Gravenhurst Council Highlights - April 15, 2025
Hospice Muskoka update
Donna Kearney, executive director of Hospice Muskoka, provided an update on the organization’s activities.
Following the update, Mayor Lorenz thanked Kearney for the important services that Hospice Muskoka provides residents.
The mayor said the town is pleased to support hospice and that the municipality looks forward to continuing its relationship with the care provider.
Geese management presentation
Michael von Kaitz of Wildlife Management Group provided a presentation about the organization’s plans to manage Canada Geese at Gull Lake Rotary Park this year.
The town has contracted the company’s services to manage what has become a growing problem with geese at the park and their impact on water quality.
Council agrees to waive fees for Cockburn Square
Wendy Fairbairn, speaking on behalf of the Muskoka Wharf Association, asked that Cockburn Square rental fees be waived for the Bay and Beyond construction season.
Fairbairn said businesses belonging to the association want to use the square for events to help draw people to the wharf while work on the Bay and Beyond infrastructure project is taking place.
Council agreed to waive the rental fees.
The waiver will apply for the duration of the project.
The Bay and Beyond infrastructure project is a three-year partnership with the District of Muskoka and the Town of Gravenhurst, designed to upgrade the critical underground systems that have been in place since 1944.
Year two of the project is just getting underway.
Arts at the Albion flag signage discussion
Greg Kosiorowski, an Arts at the Albion board member, made a presentation to council.
The organization would like approval to display flag signs out front of the gallery. The town’s sign bylaw does not permit flag signs.
Following a lengthy discussion, council advised the organization to meet with town staff and apply for an exemption to the town’s sign bylaw through the formal appeal policy.
DC reserve fund annual report
Council received for information an annual report on the town’s Development Charges Reserve Fund.
Provincial regulations stipulate that council receive a report on the fund each year.
For 2024, the town collected $674,374 through development charges.
The fund balance at the end of 2024 was $2.1 million.
The town collects development charges from new development to pay for growth-related infrastructure, reducing the financial impact of growth on current taxpayers.
First quarter financial update
Council received the First Quarter Financial Update Report for information.
The report provides details of 2025 first quarter financial performance against budget.
Building Services Annual Report
Council received the Building Services Annual Report for information.
The Ontario Building Code Act stipulates municipalities are to prepare an annual report on the total building permit fees collected.
This includes direct and indirect costs of delivering services related to the administration and enforcement of the Building Code Act, and the balance in any building reserve funds.
Student septic re-inspectors appointed
Council, on the advice of staff, passed a bylaw to appoint student septic re-inspectors for the town.
Jasmine Kaur and Samantha Graydon were appointed inspectors.
Each summer, the town endeavors to hire students from related fields to conduct septic system re-inspections around the municipality, with particular focus on those systems that service waterfront development.
Bylaw Services student appointments
Council members passed a bylaw appointing student municipal law enforcement officers.
On the recommendation of staff, Eva Szumska and Mason Whipp were appointed for the duration of their employment with the town.
Council awards tender for Abbey Lane drainage improvements project
Council approved hiring Premier North Ltd. at the tendered price of $1,043,420, excluding HST, to complete the Abbey Lane drainage improvements project.
Premier North was the lowest compliant bidder for the project.
Construction is expected to start June 1 with the bulk of the work complete by the end of September.
The work involves the installation of an upsized storm sewer along the municipally maintained sections of both Abbey Lane and Winewood Avenue, plus related road rehabilitation.
Watch the town’s website and social media channels for project updates.
Muskoka Discovery Centre roof replacement going ahead
Council awarded a tender for the replacement of the Muskoka Discovery Centre roof to AM Group of Companies at a cost of $137,760, excluding HST.
The company was the lowest compliant bidder for the project.
Work will start in mid-May and is expected to last four to six weeks.
Council OKs using MAT funds for Doors Open registration
Council passed a resolution directing staff to earmark funds from the Municipal Accommodation Tax to pay for the town’s 2025 Doors Open registration fee.
The Heritage Advisory Committee recommended the town’s participation in Doors Open.
Spearheaded by the Ontario Heritage Trust, Doors Open events take place in communities across the province, allowing the public free access to unique spaces.
Councillor Randy Jorgensen, who sits on the Heritage Advisory Committee as the council representative, said the town has participated in Doors Open in the past but not in recent years.
He said committee members, in their annual work plan, approved by council, noted they intended to have the town get involved in Doors Open once more.
The local Doors Open is set for Saturday, Sept. 20, Jorgensen said.
Keep an eye on the town’s website for further details about Doors Open in Gravenhurst.
CAO Lucas update
Scott Lucas, chief administrative officer, provided a verbal update on what staff are doing.
Lucas led off by noting he provides verbal updates every few months as another way of keeping council and the community informed about town activities.
As part of the update, he highlighted two staff accomplishments.
Lucas noted that Andrew Stacey, director of infrastructure services, is the new president of the Muskoka Association of Road Supervisors. Stacey previously served as the association’s vice-president.
And Jared Cayley, fire chief, is now serving on the Ontario Association of Fire Chiefs’ Suburban-Rural Advisory Committee.
Lucas touched on a number of other topics, including staff recruitment and winter storm events.
Watch the update to learn more.
To stay in the loop with initiatives noted in the CAO verbal update, and other town related programs, subscribe to the town’s monthly e-newsletter.
Highway 11 North Entrance closures in the works
Council received a report from staff regarding planned changes to Highway 11 in Gravenhurst.
Andrew Stacey, director of infrastructure services, said in the report the province is undertaking a detailed design and planning for the rehabilitation of the Highway 11 corridor, from the Severn River Bridge to South Kahshe Lake Road.
He said that as part of the design process, entrances were evaluated by the province, with recommendations made to either maintain or remove specific access points.
Stacey said the province has determined that based on both technical and safety merits, two entrances, one at Manson/Cowbell Lane and one at Mitchell Road, have been identified as candidates for permanent closure.
Currently, Manson/Cowbell Lane has two access points from Highway 11, the first being 100 meters north of the Severn River Bridge, which is being recommended for closure, and a secondary access point 500 meters north of the Severn River Bridge.
Despite closing off one of the entrances leading to Manson/Cowbell Lane, residents will continue to be able to fully utilize the secondary access which has an appropriate deceleration taper for safer turning movements.
Two existing entrances provide access to Mitchell Road and are connected to the northbound side of Highway 11.
The southerly entrance to Mitchell Road is located approximately 2.1 kilometres from the Severn River Bridge and the north entrance is approximately 2.7 kilometres from the Severn River Bridge.
The north entrance is being recommended for permanent closure with a cul-de-sac being constructed to facilitate municipal operations, and the south entrance would remain in place and be improved with a formalized right-turn taper.
Stacey said that following extensive dialogue with the Ministry of Transportation (MTO), administration fully agrees with the functional concerns brought forward by MTO and shares their conclusions that by removing the south entrance to Manson/Cowbell Lane and the north entrance to Mitchell Road; safety at these two locations will be improved.
Council directed staff to publish a public notice about council’s plans to pass a bylaw to close the entrances.
YMCA will take on swimming lessons for this year
After much discussion, council directed staff to have the YMCA take on the delivery of swimming lessons for the summer of 2025.
These lessons will take place in the YMCA pool.
Historically, the town administered these lessons at Gull Lake Rotary Park.
However, the change this year will allow town staff to implement measures to hopefully improve water quality at Gull Lake Park Beach.
Water quality has been problematic in recent years, at times causing the town to cancel swimming lessons.
The town is piloting a new goose management program that has a multi-pronged approach to help reduce and deter the goose population residing at the beach – and in turn hopefully this will result in better water quality.
Muskoka Watershed Council update
Councillor Peter Johnston provided his monthly update on the Muskoka Watershed Council.
Update from the mayor
Mayor Heidi Lorenz provided her monthly update.
Mayor Lorenz noted the Senior of the Year Award recipient will be announced at the annual Mayor’s Tea on June 11 at the Gravenhurst Opera House.
Watch the town’s website and social media channels for details about the tea.
She also reminded people the town is now accepting applications for its annual Gravenhurst High School Bursary.
Mayor Lorenz thanked staff members on the town’s Emergency Control Group for helping the town and community navigate the recent ice storm.
The mayor also thanked Councillor Jorgensen, who as deputy mayor served on the control group.
And she recognized council members for fielding calls from the public, during and after the ice storm, and for sharing relevant ice storm information with the public.
The mayor also extended kudos to frontline town staff for their service during the ice storm and subsequent recovery.
The mayor said ice storm cleanup continues and noted it will for some time.
She asked the community for continued patience as the work unfolds.
Committee appointments
Council approved the following committee appointments for the remainder of the term:
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Wendy Spring/Gravenhurst Trails Committee
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Jordan Teperman/Municipal Heritage Committee
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Kristen Rybacki/Public Art Advisory Committee
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Paul Kelly/Gravenhurst Public Library Board
Council Highlights
Council Highlights is prepared as an overview of the council meeting. For the official record, please refer to the agenda and minutes on the town website at www.gravenhurst.ca.
Watch the meeting
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