Schreiber Council gets audit report.

The meeting began with a delegation from Grant Thornton regarding the 2023 Consolidated Financial Statements. Judy Klein presented the audit, confirming the municipality received a clean audit opinion. She clarified the differences between Public Sector Accounting Standards and municipal budgeting, noting that the audit provides reasonable assurance against material misstatements rather than checking every single transaction. A significant change this year was the adoption of new standards for Asset Retirement Obligations (ARO), which now require the municipality to account for future remediation costs related to asbestos in the sanitary network and gravel pit restoration. Following the presentation, Council passed resolutions to approve the financial statements and authorized transfers from allowance accounts and the year-end surplus into the infrastructure reserve. The Treasury Department presented a report regarding the status of property tax arrears as of December 31, 2025. The update highlighted a positive trend, noting a significant reduction in the total number of outstanding notices and the number of properties facing tax registration compared to figures reported in November. Despite this improvement, the Treasurer advised that accounts still eligible for registration would soon move forward for processing if payments or arrangements were not made. It was noted that while the total arrears balance had decreased since the previous update, the overall figures are slightly higher than typical, likely reflecting broader economic conditions. Additionally, the reported arrears include education taxes, which the municipality is required to remit to school boards regardless of whether the funds have been collected from taxpayers

A major policy discussion focused on transportation safety. Council passed a detailed resolution advocating for the implementation of a “2+1” highway design on Highways 11 and 17. The resolution argues that this model, which uses alternating passing lanes separated by barriers, offers safety benefits comparable to twinning but with lower environmental and land impacts. The Director of Operations reported on several facility challenges. The Municipal Complex roof continues to leak, necessitating shoveling to manage water ingress, and the gym is experiencing heating control issues. While the Medical Center recently received a new furnace, the Library’s furnace is failing and will need replacement. Council also discussed the municipal grader, which is currently undergoing repairs. Members agreed that while the repairs are necessary, the Township should begin investigating options to purchase a newer machine to avoid sinking resources into aging equipment. Additionally, a correction was made to the fees bylaw regarding bulk water sales, changing the billing unit from liters to cubic meters to ensure accurate pricing. The CAO requested increased support for physician recruitment, asking Council to double their annual contribution to support full-time recruitment efforts for the local clinics. Community updates highlighted the upcoming Winter Carnival, with plans for opening ceremonies, a poker walk, and various luncheons. The Senior Center reported a successful year with high membership and popular events like the turkey pot pie appreciation day. Finally, Council confirmed appointments for the Labor Relations and Finance Committees before moving into a closed session.