GUELPH/ERAMOSA – On May 3 Guelph/Eramosa council adopted a proposed amendment to the township’s boulevard maintenance and highway obstruction bylaw.
The bylaw sets the minimum standards for the maintenance of township boulevards and introduces standards and prohibitions for highway obstructions while also introducing a permit process for the alteration of boulevards and road occupancy permits.
Under section 19(1) of the bylaw, if an officer determines that an owner of a property has failed to maintain a boulevard that borders that property, the officer may issue an order requiring the owner to maintain the boulevard in accordance with the bylaw.
Individuals who fail to comply with an order made under section 19(1) will be guilty of an offence.
2020 audited financial statements
The township’s financial assets were valued at $16,128,784 in 2020, up roughly $1.6 million from 2019.
The township’s capital assets were valued at $93,668,322 which remained nearly the same as in 2019.
The township’s long-term liabilities are $4,297,541, down $1.9 million from 2019. The township’s 2021 debt payment will be $589,128.
The municipality’s 2020 reserve funds were at a value of $4,915,486, a minimal increase from 2019.
The 2020 reserves were at $1,532,474, down slightly from 2019.
The financial statement also addressed the material uncertainty due to the COVID-19 pandemic, recognizing the significant impact the pandemic had on the economy in 2020.
The statement noted that given the circumstances, the related financial impact cannot be reasonably estimated at this time, which may impact the timing and amounts on the township’s assets and future ability to deliver all services.
Bylaw to set tax rates for 2021
Council passed a bylaw to set tax rates for 2021 at the meeting.
Included under the bylaw are residential, multi-residential, commercial, industrial, pipeline, farm, managed forests, resident farm and commercial farm property classes.
The bylaw also requires rates to be established in the same proportion to tax ratios.
The imposed rates for all classes will be due and payable in two equal instalments: on Aug. 31 and Oct. 29.
All instalments not paid by due dates will be charged a penalty of 1.25 per cent each month by default, and 1.25 per cent on the first day of each succeeding month thereafter until Dec. 31.
The payments can be made in person at the township office, by mail at P.O. Box 700, Rockwood, Ontario, N0B 2K0, via internet and at most financial institutions.
