Grey County meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Grey County approves West Grey official plan, extends regional transit routes

Grey County's Committee of the Whole approved the Municipality of West Grey's new official plan for Durham and Neustadt and endorsed contract extensions for regional transit routes at its July 9 meeting. County Council later the same day passed by-laws to formalize the official plan amendment and appoint an Acting Treasurer.

West Grey official plan

The Committee of the Whole approved the Municipality of West Grey's new official plan covering the communities of Durham and Neustadt. The motion carried.

County Council then passed By-law 5288-26 to adopt Amendment No. 30 to the Official Plan in West Grey. That by-law also carried.

An official plan sets long-term policy for how land can be used and developed within a municipality, guiding decisions on housing, businesses, and public infrastructure.

Regional transit

Council endorsed a contract extension for GTR Route 2 and GOST and directed the re-introduction of GTR Route 5. The motion carried.

No dollar figures for the contract extension were included in the available minutes.

Traffic calming

Council directed staff to investigate physical traffic calming measures in hamlets and built-up areas. The motion carried. No specific locations or timelines were listed in the minutes.

Financial and capital updates

The Committee received the 2025 Financial Statements and authorized the Treasurer's signature. It also received the Corporate Financial Update as of April 30, 2026, and the Capital Project Status Update Report as of April 30, 2026. All three motions carried.

County Council by-laws

County Council adopted minutes from its June 25, 2026, meetings and from closed-session Committee of the Whole meetings on June 11 and June 25, 2026. Both adoptions carried.

Council passed three by-laws:

• By-law 5287-26, to appoint an Acting Treasurer — Carried.
• By-law 5288-26, to adopt Amendment No. 30 to the Official Plan in West Grey — Carried.
• By-law 5289-26, to confirm all actions and proceedings of the Council — Carried.

Long-term care meetings

The Long-Term Care Redevelopment Planning Task Force and the Long-Term Care Committee of Management met on July 16. Agendas for both were procedural, and minutes have not yet been published.

A separate July 16 task force agenda listed one item: a Rockwood Terrace Redevelopment Update from Colliers Project Leaders. No decisions were recorded; the item was listed as an update only.

Coming up

• **July 23 — County Council:** Agenda lists no substantive items.
• **July 23 — Committee of the Whole:** Agenda lists no substantive items.

Both upcoming meetings appear procedural, with no decisions or discussions scheduled.

Grey County approves $33.6M road transfer framework, new OPSEU contract

Grey County councillors approved a major road-transfer funding framework worth more than $33 million and ratified a new collective agreement with social services staff at their June 25 Committee of the Whole meeting. The decisions were among several items carried during the session, which also advanced a farm-dwelling severance and recruitment of a new Integrity Commissioner.

Road-transfer funding approved

Council formally adopted a complex road transfer framework that includes $33.6 million for lane replacement and $5.5 million in development charges. The legal transfer date is set for June 1, 2027. The motion was carried.

The framework will govern the transfer of roads from the county to lower-tier municipalities, with transition funding to cover infrastructure costs.

OPSEU contract ratified

Council also ratified and approved new collective agreements with OPSEU Local 266 Social Services. The terms were not detailed in the minutes. The vote was carried.

Other committee decisions

• **Official Plan Amendment 30** – Approved for a surplus farm dwelling severance in West Grey. Carried.
• **Emergency management consulting** – Authorized an RFP for consulting services for 2026-2027. Carried.
• **Conservation Authority levies** – Directed that $2.8 million be included in the draft 2028 budget for Conservation Authority levies. Carried.
• **Integrity Commissioner** – Approved recruitment of a new Integrity Commissioner and appointment of the Ontario Ombudsman as closed-meeting investigator. Carried.
• **ROMP Medical Student Residence** – Authorized a lease renewal for the residence in Owen Sound. Carried.
• **Official Plan Amendment 31** – Received information on a land redesignation in Southgate. Carried.

Council meeting: Beaver and coyote by-laws updated

During a separate June 25 County Council meeting, members adopted the minutes of the June 11 meeting with amendments directing staff to prepare updated Nuisance Beaver Compensation and Coyote/Wolf Predation by-laws. The new by-laws will not require a livestock kill and will require residency in Grey County for eligibility. The motion carried.

Council also passed confirmation by-law 5286-26. Carried.

Coming up

July 9 – Committee of the Whole (9 a.m.)

Members will review the 2025 audit findings and financial statements. They will also consider approval of West Grey’s new official plan for Durham and Neustadt, and a proposal to re-introduce GTR Route 5 transit service from Owen Sound to Wiarton. Other items include traffic calming on Grey Road 13 and a capital project status update.

July 9 – County Council (following Committee of the Whole)

Council will vote on Official Plan Amendment 30 for J and K Argo Services (Part Lot 13, Concession 14 West, Normanby, West Grey) and consider appointing an Acting Treasurer.

July 16 – Long-Term Care Committee of Management and Redevelopment Planning Task Force

Both meetings are listed as procedural, with no substantive items for discussion or decision.