Highlights of your Area Council Meeting for January 9, 2012:

• The 2012 budget was approved as promised for Jan. The Township portion of your taxes (25%) will increase by 4.95% or $47.62 per $500,000 assessment. Most other Muskoka Municipalities will be well over 5%. The District and Education portions of your taxes (75%) may not be known until May.;
• Staff have been asked to develop an vehicle anti-idling policy.;
• The 2011 Inland Water Quality Report was accepted by Council. Lake Associations have been sent a copy.
• Council has approved a Council Code of Conduct and appointed Harold Elston as our Integrity Commissioner.
• The Township will be enforcing the requirement to have proper 911 signage on your island or at driveways.
• We continue to refine the definition of Open Space land usage. Staff will prepare a presentation on mainland open space properties. GB island open space will be resolved by this summer after public review.
• Staff will prepare a list of core services provided by the Township. This will assist in the District review that begins this month.
• I will be working with staff to prepare a Site Alteration Policy. This is designed to control alterations to shoreline properly (tree removal, soil removal/addition, blasting, etc.)
• Council will be considering public participation on the Committee of Adjustment later this winter.
• Council will be approving the 2012 budget in Jan. The Township portion of your taxes (about 26%) is slated for a 4.95% increase. This is about $50.00 on a $500,000 property. The District (32%) and Education (32%) will not be known until May.
• Staff will be instigating controls on legal fees starting will tendering for all fields of legal council. The tab for legal fees for 2011 will exceed $250K when only < $70K was budgeted.
• The discussion of the CAO position will continue into another Closed Session on Jan. 30th
• Next council meeting is Jan. 30th, 2012

Thanks for your interest. If you have questions or concerns, please contact me.

Paul M. Wiancko
Six Mile Lake
Township of Georgian Bay
705-756-1576
paul.wiancko@gmail.com