Sunday, January 22, 2017

Sunday January 29, 2017


Ladies and Gentlemen



Not to start on a gloomy note but the lack of sunshine this past week is starting to wear thin. It has also been a rough couple of weeks for waste pick-up across the County. Discussions are underway with the contractor to minimize any future disruptions.



The delayed closing of the Midland Pillsbury plant will take place this month. Our thoughts are with the nearly 100 employees who will be losing their jobs. While the closing announcement was made almost two years ago, it still hurts. A bit of good news is that there is another manufacturer looking to acquire the facility.  All our efforts are going into make that happen. 





The Week Ahead



Monday 23rd will start with a closed meeting of Council at 6:00 pm.  The meeting will address appointments to boards and committees and a potential land sale.  At 7:00 pm is the January Council meeting. The agenda includes:

-       Four deputations;

o    County update on how Midland is doing with its affordable housing target

o    A presentation on the 2017 Silver Goose cycling event

o    Update on the Active Transportation Committee

o    Mr. A. Arlett will speak to Second Units in Midland

-       Council will make its decision on “First-Past-the-Post” voting for future elections

-       Declaration of 526 Bay Street (behind the Chamber of Commerce) as surplus land. This is being done as part of a new downtown development

-       By-Law to recognize Ms. Laura Lee as our new Deputy Clerk.  You may recall that Ms. Lee was recently with the Town, filling in for a temporary absence.



On Tuesday at 9:00 am County Council meets in Midhurst at 9:00 am. Council will be reviewing the recent waste collection outages and the corrective actions to be taken. At 7:30 pm at the MCC you are invited to A Day in the Life featuring Rob Reader.  Rob is a well-known restauranteur and avid adventurer.  Sure to be spellbinding.



On Wednesday the 25th at 8:30 am (yes in the morning) you are invited to a special meeting of Council to decide on changes to the MCC by-laws. The meeting is at the Library. Then at 9:00 am at the Library Council starts into a two day workshop on our strategic plan – Midland Forward. Council will be defining its Mission, Vision and Values as a corporation and identifying the major objectives for the next two years. You are welcome to attend.



At 7:00 pm Gateway Centre for Learning and Georgian College invite you to learn about their new Plumber Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The Program is 35 weeks in length and is free to qualified applicants.  The information event takes place at Georgian College, 649 Prospect Blvd, Midland.  For information call Jennifer Ellis 705-527-1522 or http://www.gatewaycentreforlearning.ca/



Thursday the 26th sees the second day of Council’s Midland Forward deliberations at the Library. Starting at 9:00 am, Council will set expectations and actions for:

-       Fiscal responsibility and cost containment

-       Organizational excellence

-       Economic development

-       A healthy and sustainable community

-       Working with partners and collaboration

This meeting is open to the public.



Also at 9:00 am the NSCFDC Speakers Series starts its 2017 season with the presentation “Find Your Inner Leader”.  This inspiring talk by Tracey Evans will answer all your questions about what effective leadership means for an organization and how to go about achieving it.  The talk is at the NSSRC. Please book in advance at www.nscfdc.on.ca.   At 4:30 pm the 2nd annual Mayors Mac & Cheese dinner committee meets to plan this year’s event. Please make a note in your calendar for April 3rd to come out and support We Are the Villagers while enjoying a great Mac & Cheese dinner.



Friday is Family Literacy Day and the place to be is our Library. Starting at 10:00 am and running all day are literacy-related activities for the whole family. Join the fun with educational games, activities, and movies.  



In the afternoon Kee Bee Play, a local manufacturer of commercial play products, will host a special meeting to look for new business opportunities. Kee Bee Play is best known for creating commercial play structures for children - think of the play structures you see in malls or at McDonalds. They have identified a new business area of play structures that can help adults with dementia. The meeting will assess how we can leverage this insight into brand new businesses.



Week - End



Saturday January 28



·         8:00 pm enjoy Billy Joel and the Piano Men at the MCC



Sunday January 29



·         Brookside presents music by Americas (violin and piano) at the MCC at 2:00 pm





Council Issues Update





Budget



Due to a large amount or preparatory work, our public budget process will start in February.





                                                      *****

Two items in closing.



1)     The Our Health presentation on PTSD to be hosted by Dr. Keith Rose is now sold out. A tremendous interest in this topic from our first responders

2)     Midland will be receiving a federal grant of $131,000 for a new accessible transit bus



Gord McKay





The Year for Getting It Done - 2017

                                                                                              


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