Municipal achievements in 2024

1. Budget 2025 under inflation

Our new budget, drawn up by the administration, was unanimously adopted by the Council for the year 2025. It succeeds in presenting a tax rate increase below the rate of inflation. Rates have even decreased in the mountain sector, and increased by only 1.19% in the village sector and 1.39% in not-serviced sectors. By way of comparison, our budget of $16,148,677 this year is more than $6,000,000 less than that of Brome Lake, a municipality very similar to Sutton. What we accomplish with a comparatively smaller budget is a testament to the high productivity of our employees.

2. 1,000,000 agreement with the Nature Conservancy of Canada (NCC)

We finalized the agreement with CNC to sell them mountain land that will be preserved in perpetuity. In exchange, we received $1,000,000 and will create a reserve dedicated to the renovation of our cultural, community and recreational buildings. This reserve will enable us to make a downpayment to raise financing without having to increase municipal debt or make a special request of taxpayers.

3. Major public works projects: Western Street, Vallée-Missisquoi and Réal Roads

The Public Works and Fixed Assets Department has completed work for which they are to be congratulated! We have been waiting for years on Western Street has finally been done, and done very well. We would like to thank the residents for their patience and support! This was a major project: replacement of sewer and aqueduct pipes and repair of the roadway, sidewalks and parking lots. The project stayed within budget and was completed on schedule.
The replacement of the Vallée-Missisquoi Road culvert was perfectly executed, in addition to introducing a wildlife crossing, corresponding to the council’s desire to protect the region’s ecological connectivity and biodiversity. This is a pilot project that should be continued!
Replacing the Réal Road culvert was also quite a job! We had to dig 15 m deep, and the machinery was impressive. The result is very satisfying. The animals can now also pass through the central opening.
Alongside these major projects, the Public Works Department carried out beneficial resurfacing work on the post office parking lot and on several streets. The team’s performance was exceptional this year!

4. Stops at the intersection of Maple and Principale Sud Streets

The addition of stops at the intersection of Maple and Principale Sud Streets had been requested of the Ministry of Transport for some fifteen years. We finally got our wish, as part of the future reconstruction of Principale and Maple Streets. Since these stops were installed, we have seen a marked improvement in traffic flow at peak times for skiers coming down from the mountain. It is now easy to turn towards Abercorn, whereas before it was almost impossible.

5. Limocar bus service Sutton-Cowansville-Bromont

Following requests from citizens and our many representations to the Brome-Missisquoi MRC and to the MNA for Brome-Missisquoi and Minister responsible for Sport, Recreation and Outdoors, Isabelle Charest, local and inter-regional transportation service has been reinstated. Sutton is the municipality that uses the service the most, at 80%, and we want to make sure that the service is sustainable, because we need to have a bus service. The population is invited to use this service, which is available on demand at limocar.ca/brome-missisquoi or via the LINK application.

6. Social housing on Principale Sud St. and Architectural Guide

After years of waiting, 18 social housing units were inaugurated on rue Principale Sud Street. They are now organized as a cooperative and have been occupied since July 1. It’s a great success!
We have produced an Architectural Guide which gives developers and first-time homebuyers the opportunity to draw inspiration from our local architecture. This year, we accepted new housing projects, such as the one on Dyer Rd. and at 123 Principale Sud St., after agreeing with the developers that they would follow the guidelines set out in the guide. The Architectural Guide is available on our website, along with other urban planning guides.

7. Consulting engineering for water in mountain sector

In 2023, we defined options in 2 phases to supply water to the mountain sector from the water table in the village. This year, we awarded the necessary engineering contracts to secure financing, as this project would cost between $10 and $20 million and more: without a government contribution, it would be impossible to carry out. We continue to make progress on this project.

8. Basketball court, Family and Seniors Policy and Cultural Policy

We have completed and inaugurated our new basketball court. It is one of the most beautiful in the region, with an exceptional view of the mountains.
We worked on the action plan for the Family and Seniors Policy (FSP): we installed benches on Western Street in particular, and in other places, to enable people to stop and admire the scenery and take a rest. One of the FSP’s objectives was also to update Non-Profit Organizations Recognition and Support Policy, which was completed in 2024. Several other actions are underway.
We have also adopted the Cultural Policy in December.
And, on the strength of our conclusive experience in 2023, we will be relaunching the participatory budget in 2025.

9. FAQDD trail phase 2 and $400,000 grant

The trail project led by the Corporation de développement économique de Sutton (CDES) and financed by the Fonds d’action québécois pour le développement durable (FAQDD) is now in phase 2. In phase 1, we obtained $250,000 to work on the development of a socially acceptable trail. We had great citizen participation. We developed several trail projects. We are now in the process of choosing the route of the trail to be built this year, thanks to the $400,000 grant obtained in phase 2. The deadline is very tight, as we absolutely must complete the project this year, before the end of September.

10. Hydro-Québec: advanced deadline

With the 4-5 day blackouts we have experienced every year, we have a power supply problem. Hydro-Québec realized it had to act quickly. Normally, the new line and substation were to be built in 2032, but thanks to our representations, the project has been brought forward by 4 years to 2028, something of which the mayor is particularly proud.
Spring and summer, Hydro-Québec also carried out systematic pruning, particularly in the mountains, to reduce the number of power failures caused mainly by branches falling on the wires.

Ambitious plans for 2025!

During his presentation, the mayor congratulated the administration, in particular General Manager Pascal Smith, Assistant General Manager Jonathan Fortin, as well as the other directors and all employees, for the excellent work accomplished in 2024. The year 2025 will see equally ambitious and structuring projects for the municipality.

Citizens’ meetings
In the interests of keeping the population well informed, two citizens’ meetings will be held by the mayor in the very near future: on Wednesday, February 19 at 7 p.m. in French, and on Thursday, February 20 at 7 p.m. in English. These meetings will provide an opportunity for the mayor to present in person an overview of the Town’s achievements and upcoming projects. More information to come.

Listen to the January 15,2025 session and the mayor’s presentation of the 2024 review (at 2:29)