South huron Council briefs

By John Miner

Thomas Street rebuild in next year’s budget discussions

Total reconstruction of Thomas Street in Exeter will be part of budget discussions in 2027, South Huron council was told.

Don Giberson, infrastructure and development general manager, said the reconstruction will address flooding issues on the street. Preliminary engineering for the Thomas Street project is complete, and council can decide in the budget discussions exactly when the street will be rebuilt.

Until the rebuild is done, municipal staff will try to find cross connections between the storm sewer system and sanitary sewers that contribute to the flooding, Giberson said. Earlier this year, council received complaints from residents on Thomas Street that their floor drains had backed up.

Council meeting start time debated

South Huron council is reviewing the bylaw that sets the rules for its meetings.

One suggestion in a report to council is to move the start time of regular council meetings to 5 p.m. from the current 6 p.m. and public meetings from 5 p.m. to 4 p.m. The change could decrease costs through the efficient use of staff and consultants time, the report said.

Councillors favouring keeping the 6 p.m. later start said the time was better for council members that worked full time and for members of the public who wanted to attend. The bylaw was referred to a council committee of the whole meeting for further discussion.

No break for Trees and Me summer camp

A Dashwood Men’s Club, Bluewater Youth Tug of War team, and South Huron trail run organization are not getting a break on charges for use of municipal facilities.

Coun. Aaron Neeb made the three motions to drop the charges for the groups, saying council wants to see the facilities used by the community.

He pointed out that none of the groups are registered charities and that was the reason council gave for refusing a request by The Trees and Me Forest School for free use of the kitchen in the South Huron recreation centre for their summer camp program.

Neeb suggested council reconsider its refusal, a move that would require a two-thirds vote with a councillor who had originally voted in favour of the refusal making the motion. There were no takers.

Windermere subdivision agreement approved

South Huron council has approved a 47-page subdivision agreement with Windermere Community Ltd. for development of 55.6 acres in Exeter.

To be developed in four phases, the subdivision is to consist of 159 single detached residential lots and a block for higher density residential development. Infrastructure, including a stormwater management facility, have already been installed at the site under a pre-servicing agreement.