Council Highlights – June 23, 2026

Council held its last regular meeting before the summer break and approved the tender for the Old Almonte Road reconstruction. Thomas Cavanagh Construction Limited, the lowest bidder, will do the road construction work for $1,085,446.50. Almost the entire $1.9M project is being covered by development charges ($762,798) and a grant of up to $953,500 from the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program’s Housing-Enabling Core Servicing stream. The Municipality will use $190,700 from reserves to cover the rest, ensuring only a small portion of the project relies on taxpayer-supported funds. Old Almonte Road is identified in the 2024 Mississippi Mills Transportation Master Plan as an important route for future growth. The project, to be completed by fall 2026, will upgrade the road from gravel to asphalt, make it wider and add paved shoulders to improve safety. 

The King Street water and sewer replacement tender was awarded to GOA Paving for $2,271,297.85. This project is required to take care of the current water and sewer pipes and supports the recommendations in the 2024 Water Wastewater Master Plan for ongoing investment into municipal infrastructure. Work will be fully paid by municipal water and sewer users.

The Municipality extended the Mississippi Mills Dog Park pilot project for another five years. The park is currently at the Snedden-Casey Ball Field. Council also approved improvements to the park including adding shade structures. The pilot project started in the summer of 2023 after a 2021 survey showed heavy interest in having a dog park in Mississippi Mills in a location that was safe, fully fenced, easy to access and had parking available.

One of the projects identified in the 2023-2027 Council Strategic Plan was the creation of a public Performance Measurement Dashboard. Staff presented data and measures by department for Council review. The dashboard will be made public on the municipal website and will be updated on an annual basis.  

As the Municipality grows, there is a need for infrastructure improvements. To provide other options to speed up infrastructure builds, Council approved the Development Charges Front Ending Agreement Policy. This policy lets the Municipality make agreements with developers so they can pay for the infrastructure needed for their development projects upfront.

A Notice of Motion brought forward by Councillor Jane Torrance asked staff to reach out to neighbouring municipalities on potential partnership opportunities and identify potential cost savings to offer aquatic services to Mississippi Mills residents.

Committee of the Whole also discussed the following items, which were approved by Council during a special meeting, as they recess for the month of July.  

The Public Works Service Delivery Update provided Council with more information about staffing and service levels in the Roads and Public Works Department. Staff showed comparisons with other municipalities to help explain how Mississippi Mills’ staffing levels measure up. Council approved adding two new positions in 2026 – a Public Works Coordinator and an Operations Coordinator. Additional positions will be considered as part of upcoming budgets. The Public Works Coordinator would help organize and manage everyday projects and support the Director of Roads and Public Works and the Operations Manager. The Operations Coordinator would assist with day-to-day supervision and coordinate staff to make sure projects and activities scheduled by the Operations Manager are completed.

The Heritage Advisory Committee provided recommendations on designating properties in Mississippi Mills. Council approved the designation of the following properties:

• 492 River Road (Teskey House)
• 34, 36 and 38 Mill Street (Black Watch building)

Teskey House is a 19th century stone house in the Village of Appleton. Made of limestone, it is built in the Georgian Classical style. The first residents who lived there were Joseph and Margaret Teskey. The Black Watch building is already protected as part of the Heritage Conservation District, and this new designation will help protect the important historical features of it. Since the 1800s, the building has played an important commercial role in the history of the community.  

As part of the Community Services Master Plan (CSMP), Council approved the Community Services Master Plan Guiding Principles. These principles will be used for the 87 recommendations from the CSMP. The eight principles are: Shared investment, community access, inclusive programming, school partnerships, taxpayer fairness, access to programs, volunteers are a valuable asset and provision of public space.

The 2026-2031 Economic Development Strategic Plan was approved by Council. To create the plan, staff did extensive research, reviewed municipal and regional economic conditions and did broad community and business consultation. The plan lays out a step-by-step approach and focuses on these main goals:

• Strengthen key economic sectors
• Strengthen existing businesses and support growth
• Celebrate community identity and culture
• Improve infrastructure and investment readiness
• Develop a skilled and resilient workforce
• Enhance branding and promotion
• Advance environmental sustainability

Council also asked staff to prepare cost estimates and resource needs for the 2027 budget discussions. Staff will apply to the Rural Ontario Development Grant Program in August to help fund the plan. Council approved using $90,000 from reserves as the municipal share for the program’s required 50/50 funding.

Councillor Vicki Lowe’s term as Chair of Committee of the Whole ends on July 1. Councillor Mary Lou Souter will serve as chair until November 13, 2026, which is when this Council term ends. The role of chair changes every six months, following alphabetical order, starting with the Deputy Mayor.

In an emergency meeting of Council on June 26, the Almonte Tennis Court rehabilitation project was discussed. Council awarded the contract to Strathmar Trenching Ltd. for $516,286.11. With a 15% contingency and engineering support, the total cost of the project is $606,872.11. The Almonte Tennis Club will pay 20% of the cost, which is $105,886. The Club will also pay 20% of any contingency costs. The Municipality will pay $435,543 and has applied for a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation to help cover the cost. The work at the Gemmill Park court includes new paving, court surfacing and upgrades to the lighting and electrical systems.

Upcoming Meetings:

• Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, August 11, 2026, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole to follow Council.
• Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, August 25, 2026, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole to follow Council.