Sunday, March 30, 2008

Sunday March 30, 2008

Winter is hanging tough but the signs of spring are out there. Keep the faith.

And what a way to start. The Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal has just notified the Town that we will be receiving a grant of $3.5 million towards our library expansion. Bill Molesworth, our Chief Librarian, is to be congratulated for leading this effort. If everything turns out well work may start this year.

The North Simcoe Community Futures Development Corporation is set to start its “business retention and expansion” survey next month. The survey will contact 100 or more businesses in North Simcoe to determine how our economy is changing. Survey work should wrap up by the summer with results reported in the fall.

I hope you all participated in Earth Hour, on the 29th. Once the lights are out you really have to rethink your evening priorities. The Town has kept track of our energy consumption during Earth Hour and should give us an indication as to whether we in Midland are making a difference. I will let you know as soon as I get the information.

And finally, the Planning Advisory Committee meets this Wednesday the 5th at 7 pm. (“You May Speak”). A busy agenda including:
- The future of the Drummond stone wall on Fuller Avenue. This wall is part of Midland’s heritage and could be lost to development. If you are interested in heritage this would be a good one to attend.
- The sidewalk easement to the Tiffin waterfront walkway near the new condominium towers will be discussed. The intention is to move the Town’s easement rights from the North side to the South side, nearer the parking.
- The proposed site plan application for the Sayward apartment building at 742 Birchwood Drive will be addressed.


Gord McKay

Saturday, March 22, 2008

Saturday March 22, 2008

Like all Canadian authors I have to open with a comment about our weather.

This winter has been miserable for street clearing and seeing cars as you back out of driveways. Thank heavens for our excellent Public Works department. One of the more challenging streets has been Fredrick Street that was dug up for sewers last fall. The good citizens of Fredrick have had to cope with no sidewalks, no road and a pot-hole situation that defies description. And you thought you had problems.

Our Council meeting is this Tuesday March 25th at 7:00 pm. It will be a historic meeting in that it is the final Council meeting for our Town Clerk Heather Babcock before her retirement. Heather has been a rock of sound advice and due process, as well as being a lovely lady, and will be sorely missed at Council.

The Council meeting (“Deputation Only”) should be fairly brief. There are no deputations and few contentious items on the agenda. Council is looking for a representative to help the School Board plan the location of new schools. So if that is of interest, please get your name in to myself or to Heather Babcock.

The Pesticide Committee will meet on Monday March 31st at 7:00 pm at the Town. The major agenda item is to decide “Where do we go from here”.


Gord McKay

Sunday, March 9, 2008

Sunday March 9, 2008

And the snow just keeps getting deeper and deeper!

A quieter week in the Town – perhaps a lot of people have escaped down south.

This Monday March 10th at 7pm will see Council Committee meeting (“Written Comment”). No real barn-burners on the agenda but you never know.

The next Pesticide Committee meeting will be March 31st at 7pm. (“Written Comment”). The Chair hopes to come up with concluding recommendations at this meeting.

A couple of interesting parties shaping up this summer. The Party on the Dock (Jimmy Buffet fans) will look for approval from Council for its June 20th date and a new “bass tournament” is being considered by your Chamber of Commerce for this September.

Bryan Peter is getting Town summer activities into gear. Registration for spring and summer programs will take place at the NSSRC on March 27, 28 and 29. Bryan has also prepared a schedule of planned events for the summer. (Please see attached) More information is available on all these events by contacting the Town’s Community Services department


Gord McKay