From the Council Chambers – February 25th County Council Meeting

The following list provides a high-level overview of the items discussed:

Supporting Communities: A Snapshot of St. Thomas Elgin Social Services
The Director of St. Thomas – Elgin Social Services, along with the Managers overseeing Ontario Works, Housing Stability Services, and Children’s Services provided County Council with an overview of their services.

Social Services is administered by the City of St. Thomas but is funded by the County of Elgin, City of St. Thomas, and the Province.

Collectively, these organizations provide support to residents of Elgin and St. Thomas, offering financial assistance for essential living costs, job connections, access to social housing, homelessness prevention, and licensed childcare services.

Critical Renovations Ahead for the County’s Administration Building
Elgin County Council has approved the recommended rehabilitation option for the County Administration Building.

The building, originally constructed in 1939, requires significant repairs due to aging materials, including cracked bricks and outdated windows and doors.

The approved plan involves overcladding the existing brick with Aluminum Composite Panels (ACP), replacing windows with energy-efficient Aluminum Double Glazed Windows, and upgrading doors with durable Hollow Metal Doors. The total estimated cost for this project is $5.003 million plus HST. This solution ensures long-term durability, energy efficiency, and sustainability.

Elgin County Council Approves the 2025 Budget in Principle
Elgin County Council has reviewed the 2025 Proposed Business Plan & Budget, along with the feedback submitted by residents during the most recent public engagement period. Following the presentation of this information, Council approved the 2025 Business Plan & Budget in principle.

At the next Council Meeting, scheduled for March 11th, the Budget By-Law will be presented for approval. If approved, the budget will be officially enacted, resulting in an annual County levy of $49.8 million and a tax rate increase of 1.49%. A copy of the 2025 Proposed Business Plan & Budget can be found here.

For all items discussed, please click here for the agenda.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗖𝗼𝘂𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗲𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴:
𝗗𝗮𝘁𝗲: March 11, 2025
𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲: 9:00 am