Sunday, December 15, 2013

Sunday December 15, 2013

Ladies and Gentlemen

A fall of snow and the Christmas landscape is upon us.  All those who live in Midland know the special caring that we have for our neighbours at this time of year, as we gather family and friends to celebrate the season.  I want to recognize the good work of our Midland Police department that has been out these past two week-ends, tempting frost-bite, collecting food to help those in need. Please find it in your heart to help them out.  The last day for the Midland Police Cram-a-Cruiser program is the 21st at Valu-Mart, Foodland, Superstore and Canadian Tire.  Also your neighborhood Kelsey’s restaurant will be accepting food donations until the 22nd.

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Monday December 16th starts with the Town’s annual emergency planning exercise. Every year Midland goes through an emergency exercise, on paper, to make sure that we remain ready for any disasters that may affect our Town.  While you will not see much evidence of the exercise, it’s good to know it’s there.

At 6:00 pm that evening Council will hold a closed meeting to discuss a number of personal matters.  Then at 7:00 pm is the December Council meeting.  Should be a short meeting including:
-       Presentation of the Town Award of Merit
-       Presentation of Long Service Awards for employees
-       A deputation by the Huronia Land Conservancy
-       Vote on the tender for fixing the museum roof
-       Vote on the new traffic safety signals for Bayview School
-       Extension of the Interim Control By-law for the Waterfront lands

The CAO, Director of Planning and I will be on the road to Toronto on Tuesday December 17th. We will have an initial visit with a developer who may be interested in helping with our waterfront project. In the afternoon we will meet with four provincial Ministries to discuss building a business incubator to our area. If the roads are willing we will be back in Midland for a 7:00 pm closed meeting to discuss the potential sale of the MPUC. 

Wednesday December 18th will see the annual Police Retirees luncheon at Ste. Marie. At 4:00 pm the Police Service Board will have its final meeting of the year at the Town Hall. You are welcome to attend.

On Thursday December 19th the Town will hold an internal meeting to discuss its arrangement with the Severn Sound Environmental Association. Then at 2:00 pm, the Huronia Economic Alliance will meet at the Fire Hall in Penetanguishene.  The meeting will discuss its $400,000 request of the County and measures to bring more employment to our area.

Friday December 20th I will be talking with Infrastructure Canada about the Georgian Bay Leaders request for funding to help communities affected by declining water levels. While 2013 has seen a recovery in the levels of the middle Great Lakes, we want to make sure that Georgian Bay municipalities have the resources to weather possible future declines in lake levels.

You are invited to attend the Waterfront Steering Committee meeting at Town Hall at 11:00 am.

Weekend

Saturday December 21, the shortest day of the year. Just three months until spring.


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You may have noticed that there is no free parking in the downtown this Christmas season. This decision was made in discussion with the BIA to alleviate the situation from past years where people would park all day at the free meters. The downtown merchants are still as friendly as ever and want you to have an enjoyable visit - and take advantage of the three hour free parking behind many of the stores.


Gord McKay


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

                                                                                              


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