Lanark County Council Highlights – June 25, 2025

Press Release – Lanark County 

Here are the highlights from the regular and special Lanark County Council meetings held June 25, 2025.

Green infrastructure added to Asset Management Plan

Lanark County Council has passed a motion to add “green infrastructure assets” to the county’s approved 2022 Asset Management Plan. These are considered to be “natural or human-made elements that provide ecological and hydrological functions and processes.”

At the corporate services committee meeting earlier this month, Treasurer Kevin Wills explained legislation requires green infrastructure assets, such as the county’s 4,619 hectares of community forests and 93 kilometres of trails, to be included in municipal asset management plans by July 1, 2025. This helps to ensure long-term protection for natural assets and recreation in the community. 

Wills highlighted the county’s Community Forest Operating Plan (2023-2027), noting it consists of 44 properties and that an environmental management system exists for the forest that is part of the 2011-2030 Forest Management Plan. The forests are professionally managed by Mississippi Valley Conservation Authority. The county participates in the Eastern Ontario Model Forest Certification Program and is compliant with Forest Certification Council standards. The Community Forest program operates at no cost to ratepayers, with timber sales exceeding management expenses over the long term. 

The trail network consists of five trails that are rated in good condition, Wills said. Planned capital projects include access gates, culvert replacement, fencing, parking lot work, signage and surface replacements/intersections. The network includes 11 significant bridges with an estimated replacement cost of $45 million, and many have had capital work completed in the last few years and are in good condition.

Wills also provided an update about progress on implementing the asset management plan, indicating the county is on track to meet stated objectives. Non-core infrastructure assets are being maintained as scheduled. Core assets include roads, bridges and culverts, and Wills said significant improvements have been made to the county’s road network, with the percentage of roads rated “very good” and “good” rising since 2021. Ratings for bridges and culverts have also improved.

For more information, contact Kevin Wills, Treasurer, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1323.

Council supports reuse of Perth Campus site

Lanark County Council has directed Warden Toby Randell (Carleton Place Mayor) to provide a letter of support for a proposal that could see the reuse of Algonquin College’s Perth Campus site, which is slated for closure next year.

Council also directed staff to bring back a report on potential options for council consideration to further support this initiative.

Local entrepreneur Toby Shannan presented the proposal at a special economic development committee meeting earlier this month. His plan focuses on the construction trades, including a four-year program in construction, upskilling and certification for industry members, and becoming an internationally recognized centre for heritage restoration. A provincial dispersal process for the property must still be undertaken before the proposal can move forward.

For more information, contact Jasmin Ralph, Clerk, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1502.

Remaining sections of trail to be resurfaced

Lanark County Council has approved the completion of all remaining resurfacing work on the Ottawa Valley Recreational Trail (OVRT) in 2025 with $53,000 of the estimated $103,000 (plus HST) cost to come from the Forestry Trails Reserve.

Public Works Manager Sam Poole explained the work was originally slated for completion in 2026, but the Lanark County Municipal Trails Committee recommended it be moved to 2025 so that other major maintenance efforts can be prioritized in 2026.

The remaining work includes:

• 3 km from Needham Road to Pakenham Wooden Bridge
• 2.48 km from Waba Road to Barr Side Road
• 3.19 km from N. Pakenham 12th Concession to Shaw Road
• 1.52 km from Ridge Road to Panmure Road for a total of just over 10 km

The trail would be pre-graded to a width of five metres and resurfaced with new stone dust to match the existing trail surface width of four metres.

“All four sections of the OVRT are close together and will allow contractors to complete work in a continuous sequence, reducing mobilization costs and impacts to trail users during the summer months,” Poole said.

For more information, contact Sam Poole, Public Works Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 3116.

Growth Management Strategy final report accepted

Lanark County Council has received the Growth Management Strategy (GMS) final report and has directed staff to prepare a schedule of official plan amendments to update related policies for review.  

Planning Manager Mike Dwyer explained the GMS is a background report that informs updates to the county’s official plan related to long-term planning and growth management policies. It projects anticipated future population, housing and employment for Lanark County and analyses land needs and supply for serviced communities based on those projections.

The draft report was released for stakeholder and public consultation in November. Consultant Adam Fischer of Watson & Associates presented the final report to council, which includes updates reflecting consultation feedback and changes resulting from a review and update of county data. 

Fischer said the feedback “emphasized the importance of recognizing the unique demographic and economic conditions within different parts of the county,” and the final report was refined to “more clearly acknowledge the local limitations and structural challenges that may constrain growth in certain parts of the county.”

He said the additions reflect themes expressed through engagement while maintaining original forecast assumption. “The report now more clearly identifies the factors that may influence how and where this growth could materialize. This approach ensures that local implementation can be sensitive to community-specific realities while still aligning with county-wide planning objectives.”

“The GMS has been through a robust two-year process to get to this point,” Dwyer said, adding staff will work over the summer to develop specific official plan policy amendments for council review, which will be followed by the formal official plan amendment process in the fall, including a public meeting. The intent is to adopt amendments by the end of the year.

For more information, contact Mike Dwyer, Planning Manager, at 1-888-9-LANARK, ext. 1520.

Upcoming meetings

Please note there are no regular meetings in the month of July.

County Council, Wednesday, August 13, 5 p.m.; Community Services, August 13 (following County Council); Corporate Services, August 13 (following Community Services). County Council, Wednesday, August 27, 5 p.m.; Public Works, August 27 (following County Council); Economic Development, August 27 (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.