Patrick Raftis

WELLINGTON COUNTY - Wages, benefits and expenses paid to the 16 members of Wellington County council totalled $928,962 in 2020, down about $50,788 from 2019.

WELLINGTON COUNTY – As the entire country rolled into lockdown mode to protect against an unprecedented new health threat in March of 2020, municipal politicians and staff in Wellington County had to consider action to protect all elements of the community.

CENTRE WELLINGTON – The County of Wellington has been designated as a regional fire training centre by the Ontario government. Fire training officer Charles Hamilton said the change won’t be drastic, as some training was already being offered on a county-wide basis.

MINTO – The cost of paying local politicians in Minto decreased by more than $17,000 last year. The report, an annual requirement under the Municipal Act, shows salary and expenses paid to members of Minto council between Dec. 1, 2019 and Nov. 30, 2020 totalled $148,770.

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Development of an action plan to help Wellington County businesses recover from COVID-19 pandemic impacts is moving ahead.

MINTO – The province is investigating reports that one of its inspectors visited at least one local business unmasked during an inspection blitz to check for compliance with COVID-19 pandemic-related orders.

MINTO – Seven local non-profit organizations have applied for a grant to cover the cost of an upgraded Zoom account to facilitate meetings.

MINTO – Plans for recreation programming remain flexible here, as the region readjusts to the provincial COVID-19 framework following the lifting of a province-wide stay-at-home order on Feb. 12.

MINTO – A public meeting was held on March 2 on proposed amendments to the Town of Minto’s development charges bylaw.

MINTO – A report on a proposed bylaw to allow use of off-road vehicles (ORVs) on municipal roads is expected to be on the agenda for the April 6 town council meeting.

WELLINGTON COUNTY - Local municipalities will receive nearly $2.5 million from a new pool of provincial funding to assist with additional operating costs related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The new financial relief will help ensure the delivery of critical services and keep capital projects on track,

PALMERSTON - A tender for the replacement of the Brunswick Street bridge here has been awarded to Roubos Farm Service Ltd.

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington (CSGW) successfully transitioned operations online and continued solving and preventing crime across the region during the difficult year just past.

MAPLETON – Mayor Gregg Davidson says further discussion among Wellington County municipal leaders is needed before the local state of emergency can be lifted.

MAPLETON - Council has amended the township’s parking bylaw to restrict parking to one side of the road on both High Street and Smith Drive in Drayton in order to enhance pedestrian safety in the area.