Sunday, January 12, 2014

Sunday January 12, 2014

Ladies and Gentlemen

Quite the week!  While I have not seen the totals from Environment Canada, my estimate for the Blizzard of 2014 was easily 30 cms of snow.  Our road crews have been working flat out – first ensuring the roads were drivable and now cutting back the impressive snow banks. They have my sincere vote of thanks for a great job.

Midland citizens have also responded very well. There have been a few calls of complaint about ploughs depositing snow in driveways but most of the calls I received were to alert Town crews to hazardous situations. Having survived, we all now have stories that will keep the discussions at Tim Hortons going for years.

This may be the Year of Making Decisions, but this is certainly “The Week of Town Meetings”.

Monday January 13th starts with a closed meeting at 6:00 pm to discuss a personal matter, collective bargaining and committee appointments. At 7:00 pm is the regular General Committee meeting, including:
-       Demonstration of our new Town website – early “Beta release” only
-       Direction on a Code of Conduct for Council, arising out of the recent Bill 168 complaint
-       Our new Asset Management Plan - a very important document to guide our fiscal process. It will show us our infrastructure deficit and comments that we need provincial assistance to make up the shortfall. This infrastructure deficit situation applies to most Ontario municipalities
-       Proposal that we set up new skills-based Audit Committee to help guide the Town’s finances
-       Introduction of a draft long term lease for the Huronia Museum.

On Tuesday January 14th I head to County for the first meeting of the year. The County Committee of the Whole will address many issues including:
-       The amended 10 year affordable housing strategy that will affect Midland.  The discussion will give us another opportunity to develop a housing strategy that makes sense for North Simcoe
-       Direction on economic development funding, in response to the $400,000 request from our HEA

At 6:15 that evening the BIA will meet at ShopMildand (King at Hugel) to discuss many matters including the December parking situation.

No end of meetings for you on Wednesday January 15th.

1.     The Simcoe Muskoka District Health Unit Board meets in Barrie at 9:15 am. The Board is responsible for setting the budget and delivering public health services for our area.

2.     At 4:00 pm at Town Hall is the January Police Service Board meeting. The meeting (both public and closed) will discuss matters including union negotiations, the 2014 police budget and selecting a new Chairperson.

3.     A planning meeting for public input will take place at Town hall at 7:00 pm. The Agenda:
a.     Revised development plan of the Moranis property at 422 King Street
b.    Lot severance (Official Plan Amendment) at 990 Sumac Lane
c.     Change of use (Zoning By-law Amendment) for the Watts Funeral Home at 895 King Street
d.    Sign by-law amendment in favour of not-for-profit organizations

4.     Right after the public meeting is the regular PDC meeting. The meeting will discuss the results from the public planning meeting plus:
a.     Receive the seniors housing document from our Seniors Committee
b.    An OMB appeal for the re-zoning at 340 Lakewood Dr.

We head to Toronto on Thursday January 16th for a meeting with a prospective developer of our waterfront property. Then it’s back to Midland for a special closed meeting at 7:00 pm at Town Hall to receive further information regarding the potential sale of the MPUC.

On Friday January the 17th, things really get into gear with our second annual Road Hockey game on King Street in downtown Midland. Get your game gear on and come down for the puck drop at 4:30 pm. Your chance to have some memorable winter fun.  


Weekend

Saturday Jan 18 – Huronia Fun Skate competition will take place a NSSRC.

Whether you are learning to skate, elderly, looking for some shinny or just some quiet ice time, the Town provides many opportunities for you to skate.  Check them out at: http://www.midland.ca/ParksandRecreation/SkatingSchedule/index.htm.

And to help you plan your busy Winterfest Weekend – February 1-3 – you will want to visit:


Gord McKay


Be part of Midland’s Year of Making Decisions - 2014
                                                                                              




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