The latest Municipal stories from Lindsay and the City of Kawartha Lakes.
Despite considerable pushback from numerous short-term rental owners, Kawartha Lakes council has decided to take another step forward with its plan to license and inspect the 600-800 short-term rentals (STRs) in the city.
The city and local police force believe things are improving at 68 Lindsay Street North (LSN) after a slew of policy changes were made in the past year.
Leanne Mitchell, supervisor of cost accounting, presented what council had spent on renumeration and expenses at the last council meeting, comparing overall costs to fund council in 2021 to those costs in 2022.
Ian Forster and Jennifer Wilson of the Coboconk, Norland and Area Chamber of Commerce provided an update on the $16 million Summit Wellness Centre to be built on the Legion Park site in Coboconk at the latest city council meeting.
Staff believes there are as many as 800 STRs operating across the city charging an average of $310 a day based on their online searches of over 100 different booking websites. File photo.
Raymonde Blais-Couture has had enough -- she wants her road plowed.
In the ever-changing world of heritage legislation, Emily Turner, from the Kawartha Lakes economic planning department, sees regular communication with council and residents of the city who have questions about the topic as one of her key duties.
Emily Turner, economic development officer responsible for heritage, reported to council recently the achievements of the first year of the city’s ambitious plan to create an inventory of all property in the city that has historical significance or value.
As part of the 2023 budgeting process, Barb Doyle, president of the Kawartha Lakes Museum and Archives (KLMA), said the museum desperately needs more staff and wants council to fund it.
City treasurer Carolyn Daynes said the spending priorities for the city have really not changed in the last five years.
During the municipal election campaign last October, a number of councillors promised evening meetings, hoping to increase citizen participation.
During last fall’s municipal election two issues dominated the campaign: roads and short-term rentals (STRs).
The City of Kawartha Lakes took part in the inaugural meeting of the Eastern Ontario Wardens’ Caucus (EOWC) on January 12 to 13, 2023 with Mayor Doug Elmslie and CAO Ron Taylor attending.
At the last committee of the whole meeting, Mayor Doug Elmslie took time out from the regular agenda to recognize the efforts made by the public works department in reacting to the Christmas snow storm and ensuring roads were safely cleared as soon as it was feasible.
If approved by city council in the upcoming 2023 budget, Kawartha Lakes municipal law enforcement and licensing enforcement officers could soon be equipped with body cameras.
Ontario’s 2022 municipal elections saw astoundingly poor turnouts in most centres.
As rural areas in Kawartha Lakes continue to dig out from last weekend’s winter storm, public patience with the pace of the clean-up by the city and private contractors appears to be wearing thin.
At the December regular council meeting, Kawartha Lakes senior staff presented a prioritized listing of capital projects for consideration and debate -- including $26 million in road repairs and upgrades.
While the town of Lindsay has been spared the worst from a punishing winter storm that began on Friday, some communities in Ward One and War Six received over two feet of snow.
City treasurer Carolyn Daynes provided the incoming council what she called “a high-level overview” of the proposed 2023 city budget.
At a meeting on Dec. 19, six of Kirkfield’s 17 volunteer firefighters announced they are resigning from the force. Five of the six will resign effective Jan. 1, 2023
Few residents in Ontario spend as much time talking about the cost and quality of their water as do those of Kawartha Lakes.
Every year, Kawartha Lakes council is responsible for purchasing millions of dollars’ worth of capital and consumable goods from businesses across Ontario.
Five local organizations discovered on Dec. 13 they will be the beneficiaries of funding from the Lindsay Legacy C.H.E.S.T. Fund for 2023.
