Notes from the regular Council meeting, which was held on Wednesday, October 15, 2025.
Township to reinstate drop-in centre programming
Trevor Baer, the Township’s Manager of Community Services, provided the following updates in regards to adult and youth drop-in centre programming
Baer explained that the department was seeking council direction to move forward with restarting drop-in centre programing, noting its been offered successfully in the past with strong turnout from the community and support from local community groups.
According to his report, the adult drop-in centres provide opportunities for social, recreational and educational gatherings in accessible locations, and the youth drop-in centres will offer safe, supervised spaces for youngsters to engage in sports, activities and community building.
“This initiative will be Township-driven but supported by partnerships with community groups and volunteers,” said Baer. “Funding for these programs can be accommodated within the existing departmental operating budget, and staff will report back to Council once outreach to partners and facility providers has been completed.”
The manager of community services also added the adult drop-in centres could operate out of the previous locations they’ve used before such as the Princeton Centennial Hall, Plattsville Arena Hall and the Maple Grove seniors building in Drumbo. As for the youth drop-in centres, staff plan to reach out to local schools to request the use of gyms.
Councillor Tina Young said she was excited to see the report come forward and looked forward to what it could do for the community.
“We’ve had a lot of change in our community members over the last five years and so I think it’s a really good opportunity,” she said. “Even in the summer, people who were new to the community were coming out to events and expressing that they didn’t know how to kind of get engaged. I think if you haven’t lived here forever, it’s hard to sometimes make those connections.”
Council later directed staff to move forward with restarting various drop-in centre programming.
Lions Club denied naming rights for pavilion
Councillors ultimately voted against a request from the Plattsville and District Lion Club for naming rights to the Plattsville Pavilion.
At the September 17 Council meeting, Club president Terry McDougall proposed and requested that the Lions enter into a naming agreement with the Township, stating that the group would be happy to pay for signage and to have a section of the pavilion painted blue and gold to match the club’s colours.
“We would also provide a few more benches, one specifically in memoriam of Gwen Parker, a long-standing lion and member in our community,” he said. “We are also in support of discussing further ways we might support the pavilion, whether through small financial contributions, future maintenance assistance, or community programming. We are flexible and want this to work for everybody involved.”
During the most recent meeting, CAO Josh Brick said that while the request does fall within the scope of the Township’s Asset Naming Policy, staff have noted that it doesn’t align with the Township’s customary practice of granting naming rights, and recommend declining the request.
“The construction of the Plattsville Pavilion was not initiated or funded by the Plattsville District Lions Club,” said Brick. “While this request falls within the scope of general provisions set out within the Asset Naming Policy (it is a legitimate request within the approved Policy), it is not in line with customary/historic practices for naming of amenities/ capital facilities.”
As stated in the CAO’s report, Township amenities and capital facilities that have been named after service clubs or similar organizations, were all a result of fundraising efforts by said group.
For example, the Friends of Princeton Park Sports Pad/ Open Space Park was given naming rights after raising $40,000 of the $80,000 for the park’s concrete sports pad. The Drumbo Lions Club was given naming rights for the Drumbo Park pavilion after funding the entirety of the approximate $80,000 cost, and secured naming rights for the Drumbo Park splash pad after contributing $117,000 to the project.
Staff Reports
Building Department
The report, prepared by Ray Belanger, Chief Building Official, provided the following update in regards to the activities of the Township’s Building Department.
In September, the building department issued a total of 14 building permits, totaling to a construction value of $659,500.
Protective Services Department
- Apparatus Delivery
The report, prepared by Drew Davidson, Director of Protective Services, provided the following update in regards to the delivery of fire apparatus for two local stations.
Township Council previously approved the purchase of a tanker for Drumbo Fire Station #82, and an aerial truck for Plattsville Fire Station #83 from E-One.
While the tanker was initially slated for delivery in fall 2026, and the aerial in fall 2027, Davidson explained that the manufacturer has since made production improvements and revised the timelines.
Station #83’s aerial truck is now expected to be “inspection-ready” at the E-One plant in October 2026, and Station #82’s tanker is expected to be “inspection-ready” by April 2027. Final delivery of both apparatus is expected to happen around six to eight weeks later.
According to the report, “inspection-ready” refers to the point when the apparatus is completed at the factory and prepared for final inspection.
“Following inspection, Pre-Delivery Inspection (PDI) and final delivery typically occur six to eight weeks later,” said Davidson. “These dates are considered firm as E-One has indicated their 2026 and 2027 production schedules are now closed. However, delivery timing may still fluctuate by approximately 30-plus days.”
- Monthly Report for September
Davidson told Council that the Blandford-Blenheim Fire Department spent the month of September focusing on community engagement, operational coordination and regulatory compliance.
For example, staff and firefighters participated in Canada’s Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock. The event attracted over 35,000 attendees, providing the department with an opportunity to engage with the public and promote fire safety education.
The department also completed several key maintenance activities including: National Fire Protection Association-compliant PPE cleaning, and hydrostatic testing of 40 Self-Contained Breathing Apparatus (SCBA) air cylinders.
“Cylinders were successfully tested and returned to service, ensuring continued compliance with safety and regulatory standards,” said Davidson.
The department will also be hosting a firefighter recognition night on Thursday, November 1.
Public Works Department
The report, prepared by Jim Borton, Director of Public Works, provided the following update in regards to a franchise agreement between Enbridge, Sedum Master and the Township.
Borton told councillors that the Ontario Energy Board has officially approved Sedum Master’s request to install a station and gas lines along Township Road 2 to supply natural gas to its greenhouses on Gobles Road.
“As this station will be constructed on Township Right of Way, Enbridge, Sedum Master and the Township will enter into a Municipal Franchise agreement,” said Borton.
The station will be 9 feet by 30 feet in size, located on the northeast side of Township Road 2 and the east side of Oxford Road 22, and protected by concrete bollards.
Borton added that during the consultation period, a nearby homeowner expressed concerns about the close proximity of the station to their property, and that in order to rectify the situation, the location was moved further east.
“They [homeowners] have reviewed the plans and are in favour of it,” he said.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
