View - The Municipality of Lambton Shores

Minutes of the January 28, 2013 Council Meeting
final report and six recommendations and be found at
http://www.lambtonshores.ca/Docs/ReviewofZones3and4.pdf.
4. Phragmites Control Increased - The Municipality of Lambton
Shores continues to support Phragmites management initiatives of
the Lambton Shores Phragmites Community Group. This year, in
addition to collaborating in the delivery of a successful Community
Information Session, the Municipality has supported a habitat
restoration project in Grand Bend, continues to assist the
community of Port Franks and is participating in discussions
regarding Phragmites management in Ward 4. This committee, in
cooperation with the Ausable Bayfield Conservation Authority, was
able to secure a $23,000 grant from the Great Lakes Community
Fund for the increased control of this invasive species in the Port
Franks area. Council is extremely pleased with the volunteer
participation of the public on both this as well as county initiatives.
5. Huge Savings on Grand Bend STF – Council members
participated in a Working Group deliberations, in cooperation with
South Huron and Stantec Engineering, over 6 months that led to
the selection of a Sewage Treatment Facility that is $8.2 million
less expensive than previously recommended and which, according
to the engineers, will be sufficient capacity for the sewage
treatment required by Lambton Shores for at least the next 20
years. When making our decision Council considered (a) need, (b)
sustainability; (c) affordability; (d) technological advances in waste
treatment, (e) a revenue source (treating septage, unlike the
original proposal), (f) the limited potential land for development in
the GB area, (g) long standing projects on the books without a start
date in sight; (h) expandability of the plant design; and (i) that
development should pay in the future not current users on a “build it
they will come” whim (history and recent past economic conditions
suggests that this is not necessarily true when it comes to
residential housing development). The reduced size and cost of this
project will be particularly important when the municipality begins
paying for operating and life-cycle replacement costs.
6. Economic Development Pushed Forward – Through the efforts
of councillors Martin Underwood and Lorie Scott and their
Economic Development Task Force team, council was presented
with seven over-arching recommendations which were received
and endorsed. The Task Force had worked hard at providing open
houses, online surveys, dialoguing with commercial businesses
throughout Lambton Shores and then discussing their findings on
which they based their final recommendations.
7. Significantly Reduced Development Charges – In December
2012, council decided to reduce commercial and industrial
development charges by 66% and freeze residential charges for at
least one year. Council’s intent is to use this as a tool to boost
economic development in Lambton Shores.
8. Enhancing Communication with the Public – Council approved
the purchasing of a sound system for the Village Complex in the
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