Council Highlights – October 21, 2025

At last night’s meeting, the Municipality’s auditors, KPMG LLP, shared the 2024 Audited Financial Statements. The audit took place in June and July 2025 and was finished by September. The Municipality earned a clean audit opinion and remains in sound financial condition. View the presentation or read the audited statements.

A public meeting was held for Official Plan Amendment 35, which puts policies in place to create a Community Planning Permit System. This new system, part of the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) agreement, would make it easier and faster to review and approve building and development plans. It combines several steps – like zoning changes and site plans – into one simple process. Council will discuss this matter at a future meeting. 

A second public meeting was held to talk about another HAF project – Official Plan Amendment 34, also known as the Almonte Downtown Secondary Plan. This plan includes rules and ideas for how land in a specific area in a municipality can be used and developed. In April 2025, the Municipality hired Parsons to help create this plan and the Public Realm Plan for Downtown Almonte and Ottawa Street. These two plans are meant to work together. Council will consider this item at a future meeting. 

Council has approved yearly funding for the Mississippi Mills Youth Centre (MMYC). The centre will receive $55,500 each year for five years to help cover operating costs like rent, utilities, upkeep and administration. This amount will go up each year based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI). MMYC was founded in 2015 with help from the Municipality of Mississippi Mills and community partners and officially opened on Main Street East in December 2016. 

Council passed two motions related to options presented by the Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority for the Mill of Kintail Museum and McKenzie/Naismith collections. The first motion asked staff to give feedback on a Mill of Kintail working group, proposed in the MVCA’s Draft Transition Plan. It’s recommended the group include representatives from the Municipality, the Mississippi Valley Textile Museum and other committed individuals. The goal is to find long-term funding and ways to support and celebrate the museum and its collections. 

Council also asked staff to start working on museum-related actions from the 2025 Community Services Master Plan. This plan says museums should stay independent and not owned by the Municipality. The motion includes creating partnerships and forming a steering committee. Staff will report back in November with a proposed plan and next steps. 

Council proclaimed October as Dwarfism Awareness Month. This month helps people learn about dwarfism, a genetic condition that causes short height and can lead to health issues. It’s also a time to celebrate people with dwarfism and the important ways they contribute to our community. To mark the occasion, the falls and Almonte Old Town Hall will be lit in green on October 24. View the proclamation.  

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

• Consideration of a 1% capital levy in the 2026 budget, to be placed in a reserve account and used for future capital investments.
• Recommendation report to end exclusionary zoning, as part of the Housing Accelerator Fund agreement.
• Quarterly report for Recreation and Culture.

Upcoming Meetings:

• Special Council Meeting (2026 Budget) – Tuesday, October 28, 9 a.m.
• Special Council Meeting (2026 Budget) – Thursday, October 30, 9 a.m.
• Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, November 4, 2025, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council.
• Hybrid Council Meeting – Tuesday, November 18, 2025, 6 p.m. Committee of the Whole meeting to follow Council.

For more information:

Ashley Kulp
Communications Coordinator
613-256-2064
akulp@mississippimills.ca