Saturday, October 24, 2009

Saturday October 24, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen

The weather cannot make up its mind and apparently neither can our stores – some are decorated for Halloween others for Christmas. Keep shopping.

This Sunday October 25th from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm the Midland Area Reading Council holds its book sale at the Honda dealership on King St. Time to pick up those fireside books for winter.

On Monday the 26th the Town kicks into gear. At 6:00 pm Council meets to determine who will build your to-be-refurbished Town Hall (You May Not Speak). Then at 7:00 pm is the regular Council meeting (Deputation Only). Could be a long meeting with four deputations including:
- a presentation on the Drummond Wall
- an introduction to Zero Waste and how it may affect Midland
Then later in the meeting your Council will:
- honor Councillor Jeffery for 25 years of service as Councillor
- review our annual Christmas Tree ceremony, proposed for Nov. 27th at the Town harbour
- decide on who will be providing our closed meeting investigation services

Tuesday starts at 9:00 am with County Council (in Midhurst) meeting to discuss where our waste will be going over the next few years. Then at noon, the Chamber of Commerce hosts a Trade Show at the Best Western.

Wednesday gets us back to the budget debates (You May Not Speak) starting at 5:30 at the Town. This meeting will include presentations by the Police Department and the Library. Much work remains to get our budget figures in line.

Mike Osborne has been appointed as your new Chief of Police. Well deserved. Mike’s appointment will be effective January 1st, 2010.

And one final note from my clippings file. This week’s Toronto Star reports that the Skyline development taking place in Port McNicoll will invest $1.6 billion over the next 10 years. To put that in perspective, Midland’s total building permits over the last 10 years (1998-2007) has been some $0.25 billion. Keep watch to the east.


Gord McKay

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Sunday October 18, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen

A very busy week ahead. Nothing like a nice sunny week-end to get you moving.

This Monday October 19th at 6:00 pm your Council will meet to consider the design firm for the reconstruction of our municipal offices (You May Not Speak). We will hear from 5 different firms about how they will approach the $4 million project.

Tuesday the 20th at 7:00 will see the Council meet again to discuss poverty (Speak at Discretion of Chair). The Council should use this meeting to set its future direction. At the same time at the Elmvale Community Hall, 33 Queen St., Elmvale, Zero Waste Simcoe will be holding its first of three public meetings on the future of Zero Waste in Simcoe County. Your chance to learn about and comment on how our waste practices will have to change.

Wednesday starts with early morning fellowship at the annual Christian Breakfast. Doors open at 6:30 am, breakfast at 7:00 am at the NSSRC. Then at 5:30 that evening, your Council meets to discuss the operational budget for 2010 (You May Not Speak).

For the rest of the week, a number of interesting items:
- Local Business Week is hosting a breakfast on Friday at 7:30 am at Inn at Bay Moorings
- Friday evening at 7:00 features the environmental film Blue Gold taking place at OnlyGreen on King St. in Midland
- Saturday at 6pm is the Huronia Hospital Foundation gala at Best Western

And lastly some information about our electricity system in Midland:
- The new SMART electricity meters that are now being installed will permit “Time Of Use” billing to occur. (You will save money if you use electricity off-peak.) TOU should be active in Midland in 2011.
- Our MPUC will allow small home generators (solar, wind) to be connected to the grid under the micro Tariff Feed In Program. Contact MPUC for further information.


Gord McKay

Monday, October 12, 2009

Monday October 12, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen

The Thanksgiving turkey is cooked and --- what is that ---- snow on the window?

A short week and a busy one. Tuesday October 13th starts out with a closed meeting at 6:00 pm at the Town (You may Not Attend). Then at 7:00 pm is the regular Committee meeting (Written Input). Lots of small items:
- Discussion to adjust the traffic signal timing at Yonge and King – seems some people are getting frustrated.
- Tender for paving the Tiffin Trail from the end of the Captain’s Cove area to the CN bridge, this fall.
- A $30,000 natural playground at Mac McAllen Park. (A natural playground includes rocks and logs)
- A proposal for a dog park in Midland
And finally Bryan Peter will tell us about a cruise ship company that is thinking of using Midland as a base of summer operations.

On Wednesday morning at 9:00 am at Midhurst, County Council’s Corporate Services Committee will discuss our future waste options – landfill, incineration or possibly Zero Waste. Later that Wednesday the Midland Police will be holding a public demonstration in community justice. Called “Take Back the Wall” it will have a number of youngsters removing the graffiti from the wall next to Edwards Mall. Starts at 3:00 pm.

On Friday October 16th, the YMCA will hold its Poverty Pledge ceremony at 12:30 pm.
Saturday October 17th will feature the Murals Symposium at the Best Western. It includes a tour of our murals conducted by our own Bill Smith.

And finally, the corporation wanting to build the new LCBO on Cranston Crescent has stopped its appeal to the OMB. We get to keep our existing LCBO.


Gord McKay

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Saturday October 4, 2009

Ladies and Gentlemen

Last night I picked the last of my tomatoes. Summer is over! But over at the Sports Centre, ladies hockey was in full swing. Love this place.

A quiet week coming up.

On Monday October 5th at 5:15 pm, Council has been asked to meet with the Huronia Museum Board to discuss their re-development and fundraising.

On Wednesday October 7th at 7:00 pm a Public Meeting is being held at the Town (You are Encouraged to Speak) Two items on the agenda:
- Zoning by-law amendment to permit a full time dwelling on Snake Island (Trivia: Snake Island is the only island administered by the Town)
- Zoning by-law amendment for the development at 938 Yonge St. to annex additional lands to assist stormwater management and land use.
Following the meeting is Planning Advisory Committee (Speak at Discretion of Chair). Should be a short meeting, including a discussion about renovating a property at the corner of Midland and Elizabeth.



Gord McKay