Sunday, January 29, 2012

Sunday January 29, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen

While many of us are still trying to decide if it is winter or not, the days are getting noticeably longer. Its going to be touch and go with all our upcoming winter festivals. However the Town’s snow-plowing budget is happy.

A public meeting will be held Monday January 30th by the Town Community Services department to discuss the Birchwood Trail extension. (This is the trail between the Birchwood and Tiffin sub-divisions). The meeting is at at the NSSRC.

Then on Tuesday January 31st, Garfield Dunlop MPP is holding his budget consultation starting at  at the Brooklea Golf Club. Your chance for input on the provincial budget discussion.

Wednesday February 1st is a busy day. We will host our first Healthcare Summit at the Town.  This special meeting brings together the leaders in our area’s healthcare industry to develop ideas to expand our local healthcare economy.  While the meeting itself is not public, the ideas developed will be brought forward through the Town’s Economic Action Initiative.

At on Wednesday at the Town is the Planning and Development Committee.  A short but informative agenda including:
-          an update on Midland’s activities to bring new jobs to our Town
-          an update on the imp[act of the recent provincial announcement regarding the Simcoe Area Growth Plan
-          a proposal to develop the properties at
164/174 Pillsbury Dr
-          a minor change of residential office zoning for the historical home at
382 King St
.
Please note, the recycling plant issue will not be brought forward as the concerned parties are still discussing a good resolution.

Friday - its Winterfest. Get the family together and come on down to Little Lake Park for our winter extravaganza. There are too many things to tell you about so please go to the Town’s website to plan your entire weekend.  Please visit

Some of the events that I plan to attend are:
-          the “puddle-jump” competition at Little Lake Park at 11:00 am on Saturday
-          the CLH fundraiser, featuring Amy Sky, at the Best Western starting at on Saturday
-          on Sunday, the MARC Spelling Bee starting at 9:00 am


Gord McKay
                                                                                              

Sunday, January 22, 2012

Sunday January 22, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen

The snowmobiles are out enjoying the street (they seem to go faster every year), Midland’s Winterfest is all set for February 3rd thru 5th, Midland will be a co-host for the Ontario Winter Games in March.   Time to celebrate winter.

This past Thursday, Minister Bob Chiarelli, Ministry of Infrastructure provided clarity on the government’s growth targets and process for Simcoe County, including Midland. Generally we got what we wanted.  Our target population for 2031 was left at 22,500; we were given relative autonomy in deciding where development could occur; and we kept our designation as a Primary Settlement Area (aka Urban Growth Node).  Maybe we should have asked for more?

                                                                         *****
Monday January 23rd, a closed meeting will take place at at the Town to discuss land disposition, labour relations and committee appointments.  At is the public Council meeting. While not a long agenda it includes:
-          three deputations, including one about the Severn Sound Sustainability Plan
-          our 2012 budget
-          a discussion of the e-mail matter, recently reported in the media
Two items that were expected but not shown on the published agenda are a motion to proceed with our Council Code of Conduct and a mention that the Provincial Ombudsman’s office has been invited in to review our closed meetings.

On Thursday January 26th at , Bruce Stanton MP, invites you to come to the Best Western to advise him on the federal government’s budget.  Later that day, the mayors and staff of the four North Simcoe municipalities will be meeting to advance our common economic plans. The meeting will likely discuss a new economic development website and area promotion.


Gord McKay
                                                                                              


Saturday, January 14, 2012

Saturday January 14, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen

Winter has arrived.  And all those good citizens who were betting that winter was not coming this year had better start digging that heavy parka out of the closet. Time to face reality.

Sunday January 15th starts with a good old fashioned Levee. Garfield Dunlop is your host from to at the Midland Legion, Always a good friendly event.

Monday starts off with a special event for me. I will be attending the 100th birthday party for a young lady at Hillcrest. This is one of the best parts of being the Mayor for Midland.

On Tuesday January 17th at , Georgian College is holding its second local Thought Leadership event. The focus this year is on entrepreneurship, a vital skill for the modern economy. These events bring together key individuals from across North Simcoe to discuss our future, especially the role of our own community college.

Wednesday January 18th has two items of note:
-          Police Services Board meeting at the Police headquarters starting at
-          At I will be live on Rogers TV to discuss Town issues – and there are many

On Thursday January 19th, municipal leaders from across Simcoe County will gather at the Nottawasaga Inn to hear our Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing inform us about her decisions on where the growth will occur in Simcoe County. This is hopefully the culmination of a Provincial planning review that has impacted Simcoe County for three years. Look for further reaction to this briefing in the days ahead.

And onto the weekend:
-          Saturday from to is the Alzheimer Society skate/walk fundraiser at NSSRC. Pledge forms are available at Shoppers Drug in Midland
-          Saturday at , come down to the Midland Legion for a celebration of Robbie Burns. The Scots will be enjoying a fine dinner, story telling and some lively Scottish music. Tickets required.

Gord McKay
                                                                                              




Saturday January 14, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen

Winter has arrived.  And all those good citizens who were betting that winter was not coming this year had better start digging that heavy parka out of the closet. Time to face reality.

Sunday January 15th starts with a good old fashioned Levee. Garfield Dunlop is your host from to at the Midland Legion, Always a good friendly event.

Monday starts off with a special event for me. I will be attending the 100th birthday party for a young lady at Hillcrest. This is one of the best parts of being the Mayor for Midland.

On Tuesday January 17th at , Georgian College is holding its second local Thought Leadership event. The focus this year is on entrepreneurship, a vital skill for the modern economy. These events bring together key individuals from across North Simcoe to discuss our future, especially the role of our own community college.

Wednesday January 18th has two items of note:
-          Police Services Board meeting at the Police headquarters starting at
-          At I will be live on Rogers TV to discuss Town issues – and there are many

On Thursday January 19th, municipal leaders from across Simcoe County will gather at the Nottawasaga Inn to hear our Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing inform us about her decisions on where the growth will occur in Simcoe County. This is hopefully the culmination of a Provincial planning review that has impacted Simcoe County for three years. Look for further reaction to this briefing in the days ahead.

And onto the weekend:
-          Saturday from to is the Alzheimer Society skate/walk fundraiser at NSSRC. Pledge forms are available at Shoppers Drug in Midland
-          Saturday at , come down to the Midland Legion for a celebration of Robbie Burns. The Scots will be enjoying a fine dinner, story telling and some lively Scottish music. Tickets required.

Gord McKay
                                                                                              




Sunday, January 8, 2012

Sunday January 8, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen

With Midland Bay finally frozen, winter can now get underway. For those who travel on the bay please check the Town website regularly for ice-breaking bulletins. Those big ships leave a lot of open water behind them.

Monday January 9th sees the General Committee meeting starting at at Town Hall.  A short but interesting agenda including:
-          a presentation by MPAC about how they come up with your property assessment. Please note, your property will be reassessed as of January 1, 2012 with the change in valuation being phased in over the next four years
-          information about Midland possibly bidding to host the Ontario 55+ Summer Games in 2014
-          updates on Midland gaining ownership of its Town dock this year plus progress on our solar project situated on the roof of the NSSRC

On Wednesday January 11th at , a planning related in-camera meeting will take place.  Then at in the Town Hall is the Planning and Development Committee.  (Note: As of the time of posting the PDC agenda was not available on the Town website. Please look for it later in the week at  http://midland.ca/meeting-schedule/index.htm. ) The agenda includes:
-          a report on the Midland Tower development at 303 Midland
-          a proposal to name/rename many of the laneways in the central area of Midland
-          a proposal to bring a number of “stranded residential lots” into plan compliance through the use of a planning tool called  “deeming”. (Sorry about being so unclear.  Please refer to the report on the website above for more information)

On Thursday the venue swings to Midhurst for the County Performance Management Committee.  We will discuss the County maintaining its AA credit rating and the use of e-books in the County, among other things.

And if you have time on Friday January 13th at , please stop be the Town Hall as we raise the  Crimestoppers flag, recognizing our support of this important community program.


Gord McKay
                                                                                              

Sunday, January 1, 2012

Sunday January 1, 2012

Ladies and Gentlemen

Happy New Year.  While its traditional to start out the New Year with a resolution, I will try something a bit edgier - a prediction for 2012. It will be a great year for Midland – the new Cultural Centre will open; the ER addition for our hospital is likely to start; we will have a short winter. And I don’t see the Leafs winning the Stanley Cup.

The Town is back to business on Monday but there are not a lot of meetings on this week’s calendar. Looking ahead:
  • the 2012 budget will be presented at the January Council meeting for approval
  • the Town will start its economic development program with a series of “summits” focused on key business sectors. If you want to review the background to these meetings, you can find information about our Economic Action Initiative strategy at
  • The proposed recycling plant is being intensively discussed. In order to give the Jesuit Fathers and Recycling Industries Inc. enough time to work out a good solution, the “site plan” review will now not take place until February. The Town is doing its part to help resolve this situation.

More next week.


Gord McKay