Saturday, September 29, 2012

Saturday September 29, 2012


Ladies and Gentlemen

October comes to us with the radiant colors of autumn on the ascent.  These special days really showcase the beauty of our area. Now if I just didn’t have to cut the grass.
                        
Monday October 1st provides you an opportunity to help the community.  The Canadian Blood Services will hold its blood donor clinic from 1:30 pm to 7:30 pm at the Mountainview Mall. 

At 7:00 pm that evening, a special meeting of Council will take place at the NSSRC.  The purpose of this meeting is to receive the final report from KPMG who have spent the last three months conducting an operational review of our municipality. KPMG is expected to come forward with 60-80 “opportunities” that will identify how to run the Town’s business more efficiently and/or adjust our service levels to better align with real needs.

The findings from this report will go directly into our 2013 budget cycle. Town staff was directed last spring to prepare budget scenarios for 2013 showing year over year cost growth of 2%, 0% and -2%. Opportunities from the KPMG report will be selected by Council to meet those targets. The final 2013 budget should largely be in place by November.

On Tuesday October 2nd, the BIA Board will hold its AGM at 5:30 at the Midland Library. At 7:00 pm that evening at Town Hall is the third in our new “ward meeting” series, featuring Ward 2. While the first two of these meetings have been lightly attended, they have allowed for a very direct and informal exchange between citizens and Councilors. I expect that Council will continue these types of meetings in the months ahead.

Wednesday Oct 3rd is the PDC meeting at 7:00 pm at Town Hall.  It’s a long agenda including:
-       A special meeting for Public Input on the rezoning of 486 and 487 Forest Hill Ct.
-       A revised draft plan of sub-division for the “Hanson Lands” , the large property to the south of Little Lake
-       A flurry of site plans: a gazebo at the Javelin Coop; the new emergency entrance for our hospital; a redevelopment of the gas bar and store on Hwy 93 (the Harvey’s/Swiss Chalet plaza)
-       A status report on Council’s strategic direction as it affects Planning, including an update on our proposed business incubator.

On Thursday October 4th you should drop by the Museum at 7:00 pm for the opening of Dennis Milton’s art exhibition. Dennis is a well know local artist with a wide variety of interesting styles.



Gord McKay


Be part of Midland’s exciting Year of Having Fun - 2012.

                                                                                              


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