Grey Highlands meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Grey Highlands meetings: Council considers contracts, committees review property and memorial plans

Grey Highlands Council met Aug. 5 to consider several contracts and a zoning matter, while other committees met later in the week. Minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed.

Council considers contracts and road impact contributions

Council's agenda included authorizing a tender for a universal accessible washroom at Flesherton Arena, awarding a sidewalk improvements contract to D Rock Paving for $103,322.50 (excluding HST), and approving winter sand and salt contracts with Walkers Aggregates ($60,154), Robinson Haulage ($90,625), and Seeley & Arnill Construction ($82,519). Council also considered lifting a hold on a zoning by-law for 117 MacDonalds Road and a proposal for $20,000 one-time and $1,500 annual road impact contributions for On-Farm Diversified Use shops up to 400 square metres. Delegations included survey results from the Eugenia District Community Improvement Association and an update from Trans Canada Energy on the Ontario Pumped Storage Project.

Seniors Advisory Committee hears updates

The Seniors Advisory Committee met Aug. 10 and received updates on Age-Friendly Flag and Logo Advocacy, a summary of the June 2026 Age-Friendly Seniors Health Fair, and information on the Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors and Disabled Persons Program. The committee also heard from the South East Grey Community Health Centre and an Action Plan Sub-Committee update.

Memorial Relocation Task Force plans cenotaph move

The Memorial Relocation Task Force met Aug. 11 to organize work on relocating the Markdale War Memorial and Cenotaph. Staff recommended 106 Eliza Street as the new location. The task force was to elect a chair, review terms of reference, and establish sub-committees for memorial elements, property selection, and design. A project framework and milestones proposal was to be adopted, and a potential grant from Veterans Affairs up to $25,000 was discussed. Meeting dates are scheduled through October 2026.

Committee of Adjustment reviews property applications

The Committee of Adjustment met Aug. 11 to consider four applications: two minor variances (Artemesia Street and 793510 Grey Road 124) and two consent/severance applications (635317 Euphrasia-Holland Townline and 429027 8th Concession B). The consents include $300 severance fees and $2,000 parkland dedication each, with a zoning amendment required for the Euphrasia-Holland Townline application.

Museum board gets attendance report

The Museum Advisory Board met Aug. 12 and received the curator's report for August 2026. Attendance was up 20.5% compared to 2025, with 759 visitors from May to July 2026 versus 630 in the same period last year. Store and donation sales totaled $5,103.37 to date in 2026. The report also noted vandalism tagging on the north side overlooking the river. No further meetings are scheduled for this board.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed for the next 14 days.

Grey Highlands roundup: Rocklyn Arena, contracts, and planning on the agenda

Grey Highlands council and committees met over the past two weeks to discuss a range of items, including the future of the Rocklyn Arena, new contracts for sidewalk and winter maintenance, and several planning applications. No final decisions have been published yet; all recent meetings were agenda-only, with minutes pending.

Rocklyn Arena

At a Committee of the Whole meeting on July 29, members reviewed multiple reports on the Rocklyn Arena, including occupational health and safety findings that led to a temporary facility closure (report CSD.26.20), public health compliance and ventilation deficiencies (CSD.26.13), and the condition of the refrigeration plant (CSD.26.17). The group Friends of the Rocklyn Arena presented a proposal for green infrastructure modernization and a community pledge exceeding $200,000. The committee also considered a request for $50,000 from reserves for safety spending to open the building for winter. No decision was made; minutes have not yet been published. An emergency special meeting later that day was held to adopt minutes from the Committee of the Whole meeting, under emergency provisions for urgent health or safety issues.

Council contracts and road contributions

At its August 5 meeting, council's agenda included several contract awards and policy items. The agenda proposed awarding a sidewalk improvements contract to D Rock Paving for $103,322.50 (excluding HST), and approving winter sand and salt contracts with Walkers Aggregates ($60,154), Robinson Haulage ($90,625), and Seeley & Arnill Construction ($82,519). Council also considered lifting a hold on a zoning by-law for 117 MacDonalds Road, and a proposal to accept $20,000 one-time and $1,500 annual road impact contributions for On-Farm Diversified Use shops up to 400 square metres. The agenda also included authorization to tender the Flesherton Arena universal accessible washroom project. No votes have been published.

Planning applications

A public planning hearing on July 27 reviewed five zoning and consent applications, including a proposal for 172 Napoleon Street to rezone land to allow a smaller lot area and require a tertiary septic system. Other applications covered 226 Napoleon Street, 468042 12th Concession B, 169 Kincardine Street, and a zoning amendment for Bushview Farms Inc. No decisions were reported.

Heritage and lake management

The Heritage Grey Highlands Committee met July 28 to discuss the January 1, 2027 deadline for issuing Notices of Intention to Designate listed heritage properties. The committee considered recommending that staff contact property owners to seek designation permission or transfer properties to the Inventory of Heritage Properties. It also reviewed a proposal to add a 'Heritage Insurance: Myths vs Realities' slide deck to the municipal website, and reviewed the Former Euphrasia Town Hall Heritage Conservation and Maintenance Agreement and an Architectural Conservancy Ontario grant proposal. The committee scheduled an additional meeting for September 9, 2026.

The Lake Management Task Force met July 30 to review draft sections of its report, including actions and recommendations covering water quality, stewardship, and infrastructure. The task force proposed adding four water test sites on Lake Eugenia and one on Irish Lake, and a comprehensive lake characterization study of Lake Eugenia. A virtual meeting is scheduled for August 27, 2026.

Coming up

Upcoming meetings include:

• **Seniors Advisory Committee, August 10** (in-person): updates on Age-Friendly Flag and Logo Advocacy, the June 2026 Age-Friendly Seniors Health Fair, and the Tax Relief for Low Income Seniors and Disabled Persons Program.
• **Committee of Adjustment, August 11**: four applications, including minor variances at Artemesia Street and 793510 Grey Road 124, and consents at 635317 Euphrasia-Holland Townline and 429027 8th Concession B, each with $300 severance fees and $2,000 parkland dedication (the Euphrasia-Holland application also includes a zoning amendment).
• **Memorial Relocation Task Force, August 11**: to elect a chair, review terms of reference, and consider staff recommendation of 106 Eliza Street as the new location for the Markdale War Memorial and Cenotaph. The task force will also discuss a potential grant from Veterans Affairs up to $25,000.

Grey Highlands roundup: Council eyes $489,610 drainage contract, Rocklyn Arena closure under review

Grey Highlands Council's July 22 agenda included awarding a $489,610 contract for Flesherton Rear Lane drainage improvements and a $202,057 engineering contract for the King Edward Park Development. Minutes for that meeting and all others covered this week have not yet been published, so outcomes listed below reflect agenda items, not confirmed decisions.

Council — July 22

Council's agenda called for votes on several by-laws and contract awards. The largest dollar item was a $489,610 contract to SMRS for Flesherton Rear Lane drainage improvements, plus $74,325 for contract administration, funded from the Asset Management Reserve. A separate $202,057 engineering contract for the King Edward Park Development was slated for award to S. Burnett & Associates Limited.

Other agenda items included By-law 2026-075 to remove a member from the Community Safety Committee, a noise by-law exemption request from the Markdale Agricultural Society at 75 Walker Street for August 29–30, 2026, By-law 2026-076 amending the Delegation of Authority By-law 2019-056, and an extension of the Loon Call Draft Plan of Subdivision approval.

Committee of the Whole — July 29

The Committee of the Whole reviewed multiple reports on the Rocklyn Arena, including Report CSD.26.20 on occupational health and safety findings that led to a temporary facility closure. The group "Friends of the Rocklyn Arena" presented a proposal for green infrastructure modernization backed by a community pledge exceeding $200,000. The agenda also included a request for $50,000 from reserves for safety spending to reopen the building for winter, Report CSD.26.13 on public health compliance and ventilation deficiencies, and Report CSD.26.17 on refrigeration plant condition and financial considerations.

Council also held an emergency special meeting on July 29 under emergency provisions to adopt Committee of the Whole minutes. The agenda cited urgent health or safety issues as the reason for meeting without prior written notice.

Community Safety Committee — July 20

The CSC adopted recommendations for Council, including advocacy for a physical traffic-calming pilot on Grey Road 13 in Kimberley and a request for new speed data for the village from the County of Grey. The committee also recommended that Council obtain accident statistics for the Isla Street and Wellington Avenue North intersection, and that the OPP facilitate the 2025 Officer of the Year award with Council approving purchase of award plaques. A municipal update covered speed radar signage and public consultation on the Canrobert and Inkerman reconstruction and traffic-calming project.

Public Planning Hearing — July 27

Council was scheduled to review five zoning and consent applications: Z19.2026 for 172 Napoleon Street (rezoning to recognize a 2,671 square metre lot area with a tertiary septic system), Z20.2026 for 226 Napoleon Street, Z21.2026 for 468042 12th Concession B, Z22.2026 for 169 Kincardine Street, and Z23.2026 for Bushview Farms Inc.

Heritage Grey Highlands Committee — July 28

The committee discussed the January 1, 2027 deadline for issuing Notices of Intention to Designate listed heritage properties. A recommendation was considered for staff to contact property owners to seek designation permission or transfer properties to the Inventory of Heritage Properties. The committee also reviewed the Former Euphrasia Town Hall Heritage Conservation and Maintenance Agreement, the Architectural Conservancy Ontario Heritage Helping Housing Grant Proposal, and scheduled an additional meeting for September 9, 2026.

Lake Management Task Force — July 30

The task force reviewed draft report sections covering water quality, stewardship, and infrastructure. Proposed actions included adding four water test sites on Lake Eugenia, one on Irish Lake, and a comprehensive lake characterization study of Lake Eugenia. A virtual meeting was scheduled for August 27, 2026.

Coming up

Council — August 5, 2026: Agenda includes a $103,322.50 sidewalk improvements contract to D Rock Paving, winter sand and salt contracts with Walkers Aggregates ($60,154), Robinson Haulage ($90,625), and Seeley & Arnill Construction ($82,519), authorization to tender the Flesherton Arena universal accessible washroom project, and a vote on lifting the hold on the 117 MacDonalds Road zoning by-law. Delegations include the Eugenia District Community Improvement Association and Trans Canada Energy's Ontario Pumped Storage Project update.

Grey Highlands meetings: $5.8M Highway 10 contract on agenda, drainage and traffic-calming items ahead

Grey Highlands Council had a $5.8 million contract for the Highway 10 Connecting Link in Markdale on its July 8 agenda, but minutes from that meeting and two others have not yet been published, so outcomes are not confirmed. Several consequential items — including drainage improvements in Flesherton and a traffic-calming pilot in Kimberley — are on upcoming agendas.

Council — July 8 (minutes not yet published)

Council's July 8 agenda included a proposed tender award of $5,838,698.18 to Cox Construction for the Highway 10 Connecting Link in Markdale, with a 10% contingency. The agenda also listed zoning by-law amendments for three properties: 194519 Grey Road 13, Fairmount Farms, and 308114 Centre Line A.

Other items on the agenda were a Heritage Property Tax Rebate agreement for 156386 Seventh Line in Rocklyn, a process to put the vacant municipal building at 726024 Sideroad 22b in Rocklyn up for sale, and By-law 2026-070 to amend fees and charges (schedules A and F). Because minutes are not yet available, it is not confirmed which items were approved.

Committee of Adjustment — July 14 (minutes not yet published)

The Committee of Adjustment agenda included three minor variance applications — A06.2026 at 135308 9th Line, A07.2026 at 309721 Centre Line B, and A08.2026 at 140 Peters Crescent — and six consent applications involving lot severances.

Consent applications carried $300 severance fees each. Several also included $2,000 parkland fees: B09.2026 at 172 Napoleon Street, B10.2026 and B11.2026 at 226 Napoleon Street, B13.2026 at 635111 Euphrasia Holland Townline, and B15.2026 at 136 Mark Street West. Application B12.2026 at 468042 12th Concession B listed only the $300 severance fee. Outcomes are not yet confirmed.

Committee of the Whole — July 15 (minutes not yet published)

This was a continuation of a June 24, 2026 session focused on updating the municipal zoning by-law. No other items were listed. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

Community Safety Committee — July 20: The agenda includes recommendations to Council for a physical traffic-calming pilot on Grey Road 13 in Kimberley, a request for new speed data for Kimberley from the County of Grey, and a request for accident statistics at the Isla Street and Wellington Avenue North intersection. It also recommends that the OPP facilitate the 2025 Officer of the Year award selection and that Council approve purchasing award plaques. A municipal update covers speed radar signage and public consultation on Canrobert and Inkerman reconstruction and traffic calming.

Council — July 22: Council will consider a $489,610 contract to SMRS for Flesherton Rear Lane drainage improvements, funded from the Asset Management Reserve, plus $74,325 for contract administration. Also on the agenda: a $202,057 engineering contract to S. Burnett & Associates Limited for the King Edward Park Development, a noise by-law exemption request from the Markdale Agricultural Society for 75 Walker Street (August 29–30, 2026), By-law 2026-075 removing a member from the Community Safety Committee, By-law 2026-076 amending the Delegation of Authority By-law 2019-056, and an extension of the Loon Call Draft Plan of Subdivision approval.

All recent meeting outcomes remain unconfirmed until minutes are published. Readers can verify details through the official municipal records.

Grey Highlands set to vote on $5.8M Highway 10 contract; recent planning and lake management meetings await minutes

Grey Highlands Council will vote July 8 on awarding a $5,838,698.18 tender to Cox Construction for the Highway 10 Connecting Link in Markdale, with a 10% contingency. The contract is the largest dollar item on the upcoming council agenda and the most consequential decision facing the municipality this week.

Recent meetings: agendas only, no minutes yet

Three meetings were held in late June, but minutes have not yet been published for any of them. What follows is based on the published agendas only; council decisions from those meetings are not yet on the record.

Public Planning Hearing — June 22

Council was scheduled to review four zoning and land use applications:

• **Z14.2026:** Rezoning 194519 Grey Road 13 from Rural Residential to Residential Shoreline.
• **Z15.2026:** Planning application for Fairmount Farms at 806097 Sideroad 25.
• **OP01.2026 & Z16.2026:** Land use review for Old Durham Road Enterprise Inc. at 113451 Grey Road 14.
• **Z17.2026:** Application for Conservation Side Mfg. at 308114 Centre Line A.

Staff were to assess each application against provincial policies and municipal plans before council deliberation. No outcomes are available.

Committee of the Whole — June 24

Council received a report on the comprehensive Zoning By-law update following an April 2026 statutory public meeting that drew approximately 150 participants. The dominant theme of public feedback was opposition to two proposed holding provisions:

• **H2** for the Natural Heritage System (woodlands, wildlife habitat)
• **H5** for Identified Karst

Both provisions would have required environmental studies before building permits could be issued. Staff recommended removing H2 and H5, citing Grey County support and noting that no other Grey County municipality applies holding provisions for these features. Environmental review would continue at the Planning Act application stage. Council was to direct staff to bring the final by-law for adoption at the next meeting. No decision is confirmed.

Lake Management Task Force — June 25

The task force reviewed a draft June 2026 report covering Lake Eugenia, Brewster's Lake, Irish Lake, and Wilcox Lake. The report includes 12 action recommendations addressing water quality, septic systems, invasive species, and other matters. The task force also planned to schedule an additional meeting in August and receive education plans and implementation strategies from sub-committees. No outcomes are available.

Coming up: July 8 Council meeting

The July 8 council agenda includes several items beyond the Highway 10 tender:

• **Zoning amendments** at 194519 Grey Road 13, Fairmount Farms (806097 Sideroad 25), and 308114 Centre Line A — these overlap with applications from the June 22 planning hearing.
• **Heritage Property Tax Rebate agreement** for 156386 Seventh Line in Rocklyn.
• **Sale process** for a vacant municipal building at 726024 Sideroad 22b, Rocklyn.
• **By-law 2026-070** to amend fees and charges (schedules A and F).
• A water treatment plant optimization study follow-up, a fire station addition tender, and three member motions on ecological connectivity, committee appointments, and parking restrictions.

The meeting is open to the public. Residents interested in the Highway 10 project, zoning changes, or the Rocklyn property sale may want to attend.

Grey Highlands council to vote on $5.8M Markdale highway contract

Grey Highlands council will consider awarding a $5.8-million tender for the Highway 10 Connecting Link in Markdale at its July 8 meeting, while recent public sessions have examined zoning applications, a comprehensive zoning by‑law update, and lake management recommendations.

Highway 10 contract up for vote

Council’s July 8 agenda includes a recommendation to award the Highway 10 Connecting Link project to Cox Construction for $5,838,698.18, plus a 10-per-cent contingency. The connecting link runs through Markdale and is one of the larger infrastructure items before council this term.

Also on that agenda are three zoning by‑law amendments resulting from a June 22 public planning hearing: rezoning at 194519 Grey Road 13, Fairmount Farms at 806097 Sideroad 25, and Conservation Side Mfg. at 308114 Centre Line A. A heritage property tax rebate agreement for 156386 Seventh Line in Rocklyn and a process to sell a vacant municipal building at 726024 Sideroad 22b will also be considered, along with a by‑law to amend fees and charges schedules A and F.

Public hearing on four zoning applications

A public planning hearing on June 22 gave residents a first look at four land‑use proposals. The applications include a rezoning from Rural Residential to Residential Shoreline at 194519 Grey Road 13, a planning application for Fairmount Farms on Sideroad 25, a land‑use review for Old Durham Road Enterprise Inc. at 113451 Grey Road 14, and an application for Conservation Side Mfg. on Centre Line A. Staff have not yet released a report; council will vote on the resulting by‑law amendments at the July 8 meeting.

Holding provisions stir discussion in by‑law update

At the June 24 committee of the whole meeting, council received a report on the comprehensive Zoning By‑law update. The main decision was whether to remove proposed holding provisions H2 (Natural Heritage System) and H5 (Identified Karst), which would have required environmental studies before building permits are issued. A statutory public meeting in April drew about 150 participants, with opposition to the provisions being the dominant theme.

Staff recommended removing H2 and H5, noting that Grey County supports removal and that no other Grey County municipality applies holding provisions for these features. Environmental review would continue at the Planning Act application stage instead. Council directed staff to bring the final by‑law for adoption at a future meeting.

Lake management task force reviews draft report

The Lake Management Task Force met on June 25 to discuss a draft report covering Lake Eugenia, Brewster’s Lake, Irish Lake, and Wilcox Lake. The document outlines objectives, best practices, and 12 action recommendations on topics including water quality, septic systems, and invasive species. The task force also scheduled an additional meeting in August and received updates from sub‑committees on education and implementation strategies.

Coming up

The next council meeting is July 8 at 1 p.m. in the municipal council chambers. Key items include the Highway 10 tender award, the zoning by‑law amendments, the heritage property tax rebate, the Rocklyn building sale, and the fee schedule update. Agendas are posted at greyhighlands.ca.