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City council notebook

Sarnia is looking into potentially stocking naloxone kits alongside defibrillators in public buildings.

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Getting Sarnia Narcan ready

Sarnia is looking into potentially stocking naloxone kits alongside defibrillators in public buildings.

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Staff are looking into what it will take to make the community Narcan – a brand name for naloxone – ready, following a motion by Coun. Terry Burrell.

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The idea came after attending the recent Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, Burrell said, where communities were encouraged to adopt policies and practices to make naloxone more readily available.

The drug that can help bring a person back from overdose inflicted by powerful opioid drugs such as fentanyl is already available via pharmacies, Lambton public health and other providers, noted Coun. Brian White.

“I think the community is doing a lot, but this is a great opportunity to do more,” he said.

Burrell suggested staff work with public health officials in drafting the report.

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Sarnia Mayor Mike Bradley also supported the move, noting an upcoming Sept. 21 Addiction and Mental Health Awareness Recovery Day and Open House featuring various agencies and services involved in addictions, as well as free naloxone kits.

That events runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Jobs task force proposed

Council referred a motion to ask Lambton County council to create a “jobs task force.”

The idea, inspired by a similar initiative in London, would see various employment and economic groups meet and work on ways to diversify the economy in a bid to stem the amount of young people leaving the community to find work.

How isn’t clear yet, Coun. Bill Dennis said, noting he hopes London will have some insight.

“We’ve got to do something,” he said. “The hemorrhaging has to stop.”

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Council’s goal is to get Sarnia’s population up to 100,000 to help foster more employment opportunities for Lambton College graduates and others, he said.

Lambton County council will need to vote on the matter, he said.

“You combine our expertise here with the county’s, and you know what, we can all work together,” he said.

Small surplus projected

Budgeting through June has the city projecting a $211,921 surplus for year end, 0.15 per cent of the city’s $145-million budget.

That projection is based on police budget and transit budget surpluses, and deficits in the general operating budget and sewer budget.

The fire department is forecasting overtime costs at $819,000 over budget, mostly due to long-term absences, injuries, legislative leave and sick time.

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Three over-complement full-time-equivalent positions approved last budget are keeping that sum from surging higher, fire Chief Brian Arnold said.

“We are pretty much on pace with past performance,” he said. “Not to say we are pleased with the cost to the taxpayer, but it is a necessary expense to keep service on a daily basis.”

Fire master plan contract awarded

Emergency Management & Training Inc. has the $60,795.50 contract to create a new Fire Rescue Service Master Plan.

The guiding document is to also include a review of the location for an estimated $1.9-million replacement Colborne Road fire station and is expected to be completed within a year, CAO Chris Carter said in July, noting it could come back to council in phases for approval.

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The city’s current fire master plan dates back to 2007.

Trail extension contract awarded

Cope Construction had the winning bid for the $278,000 project to connect the Howard Watson Nature Trail to Lambton College.

An Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling program grant is available to cover 80 per cent of the cost, with the remainder coming from the Bluewater Trails Committee, city officials said.

The asphalt trail will follow the Bissell-MacArthur drain south of London Road, with a pedestrian crosswalk with flashing lights set up where it crosses Finch Drive, officials said in August, noting hopes are construction begins in late September or early October.

Subdivision plans approved

Plans of subdivision for 22 semi-detached residential lots at Upper Canada Drive and 20 single-detached residential lots at Michigan Avenue and Modeland Road received approval.

The numbered company project for Upper Canada Drive also includes a block for future developments, and the Sifton Properties project at Michigan and Modeland also has blocks for open space, commercial, and townhouse developments.

tkula@postmedia.com

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