Lanark County Council Highlights – January 28, 2026

Press Release – Lanark County 

Here are the highlights from the Lanark County Council meeting held January 28, 2026.  

Public Meeting Set for Proposed County Official Plan Amendments:

Lanark County Council received a report on proposed county official plan amendments, and a public meeting has been slated for February 18 at 5 p.m. at the Lanark County Administration Building Council chambers.

Planning Manager Mike Dwyer outlined the proposed amendments at a special economic development committee of the whole meeting earlier this month. Three topic-specific schedules of amendments were presented, including affordable housing, growth management and aggregate resources. The amendments implement findings and recommendations from various reports, including Lanark County & Town of Smiths Falls Municipal Tools to Support Affordable Housing (2022), Lanark County Growth Management Strategy (2025) and the Lanark County Aggregate Resources Master Plan (2025), which includes illustrative mapping of aggregate resources in the county.  

Each amendment is informed by a background study, and the schedules are the basis for the required notice and consultation process for the related official plan amendments, which includes agencies, stakeholders and the public. Following the public meeting, a review and recommendation report will be presented in March.

Dwyer explained amendments to the county plan will impact local official plans. “The amendments have been drafted to be consistent with the current scope of the county plan – a high-level policy document that defers implementation details to local communities.” The county is working with local planners in the process. 

Notice of the public meeting and a link to the related open applications can be found at www.lanarkcounty.ca/government/public-consultation/. For more information, contact Mike Dwyer, Planning Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520.

Rescue Services Review Received:

Lanark County Council received a rescue services review report and is establishing an ad hoc committee for further discussion and to review recommendations. The county’s rescue services program focuses on emergency rescue services across the county; assisting with extrication services as requested by fire, police or ambulance services. Rescue units are hosted at three fire departments covering specific response areas: Drummond/North Elmsley Tay Valley Fire Rescue, Mississippi Mills Fire Department and Montague Fire Department.

The County contracted the Loomex Group to complete a third-party review of the program. The Loomex Group’s Mike Vilneef, Community Risk Assessment Specialist, and Terry Gervais, Project Advisor explained they reviewed agreements, equipment and vehicles, required certifications, gaps in service and certification levels, future extrication service challenges (including electric vehicles), finances, and geographic information system mapping as part of the review. Fire chiefs and deputy chiefs across the county were consulted. Loomex outlined options for Council to consider related to the program. 

The ad hoc committee will be made up by Councillor Steve Fournier (Drummond/North Elmsley Reeve), Warden Richard Kidd (Beckwith Reeve) and the host fire chiefs. Information will be brought back to council.

For more information, contact Megan Beson, Deputy Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1102.

Upcoming Meetings:

• County Council, Wednesday, February 11, 5 p.m.
• Community Services, February 11 (following County Council)
• Corporate Services, February 11 (following Community Services)
• County Council, Wednesday, February 25, 5 p.m.
• Public Works, February 25 (following County Council)
• Economic Development, February 25 (following Public Works)

Watch for details about public access to meetings on agendas and through online notifications. For more information, contact 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502. Like “LanarkCounty1” on Facebook and follow “@LanarkCounty1” on Instagram.