This summary is not a full representation of the meeting. For the official record, please refer to the minutes on the next Council Agenda. Past Council Meetings are available for viewing on the Township’s YouTube channel.   

Prior to the regular meeting of Council, a special meeting was held in accordance with the Township of Springwater’s Procedural By-law 2017-007.

Request for Zoning By-law Amendment - Compass Resort 1897 Nursery Road

Council held a public meeting, as required under Section 34 of the Planning Act, to review a Zoning By-law Amendment application for 18997 Nursery Road, formerly known as Splash Canyon Water Park and Campground. The application, submitted by L. Sandoval of Groundswell Planning Inc. on behalf of Ontario Inc., proposes redevelopment of the property into a seasonal recreational trailer campground with 199 park model trailer units.

2026 Municipal and School Board Election - Alternative Voting Methods

Council approved the use of both in-person electronic voting and remote internet voting for the 2026 Municipal and School Board Election, using a one-envelope system with ID verification. The contract was awarded to Voatz, Inc. in the amount of $72,580, excluding HST.

Award of Homer Barrett Park Accessible Washroom Facility

Council approved the contract for the Homer Barrett Park Accessible Washroom Facility and awarded to NIU Corporation for $545,000 excluding HST. A pre-built accessible washroom will be installed at Homer Barrett Park, along with an accessible trail linking it to the Homer Barrett Splash Pad. This project will maintain AODA accessibility standards and includes durable, low-maintenance features to support long-term efficiency.

2026 Year End Holiday Office Closure

The proposed holiday office closure schedule for the Township Administration Centre and Fire & Emergency Services Administration Office was approved.

Part Lot Control Exemption Huron Creek (Elmvale Village Developments Inc.) Elmvale Village – Block 86

Council approved the requested part lot control exemption for the Elmvale Village – Block 86 as part of the Elmvale Village Developments Inc.

Part Lot Control Exemption Extension Huron Creek (Elmvale Village Developments Inc.) Elmvale Village Phase 1C - Block 78

Council approved the extension of the part lot control exemption for Phase 1C of the Elmvale Village Phase as part of the Elmvale Village Developments Inc.

2026 Municipal and School Board Election - Joint Compliance Audit Committee

Council approved participation in a Joint Compliance Audit Committee led by the County of Simcoe to review any complaints about candidate or third-party election finances and help ensure a fair and transparent 2026 election.  

Use of Corporate Resources Policy for Election Campaign Purposes

Council approved the Use of Corporate Resources Policy for Election Campaign purposes, as outlined in Appendix A of the report. The policy sets the guidelines for how Township staff, facilities and resources can and cannot be used during the election.

Governance Review

Council approved moving forward with Phase 1 of a Governance Review, funded through the operating budget. MuniverseRO Consulting Inc. was hired to complete Phase 1 of the review.

Property Tax Due Dates and Interest Penalties

Council directed staff to review options to address property tax penalties caused by bank processing delays. Although taxes are due on the last business day of each month, some payments made on time were processed late by banks, which resulted in interest charges. Staff will report back to Council with options to help resolve this concern.

Fees and Charges By-law Amendment – Removal of the $15 Reprint Fee

Residents currently pay a $15 fee to request a printed copy of a tax bill, tax statement, utility bill, or utility statement. The Township will continue to encourage residents to sign up for paperless billing through MySpringwater. Council also approved removing the $15 reprint fee and directed staff to bring the updated by-law to the regular Council meeting on April 15, 2026.