Notes from the regular meeting, which was held on Wednesday, January 22, 2025.
Oxford County Curbside Collection
As Oxford County Council approved a new waste collection contract with Emterra Environmental and Generate Upcycle during its regular Council meeting on Wednesday, January 8, 2025, the County will officially be switching to a six-day collection cycle and implementing the new green bin program starting in May of 2027.
During the Township’s Council meeting last week, Mayor Peterson said the discussions surrounding the change were extensive.
“We actually deferred [the item] to another meeting over Christmas time so all of us could go back and really think the whole process over. There were several options on the table, anywhere from a five-day collection to a six-day collection, green bins, no green bins, bi-weekly, weekly; there were a lot of options on the table.”
He said that while much of the County Council was in support of a five-day collection cycle, the six-day option would allow the municipality to save $1.7 million (about a two per cent tax savings for residents).
“I know it’ll be a little bit cumbersome at times for people trying to figure out when garbage day is but they do have a really good app that you can put on your phone [Recycle Coach] that tells you when garbage day is, as well, you can get a calendar printed off to put it on your fridge if you don’t like to use electronic devices too.”
Peterson said that the province will be taking over the recycling collection next year and that while Woodstock and South-West Oxford will start their new garbage and organics program in 2026, the program won’t be fully county-wide until May 2027.
He added that all the changes to the curbside waste collection program, particularly the addition of green bins, will work towards extending the life cycle of the County’s landfill.
STAFF REPORTS
Protective Services monthly report for December
The report, prepared by Drew Davidson, the Township’s Director of Protective Services, provided the following updates in regards to the activities of the protective services department:
- Aerial Fire truck
Davidson and Plattsville District Fire Chief, Kerry Snider, travelled to Ocala, Florida, to visit the E-One manufacturing plant as part of the process for the Township’s future aerial apparatus.
The visit was part of an important step in ensuring that the truck’s build timeline stays on schedule and is exactly what is ordered by the Township.
“It was well worth it because what we did was, we sat in the boardroom, went line for line and if we had any questions, they have 50 of these trucks in different stages out on the lot and we were able to sit in the truck and say, ‘okay, I want the mirror here and I want the gauges here,’ and whatever else [we wanted] so it was an excellent opportunity.”
He added that come 2027, staff will make the trip again before the truck is shipped to make sure they are confident with the final product.
- Fire Protecting Grant
Davidson said that Blandford-Blenheim will be receiving $32,921 through the provincial government’s Fire Protection Grant, and that the funds will be used to offset costs associated with cancer prevention measures such as a Decon Washer.
- Other potential funding
Township staff have applied for the province’s Skill Development Fund: Capital Stream to help assist with offsetting engineering costs associated with the construction of the Princeton Fire Station.
Financial Services
- By-law to authorize temporary borrowing
Denise Krug’s, the Township’s Director of Finance, report recommended that Council pass a by-law to authorize the temporary borrowing for the Township of Blandford-Blenheim in 2025 at $3-million.
“Section 407 of the Municipal act, 2001, requires that a Temporary Borrowing By-Law be adopted annually to provide the municipality with the authority to borrow from time to time such sums as may be necessary to meet current operating expenditures until taxes are collected and other revenues are received,” read Krug’s report. “…This By-Law is presented to Council at the start of each year to authorize the use of the open revolving credit facilities offered by the Township’s bank, should the need arise. Due to the record amount of capital included in the 2025 budget, it is anticipated that these funds may be needed to tide us over until grants are received, amounts are recovered from other municipalities or long-term funding is in place. Staff have requested that the bank increase the line of credit to $3,000,000 for 2025.”
Krug said that the by-law is passed every year, but that the Township has not had to use it over the last decade.
“I don’t know about before that, but this year, we have a record amount of capital on the budget, so we may need this,” she said. “I have asked them [the bank] to increase it to $3-million, which they have agreed to do and paperwork is in the works.”
Council then approved the by-law unanimously.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
