Manitouwadge meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Manitouwadge Council weighs gas station, budget, and vacant seat

Manitouwadge Council held three meetings over the past two weeks, addressing a proposed cardlock gas station, the 2026 budget and tax rates, and a vacant council seat. The minutes for all three meetings have not yet been published, so the outcomes of the votes are not known.

Cardlock gas station at 7 Sault Road

At a special meeting on August 13, Council was set to decide whether to approve site-specific Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments for 7 Sault Road (Plan M164 Lot 4) to permit a cardlock gas station. The property is currently designated and zoned Light Industrial, and gas stations are normally only allowed in Corridor Mixed Use areas. Council had two options: approve the amendments and forward the Official Plan Amendment to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval, or deny the amendments. The agenda included bylaws to amend Official Plan Bylaw 2022-41 and Zoning Bylaw 2022-42 for the property, as well as a confirmatory bylaw for the meeting.

2026 budget, tax rates, and donations

At a special meeting on August 20, Council was to consider the 2026 municipal operating and capital budgets, including two capital budget revisions, and vote on approving donations under Bylaw 2023-58. The proposed donations were $1,000 each to the Northern Trails Ski Club, the Manitouwadge Curling Club, and the Manitouwadge Volunteer Firefighters Association. The capital budget revisions included a Prospector Park Pavilion roof project totaling $125,000, with $93,750 from a NOHFC grant and $31,250 from the NWMO Community Well-Being Reserve, and airport hydro pole replacements costing $23,500 from the Airport Capital Replacement Reserve. Council was also to consider a bylaw to adopt 2026 tax rates, including penalty and interest for default, and a bylaw to adopt 2026 estimates for general purposes. Public consultation for the budgets was complete, with no members of the public registered for in-person feedback.

Vacant council seat and integrity report

At the regular meeting on August 12, Council was to discuss declaring one Councillor seat vacant and the method for filling it. The agenda also included an Integrity Commissioner inquiry report into allegations involving Councillor Ruff. Other items included a bylaw to appoint a Deputy Fire Chief, the Marathon Manitouwadge OPP Detachment Board Annual Report, and employee recognition for service milestones.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled for the next two weeks.

Manitouwadge council weighs budget, gas station, and integrity report

Manitouwadge council held three meetings in the past week, covering the proposed 2026 budget, a vacant council seat and an integrity commissioner report, and a site-specific zoning change for a cardlock gas station. All items were on the agenda; minutes have not yet been published, so no decisions are confirmed.

Budget review (Aug. 6 special council)

Council reviewed the proposed 2026 operating and capital budgets. The total levy is proposed at $4,090,700, a decrease of $1,961 (0.05%) from 2025, which would keep the tax rate unchanged. The budgets rely on $357,443 in reserve transfers to fund operations, down from $620,500 in 2025 — a 42% drop. Staff will seek public input for two weeks before bringing a final version to a special meeting in August 2026.

The agenda also included a 2025 capital variance report showing $2.57 million in actual capital costs against $11.83 million budgeted, and a 2025 operating budget surplus of $393,612.66 before reserve transfers.

Vacancy and integrity report (Aug. 12 regular council)

Council discussed declaring one councillor seat vacant and the method for filling it. The agenda also included an Integrity Commissioner inquiry report into allegations involving Councillor Ruff. Other items were a bylaw to appoint a Deputy Fire Chief, the Marathon Manitouwadge OPP Detachment Board Annual Report, and employee recognition for service milestones.

Cardlock gas station (Aug. 13 special council)

Council considered site-specific Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw amendments for 7 Sault Road (Plan M164 Lot 4) to permit a cardlock gas station. The property is currently designated and zoned Light Industrial; gas stations are normally only allowed in Corridor Mixed Use areas. Council could approve the amendments, which would be forwarded to the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing for approval, or deny them. The agenda included bylaws to amend Official Plan Bylaw 2022-41 and Zoning Bylaw 2022-42, plus a confirmatory bylaw for the meeting.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are scheduled in the next 14 days.