The Corporation of the Town of Grand Valley

Special Council Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, March 11, 2025 at 7:00 P.m. - 9:00 P.m.

Council Chambers, 5 Main Street North, Grand Valley

Council Present:

• Mayor Steve Soloman
• Deputy Mayor Philip Rentsch
• Councillor Lorne Dart
• Councillor James Jonker
• Councillor Paul Latam

Staff Present:

• Meghan Townsend, Chief Administrative Officer/Clerk
• Matthew Bos, Director Public Works
• Steven Freitas, Director of Finance/Treasurer
• James Allen, Recreation Facilities Manager
• Donna Tremblay, Deputy Clerk/Communications Coordinator

---

1.

Call to Order and Roll Call

Mayor Soloman called the meeting to order at 7:07 p.m.

Mayor Soloman announced that the meeting is being live streamed and publicly broadcast with the recording of the meeting to be available on the Town's website.

2.

Adoption of Agenda

• Resolution: 2025-03-20
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts the Special Council - 2025 Budget Agenda dated March 11, 2025 as circulated.

3.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

No pecuniary interest was declared.

4.

Deputations/Presentations

• Resolution: 2025-03-21
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT leave be given to Julie Hilts, Sarah Spears and Courtney Brock, to address Council.

  CARRIED

4.1

7:05 p.m. Speeding on Taylor Drive - Julie Hilts, Sarah Spears and Courtney Brock

Julie Hilts, Sarah Spears and Courtney Brock came before Council regarding speeding on Taylor Drive.

Julie Hilts stated she appeared before Council in September 2022 with a petition regarding speeding on Taylor Drive. She provided the numbers of school bus stops, feeder streets, at-home daycares and stated there are many homes with children on Taylor Drive and was concerned that speeding on Taylor Drive has increased. She requested Council reconsider its decision to remove the installation speed cushions on Taylor Drive from the 2025 Budget.  

Sarah Spears came before Council to express her concerns relating to Council's decision to remove the installation of speed cushions on Taylor Drive from the 2025 Budget and requested Council provide their reasoning for this decision.

Courtney Brock stated she is a resident and home daycare provider on Taylor Drive. She expressed her concerns relating to speeding and the safety of her family and her daycare children.  She relayed an incident she witnessed of a speeder and school bus driver. 

Mayor Soloman thanked the delegates for their presentations and advising Council of their concerns. 

Council discussed the removal of the installation of speed cushions on Taylor Drive with the delegates, advising the speed purchase and installation was removed from the 2025 budget in order to reduce tax impacts. Council discussed installation of bollards could be utilize in place of the purchase of speed humps to reduce speeding.  

• Resolution: 2025-03-22
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the deputations from Julie Hilts, Sarah Spears and Courtney Brock regarding Speeding on Taylor Drive.

  CARRIED
• Resolution: 2025-03-23
  Moved by: L. Dart
  Seconded by: P. Latam

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to purchase bollards for Taylor Drive and compare feedback at the end of the season with how the speed cushions performed on Leeson. 

  AND FURTHER THAT road painting be completed at the stop signs on Taylor Drive with "Stop Ahead". 

  AND FURTHER THAT Melody and Taylor becomes an all way stop. 

  AND FURTHER THAT the budget increases in Safety Devices by $3,500.  

  CARRIED

5.

Staff Reports

5.1

2024 Annual Report - Grand Valley and District Community Centre Fee Waivers, 2025-049

James Allen, Manager, Recreation Facilities and Donna Tremblay, Deputy Clerk presented a summary of the report.  Staff sought direction from Council on 2025 Grand Valley Library Fee Waivers.  

Council discussed the report.  

• Resolution: 2025-03-24
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Report – 2024 Annual Report – Grand Valley and District Community Centre Fee Waivers for information purposes.

  AND FURTHER THAT staff requested the Grand Valley Library to present their detailed request for 2024.   

  CARRIED

5.2

Final Draft 2025 Operating Budget, 2025-048

Meghan Townsend, CAO/Clerk, presented the final draft of the 2025 Operating Budget.  She advised the Council direction regarding amendments were completed and included in the final draft presented. 

Council discussed the following items: 

• Administration Treasury Expenses.
• Grass cutting costs and wages. 
• Forgoing 2025 Council Cost of Living increase. 
• Ditching and Grading expenses.
• Closing of Grand Valley Campground 
• Trailway Grass Cutting
• Cost recovery for sewage leak 
• Downtown Beautification Reserve
• Fire Department Levy Repayment 
• Use of reserves, Hydro dividends and acquisition of a loan to fund the Concession 2/3 ball diamond lighting. 
• Safety devices and signage - Speed Sign
• Sewer surveillance 

Council provided direction as follows: 

• Resolution: 2025-03-25
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Staff approach Thomasfield Homes to see if they would top up the Downtown Beautification Fund to the original amount. 

  CARRIED
• Resolution: 2025-03-26
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT the purchase of the speed sign be deferred until the 2026 Budget. 

  CARRIED
• Resolution: 2025-03-27
  Moved by: P. Latam
  Seconded by: J. Jonker

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to add road reserves to the budget to make the levy a 4.79% ($25,000). 

  CARRIED
• Resolution: 2025-03-28
  Moved by: L. Dart
  Seconded by: P. Rentsch

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Report – Final Draft 2025 Operating Budget and directs staff to make the final changes discussed and present the budget and the necessary by-laws for adoption at the March 25, 2025 regular meeting.

  CARRIED

6.

Confirm Proceedings

• Resolution: 2025-03-29
  Moved by: J. Jonker
  Seconded by: P. Latam

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT leave be given to introduce a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the Special Council Meeting- 2025 Budget held on March 11, 2025 and that it be given the necessary readings and be passed and numbered as By-Law 2025-21.  

  CARRIED

6.1

A By-Law to Confirm the Proceedings of Council of the Corporation of the Town of Grand Valley at its Special Meeting - 2025 Budget held on March 11, 2025.

7.

Adjournment

• Resolution: 2025-03-30
  Moved by: P. Rentsch
  Seconded by: L. Dart

  BE IT RESOLVED THAT we do now adjourn this Special Meeting of Council at 9:12 p.m. 

  CARRIED