At the meeting of December 14, UCLG Council held a moment of silence to honour the late Mrs. Weedmark. In a statement from Warden Nancy Peckford, she said “I was deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mrs. Betty Weedmark, a community leader and local politician who held office from 1980 to 2000. In 1989, Mrs. Weedmark was the first female to hold the position of Warden of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. I have great admiration for Mrs. Weedmark’s indelible contributions to the region and recognize how widely she was respected by her Counties’ colleagues, community and business leaders. Given her long tenure as Reeve of the Village of Merrickville and Mayor of the Village of Merrickville-Wolford, in addition to her role as Warden and her lasting impact on those who knew her, I have ordered the flags at the Counties’ office be lowered to half-mast to honour the remarkable life of Mrs. Weedmark.” Mayor of Merrickville-Wolford, Michael Cameron, added, “Our community is all the better for what she accomplished.”
Council Awards Tender for County Road 43 Rehabilitation Project
Council awarded the tender for the County Road 43 Rehabilitation Project to R.W. Tomlinson, at the cost of $38,899,756.00, plus a $3,500,000.00 contingency. The total cost of the project, including the Municipality of North Grenville’s share, is projected to be $50,851,002.98. The joint project between the Counties and the Municipality of North Grenville will ensure better traffic flows, enable major commercial activity and provide a much safer road experience for drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists in the Town of Kemptville. The project was also successful in securing an $8,000,000 grant under Improving Canada’s Infrastructure Project (ICIP) funding. Warden Peckford stated “The plans for the County Road 43 Rehabilitation Project are a reflection of the shared dedication of the United Counties and the Municipality of North Grenville to crucial improvements to our joint infrastructure, not just in North Grenville but throughout the Counties. The significant improvement and expansion of this extremely busy regional thoroughfare between Colonnade and County Road 44 in the Town of Kemptville has been a Counties’ priority for many years. The replacement of the current bridge with a four-lane one is also necessary given excessive wear and tear due to exceedingly high traffic volumes. Collectively, these improvements will contribute to strong economic development in North Grenville and the Counties for the decades ahead.”
Council Approves Strategic Initiatives Framework
This Strategic Initiatives Framework serves as a first step in the Counties’ long-term strategic journey and will act as a roadmap for the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville in providing a clear direction for decision-making and action. This is the first time in the history of the Counties that Council has undertaken such an exercise. The Strategic Initiatives Framework includes the following three pillars:
- Pillar 1: Invest in roads, bridges, infrastructure, and sustainable growth;
- Pillar 2: Support key investments in the well-being of our residents; and
- Pillar 3: Facilitate and promote the increase in supply of accommodation of all types.
The three pillars are based upon the foundation to operate a responsible government built upon the strength of our employees.
Upcoming meetings
There are three Special Committee of the Whole meetings scheduled in January to discuss the 2024 Capital and Operating Budgets:
- Wednesday, January 17 – Capital Budget;
- Thursday, January 25 (following Counties Council) – Operating Budget; and
- Monday, January 29 – Capital and Operating Budget discussions.
All regular meetings start at 9:00 am in the Council Chambers at 25 Central Avenue West, Brockville. If you require more information, please contact County Clerk/Manager of Legislative Services, Christina Conklin, at 613-342-3840 ext. 2456 or by email at Christina.Conklin@uclg.on.ca.
