Sunday October 6, 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen

The seasons are changing and so too our fall leaf pick-up. The new pick-up service has led to a lot of discussion at Council so I will do my best to help you sort through the new arrangement.

The County of Simcoe has the responsibility for picking up your leaves at curbside this fall. They require that you put your leaves into the large compostable leaf bags or other open containers that can be lifted by their service truck operator.  They will pick up bags/containers of leaves in Midland every second week starting the week of October 13^th and ending the week of December the 8^th.  Please refer to your County of Simcoe waste calendar (you were sent a copy in the spring) or call the County at 705-735-6901.

Recognizing that this is a transition year, Midland is offering help to those who are challenged by the new County service. Midland will provide an extra service including reimbursement for leaf bag purchases, having service agencies help you bag your leaves as well as a limited vacuuming. Please see the Town website at  

http://www.midland.ca/ws_par/groups/public/@pub/@midland/documents/web_content/wspar_045675.pdf

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Monday October 7^th is a busy one for evening meetings.

-       At 7:00 pm at the Midland Legion is an organizational meeting for the proposed Frank Graham Tour of Holland being planned for 2015 – the 70^th anniversary of the end of WWII.

-       Also at 7:00 pm at the NSSRC is the Midland Waterfront public meeting. Your chance to comment on the current Waterfront Plan.  The meeting will also lay out the next steps in the development process. Come out and tell us about your waterfront

-       At 7:30 pm the Healthcare Innovators group will meet to further develop new healthcare businesses in in our area

Tuesday will be a busy day a County as the new County Council and Committee of the Whole meetings take place.

Thursday Oct 10^th will feature a Police and Crime Prevention meeting at NSSRC at 7:00 pm.  The meeting brings together agencies and organizations who are involved in community safety and policing to explore ways to make Midland a safer place for all.

Weekend

Just one note - we will cut the ribbon at the renewed ESSO station on Hwy 93 at 1:30 pm

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A closing comment on the public meeting held last week respecting a proposed development on the property at 422 King. Many of you probably recognize this address as belonging to a stately century home on King Street immediately adjacent to the Cenotaph.  Many citizens spoke, all in opposition to the development.  The concerns brought forward were real and heartfelt – from increased traffic; to increased density; to change of the neighborhood’s appearance. The situation though is complicated by the fact that the century home is now starting to fall into disrepair. An open question to Council is what is the best path to preserve this signature neighborhood while satisfying the concerns of the residents. Look for further discussion at the Planning and Development Committee.   

Gord McKay

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