Council Highlights - March 9, 2026

Call to Order

• Council considered the matter of a required apology arising from Councillor Sherri Bell’s expulsion for disorderly conduct at the February 23, 2026, Council meeting, in accordance with the Township’s Procedure By-law.
• Council did not consent to Councillor Bell retaking her seat, as the required apology was not accepted by a majority of the Members present. As a result, Councillor Bell was not permitted to participate in the meeting.

Announcements

Deputy Mayor Bell

• Deputy Mayor Bell shared that the Township raised the #ITSTARTS flag in support of the Simcoe County #ITSTARTS campaign, which promotes inclusion, diversity, equity, and accessibility across communities. Residents, businesses, and organizations are encouraged to participate by sharing messages of inclusion and can learn more at simcoe.ca/ITSTARTS.
• Deputy Mayor Bell recognized International Women’s Day, which took place on Sunday, March 8, 2026, and thanked the many women in the Township and throughout the community for their leadership and contributions.
• Deputy Mayor Bell reminded residents that seasonal half-load restrictions are now in effect to help protect municipal roads during the spring thaw. More information is available at ramara.ca.
• Deputy Mayor Bell noted that recent rainfall and warmer temperatures have caused rapid snowmelt and rising water levels in local waterways. He reminded residents that the Township does not provide sandbags unless a municipal emergency is declared. Residents are encouraged to take steps to prepare their properties and review preparedness information at ramara.ca/EmergencyManagement.
• Deputy Mayor Bell shared that the Winter Games were held last weekend in Orillia and were a great success, with strong participation from local youth and volunteers from across the Ramara community.
• Deputy Mayor Bell shared that he attended a hypnotist comedian event at Joyland Beach Hall over the weekend.
• Deputy Mayor Bell reminded residents that March 15 is the deadline to remove ice huts from local lakes and encouraged everyone to ensure huts are removed on time to avoid potential safety issues or rescue situations.

Councillor Tuju

• Councillor Tuju shared that she and Councillor Fisher attended a Lake Dalrymple information session hosted by the Couchiching Conservancy, where they learned about the rare shoreline alvar habitat on a 430-acre property the Conservancy is working to acquire. Together with a nearby wetland parcel to be donated, the lands would protect more than 1,000 acres of significant shoreline wildlife habitat.
• Councillor Tuju noted she attended a fish and chips dinner hosted by the Ramona Hall Agricultural Society, which brought together members of the north Ramara community.
• Councillor Tuju attended an International Women’s Day afternoon tea at St. Andrew’s Church in Orillia hosted by the Canadian Federation of University Women, where participants learned about Harriet Todd, the first woman to hold public office in the region in 1919.

Councillor Fisher

• Councillor Fisher announced that the Rooted in Ramara Slow Cooker Club session taking place at the Legion was full. More sessions will be offered with both afternoon and evening options.

Committee of the Whole

Open Public Forum

• Michael O’Brien spoke during Open Public Forum regarding Item 11.5.3. Award of Treatment Plant 202 Tile Bed Project.

Below are highlights of what Committee of the Whole recommended at its meeting held on Monday, March 9, 2026. These are subject to ratification by Council at its next meeting on March 23, 2026, unless pulled for ratification on the same day.

Closed Session

Proposed Stop-Up, Closure, and Sale of Portions of an Unopened Road Allowance – Plum Point Road

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the proposed stop-up, closure, and sale of portions of the unopened road allowance adjacent to 4442 Plum Point Road and 4438 & 4432 Plum Point Road.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended that Council adopt the confidential direction provided to staff. Pending the outcome of that direction, the lands would be deemed surplus to the needs of the municipality and staff would proceed with the statutory process for stopping up, closing, and selling the lands, including scheduling a public meeting in accordance with the Township’s Sale of Surplus Land Policy.
• The report was referred to the March 9, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Legal Opinion – Road Assumption Status of Sunset Drive

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the legal opinion on the road assumption status of Sunset Drive and that Council adopt the confidential direction provided to staff. The report was referred to the March 9, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

New and Active Litigation File and Strategy Update

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding new and active litigation files and related legal strategy updates as information. The report was referred to the March 9, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Departmental Reports

Road Name Review – Phase 2

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding Road Name Review – Phase 2 and approved the renaming of several roads previously identified during Committee of the Whole discussions on May 8, 2023. The proposed name changes include:
  • Concession Road A (from Sideroad 5 to the west end) to McCuaig Lane;
  • Concession Road B/C (from Rama Dalton Boundary Road to the west end) to Deerfield Road;
  • Concession Road D/E (from Rama Dalton Boundary Road to the west end) to Silver Springs Road;
  • Sideroad 5 (from County Road 46 to Mundy’s Lane) to Forest Haven Road;
  • Sideroad 5 (from County Road 46 to Concession Road 10) to Mill Creek Road;
  • Sideroad 5/6 (from Concession Road B/C to Concession Road D/E) to Heaven’s Gate Road; and
  • Sideroad 25 (from Muley Point Road to Bonnie Beach Road) to Cattle Run Road.

Signage and Wayfinding Strategy Consulting Services Tender Award

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the procurement of consulting services for the Township’s Signage and Wayfinding Strategy and awarding the contract to Stempski Kelly Associates Inc. (Pl.ural) in the amount of $34,989.91 including HST. Committee of the Whole also recommended authorizing staff to execute the agreement. The report was referred to the March 9, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Treatment Plant 202 Tile Bed Project Tender Award

• Committee of the Whole recommended receiving the report regarding the Treatment Plant 202 Tile Bed Project Tender Award and awarding the contract to Duivenvoorden Haulage Ltd. in the amount of $20,969,372.35 plus HST for completion of the project.
• Committee of the Whole also recommended retaining Tatham Engineering to provide construction administration and inspection services in the amount of $990,400 plus HST, establishing a $1,800,000 contingency for unforeseen costs, and allocating $24,146,270 to the capital project through 2027.
• Staff were directed to borrow $16,650,000 to fund the project through completion, and the Mayor and Clerk were authorized to execute the contract agreement on behalf of the Township.
• The report was referred to the March 9, 2026, Council agenda for same-day ratification.

Council

Below are highlights of what Council adopted at its meeting on Monday, March 9, 2026:

• Council received the report regarding the proposed stop-up, closure, and sale of portions of the unopened road allowance adjacent to 4442 Plum Point Road and 4438 & 4432 Plum Point Road and the confidential direction provided to staff was adopted. Pending the outcome of that direction, the lands will be deemed surplus to the needs of the municipality and staff were directed to proceed with the statutory process for stopping up, closing, and selling the lands, including scheduling a public meeting in accordance with the Township’s Sale of Surplus Land Policy.
• Council received the report regarding the legal opinion on the road assumption status of Sunset Drive and the confidential direction provided to staff was adopted.
• Council received the report regarding new and active litigation files and related legal strategy updates as information.
• Council received the report regarding the procurement of consulting services for the Township’s Signage and Wayfinding Strategy and awarded the consulting services contract to Stempski Kelly Associates Inc. (Pl.ural) in the amount of $34,989.91 including HST. Council also authorized staff to execute the agreement.
• Council received the report regarding the Treatment Plant 202 Tile Bed Project Tender Award and awarded the contract to Duivenvoorden Haulage Ltd. in the amount of $20,969,372.35 plus HST for completion of the project. Council also approved Tatham Engineering to provide construction administration and inspection services in the amount of $990,400 plus HST, established a $1,800,000 contingency for unforeseen costs, and allocated $24,146,270 to the capital project through 2027. Staff were directed to borrow $16,650,000 to fund the project through completion, and the Mayor and Clerk were authorized to execute the contract agreement on behalf of the Township.
• Council received the report regarding the Economic Development and Community Improvement Plan Community Engagement Findings and Recommended Actions. Council supported the following actions:
  • Implementation of a Business Engagement & Retention (Business Concierge) model; 
  • Enhancement of the Township’s economic development web presence; 
  • Development of a Ramara Business Toolkit; 
  • Investigation of opportunities to re-engage with Orillia & Lake Country Tourism and strengthen alignment with Simcoe County Tourism; 
  • Promotion of agriculture and agritourism initiatives, including farmers’ markets and on-farm diversification opportunities; 
  • Promotion of nature-based tourism, including trails and Simcoe County Forest lands; and 
  • Advancement of a Community Improvement Plan Strategy. 
• Council directed the Ramara Economic Development Committee in collaboration with staff, to develop an updated Economic Development Strategy and implementation work plan that incorporates the Council-supported priorities and report back to Council.
• Council received the report regarding Community Engagement Results – Brechin Municipal Buildings. Staff was directed to back to Council with detailed demolition cost estimates, site remediation considerations and regulatory requirements. Staff was also directed to incorporate opportunities for heritage commemoration or salvage of architectural features where feasible. Staff was also directed to develop a proposed framework for a Request for Information (RFI) and/or Request for Proposal (RFP) process regarding the future of the properties at 2287 and 2291 Highway 12 and report back to Council. 
• Council approved the Municipal Support Resolution Protocol for Renewable Energy Proposals, as presented in Report BP-07-26, with the addition of a requirement to increase circulation for Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) projects to 1,500 metres from the property line. Council also directed that the applicable Fees and Charges By-law be updated to reflect the increased costs associated with the expanded circulation requirement.
• Council received the report regarding the County of Simcoe’s approval of the Township of Ramara’s Official Plan 2025 as information.
• Council received the report regarding the application by NRK Holdings Inc. for a licence under the Aggregate Resources Act for the proposed Kingfisher North Quarry Extension. Council directed that comments be provided stating the proposed licence is premature as the required Official Plan Amendment and Zoning By-law Amendment applications remain under technical review and the current Rural designation does not permit aggregate extraction.
• Council’s comments also included requirements outlined in the staff report related to buffers, berm setbacks, fencing, groundwater protection, private well monitoring, noise, dust, blasting mitigation, haul route management, and emergency access.
• Additional comments from Council included:
  • A northbound merging ramp on County Road 169;
  • A southbound passing lane on County Road 169 to reduce impacts from turning trucks;
  • A northbound right-turn lane on County Road 169 for trucks exiting at Concession Road B-C;
  • Additional road improvements to assist trucks merging with southbound traffic from Concession Road B-C; and
  • The implementation of monitoring camera systems.
• Council authorized staff to submit the Council-endorsed comments to NRK Holdings Inc. and the Ministry of Natural Resources prior to the March 19, 2026, deadline.
• Council received the memorandum regarding the resignation of Janet Banfield from the Rooted in Ramara Committee and approved an amendment to the Committee’s Terms of Reference to temporarily reduce the required membership from nine members to three members in order to restore quorum and allow the Committee to continue meeting during the ongoing Boards and Committees Governance Review. Council further directed that nominations open for one additional committee member for a one-week period to help maintain quorum.

Bills and Bylaws

Council approved the following bylaws on March 9, 2026:

• Bill 2026.08 – A bylaw to adopt Amendment No. 29 to the Official Plan of the Township of Ramara (2003).
• Bill 2026.09 – A bylaw to amend Zoning By-law 2005.5, as amended, for the properties located at 1506 and 1646 Highway 12, and 2440 and 2530 Concession 1.
• Bill 2026.10 – A bylaw to appoint a Deputy Treasurer.
• Bill 2026.11 – A bylaw to amend By-law 2015.16 to appoint a Manager of Legislative Services/Municipal Clerk.
• Bill 2026.12 – A bylaw to amend By-law 2025.74, Fees and Charges for the Township of Ramara.
• Bill 2026.13 – A bylaw to authorize an agreement with Duivenvoorden Haulage Ltd. for the Treatment Plant 202 Tile Bed Project.
• Bylaw 2026.18 – A bylaw to confirm the proceedings of the Council meeting held on March 9, 2026.

Subscribe

Subscribe to receive email updates on Township of Ramara news and notices, media releases, Council highlights, Monthly Ramara Bulletin, community events, and beyond.

Subscribe now

For More Information

For more details on any of these items, you can read the full meeting agenda on the Township's Meeting Portal or watch the meeting on the Township of Ramara's YouTube channel.

The meeting highlights are prepared to give residents a timely update on decisions of Council. The Council meeting minutes are the official record of the meeting. Once adopted, the Council meeting minutes can be found on the Township of Ramara's Meeting Portal.