Saturday, June 22, 2013

Saturday June 22, 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen

Summer!  Party on the Dock kicked off the season. And this morning we awoke to the thunder of a harbor full of “cigarette boats’ and chase helicopters. Throw in some warm weather and Midland couldn’t look better.

Midland will be busy on Monday June 24th.  At 12:00 noon the Seniors Council is hosting a free lunch for seniors at the NSSRC.  Please call ahead for tickets. Then at 6:00 pm is a closed meeting at the Town Hall. The topic will be a personal matter and labour negotiations. At 7:00 pm is the June Council meeting.  A fairly busy agenda including;
-       A presentation recognizing the past work of Mr. Rolf Staude
-       Three deputations including one on the Unimin Waterfront Master Plan
-       A petition regarding a derelict building at Bayport
-       Discussion of the “vote by mail” voting option
-       Direction to staff on the 2014 budget targets
-       Review of our planning and building development charges
-       Motion to seek an OPP service costing

On Tuesday June 25th it’s County.  County will receive a report indicating that the affordable housing monies it has received from the province will be spent in five communities that do not include any in North Simcoe. The County apparently has changed the evaluation criteria for assessing need and North Simcoe has gone from the top of the list to not being on the list. We will seek deferral to assess the report and then make representation back to County. The County meeting starts at 9:00 am in Midlhurst.  Later that day, at 2:00 pm, County Councilors will tour the nearly completed Georgian Village in Penetanguishene.

Wednesday June 26th starts early with a breakfast meeting at Georgian College in Barrie - good relations with our College is a key element of Midland’s development strategy. Then at noon, Rotary will receive a presentation about the importance of “business incubation”. Increasingly communities are realizing that they have to start “growing” their own jobs. At 2:00pm that day I am at Peter Pettersen Park for the dedication of the Herb Beauchamp ball diamond.

On Thursday June 27th the County will hold a day-long session for Council to review the County waste strategy.  Two items of particular interest to Midland are:
-       Increasing our residential diversion rate targets
-       Seeing what can be done to help homeowners with fall leaf pick-up

At 2:30 pm that day the four municipalities of the Huronia Economic Alliance will meet in Penetanguishene. We should be able to establish direction on the shared use of the County’s financial support. Also our long discussed healthcare strategy is about to kick-off.  At 7:00 pm that evening our two high schools will host their respective annual graduations.  Congratulations to both the students and teachers.

On Friday many members of your Council will be on the road to Gravenhurst to see the Muskoka Wharf project.  This will help Council appreciate the steps we may be following as we develop the Unimin lands.

Weekend

Saturday
-       Minor Lacrosse Tournament all weekend at NSSRC

Sunday
-       11:00 am Metis Nation Celebration at Pete Pettersen Park – All are welcome


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In closing:
-       A welcome to Theresa Alphonse-Grattan, who is the new MCC Events Manager. Theresa joins the MCC from Brooklea
-       Please help out Town by supporting the Benjamin Moore “Paint What Matters” contest. All you need to do is click on www.paintwhatmatters.ca and cast a vote (daily). Contest ends on June 30th.  Every vote will help.


Gord McKay


P.S. Canada Day is coming.

Be part of Midland’s Year of Getting Involved - 2013.




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