Township News
August/September 2024
Council Meeting Schedule
Regularly scheduled Meetings of Council for the months of August and September, 2024 will take place on the following dates:
Council Meetings:
Wednesday, August 14th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session
Wednesday, September 11th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session
Wednesday, September 25th – 3:00 p.m. Public Session
Development Services Committee Meetings:
Wednesday, August 7th – 5:30 p.m.
Wednesday, September 4th – 5:30 p.m.
All meeting times are subject to change and Special Meetings of Council may also be called on an as needed basis. For a complete schedule of 2024 Council meetings, please visit the Council Portal available through our website – bit.ly/3Gz6S1B.
Please Note: Township Council Chambers are open to the public. To ensure safety of the public, members of Council, and staff, room capacity limits are in place.
Virtual attendance is available, with Council meetings following a hybrid format and continued live-streaming. Members of the public are welcome to view Special Council and Development Services Committee Meetings via livestream on the Township’s YouTube channel.
Public Participation in Electronic Meetings
The Township of Oro-Medonte has amended its Procedural By-law to allow for electronic participation at Council meetings. Protocols have been established to advise how to participate in the public portions of these meetings. Please visit Council | Township of Oro-Medonte for more information, including how to participate in Open Forum or request a deputation/presentation.
Live Streaming
Township of Oro-Medonte Council meetings are live streamed. To view meetings live, visit bit.ly/44CAbLT and subscribe to the Township’s YouTube channel – Township of Oro-Medonte.
Summer Camp Programs and Registration – Limited Spots Available for August
Limited space is still available for the Township’s Summer Camp program for August. Program options include Ready, Set, Go Camp, and Pickleball, Basketball, and Multi-sport Camps. For complete details and to register your child, please see page 12 of the 2024 Spring/Summer Recreation Guide.
Slow Down For Us Digital Speed Reduction Campaign
The Township’s Traffic Safety Advisory Committee is proud to announce the launch of their #SlowDownForUs campaign in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police. The Township-wide crowd sourced awareness campaign is focused on speed reduction, through the use of a digital social media filter available on our Instagram profile. The #SlowDownForUs filter can be accessed and shared via social media posts and/or stories. To learn more about how to get involved, please visit Traffic Safety Advisory Committee – Speed Reduction Campaign (#slowdownforus) | Township of Oro-Medonte
Summer Construction Season
With the arrival of summer, construction projects throughout the Township are underway. Whether it’s a residential, commercial, or recreational project, for your safety, the safety of children, and construction crews, a reminder to please stay away from construction sites. On behalf of construction project teams, thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Partners for Climate Protection Program
The Township is a proud member of the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Partners for Climate Protection (PCP) Program. By joining PCP, the Township recognizes that one of the best ways to protect Oro-Medonte residents from the impacts of climate change is to reduce municipal greenhouse gas emissions. Please visit Climate Action Plan | Township of Oro-Medonte to learn more.
2024/2025 Township Parking Information
For information regarding Township of Oro-Medonte resident parking, non-resident parking, and Honk Mobile parking options, please see Parking | Township of Oro-Medonte. Please note 2024/2025 Township of Oro-Medonte resident parking permit stickers are available at the Township Administration Centre located at 148 Line 7 South.
Open Air Burning
An Open Air Burning Permit By-law (By-law No. 2019-046) has been established for the purpose of enabling and regulating open air fires throughout the Township. With the By-law in place, a Burn Permit is required for open air fires in Oro-Medonte. There is currently no cost to obtain an Open Air Burning Permit which is valid until December 31st of the calendar year it was obtained in. To obtain your Burn Permit, please visit Burn Permits – Township of Oro-Medonte. To learn more information, including a list of frequently asked questions, please visit Open Air Burning | Township of Oro-Medonte.
Fireworks Information
The Township of Oro-Medonte regulates the sale and discharge of fireworks. A permit is required to set off fireworks available for purchase at the Township Administration Centre located at 148 Line 7 South.
A permit is not required when setting consumer fireworks off on Victoria Day, Canada Day, New Year’s Eve, and New Year’s Day. Consumer fireworks being displayed on any day of the year shall only be set off between dusk and 11:00 p.m., except for New Year’s Eve where fireworks are permitted until 1:00 a.m.
If you have questions or concerns, please contact the Municipal Law Enforcement Division at 705-487-2171 or by e-mail at municipallaw@oro-medonte.ca.
Please Note: In addition to the required permit, individuals must hold a valid certificate issued by the Explosives Regulatory Division of Natural Resources Canada.
2024 Dog Tags
A friendly reminder that dog tags are required for all dogs owned by residents of the Township. For additional information and to purchase your tag(s), please see Dog Tag Licensing | Township of Oro-Medonte.
Watering Restrictions
Water is a valued resource. The Environmental Services department reminds all residents connected to municipal drinking water systems that using external water for lawn and garden irrigation is permitted as follows:
- EVEN numbered addresses on EVEN numbered days
- ODD numbered addresses on ODD numbered days
Water conservation is good for the environment, helps save money on your water bill, and can reduce energy costs in drinking water systems.
For more information regarding drinking water, please visit Drinking Water | Township of Oro-Medonte.
Outdoor Watering Tips
During the dry summer months, outdoor watering can account for up to 50% of home water use. Here are some tips to consider when outdoor watering:
- As a general rule, 2cm to 3cm of water per week is adequate.
- Use low-angle or pulsating sprinklers that produce large, fat droplets of water. Sprinklers that spray the water high into the air or produce a mist or fine spray lose much of the water through evaporation.
- Set sprinklers to water the lawn, not your driveway.
- Adding 5cm to 10cm of organic material, such as peat or compost, will increase the ability of the soil to retain moisture.
Summer/Fall 2024 Bill Due Dates
Water usage is billed quarterly with the next payment due date falling on the last business day of August. The second quarterly water bill payment is due Friday, August 30th.
Property taxes are calculated annually by applying Council’s approved tax rates to property assessment values as provided by the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation (MPAC). Tax rates include Township, County, and education taxes. Please note the Township Administration Centre is closed on Monday, September 30, 2024, in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Therefore, the fourth property tax installment for 2024, to be paid by all Township of Oro-Medonte property owners, is due no later than Friday, September 27th.
Additional Payment Option
The Township is pleased to offer an additional payment option by credit card, Interac e-transfer, in-person at a post office using cash or debit, and PayPal. This service is being offered through PaySimply.ca, a secure, third party Canadian payment provider. All fees are paid directly to PaySimply. Please note the Township does not retain any portion of the fee. You will be notified of the fee amount prior to your payment being processed. You will also receive an email confirmation of your transaction including fees paid.
For complete details regarding payment options for your property tax and water bills including the Township’s pre-authorized payment program, please visit How to Pay Your Tax & Water Bills | Township of Oro-Medonte or contact the Finance Department at 705-487-2171.
Sunday Gun Hunting Comes into Effect in Oro-Medonte on September 1, 2024
As a reminder, Sunday gun hunting does not come into effect in the township until September 1, 2024. To review a staff report considered by Council on March 27, 2024 regarding implementing Sunday gun hunting in Oro-Medonte, please see bit.ly/4aZ5H9y.
Township Social Media Channels
General Township information that might be of interest can be found by visiting and following the Township’s social media channels:
Twitter/X
Twp. of Oro-Medonte (@TwpOroMedonte) / Twitter
Upcoming Office Closures
The Township Administration Centre will be closed on Monday, August 5th for the Civic holiday, Monday, September 2nd for Labour Day, and Monday, September 30th in recognition of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Regular business hours will resume at 8:30 a.m. following each closure.
Please Support Local Business
Suggested ways of how you can help local businesses:
- When possible, buy local
- Look for local farm gate sales, buy from local producers
- Purchase from local businesses by visiting in person or shopping online
- Order local meals for takeout or delivery
- Share messages about local businesses through social media
- Share businesses social posts through your social media channels
- Write positive reviews of businesses you have visited
- Purchase gift certificates now that can be used later
Township of Oro-Medonte News
148 Line 7 South, Oro-Medonte, Ontario LOL 2E0
Phone: (705) 487-2171
Fax: (705) 487-0133
Email: info@oro-medonte.ca
Proud Heritage / Exciting Future
www.oro-medonte.ca
Township Remains Focused on Community Safety Including Efforts to Reduce Speeding Throughout Oro-Medonte
Members of Oro-Medonte Council and Township staff recognize the importance of providing a safe and healthy community for residents and visitors to enjoy. We understand concerns expressed by members of the Oro-Medonte community regarding speeding throughout the Township.
Taking a proactive approach, Oro-Medonte Council established a Traffic Safety Advisory Committee (TSAC), with the goal of raising community awareness, advising on traffic management issues and policies, and promotion of public awareness and education for road safety initiatives and programs. One of the committee’s primary objectives is to enhance community participation and on-going collaboration to improve traffic safety in the Township.
Recently, in partnership with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP), the TSAC launched a Township-wide crowd sourced “Slow Down For Us” awareness campaign, focused on speed reduction, through the use of a digital social media filter across Meta platforms (i.e. Instragram and Facebook.) The primary goal of the campaign is to change driver behaviour, through showcasing the impact of speeding on the community. Simply put, people in our respective communities can be part of the problem, but can also be part of the solution by the choices they make. The Township is asking for your assistance to be part of the solution. Please promote and participate in the campaign, and encourage your neighbours to do the same, by using the Slow Down For Us filter found on the Township’s Instagram profile; take a photo with a personal message or create a video, and share the filter on your own social media platforms, including Facebook, using hashtag #slowdownforus. Participants of the campaign have the option to submit photos or videos directly to the Township by visiting Traffic Safety Advisory Committee | Township of Oro-Medonte. Details regarding the campaign, including instructions on how to use the digital filter, and submit photos and videos can be found by visiting Traffic Safety Advisory Committee – Speed Reduction Campaign (#slowdownforus) | Township of Oro-Medonte.
In addition to the “Slow Down For Us” campaign, the Township has taken proactive steps to address speeding including:
- establishment of the Traffic Safety Advisory Committee;
- data collection to identify “hot spots” in the Township to assist OPP with targeted enforcement;
- line painting;
- development of a Community Safety Zone Policy; and
- review of speed limits and signage throughout the Township.
To review a Township of Oro-Medonte staff report discussing the Community Safety Zone Policy, please see bit.ly/3xZWGPA. Please see bit.ly/3SdsdEm to review the policy referenced in the staff report.
Reducing speed on Township roads is complex and not easy to resolve, requiring collaborative and cooperative participation. The Township, OPP, and residents all have a role to play regarding speed reduction.
The warm days of summer, longer daylight hours, and children out of school provide more opportunity for people to be out and about in the community. There are more people walking, running, and cycling on Township roads. Oro-Medonte offers several community parks, beaches, trails, and greenspaces, often utilized by families. To access these amenities, people are required to use Township roads with narrow shoulders, and in some circumstances cross roads, often with young children. It is extremely important that we be cognizant of speed while driving twelve (12) months of the year, but during this time of year, it is particularly important to be vigilant and slow down while driving. We are a farming and recreational community, with farming equipment and cyclists to share the road with. It literally takes seconds for an accident to occur, with the potential of devastating outcomes.
Collectively, we all have a part to play in reducing speeds on our roads. How we choose to drive does have an impact on our community. Please consider your own driving behaviours, and if you determine there are times when you drive with excessive speed, please slow down for your community, and encourage others to do the same.
If you see or encounter concerning driver behaviour including speeding, please report it to the OPP using the non-emergency telephone number at 1-888-310-1122. The OPP’s Provincial Communications Centres operate 24/7, answering emergency and non-emergency calls for service. Incidents may also be reported online by visiting Ontario Provincial Police – Online Reporting (opp.ca).
