The cost of supplying benefits to Wellington County employees will rise by seven per cent as of May 1.
At its Feb. 25 meeting, Wellington County council approved a administration, finance and human resources committee recommendation to renew the employee benefit policy with Sun Life Financial, including an increase in premium costs, resulting in an overall increase of 7% or approximately $216,400 annually.
A report from Wellington County human resources director Andrea Lawson points out the policy was transferred to Sun Life on Jan. 1, 2015, resulting in annual savings of approximately 11% or $ 354,816 compared to the previous carrier.
Library grand opening
Wellington County council received a report from property and construction manager Kevin Mulholland on Feb. 25 advising Palmerston library branch renovations are now complete.
The grand opening of the building, which has undergone a $2.75-million renovation, is set for March 11 at 11am. During renovations, library services in Palmerston were provided through a temporary location on Main Street.
Archives busy
The Wellington County Archives acquired 170 items in 2015, including over $36,000 worth of art.
“We were also very fortunate to receive archival material from the Stephen Thorning estate,” states a report from museum and archives administrator Janice Hindley to the county’s information heritage and seniors committee.
The report also notes 5,344 people made use of archives’ services either in person, over the phone or through internet.
Archives projects for 2016 include:
– digitization of the Wellington Advertiser Project; and
– Digital Remembrance Project which involves creating an online Remembrance page with photographs and documents about Wellington County’s fallen in the First World War.
The digital project ties in with the Remembrance exhibit on the front lawn each November.
Bridge downloaded
Wellington County is downloading a bridge to two local municipalities.
The bridge, located on the Eramosa-Erin Townline south of Wellington Road 124, was built in 1915 and is one of the bridges known as a “county bridge on a local road.”
In February 2010 county council passed a resolution to rebuild or close, if deemed appropriate, county bridges on local roads on a priority basis, with responsibility for the bridges to be returned to the local municipality after a rebuild.
In 2013 the bridge on the Erin/Guelph-Eramosa boundary was rebuilt and the warranty period is now complete, notes a report from county engineer Gord Ough.
A bylaw to transfer ownership jointly to Erin and Guelph-Eramosa was approved by county council on Feb. 25.
Talent attraction
Dr. Tom Lusis joined Wellington County’s economic development department on Feb. 16 to manage a talent attraction initiative.
“Tom is a young professional and brings significant knowledge and experience in working with newcomers, particularly students while previously with the University of Guelph,” noted economic development officer Jana Burns in a report presented at the Feb. 25 county council meeting.
She added, “Tom will be responsible for connecting employers with newcomers, attending two Newcomers Toronto fairs, profiling success stories and organizing the Live and Work in Wellington bus tours.”
