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Eight people pose together for a photo in front of a brown wall with framed photos

Our Mississippi Mills Public Library (MMPL) are provincial award winners! At last night’s meeting, Council congratulated MMPL Chief Executive Officer Christine Row, and Board Chair Barbara Button on three significant accolades received at the annual Public Library Awards gala.

Held as part of the Ontario Library Association Super Conference 2024 in Toronto, Row received the W.J. Robertson Medallion for Public Librarian of the Year. The prestigious honour awards public librarians who demonstrate outstanding leadership and contributions to the library profession.

“I am so proud of the library,” noted Almonte Ward Councillor Mary Lou Souter, a former MMPL Board Chair and Board Member for over 20 years. “Christine, you have taken it from a good reference and borrowing library that 15 years ago was the model of a 19th Century library, into the 21st Century where the library is a community hub that covers every aspect of people’s social, cultural and educational lives. Thank you.”

“The reality is, there is nothing I do that I do alone,” Row said. “I am surrounded by amazing women at the library who are very enthusiastic and brilliant in coming up with ideas on how to improve service. And we have a board who trusts us, so that is a really great recipe for the innovative spirit that we have at the library.”

At the same gala, MMPL earned the Angus Mowat Award of Excellence for leading the Lanark County Libraries’ Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) program for youth. The third recognition came with MMPL receiving their latest Provincial Certificate of Accreditation, one of only 36 libraries in Ontario to receive this significant achievement.  

The MMPL operates branches in both Almonte and Pakenham.

“The Pakenham library is also well used and certainly vibrant,” said Pakenham Ward Councillor Denzil Ferguson. “There has been very, very significant change and it’s well respected in the village. It’s just a pleasure to have you, Christine, with what you have brought to it.”

A Public Meeting was held for the Plan of Subdivision, Official Plan and Zoning By-law Amendment applications for Mill Valley Estates. The proposed development, to be located along the northeast side of Old Almonte Road/Paterson Street, is to include up to 535 residential units, a mix of single-detached dwellings and townhomes, including back-to-back townhomes. A business park is also planned in a future phase. The matter will come before a future Council meeting for further discussion.   

Council formally appointed Melanie Knight as Director of Development Services & Engineering, as part of an overall staffing proposal for the department. Melanie has been with the Municipality since September 2021 when she was hired as Senior Planner. She has served as Acting Director of Development Services & Engineering since September 2023. In addition, a casual Manager of Engineering position will be created, with the reallocation of $40,000 from the professional service fees budget to fund the position.

The 2024 Mississippi Mills Municipal Grants were approved by Council. This year, Council will distribute $42,550 to community organizations, after increasing 2023 funding by 26%. (Please watch for future press release with more details).

Council accepted the final report for the Water and Wastewater Service Delivery Review and directed staff to enter into negotiations with the Ontario Clean Water Agency to update the service agreement for operations and maintenance of the water and wastewater treatment facilities to a cost plus agreement. The review also includes the development of a business plan for water and wastewater services.

Two by-laws were approved by Council related to long term borrowing. The first, authorizes borrowing of $1M for 2023 paving projects; and the second authorizes borrowing $2.9M toward the cost of the Almonte Downtown Core construction.

Committee of the Whole also heard the following items, which will be brought forward for approval at a future Council meeting:

  • Quarterly reports were received for the Drinking Water Quality Management Standard, Children’s Services and Roads and Public Works.

  • The 2023 Freedom of Information Summary Report was presented. In 2023, the Municipality received 5 General Records requests, and 1 which was carried over from 2022.

  • The draft Asset Retirement Obligation Policy. To comply with Public Sector Accounting Standard 3280, the Municipality is required to identify and quantify asset retirement obligations.

  • A report on the evaluation of Aquatic Reimbursement Pilot Program, with the staff recommendation to continue the program in 2024, for which $25,000 was budgeted.

  • A Notice of Motion was received from Councillor Denzil Ferguson, recommending a Council Remuneration By-law Review, to ensure Mississippi Mills Council per diem rates are amended to be in line with Lanark County Council rates.

Upcoming Meetings:

  • Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, February 20, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow council.

  • Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 6:00 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow council.