is also away for repairs in an effort to ready it for the winter season. The Olympia ice machine has been unreliable and plans are being put forward to make sure a back-up plan is put in place. Snow removal is always an issue and there is a guideline prioritizing what gets done and when. The public school board has asked to be given more attention but when a blizzard hits clearing is carried out according to the guidelines. 

Large rocks have been placed at the entrance of the splash pad, effectively closing that section of Scotia street. A public forum may be held to determine if there will be a permanent closure of the road.

Water plant issues were also discussed as a change in operations was implemented during a recent surge in chlorination due to possible contamination. 

After two years it was realized that the entry door to the theatre car at the discovery centre has been installed incorrectly. The building code specifies that doors must swing out from the building to aid in emergency response. A recent accessibility study discovered the error.

The outdoor casket vault was discussed. The current tool storage facility is to be used as a casket storage facility during the cold winter months after some upgrades. 

The arena roof repairs were also discussed. Work on the building can not begin until the grant is secured but the grant may not be concluded until later in the year. The opening of the arena may be delayed if structural problems are reported and the repairs are not completed.

Advertising costs and strategies were briefly mentioned. Council is rethinking the effectiveness of the current advertising campaign. 

The Recreation Committee report was submitted with some updated information. The issue of free skating came up again. With operating costs rising, the town has been slowly increasing admission prices to the arena. When the outdoor rink was opened, it was hoped that more people would use that facility as it was free. Now the town is reconsidering the outdoor arena as the costs associated with operating it don’t align with the small number of users. A compromise might be to offer free public skating on occasion and close the outdoor facility.

The winter carnival will also undergo some changes as the event faces more challenges and limited attendance. 

The Senior Committee reports that there are currently 397 members, roughly half of the town population. The senior centre will be holding foot care clinics. The summer barbecue season wrapped up and was a huge success this year. The additional benches and fixed tent helped to create a social atmosphere.

The Schreiber Public Library report was also presented. 

Under Communications, there was a discussion about Local Government Week. Only councillor Bourgeault seemed enthusiastic about the concept.   

Communications was focused on meal quotations and the menu for the Christmas social event. Turkey dinner was the winner and a DJ has been hired. 

In other business, the upcoming ROMA conference was discussed. The delegation usually consists of the Mayor, CAO and one councillor. A list of concerns will be tabled in order to focus on the main concerns within the township. Virtual meetings took place during the COVID pandemic and were more cost effective than travelling to Toronto for 3 days. 

The meeting was then adjourned.