Council Post-Meeting Highlights – September 23, 2024

This month, Council heard on key issues including Orange Shirt Day, Brook Nature Reserve, Muskoka Heritage Place Restoration of Sugar Shack.

Here’s what happened:

• Mayor and Council were dressed in Orange in honour of Orange Shirt Day and National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30. Please see the Town’s media release for more information on related events and activities.
• Council heard a deputation from the Muskoka Conservancy regarding the installation of Town maintained trails on the Brook Nature Reserve.
  • OUTCOME: Council voted to support the proposed partnership with Muskoka Conservancy for installation and maintenance of the trails, in principle. Council directed staff to work with Muskoka Conservancy to identify operational, budget, and legal implications of installing and maintaining the trails on an ongoing basis.
• Council will hear a report from staff with a request to approve an overall increase in project costs of $30,000 for the restoration of the Muskoka Heritage Place Sugar Shack building, to bring the project total to $76,000, with the budget variance be funded from the MHP’s Hartley Bequest Reserve. The Sugar Shack Restoration project is one of seven (7) capital projects that were approved at MHP through the 2024 budget process, including the Spence's Inn Porch Replacement, Museum Ceiling Upgrades, and Sawmill Reconstruction.
  • OUTCOME: Council voted to approve the increase in project costs in order to rebuild the MHP Sugar Shack building (due to greater than anticipated deterioration of the existing building), from the Hartley Bequest Reserve.

Want to dig deeper? Watch the full Council discussion through the livestream.