council group pictureTimmins city council returns with a key topic on the docket in terms of residents heading south.

They will look to lend their support in four-laning Highway 11 from Cochrane to North Bay.

Rural roads and winter preparations are also on the docket.

Follow our live blog for all the details, starting at 6:00pm

(Keep refreshing the page as the night goes along for updates!)

First off, we have the winners of the Santa Claus Parade.

  • Best in Theme: NEO LASER TAG
  • Best Walking Group: MELISSA KELLY DANCE ACADEMY
  • Best Small Entry: D! CHEF
  • Most Spirited: PAT PICARD SCHOOL OF DANCE
  • Best Large Entry: TREE BANDIT
  • Brightest: TIMMINS HIGH & VOCATIONAL SCHOOL
  • Most Original: FIERTE TIMMINS PRIDE
  • Most Lively: TIMMINS GRACIE JIU-JITSU AND MUAY THAI ACADEMY
  • Most Artistic: NORTHERN DIAMONDS ACADEMY OF DANCE
  • Best Animals: ST. JOHN’S AMBULANCE THERAPY DOGS
  • Best Marching Group: 101 TIGER/SEA CADETS/NLCC TIMMINS NAVY LEAGUE
  • Judges Choice(small): LES CANADIENS
  • Judges Choice(large): MIKEY’S GENERAL SALES AND REPAIR

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Next up is Dexter Wheeler to speak on Charland Lake and Bertrand Road.

He was here in February to speak to winter maintenance standards on these roads.

Wheeler says it’s not fair, and is disappointed there hasn’t been any resolution on this whatsoever.

CLICK HERE to read the piece on this included in the council package.

Black says he’s had conversations on this in relation to the core services review, and says this isn’t an isolated issue.

Wawrzaszek asks about ownership, and Torlone says the roads are owned privately.

Bamford says the city can’t be going on private land, but if that issue were settled between the city and the owners of the land roads are on, they could look at doing something to get the road up to standard and have it plowed in the winter.

Wheeler says he’s sure there are private roads that are getting plowed.

Black says the reason they have addresses on private roads is to get emergency services.

He adds he doesn’t want to get to a scenario of what happened 20-30 years ago because there were different regulations back then.

Doody says it’s encouraging to see someone come in and not banging the table to make demands.

He says when he was around during consolidation, someone came to council with a list of roads to be plowed.

Doody adds the core services review is not gospel, and if they need to spend a few dollars to take a few steps and come to an agreement on this, he’d be pleased.

Torlone points out there is a policy that was released in 1992 that the city will take over ownership of the road when the road is brought up to municipal standard, which includes proper width and a turnaround spot for city trucks.

Dubeau says he is still waiting for the report.

Rinaldo says they need to find out where they stand first before they can do anything.  She says we’re looking at deals that were made in the 70’s and 80’s and don’t know who is plowing or not.

She adds a report from Duval will be needed on this.

Bamford asks with this going on for so long, how have they been able to manage.  Wheeler says they’ve used a combination of neighbourly plows, multiple snowblowers and even contractors that the city have hired too.

Black says a report on Class 6 roads won’t be ready for next week.

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Now up is approval for the South Porcupine/Porcupine Winter Carnival and Parade.

The parade will be held Saturday, February 13th, 2016 at 1pm.  It will begin on the corner of Golden and Legion (at the Barn). It follows Bruce down to Porcupine Lake and continue up Bloor to Legion Drive.

They are looking for a road closure for this, as well as for Legion Drive from Shamrock to Bruce from 11am to 4pm on the 13th and 14th for safety reasons and usage of the Maurice Landry Community Centre for the weekend free of charge to do a 50/50 and penny sale to support children’s and senior’s activities at the upcoming Summerfest.

No questions and this will come back.

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Next is the resolution from Temiskaming Shores to put four lanes on Highway 11 from Cochrane to North Bay.

Black says he has concerns and doesn’t want to flag this as a priority when roads like the Connecting Link continue to be neglected.

He says it would be great however, and leaves it to council to debate.

Doody says he doesn’t have much of an opposition to what Black said, but at the NEOMA Meeting, they should develop a plan to put this in in phases.

Bamford says it would probably take $10-million per mile to do the project with the rocky terrain near North Bay.

He says what they really need is passing lanes, especially the stretch north of New Liskeard, adding it could be the start of four-laning because they are having to widen the road anyway.

Campbell is in favour of four-laning, as is Dubeau.

This will come back with two resolutions (one for as is, one modified for Bamford’s request) at a future meeting.

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Up next is the Ontario Electricity Support Program, an opportunity for low income residents to save money on electricity bills.

View the whole request HERE or go to OntarioElectricitySupport.ca

Grzela says the classification of low-income in terms of this is $28,000 or less.

Details will be posted on the city website as well, and this will come back at a later date.

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Now to winter preparedness for frozen services with Norm Bruce.

Rinaldo says they need a system in place to get water to those who can’t, like the elderly who can’t make it outside.

CLICK HERE to see in full what city staff have in mind.

Bruce says there will be adjustments made for those running their water so residents don’t get charged for that extra running water.

The city has a list of people who get notified to run the water, and if you aren’t on the list, you need to get on the list to make sure you’re not charged extra.

This will come back.

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Now to the corporate travel policy, and Wawrzaszek wants to defer it as he hasn’t had time to study the report.

Campbell says there isn’t many changes to it at all.  Rinaldo says the policy itself isn’t the issue, it’s mostly a budget issue.

This will come back.

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To a tax writedown for Rioloro, as well as 263 Wilson Avenue, which is very detailed but in lamens terms, the city wants to re-sell this property for less.

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Dubeau now speaking on heavy truck traffic speed on the Connecting Link.

He says he’s gotten many complaints from all ends of town, pointing out one went through the red light shortly after a council meeting last week.

He’d like to see more enforcement on this.

This will be passed along to Chief Gauthier.

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Now Grzela is up to speak on a sensitive issue.

He says a little girl born on August 2nd named Lydia Rose Allard was brought into the world with a rare congenial muscle disease that affects 1 in 50,000 called Nemalin Rod Myopathy.

The family is looking to raise money to help with medical costs.  They’ve already raised over $13,000 thus far and if you’d like to donate, CLICK HERE.

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and council is going in-camera so for the public’s sake, COUNCIL IS ADJORNED!