The Corporation of the Township of Laird

Regular Council Meeting Minutes – June 19, 2025

REGULAR AGENDA – AGENDA 43 CORPORATION OF THE TOWNSHIP OF LAIRD June 19, 2025, at 6:00 pm Laird Township Council Chambers

Present: Mayor:

Shawn Evoy Councillors:

Matt Frolick, Wayne Junor, Todd Rydall, Brad Shewfelt Clerk:

Jennifer Errington Road Superintendent: Shawn Evoy Presenter:

Simon Bowers

1. Call to Order

Mayor Evoy called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.

2. Declaration of Pecuniary Interest

Mayor Evoy filed a declaration of pecuniary interest with Agenda Item 9. c. Planning: Severance/Lot Addition – Approval in Principle, as Mayor Evoy is the owner of the subject property.

Councillor Shewfelt filed a declaration of pecuniary interest with Agenda Item 11.

  1. c. Closed Session: proposed acquisition or disposition of land, as Councillor Shewfelt has a direct pecuniary interest in the matter to be discussed.

3. Agenda Approval

#137-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby approves the June 19, 2025 agenda and addendum 9. C. Planning: Severance/Lot addition – Approval in principle, as modified. Carried.

4. Delegations and Presentations

  1. a. Investment Portfolio Presentation – Simon Bowers, Investment Planning Counsel (IPC)
  • Simond Bowers of Investment Planning Counsel (IPC) provided a presentation on the Townships investment portfolio, a very safe portfolio.
  • IPC will be providing municipal staff with greater access to electronic reports and information.
  • Township is able to access investments at any time, without penalty.

5. Adoption of Minutes of Previous Meeting

  1. a. Council Regular Meeting – May 22, 2025
  2. b. Council Special Meeting – June 5, 2025
  3. c. Recreation Committee Meeting – May 27, 2025 #138-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves minutes of the Regular Council meeting of May 22, 2025, the Special Council meeting of June 5, 2025, and the Recreation Committee meeting of May 27, 2025.

Carried.

6. Adoption of Accounts

  1. a. General accounts to May 31, 2025 #139-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor

BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the general accounts to May 31, 2025, in the amount of $11,060.04. Carried.

  1. b. Roads accounts to May 31, 2025 #140-25 Moved by: Matt Frolick Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves the roads account to May 31, 2025, in the amount of $236,540.36.

Carried.

7. Staff and Committee Reports

  1. a. Road Superintendent (Roads, Waste Disposal & Recycling, and Maintenance)
  2. i. Road Superintendent Report #141-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Road Superintendent Report dated June 19, 2025, and arising out of discussion Council directs staff to:
  3. 1) Provide report on Murray Drive.
  4. 2) Modify Road Superintendent Report format.
  5. 3) Load of gravel at Bar River Hall and grading.

Carried.

  1. ii. Memo: 2025 Annual Road Tour #142.25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council instructs the Road Department to address the following issues:
  2. 1. Point drive – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded from the shoulder.
  3. 2. Point drive – Replace/repair the surface treatment as needed (specifically at the boat launch end of the road)
  4. 3. Murray Drive – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded and/or removed from the shoulder.
  5. 4. Pumpkin Point Park – add gravel to the loop road.
  6. 5. Pinewood Drive – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded at the turnaround.
  7. 6. Birch Point – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded at the turnaround, gravel to be added as needed.
  8. 7. Birch Point and Reid’s Junction – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded and/or removed from the shoulder.
  9. 8. Finns’ Bay North – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded at the turnaround, gravel to be added and calcium as needed.
  10. 9. MacDonald Drive – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded at the turnaround, gravel to be added and calcium as needed.
  11. 10. Pine Island – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded from the shoulder.
  12. 11. Rydal Mill (at Government Road) – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded from the shoulder.
  13. 12. Reids Road East (at Government Road) – Roadside sand and gravel buildup to be re-graded from the shoulder.
  14. 13. Bar River Road – Dead Tree at Mailboxes to be removed.
  15. 14. Bar River Road – Guardrails to be lifted and riprap to be installed on riverbank to address erosion issues.

Carried.

b. Clerk Administrator, Deputy Treasurer

  1. i. Clerk’s Report #143-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Clerk’s Report dated June 19, 2025, as presented and arising from the report that Council directs staff to remove $1,400 from the Karhi invoices for water haulage in 2024, and that the remainder of the Karhi invoices will be spilt 50/50 by Laird and Laird International Raceway as these costs fall under the lease agreement.

Carried.

  1. ii. Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log
  2. iii. Concern/Information Log – Updates #144-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the June 19, 2025, Task Summary Sheet & Recent Activity Log and the Concern/Information Log as presented.

Carried.

c. Treasurer’s Report

  1. i. Budget Report up to April 30, 2025 – Note: At this time, there are no variances or recommendations to report as we have only completed the first quarter.

#145-25 Moved by: Matt Folick Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Budget Report up to April 30, 2025. Carried.

  1. ii. Memo: Electrical & Plumbing Call Out Quotes #146-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Todd Rydall BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the Electrical & Plumbing Call Out Quotes report and FURTHER THAT Council designates Black Fox Electrical and Plumbers Plus as the Township’s call outs and that all staff be notified as such.

Carried.

d. Recreation Committee & Recreation Sub-Committees

  1. i. Fairgrounds Sub-committee Minutes – June 2, 2025
  2. ii. Heritage Sub-committee Minutes – June 9, 2025 #147-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council receives the June 2, 2025 Fairgrounds sub-committee minutes and the June 9, 2025 Laird Hall sub-committee minutes and further that Council approves Fairgrounds sub-committee motion R29-25.

Carried.

  1. iii. 2025 Committee and Board – resignation #148-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall

Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council accepts the resignation of Arla Lukas from the Wharf Committee, with regrets, and would like to thank Arla for her volunteer work. Carried.

e. Cemetery Board

  1. i. Transfer of Internment Rights – Formal process required, By-law 882-08 will require amendments. Cemetery Board to review and provide comments to Council.

#149-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council requests staff to investigate acquiring 1020 feet of property East of the Cemetery from the adjacent property owners and report back to Council. Carried.

f. Planning Board

  1. i. Schedules of the Joint Official Plan (OP) are in early consultation with the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH). Each Council will be required to approve the Joint OP and have the ability to provide comments before the OP is sent to MMAH for approval in its entirety.

Mayor Evoy has comments on the OP. #150-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council requests staff to submit Mayor Evoy’s February 19, 2023, Joint Official Plan comments/questions to the Desbarats to Echo Bay Planning Board. Carried.

  1. g. Police Detachment Board
  2. h. Algoma District Services Administrative Board

i. Algoma District Municipal Association (ADMA)

  1. i. April 12, 2025 Draft Minutes
  2. ii. Save the Date: September 27, 2025, White River

8. Unfinished Business

9. New Business

  1. a. Appoint Drainage Engineer for Petition Drain Application – Plan H757 RCP Lot 20 #151-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick WHEREAS, a petition has been duly filed under the provisions of the Drainage Act, R.O.S. 1990, c. D. 17, as amended, for drainage works for Plan H757 RCP Lot 20;

AND WHEREAS, the Council of the Township of Laird is required to appoint an engineer to examine and report on the proposed drainage works;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Council of the Township of Laird hereby appoints Thomas Jackson, a qualified and licensed drainage engineer, of

  1. K. Smart Associates Limited, to prepare a report in accordance with the provisions of the Drainage Act, R.S.O. 1990, c D.17, as amended.

Carried.

#152-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2056-25 appointing K. Smart Associates Limited as the Drainage Superintendent for the Corporation of the Township of Laird. Carried.

  1. b. Asset Management Plan #153-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby adopts the Asset Management Plan 2025 (AMP), as presented, and further that Council requests staff to make the AMP available on the Township website and in the municipal office.

Carried.

Mayor Evoy excused himself from the council chambers due to a declaration of pecuniary interest, and Councillor Rydall filled in as the Head of Council for agenda item 9. c. Planning: Severance/Lot Addition – Approval in principle.

  1. c. Planning: Severance/Lot Addition – Approval in principle #154-25 Moved by: Brad Shewfelt Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council approves in principle a proposed planning board application to sever a portion off of Plan H753 Lot 55 Pt for the driveway to be added to Plan H753, Lot 52 Pt Lot 53 and to have a portion of Plan H753, Lot 52 Pt Lot 53 severed and added to Plan H753 Lot 52 Pt to reincorporate the original Evoy farmland back together to create much needed pasture and workable land to the current farm.

Carried.

Mayor Evoy was asked to return to the council chambers and continued to reside as head of council for the remainder of the meeting.

10. Notices of Motion

11. Closed Session

#155-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Wayne Junor BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council proceed into closed session at 7:44 p.m. in accordance with Section 239 (2) (a) personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees and Section 239 (2) (c) a proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board. Carried.

  1. a. Approval of closed meeting minutes of May 22, 2025.
  2. b. Personal matters about an identifiable individual, including municipal or local board employees.

Councillor Shewfelt excused himself from the council chambers due to declaration of conflict of interest for agenda item 11. c. A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.

  1. c. A proposed or pending acquisition or disposition of land by the municipality or local board.

#156-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council come out of closed meeting session at 8:25 p.m. and continue with the Regular Council Meeting. Carried.

Consideration of and action on matters arising out of the closed meeting.

#157-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council hereby declares Lot 10, RCP H762 as surplus land to the needs of the municipality;

AND THAT in accordance with By-law 1048-22, being a by-law to establish policies and procedures for the sale of real property, the subject property is undersized and not suitable for independent development;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council directs staff to offer the subject property for sale to the abutting property owners, in accordance with the procedures outlined in By-law 1048-22. Carried.

Councillor Shewfelt was asked to return to the council chambers for the remainder of the meeting.

12. Communications and Correspondence

  1. a. Thank You card for Donation in honour of Henry “Chick” Goertzen – Goertzen Family

13. Mayor and Council Comments

  • Mayor Evoy shared that he has received a suggestion from a community member that it would be nice if Laird Township started up a coffee club. Mayor Evoy will be bringing up the idea to the Recreation Committee.

14. By-laws

  1. a. 2056-25 Conformity By-law #158-25 Moved by: Wayne Junor Seconded by: Matt Frolick BE IT RESOLVED THAT Council adopts By-law 2056-25, being a by-law to confirm the proceedings of the meeting of Council held on June 19, 2025.

Carried.

15. Adjournment

#159-25 Moved by: Todd Rydall Seconded by: Brad Shewfelt BE IT RESOLVED THAT this Council shall now adjourn to meet again on July 17, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. or until the call of the chair. Carried.

Mayor – ___________________________ Shawn Evoy

Clerk – ___________________________ Jennifer Errington