Ladies
and Gentlemen
Happy New Year. It’s great to be back with you for 2016.
2015, Midland’s “Year of Bold Action” is now behind us. And
yes there was bold action. My top three
for Council were:
-
Continued focus on reducing municipal costs by
doing things differently. Council authorized a shared Building Services and a
Fire management arrangement with Penetanguishene, saving both communities money.
Council and the Police Service Board made the tough decision to outsource dispatch
services for Fire and Police. Looking
forward, Council recommitted to an OPP costing plus working towards a more
robust business model for our MPUC
-
Council, after considerable consultation and
debate, approved the use of a small part of Edgehill Park for a much needed
downtown health centre.
-
And while it may have gone through quietly, Council
has entered into an agreement with Penetanguishene to start an inter-urban
transit service. Another sign that Midland is maturing.
Midland citizens also took bold action.
-
60 area men took a pledge in front of their peers
to End Violence Against Women. Look for
more action on this front in 2016
-
Jeff Fillingham launched a one-man crusade to
bring an accessible taxi to Midland and in so doing won the Accessibility for
Ontarians with Disabilities Champions Award
-
Cody Oschefski, as a person, launched Little Lake Park’s first
Floatie Fest
-
Barb Rowlandson led us to our 3rd
successful Butter Tart Festival attracting some 40,000 visitors and a whole lot
of media attention
-
Fred Hacker launched Midland’s first Cultural
Awards ceremony, formally recognizing the wealth of talented people in our area
-
Barry Goode and Elizabeth O’Connor organized
the community to welcome for our first Syrian refugee family
So (…deep breath…) it’s time for 2016. My top five to
watch in 2016 are:
-
Increased economic activity in Town including
plans for our new high school; ground work starting on the new 1,400 unit
Hanson development; refurbishment of the Mountainview Mall; noticeable changes
to the downtown as we start to implement our Downtown Master Plan
-
Improved service quality from all parts of
the Town as we put in a number of new measures, including the “municipal
dashboard” ,a reporting tool that shows you how we are tracking against financial
and customer service targets
-
More activity on the Midland Bay Landing
property as the financing situation gets resolved
-
A decision on whether we stay with our own
police service or go with the OPP
-
A change in the governance of our MPUC. Maintaining
high service levels and no increase in distribution costs are essential.
However, our MPUC must change to respond to the significant restructuring already
occurring in the electricity sector.
The stage is set. Midland’s future success awaits. The only
thing lacking is for each and every one of us to get aboard. It is time to put
away the “glass half empty’ view of life or the “One person can’t make a
difference.” excuse and seize the opportunities. So my challenge to each of you
is to choose just one thing that will make our Town better and then get out
there and make it happen. 2016 is your
year for getting aboard – Midland’s moving.
*****
A quiet first week in the Town as we tuck away the
Christmas leftovers. Monday January 4th 2016 will see the raising of
the Crime Stoppers flag at Town hall at 11:00 am.
On Wednesday January 6th, the four mayors and
senior staff will meet to discuss North Simcoe taking a leadership role in
bringing the digital economy to our area. Specifically, we seek to enable the installation
of fibre optics to most of the residents and businesses in our area. This is a
major infrastructure discussion with a lot pf challenges ahead. Then at 6:45
pm, welcome the Masters Provincials Curling Championship to Town with opening
ceremonies at the Midland Curling Club.
Thursday the 7th features a closed meeting of
Council at 6:00 pm to discuss our labour negotiation objectives for the next
few years. At 7:00 pm OPSEU will hold a meeting at the NSSSRC to discuss a
possible strike at CNCC.
Council Issues Update
Being properly engaged requires you to be well informed. To
help out I am starting a “Council Issues Update” section in News from the Town.
It will key on a few major long-term issues and let you know how they are
developing. Hopefully this will quell some of the fascinating rumours that follow
most of these issues and give you the facts needed so you can better understand
the challenges faced by Council.
2016 Budget
The budget is going into its third round. It is currently
tracking towards a 0% increase in operating expenses. In parallel to the budget
process, Council was also considering some additional structural changes to
operations that impacted the budget. The last budget meeting stopped this parallel
track and directed all recommendations come forward as one financial/operations
plan in early 2016. The budget process
should wrap up in February/March.
Midland Bay Landing
Our contract with Mountain Ridge Estates remains in place
and is being respected by all parties. The Chinese partner, responsible for
financing, is currently restructuring the project finances. All project work -
site work and design - is on hold awaiting the financing. According to the
contract site remediation work needs to be completed by March 2017.
MPUC
Council has held a number of public and closed meetings
on this topic. Council is currently developing its long term objectives for any
potential merger/sale. Any request for interest from another party is unlikely
before February
OPP
Council has just reconfirmed its interest in pursuing an
OPP costing. Council is now awaiting a
response from the OPP.
Downtown Health
Centre
Council has approved the rezoning of the site. A group of citizens has appealed the decision
to the OMB. While no date for the OMB hearing has been set, it is unlikely
before spring. The OMB process removes the decision from the Town. The OMB will
decide what will happen with the site.
Gord
McKay
Your
Year for Getting Aboard – Midlands on the Move - 2016
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