Dufferin council worked through a full slate of infrastructure, hiring and planning items over two summer meetings, supporting a Town of Carman annexation request and approving multiple utility and drainage projects.
At the July 15 meeting, with Deputy Reeve John Peckover chairing in the reeve’s absence, council approved $584,601.56 in accounts and green-lit a $19,145 MRX 920 V4 mobile meter-reading unit to modernize utility collections. Two rural waterline connections were approved (Rook; Bosma), and council accepted donations for the Roseisle Memorial Garden to replace rose bushes and purchase a “Grace” statue, with donors to be recognized.
Roads and drainage featured prominently: council approved Agassiz Seed Farm’s surface drainage plan (S½ 31-6-3W), and awarded a $5,223.55 quote to Pier Solutions to repair the Mackenzie Bridge on Road 35N. Subdivision applications from Kelvin Dyck (SE 28-6-7W) and Nathan/Natasha Mangin (NW 9-7-7W) were approved. Council also dealt with correspondence ranging from provincial operating grants and assessment reports to RCMP statistics and drought/water availability updates.
On Aug. 19, with Reeve Cor Lodder back at the table, council approved $789,702.30 in accounts and advanced several staffing decisions. Melissa Cruickshank was hired jointly with the Town of Carman as Fire-Safety Administrator and EMO co-ordinator (effective Sept. 2, 2025). A seasonal recreation employee was made full-time, and Jani-King was contracted to clean Memorial Hall at $2,715 per month through Dec. 31, 2026. The Greenwood Cemetery groundskeeping contract was extended to 2026.
Council supported the installation of a commemorative heritage marker at Road 33N and 30W, and applied for a $5,000 AMM infrastructure grant to improve the small picnic shelter in Kings Park. Additional waterline connections were approved (Reimer; Agassiz Seed Farm), and council authorized a ConX Wireless bulk water fill system at Stephenfield. Valley Fibre locates were cleared, and RCML’s fibre-optic extension agreement was approved to allow installation along municipal roads.
On the agriculture and drainage file, council approved tile drainage for 320 acres at W 8-7-5W (D Mack Farms; Sean McIntosh Farms) with an outlet via the lift station to the municipal ditch along Road 37N, and authorized McIntosh Ventures to install an irrigation line adjacent to Road 29. Council also approved relocating Aubin Nurseries’ irrigation line.
Council endorsed the Town of Carman’s annexation proposal for a 75.64-acre parcel (Lot 39 — Plan 1358, NW¼ 19-6-4W) and agreed to enter a tax-sharing agreement as part of the process. A covenant pledging 2026 municipal taxes as security for a $2.5-million line of credit was approved to meet current-year expenditures. Lease arrangements with Doyle’s Funeral Home were renewed for 2025.
The meetings also covered ongoing bridge updates (McEachern), provincial highway improvements, and drought/Stephenfield water supply reports, with several project items tabled for further information (sprayer upgrade; project work orders; quotes for ring road/Roseisle asphalt).
